Abstract: A conveyor with juxtaposed blocks moves along a path of travel, certain of the blocks have recesses which receive second joints of the wings of poultry. The second joints are arranged sidewise to the path of travel of the conveyor, in the recesses and are successively passed beneath a support frame where a hold down plate and knife is reciprocated as the support frame is towed by the conveyor to cut the flesh and skin between the ulna and radius bones and one or both cartilages, which join the ends of the bones. When cutting a cartilage, the bones are urged apart as the cut is made.

Abstract: The processes of tufting, spraying coating on backing, and setting yarn been provided in a preferred embodiment as a part of a continuous process. The coating is preferably anhydrous with a tack free time of less than two minutes. The yarn setting station employed in many embodiment sets the yarn in a distance of less than about ten feet by injecting air into the yarn side of the tufted goods, preferably with an air knife while the yarns are spread apart.

Abstract: A lighting system provides a lighting fixture elevationally adjustable from an energized configuration to a bulb-replacement configuration wherein the bulbs can be replaced, such as without using a ladder. The lighting fixture is retained by a slide to a slot. When a user releases the slide, it can be directed toward the user until the user can access the light fixture, replace one or more bulbs, and then return the fixture to its predetermined elevation for normal use.

Abstract: A kneeling/sledding snow board apparatus provides a retention device connecting to a gliding board. The retention device has a tray mounted to a mounting device connected possibly with snow board binding connections. The tray receives a knee pad having a seat extension extending up from a mid portion of the knee pad. Cutouts allow the rider's legs to extend therethrough. A lap and knee straps restrain the legs of a rider along with vee straps. The tray preferably tapers upwardly and outwardly from a base to provide somewhat of a U-shaped cross section which may assist in deflecting snow and providing increased comfort to a rider.

Abstract: A tufting machine for producing pile fabric having a pile height of approximately at least 50 mm has divider plates between adjacent needles to prevent yarn loops and especially the legs of cut loops from becoming trapped between an adjacent needle and its associated yarn feed. The divider plates may take the form of plates forming an extension of the fingers of the needle plate between each pair of which a needle reciprocates and may be mounted on a block on the bed plate beneath the needle plate, or may be plates upstanding from the hook bar.

Abstract: A tufting needle which has a transverse eye between the blade of the needle an the point and has a clearance above the eye in the blade on one side and has no yarn guide and protection groove on the opposite side. Also, disclosed is a conventional tufting needle which has the conventional yarn guide and protection groove.

Abstract: A texturizer is a base which provides a plurality of inlets directed to stations internal to the base. Each of the stations communicate internal to housings which have inserts therein. Receivers in the inserts receive air from the stations and direct the air towards distal ends of the housings through slots. Prior to reaching the distal ends of the inserts, passages through the inserts direct air to an internal bore in the insert and proximally out the insert bore. The insert bore extends all the way through the insert and through the housing so that yarn is pulled through the housing and crimped preferably at an impingement point in the insert.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a decal removal apparatus provides a low pressure steam to a surface having a decal thereon at a decal area. The applicator has a plate having a seal connected to the bottom portion of the plate defining a cavity therein. An outlet communicates steam from a conduit into the cavity when to cavity is placed against the decal area. The low pressure steam moisturizes the adhesive connecting the decal to the vehicle so that the decal may then be relatively easy removed from the vehicle mechanically or otherwise.

Abstract: A dual chamber vial as formed having a body separated into two chambers by a baffle located in a cavity of the vial body. The baffle is oriented at an angle at about 30° and 60° relative to an axis extending perpendicularly through opposing parallel walls of the vial body. The baffle terminates intermediate the first and second ends of the body where slopes direct the fluid from the chambers to outlets. The outlets are initially closed with a key having a center post which extends along the center axis of the vial body providing an axis of rotation to allow twisting of the key relative to the body to place the vial outlets in an open configuration.

Abstract: Surgical retractor apparatus is shown having at least two independently operable clamping locations for receiving pivot balls therein. These two clamping locations lock and unlock their respective pivot balls independent of locking of the other pivot ball. Furthermore, the locking mechanisms utilized to lock the pivot balls also utilize the lock the angular position of the extension rod relative to the clamp. An adjuster intermediate the clamping positions allows for the movement of the clamping location relative to each other.

