Abstract: The present invention provides unique improvements in an envelope having a front panel, a top flap, a bottom flap, and two side flaps. In one form, an improved bottom flap is provided with a substantially T-shaped portion having a leg glued to the side flaps, and having two wings extending laterally from the leg but not attached to the side flaps. The top flap is provided with cooperatively-spaced glued portions which may adhere to the wings but not to the leg. When the envelope is opened, the wings are torn from the leg. Another form of the improved envelope is top loading and bottom opening. In this form, marginal portions of the side flaps are provided with a plurality of inverted, substantially U-shaped slits. Glued portions of the bottom flap engage these side flap marginal portions. The central portion of the bottom flap is unglued and is not covered by the top flap. This unglued portion may be pulled downwardly to tear such slitted portions from the side flaps.

Abstract: A motorcycle tire changing machine includes a lower support section and an upper support section. The lower support section includes a stationary outer cylinder, and an inner cylinder mounted within the outer cylinder for rotation relative thereto. The inner cylinder is provided with a plurality of cam slots penetrated by tabs extending inwardly from the outer cylinder. A plurality of hook members extend upwardly from and beyond the inner cylinder. These hook members are adapted to engage a ring of the upper support section. The inner cylinder may be rotated relative to the outer cylinder to cause the hook members to move downwardly to capture the upper support section ring and to hold a tire interposed between the upper and lower support sections.

Abstract: This invention relates to floor inserts for cables and more particularly to a method of and device for applying an electrical insert device and floor covering sheet in overlying relation to an opening station in the floor, for connection of telephone, electrical and other cables to said device.

Abstract: A toe clip, adapted to hold the toe portion of a ski boot to a sole plate, is formed of a length of wire bent to have a base portion, two leg portions extending outwardly therefrom, and a loop portion adapted to be received in the toe notch of a ski boot. The ends of the wire are welded together. The toe clip may be operatively positioned in any of a plurality of transversely-extending key-shaped recesses provided in the sole-plate. The toe clip base portion is bowed in each of two perpendicular intersecting planes. One bow impedes insertion and removal of the base portion from a recess. The other bow provides a degree of friction between the base portion and the recess walls.

Abstract: An apparatus located at the top of a blast furnace for equalizing pressure exerted by top gas, generated during operation of the blast furnace, on the bottom surface of the large bell movably mounted in the top of the blast furnace, operable so as to remove pollutants from the top gas and direct the top gas with the pollutants removed therefrom into the large bell hopper at full furnace pressure to exert equalizing pressure on the top surface of the large bell to enable opening of the large bell for feeding charge therethrough into the blast furnace.

Abstract: A siding starter clip comprised of sheet metal material, including an upper extended nailing leg portion having a plurality of apertures therein for fastening to the side of a structure by securing nails therethrough, a medial projecting leg portion which extends from the upper nailing leg portion at an obtuse included angle therewith, a lower depending leg portion which extends from the medial projecting leg portion at an acute included angle therewith for engaging a siding starter panel, and gussets extending substantially the length thereof, installable in a convenient and efficient manner to provide strengthened support for, and adjustable interlocking engagement with, a siding starter panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for switching an alarm-signalling device connectable to a protective circuit so as to signal an alarm when a door or the like is displaced from its closed position in a jamb or the like by an intruder, in which the switching apparatus is mounted in the door and jamb or the like. The switching apparatus includes a switch connectable to the protective circuit, mounted in a housing installable so as to be recessed in the jamb, and a metal plate installable so as to be recessed in the side of the door and disposed opposite the switch when the door is closed in the jamb.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional colored design, such as a simulated animal bone, in production material which is to be formed into an article such as a handbag, including forming a master, forming a mold member, and applying a colored design to the production material. A light-transmitting film, which includes a colored design formed on one surface thereof, is positioned intermediate the production material and the mold member with the colored design facing the production material. The production material, the light-transmitting film, and the mold member are heated and pressed together in a high frequency heating press, and the production material and light-transmitting film are hardened, so as to form the three-dimensional colored design in an efficient, convenient and economical manner.

Abstract: An expansible bottom structure for a fiberglass reinforced plastic tank allows a lower portion of the tank side wall structure to expand radially outwardly without significant deformation of its original shape.The improvement includes a fiberglass reinforced plastic batten having an upper portion bonded to the cylindrical side wall of a tank, a lower portion bonded to the bottom of the tank, and an intermediate arcuate transitional portion adapted to flex under tension to a less arcuate position. Such permissible flexure of the batten transitional portion enables the tank side wall structure to expand radially outwardly under hydrostatic load, while preserving substantially undeformed the desired shape and characteristics of the lower portion of the side wall structure. The batten provides the sole fluid-containing connection between the side wall structure and the tank bottom.

Abstract: A footstool includes a vertical base member having a lower end arranged to rest on a floor, and a support member mounted on the base member and extending outwardly therefrom to support the legs and feet of a user. The base member has two openings therethrough, and first and second surfaces arranged to face toward and away from the support member. The support member includes two male members arranged to penetrate the base member openings, and has a first surface arranged to abut the base member first surface. Each male member carries a hook-like member which is adapted to engage the base member second surface to prevent unintended separation of the base and support members.

