Abstract: An illuminated sign, such as an emergency exit sign, includes a stencil in which a pair of oppositely-directed, arrow-shaped through-holes are disposed. At least one arrow-shaped snap-in element is provided which is inserted into either of the through-holes to block the passage of light therethrough. The snap-in element includes elastic spring fingers having hook-shaped ends adapted to engage a rear end of a ridge which borders a rear side of a respective through-hole, thereby yieldably retaining the snap-in element within the through-hole. All of the spring-fingers are movable simultaneously through a respective through-hole.

Abstract: A lead-free ceramic glaze comprising, by weight:(i) between about 27 and 35% SiO.sub.2 ;(ii) between about 9 and 15% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;(iii) between about 26 and 34% B.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;(iv) between about 4 and 9% BaO;(v) up to about 2.5% CaO;(vi) between about 3 and 8% SrO;(vii) between about 6 and 12% ZnO;(viii) up to about 1% K.sub.2 O;(ix) between about 1 and 4% Li.sub.2 O;(x) between about 1.5 and 3% Na.sub.2 O; and(xi) balance of minor impurities.Also disclosed are ceramic substrates spray coated with such composition and a method for making a lead-free glaze to a ceramic substrate using lower firing temperatures, on the order of 1550.degree. to 1650.degree. F. (843.degree. to 899.degree. C.).

Abstract: A trim for a recessed lighting fixture includes an upper reflector piece and a lower baffle piece. The reflector piece has a top wall for supporting a lamp socket. The baffle piece includes a trim ring at its lower end. A lower end of the reflector piece, and an upper end of the baffle piece include respective flanges projecting laterally outwardly. Those flanges are held together by spring clips which also carry torsion springs for connecting the trim to a housing. Each spring clip includes a pair of vertically spaced spring legs for clamping the flanges therebetween, and a downwardly projecting carrier portion for carrying a torsion spring.

Abstract: A track lighting assembly includes a track mounted to a support, the track carrying electrical conductor strips and including a slot for receiving lampholders. Tamper-proof cover members are mounted to the track to cover the portions of the slot disposed between lampholders in order to prevent additional lampholders from being installed. The cover members are attached to a back wall of the track by screws, so that the cover members can be removed only when the track is detached from the support.

Abstract: An electric device, such as a transformer, has a tank and an arrester for protection against high voltage surges, the arrester being grounded to a wall of the tank. A switch is mounted in the tank wall for enabling the ground connection to be disconnected from outside the tank. The switch includes a shaft extending slidably through an opening in the tank wall. A gripping handle is mounted on an outer end of the shaft, and a spring washer is mounted on an inner end of the shaft. The spring washer is electrically connected to a discharge side of the arrester and is movable toward the wall and into electrically conductive relationship therewith in response to sliding of the shaft. By sliding the shaft in a direction moving the washer away from the wall, the electrical connection is broken. The handle is threadedly mounted to the shaft to be reversible between a first position holding the shaft in its switch closed position, and a second position for enabling the shaft to be slid to its switch open position.

Abstract: A trim for a recessed light fixture includes a body open at its bottom end and having a top wall at its upper end. Formed in the top wall is a circular aperture and a pair of diametrically opposed slots spaced radially from the aperture. A lamp socket is mounted in the aperture such that a cylindrical lower portion of the socket extends through the aperture, and spring latches of the socket pass through respective ones of the slots. A gasket is interposed between the socket and top wall and is compressed within the aperture to create an air seal.

Abstract: A windshield wiper blade for vehicles includes a wiper element, a wiper holder having a longitudinal seat restraining a base portion of the wiper element and having a longitudinal cavity in which a metal reinforcing core is disposed, and an arcuate support structure with restraining jaws which grip the wiper holder at predetermined points.

Abstract: A cornice has an elongate frontpiece that has a decorative front side and a back side, an opening in the back side of the frontpiece, and a fastener having a first projection on one side thereof for mounting in the opening of the frontpiece and a second projection on another side thereof for engaging with a headrail so that the frontpiece can be mounted to the headrail by engaging the first projection of the fastener with the frontpiece and engaging the second projection of the fastener with the headrail. The cornice can be installed to the headrail by inserting the first projection into the opening of the frontpiece, rotating the fastener 90.degree. while the first projection is in the opening to secure the first projection within the opening, and mounting the second projection to the headrail.

Abstract: An end hook for a power return tape measure includes a shank having a longitudinal axis and a catch extending from the shank at an angle to the longitudinal axis. The shank being arcuately shaped about the longitudinal axis, and has a plurality of rivet mounting holes, the mounting holes positioned on each side of the longitudinal axis and spaced laterally from the longitudinal axis. The fastening holes of the shank have a greater longitudinal spacing than mounting holes in a measuring tape so that movement of the end hook longitudinally toward an end edge of the free end of the measuring tape during a collision in power return causes the holes in the end hook nearest the end edge to contact the fasteners before the holes furthest from the end edge.

