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.

Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly heating a product in the presence of a radiant energy heating source includes a plurality of radiant energy reflective collectors encased in a radiant energy transparent material. The collectors are formed by a number of tabs that collect the radiant energy incident on the collectors and form a radiant energy field such that a food product is heated to a uniform temperature throughout.

Abstract: A granular food dispensing machine having a housing with a dispensing chamber, a metering dispensing unit and a discharge chute, a food supply reservoir designed to supply the dispensing chamber by gravity feed, and a dispenser chamber insert located in the dispensing chamber to facilitate and direct the flow of granular food from the reservoir through the metering dispensing unit and out the discharge chute by preventing the food from becoming trapped in the dispensing chamber.

Abstract: A basic clockwork, initially arranged in such a way as to comprise two supplementary indicators, of the date and of the days of the week, which have been removed, is provided with an additional module carrying supplementary indicators, which can number two, three or even four. These indicators being separate from the basic clockwork, their position can be chosen very freely by a constructor. In order to prevent having to provide the clockwork with one or several supplementary control members, for the correction of said indicators, a correcting mechanism of the basic clockwork, comprising a control stem operating a sliding pinion is used. A shaft of the sliding pinion has been extended up to a frame of the additional module and carries a pinion meshing, according to the sense in which the control stem is operated, either with a wheel belonging to a correcting gear train of one of the supplementary indicators, or with a pinion belonging to a correcting gear train of another supplementary indicator.

Abstract: An octagonal carton formed from an integral prescored blank having a bottom wall with at least three side walls attached thereto. An opposite pair of the side walls include diagonal corner wall structures which are foldable with the side walls to form diagonal corner walls. The lid is attached to the third wall and is foldable over the two opposite side walls and secured to a fourth side wall attached to the bottom wall or secured by a wall on the lid edge to the bottom wall to form the fourth side wall. The lid and fourth wall structures include various securing structures to secure the carton when erected.

Abstract: A combination stop plug and open frame member for installation in the channel of a drapery track. The plug and frame parts are integrally formed. The plug part is sized and configured to be installed by sliding through an open end of the channel and immobilized in the channel by means of an accessible fastener, such as a set screw. The frame part is located exterior of the channel for accomodating therethrough a drapery fastener holder of a drapery carrier member slidable in the channel. However, the frame part prevents movement of the carrier member by engaging the fastener holder part extending therethrough. The device of the invention can be installed to close the open end of the channel with the fastener holder part located to hold a portion of the drapery panel overlying the open end of the channel.

Abstract: An electrophotographic method of producing positive color proof copies from negative films wherein a charged photoconductor is exposed to the negative film and toned with a conductive toner forming image deposits in the unexposed area. The conductive deposits are transferred to a dielectric paper and affixed thereto. The dielectric paper is charged, the charge being accepted only in areas free of the conductive deposits, i.e. the final image areas. The charged areas are toned with color toners and the color toner deposit transferred to printing stock to provide the positive proof.

Abstract: A relieving valve for a fluid or liquid storage tank to permit release of pressure from inside the tank as necessary. A piston is movable within the valve to open the same to atmosphere as pressure builds up slowly therewithin. Upon occurrence of a sudden or rapid pressure rise in the tank, such as when the fluid therein surges against the valve, a snubber assembly in the valve is moved by said pressure rise to a partially closed position to impede the rate at which pressure can build within the valve and thus increase the time before which the valve opens to atmosphere.

Abstract: A replaceable filtered soffit ventilator including a bracket dimensioned to line an opening in the soffit of a roof, a replaceable filter frame secured within the bracket and dimensioned to be coextensive with the opening, a porous filter media secured within the frame between a wire mesh retainer and a compressible loop to permit the free flow of air through the soffit while restricting the access of insects and dirt thereto.

Abstract: An electrical toaster is provided with timer means which is initiated when a food product carrier is secured in an operative position adjacent a toasting element. The timer means normally releases the carrier from its operative position after a toasting interval. In the event of a malfunction, the timer means operates a cut-out to interrupt the supply of power to the toasting element within a predetermined period to prevent combustion or ignition of the food product. The latter period is longer than the normal toasting interval. The timer means may include first and second timing devices for respectively timing the toasting interval and the predetermined cut-out period. Alternatively the timer means provides respective outputs for controlling the toasting interval and the cut-out period.

Abstract: A seating unit having removable and reversible cushion members is provided. Each cushion member is slidably mounted to a seat frame. The rear portion of the seat cushion member engages the bottom portion of the corresponding back cushion member, thereby locking them together. One of the cushion members is also locked to the seat frame.

