Abstract: A preventive method for thin-gage plate deformation in manufacturing flat plate welded structures, which are constructed by welding thin-gage plates and frames and are used for side-plates, etc. in rolling stocks. The said method comprises preheating the whole thin-gage plate in a heating box for thermal expansion, and welding the thin-gage plate and the frame as the plate is expanded.

Abstract: A fishing lure comprising one or more internal light sources has a body made of a single fiber optic which may be smooth, multifacetted or contain molded in cabochon shapes. The body also contains a power source and associated circuitry for controlling the light source. The fiber optic body has connecting sections which allows access to the light sources, power source, and portions of the circuitry and permits replacement of the power source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for surface mounting terminals on a substrate, in particular, pin terminals on a printed circuit board, having solder applied therein. In the first step of the method, a plurality of terminals are inserted in a holding fixture and held in alignment with each other. The holding fixture is then rotated to bring the terminals into contact with the solder on the substrate. In the next step of the method, the area of contact is heated, for example, by infra-red radiation, until reflow of the solder occurs. After heating, the heated solder is allowed to cool, i.e. solidify, thereby forming a secure connection between the terminals and the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: This invention supplies lures whose polymer being applied to fish attractants and release said attractant into water at an essentially a controlled rate usually for a period sufficient for the attractant fish to arrive at the lure. These polymers may be any that are commercially available or known that has the ability to selectively absorb the lure and then release it controlably into water. The preferred polymers are copolymers of acrylic water swellable polyesters, water swellable polyesthers, water swellable poly urethanes, with the degree of water swellability being controlled by the degree of cross-linking.

Abstract: A hinge for joining surfaces of sheet material comprises a strip of film/foam laminate positioned with a foam layer across the surfaces to be joined. The foam layer is tackified by heating and pressure is applied to the strip, thus heat sealing the strip to the surfaces. The hinge strip is preferably polyethylene film laminated to polyethylene foam and the surfaces to be joined may be polyethylene foam or a film/foam laminate.The joined surfaces are not damaged or destroyed by the heat lamination. The foam layer of the hinge sealing strip is partially or substantially melted and the film upper layer of the heat sealing strip forms a permanent waterproof bond with the surfaces which it joins.

Abstract: A slider, for use in slidably connecting a balance arm of a window regulator mechanism to a guide member having a pair of spaced planar edge portions defining a linear slot therebetween is disclosed. The slider is molded from a one piece plastic material and has a main body portion disposed within the slot of the guide member and first and second offset pairs of legs for engaging and straddling the opposite sides of the guide member in a manner to prevent twisting of the slider in a horizontal plane when it is reciprocably moved within the guide slot. One of the pairs of legs is provided with deflectable ears so that both pairs of legs are biased into engagement with the guide member on opposite sides thereof to prevent rattling therebetween.

Abstract: Hinge consisting of an L-shaped pintle and an elongated secondary element wherein the pintle has a vertical leg and the secondary element has a bore fitting snugly over the vertical leg.

Abstract: A housing, such as an air filter housing, with a plastic attachment tab is provided with a releasable, one-piece, U-shaped attachment clip engaging in a through aperture in the attachment tab and having sleeves formed in the vicinity of the through aperture on the inside of each leg of the U-shaped clip, and at least one resilient tongue on each leg of the clip pressing against the attachment tab.

Abstract: A shuttle or recessed housing 11 for a vehicle radio and/or fixed recording player is disclosed. This shuttle is particularly designed to permit owner removal of such a unit 10 located in an attractive vehicle dashboard console 20 in which it is the desire that the release mechanism be totally or virtually concealed. A thin metal housing 11 conforms to the shape of the radio and tape cassette or compact disk player unit and has a narrow concealed edge flange on at least one edge of the front opening. Integral fingers 54 formed in the housing or shuttle 11 are bent outward to lock against the front panel or console 20. An antenna connection at the rear is provided with a pin 60 positioned directly behind the mating socket of the radio. Openings are present in at least the rear face of the shuttle 11 to allow the normal connectors of the radio 10 to engage mating connectors 52 in the shuttle 11.

Abstract: A rodent trap, particularly for mice, comprises a substantially closed container which includes a fixed stationary ramp surface extending from a position adjacent the lid of the container downwardly from one side of the container toward an opposed side at which it ends at a position adjacent to but spaced from the side surface. An upper portion of the ramp surface is roughened to give good grip to the rodent while a lower portion of the ramp is smooth to prevent or inhibit the rodent from turning or reversing once it has reached the lower end of the ramp surface. Bait is applied to the lower end of the ramp surface and to the inner surface of the side wall adjacent the end of the ramp surface. The depth of the container is sufficient so that it can receive the ramp while underneath the ramp is a quantity of water the depth of which is sufficient to drown the mouse. An opening in the lid adjacent the upper end of the ramp is of sufficient small size to prevent the entry of unintended larger rodents.

