Abstract: A cleaning and chemical applicator element, attached to a handle, for cleaning and application of chemicals between the toes of a person's foot.

Abstract: A hangable flexible plastic pouch having a rectangular body with a reclosable side aperture. The pouch has a hanger hook arrangement and may have ventilation holes to accommodate a moisture-containing object such as a glove.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for relatively convenient and efficient production of custom molded inserts for shoes. The apparatus utilizes a molding pillow arrangement, upon which a user stands during use. The molding pillow arrangement has a composite construction including a first resilient layer, a middle resilient layer and a bottom support layer. The bottom support layer preferably includes a generic arch curve therein. The upper resilient layer is formed from a relatively soft foam, and thus molds around a user's feet. The middle layer is resilient, but relatively hard by comparison to the upper layer. The middle layer provides for a relatively firm cushion underneath the user's foot, facilitating contouring of a molded insert to the bottom of the user's foot. Preferably, at least the upper cushion portion of the molding pillow arrangement comprises left and right cushions, independently moldable with respect to a user's left and right feet.

Abstract: There is provided a novel active-oxygen rich lithium, boron, oxygen compound having the empirical formulaLiOH.multidot.0.5Li.sub.2 O.sub.2 .multidot.LiBO.sub.5and a method for making the same.

Abstract: A deflectable heel insert for use in the heel portion of a footwear. The heel insert includes at least one load-bearing plate which is deflectable under loads exerted by the heel of a shoe wearer. The plate is supported above a plate support surface as part of the heel or a base plate forming part of the laminate heel construction.

Abstract: Shifting mechanism for shifting gears in a gear box. The gear box has a housing, a gear shaft in the housing, a plurality of gears on the shaft, a shift key movable along the shaft for individually connecting the gears to the shaft, a shift collar positioned around the shaft and engaged with the shift key, and a shift fork for moving the collar along the shaft. The shift key moves along a longitudinal groove in the shaft and has a lug with an extended position and a retracted position. The gears have bores through which the gear shaft extends so that the gears are rotatably supported on the shaft. At least one of the gears has a plurality of uniformly spaced recesses circumferentially located around the bore to receive the lug of the shift key so that the gear rotates with the shaft. The recesses have ramps extending regularly in common directions from the bottoms of the recesses toward a common face of the gear.

Abstract: A gearbox, specifically a transaxle, which has the usual input shaft and only two additional, parallel shafts. The two shafts include an intermediate shaft on which a plurality of first gears and a first reverse sprocket are rotatably mounted. These have recesses which individually receive a shift member which is rotatably mounted on the intermediate shaft and is selectively engaged with the recesses to cause the gears and the sprocket to be selectively individually rotated with the intermediate shaft. A drive gear is also affixed to and rotates with the intermediate shaft. The two shafts also include an output shaft or axle on which a plurality of second gears and a second reverse sprocket are rotatably mounted. The second gears mesh with the first gears and the second reverse sprocket is connected to the first reverse sprocket. An output gear meshes with the input gear and is connected to and rotates with the output shaft.

Abstract: Shift mechanism is provided for shifting gears in a gearbox. The gearbox has a housing, a gear shaft in the housing, a plurality of gears rotatably mounted on the shaft, a connecting member moveable along the shaft for individually connecting the gears to the shaft, and a collar positioned around the shaft and engageable with the connecting member to move it along the shaft. The shaft mechanism includes a shifter fork for moving the collar and the connecting member along the shaft, the fork having a shift shaft pivotally mounted in the housing transversely to the gear shaft. This shaft has a first arm affixed thereto and extending on one side of the collar, with the arm having a projection on an end portion engaging a first portion of the collar. The shifter fork also has a detent plate affixed to the shift shaft and extending on the other side of the collar, with the plate having a second projection engaging a second portion of the collar generally diametrically opposite the first portion thereon.

Abstract: A mechanical, infinitely variable speed drive is provided with reverse actuation and a single control lever. The drive includes a shaft with an output gear and two driven, face-to-face bevel gears. Shifting mechanism connects either or neither bevel gear to the shaft. A drive bevel gear engages both driven bevel gears and is driven through variable speed pulleys. A cam plate operates the shifting mechanism and a cam manipulates the variable speed pulleys. Both the cam plate and the cam are controlled by a single control lever. The output can be through a differential with the bevel gear shaft being hollow and rotatably mounted on one of the axles of the differential.

Abstract: An infinitely variable speed drive is provided which is entirely mechanical, rather than hydraulic. The drive includes a rotatable housing having an output gear or sprocket rotatable therewith. An idler shaft is carried in the housing perpendicular to an axis of rotation thereof with first and second bevel gears rotatably mounted on the shaft. First and second shafts extend into the housing on the axis of rotation and in alignment with one another. Third and fourth bevel gears are affixed to the first and second shafts in the housing and mesh with the first and second bevel gears on the idler shaft. First drive gears rotate the first shaft at a constant speed in one direction. Second drive gears rotate the second shaft at different variable speeds in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first shaft to cause the housing to rotate and drive the gear or sprocket thereon at infinitely variable speeds. A variable speed pulley arrangement can be used to drive the first and second drive gears.

