Abstract: The present invention provides a ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted light fixture, an enclosure which is releasably securable to that fixture, interacting supporting surfaces on that enclosure and on that fixture which permit rotation of that enclosure relative to that fixture to secure that enclosure to that fixture or to release that enclosure from that fixture, a mold-smooth fixture-receiving surface on that enclosure, and a die-cut enclosure-engaging surface on that fixture which will always provide a smooth engagement between itself and the mold-smooth fixture-receiving surface on that enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plastic support, for an electric lamp and for the enclosure for that lamp, which is resistant to flame, heat, cold, water, ice, sunshine and other natural environmental conditions; and that support makes it possible to eliminate the traditional metal mounting pan, length of metal pipe, and securing fittings. As a result, the support of the present invention can directly engage a wall rather than engage a metal mounting pan which must engage that wall, and the flexible conductors from the socket can be given a random orientation from that socket to the power-supplying conductors in the wall instead of having to assume the fixed orientation imposed by the use of a length of metal pipe. This means that the conductors can be shorter than normal; because of the elimination of the depth of the metal mounting pan, and also because the wires assume orientations comparable to hypotenuses rather than orientations resembling the altitudes and bases of triangles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a batten bar of plastic, corrosion-resistant, material which has thick side portions that resist curling, kinking, looping and distorting of that bar, even when the fasteners that are used to secure that bar and the underlying membrane to a roof are overdriven. That batten bar has a connecting or bridging portion between the thick side portions thereof; and the upper surface of that bridging portion is displaced below the upper surfaces of the thick side portions to form an elongated groove which is at least as deep as the head of a fastener which is used to secure that bar and the underlying membrane to a roof.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus is provided for sorting articles such as film envelopes. The envelopes are loaded into carriers, on an endless conveyor, which convey them past a plurality of drop chutes. The carriers hold the envelopes so the long axes thereof, in end view, are parallel to the path of movement of the conveyor. At the proper positions, the carriers are opened to release the envelopes into selected ones of the chutes. Each envelope is directed into a preselected one of a plurality of bins, that are displaced transversely of the path of movement of the conveyor. The apparatus operates under control of a data processor which causes the conveyor and carriers to deliver the envelopes to the proper bins based on information contained in a bar code on the envelopes.

Abstract: An insulating holder, for a container for liquid, has an elongated, annular, side wall and a bottom which coact to define an elongated, generally-cylindrical recess which has an inner diameter that is larger than the diameter of that container. A rim is provided on the outer surface of the elongated annular side wall so it is, at least in part, axially in register with the annular recess. An annular sealing member of resilient cellular material has a radial dimension which is substantially greater than the radial dimension of the annular recess.

Abstract: The present invention provides a uniformly-heated heating chamber for a barbecue grill by mounting two U-shaped burners within that heating chamber so the arms thereof extend toward each other to help define a generally rectangular annulus which surrounds the middle of that heating chamber and which is displaced inwardly from the walls of that heating chamber. Gas-emitting ports are provided in the inner and outer faces of the arms and ends of those burners; and hence a central area of burning gas and a generally rectangular surrounding annulus of burning gas are provided by those burners. As a result, burning gas fills substantially all of the length and width of the heating chamber to provide uniform heat across that length and width.

Abstract: Rope-supporting members are secured to a boat hook at spaced points along the length of the forward portion of that boat hook; and each of those rope-holding members has a shank and a bent end. That boat hook will be rotated about its axis to dispose those rope-holding members in position to support two spaced parts of a loop which is adjacent one end of a rope; and then those two spaced parts of that loop will be draped over those rope-holding members.

Abstract: A portable heating unit has a heating chamber which is disposed within a housing so substantially all of the exterior thereof is displaced inwardly from that housing to define an air space. Air passing through that air space absorbs heat from the exterior of that heating chamber and also absorbs, and carries away, heat radiated from that exterior. That heating chamber is secured to that housing by mountings of small cross sections, which limit the amount of heat that can be conducted from that heating chamber to that housing. In addition, a baffle is interposed between the heating element and housing of the portable unit to reduce the amount of heat passing to that housing.