Abstract: A door closer has a cam surface on its pinion shaft. A lever mounted thereadjacent works against the shaft, and when the door is closed, engages a switch to indicate remotely the condition of the door. The lever fulcrum is mounted on an eccentric arrangement so that the change from "door closed" to "door opened" position can be set at a precise point.

Abstract: A sliding door roller apparatus includes a replaceable wheel assembly that can be easily removed and replaced on a holding member. The wheel assembly includes a resilient housing, a wheel, and an axle on which the wheel turns. The resilient housing has a pair of opposite facing sidewalls, each having an integral end portion that extends toward and overlaps the other. Each end portion includes at least one locking finger that is positionable within an opening on the holding member. The resiliency of the housing permits the locking fingers to be placed or removed from an opening located on the holding member.The apparatus also includes an adjustment mechanism that positions the wheel assembly outside the sliding door frame to permit the frame to be properly aligned within its door opening.

Abstract: A covering element for a furniture hinge has a central channel portion which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section. The sides of the U-shaped section are extended at one end beyond the base of the U and the extensions have aligned holes formed in them to receive a pin for pivotal connection to a hinge member. The cover encloses parts of the hinge used for adjusting the relative angular and spatial positions of the hinge members, to prevent accidental displacement. In the closed position of the covering element, inwardly turned extensions of the channel edges form a snap fit around a hinge casing, and the end of the hinge is enclosed by an angled-over extension of the channel base.

Abstract: An improved caster construction wherein a brake is provided for selectively braking both the wheel against rotation and the yoke against rotation around the axis of the post of the caster. The post includes a lower end having a nut fixed thereto and the brake includes a brake plate having a socket for selectively engaging the nut to prevent rotation of the yoke about the axis of the post and a resilient wire spring for selectively biasing the brake plate into the brake engagement.

Abstract: A water ski tow rope is disclosed herein convertible between a single handle position and a two-handle position wherein the end of a tow rope terminates a pair of lines, each line having a ring and hook, said hooks adapted to be either snapped together into a single tow loop for single-handed use or snapped to the respective rings to define a pair of tow loops for double or two-handed use. A cushioned handle is divided into a pair of segments so that when opposing segment ends are joined, the single-handed position is defined and, when separated, the two-handed position is defined.

Abstract: Apparatus for centering and clamping pipe workpieces to be welded to one another, which has, on both sides of a welding zone equipped with an inert-gas supply system, clamping units of which the first comprises at least one clamping device and the second at least two clamping devices. These consist of clamping grooves opening outwards in the form of a wedge and each containing a row of clamping members. Their walls are formed by annular parts movable axially relative to one another. The two outermost of these annular parts are connected releaseably to one another via a pull rod and a drive body, by means of which they can be brought closer to one another counter to a spring-force accumulator and moved away from one another again by means of the spring-force accumulator. The inner annular parts and the welding zone are arranged on a holding body.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for joining two semiconductor devices 10 and 10', each having a plurality of metallic contact bumps 12 and 12' on the major surfaces 14 and 14' thereof. The devices are etched to remove oxide 18 from the contact bumps and to prevent subsequent oxidation thereon. The devices are then oriented so that the bumps 12 and 12' on the respective devices are aligned opposite each other. By applying pressure to the devices, the bumps are caused to cold-weld together to form a single device 24.

Abstract: Wire for repairing or changing circuit elements such as printed circuits has heat-resistant insulation surrounded by a hot-melt adhesive. The wire is attached to the surfaces of printed circuit boards easily by applying a hot iron to the adhesive layer on the wire and melting the adhesive which then adheres to the board surface. The hot iron has a tip with a groove in it so that when the iron tip is pressed onto the wire, the tip embraces the wire to melt the adhesive quickly and to make the bond relatively quickly. The coating is applied by passing insulated wire vertically through a length of molten adhesive and then through a die. A cleaner/holder device is used for cleaning the tip of a hot iron used for melting adhesive, or a soldering iron, and for holding the hot iron when it is not in use. The preferred cleaner is anti-combustion treated absorbent cotton string wound on a spool which is mounted in the holder, or adhesive tape with a soft clutch backing.

Abstract: A laterally swinging hinge, which can longitudinally turn back and forth at an angle of approximately 315.degree., and which is to be mounted on an ordinary door or automobile door; the hinge can also have a laterally swinging angle of at least 5.degree. in either direction so as to eliminate the possible trouble and drawbacks caused by the conventional hinge upon installing two or more than two hinges on one door and upon the center line of the two hinges not being aligned exactly; in that case, the conventional hinges can suffer from a bad friction or cause the door to be bent or unable to be operated normally. The hinge mainly comprises a set of hinge butts, a center shaft being inserted through the cylinder of the hinge butts; the center shaft is substantially a slender cylinder including a ball-shaped part in the mid portion thereof, an upper rod and a lower rod for holding the two butts.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tarp for use as ground cover one example of which employs a barrier such as an adhesive strip on its top surface inwardly of and juxtapositioned of its periphery which has a tear-away strip over it which upon removal when the tarp is stretched over the ground traps bugs, insects and the like which attempt to crawl over it.