Abstract: A ladder including a lower step section and a strut pivotally connected together at their upper ends for swinging movement between a collapsed position toward each other and a downwardly divergent erected position, an upper step section pivoted to the upper end of the lower step section for swinging movement between a folded position along the lower step section and an erected position inclining as an extension of the lower step section, and a catch pivotally connected to the upper step section for swinging movement between a gravitationally depending retracted position along the upper step section when the ladder is folded to a gravitationally depending position from the upper step section to hooked engagement with a lug on the lower step section when the upper step section is extended.

Abstract: A metering device wherein a cylinder is provided with opposite end closures, a piston is shiftable in the cylinder between the end closures, a conduit extends centrally within the cylinder into a valve plug angularly shiftable within the cylinder and located adjacent to one end closure, the valve plug having angularly spaced passageways communicating respectively with opposite sides of the piston upon angular valve shifting, and a gasket extending in sealing relation about the plug and on opposite sides of the passageways to seal the latter from each other.

Abstract: A model train coupler for a truck having a pocket with an upright pivot pin, the coupler including a stem inserted endwise into the pocket and swingable on the pin, a laterally opening hook extending outwardly from the stem, an actuator depending from the closed side of the hook, and a guide extending resiliently from the stem partially across the open side of the hook, said hook having an outwardly convergent end portion for entering engagement between the hook and guide of a like coupler to interengage the hooks, and the actuator of a like coupler being engageable with a track cam to spread interengaging hooks laterally apart for uncoupling.

Abstract: A spring clip shaft connection wherein a shaft includes a transverse hole spaced inwardly from one end of the shaft, a generally U-shaped body having a leg formed with longitudinally extending proximate and distal leg portions laterally offset from each other by an intermediate leg portion, and an arm extending from the body longitudinally of the leg, the leg being insertable through the hole for location of the intermediate leg portion in the hole with the distal and proximate leg portions on opposite sides of the shaft, and the arm being resiliently snap engaged into a recess in the leg.

Abstract: A coolant nozzle of adjustably variable width stream for a grinding wheel or the like, the nozzle including a hollow housing extending laterally across the working face of the grinding wheel having a coolant inlet in an upper region and a coolant outlet extending laterally in a lower region, a tubular formation extending laterally across the interior of the housing having a coolant receiving opening on its upper side adjacent to one end of the tubular formation and a coolant discharging port configuration on its lower side extending the length of the tubular formation. A control element or closure extends across the tubular formation and is shiftable longitudinally along the tubular formation to communicate the upper receiving port with a selected length of lower discharging port.

Abstract: An electric mat switch including a pair of outer wear layers, a pair of inner moisture barrier layers between the wear layers and a separator layer between the moisture barrier layers; all of which layers are substantially congruent and sealed together about their peripheral margins as by heat sealing, radio frequency welding or the like; and a pair of conductor layers each located between the separator layer and a respective barrier layer and spaced inwardly from the sealed margins; the separator layer being resiliently compressible and openly configured for flexure therethrough of the conductor layers into contact with each other.

Abstract: The apparatus and method for folding a sheet or signature wherein the sheet or signature is passed edgewise along an arcuate path, a portion of the sheet or signature intermediate the leading and trailing edges thereof is gripped and withdrawn from the first arcuate path to a tangential second arcuate path, and a fluid or air stream is directed counter to and away from the second path to smoothly guide and gently fold the leading edge back upon the trailing edge.

Abstract: A reel brake apparatus including an arbor, a hub structure on the arbor to support a reel for axial rotation while limiting axial movement of the reel, a friction plate for movement with the reel at one end thereof, a fixed pressure plate, and pressure pad assemblies extending from the pressure plate into resiliently yieldable frictional engagement with a friction plate.

Abstract: A machine for filling liquid into flexible or rigid containers, including a filling head for passing fill liquid to a container, a valve in the head, an outlet from the head to the container, and a vacuum source connected to the head for evacuating the container prior to filling.

