Abstract: Modular building panels having foam cores protected by metal skins are releasably interconnected in edge-to-edge relation to one another. The interconnection is accomplished by bending the metal skins that protect the top and bottom surfaces of the core into complementary shapes so that contiguous panels are snap fit together when the bent metal skins are interlocked with one another. In some embodiments, the cores are grooved and the flexibility of the interlocking members is increased by decreasing the depth of the grooves and the flexibility is decreased by increasing the depths of those grooves because decreasing the groove depth provides less support for the interlocking members and allows them to displace more during the interlocking procedure and increasing the depth increases the support and thus limits their movement.

Abstract: A method for introducing a prestress into a concrete member includes the steps of passing a steel rod (2) through a hollow steel rod (1), applying a tensile force to the hollow steel rod (1), while using the steel rod (2) as a reaction support member, placing concrete (4) around the hollow prestressed steel rod (1), and hardening the concrete (4). The apparatus includes a flat bearing support plate that abuts the concrete to be prestressed, a jack and ram, a rigid support member for interconnecting the jack and ram to the bearing support plate, and a holding cylinder positioned between the bearing support plate and the jack and ram. The bearing support plate and a leading end of the holding cylinder are apertured and screw threadedly receive the threaded trailing end of a hollow steel rod. The trailing end of the steel rod is screw threadedly received by the trailing end of the holding cylinder.

Abstract: A method for inserting a drain catheter into an antrum includes the steps of securing a needle holder to the trailing end of a needle, positioning a hammer in predetermined spaced relation to the trailing end of the needle holder, loading a bias member so that it urges the hammer to strike the needle holder, restraining the hammer to maintain the load on the hammer, and quickly releasing the hammer and allowing it to strike the needle holder so that the leading end of the needle punctures the bone of the antrum wall. A first dampening member decelerates the hammer at the end of its displacement, and a second dampening member decelerates the needle and needle holder at the end of their joint displacement. A rigid tube is disposed in ensleeving relation to the needle so that the leading end of the tube is positioned in predetermined proximity to the point of the needle so that the leading end of the tube is carried into the antrum when the needle point punctures the antrum wall.

Abstract: Storing stabilizers for color image of heat sensitive recording materials, which are higher safe diphenylsulfone derivatives represented by general formula (I), and the heat sensitive recording materials using them. ##STR1## (Wherein, R.sup.1 is aralkyl or lower alkenyl which may be substituted with halogen or lower alkyl and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or methyl, but when R.sup.1 is unsubstituted benzyl, R.sub.2 is methyl).

Abstract: An assembly that includes security bars is mounted in the interior of a structure in registration with a window so that entrance into the structure is denied even when the window is open. Frame members are permanently secured to the structure adjacent the window to be protected, on opposite sides of the window. Complementally formed end piece members are slideably received within their associated frame members and are free to slide upwardly and downwardly with respect to the frame members. A first set of bars extends horizontally from the first end piece towards the second end piece and a second set of bars extends horizontally from the second end piece towards the first end piece. The respective free ends of the first and second sets of bars telescopically engage one another so that the assembly may be fitted to windows of differing widths.

Abstract: An improved flow-through washing and scrubbing brush handle for interconnection at one end to a source of pressurized water such as a garden hose and connectable at the other end to a flow-through type scrub brush or the like. The device may include structure for varying water flow therethrough for delivery into the scrub brush and further includes a telescoping structure which releasably secures a selected overall length between its sliding inner and outer tubes. Unique sealing arrangements also prevent water leakage anywhere along the device, including from between inner and outer tubes.

