Abstract: Apparatus for driving successive fasteners from a package of generally parallel fasteners flexibly serially interconnected in general row formation having a total virgin package weight greatly in excess of that which could be practically manually handled, the apparatus comprising a portable power operated fastener driving device of the type operable to be manually handled by an operator within a workpiece containing limited space, a rotary tray for supporting a coiled package of fasteners at a location spaced horizontally from the limited space within which the device is to be manually handled, and an elongated guide track of a horizontal extent sufficient to extend from the location of the rotary tray to the limited space within which the device is to be manually handled, the guide track being supported at one end in cooperating relation with the rotary tray and connected at its other end with the device for movement thereby in response to the manual handling movement of the device, the supported connection

Abstract: Molded top stops for a slide fastener have inner edges extending substantially in alignment with the inner edges of the interlocking elements and have bottom edges extending at acute angles upward and away from the interlocking elements. Further, during the molding of the top stops, extra interlocking element sections and the like are trimmed by trimming edge features on a horn tip cooperating with an anvil portion of a die.

Abstract: A stringer for a slide fastener has a coupling element formed from a continuous filament with leg portions secured to a tape-like portion wherein an elongated member is interposed between the superimposed leg portions. The leg portions are provided with grooves, teeth, or the like, for interlocking with the elongated member to restrain longitudinal and transverse movement of the leg portions relative to the elongated member. The elongated member provides dimensional stability to the coupling element.

Abstract: A stringer for a slide fastener is formed by assembling head portions of a spiral coupling element through slots in a support member which is folded and secured to retain the spiral coupling element by strap portions between the slots extending at an oblique angle to the folded edge.

Abstract: A method of making slide fastener coils is disclosed wherein coils of filamentary material are secured to adjacent edges of a pair of carrier tapes. Each coil of filamentary material is formed from a filament having a specially shaped cross section which is arranged in a mirror image relationship with respect to its adjacent filamentary coil. During formation of the filamentary coils, they are simultaneously wound on a mandrel having differently shaped surfaces which aid in the final shaping of each coil.

Abstract: Interconnecting threads for continuous molded coupling elements are used as load bearing members securing the coupling elements to a support tape. The strength of the union of the connecting threads with the molded coupling elements is increased such as by displacing central portions of embedded segments of the connecting threads deeper into leg portions of the coupling elements or providing a plurality of spaced connecting threads for each leg portion of a pair of leg portions of each element.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel fastener assembly for use in attaching a composite panel section or the like to a frame section. The fastener assembly comprises a first member for engagement in a bore formed in said frame section, said member including an enlarged, tamper-proof head engaging the exterior surface of said frame section and means for preventing rotation relative to said frame section; and a second member engaged with said first member, said second member being disposed in a coaxial bore formed in said panel, and having an enlarged head for engagement with said panel, said head including drive tool engaging means. In addition, the aforementioned first member engaged with said frame section, includes seal means for attaining a water-tight joint when said respective head portions are brought into clamped engagement with said frame and panel sections.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a multiplicity of cards of the type having a pair of parallel T-shaped slots formed along one edge thereof, each of which defines a pair of opposed flexible edge tabs. The apparatus comprises a unitary structure molded of plastic material which is arranged to be supported on a horizontal surface. The structure includes front and rear card supporting walls spaced apart to receive the cards therebetween in row formation, a pair of transversely spaced card supporting walls extending between the lower portions of said front and rear walls for supporting the entire row of cards along the portions of the slotted edges thereof extending outwardly from the T-shaped slots therein, and a rail of T-shaped cross-section extending vertically upwardly along the inner portion of each of the transversely spaced walls between the front and rear walls for engaging the slot defining edges of the cards.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein methods and apparatus for proof testing fluid meters, particularly gas meters of the positive displacement, diaphragm-operated type in which the number of cycles of operations of the valve mechanism of the meter is used as a factor in proving the accuracy of the meter, the number of said cycles being determined by sensing a series of pressure waveforms in the test gas entering and leaving the diaphragm chambers of the meter, which waveforms are characteristic of the particular meter being tested and occur in each cycle and reoccurring cycle of operation of the meter when operating, detecting a characteristic waveform in each series of waveforms amplifying and shaping the characteristic waveform and counting a predetermined number of cycles of said waveforms and comparing the volume of test gas which has passed through the meter as measured by a meter prover with the amount that should have passed during that predetermined number of cycles of operations of the meter.

