Abstract: A spark igniter circuit is provided for igniting a flammable gas mixture in devices such as gas torches, lanterns, stoves and the like. A piezoelectric spark generator imposes a voltage on an electrically conductive circuit which is discontinuous in two locations for creating a pair of spark gaps in the circuit. The first spark gap eliminates the need of stripping insulation from a pair of wires and providing a connector therebetween and possibly enhances the effectiveness of a spark at the second spark gap for igniting the gas mixture.

Abstract: A portable, low-pressure propane gas torch including an internal spark igniter is characterized by the absence of the heretofore conventional venturi. Particular ratios of the inside diameters of the orifice member outlet and the burner tube provide an optimum mixture of flammable gas and aspirated air.

Abstract: A mini-blind which is width adjustable by the ultimate consumer at the moment of installation without the use of hand tools is disclosed, said mini-blind including slats having lines of weakness spaced at convenient intervals which enable each slat to be shortened by snapping off the desired increments by hand applied pressure.

Abstract: A window shade which includes a sheet member formed from a material having the characteristics, with respect to strength, formability and shape retention, of plastics, which sheet member, by reason of the formation of one or more continuous cut lines, the penetration of which are controlled to rather carefully defined parameters, can be quickly and accurately sized to width at the time of installation by the final user, a method of manufacturing a window shade, and apparatus for manufacturing a window shade.

Abstract: A gas appliance, preferably a torch, is provided with an orifice tube stationary with respect to its housing and receptive of combustible gas and an orifice gas-tightly mounted in the orifice tube for movement along the longitudinal axis of the orifice tube. A burner tube in communication with the orifice tube via the orifice is mounted for slidable movement along the longitudinal axis of the orifice tube in conjunction with the orifice to maintain the relative position of the orifice and burner tube during movement along the orifice tube. A valve in the orifice tube is actuatable in response to the movement of the orifice means in one direction to permit gas to pass into the orifice means and in response to the movement of the orifice means in the opposite direction into a rest position to prevent the flow of gas into the orifice means. An igniter is also responsive to the movement of the orifice to effect a spark in the burner tube to ignite gas permitted to pass by the valve.

Abstract: A protective liner for vessels such as cooking pans, which have interior surfaces either natural or covered with thin, nonstick coatings. The liner protects the interior surfaces from damage during manufacturing, packing, shipping, unpacking and display by covering the surfaces. The liner also prevents vessels from binding together when they are nested, by spacing the vessels to prevent tight insertion of one vessel within another. The liner is made of a thin flexible material. Its edge section grasps the rim of the vessel to be protected, while its bottom web section and spacer web section substantially cover the interior surfaces of the vessel.

Abstract: A platform scale in which the force applied to the platform is transmitted to a capacitance transducer whereby the output of the transducer is correlated to the force on the platform. The transducer includes two parallel square plates spaced apart and insulated from each other. Each plate has four slots, one projecting inwardly from each edge of each plate and each slot being generally parallel to the adjacent edge whereby each plate has four identical cantiliver beams. The free ends of each beam of one plate are connected to but insulated from the free ends of the corresponding beams of the other plate. The space between the plates constitutes the dielectric of the transducer and this space is reduced by an amount virtually correlated to the force applied to the platform so that the output of the transducer is very closely correlated to the force applied to the platform on the scale.

Abstract: A universal shade bracket which is (i) capable of receiving and supporting either the round pin end or the flattened pin end of a window shade assembly, and equally (ii) capable of supporting the window shade assembly from any one of the three conventional support surfaces; i.e.: a surface perpendicular to the axis of the window shade assembly, a surface vertically parallel to the axis of the window shade assembly, and a horizontal surface located above the window shade assembly.

Abstract: A one-piece, rail glide system which includes a rail glide which can be assembled from the end or the side of a rail or other support structure with equal ease, said glide being resistent to disassembly from the rail throughout a wide arc of applied loosening forces, and being adaptible to low cost, mass production techniques, including extrusion forming.

Abstract: A joint structure for connecting together shelves in a modular shelf assembly includes first and second, coplanar, abutting shelves. A hole is formed through the shelves with one-half of the hole being formed in each shelf so as to complete the hole when the shelves are abutting each other. The shelves are sandwiched between first and second vertically extending supports which are connected together by fastening means extending through the hole in the shelves. Formed in the upper side of the shelves is an annular recess concentric with the hole and having an inverted cup-shaped bottom surface. An annular boss is formed on the end of the upper support and includes a cup-shaped end surface sized to fit within the recess.

Abstract: In a traverse rod assembly, a draw cord is trained around rollers at opposite ends of the rod with an intermediate portion of the cord also being trained around a tensioning device. The two opposite end portions of the cord are secured to a master carrier which is slidable back and forth on the rod from one end thereof to the middle of the rod. Each end portion of the cord is fastened to the carrier in essentially the same manner with a bight being formed in the end portion of the cord and around a finger projecting rearwardly from the backside of the carrier so that, upon progressing from the end of the cord, the leading end of the bight overlaps the trailing end of the bight thereby holding the trailing end of the cord against the backside of the carrier. From the bight, the cord is trained reversely through a wedge slot formed through the center portion of the carrier adjacent the finger and extends toward the roller at the adjacent end of the rod.