Abstract: A random number generator for generating lottery numbers includes a bottle that contains a large number of balls. Each ball has a different number imprinted on it. The balls are loosely packed within the bottle so that shaking or inverting the bottle scrambles the balls. In all embodiments, a cylindrical, ball-receiving neck extension member receives one or more numbered balls when the bottle is inverted. In a first embodiment, a flexible and resilient boot conforms to the shape of the bottle and the neck of the bottle throughout all positions of the boot. The uppermost end of the boot remains in a cylindrical, ball-receiving configuration at all times. In a second embodiment, multiple cylindrical ball-receiving parts of differing lengths are separately attached to the open bottle neck, and in a third embodiment, a rigid boot includes a lower part that slidably engages the lower part of the bottle and an upper part that slidably engages the neck of the bottle.

Abstract: An auto inflator having a dissolvable element that abuts and prevents sliding movement of a retainer pin that is under very low pressure. The auto inflator further includes a rotatably mounted lever arm that effects puncturing of a gas-filled cartridge by a puncture pin when the lever arm is rotated. Rotation of the lever arm occurs when the retainer pin is retracted upon dissolution of the dissolvable element. A slide member is slidably mounted in an elongate track and is biased to slide away from the retainer pin but the retainer pin, when extended, prevents that movement. The retainer pin is biased to retract, but the dissolvable element prevents that retraction until it is dissolved. Upon dissolution, the retainer pin retracts and the slide member moves along the track, pulling a lanyard with it. The lanyard is engaged to the lever arm and effects its rotation so that the puncture pin is driven into the membrane that seals the cartridge.

Abstract: A musical instrument has a plurality of chime members disposed along its length, and each chime member is easily removed from the instrument or placed in a different position with respect to the other chime members. In some embodiments, plural slots are formed along the length of a base member and each chime member is suspended from a cord that is inserted into contiguous slots, and an elongate cover member overlies the base member to prevent inadvertent removal of the cords from their respective slots. Different structures are shown for spacing the cover apart from the base when it is desired to remove one or more cords from its associated slot. In additional embodiments, each chime member is suspended from a module, and the module releasably engages the base member.

Abstract: A knife has a handle that slideably receives the respective handles of a fork and a spoon in one orientation only. The transverse cross section of the fork handle and the spoon handle is generally rectangular, with a longitudinally-extending step formed in each side to create a broad base and a slightly narrower upper part. The knife handle has a corresponding channel on each of its opposite sides and slidingly receives the fork handle on one side and the spoon handle on the other if the handles are correctly oriented. The steps formed in the handles of the fork and spoon are of small depth so that they are barely noticeable by users of those utensils.

Abstract: High viscosity materials are dispensed or aspirated by an assembly of cartridges having plungers reciprocally mounted within them. A device for translating rotary motion into linear motion is connected to the output shaft of a small electric motor so that operation of the motor effects linear movement of the plungers. The assembly replaces hydraulic and pneumatic systems and enables better control of the dispensing or aspirating process. In a first embodiment, a single cartridge dispenses a high viscosity material. In additional embodiments, plural cartridges are employed. In the final embodiments, the apparatus is equipped with a suitable assembly of one-way valves and other auxiliary equipment so that it can be used to perform liposuction or aspiration procedures and irrigation of surgical sites.

Abstract: The materials to be treated, for instance, molded resin articles with resin films coated thereon are treated by relatively simple means to separate and remove the resin film coatings from the surfaces thereof, and are further treated to recover them as a raw-form of resin material or a resin material regulated such that its particle diameter lies within a given particle diameter range, or the materials to be treated, for instance, powder materials are pulverized and granulated. A molded resin article is crushed to small pieces, to which compression impacts based on fine vibrations are in turn applied for squeezing, and resin film coatings separated off the small pieces are removed. The thus treated small pieces are further re-pulverized, and frictional crushing impacts are applied to the thus pulverized pieces as well for polishing and size-regulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for sweeping marine mines having a magnetic sensor by at least three electrodes (10, 11, 13) spaced apart and tractored by a vessel (12) and behind each other, the electrodes being provided with electric current from the vessel (12) for generating a magnetic field in the water surrounding the electrodes (10, 11, 13), each of the electrodes (10, 11, 13) separately being provided with electric current of individually adjustable strength. The invention is characterized by varying in time the current strength of the current fed to the electrodes between positive and negative limits with intermediate zero passages to separate the time for zero passage of the current to at least one of the electrodes (10, 11, 13) from the time for zero passage of the current to the rest of the electrodes (10, 11, 13).