Abstract: Sintered articles characterized by a surface of revolution, such as truncated spherical balls, e.g., plain spherical bearing balls, are provided made by the powder metal compaction and sintering of blanks followed, in the case of ball elements, by densification of the outer spherical surface by mechanical working, such as by roll-forming, the balls so produced being characterized by improved sphericity and dimensional tolerance and improved wear resistance combined with optimum resistance to corrosion. The spherical surface of the ball is substantially free of pores, has a work hardened structure and has a density at and adjacent the surface of at least about 95% of the theoretical density of the metal, the density substantially below the surface being less and ranging to as low as at least about 70% of theoretical density.

Abstract: A method of forming a slide fastener having terminal fastener elements reduced in size relative to the remaining fastener elements includes supporting a slide fastener chain to expose the terminal fastener elements, reducing the size of the terminal fastener elements, and fusing a mass of fusible material onto each slide fastener tape to form stop members.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding the coupling elements of a slide fastener string includes a pair of electrodes connected to a source of high frequency electromagnetic energy and a series of guide sections. The string is drawn through the guides and the coupling elements are heated and softened by the electromagnetic field and folded by the guides.

Abstract: A writing or marking implement comprising a cartridge unit; a housing for the unit; an operating mechanism including a pair of relatively rotatable driving members supported in axial alignment with the housing, and a follower slidingly engaging the driving members and reciprocating the unit between a concealed position and a point exposed position in response to relative rotation of the driving members; and a coupling providing a releasable threaded connection between the housing and mechanism whereby the mechanism and housing are selectively separable to permit removal or replacement of the unit, the coupling including interengaging wedged surfaces locking the threaded connection against inadvertent loosening under the rotary forces generated during repeated actuations of the mechanism.

Abstract: Watch bands, bracelets, belts or similar articles which include strip means having one end adapted to be connected to a buckle. The other end of the strip means includes a series of longitudinally spaced transverse apertures. Each product also includes generally flat spring means and a buckle, one end of which includes pivot means for connecting that end of the buckle to said end of the strip means. The pivot means includes at least a portion which is of greater width than thickness. The other end of the buckle includes a cross piece having a tongue secured thereto for engagement selectively with one of the transverse apertures of the strip means when the buckle is in its closed position.

Abstract: A self-contained component for use in making an end attachment for a watch band adapted to be mounted between spaced lugs of a wrist watch which permits use of a watch band with wrist watches having different spacings between their attachment lugs. The self-contained component may be used in the end attachment portions of a watch band and it includes a generally tubular member formed from a strip of bendable material having two pairs of tabs, one pair adjacent to one end of the strip and the other pair adjacent to the other end thereof. Coiled compression spring means is located within the generally tubular member. The component also includes a pair of generally tubular inserts adapted to slide within the generally tubular member and each insert is formed with a generally rectangular slot which has an open outer end and a substantially closed inner end.

Abstract: A helicopter main rotor has blades with an inboard airfoil having a high lift-drag ratio for efficient hovering and a "shock-free" outboard airfoil for high speed cruise. Each rotor blade has a structural section composed of metal spars and metal skins forming torque boxes accompanied by a nonstructural fairing and after body. Secured within the torque boxes and the after body are honeycomb cellular structures of a metallic and nonmetallic material, depending on the area wherein the cellular structure is secured. At a point along the blade radius, between 60% and 75%, the upper metal skin of the aft torque box changes from an outer contour surface of the blade to a flat surface parallel to and above the cord line. A fairing of fiberglass skin is secured over a nonmetallic cellular structure over the flat surface of the upper metal skin to complete the upper outer airfoil contour outboard of the 75% radius dimension.

Abstract: An improved ground-run/skid-braking and/or maneuvering control system for an aircraft or ground effect machine having an air cushion type undercarriage of the type comprising an elastically retractable inflatable trunk or other air inflatable air cushion confining device fabricated of elastic sheet material. The braking/control system comprises a mechanically actuated multiple spine system disposed interiorly of the trunk fabric; and is operable under pilot control to cause portions of the trunk to curvilinearly project downwardly below the basic footprint level of the trunk when inflated, to provide the desired ground-friction braking/maneuvering effects. The projected portions of the trunk are externally armored by means of wear/tear resistant friction pads which are relatively pleat-folding automatically incidental to elastic contractions of the trunk sheet material, to minimize craft flight drag effects.

Abstract: In gapping a stringer of a slide fastener, a plurality of interlocking elements in a portion to be gapped are gripped, such as by a comb, while the tape is clamped or held, and then relative movement is produced between the gripped fastening elements and the held tape either by moving the gripped elements or the held tape with a pivoted motion to pull the gripped elements seriatim from the tape.