Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for luminous displays having a gaseous electric discharge tube within a tube housing. The structure includes a connector housing adapted for mounting within the tube housing and for receipt of a high-tension wire. A tubular dielectric member dimensioned for receipt of the electrode bearing end of an electric discharge tube is carried by the connector housing for longitudinal reciprocation through a wall thereof with proximal and distal ends of the member positioned respectively within and externally of the connector housing. The dielectric member is mounted for reciprocation between extended and retracted positions of its distal end with respect to the connector housing wall and such distal end is open for telescopically receiving the electrode bearing end of the electric discharge tube. A spring urges the dielectric member to its extended position and an electric contact is carried within the member for engagement with the electrode contact on the tube end.

Abstract: An automatic valve bag placer is disclosed which is constructed to sequentially remove valve bags from a bag magazine, manipulate the end flap of the bag for opening, open the valve and place the same on a fill spigot. An improved bag magazine and feeding assembly in which a plurality of trays are mounted on the elevator and feed stacks of limited number of bags onto a pick-off support structure ensures that bags are picked off one by one. The bag is oriented by a horizontal and then a vertical conveyor to a near vertical orientation, which orientation is retained thereafter until the bag is placed on the fill spigot. A pair of carriages and associated clamping means first pass the bag through a deflector assembly to orient the valve for opening, and then, after opening, the second carriage carries the bag to and inserts the same over the fill spigot.

Abstract: A device to load semiconductor wafers into a furnace when the wafers are contained in a boat, the device including a tower movable horizontally on rails and a ram mounted on the tower to be independently movable horizontally so that the joint movement of the ram and the tower provide a telescoping effect, the ram also being tiltable in a vertical plane to a position with its end higher than the portion attached to the tower whereby a boat carrier held on the end of the ram in its tilted position can be placed in the furnace, lowered into contact with the furnace floor by moving the ram to a horizontal position and then retracted without causing sliding of the boat carrier against the furnace floor.

Abstract: A desk assembly for mounting to and carrying by a wheelchair or the like in the location of a conventional armrest is disclosed. The desk assembly extends across the lap of the user of the wheelchair in a deployed position, folds to a relatively compact condition, and is pivotally movable to a stored position located where a conventional armrest would be provided. The desk assembly is further formed for selective locking of the desk top in various sloped orientations and movement of the desk top toward or away from the user. A reading lamp is also provided for the desk assembly.

Abstract: A closure and seal construction for a high-pressure oxidation furnace and the like having a quartz chamber and an integral quartz wall formed with an opening for receiving into the chamber material to be processed, the wall providing an annular surface surrounding the opening and being formed with an annular recess in the surface surrounding the opening; a combined cooling and sealing tube mounted in the recess and protruding slightly therefrom; a closure mounted for engagement with the tube and wall surface; and the tube having an elasticity responsive to a closing pressure to resiliently retract and provide simultaneous sealing engagement of the closure with the wall surface and tube.

Abstract: A flexible wedge for use under the die of a press to compensate for deflection of the die when force is exerted against it, the wedge being elongated and tapering across its width and having graded flexibility along its length with the portions nearer the ends of the wedge being more flexible in order for the wedge to deflect as a uniformly load beam when a concentrated force is applied at its center to position it under a die.

Abstract: A protective body shield including a honeycomb core arranged with the axis of each cell perpendicular to the body of the wearer and a layer of resilient foam covering at least that side of the shield in contact with the body to produce a shield that is rigid and shock-absorbing in the direction of anticipated impacts, but flexible and yieldable in other directions so as to not interfere with movement of the wearer's body.

Abstract: A threaded fastener having a self tool movable from an operable position to an out-of-the-way position which includes a threaded shaft, a laterally expanded head having a cavity beneath it surrounding the shaft, holes in either side of the expanded head, a D-ring having its opposite ends in the holes through the sides of the head, and an elastomeric ring such as an O-ring surrounding the threaded shaft and extending partly into the cavity so that when the threaded fastener is screwed into a threaded opening to receive it the O-ring is forced into the cavity when the fastener is tightened providing enough friction to hold the D-ring in its out-of-the-way position. If the object being held with the threaded fastener has a circular cavity having a diameter greater than the diameter of the D-ring, the D-ring, in its out-of-the-way position, will also lie in that recess where it will not interfere with the use of the object being held with the threaded fastener.

Abstract: A device for supporting a soft-cover book having a stiff spine including a hook to extend from a slit in the spine, a locking element beneath the hook to engage the slit in the spine and a support element that is connected to the locking element and extends beyond it in two directions, the support element being adapted to support the book by its spine and to lie between adjacent pages in the book, with the whole device made of flat sheet material not thicker than 1.2 millimeters.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously transferring a plurality of stacks of sliced or bulk food product from a holding station, such as the output of a slicing and stacking machine, to a receiving station, or the like, for loading and packaging of the food product. The device includes a rapidly and continuously operating accumulating conveyor for transferring a plurality of stacks from the holding station to a transfer station, and a shuttle-like, product-engaging member mounted proximate the transfer station for rapid, reciprocating movement transverse to the conveyor for transferring the plurality of stacks from the transfer station to a loading station. The product-engaging member has a plurality of concave portions, each formed to receive one stack of the plurality of stacks of product.

Abstract: A removable partial dental prosthesis is disclosed in which a universal, resiliently displaceable coupling is provided between the abutment tooth from which the prosthesis is stabilized and the base of the prosthesis which rests on the alveolar ridge. The coupling includes an arm cantilevered from an abutment tooth clasp and a resilient tubular member mounted to the arm and secured by a clip to the base. A method for support of the prosthesis in the mouth for limited displacement is disclosed as is a method to manufacture the prosthesis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for root zone heating of plants is disclosed. The apparatus includes an array of flexible, individually movable, plastic tubes which are positioned under the plant root systems. The tubes are preferably formed of EPDM plastic enabling their use with water from geothermal and solar pond sources, as well as conventional sources.

Abstract: A reinforced concrete tank to surround a steel tank for storage of liquified natural gas which includes a base plate and an upstanding cylindrical wall with the base plate having a plurality of polygonal swing plates hinged to it to move about the hinge in a radial direction but not in a tangential direction and suporting the cylindrical wall above the base plate on projections from the wall that bear on the tops of the swing plates. The tank thus supported permits radial motion of the base plate due to thermal expansion or contraction but resists tangential forces such as those caused by earthquakes or explosions.

Abstract: A car on tracks behind the knives of a shear machine, has a section for receiving product cuttings when the car occupies one position on the tracks, and means are provided for receiving scrap cuttings when the car is moved to another position, the car being capable of additional movement on the tracks to a position to the rear of the machine for convenient disposal of cuttings carried by it. Work support carried by the car, supports work prior to shearing and, when possessed of magnetic qualities, will magnetically grip the work and enable adjustment thereof for shearing, by movement of the car. In lieu of magnet work supports, roller supports may be provided, and such roller supports may be power driven.