Abstract: A measuring device, such as a micrometer or other form of dimensional measuring instrument, is provided which is operable to indicate dimensional measurements made thereby in numerical form on a display, such as an electronic digital display. The measuring device or micrometer is controlled to generate digital electrical signals which are indicative of a measurement, which signals of each measurement are recorded in an electronic memory which may be supported by the device or connected thereto. The memory is employed to both indicate each measurement as it is made and to record all or selected measurements made for future reference. Other information generated, for example, by a suitable input means such as a keyboard, and defining such variables as part number, part lot, time and date of measurement, etc. may be recorded in such memory along with the recording or recordings of data defining the measurements made.

Abstract: A gage block is designed as a stepped sine block to produce commonly used angles when used with a conventional sine bar without the use of conventional gage blocks. Reference surfaces parallel to one or more bases are provided to produce the desired number of commonly used angles.

Abstract: A device which measures the overall diameter of groups of hairs or fibers and reduces the work required to obtain their statistical parameters. In the preferred embodiment an outer hollow cylinder is mounted between the measuring surfaces of a micrometer. An inner edge of a trough made in the cylinder articulates with an edge of a half cylindrical portion of a piston moving within it by means of a handle; the two parts thereby making a window with diametrically opposed halves. A spring presses the piston edge to the trough edge by sliding the piston on slopes against two parts with short steps and a block disengages one end of the piston to let hair in when open. An elongated step with a railing is placed under the piston half cylinder thus making the window into a face of a hollow triangular prism. The railing rises higher than the edge of the trough so that when the piston and trough edges nearly meet the elongated bottom step must turn and bend the hairs.

Abstract: First and second longitudinal body portions are hinged longitudinally together and include adjustable end extensions which adjust the width of the body portion to the width of the stair tread surface and also the riser surface, whereby to form a cutting pattern for cutting out a one-piece tread and riser portion of a stair cover when the template is laid on the cover. The template also has a front depending lip on the first longitudinal body portion for engaging a lip on the cover when forming a marking and cutting pattern for the cover.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for zeroing, calibrating and setting a surgical knife. The surgical knife includes a blade that has a tip which can move relative to a footplate that extends from the body of the knife. The apparatus includes a calibration housing that is coupled to a surgical microscope. The calibration housing has a transparent sleeve coupled to a holder, which are both adapted to receive and support the surgical knife. The calibration housing is constructed so that the knife and sleeve are in the line of sight of the microscope. The knife typically has a sensor that can sense the position of the blade tip relative to the footplate. The sensor provides an output signal to a visual display which converts the signal to a visual readout. The visual display also has an input device that allows the surgeon to zero the visual display. To calibrate the knife, the surgeon inserts the knife into the calibration housing until the footplate is parallel with a marking on the sleeve.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to improve the sharpness of cutting and to prolong the longevity of the blade by increasing the cutting speed with a rotation of the round blade cutter that is more than the normal rotation of 1:1.The base 34 is linked with the drawing head 8 by means of the detachable hook 16 and the hook receiver 32, and when the base 34 moves along the rail 6 with the drawing head 8, the rubber roller 46 rotates with the friction with the paper-mounting plate 2. The rotation of the rubber roller 46 is transmitted to the round blade cutter 40 by means of the speed increasing mechanism, and the round blade cutter 40 rotates at a high speed in the same direction with the rubber roller 46 and moves along the cutter groove 4 to cut the paper 12.

Abstract: A contact sensing probe with a cylindrical housing component (1), with a bearing (4) and a hemispherical element (3), possesses a stylus (13) which displaces the hemispherical element (3) and, with that, the transmission element (2). A measured value converter (14) is provided within the contact sensing probe. The running surfaces (1a, 2a) of the housing component (1) and the transmission element (2) comprise high strength ceramic material with a mean roughness value R.sub.a of .ltoreq.0.8 .mu.m, respectively 32 .mu.in. Rotational security is provided not only for the hemispherical element (3) but also for the transmission element (2).

Abstract: A method for determining the orientation of the axis of a borehole with respect to an Earth-fixed reference coordinate system at a selected series of locations in the borehole, the borehole having a trajectory, and adapted to receive a drill string, comprising defining a model for the influence of magnetic interference from elements of the drill string on the measurement of components of the Earth's magnetic field in the borehole in terms of an unknown vector, a measurement vector, and a measurement matrix relating the unknown vector and the measurement vector; measuring at two or more selected locations along the borehole trajectory at least one of two cross-borehole components of the Earth's gravity field at the selected locations in the borehole, and two cross-borehole components and an along-borehole component of the Earth's gravity field at the selected locations in the borehole; two cross-borehole components and an along-borehole component of the Earth's magnetic field at the selected locations; computi

Abstract: A linear measuring instrument having a pair of measuring tips mounted on respective jaws moveable relative to one another along an elongated beam particularly adapted for measuring inside dimensions has a digital display unit responsive to display increments of movement of one jaw relative to the beam on which the jaw is slidingly mounted. The pair of measuring tips are spaced from one another, when the jaws are in engagement with one another, a selected calibration distance. The end user of the instrument follows a sequence of steps, including resetting the display unit to read zero and then adjusting and fixing the position of the other jaw to the beam until the selected calibration distance registers on the display unit.

