Abstract: An attachment clip for attaching siding to a wall, the siding having an attachment groove, comprising a nail attachment portion including a body having at least one part extending in a plane and having at least a predetermined thickness and a central nail attachment aperture, a siding engagement portion including a tongue configured and oriented for engagement with the siding attachment groove; and a connecting portion for connecting the nail attachment portion to the siding engagement portion, the connecting portion having at least one part extending away from the plane of the body at a first end and being connected to the siding engagement portion at a second end. Preferably the connection portion extends away from the plane defined by the body at an oblique angle, for example, between 120° to 150°, and most preferably about 135°.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of multilayer gypsum board, and a gypsum additive delivery system, including wet gypsum board passing through a board forming station in which additives are delivered to one or more layers of a multi layered gypsum board panels, such as engineered polymers, providing a better and more water resistance surface. Preferably, the gypsum board has a first layer of a mixture of set gypsum having an outer surface and a polymeric compound or wax emulsion additive entrained therein and impregnated in a thin sheet of randomly aligned inorganic fibers to essentially encase the core gypsum within two facing layers.

Abstract: Gypsum board having inorganic fiber, preferably glass fiber, preferably glass fiber, includes providing face sheets which have been completely impregnated with a gypsum slurry so as to penetrate through said random interstices between the inorganic fibers and to thereby cover the board surfaces with gypsum slurry. The gypsum board product is formed by passing the wet gypsum board through a board forming station having double forming plates, an upper forming plate having at least a portion thereof being set at a predetermined angle relative to a lower forming plate and having a separation between the forming plates defining a predetermined dimension substantially equal to the desired thickness of the manufactured gypsum board product. The method provides a multilayer gypsum board having a polymeric compound added to unset gypsum so as to provide a gypsum board ready for finishing.

Abstract: A display tag holder that has a mounting portion, an intermediate portion, and a display portion. The mounting portion mounts to a merchandise display hook hanging on a wall with the intermediate portion extending above and supported by the hook so that the display portion extends downwards and forwards of the tip of the hook to display the pertinent merchandise information. The mounting portion has two wedge shaped protrusions, which fit between the hook and wall, and the intermediate portion has a raised portion, which increases the stiffness of the holder. These features help to prevent the holder from falling off the hook or hanging under the hook in the event that a customer accidentally bumps or brushes against the holder.

Abstract: Heat exchangers, hydrogen gas compressors, hydrogen gas storage devices, hydrogen gas purifiers and metal hydride air conditioners utilizing a flow of a hydrogen gas stream which is absorbed and desorbed by a metal hydride causes disproportionation and “poisoning” of the metal hydrides by introduction of impurities such as water vapor, oxygen and carbon monoxide. Use of a noble metal in powder form, when introduced in the metal hydride particles has been found to act as a catalyst and to delay absorption of the impurities in the metal hydride, and further permits the more efficient and longer use of such devices by inhibiting the undesirable disproportionation and poisoning. In another embodiment, a vent is provided in the initial stage of a hydrogen compressor to vent out the impurities before these result in decreasing efficiency of the devices due to disproportionation, poisoning and increased vapor pressure.

Abstract: An apparent temperature monitor and/or alarm comprises separate sensors that monitor at least ambient temperature and humidity of a location in which an occupant resides. It has been noted that certain elderly and/or poor residents of urban areas may be unable to self-monitor their environmental and health situation, and that use of an apparent temperature monitor/alarm may assist in preventing mortality of elderly occupants or those who are unable to fend for themselves. A system for monitoring a large number of remote locations may also be established and appropriate health or safety personnel may be directed from a central monitoring location to investigate specific occupants or remote locations indicative of unhealthy environmental conditions.

Abstract: A stirring pitcher which is easy to break down for cleaning and which has a uniquely shaped container that has at its bottom a trough with a contour that matches the contour of the stirrer spoon end. The stirrer includes a handle portion that extends above a container cover, and a stirrer portion which extends below the cover. Preferably the stirrer portion is detachable from the handle portion. The stirrer includes a pivot which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the container trough, so that pivoting of the spoon about the pivot causes the spoon end to sweep the complete volume adjacent the container bottom.

Abstract: An apparatus having a base for automatically opening interdigitated tab fingers formed on a hang strip. The base includes an item advancement station and an item attachment station is disposed at an edge of the base. A supply of hang strip material is provided at a base edge opposite the item attachment station. The hang strip supply is mounted to the base and is fed through the advancement station and across and through a tab retainer that maintains at least one of the interdigitated tab fingers open until the tab station is guided to the item attachment edge of the base. At the item attachment edge, perpendicular transversal of a corner or edge of the base causes one set of the interdigitated fingers to open, while at least one interdigitated tab finger opened at the item advancement station clears the back edge of the retainer.

Abstract: A training handcuff key for use during training of security officers in the use of handcuffs used to restrain a subject. The training key includes a magnet washer that holds the key adjacent the surface of the handcuff keyhole, even during violent jerking and/or dropping of the handcuffs during simulated apprehension situations. The training key operates in all respects as does a standard handcuff key, but includes the feature of remaining adjacent the handcuff keyhole, while having a profile which does not interfere with the training use of the handcuffs. The training key is removable after completion of the training exercises, permitting the handcuffs to be used in a standard manner. Use of the training handcuff key dramatically reduces the time required to remove the handcuffs after they have been applied to the subject, therefore allowing the trainer and the trainees more time to develop proper and efficient methods of handcuffing and dramatically improve their skills in proper handcuffing techniques.

Abstract: A self-threading stitching device for joining uncured composite laminates which comprises a vertically mounted needle shaft adapted for reciprocal motion, a thread feeding means operating synchronously with the needle shaft and self-threading needle means adapted to pick up the thread from the thread feeding means and carry the thread through uncured composite laminate being penetrated by the needle and release the thread in the laminate as the needle withdraws therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the non-destructive identification of coated and uncoated metal parts employing infrared thermography. The apparatus comprises a means for directing infrared radiation onto the surface of a part; a means for scanning the part surface for reflected infrared radiation; a means for capturing the reflected radiation and converting it into a signal representative of variations in radiation reflected from the surface of the part; means for etching an identifying code into the surface of the part; and means for displaying the signal as a video image. The method comprises altering the surface reflective characteristics of a part to produce an identifying code, irradiating the part with infrared radiation of a specific wavelength and detecting differences in the amount and intensity of radiation reflected from the part.

Abstract: A composite transistor device having over-current protection is disclosed, and particularly a device for protecting Darlington configuration power transistor devices. The over-current protection circuit operates to clamp the base-emitter potential of the exciter transistor thus causing the power output transistor to maintain a power output below a predetermined threshold value. This allows the control of the power output intensity so as to avoid damage to the circuit, and with a minimum of power losses due to active voltage losses.

Abstract: Several versions of a flex joint (10, 100, 200) are disclosed which provides for relative flexible movement between a first member and a second member about a pivot point. The pivotal motion is provided by the use of elastomeric assemblies which are placed in elastomeric shear as one member pivots relative to the other. With each of the flex joints, at least two concentric and separate passages are formed through the flex joint for carrying fluids and the like through the flex joint. The passages remain separate and essentially unchanging in cross-section throughout the entire range of pivotal motion of the flex joint.

Abstract: Disclosed is a quick-change nosepiece (10) for a power drill (27) capable of telescoping by very small increments in the longitudinal direction, of angular or rotational displacement, and of quick and easy engagement and disengagement so as to provide access to the drill bit (29). Alternatively, a nosepiece (10) may be changed with one of greater or lesser length to correspond to the length of the drill bit (29) as the bit is changed.