Abstract: An assembly for coupling a truck tractor to a semi-trailer. The assembly comprises an upper coupling plate, an intermediate plate, and a back plate. The upper coupling plate has an opening for receiving the kingpin. The intermediate plate is positioned on an upper surface of the upper coupling plate and has a portal for receiving a portion of the kingpin. The back plate is positioned adjacent the intermediate plate. A double shear attachment means joins the upper coupling plate, the intermediate plate, and the back plate are along a first shear plane and a second shear plane.

Abstract: A nailer is disclosed having a plunger wherein a user can incrementally drive a fastener into a workpiece by manually striking the plunger multiple times. Generally, the nailer includes a housing having a chamber adapted to receive at least one fastener and a driving blade. Operably connected to the housing and the driving blade is a plunger having a plurality of teeth. Received between at least two of the teeth is a pawl. Further, a recoil spring is operably connected to the housing and the plunger.

Abstract: A barbecue grill is claimed. The barbecue grill comprises a grill housing, a damper means, and an elongated handle. The grill housing has a bottom which extends around a vertical axis and an ash disposal opening positioned along its bottom. The damper means is for covering the ash disposal opening. The damper means includes a drive hub assembly rotatable about the vertical axis and has at least one damper body extending therefrom. The bottom of the grill housing has an aperture aligned with the vertical axis. The hub assembly is received into the aperture with an end portion of the hub assembly positioned below the bottom. The end portion includes a linearly aligned passageway having an entry keyhole. The elongated handle is positioned below the bottom of the grill housing. The handle has a proximal end and a distal end.

Abstract: The present invention is a percussion accessory for attachment to a percussion tool, such as a drum stick. The percussion tool has an attachment region, and the percussion accessory is provided for creating musical sounds through the use of percussion tool by a user. The percussion accessory has a attachment means for attaching the percussion accessory to the attachment area of the percussion tool; a support attached to and extending from the attachment means; and, a sound device, such as a jingle, moveably attached to the support, wherein the sound device will move to create the musical sounds when the user uses the percussion tool. The percussion accessory also has a muffle device. The muffle device has a muffle and a lever. A muffling material is attached to the top of the muffle for engaging the sound device. The muffle device is pivotally attached to the support, wherein when the user presses the lever, the muffling material will engage the sound device for muffling the sound device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water tower generally having a base portion, a tower support attached to the base portion, and a fluid vessel attached to the tower support and containing a fluid. A buoyant vessel having a first magnet attached is contained within the fluid vessel. A first arm defining a cam slot and rotatably attached to the tower support by a first pivot pin guides a second arm, an end of which is disposed within the cam slot. The second arm is rotatably attached to the tower support by a second pivot pin. A second magnet is attached to a second end of the movable arm. In operation, the first arm is rotated to move a second arm, bringing the first and second magnets into alignment. The magnets create an attraction force which sinks the buoyant vessel within the fluid, giving the water tower the appearance of being full. When the first arm is rotated so magnets are taken out of axial alignment, the attraction force of the magnets is diminished, and the buoyant vessel floats.

Abstract: A switch is connected to a wagon for electrically powering the wagon. The wagon has a frame having at least one wheel for movement along a surface. The wagon further has a bar connected to the frame, the bar having a handle. The wagon further has a battery connected to a motor mounted on the wheel for powering the wheel. The switch has a wire shell having a first lead extending therefrom and adapted to be connected to the motor. A pipe member has an insulator ring mounted on the pipe member. The pipe member has a second lead extending therefrom and adapted to be connected to the battery. The wire shell is positioned over the pipe member and ring wherein the ring maintains a space between the wire shell and the pipe member to define an inactivated position. The wire shell is resiliently deflectable to a second position contacting the pipe member to define an activated position wherein an electrical connection is made powering the wheel of the wagon for movement along the surface.

Abstract: A container is disclosed having a base, opposed side walls, and a rear wall. The base has an upper surface with a downward slope (&agr;) towards the rear wall. The rear wall has a surface which is preferably angled to be perpendicular to the upper surface of the base. Such a configuration permits squared items to be stored within the container on a edge while maintaining full contact along an adjacent edge with the rear wall. The side walls and rear wall are hingedly attached to the base and connected to one another using interlocking connectors along juxtaposed edges. Alternatively, the present invention may include a double sloped base upper surface angled toward a center wall panel. The surfaces on each side of the center wall are preferably sloped to be perpendicular to the upper surface of the adjacent base upper surface. A double-sloped container using at least one center wall panel is also disclosed with similar features to the single-sloped container.

Abstract: A filter for a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid comprises a microphone, an amplifier and a receiver. The filter mitigates the interfering effect of an RF burst on the hearing aid.

