Abstract: A horse shoe comprising a core of metal, which is substantially entirely enclosed in a substantially elastically deformable material, such as a rubber or rubber-like material. The thickness of the deformable material is considerably greater on the underside of the core than on its upper side. The holes which extend extend through the horse shoe are for nails. The width of the lower surface of the horse shoe intended for contact with the ground is narrower than its upper surface intended for contact with the hoof throughout the entire service life of the horse shoe.

Abstract: A closure cap having therein a blister pack in which an additive, which may be a tablet, is retained to be released into the liquid contents of an associated bottle simultaneously upon opening of the closure cap and the rupturing of said blister pack by part of a closure member and forming part of the closure cap, whereafter the contents of the container may be dispensed either through the closure cap or after removal of the closure cap.

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber. In a further embodiment the tank has an outlet opening in a bottom portion thereof and a drain plug is removably mounted in the outlet opening.

Abstract: An elbow for use in connecting the exhaust vent of a clothes dryer to an exhaust duct. The elbow having a depth equal to or less than the exhaust duct diameter while maintaining a constant exhaust airflow velocity. Preferably, the elbow comprises a rectangular portion connected to the dryer exhaust vent and an adapter portion extending from the rectangular portion and connecting to the exhaust duct.

Abstract: An electric motor 10.sub.vi includes a Cockcroft ring 12 for producing a magnetic field having lines of flux extending in the first direction through an air gap 18. A disc 14 capable of at least two dimensional motion in a plane relative to the Cockcroft ring 12 provides a plurality of conductive paths C.sub.A -C.sub.E. Each path C.sub.A -C.sub.E has a segment 16.sub.A -16.sub.E respectively that extends through the magnetic field in a second direction so that interaction with an electric current passing through a particular segment 16.sub.A -16.sub.E, produces a thrust force acting on the disc 14 via that segment 16.sub.A -16.sub.E. A multi phase toroid shaped transformer 40 induces electric currents to flow in the paths C.sub.A -C.sub.E and thus through the corresponding segments 16.sub.A -16.sub.E. One of the segments, for example 16.sub.A is located relative to a second segment for example 16.sub.E, so that their respective thrust forces do not lie in the same axis.

Abstract: A passive-motion having a support surface provided by a plurality of bellows-like or bladder-like cells which are sequentially or independently inflatable and deflatable to alter the configuration of the support surface continuously to cause a person seated on the support surface to continuously and instinctively adjust the additude of his spinal column and associated muscles.

Abstract: A visual inspection system particularly designed for imaging relatively non-rigid materials. In order to identify defects and the position of defects and the position of defects on the material. The arrangement is particularly designed for handling leather hide. Defects in leather hide are presently identified by manual inspection. The present invention provides a visual inspection system for non-rigid materials comprising a mounting means for mounting a sample of the material, tensioning means for tensioning at least an area of the sample, an imaging means (3) for obtaining an image of the area of the sample under tension and processing means for processing the image to provide information on any defects which may exist.

Abstract: An anti-creep device for a trailing arm suspension. The anti-creep device comprises an arm that is extended and retracted relative to a trailer frame and trailing arm of the suspension to prohibit their relative movement. The arm is connected to either the trailer frame or trailing arm by a frangible coupling designed to break at a predetermined load to prevent damage to the trailer or suspension from overloading or operation when the arm is extended.

Abstract: A lightweight hose (80) is disclosed which is formed from a heat seamable material and includes a helically-wound reinforcing member (88). The hose (80) can be formed in a short, definite length and a relatively long, indefinite length by a mandrel and a continuous process, respectively. In one aspect of the invention, a lightweight conduit (80) comprises a tubular wall (82) formed of at least one ply of heat seamable material and at least one helical member (88) whereby the at least one ply is bonded to itself and to the at least one reinforcing member (88) without additional adhesive. The invention also relates to lightweight conduits in the form of connectors such as cuffs (140) and T- and Y-connectors (170) and (180), respectively. The invention further relates to a method for forming a lightweight conduit, including but not limited to, the embodiments of a hose described herein.