Abstract: A tension device is utilized for equalizing, or at least reducing differentials in tension across strands in a web. The device utilizes an overfeed roll which rotates faster than the speed of feeding the web. Strands at the desired tension, or less, slip about the exterior surface of the overfeed roll. Strands which are greater than the desired tension have sufficient friction to be rotated, at least temporarily, by the overfeed roll to thereby create slack in the higher tension strands to equalize the tension relative to the other strands. Feedback from feed rolls, support rolls, and/or the overfeed roll may be utilized to adjust the speed of the overfeed roll.

Abstract: A container assembly has a lid which connects to an open ended container. The container has a wall which defines a cavity therein and has an outer surface with a plurality of outwardly directed teeth and at least outwardly directed thread. The teeth are located intermediate the threads and a top of the container wall. The lid has an outer wall with an inwardly directed blade on a leg which cooperates with the outwardly directed teeth on the exterior surface of the container. The lid also has a cutout in a ridge which allows at least a portion of a locking member to extend therethrough, the locking member is normally biased toward a center of the lid in a first position so that the leg is brought into contact with the teeth on the container. The locking member can be moved to a second position to disengage the leg from the teeth to allow rotation in at least one direction.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing and bottle having a neck ring with a first face having a distinguishing characteristic wherein the first face may be distinguished, and thus oriented, thereby orienting the soft drink bottle during the filling, labeling and/or packaging process. The first face is preferably planar so that it may cooperate with a guide so that the bottle may be rotated about a longitudinal axis extending through the bottle for either maintaining the orientation of the bottle or for changing the bottle orientation during various steps of the manufacturing and filling processes.

Abstract: A tube holder on a creel receives a cardboard tube with a yam wound thereabout. The tube holder is preferably equipped with a tube stop at a non-feeding portion of the tube holder and a tube end protector which is preferably connected to the tube holder at a feeding end of the tube holder. The tube end protector is constructed at least partially out of a resilient material wherein the tube is placed over the tube end protector causing it to deflect until the cardboard tube is properly located on the tube holder wherein the tube end protector resumes its normal configuration and protects the line wound about the cardboard tube from any potential defects at the feeding end of the cardboard tube.

Abstract: A friction stir welding device that is configured to perform convention friction stir welding as well as self-reacting friction stir welding. A pin passes through an upper shoulder and can selectively attach to and detach from a lower shoulder in a preferred embodiment. A controller maintains the discrete position of, and/or force applied by, the upper and lower shoulders during self-reacting friction stir welding, or maintains the pin at a desired depth and/or applied force during conventional friction stir welding.

Abstract: A sun meter having a processor receiving a signal from a photocell. The processor first compares the signal to a first threshold to determine if it is daytime. If it is daytime, the processor then compares the signal to a second threshold to determine if the signal is greater than a value selected to correspond with direct sunlight. If the signal is greater than the second threshold, a counter counts. For each day of use, the amount of time of direct sun is tallied and may be displayed. An average amount of direct sun for a period of days may also be displayed. It is anticipated that a plurality of meters will be utilized in a specific area to determine the specific locations which receive the most direct sunlight and then know what plants will thrive and where to place such plants.

Abstract: A sandwich core comprises two faceplates separated by a plurality of cells. The cells are comprised of walls positioned at oblique angles relative to a perpendicular axis extending through the faceplates. The walls preferably form open cells and are constructed from rows of ribbons. The walls may be obliquely angled relative to more than one plane extending through the perpendicular axis.

Abstract: A magnetic symbology reader has a housing containing a polarized light source which directs light through a magneto-optic sensor onto a reflector which reflects light back through the magneto-optic sensor and then through at least one analyzer and into at least one camera. A view finder allows the user to monitor the image on the magneto-optic sensor as seen by a viewfinder camera while a processor is coupled to possibly a second camera so that when an image is detected, the image from the camera may be processed by the processor to output information associated with the symbol to an external source. The analyzer and polarized light source provide contrast in the images detected by the sensor. A bias/erase coil located about the magneto-optic sensor can enhance or erase images on the sensor.