Abstract: A steering head set assembly for a bicycle or the like wherein the conventional ball bearings are replaced by obliquely disposed needle or roller bearings, some embodiments including an elastic element to enable the bearings to be pre-stressed and provide vibration isolation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combination safety device and gutter protector for use with a ladder which is leaned at an angle to the wall of a house or the like, the upper ends resting laterally secure against a relatively narrow extending surface of the device and not against the outer edge of a gutter installed on the eave of a roof. The device of the invention serves to prevent slippage or other undesirable movement of a ladder when it is placed in position for use and is a support means supporting the ladder and its load directly to the fascia board of a house, rather than to the gutter. The device is an "H" shaped support means attached to a gutter backwall and to a fascia board and is composed of two spaced apart stanchions and a crossmember, each of the stanchions having a longitudinal passageway thereto and an elongated spike disposed in the passageway. One end of the spike protrudes through the gutter backwall and is embedded in the fascia board.

Abstract: A collapsible shaft assembly forming part of a universal coupling, such as in the steering system of a motor vehicle, has outer and inner sleeves, a co-axial elastomeric sleeve in radial compression there between, a shaft rotatably coupled to and axially slideable within the inner sleeve and a shearable lock to hold the shaft axially relatively to the inner sleeve up to a given, minimum axial load, such as in a motor vehicle collision.

Abstract: Disclosed is a telephone wall mounting adapted to receive a mating plug used in the installation of a wall telephone connected to a telephone transmission line, such mounting comprising: a base plate having a centrally located hole, rectangular in shape, having first and second opposing sidewalls each containing an aligned slot and a third sidewall containing a plurality of parallel grooves adapted to receive a like number of spring contacts; two nail head like studs, each having a shank portion one terminal portion of which is integrally connected to a nail head portion and the other terminal portion being in mechanical connection with and extending above the surface of the base plate, the nail head like portions being positioned parallel to the base plate; a rectangular jack housing including four sidewalls circumscribing the centrally located hole integral with and extending perpendicular from the base plate and terminating above the terminal edges of the nail head like portions of the nail head like studs

Abstract: Disclosed is a coaxial cable having greatly improved mechanical and electrical properties derived from a foamed dielectric having a dielectric constant in the range of 1.32 to 1.1, a density between 0.1 and 0.29 grams per cubic centimeter, said foamed dielectric having dispersed throughout it undecomposed particles of a nucleating agent such cable being provided by a novel method of coating a center conductor of the cable with a dielectric with an extruded cellular polyolefin base composition which has been rendered cellular by the direct injection of a blowing agent in a liquid form into the polymer during an extrusion process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solar heater adapted to be made in modular units and used as such or alone, each unit comprising a container, generally triangular in cross section, made up of equal dimensional reflective (two in number) and transparent (one in number) sidewalls, plus two equal dimensional reflective end members of like cross section. Disposed in the container is a conduit and an enlargement of same, the geometric center of said enlargement being coincident with the geometric center of the container. The enlargement is spaced apart from the two reflective and the transparent sidewalls and as a result of the shape of the container and disposition of the enlargement in it, the enlargement is heated by solar rays from its top and its underside, thereby giving rise to a solar heater of significant efficiency.

Abstract: In the match pack of this invention, the ignition or striking surface is positioned on an interior wall surface of the ignition chamber which is conveniently located on the bottom portion of the match pack below the match comb or combs in the match pack. The housing or body structure defining the ignition chamber is formed with at least one entry hole or passage which opens into the ignition chamber to enable a match to be inserted into the chamber for ignition. An ignition finger conveniently positioned on the closure flap or front cover of the match pack is insertable through a slot in the chamber-defining body structure to press the match head of the inserted match against the striking or ignition surface and to thereby facilitate ignition of the match upon rapidly withdrawing it from the ignition chamber.

Abstract: A telephone transmission system in which a telephone transmission line connects a central office d.c. power source to a battery charging control circuit to apply an input voltage to the control circuit, in which a battery charger connects a rechargeable battery to said control circuit to draw battery charging current from the transmission line under the control of the control circuit, in which the control circuit is rendered effective by a lowering of the input voltage to at least a predetermined value to effectively disconnect the battery charger and the battery from the transmission line for a period that exceeds the interval in which the input voltage is lowered.

Abstract: Deterioration of most telephone conductor plastic insulation is restricted to that insulation exposed to the atmosphere. To alleviate this problem, there is disclosed a bag-like first enclosure adapted to be fitted around the terminal portion of a cable terminus from which a plurality of plastic insulated conductors protrude. Either affixed to an inner wall or to one or more of the protruding conductors is a second enclosure that is perforated and contains an antioxidant. Alternatively, the sidewalls of the first container can be made of laminated plastic, the innermost laminate of the laminated sidewall containing 1-50% by weight of an antioxidant.