Abstract: A valve assembly and processing system are provided in which the valve assembly enables cycled fluid flow switching and communication between a plurality of flow conduits. The valve assembly includes two valve members which have respective engaged surfaces relatively rotatable to provide the valving action. A first valve member includes at least three through apertures for respective communication with the flow conduits, and the second valve member includes a flow passage for selectively interconnecting a plurality of the apertures and enables selective interconnection of the three apertures for fluid flow among the three apertures and the respective conduits. The system can be employed, for example, to provide switching of air intake between dual air separation vessels which are operated in a cycled manner to provide concentrated oxygen product.

Abstract: A release clip for use with big game fishing comprises a housing and a spool carrier, with the spool carrier being rotatably mounted on the housing. The spool carrier is capable of rotation between an open and a closed position. The spool carrier has a spool disposed about it where slack fishing line is wound, and the housing has a pad disposed about it that is capable of applying a soft compression to the slack line in order to keep the line in place, and to prevent the line from tangling. The relesase clip, when in the open position, releases the slack fishing line when a fish applies sufficient tension to the line, allowing the slack line to play off of the spool. The amount of line tension required to open the release clip can be set variably by a fisherman.

Abstract: A retaining device integrally formed of a single piece of resiliently flexible material for retaining a flattened and rolled portion of a collapsible tube in a rolled condition. The retaining device is formed with two body portions, a first portion which is attached to an end of a tube, and a second portion which acts as a shackle to retain the tube in a rolled up condition. The second portion is integrally attached to the first portion an one end thereof and is releasably engageable with the first portion at an opposite end thereof. The retaining device has a perimeter which is shaped to permit interlocking of a plurality of the retaining devices when the retaining devices are juxtaposed in alternating directions forming a tessellation in a continuous strip of resiliently flexible material.

Abstract: A snap-fit fastener assembly including a receptacle member and a post member. The receptacle member is attachable to a first body such as a section of canvas or the like and the post member is attachable to a second body such as the side of a boat or the like. The receptacle member is a unitary single piece body integrally formed of a suitable plastic material and the post member includes an attachment portion and a head portion. Post engaging portions are integrally formed on the inside of the receptacle member for consistently, repeatably and securely engaging the post member in a snap-fit action such that the section of canvas may be retainably attached across the sides of the boat for covering the boat. A flexible arm with an upstanding protrusion is formed on the inside of the receptacle member for engaging a cooperatively formed groove formed on an underside of the head portion of the post member.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the orientation of vehicle headlamps or the like includes a molded gear housing having a gear journaling bore for rotation of an adjusting gear journaled therein, and an adjusting member movably coupled to the adjusting gear such that rotation of the adjusting gear imparts linear movement to the adjusting member for the headlamp adjustment. The housing also includes aperture means through which the adjustment member slidably extends, and the aperture means cooperates to prevent rotation of the adjusting member during the linear movement thereof. Additional features of the preferred adjusting mechanism provide a drive shaft and drive gear meshed to drive rotation of the adjusting gear. The drive shaft extends through a cap portion of the housing for manual access to the shaft, and the cap bears against an annular retainer portion on the drive shaft in order to prevent retraction of the shaft from the drive gear and the housing.

Abstract: A headlamp aiming apparatus is provided for attachment to an automotive headlamp assembly comprising a support member which is rigidly mountable to an automotive vehicle, a reflector which is mounted to the support member for pivotal motion about at least one of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis for aiming of the headlamp beam, and a headlamp adjusting assembly operatively coupled with the support member for aiming of the headlamp beam. The aiming apparatus comprises a first aiming indicia movable in unison with the headlamp adjusting assembly and a second aiming indicia independent of the headlamp adjusting assembly. An indicator alignment arrangement moves one of the first and second indicia independently of the headlamp adjusting means for bringing the first and second aiming indicia into registry with each other when the reflector is in a condition wherein the beam is aimed as desired responsive to adjustment by the headlamp adjusting assembly.

Abstract: A visor adapted for use with a headset worn on a person's head having a brim portion formed to wrap around the front of said person's head providing shielding from visually adverse conditions. The brim portion is formed with rearwardly extending portions which terminate in clips used to mount the visor to the headset. The visor is integrally formed of a suitable plastic providing necessary rigidity and flexibility characteristics. The design of the clips exploit the flexibility characteristics of the plastic to removably retain the visor on the headset without any additional fasteners or adhesives. The clip is formed of two generally parallelly aligned flanges with a headband receiving gap therebetween, one flange formed with a heel portion and a gap and the other flange formed with a stabilizing flange. A portion of the headset fits into the gap and is retained in the gap by the stabilizing flange on the opposing flange.

Abstract: A hinge brake apparatus is provided for controlling the rate of either opening or closing of a door or the like. The hinge brake includes a cylinder member having a tubular-open-ended configuration and a piston member which axially slidably interfits in telescoping relation with the cylinder and forms a sliding seal therewith. A one-way air flow control arrangement is disposed adjacent the end of the cylinder opposite its open end for controlling the flow of air between the interior and the exterior of the cylinder in response to travel of the piston in at least one axial direction relative to the cylinder. A check valve arrangement is provided for permitting a relatively free and less impeded air flow between the exterior and interior of the cylinder in response to travel of the piston in the opposite axial direction.

