Abstract: Automatic justifying typewriter includes incremental drive means operatively coupled to a printer for effecting controlled horizontal and vertical movement between a printout sheet and the character printing means. The operation of the printer and the drive means may be controlled either by direct keyboard entry or by coded printing operation and spacing operation control signals from a data source, such as, a computer programmed to prearrange the data, assign a preselected horizontal space to each printing character and compute the horizontal space between words for a preselected line length. The coded control signals control the drive means so that after each character is printed, the drive means will advance the character printing means a preselected number of times for that character; and at the end of each line the drive means will index a preselected number of times according to a predetermined setting.

Abstract: Materials to be fed through an aperture in a container are urged towards the aperture by rotary motion of the sidewalls of the container. The feeding of the materials is augmented by selectably positionable blades attached to move with the sidewalls but extendible into or out of the container interior so as to break up bridging effects of the material around the aperture. The blades can likewise be completely withdrawn from the container interior.

Abstract: A releasable locking ring has a full circular portion defined by a split, coiled ring having a free, tapered overlapping end and an opposite end bent into a generally semi-circular bail portion curving substantially in a plane normal, or slightly less than normal, to that of the ring; and the bail terminates in a curved return at its free extremity adjacent to the ring.

Abstract: Dry and liquid feed supplements are recovered from treating animal wastes collected from a confinement feeding area for livestock and the like by a closed loop type of collection system including a primary liquid storage tank. Solids and liquids are separated from the collected wastes by dynamic liquid filtering apparatus including a unique compression filter. Liquid is withdrawn near the surface of the primary tank, passed through a second solid/liquid separating filter and transferred to a secondary tank. Preferably rarified oxygen is forced into both tanks so as to aerate the liquids. After appropriate aerobic digestion or oxidation, the secondary tank liquids are used to supplement feed water and the solids are used to supplement dry feed ration.

Abstract: An adaptor pad is devised for use with sleeping bags, particularly those commonly referred to as mummy bags, in which the mummy bag can be unfolded and the zipper edges wrapped or folded over the opposite side edges of the adaptor pad and removably secured to zipper sections at or beneath the side edges of the adaptor pad. The pad is so constructed and arranged as to permit its use either with a single or double panel portion of a sleeping bag to provide sleeping accommodations for one or two persons, respectively.

Abstract: Objects or materials are moved across the flat bed area of a storage container. A flexible belt is extended across the flat bed area and the objects or materials placed on the belt. One end of the belt is attached to a roller to which rotary power is applied so as to wind up the belt onto the roller thus skidding the load towards the rollers. An adaptable mounting permits attachment of the roller to the edge of the flat bed area so that it can be securely retained in place either when needed for conveying operations or for storage while attached but can likewise be easily removed if desired.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for pickup trucks and the like is characterized by elongated interchangeable ramp sections releasably secured to the rear end of a special platform on the bed of the pickup truck so that the ramp sections are releasably attachable for downward extension from the platform to the ground, and further are slidable into a storage position beneath the platform when not in use. Alternate types of platforms have been devised to vary the effective width of the pickup truck bed to accommodate one or more vehicles, and the ramp sections include different types of tread surfaces which are interchangeable to facilitate loading and unloading of different types of vehicles.

Abstract: A circuit for energizing an annunciator or warning device is actuated whenever a door or the like is in any position other than in proximity to preselected locations such as the two ends of intended travel. Proximity detectors arranged in conformity with the limits of intended travel effect electrical switching so as to interrupt the annunciator circuit whenever the door is within acceptable distance of the limits. The proximity detectors can be provided by a dual magnetic arrangement with one magnet associated with travel and the other permanently affixed relative to a reed switch or the like. The fixed magnet maintains the reed switch closed except when its magnetic field is effectively cancelled by the movable magnet.

Abstract: A stable, heat-protective aqueous composition formed by admixing boric acid, asbestos and glycerol, with water added to provide the desired consistency, the composition being particularly suitable to absorb and disperse heat at elevated temperatures while not conducting heat through the composition and not forming objectionable deposits on a protected product.

Abstract: A movable framework retains an edge guide apparatus preferably in the form of a slanted rotary member or members, for determining a reference position relative to the edge of a previous tier of roofing shingles. The framework has a chute attached thereto for directing shingles into position with a second guide edge attached to the framework to determine the correct stop position of the shingles relative to the rotary guide. A plurality of fastening devices are pivotally attached to the framework in correct spacing and an actuating handle arranged to pivot these fastening devices in tandem into their proper positions relative to a shingle contained within the chute. The basic framework can accommodate a storage rack for shingles to be used and can be wheel-mounted for ease of movement. Further, the apparatus can be easily arranged to be self-contained by including a storage tank for operating pneumatically actuated fastening devices.

Abstract: The apparent source of sound from a plurality of transducers arrayed around a listening area is automatically controlled by a prestored pattern sequencer and a series of variable voltage levels. The prestored patterns reflect switch connections to the transducers which are energized by varying signals so that the sound appears to the listener to move relative to the transducers. In one embodiment, varying analog signal levels are switched under pattern control while, in another embodiment, the controls are entirely effected with digital circuitry up to the final analog output stages. The sequences of switch patterns can be automatically selected or operator selected and can provide the effect of rotating sound or any of a wide variety of prestored patterns.

