Abstract: An elongated aerodynamically shaped fairing is disclosed herein having a body with a passageway at its rear for slideability receiving the bolt rope or cable of a sail and an interconnecting slot with the passageway for conducting a portion of the sail luff exteriorly of the fairing. The body of the fairing being provided with an internal cavity at its mid-section and extending forwardly so as to substantially enclose the length of a sailboat forestay. Pivotally carried within the cavity is a toggle member having a socket for bearing against and rotating about the forestay. Inflatable tubes are disposed on opposite sides of the toggle member and when selectively inflated and deflated, actuate the toggle member to flip to one side or the other of a central plane of the sail at its leading edge.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for adding a calibration signal with known phase-timing relationships to identify a time of onset for each input channel being monitored separately. A signal generator produces alignment signals which are introduced to a switch network in parallel with input channel signals requiring phase alignment. The signals are amplified and recorded on a tape including phase shifts and/or time delays. During playback from the tape, playback devices sense the amplified input channel signals utilizing the phase shift and/or time delay information to subsequently adjust these signals for review and analysis.

Abstract: A therapeutic wrap is disclosed herein for applying heat or cold compression to a body or limb area, which includes a single waterproof bladder, casing or envelope having coupling straps for securing the wrap to the body or limb. The bladder is provided with multiple compartments formed by heat-sealed buttons or spots in fixed spaced relationship defining a curved passageway compartmentalizing the bladder interior. A twist cap permits introduction of a heated, cooled or iced medium such as a solid or fluid into the passageway. The bladder or casing includes a fabric composed of a combination of nylon fabric coated with a vinyl thickness presenting an irregular outer surface and a smooth inner surface, and a display area is carried on the exterior surface thereof between adjacent straps. The straps are sewn to the cloth-like roughened surface and a sealing plastic strip covers the stitching for reinforcement and sealing purposes.

Abstract: An expandable throat plug for use in the recovery of a rocket engine nozzle in an engine assembly is disclosed herein having a deployment device carried on the exterior of the engine assembly including an actuator for advancing an extendable column and an arm normal thereto so that the expandable throat plug can be deployed into and inside the nozzle. A telescoping extension shaft deploys the plug interiorly of the nozzle whereby a pressurized medium expands the plug into conformal engagement with the inner surface of the nozzle to seal and close the throat opening.

Abstract: A hold-down device for office equipment or the like is disclosed herein having an elongated base with a lock retainer at one end and a hook retainer at its opposite end for releasably engaging with the opposite ends of a support member to which equipment is carried. The support member is adhesively attached to the underside of the equipment and the lock retainer includes a rotating latch carried on the support member engageable with an undercut provided on a raised portion carried on the base. A shoulder provided on a lock retainer mounting element guides and locates the placement of the equipment onto the support member.

Abstract: A decontamination treatment of process water is disclosed herein originating from electroplating/metal finishing and etching operations wherein the process water is loaded with heavy metal ions. The process combines predetermined quantities of alkali/acid solutions together with a quantity of Sodium Humate so as to produce a disposable sludge which is environmentally safe and poses the least risk for leeching of harmful metals from the resultant sludge. Decontaminated waste water solution is also produced via a sand filter which is further processed to remove ionic, atomic or molecular metal suspended in the waste water solution. This latter process includes a microcon filter having electronic pressure sensors and feedback controls for returning contaminated waste water back into the system via automatic back wash. An electromagnetic ionic filter removes additional ionic, atomic or the like metal contaminants.

Abstract: A manually operated latch for a gate closure is disclosed herein having a resilient helical coil with extended end portions secured to the ends of a pair of hand grips. The end portions are disposed to extend at an angle with respect to each other so that the normal bias of the coil forcibly urges the hand grips away from each other. A keeper loosely secured between the end portions holds the hand grips from separating beyond a predetermined set position and permits yieldable closing or drawing of the hand grips together against the expanding bias of the coil. A pair of latch members are rigidly carried on the end portions and extend towards each other in a normally biased condition to draw overlapping latch elements together.

Abstract: A frame is disclosed herein having an elongated base with opposite side rails defining an exposed message area therebetween occupied by a resilient pad. A message sheet is placed between the pad and a transparent window or layer which is slidably carried on the side rails to cover and protect the message sheet. Stop abutments are provided to limit sliding of the window and a snap-lock mechanism is employed for releasably retaining the window in place over the message sheet.

Abstract: A seat-lifting apparatus is disclosed herein having an anchor attachment secured to the underside of a hinged seat and operably connected to a foot actuator pedal via a pivotal linkage for lifting the seat at the will of the user. An L-shaped base is included pivotally carrying the pedal at one end while pivotally carrying the pedal at one end while pivotally supporting the linkage at its other end. The linkage includes a main link pivoted between its opposite ends to the base and the main link pivoted to the anchor attachment on one end while coupled at its other end to the foot pedal by end-to-end links. The base and the pedal include anti-skid elements to prevent slippage during use.

Abstract: A load and motion transmitting apparatus is disclosed herein having a housing operably mounting a pair of spaced shafts having parallel turning axes where each shaft has a conical portion tapering in a direction opposite to the conical portion of the other shaft. The rotative movement of the driving shaft conical portion of the pair is transmitted to the driven shaft conical portion via a spherical intermediate drive member held in a movable carriage. The periphery of the conical portions includes hemispherical recesses arranged in circumference rows across the length of each conical portion so that relative velocity of the two shafts is controlled by axial movement of the drive member via the carriage. The carriage encloses a plurality of spherical drive members in a series so that each drive member transfers a driving load or force between conical portions in a serial sequence. The carriage location along the conical portions determines a variety of "gear ratios".

Abstract: A motorized dining fork is disclosed herein having an elongated hollow sleeve open at one end to insertably receive a shaft having a tined forked end. A battery-operated motor is mounted in the sleeve and forcibly rotates the shaft to twist the forked end. A gear reduction mechanism operably couples the motor drive shaft with the shaft of the forked end for controlled rotary movement effective to gather a pasta food product about the tines during an eating procedure. Bearing elements rotatably mount all turning shafts and control switches are employed to effect starting and stopping operations as well as RPM control.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed herein for use in chain link roller assembly and disassembly which includes an elongated lead screw having a threaded shaft manually turned by finger lever or wrench nut through a support member. A pair of jaw members operate as a movable vise having one end of a jaw pivotally connected to the support member and one end of the other jaw pivotally connected to a travelling nut in threadable engagement with the lead screw shaft. The midsections of the jaws are pivotally coupled in scissors fashion with their free ends terminating in toothed link engaging elements cooperating to releasably couple with spaced-apart chain links in a strand for releasing strand tension between the links when the jaws are drawn together by actuation of the lead screw.

Abstract: A tool caddy is disclosed herein for releasably retaining a plurality of hand tools and hand tool accessories, which includes a base having a plurality of resilient retainers mounted thereon adapted to snap-lock with tools or accessories. An attachment device is carried on the base for detachably mounting the caddy to the wrist, belt or tool so that the accessories are readily available to the user during a work procedure. The attachment device may take the form of a hook and pile fastener directly carried on the base or carried on the ends of a strap. A belt loop is also contemplated as an attachment device.

Abstract: A bicycle trailer for transporting small children comprising a rigid, lightweight frame partially covered with fabric and provided with fabric sling seats for accommodating one or more small children. The wheels of the bicycle trailer are journaled on an axle the ends of which are mounted on vertical frame members for vertical sliding. The ends of the axle are resiliently coupled to the frame by elongated elastic members which pass over their associated ends of the axle and also pass around a boss which projects downwardly from the frame.