Abstract: A simplified disc brake is provided, particularly for small gearboxes in the nature of transmissions and transaxles. The gearbox includes a housing having an output shaft extending therefrom with a brake disc mounted on the shaft for rotatable and limited longitudinal movement. The housing has a structurally integral brake puck pocket holding a first brake puck facing toward an inside surface of the brake disc. The housing also has a structurally integral second brake puck pocket holding a second brake puck opposite the first and facing toward an outside surface of the brake disc. The housing forms two spaced passages communicating with portions of the second brake puck pocket and holding pins positioned to move longitudinally toward the second brake puck to move it toward the brake disc.

Abstract: Compacted graphite (CG) cast iron is obtained in the inmold casting process employing as an additive an alloy comprising 1.5-3 percent magnesium, 10-20 percent titanium, 40-80 percent silicon, 0-2 percent rare earth, 0-0.5 percent calcium, 0-2 percent aluminum and balance iron.

Abstract: A composite prosthetic foot and leg which allows a high degree of mobility on the part of an amputee is disclosed. The prosthetic foot and leg utilizes a resin impregnated high strength filament structure for the leg portion, the foot portion and heel portion, with all three regions being provided with substantial elastic flexibility, preferably of relatively low energy absorption characteristics so as to give the wearer high mobility with a relatively natural feel. All three portions of the prosthetic foot and leg are rigidly joined, with a flexibility of the leg portion providing flexibility of the leg in response to both torques about the ankle as well as about a vertical axis while simultaneously providing sidewise rigidity of the structure. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The location of a leak in a pond liner made of a sheet of electrically insulating material, such a polyvinyl chloride, supported by an electrically conductive medium, an example of which is a salar, is determined by immersing a power electrode in an electrically conductive fluid within the pond and a second or ground electrode in the supporting medium and creating therewith an electric potential between the pond fluid and supporting medium. A detector, having a pair of spaced probe electrodes which are electrically connected, is introduced to the fluid near the power electrode with the ends of the probe electrodes adjacent the liner. The detector is rotated until a maximum current reading is obtained by a galvanometer electrically connected to the detector probes. With the probes so aligned with respect to the power electrode, the probes are cause to traverse the liner and the location of a leak is noted by a sharp change in the galvanometer reading as one of the probes passes over the leak.

Abstract: A stabilizing inoculant for gray iron which increases the tensile strength thereof while reducing chill containing as essential elements chromium, silicon, and rare earths (primarily cerium).

Abstract: A boron alloying additive for continuous casting of boron steel having the desired hardenability without tundish nozzle blockage. The additive comprises 0.25-3.0% boron, 2.5-40% rare earth metals (RE), 6-60% titanium, and the balance iron. The additive may also contain silicon, calcium, manganese, and zirconium. In the additive the weight ratios of Ti to B and (Ti+RE) to B are 20:1-60:1 and 30:1-90:1, respectively.

Abstract: A variable speed pulley or sheave with a broad speed range is designed particularly for self-propelled lawn mowers. The variable speed pulley is mounted on a drive shaft of a gear unit in the form of a transaxle or transmission located on the mower and is driven through a belt connected to the drive shaft of the mower engine. The engine drive shaft can also drive a mower blade, thus eliminating any special power take-off shaft otherwise required to propel the mower. The variable speed pulley includes two pulley members or halves which are designed with inter-nesting tines and recessed hubs which enable the pulley halves to nest together more fully and thereby increase the speed range by more widely varying the effective diameter of the pulley.

Abstract: A variable speed pulley or sheave with a broad speed range is provided. The variable speed pulley comprises three inter-nesting components which enable a broad range of ratios to be achieved. The multiple component pulley is mounted on an idler shaft with one V-belt connected to a pulley of a drive shaft and another V-belt connected with a pulley of a driven shaft. The pulley includes two outer pulley components which are designed with generally radially-extending tines and recessed hubs. The pulley has a third, intermediate pulley component also mounted on the idler shaft between the outer two components and being slidable thereon to inter-nest with the outer two components. The intermediate component has generally-radially extending, generally triangularly shaped tines which can extend into slots between the tines of the outer two components. The intermediate component also has a hub which can extend into recesses of the outer two pulley components when moved into inter-nesting relationship therewith.

Abstract: A magnesium ferrosilicon alloy for in-mold nodulization of ductile iron consisting of 5-15%, by weight of magnesium, 60-80% silicon, 0.1-1.5% calcium, 0.1-3.0% aluminum, 0-2.5% rare earth, and balance iron.