Abstract: A toy figure which is progressively transformable into different configurations. The figure has a body portion comprising a mass of compliant fill material with a fabric cover thereover. The body portion has fanciful material (e.g. facial components and appendages) integral therewith. A fabric segment is secured to the body portion and forms a pocket on the body portion. The pocket is resiliently deformable to allow parts of the body portion and its fanciful material to be forced through the pocket as the toy is changed from one configuration to another. The pocket has a memory and, when a desired transformation is achieved, the pocket is contractable to hold the figure in a new configuration. The top figure preferably depicts a fanciful three dimensional character in one of its basic configurations and is transformed into a ball-like form in another of its basic configurations. When the figure is in its ball-like form, some of the fanciful material is visible to give the ball-like form a fanciful appearance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a surface-lined shaped article, particularly an interior facing member for a motor vehicle, such shaped article having a backing member which is heated in an undeformed state and then inserted into a temperature-adjusted die assembly in which a liner material is provided facing the finally visible surface of the backing member to which it is bonded as the backing member is being deformed or shaped. An object of the present invention is the provision of a method of the type defined above which permits a shaped article to have at least two surface areas thereof lined with different liner materials in a simple and economical manner.

Abstract: A portable and compact knot tying jig which comprises a panel having a generally black or dark face which may have knot diagrams printed thereon. The panel has an offset extending horizontally along its approximate center and the legs of a U-shape bail extend upwardly through the offset. The end of one leg is provided with an alligator clip-type clamp adapted to hold a fishhook or the like while the end of the other leg is provided with a transverse slit adapted to receive and hold the free end of the line.

Abstract: A liquid crystal image forming projector includes a liquid crystal display selectively operable for affecting light incident thereon, and an optical device for selectively projecting light affected or not affected by the liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display, for example, selectively transmits light and at least one of scatters and absorbs light, and the optical device includes a projection lens for projecting light to form an image that is a function of selective operation of said liquid crystal display and a selecting device, such as a mask or aperture, for selecting the light from the liquid crystal display for projection to form such image. A method for projecting an image also is disclosed and includes directing incident light to a liquid crystal device capable of affecting or not affecting such incident light, and selectively projecting light affected or not affected by such liquid crystal device to form an image.

Abstract: Water dispersible compositions containing hydrocarbon wax are described which are useful in preparing aqueous water repellent systems. Aqueous water repellent systems containing a hydrocarbon wax also are described. The water repellent system comprises an aqueous system comprising water, a saturated hydrocarbon wax, at least one oil-soluble metal salt of an organic carboxylic acid, at least one surfactant and at least one hydrocarbon solvent. A process for impregnating permeable substrates such as wood, cloth, concrete, rope, etc. with the water repellent system is also described. Penetration of the various components into the substrate is obtained by brushing, dipping, soaking, spraying or immersion at atmospheric pressure, at elevated pressures or under vacuum. The oil-soluble metal salt often is a fungicide. Moreover, additional components can be contained in the aqueous system such as insecticides, colorants, flame retardants, moldicides, wood stabilizing agents, etc.

Abstract: A two-pole limited angle torque motor including a rotor assembly having one or more permanent rotor magnets and a stator assembly including a stator coil and a pair of circumferentially spaced stator pole structures. Each pole structure includes a generally axially extending stator pole blade about which the stator coil circumferentially extends. A radially outwardly extending flange is at one end of one of the stator pole structures and at the opposite end of the other stator pole structure. The stator pole blades have a greater radial thickness adjacent the flanges thereof than at the opposite end of the blade to reduce the magnetic flux density of the stator pole structures in the region of the blades adjacent the flanges thereof. Also, the axial outer end faces of the flanges desirably protrude axially outwardly adjacent the radial inner ends thereof to make use of the fringing fields of the rotor magnet at the ends of the rotor assembly to increase the reluctance torque of the motor.

Abstract: A socket can be readily programmed to adapt the pin out configuration of an integrated circuit for convenient plug-in use or substitution in an environment, such as a socket, ordinarily intended for a similar integrated circuit with a different pin-out configuration. The invention includes a support, a first plurality of electrical contacts mounted in a prescribed pattern on one side of the support, a second plurality of electrical contacts mounted in a similar prescribed pattern on the other side of the support, and a programmable device, such as an EPROM, to which all the contacts are connected that can be programmed to complete or to open electrical paths between contacts. Printed circuit traces and plated through holes couple respective first contacts on one side of the support and respective second contacts on the other side of the support to the programmable device.

Abstract: An improved method for the recovery of elemental sulfur(S) from a coal-gas containing hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) wherein hot lime (CaO) is used and then regenerated according to the following chemistry:CaO+H.sub.2 S=CaS+H.sub.2 OCaS+3/2 O.sub.2 =CaO+SO.sub.2SO.sub.2 +C=S+CO.sub.2These chemical reactions are conducted in-situ while the supply of carbon (C) for the formation of the elemental sulfur(S) is derived from a component of the coal-gas itself to increase the overall efficiency of desulfurization, increase the uniformity of the carbon deposit into the hot lime (CaO), and eliminate the extra and cumbersome steps of physically moving the spent lime (CaO) for regeneration and returning it after regeneration, and the step of adding coal to react with the sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) formed as an off-gas during regeneration.

Abstract: A coin bank for separating a group of coins, forming the coins into a moving file, and for sorting the coins. The bank has a housing with an inlet for receiving a group of coins, coin bins for receiving coins of different diameters, a mechanism for separating individual coins from a group deposited into the inlet and for advancing the separated coins in a moving file, and a mechanism for receiving coins from the moving file and for sorting the coins in respective coin bins. The housing has a transparent wall disposed so as to allow coins in the moving file to be viewed therethrough, to provide the bank with a unique visual effect.

