Abstract: A saddle correcting device consisting of 4 protective shields placed over the shoulders and loins of an equine to protect areas of movement often damaged by the rigid structure of a saddle. The shields are placed upon, or within, a pair of connected aprons, under the saddle against the horse. The shields are molded to the general shape of the equine anatomy they are to protect and slotted to induce flexing in areas necessary to utilize the upward bending actions of the shoulders and downward and inward pressures of the saddletree bars. By harnessing these opposing forces, the shields act to keep the corrector device in place, while concurrently holding the saddle rearward of the rotating scapulas. The area of weight distribution is increased under the shields only in the areas of most damage to the musculature of the animal by the typical saddletree. The closeness of the rider to the horse is enhanced because little padding is needed under the saddle.

Abstract: A lighting system and exemplary array is particularly adapted for use with large wall-mounted objects, such as paintings, sculptures and other art objects. The lighting system provides a substantially uniform amount of illumination over the entire length and breadth of the art object. A lighting array is mounted directly above the art object and spaced outwardly from the plane of the object by several inches or more. The array consists of a housing containing a plurality of lighting elements. Each lighting element is arrayed linearly so that, with appropriate reflectors, lenses, attenuators, and/or diffusers, each lights a portion of the art object. The desired effect is that all areas of the art object are equally illuminated. Alternately, the lighting elements can be selected for intensity such that the array may have elements of different intensity directed at the different areas of the art object.

Abstract: A production line for the manufacture of strips of vinyl siding comprises an extruder extruding a strip of hot plastic material, such as vinyl. Next, an embosser supplies a decorative pattern to the heated strip. A cooling apparatus receives the heated strip and immerses the strip in a water bath to lower the temperature to a selected temperature range. The material, now reduced in temperature, is then passed to a former having dies creating joining runs in the cooled, embossed siding strip. Finally the strip runs through a final cooling tank which chills the strip to harden the joining runs created by the former. The cooling apparatus consists of a water bath tank with entry and exit guides for the strip, which are mounted above the level of the water in the water bath tank.

Abstract: A tailgate for a load carrying body, such as a dump trailer, is selectively openable to various positions, including left opening, right opening, swing up and swing down. Variable opening positions maximize flexibility for the owner/operator. A left or right swing opening is enable by removeable and storable hinge pins. An up or down opening is enable by latches, which are openable and operate as hinges when closed.

Abstract: A mop fixture for receiving and holding a mop head has a hood of resilient polymeric material which is attachable to a mop handle. A mop retaining bar has opposite ends terminating in down turned hook portions and snaps into spaced end walls of the hood. A mop head with depending opposite strand bunches is centered by the mop retaining bar so that the center of the mop head is retained within the hood. The mop retaining bar is removable to accommodate thicker or thinner mop heads.

Abstract: A bag placer magazine such as for feeding flat pleated paper or plastic bags to a bag filling apparatus. The bag magazine accommodates flat pleated bags stacked horizontally on a moveable conveyor platform which circulates around the stacked bags. Bags are removed one at a time from the bottom of the stack. Vacuum operated grippers are sequenced to extend upwardly through sequentially moved openings in the circulating conveyor and pull down an end of the bottom bag and then strip the bottom bag from the stack. The bag falls below the circulating conveyor to a deposit platform where it is indexed to a precise position and then routed to a bag filler station. The bag stack is replenished from the top while bags are being stripped from the bottom so that there is no interruption of the production line process.

Abstract: A mop fixture for receiving and holding a mop head has a hood of resilient polymeric material which is attachable to a mop handle. A mop retaining bar has opposite ends terminating in down turned hook portions and snaps into spaced end walls of the hood. A mop head with depending opposite strand bunches is centered by the mop retaining bar so that the center of the mop head is retained within the hood.

Abstract: A mop head uses a ribbon of non-woven absorbent synthetic material folded lengthwise in multiple thicknesses. The ribbon is formed into a coiled wrapping which is collapsed centrally to provide opposite arms and a center of double thickness with top and bottom layers. A center strip of binder material extends longitudinally in this position between the top and bottom layers. Spaced rows of stitching secure the center strip to the top and bottom layers.

Abstract: A method of uniformly or substantially uniformly heating at least one surface of a substrate, comprises the steps of supporting a substrate, generating a heated air flow, directing the heated air flow to heat a strip of a first surface of the substrate, and moving the flow path of the heated air in a direction transverse to the direction in which the heated air flow impinges on the substrate until the temperature of the whole or substantially the whole first surface of the substrate has been uniformly or substantially uniformly raised. Apparatus for performing this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A trailer hitch alignment hitch system uses height adjustable stanchions with length adjustable arms terminating in mirrors. The stanchions are respectively connectible to a tow vehicle and a trailer and placed so that the mirror is aligned vertically over the hitch connection component of the tow vehicle and the trailer and adjusted so that the respective mirrors are at different heights. The tow vehicle operator backs the tow vehicle until the mirrors visually indicate vertical alignment by one mirror coming into place below the other mirror and obstructing the view of the hitch component.