Abstract: A cord lock for mounting in the headrail channel of a venetian blind including a hollow structure seated on the bottom wall of the channel and having a lower opening for communication through the channel bottom wall, front and back shoulders externally on the hollow structure engaging upper regions of the headrail channel to retain the hollow structure in position in the channel, a cord guide in the hollow of said structure, and a jamming element movable in the hollow structure upwardly toward and downwardly away from the cord guide for jamming and releasing a lift cord between said guide and jamming element.

Abstract: A ladder including a lower step section and a strut pivotally connected at their upper ends for swinging movement between a collapsed position one within the other and a downwardly divergent erected position, and an upper section pivoted to the upper end of the lower step section for swinging movement between a folded position closely overlying the lower step section and an erected position inclining as an extension of the lower step section.

Abstract: A cord lock for up to eight lift cords including an openwork, grid-like structure adapted to seat on the bottom wall of a headrail channel over a bottom wall opening; the grid-like structure including intersecting longitudinal and transverse members; upwardly facing formations for retaining engagement beneath inturned lips of the channel; a depending formation for restraining engagement through the channel bottom wall opening; generally vertically extending way means formed in the longitudinal members, and a transversely extending jamming element freely shiftable up and down in the way means into and out of cord jamming relation with an adjacent cross member.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a press preferably fabricated of a plurality of plates secured in facing engagement and configured to define a frame having an opening therein, an expansile and contractile ram in the frame opening having its opposite ends respectively movable toward and away from opposite frame ends for performing work between each ram end and the respective adjacent frame end, and a fluid operating system for expanding and contracting the ram in the frame opening.

Abstract: A battery post terminal including a connector cap having a generally cylindrical outer sleeve portion, an inner sleeve portion flaring longitudinally inwardly from the inner end of the outer sleeve portion for frictional engagement with a battery terminal post, a lip outstanding from the larger end of the inner sleeve portion, and a cable connector extending generally radially from the lip.

Abstract: A comestible extruding apparatus including a pressure chamber having an outlet, a hollow extrusion die journaled in the outlet, and a hollow seal force fit in the outlet and having a neck extending slidably into the hollow die, the neck and die combining to define a rotary seal for the comestible.

Abstract: A stencil printer for printing the underside of a web including a vertically reciprocable upwardly opening printing head or receptacle mounted beneath a web to be printed, a reservoir for ink in a lower region of the receptacle, a printing pad in an upper region of the receptacle in fluid communication with the reservoir and presented upwardly through the reservoir opening for printing through a stencil on the printing pad.

Abstract: A plant container adapted to be fabricated from an integral blank of plastic sheet material and comprising a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall upstanding about the bottom wall, and a cover of a plurality of flaps extending laterally inwardly from the side wall with opposed flaps terminating short of each other to define therebetween a central passageway for the stem of a plant, the flaps being spaced below the top of the side wall to effectively limit the quantity of falling water received in the container by causing excess to overflow.

Abstract: A multiple station conveyor for production lines and the like including an elongate drive element movable under power along a longitudinal path, a track extending along the path of the drive element, a carrier movable along the track and having an extension for driven engagement with the drive element to move the carrier, and declutching means for disengaging the carrier extension from the drive element.

Abstract: A self-sealing valved bag including elongate facing outer walls periphally secured together except for an unsecured end region, an inner wall between the outer walls extending across the unsecured end region, the inner wall being secured to one outer wall partially across the unsecured end region to leave an access passageway between the inner and said one outer wall, the inner wall being secured to the other outer wall entirely across the unsecured end region to close the latter between the inner and said other outer wall, and a pocket exteriorly on an outer wall opening toward an end thereof and terminating in a closure medially of the outer walls.

Abstract: A model vehicle, say of the road racing type, movable along a track having magnetically permeable rails, the vehicle including an electric motor wherein the field magnets are mounted in a non-magnetic casing or yoke to permit maximum magnetic coupling of the field magnets with the rails to exert a downward force on the vehicle toward the track.