Abstract: A LED picture light. The housing is positionable adjacent to a picture in order to illuminate the picture. In some embodiments, the LED's can illuminate the picture without emitting substantial amounts of heat and without emitting substantial amounts of ultraviolet radiation. The picture light can include white and yellow LED's. The picture light can include a level sensor.

Abstract: A diving stick of the type which, after being tossed into a swimming pool, sinks to the bottom while maintaining an upright posture so that it can easily be grasped by a diver, includes a soft malleable outer body designed to prevent accidental impalement, and provisions for enabling the diving stick to sink and maintain an upright posture at the bottom of the pool despite the buoyancy of the soft malleable material.

Abstract: A machine (10) for performing a manufacturing operation on a sheet of material (12) includes an upper tool (282, . . . ) for engaging an upper surface (602) of the sheet of material (12) and a lower tool (380, . . . ) mateable with the upper tool for engaging a lower surface (606) of the material opposite to the upper surface. The upper and lower tools are arranged to cooperate in performing the manufacturing operation. A drive mechanism (456, 522, . . . ) is provided for causing relative movement between the tools and the sheet of material, back and forth along a first axis (24) and back and forth along a second axis (518) substantially perpendicular to the first axis while performing the manufacturing operation. The invention includes a method of performing the manufacturing operation utilizing the machine (10).

Abstract: An electronic gun lock for a firearm which includes an electronic lock enclosure, a locking shaft member, and an optional locking shell. The locking shell, if used, is disposed within a bullet chamber of the firearm, and is adapted to fit both the firearm's bullet chamber and the locking shaft member. The locking shaft member includes an axially moveable elongated locking rod which is moveable between an unlocked position where the locking rod is slidable with respect to the locking shell (or bullet chamber if no locking shell is used) and a locked position where the locking rod is restrained against axial movement with respect to the locking shell (or bullet chamber). A releasable actuator contactly engages and moves the locking rod between the unlocked position and the locked position. A solenoid includes a moveable arm and is responsive to a control signal to cause the moveable arm to allow the actuator to move the locking rod between the unlocked position and the locked position.

Abstract: A pet training system incorporating a transmitter and a pet collar. The transmitter includes a radio-frequency signal generator, with a power supply, for generating a low amplitude RF signal; the RF signal is applied to a radiation antenna, through appropriate connectors, so that the transmitter radiates an RF field in or around a designated area the pet is intended to avoid. The pet collar includes a receiving antenna and a shock device or other deterrent device actuated when the pet, wearing the collar, approaches the designated area. The radiation antenna includes at least three and preferably as many as eight or more series connected conductors so that the RF field extends an appreciable distance from the radiation antenna.

Abstract: An improved automated self-cleaning litter box for cats, of the kind having a housing defining an upwardly open chamber for storage of a supply of cat litter, accessible to a cat and having path members on opposed side walls defining a comb path from one end of the chamber to the other. A comb, normally stored at the comb storage end of the chamber, is driven forward along the path to the discharge end of the chamber and back to its original storage position. As the comb traverses the chamber forwardly it engages any clumps of waste in the litter and carries them to a disposal receptacle at the discharge end of the chamber. The improvement includes a sensor for sensing the presence of a cat in the litter chamber; a photo electric sensor is preferred, but an infra red, weight, or even an audible sensor can be used. A delay device actuates the comb drive a predetermined time interval after the sensor ceases to sense the presence of a cat in the litter chamber.

Abstract: A mold for molding articles of plastic or other like materials, having a plurality of vertically extending internal passages, is connected by inlet and return conduits into a closed loop that includes a heat exchanger partially filled with a liquid supply of a cooling fluid or a heating fluid. For cooling the heat exchanger is positioned with its liquid level above the top of the mold, the inlet conduit connects the lower part of the heat exchanger, below the liquid level, to the lower ends of the mold passages, and the return conduit connects the upper ends of the mold passages to the upper part of the heat exchanger; for heating these relationships are reversed. In operation the fluid changes its physical state at critical points in the mold passages, going from liquid to vapor for cooling and from vapor to liquid for heating; circulation in the closed loop is in response to the effect of gravity. Operation of the heat exchanger is controlled to maintain a controlled pressure in the closed loop.