Abstract: A tone generating apparatus that employs a read-out system comprises a waveform memory wherein are stored, as waveform data for a transient portion, waveform data that have a weighted attenuation characteristic and that are stored at a predetermined interval within a stationary portion following a rising portion of the musical tone, and waveform data that are obtained by extracting and linking multiple sets of the waveform data at the predetermined interval within a stationary portion, by filtering the resultant waveform data by employing a filtering process that does not alter phase information, by extracting from filtered waveform data waveform data for an interval equivalent to the predetermined interval, by linking together the extracted waveform data in numbers equivalent to the number of waveforms included in the predetermined interval, and by weighting the resultant waveform data with a rising characteristic; and wherein are further stored, as waveform data for a repetitive portion, the filtered wavefo

Abstract: A combination filter and evaporator unit for use in small engine applications includes a filter member that is screw threadedly engaged to the evaporator unit to facilitate replacement of filter media as needed. The design of the unit constrains incoming oil to flow first through the filter media and then to an evaporation chamber. A central hub and a bottom wall of the evaporation chamber are directly heated by a heating element, and the evaporation chamber is closed by an imperforate lid so that heat loss is inhibited.

Abstract: A retriever and a cart that are detachably secured to one another are used for retrieving and transporting, respectively, heavy containers of the type found in trash compactors. A pair of biased looking bolts hold the retriever and container together when they are in repose. The locking bolts are retracted by squeezing a latch release handle positioned just below the retriever handle so that the cart and retriever can be easily separated from one another. The cart has curved leading surfaces so that the two parts can be reattached by simply pushing them together; the curved surfaces drive the locking bolts into their respective retracted positions so that the latch release handle need not be activated during the reattachment procedure.

Abstract: A chord information output apparatus according to the present invention includes a keyboard, a key depression information detector, a chord detector for detecting a chord according to key information detected by the key depression information detector, and an internal information output section for sending detected chord information to an external device. The chord information output apparatus detects a chord upon keyboard key depression, and outputs the chord as chord information to an external device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making thin panels having a urethane core and hinges for interconnecting them. A frame is secured to a support bed, and a sheet of paper is placed inside the frame into overlying relation to the bed. Plural board members are then placed inside the frame so that they overlie the peripheral borders of the sheet of paper and so that they are held in position by the frame. Tubular members are positioned in bores formed in the board members so that they extend into the area bounded by the extrusion members, and the innermost end of the tubular members are taped over to prevent foam intrusion. A second sheet of paper is then placed over the frame and a rigid top plate is lowered into overlying relation to the second sheet of paper so that the frame is sandwiched between the bed and the top plate. Foam is then injected into the cavity defined by the board members and the sheets of paper through a port formed in a board member.

Abstract: A machine and method for making frusto-conical liners for a funnel of the type used on a urinal for female individuals. The liners are dispensed from a dispenser of the telescopic type so that pressing down on a top part of the dispenser releases a liner from the dispenser. The funnel lined by the liner is cradled in an improved funnel holder that includes an ejector that knocks a used liner off the funnel when the funnel is returned to the holder so that the user need not handle the liner. The machine that performs the method of making the liners includes a station where flat liners are removed from a stack of liners, spread open, and placed on a mandrel. The mandrel rotates to a second station where the liner is folded into its final configuration. The mandrel next rotates to a third station where the liner is heat treated, and the mandrel then rotates to a fourth station where the liner is removed from the machine and added to a stack of nested liners for subsequent charging into a dispenser.

Abstract: Human prourokinase-like polypeptides of which oligopeptides having a structure to form a covalent bond with blood clot (thrombus) through enzymatic action of human blood coagulation factor XIII are attached to the NH.sub.2 -terminal sides of human prourokinase derivatives.