Abstract: A support assembly is provided that includes a plurality of inelastic, flexible cables that are joined together by a plurality of spaced apart securement members in order to form a wedging elongated eye. An end assembly of the support assembly passes through the elongated eye in one direction, after which a retaining member thereof is moved from a longitudinal, feedable orientation to a transverse, locking orientation. An especially secure engagement is provided. The support assembly is especially suitable as a safety cable for a bulkhead assembly.

Abstract: A sloop comprising a mast in the form of an A-frame with its plane athwartships. The luff of the mainsail is supported by a mainstay which is a thin wire or rod running from the apex of the A-frame vertically to a point on deck between the legs of the A-frame. This structure eliminates the turbulence along the leading edge or luff of the mainsail caused by conventional masts, and also permits a headsail to be closely hauled. The A-frame comprises one or more rigid horizontal spreaders and the mainsail boom and a spinnaker pole can be slidably mounted thereon.

Abstract: A maneuverable body surfing board (10) having a nose portion (14), rearwardly extending base control fins (23) and sidewall control fins (26) for directional control and stabilization. The nose portion (14) is a partially spherical region on the forward end (16) of the body surfing board (10). A bottom portion (18) is formed by two planar surfaces (34) which intersect at a recessed central apex (32). The base control fins (23) are formed on lateral edges (20) of the bottom portion (18). Sidewalls (22) extend upwardly and outwardly from the base control fins (23). The sidewalls (22) are preferably convex and terminate on their upper ends in the sidewall control fins (26). The sidewall control fins include a leading surface (36) which extends outboard of the nose portion (14) and faces forwardly and downwardly and a trailing surface (38) which extends outboard from the sidewalls (22) and faces downward and rearwardly.

Abstract: This invention relates to a load compensating device of the type comprising a detector adapted to stop displacement of the load in the event of said load encountering an obstacle and the reaction of this load thereon varying more or less with respect to a threshold, wherein it comprises:--a fixed armature comprising two end stops;--a sliding block adapted to slide in the armature between its end stops;--an outer bell element provided with means adapted to cooperate with the sliding block;--an overload jack disposed between the sliding block and the armature;--an underload jack housed between the sliding block and the outer bell element;--a counterweight to which the cable for handling the load is attached and axially mobile between two limits with respect to the outer bell element;--and an electro-pneumatic circuit for modulated supply of the jacks as a function of the variations in the load.

Abstract: A passive tank stabilizer is mounted on a watergoing vessel in the athwartship direction for counteracting the roll of the vessel so that the vessel can be stabilized. The passive tank stabilizer comprises at least two tanks or two holders obtained by dividing one tank into two parts, with the tanks or the holders having different space volume and containing quantities of stabilizing liquid such as water. The passive tank stabilizer is capable of producing stabilizing effects over a wide range of roll frequencies of the vessel.

Abstract: A mid-air aerial recovery system comprising a payload, a parachute, and an aerial engagement apparatus. The parachute is connected to the payload. The parachute has a sufficient size to support the weight of the payload. The parachute has a plurality of suspension lines extending from the payload to a canopy of the parachute. The aerial engagement apparatus is a loop rope fastened to the parachute and extending outwardly beyond the canopy of the parachute. This loop rope forms a reception area. The parachute is a ram-air parachute. The loop rope is fastened at one end to the payload and extends along the suspension lines of the parachute and is attached to a leading edge of the canopy.

Abstract: A swimming propulsion aid for attachment to the feet of a swimmer. The assembled swimming aid for each foot includes a foot wing strapped to the foot of the swimmer so as to extend from the inner edge of the foot laterally under the foot sole and outwardly therefrom to provide an enlarged and effective thrust area for pushing action with respect to surrounding water during the leg extension portion of a reciprocating leg stroke by the swimmer. The foot wing may be constructed of a generally rectangular frame member over which is stretched a flexible sheet of fabric or plastic material or constructed of a generally rectangular frame member across which are aligned a multiplicity of parallel louvers pivotal to a closed position during the leg extension portion of the reciprocating leg stroke by the swimmer.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of a dry chemical is formed having a sealed solvation hopper positioned between a liquid driven eductor and a fitting for connection to a storage container, e.g. a railcar. At the inlet end of the solvation hopper is a chemical inlet pipe which connects the interior to the exterior of the hopper. Surrounding the chemical inlet pipe are a plurality of nozzles for the introduction of solvation liquid into the hopper. The nozzles are disposed such that the solvation liquid washes the interior surface of the hopper to prevent plugging by hydrates (solvates) which may be formed. At the outlet end of the hopper, the hopper is connected to the suction opening of a liquid eductor. In use, the exterior end of the chemical inlet pipe is connected to the dry chemical storage container. Liquid flowing through the liquid eductor creates a suction and draws dry chemical out of the storage container and into the hopper.

Abstract: A control line kite has a flexible cover over a framework of spars including a longitudinal spar and a transverse spar. The longitudinal spar carries a weight which is adjustable along the length of the spar between the nose of the kite and the point of intersection between the spars.

Abstract: A fish hold construction for a fishing vessel, wherein the vessel is provided with a longitudinally extending water flume fish alley. Fish move with the help of gravity and water or brine into such fish alley from a plurality of fish storage holds. Water or brine is continuously recirculated through the fish alley to urge the fish along such alley into a fish elevating conveyor for removal from the vessel. A 'tween deck located in vertical alignment with, and above, the fish alley houses pipes, pumps and refrigeration components.

