Abstract: A device for sipping and consuming pasta products such as spaghetti is made possible by the inclusion of a pawl on the pathway of the pasta from the container to the consumer of the pasta.

Abstract: A mail box or similar container having a self cancelling signal indicator which is activated by the opening of the mail box door. The signal is a crankshaft which has on each end of the crankshaft a crank arm, each arm being perpendicular to said crankshaft and in an offset direction to the other crank arm, one of said crank arms having at the end opposite said crankshaft a combination weight and position indicator.

Abstract: An apparatus is described herein for gathering vegetables such as potatoes and other root vegetables from a plurality of rows into a central region for subsequent harvesting. The apparatus includes a support frame structure adapted to be secured to a tractor. A pair of wings are secured to the frame and they are adapted to extend, when in use, laterally outwardly relative to the forward direction of travel of the tractor. Each of these wings includes an endless flexible tine carrier mounted thereon for travel in an endless path, such path of travel including an upper run and a lower run. A plurality of tines are secured to and project outwardly in spaced relationship to each other from the flexible tine carrier for movement along the above-noted path of travel. Thus, during use, the tines located along the lower run of the path of travel are capable of engaging the vegetables lying on or in the earth.

Abstract: Exoscopes for joining tubular like objects has a housing made in two sections which clamp around the objects to be welded together. The end of the objects are held in place by an internal stent which claps the ends of the object together. Optic fibers or the like connected to a laser source terminate in the housing in such a way that the conducted laser beam is directed simultaneously circumferentially around the abutting ends to be welded. There are no moving parts during the welding.

Abstract: A device for sipping and consuming pasta products such as spaghetti is made possible by the inclusion of a pawl on the pathway of the pasta from the container to the consumer of the pasta.

Abstract: Razors for care of hair are improved by providing the razor with a cutting edge having a series of uniformly spaced imperfections or dents extending across said cutting edge, the dents dulling from 20 to 75 percent of the normal cutting edge of the razor. The normal razor cutting edge is transformed into the edge of this invention by use of a dulling tool. The dented edge razor permits the user, e.g., barber or beautician, to more effectively sculpture a head of hair with greater safety to the user and patron.

Abstract: Novel cationic polymers are provided by reaction of high molecular weight polymers and copolymers of acrylamide with an alkyl epoxide compound such as glycidyldialkylamine or glycidyltrialkylammonium salt to form polymer chain units containing e.g. pendant (N-2-hydroxypropyl) dialkylamine groups of their trialkylammonium salts. Processes for making the graft copolymers are provided in which the reaction is carried out while maintaining the reaction mixture in gel form by swelling the starting solid polymer with a solvent mixture.The reaction may be carried out in a homogeneous reaction environment or in a heterogeneous reaction environment by dispersing the starting solid polymer in an inert liquid that is a non-solvent for both the polymer and the salt. The polymeric products of the reaction may be hardened with a suitable liquid, such as isopropanol, to a solid particulate material.

Abstract: A bed pan for use in patient care has a disposable plastic liner waste collector suspended from an open frame whose exterior dimensions encompass the plastic liner and retainers for keeping the plastic liner to the frame. The bed pan is advantageously used with a patient platform or patient motivation device, both of which provide a passage way for sliding the bed pan under the patient's excretory organs with out discomfort to the patient.

Abstract: Flow pulsing apparatus is adapted to be connected in a drill string above a drill bit. The apparatus includes a housing providing a passage for a flow of drilling fluid toward the bit. A turbine in the housing is rotated about an axis by the flow of drilling fluid. A valve is operated by the turbine to periodically restrict the flow through the passage to create pulsations in the flow and a cyclical water hammer effect to vibrate the housing and the drill bit during use. A cam is provided for effecting reciprocation of the valve along the axis of rotation of the turbine to effect the periodic restriction of flow.

Abstract: A flat screen autostereoscopic display for bright wide angle stereoscopic images employs a flat screen on which are displayed a plurality of regularly spaced discrete, finite light emitting sites such as thin, vertical light emitting lines. A light valve located in front of the screen forms images by means of varying the transparency of individual pixels arranged in a raster pattern across its surface. A mask in front of the light valve completes the display unit to enhance the parallax effect obtained by the viewer. The screen and light valve are arranged in such a way that an observer sees the light emitting lines through one set of pixels with the left eye and the same lines through a different set of pixels with the right eye. The autostereoscopic effect is obtained when the viewer sees with the right eye and the left eye either alternating rows or alternating columns of pixels.

Abstract: A simple and economical device is placed in a drill string to provide a pulsating flow of the pressurized drilling fluid to the jets of the drill bit to enhance chip removal and provide a vibrating action in the drill bit itself thereby to provide a more efficient and effective drilling operation.

Abstract: A water-borne craft includes a hull having a pair of wing-like foils positioned on the bottom of the hull toward the rear or stern portion of the craft and in equally spaced relation on opposite sides of the fore and aft center line or symmetry axis of the hull such that the foils are immersed in the water when in use. The foils are each arranged so as to be movable between a first position such that they meet the relatively moving water and generate a lifting force which reacts with the hull so as to lift the rear portion of the hull upwardly, and a second position wherein no lifting force is generated by the foil as, for example, during turning motion of the hull. By exerting the lifting force on the rear portion of the hull, the planing angle is reduced thus reducing hydrodynamic drag and allowing for an increase in speed.

Abstract: Electrically operated linear actuators are provided wherein both the forward and rearward motions are obtained by heating a shape memory metal to its austenitic state and thereafter cooling it to its martensitic state. One shape memory metal forms a retractor spring while the other shape memory metal forms an expansion spring.

Abstract: Accurate heads are prepared by molding processes for the use by taxidermists in preparing fish for permanent display. The heads are removed from the silicone rubber mold just after the molding composition has achieved its peak exotherm and becomes very firm.

Abstract: Molded contact and intraocular lens blanks are lathe cut into the finished lens without demolding and prior measurement of the blank by the use of a hemispherical based mold with at least one key way adapted for spindle bore feeding to a lathe equipped with a hemispherical locating ring and corresponding key. Among other things the mold and method disclosed provide a convenient way to generate prism or multiple curve segments as required for segmented bifocal lenses or the like.

Abstract: A cradle or tethered ball type toy is made more amusing and challenging by the use of a target housing instead of the conventional cradle to receive the ball. The target housing has an opening at the top to receive the ball but is then equipped with slits and return ball opening in the target to permit discharge of the ball from the target without separate action by the players. The housing also has electronic sensing device to separately record the balls from each support to which a ball is tethered.

Abstract: A line throwing rocket arrangement is disclosed which is normally stored in a generally rectangular case. The set includes at least one rocket provided with a guide sleeve generally integral with the body of the rocket but disposed exteriorly thereof. During the launching, the sleeve slides over a straight guide rod. The storage case is provided with suitable means for securement of the guide rod to the box at different angles so that different ranges can be covered by the rocket in rescue or the like operations can be covered. The advance in the art is primarily in the simplified arrangement which facilitates the operation and reduces the manufacturing costs of the set.

Abstract: An utensil for feeding infants and small children is which an elastomeric handguard is mounted around the utensil handle near the food carrying portion of the utensil, e.g. spoon bowl. The removable guard has an object such as an amusing face thereon facing the child.