Abstract: Tandem wheels mounted on a common axle are connected to a movable vehicle such as a baby carriage, stroller, wheelchair or the like in a configuration which permits maximum stability and freedom of motion. The axis of the wheels is pivotally attached and offset in trailing relation to and on opposite sides of the mounting spindle with an intermediary shock cushioning arrangement. The spindle has a common shaft with a lower section arranged to provide an interfacing shoulder to a rotatably mounted upper section. The upper section includes means for attachment to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A masonry expansion bolt employs one or more resilient wires as the expansible wedging member which is positioned in annular grooves along the external surface portion of the bolt shank, the wedging member being selectively expansible in an outward radial direction into wedging engagement with the wall of the hole in which the bolt is inserted to firmly anchor the bolt in place in a positive and reliable manner.

Abstract: A routing template assembly has been devised which is specifically adaptable for routing out slots of different widths in panels, boards and the like, such as for example, in forming slots in side wall supports for insertion of shelf sections. The template is characterized by a slotting guide which is adjustable in width depending upon the width of slot to be formed, adjustment being accomplished by setting the spacing between spaced parallel guide edges of the slotting guide to correspond to the desired width of the slot plus the diameter of the router guide bushing less the diameter of the routing bit.

Abstract: Rotary motion is converted to linear motion by multiple thread sets which cooperate to provide precise control of the amount of rotary motion thus converted. As applied to a precision positioning device for a tool, blade or other object, the thread sets are preferably arranged in a serial and/or telescoped configuration. A relatively simple precision hand tool positioning device is realized by having one thread set arranged in a common direction but reduced pitch relative to the other set. The finiteness of the object positioning is further enhanced by moving it with respect to an inclined plane. A retaining device for gripping the element to be moved is directly associated with a shank having the smaller pitched thread set thereon. The shank is prevented from rotating but allowed to move linearly relative to a housing and the threads thereof engage a spindle which has another set of threads for engaging the housing. A calibrated indicator of the shank position in easily readable format is provided.

Abstract: Cartridges containing a tray retained flexible disc with the tray locked to the cartridge housing are accepted so that the tray is unlocked and withdrawn from the cartridge housing into an operating position internal to a receiver. The cartridge housing is held in a relatively fixed position so that it cannot be removed from the receiver unless the tray has been properly returned to the cartridge housing and again locked therein. The flexible disc is automatically clamped into a spindle arrangement and rotary motion applied thereto when a detector indicates that the disc is in the proper operating position. The tray is returned to the cartridge housing in essentially a reverse sequence from the loading operaton but with additional means for insuring that the disc has stopped rotation prior to return to the tray and is properly seated on the tray prior to its return to the cartridge housing.

Abstract: A flexible or "floppy" disc such as is used for data storage is retained within an enclosure that substantially protects it from contaminants or damage from handling while not in use but still permits ready access to the disc by a machine. A hub nests the disc in a bore on a tray which is received by an envelope-type of housing so that a complete enclosure is provided. The flat surfaces of the housing act to retain the disc hub within the bore while in the cartridge. A latching arrangement between the tray and the housing permits either manual or machine release of the tray. The entire housing containing the tray and the disc is readily adapted to loading within a machine by means of a hub-engaging spindle to lift the disc from the tray after it has been removed from the housing. Strategically located ridges guide the disc hub into proper tray engagement when the disc is stored in the cartridge. A plurality of slots on the tray augment air flow under the disc.

Abstract: Angular displacements are measured relative to either an external magnetic field as in a compass or relative to a vertical reference as in inclinometers or the like by selective orientation of the device. A bistable weight balancing apparatus and a dual bearing support arrangement cooperate to provide two discrete balancing positions. Horizontal positioning of the device results in relatively even weight distribution around a needle bearing support which permits alignment with the polar line of an external magnetic field. Vertical orientation of the device permits an offset redistribution of the weight in the bistable balance to define a vertical reference. Digitally coded apparatus such as a disc permits circuitry to detect instantaneous orientation of the frame relative to a magnetic field or vertical reference. Circuitry logically cooperates with data read from specially coded tracks to insure accurate strobing of the output data free of ambiguities.

Abstract: A container lid for beverage containers and the like has a tear strip formed as a unitary part of the closure which can be at least partially separated from the closure by pressing it downwardly to displace it into the container about a hinge point in such a way as to leave a protected opening for removal of the contents from the container.

Abstract: An emergency warning device for a motor vehicle is made up of a long, brightly colored plastic sheet with a warning message which is stored on a roller and adapted to be mounted on the inside surface of the trunk lid of the vehicle. In order to warn other motorists of danger or emergency when the vehicle is stopped on a street or highway, the plastic sheet can be displayed by withdrawing it from the roller with the trunk in its open position; or, because of its length, it can be fed through the forward crack between the trunk lid and the vehicle body, brought across the top surface of the trunk and attached to the car, with the trunk closed to protect the contents. The proximity of the message to the bottom end of the sheet enables the message to be visible either when the sheet is partially unrolled or when fully unrolled and stretched over the outer surface of a closed trunk.