Abstract: A tire press, loader and method employs a stationary bottom mold section and a vertically movable top mold section which moves upwardly to open the press clearing the area therebetween for discharge of the cured tire and loading of the green or uncured tire. The press loads the green tire initially into the top mold section centering and holding the top bead of the green tire on the bead ring of the top mold section. To position the uncured tire for such top loading there is provided a loader which engages the uncured tire at the lower shoulder of the tread area. The loader includes pivotally movable chuck sector assemblies, each mounted on a ring. The ring can readily be centered with respect to the axis of the mold sections and each assembly can be moved concurrently uniformly radially of the ring to accommodate tires of different sizes.

Abstract: Escape devices for multi-story buildings characterized by a deployable chute or slide which provides for rapid and easy transfer of building occupants from elevated stories to a lower attitude. An escape device comprises a chute deployable so as to provide an inclined slide surface having an entry end and an exit end, and means for selectively supporting the chute with its entry end positioned at any one of the emergency exits and its lower end at a lower attitude whereby the chute may be positioned as needed to evacuate persons from above ground level stories of the building. Such an escape device may be conveniently stored and only deployed when and where needed.

Abstract: In the present invention encapsulated liquid crystal material in a support medium illuminated from the viewing side or direction will appear bright or white relative to background when in distorted alignment, e.g. in the absence of an electric field. Incident light impinging on the liquid crystal material is isotropically scattered thereby into the support medium, and using the principle of total internal reflection a relatively large part of the isotropically scattered light is reflected back to illuminate the distorted liquid crystal material tending to brighten the same so that light it scatters back to the viewing direction out of the support medium causes the liquid crystal material to appear relatively light or bright as compared to the background where there is no liquid crystal material or where the liquid crystal material is in parallel alignment in field-on condition, i.e. aligned with respect to an electric field, and, thus, substantially transmissive.

Abstract: A decorative shelf edging strip has a generally L-shaped cross section. The strip cooperates with a metal shelf having two successive bends forming a front face and underturned lip. The front face of one of the legs of the L is treated with a decorative coating which may simulate wood grain for decorating the front face of the shelf. The second leg of the L-shaped strip terminates in a hook which engages the edge of the underturned lip of the shelf. The first and second legs of the strip form an angle slightly less than 90.degree. and the second leg further includes a small dogleg bend. A rib extends along the length of the strip from the upper portion of the first leg. Upon installation, the hook is first engaged with the rear edge of the underturned lip of the metal shelf.

Abstract: A coin sorting bank that sorts coins according to their diameters, and also provides a unique form of animation when a coin is deposited therein. A coin deposited in the bank moves under gravitational/inertial forces from an inlet to a coin storage area. As it moves between the inlet and the coin storage area, the coin is engaged by a sorting mechanism comprising a unique arrangement of ramps, wheels, levers and guide rails which directs the coin to a respective coin bin in the coin storage area. A particular feature of the invention is a part of the sorting mechanism comprising a pivotal ramp and a stop member associated with the ramp. The structure provides effective sorting between coins of different diameters, and also provides a way of readily changing the bank to sort coins of different currencies by simply changing the location of the stop member relative to the pivotal ramp.

Abstract: Briefly, according to one aspect of the invention, liquid crystal material, and especially nematic material, is encapsulated; according to another aspect the encapsulated liquid crystal material is used in liquid crystal devices, such as relatively large size visual display devices; and according to further aspects there are provided methods for encapsulating liquid crystal material and for making a liquid crystal device using such encapsulated liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A propeller includes a rotatable hub with a plurality of sockets, blades with roots that fit in the sockets and a plurality of pitch blocks which fit between the blade root and the socket walls. Hubs with two, three, and four sockets are shown. The blades have no twist and are formed of molded, glass reinforced nylon. The pitch blocks are also nylon and different pairs of pitch blocks may be used to hold the blades at different angles. All nylon components are designed to minimize stress concentrations. The hubs although also of nylon have steel reinforcing plates within them which take the centripetal forces. These forces are transmitted through bolts to passage walls in the pitch blocks, and from the pitch blocks through interengaging teeth to the blade roots. A snap on, snap off aerodynamic spinner is also provided.

Abstract: An image copying apparatus includes a copier for copying an image and an imager which forms characteristics of the image. The imager includes a liquid crystal image forming and storing system for forming in real time characteristics of an image in response to a prescribed input and for temporarily storing those characteristics for a time adequate for the copier to copy the same and a scanning device to scan the image forming and storing device to apply the characteristics thereto. In one embodiment the liquid crystal is operationally nematic liquid crystal encapsulated or contained in a support medium that has a capacitance characteristic, and the scanning device includes a dynamic electrode which applies surface charge to selected areas of the encapsulated liquid crystal/support medium affecting the liquid crystal structural alignment to create the image characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing bulk materials by induction wherein the materials are processed within a plurality of compartments whose walls comprise a material which is adaptable to being heated by induction and wherein the plurality of compartments commonly share an induction coil means which surrounds the plurality of compartments. The apparatus possesses features which make it adaptable to operate in a closed system to be acceptable to the environment and also features which guarantee uniform charging of the material to be processed and uniform discharging of the processed material. In applications where sulfur, tars and oils are a problem, means are provided to deal with such problems by reacting the sulfur and by cracking the tars and oils. The apparatus lends itself to economically process tonnages of great magnitude at a low operating cost and also it requires low investment cost.