Abstract: A remotely controlled hood lock release blocker assembly for preventing the release of a vehicle hood latch which includes a cable coupled to the hood release. The cable is secured to a platform journaled for rotation along the full length of a limited arc required to effect release of the hood latch and one of an electromagnetically controlled lever and mechanical dead bolt is provided for interfering with the rotation of the platform the full length of the limited arc preventing completion thereof whereby to prevent release of the hood. A control device in the form of a key operated energizing device for the electromagnet or a key operated control for withdrawing the lever and dead bolt respectively, is provided remote from the blocker assembly for changing the condition of the lever and dead bolt from interferent to non-interferent condition respectively.

Abstract: The watch comprises a conventional timepiece movement driving the hours-hands, the minutes-hands and the seconds-hands, to which is added a chronograph module the frame of which, having the shape of a bell, covers the movement of the timepiece. The chronograph is autonomous, i.e. its indicators are not driven by the basis movement but by electric motors situated around the central movement, fed by a battery and piloted by a quartz oscillator, the frequency divisions being effected by an integrated circuit. The printed circuit associated with this whole comprises an annular plate surrounding the timepiece movement. An intermediary plate ensures the connection between the timepiece movement and the chronograph module. The transformation of a conventional timepiece movement into a chronograph watch is thus very easy, the chronograph module being able to be applied to very different timepiece movements, only the intermediary plate having to be different.

Abstract: Offset condition detecting device for detecting offset condition of pantographs from overhead contact wires by means of electric current detected by a contact element mounted on the pantograph and insulated therefrom. The detection is made electrically and in case of emergency the pantographs are lowered down at high speed to prevent damage of pantographs of trolley-assisted vehicles.

Abstract: A structure for fixing contact tails of contact of a connector. The contact tails are aligned in rows and provided with holding projections to be press-fitted in fixing slits formed in a locator plate of the electrical connector. The slits are in parallel with each other with an interval equal to that of the contact tails in one row and extending at right angles to an aligned direction of the contact tails in the one row. The holding projections of the contact tails are formed larger as the contact tails located in the fixing slits are nearer to entrances of the slits. Each the fixing slit is formed in a T-shaped configuration in cross-section comprising a common locating slit portion for receiving parts of the contact tails having no holding projections and press-fixing slit portion for press-fitting the holding projections of the contact tails therein.

Abstract: A miniature lamp holder comprises a first inner sleeve in which a diode lamp of parallelepiped shape is engaged, this sleeve having two small opposite faces in which are provided resilient tongues connected to the wall of the sleeve at the rear end thereof, that is to say at the end opposite to that through which the lamp engages. The thickness of the tongues increases towards their free ends. Hence, when a second outer sleeve is engaged on the first one, it acts on the tongues to press them against the lamp and thus maintain the lamp in place.

Abstract: A folder system comprising a folder which has attached on the inside (2) thereof a ring mechanism (3) or corresponding device for holding hole-punched paper sheets (4). The ring mechanism (3) is placed between two side-pieces (6,7) of the folder, these side-pieces preferably being of mutually the same size. In accordance with the invention one side-piece (6) of the folder (1) incorporates a pocket (8) whose mouth (9) is located adjacent that outer edge (10) of the side-piece (6) which is parallel with the ring mechanism (3) or corresponding device. The wall of the pocket (8) located nearest the outer side (12) of the folder comprises a plastics film (11) made of a soft and stretchable plastics material.

Abstract: A petri dish includes a bottom container member having a circumferential groove located in the bottom corner thereof. The groove facilitates the distribution of liquid culture media during the filling operation, assists in retaining the periphery of the solidified media in place to increase shelf-life, and provides a pleasing visual perception as to the media thickness when the petri dish is viewed from the side. The cover member includes an upstanding rib located on a top surface thereof, such that upon stacking the petri dish with another of like construction, the exterior surface of the circumferential groove and the upstanding rib cooperate to facilitate stacking. Also, the respective top and bottom walls of the cover and bottom container being 30% thinner than their associated side wall portions to provide in a savings in fabrication material.

Abstract: A locked connector for use in electric connectors, optical fiber connectors and the like, includes receptacle means having a receptacle shell, coupling means engaging the receptacle means with relative rotations, plug shell means having a plug shell engaging the receptacle shell with relative movements in their axial directions but against relative rotation, back-up means permitting the coupling means and the plug shell means to rotatably engage with each other, and detent means for holding said receptacle means and the plug shell means in their fitted position and permitting the receptacle means and the plug shell means to disengage from the fitted position by rotating the coupling means relative to the plug shell means with a force. The detent means comprises a detent ring encircling the plug shell and having a springiness.