Abstract: A carburetor structure in which gasoline cannot leak out of a carburetor vent tube when oriented at an angle larger than ninety degrees with respect to the vertical.

Abstract: Temperature control for a liquid cooled internal combustion engine having a radiator through which liquid is circulated from a hose having a circular liquid passage orifice of a specified diameter. The temperature of the engine after being dully warmed up has a minimum value when the orifice is unobstructed and full open, the engine temperature increasing as the opening in the orifice is restricted and decreased. An internal rotating blade in slidable engagement with the orifice can assume any position with respect to the orifice between a minimum position at which the rotating blade produces a minimum restriction of the orifice and a maximum position at which the rotating blade produces a maximum restriction of the orifice. A manually operated device connected to the rotating blade places the rotating blade in any desired position between minimum and maximum positions.

Abstract: A tape mini-cartridge is functionally compatible with a larger industry standard tape cartridge. A mini-cartridge adapter adapts the mini-cartridge to be compatible with a standard tape drive by presenting the standard structural and functional appearances to the tape drive as presented by the larger standard tape cartridge. Since the standard cartridge has a plurality of structural elements including reel locks, leader buckle guide, and write protect flag engaged by the standard drive, the cartridge adapter effectively transfers these engagements and forces to and from the mini-cartridge in a manner providing full structural interchangeability with the standard tape cartridge.

Abstract: A two-part tape cartridge locking mechanism for releasably locking a rotatable tape reel against rotation within a tape cartridge housing. A bias spring urges the tape reel against a major wall of the tape cartridge housing along an axis of rotation. A first part of the lock comprises a reel locking feature of the reel facing the major wall, and a housing locking feature of the major wall facing the reel locking feature, such that the reel locking feature engages the housing locking feature in a contact relationship when the tape reel is forced toward the major wall by the bias spring. A second part of the lock comprises a separately actuable reel lock mounted to the housing for holding the tape reel locking feature in the contact relationship with the housing locking feature until the reel lock is separately actuated away from the tape reel.

Abstract: A method of making an individualized restaurant menu for a customer desirous of avoiding ingestion of customer-selected ingredients. A database is loaded into a computer. Names of all the ingredients used by the restaurant are loaded into the database. A plurality of recipes are loaded into the database. Each recipe comprises ingredients selected from the ingredients, named in the database. The customer selects any ingredients the customer wishes to avoid. The customer's name is entered into the database in association with the names of ingredients which the customer has selected as to-be-avoided. The database of recipes is automatically searched for the ingredients-to-be-avoided. All available recipes not containing ingredients-to-be-avoided are printed on a menu, customized for the customer. The menu includes the customer's name, the names of ingredients-to-be-avoided, and a list of names of servings of selected available recipes.

Abstract: An instrument rack for the sterilization and storage of surgical instruments within autoclave devices includes a bumper plate made from durable CECLON plastic, which is attached to the underside of the rack's top panel, to prevent the delicate sharp ends of surgical instruments from hitting the top of a metal rack when the rack is turned upside down. Therefore the edges of the instruments stay sharper longer and the instruments require less frequent repairs and sharpening. A "tent-like" or angled plate is attached to the rack's bottom panel, is constructed integral with the bottom panel, to prevent instruments from tilting outward or falling out of the rack when the "gate," which otherwise holds the instruments in place, is open. The angle of the tent or panel forces instruments to tilt toward the inside of the rack.

Abstract: A wheelchair lift operable to transport handicapped persons between a lower level and an upper level. The apparatus includes an elevator platform and a plurality of vertically movable stair members. When the platform is in its lower position, the stair members form a conventional stairway which extends between lower and upper surfaces; and when the platform is moved upwardly, a collecting member attached thereto sequentially collects the stair members and moves them upwardly until the platform and stair members are coplanar with the upper surface. A normally open safety gate on the platform is automatically moved to and retained in a closed position whenever the platform is raised above the lower surface.

Abstract: A process is described for the manufacture of a void-free multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB). The process includes the steps of, first, laminating one or both sides of a PCB provided with circuitry details, to a cast thermosetting resin layer comprising essentially a B-staged, resin system solid at room temperatures but having a resin flow, under standard curing conditions, greater than a prepreg layer containing glass cloth impregnated by the B-staged resin system. The initial laminating step proceeds at temperatures and/or times substantially below curing conditions to form a prefilled PCB laminate wherein said cast thermosetting resin layer remains B-staged and which is very low in voids. Secondly, one or more of the prefilled PCB laminates are assembled between prepreg layers, each prepreg layer comprising glass cloth impregnated by a second B-staged thermosetting resin compatible with, or the same as, said B-staged thermosetting resin of said cast thermosetting resin layer.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein relates to a toy system comprising a generally closed track arrangement and a toy vehicle adapted to be propelled in the track by a pressurized fluid. The track arrangement is preferably a series of transparent tubular members interconnected to form any desired track configuration. One of the tubular members includes a pressurized fluid inlet opening adapted to be coupled to pressurized fluid source and further includes check valve means and an exhaust opening. The check valve means is located on the upstream side of the inlet opening and closely adjacent thereto; the exhaust opening is located on the upstream side of the check valve means and is closely adjacent thereto. The toy vehicle can be in any desired shape loosely fitting within the tubular members and includes, at its tail end, flexible seal means which engages the inner periphery of the tubular track members to prevent the flow of pressurized fluid around the vehicle.

Abstract: An exhibiting device formed from a one-piece plastic frame member recessed to receive a separate interchangeable insert member to be locked in the frame by suitable flexing of the insert member. Exhibiting may be had of small articles of jewelry, prices or other indicia on the insert member.

Abstract: A food dicer with a hinged cutting cover and a slideout bottom.

Abstract: A process of concentrating an aqueous polyvinyl-chloride emulsion employing a membrane device comprising a feed zone and a permeate zone, the zones separated by an ultrafiltration semipermeable membrane, which process comprises: introducing the polyvinyl-chloride emulsion to be concentrated into the feed zone; removing a concentrated polyvinyl-chloride emulsion from the feed zone and removing an aqueous fraction from the permeate zone; interrupting the process of concentration periodically when the flux rate of the process falls below a desired flux rate value; and contacting the semipermeable membrane with a solution containing a solvent, such as tetrahydrofurane, for the polyvinyl-chloride for a time sufficient to restore the flux value to its desired level, the semipermeable membrane employed characterized by being solvent-resistant to the solvent employed in contacting the membrane.

Abstract: A peach tree having white-fleshed fruit which are firm and store well.