Abstract: A mold for molding articles of plastic or other like materials, having a plurality of vertically extending internal passages, is connected by inlet and return conduits into a closed loop that includes a heat exchanger partially filled with a liquid supply of a cooling fluid or a heating fluid. For cooling the heat exchanger is positioned with its liquid level above the top of the mold, the inlet conduit connects the lower part of the heat exchanger, below the liquid level, to the lower ends of the mold passages, and the return conduit connects the upper ends of the mold passages to the upper part of the heat exchanger; for heating these relationships are reversed. In operation the fluid changes its physical state at critical points in the mold passages, going from liquid to vapor for cooling and from vapor to liquid for heating; circulation in the closed loop is in response to the effect of gravity. Operation of the heat exchanger is controlled to maintain a controlled pressure in the closed loop.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for controlled cooling of an extruded plastic product. As the product exits the extrusion die, it passes through an elongated shell. The shell surrounds the die at its inner end and extends outwardly along the extrusion. A seal ring at the outer end of the shell engages the exterior of the extruded product; the shell, seal ring, and product define an annular cooling chamber through which a coolant is circulated through the cooling chamber, the coolant exiting through an annular cooling chamber extension in the die. For a hollow extruded product, the apparatus further includes an internal cooling tube that extends axially through the interior of the hollow product. The tube ends at a seal cap that engages the internal surface of the hollow product. The tube and seal cap define a second, internal cooling chamber through which coolant circulates; the coolant enters throught the end of the tube opposite the seal cap and exits through an annular recess in the die.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a dehumidified atmosphere or other controlled atmosphere around the mold of a reciprocating-platen molding press, in which a sheet of light weight flexible material, preferably a transparent plastic film, is mounted on the platens, as by a plurality of permanent magnets, to form an open bottom tent enclosing both halves of the mold. For a dehumidified atmosphere, a dehumidifier generates a stream of warm dry air that is continuously discharged into the tent, from locations adjacent each platen, with a volume sufficient to maintain the tent inflated for all platen positions despite continuing air loss through the open bottom of the tent. The dehumidifier preferably uses a chilled water supply that is also employed to cool the molds in order to obtain automatic dew point correction. For other atmospheres, an appropriate source is substituted for the dehumidifier.

Abstract: A converter for connecting a second condenser in series in a process fluid chilling loop system including a compressor, a discharge service valve mounted on the compressor outlet, a condenser, and a refrigerant-to-process fluid heat exchanger. The converter includes a housing, mounted on the compressor interposed between the compressor outlet and the discharge service valve, which includes first and second separate transfer chambers. The first transfer chamber connects directly to the compressor discharge port and the second transfer chamber connects directly to the discharge service valve. Each transfer chamber is connected to an external port on the housing by a plurality of small tunnel passages, thereby affording a thin, flat converter for connecting a second condenser in series with the system. An inclined web that extends from an annular wall on one side of the housing to an annular wall on the other side of the housing divides the housing into the first and second separate transfer chambers.

Abstract: An improved automated self-cleaning litter box for cats, of the kind having a housing defining an upwardly open chamber for storage of a supply of cat litter, accessible to a cat and having path members on opposed side walls defining a comb path from one end of the chamber to the other. A comb, normally stored at the comb storage end of the chamber, is driven forward along the path to the discharge end of the chamber and back to its original storage position. As the comb traverses the chamber forwardly it engages any clumps of waste in the litter and carries them to a disposal receptacle at the discharge end of the chamber. The improvement includes a sensor for sensing the presence of a cat in the litter chamber; a photo electric sensor is preferred, but an infra red, weight, or even an audible sensor can be used. A delay device actuates the comb drive a predetermined time interval after the sensor ceases to sense the presence of a cat in the litter chamber.