Abstract: A flexible double ball-point pen of special construction to permit writing characters and lines of different thicknesses and styles and changing the style of writing at will. The pen is provided with a flexible joint of compressible and expandable material responsive to the amount of pressure and direction of movement of the user's hand and also having a pair of ball-point balls in communication with an ink supply of any standard composition used in ball-point pens and held by a dimple formation in an ink-containing tube adjacent the writing end of the pen. The remainder of the ball-point pen may be of standard or conventional construction.

Abstract: A manually manipulated and propelled apparatus to bear upon and to traverse the floor surface of a bowling alley lane for cleaning and conditioning thereof. The apparatus is characterized in that it includes a reservoir for a floor-treating liquid composition, a wiper assembly including a web for applying treating composition to the floor surface, and an improved liquid flow and feed system of conduits and flow regulating means to direct and to control the rate of delivery of liquid from the reservoir to the web. The web is advanceable stepwise, as required, to present new increments of web to engage the floor surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a swab applicator which comprises an elongated hollow tube open at one end, normally closed at the opposite end, and containing a solution such as a medicament. A swab of absorbent material is secured around the open end, and the opposite end is provided with means to open the end to permit the solution to flow by gravity into said swab.

Abstract: In a marking apparatus and method for books, double sided tabs have adhesive so that the tabs may be adhered to pages of books, with a number-bearing portion of the tab extending from the page. Adhesive occupies one-half of one side of the tab, and numbers are written in opposite directions on opposite sides of the tab so that the tab may be affixed to a left or right page of a book to clearly mark the page and the point on the page to which it refers. Learning key cards have numbers corresponding to the tabs. Brief notes are written on the lines, and the cards are attached to the front leaf of a book. The tabs are attached directly to the learning key, or they are attached on the inside of a cover or opposite leaf of the book. An envelope or jacket-type holder is adhesive-backed for fastening to an inside of the book, and the tabs are mounted on a release coating on the outside of the envelope-pocket.

Abstract: A fountain pen comprising a multipurpose writing nib having a contoured paper contacting portion or pellet attached to a forward portion thereof and two opposed, generally flat faces, each face being distinctly supported against flexure for providing variations in writing line breadth from using one or the other face of the nib against a writing surface.

Abstract: A writing instrument, such as a ball-point pen, having a writing cartridge and a mechanism for projecting and retracting said writing cartridge, said mechanism being actuated by a pocket clip on the writing instrument and comprising a cam element with high and low cam faces and a cam follower which is alternately engageable with said high and low cam faces, engagement between the cam follower and the high cam face causing projection of the writing cartridge, and engagement between the cam follower and the low cam face causing retraction of the writing cartridge.

Abstract: A tubular or stylus pen of the type comprising a cylindrical body provided with an axial inner bore, having at its front end a writing tube and an outer surface defining an ink equalizing chamber, further including a casing element with a portion receivably mounted upon the cylindrical body and adapted for sealing the ink equalizing chamber, wherein the improvement comprises a tubular extension upon the cylindrical body, extending rearwardly and connecting the cylindrical body and the ink supply chamber, the tubular extension together with the casing element defining means to allow the tubular extension to be moved forward to a limited extent within said casing element to thereby expose the ink equalizing chamber on the outer surface of the cylindrical body for cleaning without a complete disassembly of the pen.

Abstract: A gauge and alignment device is provided for applying a hard cover to a bound sheaf of paper. The device serves both as a gauge to determine the proper size of cover to use for a given volume as well as an arcuate alignment device so that the material to be bound can be applied squarely in the center of the cover.

Abstract: A vent device for use with an ostomy appliance of the type utilized for venting gas from an abdominal opening following surgery comprising a filter disc of matted fibers and charcoal particles covered by an inner pervious film and an outer impervious film with an aperture for exhausting gas, together with an annular adhesive member having an adhesive surface including an inner peripheral portion adhesively secured to an outer peripheral portion of the outer impervious film and an outer peripheral portion adhesively attachable to an ostomy appliance around a vent opening therein.

Abstract: A writing pen which comprises a vacuum controlled reservoir for containing a supply of ink having a lower viscosity than conventional ball pen ink, a writing tip which may be any one of a number of interchangeable types and a finned collector including a weir and feed which are arranged to induce capillary flow of the ink from the reservoir to the tip for writing purposes.

Abstract: A headlamp in which the optical unit receives light through a fiberoptic light conductor, the unit being readily manipulable by rotation about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis and by direct up and down vertical movement. A "joystick" projecting from the top of the optical unit provides a handle for manipulation.