Abstract: A lighting system includes a lighting fixture having a wall having an opening therein, the opening being defined by edges of the wall. The lighting system further includes one or more louvers. Each louver includes a louver body having a first and a second end and grips for gripping the edges of the wall disposed at the first and second ends of the louver body to suspend the louver body across the opening. The grips are slidably movable to different points along the edges of the wall. A method of making a lighting system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A purse seine link (10) having a roller head (30) attached to body (20) by head pivot (32). Latch mechanism (22) allows for one step release of roller head (30) to release cable (8).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing the risk of flashover during loadbreak operations of insulated separable connectors. In one aspect, the flashover distance for an electrical connector assembly is increased by supplementing exposed conductive portions of the male connector with insulated portions such that energized points on the energized connector are placed a greater distance away from the nearest ground plane on the complimentary connector. The additional insulation compensates for reductions in dielectric strength of the air occurring during separation of the male connector from the female connector. Also, the semi-conductive ground shield of the bushing is supplemented by an insulating sleeve. The insulative sleeve effectively removes a common ground plane to which an arc might tend during a flashover. In another aspect, a substantial airtight seal is prevented between elastomeric seals of the female connector and the probe of the male connector.

Abstract: An improved turbine engine ignition exciter circuit. Energy stored in an exciter tank capacitor is subsequently switched to the load (igniter plug) through a novel thyristor switching device specifically designed for pulse power applications. The switching device is designed and constructed to include, for example, a highly interdigitated cathode/gate structure. The semiconductor switching device is periodically activated by a trigger circuit which may be comprised of either electromagnetic or optoelectronic triggering circuitry to initiate discharge of energy stored in exciter tank capacitor to mating ignition lead and igniter plug. Likewise, the present invention allows new flexibility in the output PFN (Pulse Forming Network) stage, eliminating need for specialized protective output devices such as saturable output inductors. Due to considerably higher di/dt performance of the device, true high voltage output pulse networks may be utilized without damage to the semiconductor switching device.

Abstract: A track lighting system includes a track snap-on clip attached to a ceiling and forming a downwardly open channel into which a track member can be inserted by a snap action. The clip includes spring arms formed in opposite legs of the channel. When the track is pushed up into the channel, the spring arms are elastically displaced outwardly. When lateral shoulders of the track travel past respective spring arms, the spring arms snap inwardly to underlie the shoulders and support the track. The track snap-on clip can be mounted to the ceiling either directly by means of a fastener, or indirectly by means of another member, such as a T-bar clip or a pendant bracket.

Abstract: A mold for encapsulating a transformer coil assembly in thermoplastic rubber includes a bottom mold portion having a mold cavity, an upstanding pin disposed within the mold cavity, a mold cover for closing the mold cavity, and a vent space positioned in the bottom surface of the mold cavity for venting gas within the mold cavity to the exterior of the mold during the injection of thermoplastic rubber into the mold cavity.

Abstract: A female fuse having a one piece fuse link and thermal mass injection molded around a multifinger fuse clips. The fuse link, thermal mass, and fuse clip are enclosed in an insulating housing. The resulting fuse is smaller in size and operates at a cooler temperature than other fuses.

Abstract: A recessed light fixture for a ceiling includes a trim ring, a pivot ring mounted on the trim ring for rotation about a vertical axis, and an enclosure portion rotatable about a horizontal axis intersecting the vertical axis. The enclosure portion includes upper and lower enclosures. The upper enclosure carries a lamp socket in horizontal offset relationship to the vertical and horizontal axes. The lamp socket defines a longitudinal axis which coincides with a center axis of a downwardly open circular mouth of the lower enclosure. The lower enclosure intersects the upper enclosure to form therewith a circular waist. Each of the upper and lower enclosures have a cross-sectional area increasing in size in a respective direction away from the waist. A center axis of the waist intersects the center axis of the mouth at an oblique angle.

Abstract: A drilling mechanism for drilling one or more holes in a workpiece includes a collet for securing the drilling mechanism to a hole formed in a fixture mounted in front of the workpiece. The collet is slidable rearwardly along a tapered nosepiece to be elastically expanded outwardly into tight frictional contact with the fixture hole. The collet comprises a clamping part and a separate displacement part connected thereto. A contact interface is formed by the clamping and displacement parts for transmitting rearward forces from the displacement part to the clamping part. The contact interface extends for 360 degrees about the center axis of the collet. Longitudinal play is provided between the displacement and clamping parts so that when the collet is to be moved forwardly and released from the fixture, the displacement part is initially moved longitudinally relative to the clamping part to apply a radially inward force to the clamping part for disengaging the clamping part from the fixture hole.

Abstract: A windshield wiper arm for a vehicle windshield includes a block; a blade supporting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the blade supporting arm connected to the block so as to permit oscillation in a direction orthogonal to the windshield; the second end including a device for attaching the blade supporting arm to a windshield wiper; a device for imparting an elastic load between the block and the blade supporting arm so as to urge the windshield wiper against the windshield; the block including a cavity therein for receiving the first end of the blade supporting arm; and the imparting device arranged to impart the load on the first end of the blade.