Abstract: A continuous flexible metal band surrounding a molding wheel and rotating therewith engages the wheel through an arc less than 180.degree., e.g. 110.degree., and is maintained with a substantial inward radius of curvature throughout its entire length. This permits the employment of bands with cavities therein and having thicknesses several times greater than 0.001 times the diameter of the molding wheel without fatigue and failure of the band.

Abstract: A guide including one or more members formed from planar material, such as paper, is removably attached to a slide fastener. Article edge portions bordering an opening in an article are removably attached to the guide. The guide retains the edge portions of the article in position relative to the slide fastener during sewing of the edge portions to the slide fastener.

Abstract: For use in gas meters and the like, an improved sliding valve assembly constructed so as to be capable of self restoring the relative sliding motion between a sliding valve and its valve seat when a viscous foreign material tending to accumulate on the valving surfaces inhibits the normal motion of the valve, and thereby insuring a more accurate and reliable metering of a fluid material.

Abstract: A multiple-mode hydraulic tracer valve which is convertible from mode to mode by the use of a shiftable stylus and a transmission whose locus can be shifted relative to the spool valves of the tracer valve without changing the relative settings between the spools and the sleeves of the spool valves.

Abstract: Molded coupling elements are formed without draft in the locking portions, such as the locking protrusions, and are formed with double draft in passive portions, such as the neck area, to provide increased locking strength and operational clearance for slide fastener flexibility.

Abstract: Sliders for slide fasteners are disclosed including (1) one or more locking projections extending into outer lateral regions of a main slider channel portion, (2) an inclined divider post, (3) lateral tabs for enabling assembly of pull-less slider, and/or (4) an asymmetric locking projection on a divider post.

Abstract: A self-tapping, self-captivating fastener is provided for engagement in a predrilled aperture to enable the connection of an electrically conductive element such as a lead wire, or spade type terminal attached to the end of such a wire, to a workpiece or bus bar. The fastener includes a shank and an enlarged driving head, said shank having a threaded portion which includes a thread lead-in portion that tapers and converges in a direction away from the driving head toward an enlarged abutment projection formed at the work entering end of said fastener. The diameter of this abutment projection is less than the diameter of the predrilled aperture and said apertural diameter is less than the crest diameter of the threaded portion. Thus the abutment portion may pass through this aperture with said threaded portion reshaping the periphery of the aperture to form internal mating threads, such that the apertural diameter is reduced to less than that of the abutment portion.

Abstract: The air inlet of the carburetor of an internal combustion engine is connected to an opening in an end wall of the housing of a fan for supplying cooling air to the engine. An inwardly inclined lip at the upstream side of the opening and an inwardly sloping surface at the downstream side of the opening deflect dirt or other solid particles in the air inwardly away from the opening so that the air supplied to the carburetor is freed of such particles. The fan housing and carburetor are directly mounted on the crank case of the engine to provide a compact construction.

Abstract: Successive portions of a continuous polymer filament are plasticized such as by localized heating with ultrasonic or thermal energy, and the plasticized (plastified) portions are molded in one or more cavities to form articles such as slide fastener elements. Additionally there is disclosed the attachment of a thermoplastic slide fastener coupling element to the edge of a tape by surrounding the leg portions with walls of cavities in a pair of ultrasonic members and applying ultrasonic energy through energy directing projections located centrally within the cavities to the pair of legs to fuse the legs to the edge of the tape.

Abstract: A helicopter rotor hub assembly (10) in which a blade grip (30) extends inboard of a yoke (14) and transfers centrifugal forces to the yoke (14) through a spherical elastomeric bearing (38). Pitch change of the grip (30) and blade (32) is accommodated by the spherical elastomeric bearing (38) which also acts as the pivot point for lead-lag motion of the blade (32) and grip (30). A lead-lag damper (22) is located inboard of the elastomeric bearing (38) and is connected between one end of the grip (30) spaced away from the lead-lag pivot and the yoke (14) for damping the lead-lag motion between the grip (30) and yoke (14).

Abstract: A slide fastener installation is disclosed in which the trains of coupling elements are adhesively mounted on the article into which the slide fastener is to be installed without the use of mounting tapes. In making this installation, the interlocked trains of elements are mounted on the fabric before a slit is made in the fabric to provide an opening to be closed by the slide fastener.

Abstract: In a filament type trimmer a filament is wound on a storage spool in a rotating housing and exits through an opening in a rim portion of the housing. When the extending portion of the filament is rotating freely, it extends approximately radially from the housing. However, when it hits a relatively stationary object, it is deflected rearwardly so as to extend approximately tangentially from the housing. To avoid high stresses in the exiting portion of the filament, the exit opening is inclined rearwardly so that when the filament is deflected rearwardly by striking an object, it extends in a tangential line off of the spool, thereby avoiding bending stresses at the exit opening.

Abstract: The leg portions of a continuous molded coupling element are bonded together to reinforce the attachment of connecting threads embedded in the leg portions, and a longitudinal cord is laid in grooves formed in heels of the leg portions to improve the stability of the coupling elements.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for folding a helicopter rotor blade (16) for storage. The blade (16) is secured to a grip (12) by blade bolts (18, 20) which are locked in place by a latch plate (22). Each bolt (18, 20) has an annular groove (30, 31) in which is mated a corresponding aperture (42, 46) in the latch plate (22). To fold the blade (16) the latch plate (22) is translated against the tension of spring (24) to expose a blade bolt (18) to an enlarged aperture (40). This bolt (18) can then be removed to permit pivoting of the blade (16) about the remaining bolt (20). To further secure the latch plate (22), a cap (54) is provided to lock the latch plate (22) to the blade bolt (18).

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously feeding a slide fastener chain and folding back article members attached to an outer edge portion of one or both tapes of the slide fastener chain includes a pawl arrangement slidably mounted in a first elongated member for engaging and advancing fastening elements of the slide fastener chain retained in a channel formed between the first elongated member and a second elongated member. A guide is attached to one of the first and second elongated members for folding the article members back as the slide fastener chain is advanced.

Abstract: Dyeable and dyed polymer-coatings on metal articles such as sliders, buttons, buckles, clasps, nuts, bolts, hooks, etc. include a substantial quantity of active proton acceptor groups relative to the number of polymer molecules in order to provide adequate dye pick-up.

Abstract: A woven slide fastener stringer includes spaced coupling elements molded on spaced parallel connecting threads with reinforcing projections extending from respective leg portions of the coupling elements along upper connecting threads. The reinforcing projections have lower surfaces which are inclined relative to the connecting threads to produce substantially stronger reinforcing projections.

Abstract: A slide fastener has coupling elements secured to adjacent edges of a pair of carrier tapes wherein each of the elements is formed from a tubular filament by plastic deformation of selected portions, thus defining head portions, leg portions and connecting portions wherein the tubular filament has a ratio of filament wall thickness divided by the average inside diameter in the range of about 0.65 to about 1.8.

Abstract: A non-expansible linkage bracelet and method of manufacture thereof, wherein the bracelet includes: a set of laterally adjacent top links having channel-shaped sections with parallel side members joined by top members, one side member of each top link having at least one bendable locking lug protruding therefrom; and a set of laterally adjacent bottom links having channel-shaped sections inverted relative to the channel-shaped sections of the top links, the channel-shaped sections of the bottom links having parallel side members joined by bottom members with apertures therein. The side members of adjacent links of one set are arranged in a confronting relationship between the side members of individual links of the other set, with the locking lugs of the top links being received in the apertures in the bottom members of the bottom links.