Abstract: A rotary forging and quenching apparatus and method forms and rapidly cools an axial-symmetric object from a spin formable material. The process uses a preheated billet which is clamped between opposed fixture mandrels which have a circumferential die shape and with quench solution channels running through the fixtures. The mandrels are spun and at least one contour roller of a mating circumferential die shape is brought into bearing contact against the billet in order to spin-form the material into the desired die shape. The mandrel and peripheral margin of the spinning billet are flooded with a quench solution coolant while being spin formed. This process streamlines the manufacturing of wheels or other axial-symmetric parts like cylinders, hemispheres, cones, etc. Typically, parts that require heat treatment, like aluminum alloys, will benefit from this process. The process minimizes the distortion encountered in heat treatment and eliminates the need to add extra material to ensure final dimensions.

Abstract: A fixture and method for use in dental training is disclosed which assists a student in learning how to determine the position of a root canal apex. The fixture and method include a tooth having a root canal and root apex with an electrically-conductive medium set around the root and root apex and securing the tooth in a fixture. An alternative embodiment uses first and second conductive mediums wherein the first medium is set around the root and root apex. The tooth is set into a fixture containing a second electrically-conductive medium. An electronic apical position locator is connected to an endodontic reamer and to the electrically-conductive medium in the fixture so that when the reamer is advanced through the root canal to the root apex, the electronic locator so indicates. Some locators are sufficiently sophisticated to indicate the distance of the reamer tip from the apex. In others an electrical circuit is closed causing the apical position locator to so indicate.

Abstract: An electrical contact interface consists of a probe formed by a pair of oppositely extending plungers each having a contact tip, an inner shoulder and a rearwardly extending shaft terminating in a lug end. A coil spring is sleeved about the opposed plungers and is positioned between the opposite inner shoulders with the shafts extending toward each other and in constant sliding engagement with each other through the lug ends. The lug ends abut each other at an extreme travel relation of the plungers and prevent mutual disengagement of the plungers from within the coil spring. The probe is mounted in a fixture or other intermediate structure for positioning between circuit contacts. The probe finds particular use in applications requiring robust design and in which electrical contact must be maintained.

Abstract: A probe and test socket assembly wherein spring biased plunger probes of extraordinarily small diameter, such as 0.02 inch, are densely packed into a test socket for testing of integrated circuit chips. The socket is constructed in upper and lower halves with bores to receive the probes. To manufacture probes of such small diameter and to provide minimal and constant electrical resistance, the plungers and barrel of the probes are not crimped or otherwise secured together. The configuration of the socket bore walls in combination with the probe maintains the probe plunger and barrel together. The assembly is particularly useful in densely packed arrays of extremely fine diameter probes for testing densely packed test sites.

Abstract: An automatic bowling pin setting machine includes a sorting section receiving knocked down pins and bowling balls, an elevator conveying pins to a receiving reel, and a setting reel to which pins drop downwardly from the setting reel. Gripper arms accompanying the setting reel pick up any standing pins to ready the alley for a second throw. After a second throw, the alley is swept clean of pins, and the setting reel places a new set of pins in the alley. The setting machine is designed with reduced maintenance in mind and for sureness of operation.

Abstract: A cup holder assembly is mounted to a chair arm of the type having a T-shaped arm. The cup holder assembly comprises a cup holder body having an open-top receptacle for receiving a beverage cup, a lower leg extending from the body for support against a chair arm stanchion and a bracket having a clip portion to grip the chair T-shaped arm and an upstanding leg. The bracket is connected to the cup holder body by a fastener to mount the cup holder body to the chair arm. A bracket cover conceals the bracket.

Abstract: A warning sign for cautioning pedestrians away from spillages or wet floor areas is formed of a pair of swing legs connected at upper ends so that they can be spread apart form self-support. An extension member can be pulled upwardly from between the legs to enhance the visual warning effect. A catch in the hinge area selectively locks the extension member to an extended position when the legs are spread apart and allows the extension member to be lowered when the legs are swung together.

Abstract: An endodontic probe system comprises a measuring kit of a plurality of flexible rods for insertion as probes into a root canal for determining the apical aperture diameter. Each rod has a tip end with a diametrally enlarged end ball structure so that a user obtains a precise tactile sensation when passing the end ball through the apical aperture. A variety of different end ball shapes are disclosed. Measurement of the apical aperture diameter is important to determine so that the root canal may be properly and entirely cleaned without unnecessary reaming or enlarging the diameter of the apical aperture.