Abstract: A cleaning device for either carpeted or hard surfaces which utilizes pressurized cleaning fluid to clean the surface. The fluid nozzles are arranged on two or more heads which are in turn mounted on two or more arms. The arms rotate about a common axis causing the heads to move in a circular pattern. The heads rotate about their own central axis. The nozzles are angled relative to the surface being cleaned and preferably rotate towards the direction of the fluid jet. Preferably, at least two of the heads counter-rotate. Also preferably, the heads are arranged at somewhat different radial distances from the rotational axis of the arms so that their coverage patterns partially overlap. The combination of the counter rotation and the overlap provides an alternating, or beating, pattern to the angle of incidence of the fluid on the surface being cleaned.

Abstract: A quick set and release clamping device comprising a frame having an inner leg and an outer leg fixedly spaced from each other, a threaded rod freely movable through a transverse bore in the end portion of the inner leg, a first work piece engaging member fixedly attached to the end of the outer leg, a second work piece engaging member swivelly connected to the threaded rod, a pair of rod engageable half bodies slidable in a tapered end of the transverse bore for engaging the threaded rod, a retaining cover to house and restrict movement of the rod engageable half bodies, a detent to urge the half bodies into the seat portion of the transverse bore and to engage the threaded rod, a spring to urge the rod engageable half bodies slightly out of the tapered end of the transverse bore, a biased element for urging separation of the rod engageable half bodies, and a spring member to urge the detent against the cover.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus of refinishing a building panel such as a acoustic ceiling panel or tile. The method includes placing the building panel to be resurfaced on a support surface having a plurality of perforations. The building panel is placed so that its back surface is in contact with the perforated support surface. The perforations extend beyond the building panel's side edges. An adhesive is applied to one side of an air impervious sheet or film. The coated sheet or film is placed over the decorative surface of the building panel and over the exposed perforations in the support surface which are located beyond the building panel's side edges. Vacuum is drawn between the sheet or film and the perforated support surface via the perforations which is sufficient to enable ambient air pressure to force or collapse the sheet tightly against the decorative surface so that the sheet substantially assumes or conforms to the contour of the building panel's decorative surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for covering installed ceiling tiles without removal of the tiles from the ceiling. The system includes a novel facing for covering an installed ceiling tile, a method of applying the facing to the face of an installed tile and apparatus for carrying out the method. The novel facing includes a panel of at least semi-rigid material having a decorative surface, an underside surface and a flexible border which extends at an angle from and about the periphery of the decorative surface. The panel's underside surface is prefit to cover the face of an installed ceiling tile and is provided with selectively located pins which project from the underside surface of the facing. The disclosed method includes providing the aforementioned decorative facing and marking the face of the tile to provide selectively located marks on the face of the tile which are capable of aligning with the facing's selectively located pins to center the facing on the tile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for on-site repair and refinishing of building panels that have been discolored or worn is provided. In one embodiment, worn acoustical tiles are first removed from their installed location ceiling and worn parts are cut off. Replacement parts are then fitted to the remaining portion of the worn tile and adhesively attached. The repaired tile is then sprayed with adhesive and a sheet of decorative material is attached. Finally, the repaired tile with the decorative material attached is run through pinch rollers, resulting in a neat and secure bonding. The tile is then re-installed in its original location with the decorative material exposed.In another embodiment, a worn or discolored ceiling tile is removed from the ceiling and placed into a pre-fit, semi-rigid decorative covering. The tile and decorative covering are then replaced in the ceiling in the original position of the tile with the decorative covering exposed.

Abstract: A mechanism for imparting very small movements to an object comprises a base and a second base supported therefrom by parallel flexure strips, with a further pair of parallel flexure strips on the second base and supporting a platform for parallel motion at right angles to that of the first base. Of the two parallelograms thus formed one embraces at least part of the structure of the other. A third parallelogram may be formed by a similar structure to one of the first two, so as to provide adjustable movement in a third direction at right angles to each of the first two.

Abstract: A precision linear motion adjuster comprises a body with a primary motion member having a screw-threaded portion in threaded engagement therewith, the primary motion member having a thrust-imparting spigot coaxial with the threaded portion, an output member slidable in said body and an intermediate lever system located within the body for translating a relatively large movement of the primary motion member into a relatively small movement of the output member.

Abstract: A one-piece external female urine collection device is disclosed. The device is adapted to be positioned within the labia folds of the user, and to be in contact with the vestibular tissue around the meatus defining the urethral opening. The device includes a generally ovoid and cup-shaped member, and has a generally centrally disposed bore opening so that urine can flow through the member and the device. The upper periphery of the member has a generally convexly curved exterior surface and a substantially continuously curved ridge extending upwardly therefrom defining upper portions of a cavity within the member. The upper periphery and the ridge define a generally adjacent pair of sealing surfaces. The inner surface is generally disposed farther upwardly relative to the outer. The adjacent surfaces permit the device to sealingly and continuously make contact with the female by engaging with the labia folds and the above-mentioned vestibular tissue.

Abstract: A feed device for feeding yarn or other textile material, the device comprising a hollow member through the interior of which textile material may be passed, feed means for feeding the textile material to the said interior, reciprocating means for reciprocating the hollow member towards and away from the feed means, fluid jet means for directing at least one fluid jet onto the textile material being fed to the hollow member so as to tension the said textile material, and pressure supply means which are arranged to supply a pressure fluid to the said interior to entrain the textile material therethrough during a predetermined portion only of the reciprocation of the hollow member, the pressure supply means also supplying the fluid jet means with an intermittently varying fluid pressure which is respectively reduced and increased, so as to reduce and increase the said tension, in accordance with whether or not the textile material is being entrained through the said interior.

Abstract: This invention concerns a machine for making a textile product comprising a needle carrier shaft, reciprocation means for reciprocating said shaft, yarn feeding means for feeding yarn to a needle carried by said shaft, and control means for ensuring that the needle carrier shaft can be stopped only at an end of its reciprocation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a surface using a high velocity stream or streams of cleaning fluid. The high velocity stream or streams issue from one or more nozzles that are moving at a high velocity relative to the surface to be cleaned. In a preferred embodiment, three nozzles are mounted to a common hub member with two of the nozzles directed at the carpet so that they tend to move the hub member in a first direction about the axis of rotation. The third nozzle is directed at the carpet so that it tends to move the hub member about the axis of rotation in a second direction opposite to the first. The first two nozzles determine the direction of rotation and the third nozzle is then moved relative to the surface so that the velocity imparted to the stream issuing from the third nozzle because of its motion adds to the existing velocity of the stream due to the high pressure alone of the source of the cleaning fluid. This embodiment has been found to work particularly well on carpets.

Abstract: A disposable urinal for collecting and containing human female urine that enables a female to void while lying supine for collecting a urine specimen or in a sitting position for laboratory analysis and the like. The urinal has a lower receptacle section for storing the urine, a narrowed neck portion and outwardly extending, diverging cuplike portions forming an inlet opening that fits against the body tissue around and spaced from the urethral opening between the labia without direct contact with the urethral opening and against the mucous membrane of the anterior vaginal wall of the female body. The receptacle section has a contour in relation to the neck and inlet opening and a flat bottom that affords maximum volume when disposed in the filling position and also has volume indicia to indicate the amount contained therein.