Abstract: A method of aiming a headlight for a vehicle includes removing a bulb from a headlight, installing an aiming device in the headlight in place of the bulb, and connecting the aiming device to a source of power to produce a laser beam. The method also includes locating the laser beam on an aiming screen placed in front of the vehicle and adjusting the position of the headlight, if necessary, to locate the laser beam at a predetermined position on the aiming screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying personalized alphanumeric characters and the like to the sidewall of a tire is disclosed. The method allows a tire owner to adorn the tires with a desired name, phrase, slogan, logo, etc., quickly and at low cost. In addition, the apparatus allows the tire owner to space the characters properly on the sidewall to ensure a professional appearance.

Abstract: An automatic wheel alignment system for aligning the wheels of an automotive vehicle includes head units adapted for coupling to the wheels of the automotive vehicle and a hand held module. The wheel units provide angle information related to the alignment of the wheels of the automotive vehicle. The hand held module is coupled to the wheel alignment units and provides information to an operator through a liquid crystal display. The hand held module includes a controller and memory means. A keypad input is provided for receiving an input from the operator. The liquid crystal display includes an liquid crystal display matrix for forming an image. A contrast control means is coupled to the liquid crystal display and provides a contrast signal to the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A toe angle detecting apparatus includes a wheel supporting device for supporting thereon each wheel attached to a vehicle. The wheel supporting device is rotatably mounted on a vertical support shaft. A toe angle detecting device is rotatably mounted on the support shaft and provided with a pair of contact shoes spaced horizontally at a predetermined distance from each other. The toe angle detecting device is rotatable independently of the wheel supporting device. The contact shoes are displaceable vertically and displaceable radially with respect to the support shaft, and are brought into contact with the wheel at predetermined portions thereof to rotate the toe angle detecting device about the support shaft toward a toe direction of the wheel. An angle detector is provided for detecting an angle at which the toe angle detecting device is rotated about the support shaft.

Abstract: An electronic level includes a visual display (similar to a ruler scale) having a number of parallel line segments. The inclination of the device is shown by illuminating various of the scale line segments on either side of the central line. When the device is at a null (typically level or plumb) only the central scale line is illuminated, indicating the inclination away from the null. Each scale line segment indicates 1/64th of an inch of inclination per foot of horizontal distance which conforms to the normal use of such levels by building tradesmen. A multi-tone audio output corresponds to the visual display line segments, with one tone being provided for each increment of inclination arranged in order of the musical scale. A fixed offset mode is provided showing if the device is at a particular slope such as 1/8" per foot. In addition, a variable user offset mode allows indication of any predetermined inclination within the full 360.degree. range.

Abstract: A laying head for forming axially moving elongated products into series of rings. The laying head includes an auxiliary guide which is readily dismantled from the laying head in order to accommodate the rolling of larger diameter slower speed products. The guide includes the provision of a helical extension of the guide path defined by the rotating three-dimensionally curved pipe of the laying head. The helical extension is subdivided into an outer cylindrical shroud surrounding the rotational path of the outlet end of the laying pipe, and an inner helical trough having its open side facing the shroud. The helical trough includes a central hub adapted to be detachably secured to the tubular pipe support carrying the laying pipe. The central hub and the tubular pipe support include coacting surfaces which insure that the components are reliably assembled for balanced rotation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic line width adjustment for engraving characters on a piece of sign material utilizes two cutters sliding by each other in face-to-face opposing relationship. Line width is controlled by controlling the spacing between a pair of cutter tips. The two cutters are moved over a portion of a sign blank while being rotated with the selected spacing between the cutter tips to effect a selected cutting width. The cutters are held in holders and are replaceable when worn out. An internal ratchet-and-pawl mechanism provides fifteen different cutter line widths. The cutter head is moved into engagement with an external pawl mechanism to operate the internal ratchet-and-pawl mechanism.

Abstract: A belt designed for size adjustability, self-sealing closure, and temporary engagement to the waistband of skirt/slack of the wearer. The belt utilizes an outer face of fashion fabric and an inner face of fabric of mutually adhesive material with the addition of one relatively small strip of mutually adhesive material on one end of the fashion fabric and a closure strip traversely affixed to the opposite end of the fashion fabric. A continuous band is formed by engaging the small strip of mutually adhesive material to the inner fabric at any point along the circumference. The closure strip is folded around the engaged belt and then temporarily affixed to the inner fabric in c-shaped fashion by mutually adhesive material strips securely affixed to the ends of the closure strip.

Abstract: A portable tool for use by locksmiths and the like with an indexable slide having a positioning hole for nicely receiving a conventional chisel-type stamp. The tool has an adjustable clamp for releasably gripping and retaining a thin object, such as a key blank on a key bed beneath the slide and positoning hole. Spaced detents provide a guide for spacing and, by indexing the slide as desired, the stamp indicia can be applied in a neat and evenly spaced manner.

Abstract: An alignment device in which two plugs are rigidly fixed to the opposite ends of a spacing bar at a distance substantially equal to the distance between the inlet and outlet ports of the gas meter to be connected to the system is formed from a rust-free material such as nylon, preferably with an I-bar configuration and reinforced with fiberglass cords for strength. The riser is installed with one plug of the device mounted on the supplier riser so that, when the consumer riser is installed, it can be properly aligned with and connected to the other plug to later conform to the meter. Alternatively, the device could be installed between the risers by the consumer riser installer.

Abstract: Face shield for protecting a wearer's face from spatters. The shield includes a flexible, transparent portion sized to cover the face and a flexible spacer portion for contact with the wearer's forehead to provide adequate clearance of the transparent flexible portion away from the wearer's face. When worn, the flexible spacer portion substantially completely seals the top portion of the shield to prevent spatters from reaching the face from the top, that is, through the portion occupied by the spacer. The face shield may also include a mask structure to cover the nose and mouth of the wearer.