Abstract: A toy track segment including a connector assembly for adjoining the toy track segment to a second toy track segment. The connector assembly comprises a male guide pin, a female guide pin receptor, a male connector latch, a female connector receptor, and a release mechanism. The male guide pin is adapted for insertion into the female guide pin receptor slot. The male connector latch is adapted for insertion into the female connector receptor. The male connector latch includes a keeper for locking the male connector within the female connector receptor. The release mechanism provides relative movement between the male connector latch of the first toy track segment and the female connector receptor of the second toy track segment. The release mechanism allows the adjoining track segments to be easily connected and disconnected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a molded, one-piece, chilling pitcher with a compartment for holding a beverage, and an integral dividing wall that forms a wedge-shaped cooling chamber for holding a cooling medium such as ice. The main body of the pitcher is formed by a conical exterior wall and an integral base. The cooling chamber is formed between the arcuate shaped exterior wall and the dividing wall to produce a wedged-shaped configuration that facilitates the filling and emptying of ice into and from the chamber. This wedge-shape and the relatively wide radius of the dividing wall allow ice cubes or chips to be poured into the cooling chamber in a relatively compact manner, and allow the surface of the ice to flushly engage the surface of the dividing wall to improve the cooling rate of the pitcher.

Abstract: A method for imaging a quantity of gas present in the atmosphere of a selected area. The method comprises the steps of directing background infra-red radiation from the selected area into an interferometer; imaging the infra-red radiation emerging from the interferometer onto at least one infra-red detector: obtaining a plurality of Fouriertransform infra-red spectra in the 8-14 micrometer spectral region, each spectrum coitesponding to infra-red radiation collected from a different portion of the selected area; and displaying in a suitable form an infra-red image, the infra-red image comprising the plurality of infra-red spectra, or quantities derived therefrom. The temperature of the quantity of gas or ambient temperature is measured, the temperature of the background is measured, and the difference between the two measured temperatures is used to derive gas column densities from the infra-red spectra.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for connecting electric and air lines of railroad cars incident to their mechanical coupling. The connector includes a junction plate with an outer perimeter surrounded by a housing that has connector-to-connector gathering means and is resiliently attached to a bracket on the coupler body. Formed near to the geometric center of the junction plate is a hole retaining a gasket which seats against the end of an elongated tube mechanically secured to the junction plate and passing through a compression spring and the housing and its remote wall where the assembled length is controlled by the flange of an air line fitting contacting the housing. The automatic electric and air line capability supplements the automatic coupling capability within an increased gathering range.

Abstract: An aqueous beverage solution includes L-ascorbic acid and EDTA. The resulting solution is free of sufficient constituents which could mask color change due to oxidation of the L-ascorbic acid. A color and/or turbidity of the beverage is substantially stable over a desired predetermined time.

Abstract: An electrolytic solution for an electrolytic capacitor, which includes (1) a solvent made up of 20 to 80% by weight of an organic solvent and 80 to 20% by weight of water, (2) at least one electrolyte selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, salts of carboxylic acids, inorganic acids, and salts of inorganic acids, and (3) a chelate compound. Preferably, an organic acid or salt thereof and an inorganic acid or salt thereof are used in combination.

Abstract: A door assembly comprising a door body having a bottom edge. The door body is selectively movable up and down to open and close an opening. The door assembly further comprises a first sensor body and a second sensor body. Each sensor body is in communication with a door controller, and each sensor body has an impact portion responsive to an impact proximate the bottom edge of the door body.

Abstract: Processes directed to increasing the solution mobility, solution concentration, and/or solution kinetics with respect to at least simple sugars within the groat to increase the availability of the simple sugars to react with nitrogen containing compounds, in particular amino acids. Improved control over the thermal stability of each groat is provided by enhancing the removal of thermal energy from the individual groats during Maillard reactions. Preferred processes include increasing the moisture content of groats to a level sufficient to solubilize upon dry heating and evaporating at least a sufficient amount of simple sugars present in the groat to yield after dry heating and evaporating an MRP ≧ about 34 ppb and an (MRP/LOP)×1000 value ≧6.0. Groats are dried with a forced atmosphere having a temperature of about ≧200° F. Full reaction and drying can be accomplished in as little as 8-30 minutes. Rates of thermally controlled reaction and drying may includes about 0.

Abstract: A rotary aggregate elevator for use in an asphalt plant comprising a rotating dryer drum for drying aggregate having an inlet end and an outlet end, a rotating mixing drum having an inlet end and an outlet end, and further having an inlet for dried aggregate at its inlet end for receiving dried aggregate, an annular collar attached to the inlet end of the mixing drum for receiving aggregate discharged from the outlet end of the dryer drum, the annular collar having flights attached to its inner wall to lift dried aggregate to the inlet of the mixing drum as it rotates.