Abstract: A system for the raising and lowering of telescopic masts which operates in one of two general ways, the first way of which includes an attached jack which pulls rather than pushes to effect erection of the mast and the second way where an external turning motion is translated into an internal turning motion which causes the telescopic mast sections to be pushed from the bottom to effect erection of the mast.

Abstract: A packing sack or bag for holding a life jacket, providing an easy access thereto, preferably in an aircraft, has the shape of a hose with an open end (6) and a closed end (7). The closed end (7) forms a tab (8) to receive at least one securing element (9). A rip cord (14) fixed at one point (17) situated approximately at the middle of the length of the bag (2, 3, 4) and surrounding the extremity of the folded life jacket (16) turned to the side of the open end (6) of the bag (2, 3, 4), extends along the inner surface of the bag (2, 3, 4) and comes out through its open end (6). The bag may be directly suspended from a wall or a ceiling or may be placed into a container (1). The main advantage of such a packing sack is that the required manipulation to grab the life jacket (16) may be easily executed by a single hand.

Abstract: A recreational water craft useable as a vehicle and as a swimming facility has first and second floatable components, the first having a deck supported by a pair of compartmented pontoons. The compartments have water and air inlet and discharge facilities and are adapted for flooding and blowing by connection with a control system that includes a pressurized air source and valves for pressurizing and bleeding air from the compartments so as to move the first component between a first position with the deck above water and a second position with the deck submerged. The second floatable component has a main floatable section with an annular pontoon that rests on the deck during the vehicle mode of use as when the first component is at the first position. The pontoon has a vertical opening and which surrounds the deck passenger area. A floatable aft section is pivotally connected to the main section and provides a mounting place for an outboard motor.

Abstract: A kneeboard is provided with a pair of retractable fins which are operated by a control knob mounted on the board in front of the user's knees. The control knob is connected to the fins by a pair of cables. The fins can be raised or lowered simultaneously by sliding the control knob forwardly or rearwardly.

Abstract: A collapsible privacy chamber preferably for use aboard a boat or other watercraft is provided. The privacy chamber includes an openable enclosure having an openable top, a sectional support member, mechanism for anchoring the sectional support member inside of the openable enclosure, an upper suppport frame, a flexible sheet attachable to the upper support frame such that the flexible sheet can hang from the upper support frame thereby providing a partial enclosure such that one can obtain a measure of privacy inside of the partial enclosure, an upper mechanism for supporting the upper support frame such that the upper support frame can support the flexible sheet. The sectional support member preferably includes a plurality of elongated cooperating segments. The sectional support member cooperates with the anchoring mechanism to anchor the support member in the openable enclosure such that the assembled support member can extend vertically from the enclosure.

Abstract: A suspension type transporter suspends a bolt drawing machine through a trolley and a hoist above a pressure container having many bolt attached thereto and transports the bolt drawing machine to a target position. A track settling portion having a guide is provided on an outer periphery of a lid of the pressure container. The suspension type transporter for the bolt drawing machine comprises a guide mechanism which restricts movement of the bolt drawing machine in the air by the guide. The guide mechanism of the transporter is provided with a position detector which can detect a position of the bolt drawing machine. A positioning controller of the suspension type transporter controls the transporter so that the transporter starts at slow speed, is then accelerated to a prescribed speed and is gradually decelerated near the target position.

Abstract: A device for cleaning impacted material, such as wood chips in silos, utilizing a raking action of regularly spaced spikes and a flailing action of a hose with a jet stream nozzle. The device comprises a hose, connectable at a proximal end to a compressed air supply, and a nozzle connectable to a distal end of the hose, the compressed air being forced through the hose and out the nozzle to cause the nozzle and the hose to move under the influence of the expulsion of compressed air at the distal end of the hose. The spikes are attached along the hose to provide regularly spaced raking elements, and anti-kink mechanisms urge the hose into straight alignment. In operation, the nozzle is lowered into a silo in the vicinity of impacted material. Then compressed air is introduced into the hose and expelled out the nozzle in a jet stream thereby causing the hose and nozzle to undulate within the silo such that the spikes strike and dislodge the impacted material.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel floating storage facility for fluid-like materials which can be used to store products in a water related environment. The floating storage facility module includes a waterproof pressure compensating diaphragm which is suitable for retaining a fluid-like product within the diaphragm, and (b) a flotation collar associated with the diaphragm to enable the diaphragm to be immersed in a designated manner in the body of water.

Abstract: A marine sail having a moveable batten that can be shifted between an operative position when the sail is at least partially unfurled and a stowed position before or while the sail is being furled. In the stowed position, the batten is at least generally parallel to an edge of the sail. The batten is advantageously flexible and is supported in at least one pocket coupled to the sail. The batten is moved between the operative and stowed positions by a line and a pair of sheaves.

Abstract: Aircraft passenger seat frames (60, 62, 220, 222 and 224) having legs (54, 56, 210, 212) fixed in place in the aircraft and with the seat frames. Each seat frame has generally horizontal supporting members (66, 68, 74, 76) having their opposite ends secured in seat end webs (70, 72, 78, 80). Tubes (84, 86) are associated with each of the seat end webs of the plurality of seat frames in a supporting relationship, the legs (54, 56) being connected to the tubes to support the seat frames. The tubes have a tube-in-tube slip joint (88, 90) at least at one outside end of the one seat frame on which the seat can be moved toward or away from an adjacent seat frame to change the fare class size of the set frames.