Abstract: A pinball machine construction having a horizontally hinged security door which includes a top control panel which also clamps the glass cover over the playing field. A variable ball delivery system is remotely actuated and variable to deliver the balls to the playing field. Side wall flippers and half bumpers can be included which are mounted adjacent any wall on the playing field. The controls for the pinball machine can be mounted on top of the top control panel for easy access.

Abstract: A thermally insulating masonry block constituted by a sandwich of at least two building blocks between which a plate of insulating material is interposed, the sandwich being tied together by at least one strap. A method of making such an insulating masonry block unit comprising the steps of interposing a plate of insulating material between two building blocks and tying the blocks and insulating plate together by at least one strap.

Abstract: The parapulper restorative pin comprises a stem provided with a handle permitting to operate it manually, the dentist rotating this handle by gripping it between his fingers. This handle is provided with four longitudinal grooves constituting holds for four longitudinal fingers provided at the front end of a stem constituting a driving member intended to be connected to a motor driving mechanism, for example a dental engine. The engagement of the fingers with the grooves of the handle not only renders the stem of the driving member angularly rigid with the stem of the pin but, moreover, renders these two elements also rigid axially, owing to the fact that the said engagement is a friction fit, that facilitates the presentation of the pin opposite the hole of the dental root into which it has to be screwed.

Abstract: A drip-proof connector is used in connection between electric cables or the like and electric and electronic appliances such as cameras for televisions, servomotors for machine tools and the like. An insert of the connector is adapted to abut against an inwardly extending annular flange provided on an inside of a connector shell. With this arrangement, the drip-proof connector is simply and easily assembled or disassembled in fields without using particular tools and has a sufficient drip-proof property.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic nailer system for use in the joinery industry. The system includes a strip including a plurality of plastic ferrules which receive a complementary plurality of nails. The ferrules are arranged in a longitudinal row and are connected to each other by at least one severable plastic web. The system further includes an automatic nailer specially adapted to drive the nails individually into a substrate while at the same time severing its associated ferrule from the next adjacent ferrule. Preferably, the automatic nailer includes a cartridge for feeding a plurality of strips into the automatic nailer.

Abstract: A simplified patient transfer mat for aiding the moving of a patient who cannot move oneself. The mat includes an elongated body portion with a substantially rectangular shape adapted to be placed transversely under the patient. The body portion is rigid yet flexible enough to at least partially conform to the contour of a portion of the patient's body. The mat including grasping openings in each end with slots adjacent thereto for securing a strap therethrough to secure the patient to the mat. A pair of mats are placed under the patient forming a transfer method and system to move the patient by sliding or lifting.

Abstract: A watertight hinge closure for a dispensing container. The closure has a lid with a solid unitary one-piece hinge which snaps shut onto a cap body integrally formed therewith. The lid and hinge are formed to leave a minimal space between the lid, the hinge and the cap body when the closure is in the shut position. The top of the cap body has a raised portion which is angled toward the snap fit portion of the lid opposite the hinge to prevent seepage and to avoid stagnant areas which could cause contamination.

Abstract: A snap open hinged dispensing closure for a dispensing container. The closure having the snap open feature such that the closure lid is retained in an open position away from the dispensing opening of the container. The closure lid has a pair of hinges and a central tapered hinge strap formed therebetween.

Abstract: A latch for a pivotal window sash used in a double-hung window assembly. The latch is mounted internally in a sash frame member with its latch bolt protruding from the sash to engage in the guide rail of the main frame jamb of the window assembly. There is a finger manipulative control button external of the sash frame for releasing the bolt from said guide rail so that the window sash can be pivoted. The latch bolt is mounted under spring tension to maintain the bolt normally in a locked position. The several latch parts including the spring are maintained together in assembly as a unit to thereafter be installed in said window sash.

Abstract: A two-piece plastic signholder and subassembly therefor. The signholder includes a bracket having a floor and inclined bearing edges which bear against the assembled two substantially identical plastic pieces. The bracket and pieces are designed to provide a bias to ensure a top bearing surface between the upper portions of the two assembled pieces to securely hold signs therebetween. The pieces include positive engagement elongated mating slots and posts along the bottom edge of the pieces, which also include inner and outer inclined or angled bottom edge pieces and the pieces can be curved or warped toward one another to aid in the biasing of the pieces. The pieces alos include a stepped recess and flat support surface in the bottom edge to maintain contact between the bottom edge and the floor of the bracket to resist tipping from side blows.

Abstract: Computerized sewing apparatus having incorporated therein edge position sensing apparatus and the capability to modify, in real time, a pre-programmed sewing path in accordance with the actual position of the piece being sewn. The apparatus comprises a sewing head, a workholder, a microprocessor coupled to the workholder for moving the workholder relative to the sewing head, apparatus for sensing the edge position of an object on the workholder and arranged to provide an output signal corresponding thereto to the microprocessor, comparator apparatus in the microprocessor to compare the actual edge position with the programmed expected edge position and to determine any deviation, and apparatus coupled to the microprocessor for modifying the sewing path during sewing to compensate for any such deviation.