Abstract: A writing appliance with a retractable stylus actuated into operating position by a reciprocable member against the bias of a spring. The stylus is latched in operating position by a slender elongated flexible member under tension, the flexible member being attached at the outer end with reciprocable member and having at the inner end a cam follower for interaction with a cam surface and a recess on a projection on the inner wall of the shell of the appliance, the flexible member remaining laterally deflected while latched. Upon subsequent reciprocation of the operating member, shaped surfaces on the cam follower and projection guide the inner end of the flexible member around the projection under the stored resilience of the flexible member and the bias of the spring. A guiding arrangement to insure interaction between the cam follower and the projection includes a key on the flexible member which snaps into a slot in the wall of the shell when the stylus is inserted into the shell.

Abstract: A negotiable instrument similar to a conventional travelers cheque but distinguishable in several important details; i.e., the cashing party has positive identification that the person cashing a cheque is the proper payee. Since the cashing agency has this assurance, the holder of the cheque is able to obtain cash even in areas far remote from home.

Abstract: A pen of improved writing range, differentiated primarily in that it has a flexible capillary mouth of continuous, annular, free shape which can be reformed by writing pressure into an embouchure slit in all axial writing positions. The writing quality of the pen is determined by the shape of the lips forming the embouchure. By this means, point curvature and point pressure may be utilized in different degrees to produce various forms of lines to fill a particular writing, drawing, or lettering need.

Abstract: A system for preventing unauthorized cashing of Travelers Checks or the like negotiable instruments, wherein such a check has a space for an initial comparison signature and a space for a payee signature at the time of cashing, comprises a label arrangement that is affixed over the initial signature by the seller of the check so as to sealingly overlie and completely conceal the initial signature. Such label arrangement includes a transparent plastic tape strip that has an adhesive underside protected by backing strips which are removed by the seller of the check so that the tape strip can be fixedly superimposed on the face of the check over the initial signature.

Abstract: A portable ski wax applicator including a heat conductive box-like, wax-receiving compartment having an inlet in the top wall thereof for receipt of wax. One end of the compartment is formed with a plurality of through wax metering orifices which terminate at their outer extremities adjacent an elongated spreader for spreading wax metered therethrough. An electrical heater is mounted within such housing for heating wax received therein and a low coefficient of heat transfer handle is secured to such housing whereby wax may be received in such opening and heated to flow out such orifices as the applicator is passed over the surface of a ski to be waxed for spreading wax in a uniform layer thereon.

Abstract: The application discloses a writing instrument adapted to be worn on a forefinger, thereby allowing the user of the instrument to pursue his normal activities without interruptions necessitated by picking up and setting down a writing instrument each time it is needed.Accordingly, the writing instrument of the present invention includes a holder adapted to fit on the end of a finger and having interior constriction rings enabling the holder to firmly grip normal variations in the forefinger of either an adult male, an adult female or a child.A substantially conically shaped writing means is firmly affixed to the holder and may be characterized by either an ink or crayon writing capability. In the ink embodiment, the writing means includes a conically shaped ink reservoir having an appropriate writing tip engaging the apex thereof and an air-vented capillary tube to insure uniform ink flow.

Abstract: In combination with a fluid applicator of the fluid marker type, a unitary, self-sealing, one-way check valve for admission and retention of air under pressure to the interior of the applicator, an elastomeric bulb for developing pressure and means for relieving internal pressure.

Abstract: A push-button type automatic pencil includes an outer tubular member which is held in the hand of the user and lead rod holding means for holding the lead rod. A lead rod stepping means of a push button type is provided and the lead rod holding means is mounted within the outer member in such a way that the lead rod holding means is movable relative to the outer member, while still holding the lead rod, when the lead rod is pushed backward relative to the outer member. Accordingly, the breaking of the lead rod while writing is eliminated, and a soft writing feel is achieved.

Abstract: Fundamentally, the invention pertains to a method and apparatus to be used in binding books. The apparatus may be constructed relatively small and portable, and may be used in offices and print shops where binding machines of the prior art are not practical due to size, expense, and complexity of operation and their inadaptability to small lot binding activity. The relatively small size and portability of the apparatus is made possible by a method of inserting into the book cover, a hot melt adhesive in cool hard form and melting the adhesive material by applying heat externally to the book cover to be bound. The apparatus therefore, comprises a number of devices in combination including a heating rack to heat the binding edge of the book, a cooling rack to cool the edge of the book cover, a mechanism that folds the book cover, and a device that adjusts the folding mechanism so as to fold the book cover in such a way as to accommodate the thickness of the collated pages to be bound.