Abstract: A multi-subscriber warning system can, in instances where emergencies are impending, apply ringing current to the "ring" lines of one party systems, to the "ring" lines of "ring" two party systems, and to the "tip" lines of "tip" two party systems. Those ringing signals will actuate the "ringers" of all instruments which are not in use, and will cause a buzzing sound in the reproducers of all instruments which are in use. Further, if a subscriber hears the "ringers" and raises the receiver from the cradle, a buzzing sound will be heard; and then the ringing sound will resume when the receiver is placed on the cradle. Conversely, if a buzzing sound is heard by a subscriber using the instrument, a ringing sound will be heard when the instrument is placed on the cradle; and the buzzing sound will resume when the receiver is again removed from the cradle. The duration and number of ringing sounds can be varied; and preferably will be different from the normal ringing sounds used to "call" a subscriber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pitch pan with just two J-shaped sections. The long leg of one J-shaped section is aligned with the short leg of the other J-shaped section, and vice versa; and the legs of the two J-shaped sections are provided with positioning surfaces which permit the long and short legs of the J-shaped sections to be shifted relative to each other to define adjustable-length walls at opposite sides of a filler-receiving recess. That two-section pitch pan is covered with water-impervious skirting before it is delivered to the job site. All an installer need do is to align the two sections of that pitch pan, secure them to each other and to the roof with fasteners, use a cement or adhesive to seal the skirting of those sections to the roof, use a cement or adhesive to seal an overskirt in position at each of the two sides of the pitch pan where the skirtings of the two sections confront each other, and then fill the filler-receiving recess defined by that pitch pan.

Abstract: The present invention provides a garment which can have the waist size thereof adjusted quickly, and yet is a garment which can withstand (a) the strong washing and cleaning solutions and (b) the rigorous washing and cleaning procedures used by linen suppliers. That waist adjusting arrangement includes a masking band and a confining and guiding arrangement for a portion of that band. That confining and guiding arrangement is disposed at the inner face of one of the side panels of the garment; and that masking band is secured to the other of those side panels. That masking band will prevent unlimited separation of those side panels, and a portion of that masking band will overlie and conceal any fasteners which are not overlain and concealed by the one side panel whenever the garment is given its largest waist size.

Abstract: A decoy has a number of elongated members which can be held in close proximity during the storing or transporting of the decoy but which can be moved to extended position whenever the decoy is in use. A readily collapsible and extendible surface is secured to and supported by those elongated members; and it bears a pictorial representation of the creature to be simulated by the decoy. Those elongated members are mounted so one of those elongated members will be the forward-most of those members whenever the decoy is in use, so some of the other elongated members are extendible outwardly and rearwardly in one direction from that one elongated member, so the rest of the elongated members are extendible in the opposite direction from that one elongated member, and so those elongated members can cause each side of the readily collapsible and extendible surface to extend outwardly and rearwardly from that one elongated member.

Abstract: The amount of cheese curd such as cottage cheese curd which can be obtained from milk is increased by adding a caseinate to the milk and heating the milk to 180.degree. F. or higher before forming the curd. The amount of caseinate is preferably about 0.35 to about 0.5%. Calcium is preferably added to the milk to provide curd firmness, and a water-origin colloid gum may also be added. Yield increase results from substantially all whey proteins in the milk becoming part of the curd, rather than remaining in suspension and being lost when whey is drained from the curd.

Abstract: An air distributing device, for a fireplace that is equipped with an air conduit which can conduct outside air to that fireplace, has a lower air-guiding section adjacent the bottom of the fireplace opening, has an upper air-guiding section adjacent the top of that fireplace opening, has an air inlet in that lower air-guiding section which can receive outside air from that air conduit, has a plurality of air outlet ports in that lower air-guiding section and has an adjustable air-throttling means to control the amount of air which can pass from those air outlet ports into the fireplace, and has a plurality of air outlet ports in that upper air-guiding section and has an adjustable air-throttling means to control the amount of air which can pass from those air outlet ports into the fireplace.

Abstract: An electric arc welder has a current-conducting means which can supply welding power to an arc along a first volt-ampere curve, has a second current-conducting means which can be paralleled with the first current-conducting means to supply welding power to that arc along a second and distinctly-different volt-ampere curve, has a voltage-sensing circuit which senses the arc voltage, and has a control circuit which automatically and virtually-instantaneously shifts the supplying of welding power from a point on the first volt-ampere curve to a point of essentially-equal potential on the second and distinctly-different volt-ampere curve when the voltage-sensing circuit senses that the arc voltage has fallen below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A bill-handling device provides relative movement between a sensor and a U.S. bill or other object to permit that sensor to sense longitudinally-spaced areas on that U.S. bill or other object which correspond to areas, on authentic U.S. bills or counterfeits thereof, where significant data is found. Data which is obtained during the sensing of those areas is stored, and subsequently is analyzed to determine the authenticity and denomination of the U.S. bill--if it is one of a plurality of bills of specifically-different denominations.