Abstract: A compact brake system for a wheeled vehicle fits substantially within the profile of a tire and rim to reduce wheel box width to increase cargo space between wheel boxes. In one embodiment, a caliper bracket is mounted on a spindle lever connected to a wheel spindle, eliminating the need for a standard brake flange extending from the spindle and thereby reducing the width of the brake system. The spindle lever is mounted on a torque bar rotatably mounted on an axle to allow vertical movement of the spindle to be reacted in a dampening mechanism. A brake caliper is mounted on the caliper bracket for brakingly engaging a brake rotor. The brake caliper, caliper bracket, spindle lever and spindle are substantially or entirely disposed within the tire profile. Alternately, the brake caliper may be mounted on a drop center spindle or used with a spindle mounted on an axle.

Abstract: A merchandise display system includes a rod lockably connected to a peg board, a hanging member hanging from the rod and a swivel member rotatably connected to the hanging member about a first axis. The swivel member is connected to a lockable display case for carrying an item of merchandise and is rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Thus, the display case is rotatable about the first and second axes to facilitate viewing the merchandise from any angle while the case is lockably connected to the rod. The hanging and swivel members may be a ball and socket combination. Alternately, the swivel member may connect to the display case via a hinge pin about which portions of the case may rotate to open and close. Alternately, a lower member may extend from within the case through holes therein to rotatably connect to the swivel member about the second axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing melting of titanium for processing into ingots or end products. The apparatus provides a main hearth, a plurality of optional refining hearths, and a plurality of casting molds or direct molds whereby direct arc electrodes melt the titanium in the main hearth while plasma torches melt the titanium in the refining chambers and/or adjacent the molds. Each of the direct arc electrodes and plasma torches is extendable and retractable into the melting environment and moveable in a circular pivoting or side to side linear motion.

Abstract: A merchandise display hook attaches to a display board and has a rod assembly from which items of merchandise are hung and a base assembly that moves relative to the rod assembly. The base may lock directly to the rod or to an inner base member attached to the rod. When locked, the display hook is locked to the display board. The display hook may include an end assembly that slides along and selectively locks to the rod assembly to allow or prevent removal and loading of the items of merchandise from and onto the rod assembly. The display hook may alternately include an anti-sweeping mechanism to prevent rapid removal of the items of merchandise from the rod assembly.

Abstract: A fence rail mounting clip for connecting a hollow fence rail to a vertical post. The mounting clip includes a base that is selectively interlockable with a bracket. The bracket has a front surface with a peripheral wall extending normal to and outwardly therefrom to define a fence rail receptacle for receiving an end of the rail therein. A rail support extends normal to and outwardly from the front surface of the bracket from a position within the rail receptacle. The rail support is separated from the peripheral wall by a gap. The rail support terminates in an outermost edge which lies further from the front surface of the bracket than does the outermost edge of the peripheral wall. When the rail is received in the rail receptacle, the walls of the rail are received within the gap between the rail support and peripheral wall and are wedged therebetween, and the rail support extends into the bore of the hollow rail.

Abstract: A grating system includes a first welded subassembly and a second non-welded subassembly joined to one another. The first subassembly includes spaced elongated bearing bars and spaced elongated cross bars extending transversely to the bearing bars. The second subassembly includes spaced elongated filler bars and spaced elongated cross bars extending transversely to the filler bars. The filler bars extend in the same direction as the bearing bars and are disposed in sets between adjacent bearing bars. The bearing bars include spaced notches in which are received the first subassembly cross bars and the second subassembly cross bars, which are aligned above the first subassembly cross bars. The subassemblies have respective upper surfaces which are flush with one another. The first subassembly is configured to support vehicle traffic and the second subassembly is configured to support pedestrian traffic.