Abstract: A fishing rod holder is adapted to be mounted on a suitable object, such as a boat, to releasably hold any of a plurality of different types and sizes of fishing rods. The rod holder includes a vertically adjustable support adapted to be mounted on the object, and a concave cradle member pivotally mounted on the upper marginal end portion of the support. Two resilient members are mounted on the cradle member, and are adapted to be wrapped around or folded to engage proximate portions of the rod to be held. These resilient members are adapted to be held in their operative rod-embracing positions by a means of suitable fasteners.

Abstract: The present invention provides improvements in a control valve adapted to be used by a tracheotomy patient or in a laryngeal prosthesis. In one form, the control valve has a housing provided with a control opening, and a flapper mounted within the housing and operable to move toward and away from the control opening. In this form, the improvement includes a thumbscrew mounted to penetrate the housing to engage the flapper, such that the thumbscrew may be selectively rotated to vary the operational characteristics of the valve. In another form, particularly adapted to be used by a tracheotomy patient, the control valve is provided with a first control opening communicating with ambient atmosphere and a second control opening adapted to communicate with the trachea of a patient.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to measure the amplitude and frequency of dynamic force exerted by a rotating shaft on an adjacent non-rotating bearing. The apparatus includes two force probes operatively mounted on the bearing to sense force components in two perpendicular directions. A piezo-electric load cell in each force probe senses the frequency and a proportional amount of the amplitude of the force component in its direction, and converts such sensed frequency and amplitude into an electrical signal. The sensed amplitude in each direction is calibrated to actual amplitude. The calibrated signals from the two force probes are supplied to an oscilloscope to display a composite representation of such dynamic force in a plane including the two directions. In use, the apparatus performs a novel method of measuring such dynamic force.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a selected surface portion of the interior liner of a tire includes a frame; three cooperative fingers adapted to be spread apart to engage the beads of a tire and to spread such beads proximate the portion of the liner to be cleaned; a brush; actuators arranged to move the brush into engagement with the liner portion; a rotary actuator arranged to spray solvent on to the liner portion; and a drain insertable into the tire to withdraw dirty solvent therefrom.

Abstract: A freestanding ladder structure has a first base member arranged on one side of an object to be bridged, a second base member arranged on the other side of the object, and a raised platform supported above the object by two ladder members having their lower end portions engaged with the base members. The various parts and components of the ladder structure are hollow or tubular and may be conveniently formed of plastic by a well known blow molding technique. Where necessary, a reinforcing insert is arranged within a component to resist flexure or bending thereof. Some components are provided with hook members engagable with other components to prevent unintended separation of the assembled components.

Abstract: A water activated pressurized gas release device, especially suited for automatically controlling the release of the pressurized gas for inflating flotation equipment when dumped into water, which includes an electrically fireable primer for generating propulsion gas to drive a piercing pin into the closure of a container of pressurized gas to release the same, and fired by electrical energy derived from a battery arranged in a circuit maintained open on the ground side by electrically conductive elements providing two spaced apart electrodes until such space is filled with water for a predetermined duration of time as occurs upon immersion to close the circuit.

Abstract: An automotive anti-theft device is operatively arranged to interrupt a vehicle's starter circuit until the key-operated ignition selector switch has been physically rotated to the "start" position. The anti-theft device includes a mechanical device adapted to convert rotational movement of the selector switch into linear motion, a hydraulic piston arranged to convert such linear motion into a flow of hydraulic fluid, and a pressure responsive device mounted on the vehicle's starter. The pressure responsive device has a movable member operatively arranged to move in response to such flow of hydraulic fluid, and is adapted to complete the starter circuit between two terminals thereof only when the selector switch has been rotated to the "start" position.

Abstract: A fishing lure includes a body member in the form of a transparent container in which a bait may be placed. The improvement provides a plurality of blades pivotally mounted on the container and severally adapted to freely move through an arc of approximately 180 degrees between two inoperative positions against the container. A hook member is mounted on the container for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the blade. The hook member may be selectively moved to a concealed position against the container to allow the blade to freely pivot to either inoperative position as the lure is raised or lowered. Alternatively, the hook member may be moved to an extended position to hold the blade in an operative extended position for causing the container to rotate as the lure is raised. The blade may further include a metallic strip configured to capture and hold the blade on its extended position so that the container will be caused to rotate when the lure is both raised and lowered.

Abstract: A rotary cutting die is adapted to be mounted on a rotatable cylindrical die drum of a rotary press to cut a planar object passed between such rotating die drum and a cooperative oppositely-rotating anvil drum of said press. The rotary die includes: a die board having a concave surface adapted to cover a portion of the die drum, an opposite convex surface, and a plurality of openings therethrough; a plurality of fasteners adapted to selectively hold the die board to the die drum; a plate-like knife member adapted to be mounted on the die board at any of a plurality of large incremental positions in a longitudinal direction; and holding means mounted on the die board and selectively operable to hold the knife member at any selected one of the large incremental positions. In one embodiment, the die board openings are longitudinally-elongated to permit the die board to be shifted longitudinally relative to the die drum.

Abstract: A method of providing a torque motor with air gaps of equal length between an armature interposed between two spaced polepieces, comprises the steps of: assembling the torque motor so that the armature is roughly positioned between the polepieces, positioning an electrode so that two spaced portions thereof of equal width are arranged proximate the air gaps, providing a plurality of repetitious pulses of electrical energy between the electrode and the torque motor assembly, moving the electrode and torque motor assembly relative to one another, and removing proximate material from the armature and polepieces, as necessary, by electrical discharge between the electrode and torque motor assembly, thereby to provide air gaps of equal length between the armature and the polepieces.