Abstract: An improved glove bag hazardous waste removal system especially for confining pipes, including a top endless zipper for closing the bag onto the pipes and shoulder extensions with self retained shoulder straps for securing and removing the bag to and from the pipes. At least one self-sealing access sleeve is included in the bag wall for contamination free access to the interior thereof by water spray and vacuum probes. An internal self-closing tool pouch is formed on an inner bag wall. The bag preferably made of PVC, can include an internally sealable waste catch basin.

Abstract: A shuttered card-edge type IC card including a base having springs therein and a circuit board, a shutter and a cover provided in succession on at least one surface of the base. The base is formed with guide grooves and guide and spring receiving grooves. The springs are located in the guide and spring receiving grooves to close the shutter. The shutter is provided with pawls to be fitted in the guide grooves, respectively, for guiding the pawls in the guide grooves. The shutter is further provided with spring bias plates to be fitted in the guide and spring receiving grooves, respectively, for guiding the spring bias plates in the guide and spring receiving grooves and biasing the spring bias plates by the springs located therein. The connector comprises ridges located corresponding to the guide grooves of the base of the IC card and to be fitted in the guide grooves. The shutter of this IC card is not easily opened even if any member contacts the card in carrying or using it.

Abstract: Filtered insulation baffle that serves as a barrier against insects and other pests entering an attic space of a building while allowing free air to flow into the attic through the baffle. A housing is formed with closed sides and open ends and sized to fit into the area between adjacent rafters of the building. A filter is formed from a porous filter material that is sized larger than the open end of the housing and positioned in one end of the housing to allow the filter material to protrude from the housing. The baffle is positioned between the rafters with the filter material protruding into an opening between the roof deck and the plate structure of the building. The protruding filter material is then wedged into the opening such that a portion of the filter material will roll back on the end of the housing to seal the opening while allowing free air to pass through the baffle and into the attic space of the building.

Abstract: A cutting machine including a base, a cutter movably mounted on the base, and a drive for moving the cutter reciprocably along the base to carry out a cutting operation. The cutter height relative to the base is alterable by a ram and the base includes a controller for controlling the height of the cutter to set a desired height of the cutter relative to the base as the cutter passes the controller.

Abstract: A mould 13 which may be of graphite, ceramic material, or metal is formed with an internal surface 14 accurately machined to the required shape of the surface of the rotary dresser which is being formed. Diamond particles 15 are then adhered to the surface 14 by any suitable adhesive. A metal surfacing powder is then applied to build up a metal layer 16 by means of an arc plasma spray surfacing gun 20 to melt the powder particles and a high velocity gas flow to propel the particles onto the diamond coated layer. A layer of a low melting point dimensionally stable alloy may be cast on top of metal layer 16 onto the internal bore. The mould 13 is then removed and the external surface accurately ground to final form. A supporting steel core may be added.

Abstract: Continuous stationery capable of being easily divided up into individually separated sheets. The sheets 10 are joined at their transverse edges, 13, 14, 15 etc. Additional score lines 21 and 22 run transversely across the sheet and extend beyond longitudinal score lines 16 and 18 into the vertical margins. A row 27 of punched holes is formed adjacent score line 16. Information is printed on the area 25. To assemble the information, the vertical marginal portions are removed along score lines 16 and 18. The horizontal marginal portions are then removed by tearing along score lines 21 and 22, leaving a pile of printed separated sheets which can then be put in a loose-leaf binder to form e.g. an address book.

Abstract: A fiber sensor for measuring temperature or strain comprises a first polarization-maintaining fiber and a second polarization-maintaining fiber. In case of a temperature fiber sensor, the first and second fibers are selected to be unequal in change in phase difference caused by change in temperature but equal in change in phase difference caused by strain. In case of a strain fiber sensor, the first and second fibers are selected to be unequal in change in phase difference caused by strain but equal in change in phase difference caused by change in temperature. Axes of polarization of the first and second fibers are shifted by 90.degree. at a junction of the fibers. With this arrangement, the temperature fiber sensor can measure the change in temperature with high accuracy without being affected by strain, while the strain fiber sensor can measure the strain with high accuracy without being affected by the change in temperature.

Abstract: A cable pair to telephone verification system including a processor interfaced wtih pairs of subscriber lines and a trunk connected to automatic number identification (ANI) electronic switching means. The process is programmed to select pairs of subscriber lines in sequence and to connect a line pair which is not busy to the processor for testing. The processor generates a special access code on receipt of a dialing tone from a non-busy line pair, the ANI switching means being responsive to this special access code to send the associated subscriber telephone number to the processor via the trunk. The processor is also programmed to provide a data read out of information relating to the line pairs under test and whether or not faults are present.

Abstract: A granular food dispensing machine capable of being operated by a domestic animal and having a housing with a faceplate and a discharge chute having an entrance adjacent to the interior of the faceplate, and a food supply reservoir mounted upon the housing to create a gravity flow of food into the chute is provided with a metering device for controlling the flow of food into the chute. The metering device has a hopper portion coextensive with the chute entrance and mounted to the faceplate interior at the entrance for axial rotation between a first holding position and a second discharge position. A spring-biased, animal-operated reciprocating actuator is engaged to the hopper through the faceplate to control the amount of food which is discharged.