Abstract: A continuous- or intermittent-melt induction furnace useful for heating and/or melting semi-conductor or other materials includes an induction coil, a susceptor switchable between open and closed electric circuit modes, and a crucible. The susceptor is inductively or resistively heated in the closed circuit mode and transfers heat to material in the melting cavity to make it susceptible to inductive heating. The susceptor is then switched to the open circuit mode and the susceptible material is directly inductively heated to melt remaining solid material. A cone-shaped flow guide in the melting cavity improves molten material flow to improve the ability to draw small-particle material into the melt and increase crucible life due to improved heat uniformity. A trap passage communicating with the melting cavity and an exit opening in the crucible allows the flow of material through the exit opening to be controlled by pressure differentials on either side of the trap passage.

Abstract: A fitted bed sheet has a pair of roll guards mounted thereon to prevent a toddler or other person from rolling out of bed. Each roll guard is removably disposed in a slip cover mounted on the sheet by a flexible strip of material, which allows each roll guard to move between a first position atop the sheet and a second position beside the sheet with the roll guard hanging from the flexible strip. Each roll guard is securable in the raised position by the linking of fastener strips having hook and loop fasteners mounted on the slip cover and fabric loops mounted on the sheet. Each roll guard is removably mounted to the sheet via a zipper between the sheet and the flexible strip of material mounted on the slip cover. A plurality of elastic straps is mounted axially on the bottom of the sheet to help secure the sheet on a mattress.

Abstract: An induction furnace includes an induction coil, an electrically non-conductive crucible having an inner diameter disposed within the induction coil, and an electrically conductive member disposed below the crucible and having an outer diameter which is further from the induction coil than is the inner diameter of the crucible. Due to the non-conductive nature of material disposed within the crucible at lower temperatures, the induction coil initially inductively heats the conductive member, which transfers heat to the material to melt a portion of the material. Once the material is susceptible to inductive heating (usually upon melting) the susceptible material is inductively heated by the induction coil. During the process, inductive heating of the material greatly increases as inductive heating of the conductive member greatly decreases due to low resistivity of the molten material and due to the molten material being closer to the coil than is the conductive member.

Abstract: A support mechanism for selectively mounting a fixed base or plunge type router on a router table comprises a table plate having top and bottom sides and an opening therethrough having an opening axis, and a carriage beneath the table plate for supporting a router coaxial with the opening axis. Guide posts slidably support the carriage for axial displacement toward and away from the table plate, and adjusting screws rotatable relative to the table plate interengage with the carriage for rotation of the screws to displace the carriage relative to the table plate. The carriage includes a pair of carriage blocks interengaging with the guide posts and adjusting screws, and a router mounting plate which is removably mounted on the carriage blocks. The router mounting plate is provided with a plurality of sets of mounting holes, and each set is for mounting a different model router on the table plate.

Abstract: A one-way pneumatic delivery system includes a plurality of sending units in fluid communication with a receiving unit via a duct system. Each of the sending units and the receiving unit include a door that selectively prevents fluid communication into the duct system. When the carrier is inserted in one of the sending units, a power unit applies a vacuum to the duct system and the doors of the other sending units and of the receiving unit are sealed. The power unit both decelerates the carrier prior to its reception in the receiving unit and is configured to prevent the insertion of foreign objects into the vacuum source. A second embodiment is presented wherein the power unit is disposed in an upside-down configuration above a ceiling.

Abstract: A bottle security device includes an inner member, an intermediate member and an outer member that cooperate to lock the device on a bottle neck. The inner member includes a plurality of fingers adapted to fit under the bead on a bottle neck. The intermediate member slides over the inner member and forces the fingers against the bottle. The intermediate member includes a plurality of upwardly extending arms with inwardly projecting teeth that engage outwardly extending teeth on the inner member to lock the inner and intermediate members together. A key unlocks and rotates a rotatable member to separate the intermediate and inner members to unlock the device. Upon rotation of the cover cap, camming surfaces on the rotatable member engage the upwardly extending arms to move them radially outward to disengage them from the inner member.