Abstract: A spring brake actuator being divided into a first spring brake chamber and a second spring brake chamber by a diaphragm extending across the actuator. A pressure plate is provided in the first spring brake chamber and rests on the diaphragm. A power spring is positioned between the spring brake chamber housing and the pressure plate to urge the pressure plate toward the bottom of the actuator housing. Pressurized air is supplied to the second spring brake chamber to hold the power spring in a compressed state. A normally closed one-way check valve extends through the pressure plate and the diaphragm to provide for temporary fluid communication between the first spring brake chamber and the second spring brake chamber upon the exhausting of pressurized air from the second spring brake chamber to thereby prevent the creation of a vacuum in the first spring brake chamber that might retard the application rate of the spring brake actuator.

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprises a base module for movement along the surface; an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module; a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank mounted to the handle or the base module, a dispensing nozzle mounted to the base module for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned, and a heater for heating the fluid to be applied to the surface to be cleaned to a temperature less than boiling; a fluid recovery tank mounted to the handle or the base module for holding recovered fluid; a suction nozzle associated with the base module; a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle; and a vacuum source and fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery tank to thereby recovering fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery

Abstract: A steerable independent front suspension having upper and lower wishbone control arms, each control arm pivotally mounted to a suspension frame which in turn is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle frame. The other end of the control arms are pivotally mounted to an upper and lower end of a knuckle post, which has an opening extending therethrough. A steering knuckle is pivotally mounted to the knuckle post and mounts an S-cam brake assembly having a brake actuator extending therefrom. The knuckle post opening is positioned and sized to receive the brake actuator when the steering knuckle is pivoted to a maximum position to increase the steering angle of the vehicle.

Abstract: A spring counterbalanced folding wall bed having a vertically disposed shell including side walls spaced from each other and a bed frame pivotally mounted to the shell for movement between an open position and a closed position. In the open position the bed frame is substantially horizontal; in the closed position the bed frame is substantially vertical and between the side walls. A spring is mounted between a head end of the bed frame and one of the side walls and is biased to retain the bed in the closed position. One end of the spring is secured to the head end by a first pivotal connection and the other end of the spring is secured to the side wall by a second pivotal connection. At least one of the first and second pivotal connections are movable so that the length of the spring can be adjusted, whereby the spring force can be adjusted.

Abstract: An AM/FM/CB/cellular telephone antenna includes a first frequency self-resonant circuit at a position above the lower end of the antenna such that the electrical length of the lower section of the antenna is equivalent to one-quarter wavelength for a frequency in the FM frequency range and a second frequency self-resonant circuit disposed below the first frequency self-resonant circuit. The first self-resonant circuit presents a high impedance in the FM frequency band and the second self-resonant circuit presents a high impedance in the cellular frequency range. The entire length of the antenna is equivalent to one-quarter wavelength in a frequency in the CB frequency band. The antenna wire is wound around a fiberglass core, and the FM self-resonant circuit is formed by a tightly wound, coiled section of the wire together with a thin-walled brass tube extending over the core in the area of the tightly wound section.

Abstract: A tool for manually dispensing and applying a web of elongated flexible stock material such as a plastic stretch film from a roll of the stock material having a shaft that supports the roll. The tool includes a flexible gripper having a cylindrically shaped body defining an open center, an open upper end and a closed lower end, and a relatively rigid cylindrical sleeve having a hollow center received in the open center and having a length less than the length of the gripper. This assembly has a gripping surface so that the operator can grip the shaft and hold it tightly without affecting the braking force on the shaft. The operator can compress the upper portion of the gripper inwardly onto the shaft when the gripper and cylindrical sleeve are mounted on the shaft, creating a braking mechanism that slows or stops the rotation of the shaft and at the same time apply a differential pressure to the roll to firmly hold the roll as strongly as necessary.

Abstract: A fluid-operated brake actuator having a hollow actuator rod between a spring chamber of a spring brake housing and a spring chamber of a service brake housing incorporates a valve within the actuator rod. The valve isolates the two spring chambers from each other in normal operation and releases a vacuum in the spring brake housing spring chamber when the spring brake is activated. A separate one-way check valve mounted in a well of the spring brake housing permits fluid to exhaust from the spring chamber to atmosphere and prevents contaminants in the atmosphere from entering the spring chamber.