Abstract: A lens support structure for holding a pair of contact lenses in a lens storage container includes a support frame having an integral stem portion and surface support means for the respective lenses. The support structure also includes a pair of lens holding members pivotably mounted on the support frame in which each holder member includes a basket-like cover portion which overlies the surface support means in the pivotably closed portion for enclosure of a respective lens therebetween.

Abstract: An appliance for disinfecting contact lenses wherein the lenses are disposed within a lens disinfecting solution which produces a gas during the disinfecting action. The appliance has a container body with a lens holder for supporting a pair of contact lenses within the container and a removable cap with a vent means which seals the container to prevent contamination while permitting the venting of gases developed during the disinfecting action. The vent consists of a post positioned in a bore such that the post does not obstruct passage of gas from the inside of the container through the bore and a resiliently deflectable apertured diaphragm through which the post protrudes. The aperture in the diaphragm deflects away from the post when the pressure within the container exceeds a threshold pressure. Once the pressure within the container is equalized with the ambience, the diaphragm resiliently deflects to close the vent thereby protecting the contents of the container from contamination.

Abstract: A humidifier apparatus for admixture of heated water vapor into a gaseous stream include heating means for generating heated vapor from the water and a housing with a transfer chamber formed therein secured to the heating means which is exposed within the chamber. The housing includes intake and effluent conduit for flow passage of the gaseous stream through the chamber and a water intake conduit extending through the housing and chambers so that the conduit directs discharge of the intake water against the heating means to generate the heated vapor.

Abstract: An improved fastening nut is disclosed which is secured to an unthreaded stud which is inserted through a central bore in the nut. The bore includes a guide and retaining splines which provides alignment guidance during sliding insertion of the stud into the bore. The guide splines preferably has an annular configuration with an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the stud so that the initial insertion of the stud does not produce significant frictional resistance. The bore of the nut further includes a plurality of helical threads, preferably twin leads having equal pitch, which are disposed in the bore axially distinct from the guide and retaining splines and terminate within the bore adjacent the guide and retaining splines. The internal helical threads have a crest diameter smaller than the stud diameter and also projects radially inwardly into the bore further than the guide and retaining splines.

Abstract: A valve assembly and overall system provides selective fluid flow switching and communication between a plurality of flow conduits. The valve assembly includes two valve members which have respectively engaged surfaces which are relatively rotatable to provide the valving action. A first valve member has a plurality of through apertures for respective communication with the flow conduits and a second valve member includes flow passage means for selectively interconnecting at least two of the apertures through the first valve member in order to enable fluid flow therebetween. Drive means is provided for driving continuous relative rotation of the valve members in order to enable rotationally cycled interconnection and fluid flow through the interconnected apertures.

Abstract: A headlamp aiming apparatus is provided for attachment to an automotive headlamp assembly which includes a frame member rigidly mountable to an automotive vehicle and a headlamp mounted to the frame member for pivotal motion about a horizontal and/or vertical axis of the headlamp for aiming the headlamp beam. The apparatus includes an aim-indicating arrangement having a housing mounted for movement in unison with a given surface of the headlamp so that the housing is movable with the headlamp during aiming. A headlamp adjusting assembly is operatively coupled with the housing for producing movement of both the housing and the headlamp relative to the frame member for achieving the aimed condition. An indicator adjusting assembly is provided for adjusting of the aim-indicating means to indicate an aimed condition of the associated headlamp and, in particular, while the headlamp is in a condition wherein the beam is aimed as desired responsive to adjustment by the headlamp adjusting assembly.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly is provided for a container and dispenser which maintains a supply of liquid, such as saline solution for contact lenses, in sterile condition during storage and has a flexible wall for manually squeezed displacement of the dispensed liquid from a storage cavity within the container. The nozzle assembly includes first and second conduits for defining separate fluid flow paths between an opening from the container and a nozzle from the structure. The first conduit enables flow of the stored liquid to be discharged from the nozzle orifice during squeezing of the flexible wall. The second conduit includes a barrier obstructing flow of the liquid through the second conduit which obstruction is permeable to air and impermeable to bacteria, allowing aspiration of air through the second conduit into the liquid storage cavity to replace the dispensed liquid and re-expand the container wall while preventing entry of any bacteria with the aspirated air.

Abstract: A material regulating valve which controls the flow of an additive material into a primary material as a function of the volume, flow rate, and viscosity of the primary material. The device is comprised of a two sectioned body with a primary flow path and an additive flow path through the body such that the additive flow path intersects the primary flow path at one portion in the body. Located between the primary flow path and the additive flow path is a additive flow regulating component. The device also included a flow indicator which provides a visual confirmation when material is flowing through the primary path and a manual control component which provides a manual over ride of the normally self controlling flow regulating component.

Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for a headlamp or the like is provided with a molded gear housing having a gear-journaling bore and an apertured cap portion closing the outer end of the bore. A drive gear is rotatably journaled in the bore and is coupled to a drive shaft extending through the apertured end cap portion. A retainer member is mounted within the bore and engages the shaft and bears against the interior surface of the cap portion in order to prevent correspondingly uncoupling and retraction of the shaft end from the housing and the drive gear. The drive gear is rotatably meshed with an adjusting gear which is journaled with a second bore integrally molded in the gear housing. The second gear has a nut portion which is threaded to a linearly movable screw which produces the pivoting torque for adjusting realignment of the headlamp.