Abstract: A bottle security device includes an inner member, an intermediate member and an outer member that cooperate to lock the device on a bottle neck. The inner member includes a plurality of fingers adapted to fit under the bead on a bottle neck. The intermediate member slides over the inner member and forces the fingers against the bottle. The intermediate member includes a plurality of upwardly extending arms with inwardly projecting teeth that engage outwardly extending teeth on the inner member to lock the inner and intermediate members together. A key unlocks and rotates a rotatable member to separate the intermediate and inner members to unlock the device. Upon rotation of the cover cap, camming surfaces on the rotatable member engage the upwardly extending arms to move them radially outward to disengage them from the inner member.

Abstract: A hole-saw assembly including a hole-saw having at one end a plurality of cutting teeth and at the other end two shafts. The assembly includes a mandrel coaxially aligned with said hole-saw and including a body having two bores therethrough coaxially aligned with said shafts. An annulus located on top of the body is coaxially aligned with said mandrel and hole saw and includes two holes, the annulus rotatable around its longitudinal axis from a first to a second position. In the first position the annulus holes are aligned with the bores and shafts allowing the shafts to be freely insertable and removable and in the second position the holes are misaligned to lock the shafts to the annulus. Such an arrangement allows the hole-saw and the mandrel to be easily and quickly mountable and demountable.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing accidental contact of a user's fingers with the live blades of an electrical plug during inserting or removal of the plug from a wall socket and a method for attaching the safety device to an electrical plug. The safety device includes a housing with a collapsible shield and a connector for connecting the housing to the front end of the electrical plug. The shield extends outwardly from the front end of the housing and surrounds the blades when the safety device is attached to the plug. The connector comprises a pair of opposing detents that extend outwardly away from the rear wall of the housing. The detents flex to allow the front end of the plug to pass between them but do not allow the front end of the plug to be withdrawn therethrough. The shield collapses toward the front end of the housing when the plug is inserted into a wall socket and re-expands to its original position when the plug is withdrawn from the wall socket.

Abstract: A tape dispenser having a frame, a cutter blade and a non-rotatable pressure pad is disclosed. The dispenser holds a roll of adhesive tape therein. The cutter blade and pressure pad are secured together and are snap-fitted into the frame so that the blade extends a short distance beyond the front edge of the frame. The pressure pad applies pressure to the adhesive tape as it is being dispensed from the tape dispenser. The frame has side walls that each have a tab formed thereon. The tabs are positioned a short distance to the rear of the pressure pad and they do not extend below the lower edge of the side walls of the dispenser. The tabs are positioned and shaped in such a manner that tape from the roll is supported on the top surface of the tabs. The tape is biased into contact with the pressure pad by the tabs so that the tape is ready to be dispensed from the roll and is prevented from curling back onto the roll when cut.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for use in association with a vacuum canister for a central vacuum system is disclosed. The mounting bracket is received within the housing of the vacuum canister and thereby divides the canister into clean and dirt collection chambers. Dirt collection chamber is adapted to receive dirt-laden air from the central vacuum system while clean chamber is adapted to re-circulate cleaned air back into the building. Mounting bracket is preferably a molded structure having a central bore. A plurality of stepped grooves are provided for receiving one of a variety of sizes of motor therein. A plurality of circuit board brackets are formed on mounting bracket, said circuit board brackets range in size so as to accommodate a range of sizes of circuit boards therein. Mounting bracket further includes a filter support formed therein. The filter support includes a quick attachment/release mechanism for installing filters thereon.

Abstract: A tape dispenser has first and second half-shells, with a dispensing end and a cutter end, and a first cutter member formed in and integral with the first half-shell, and having a plurality of upwardly directed serrations which define serrated cutting teeth at the top ends. First and second cutter retainer walls are provided; and a removable second cutter member is adapted to overlie the serrated cutting teeth of the first cutter member, and having a plurality of serrated cutting teeth of the same size and depth as those of said first cutter member.