Abstract: An apparatus and method of roasting foodstuff such as coffee beans employ a roasting chamber for roasting the beans. An air circulation system operatively coupled with the chamber flows heated air over the beans and thereby roasts the beans, and an air cleaning arrangement is operatively coupled with the air circulation system and located downstream of the chamber for removing substantially all particulates, smoke and volatiles entrained in the used air as it flows through the container and into the air cleaning arrangement to provide substantially pollutant-free used air. The circulation system uses atmospheric air and heats, cleans and cools it within as little as ¼ second. Sensors and a electronic controller are provided to monitor various parameters in the roasting apparatus and control the roasting characteristics. The darkness and/or color of the beans during roasting is monitored to ensure proper roasting.

Abstract: Closure systems for food containers, and methods for mixing foods in portable containers is disclosed, using new apparatus for closing portable containers to store and transport foods, and new processes for mixing those foods prior to final or on-site dispensing and use, in which the food mixing takes place within the container, generally prior to its opening, as chambers or compartments within a container are opened to other chambers or compartments within the same container by transmission of pressure or tension from the exterior of the container, to one or more points, lines, or channels in one or more walls of chambers within the container, thereby opening one or more channels between such chambers through which food, fluids, or materials may travel.

Abstract: Closure systems for food containers, and methods for mixing foods in portable containers is disclosed, using new apparatus for closing portable containers to store and transport foods, and new processes for mixing those foods prior to final or on-site dispensing and use, in which the food mixing takes place within the container, generally prior to its opening, as chambers or compartments within a container are opened to other chambers or compartments within the same container by transmission of pressure or tension from the exterior of the container, to one or more points, lines, or channels in one or more walls of chambers within the container, thereby opening one or more channels between such chambers through which food, fluids, or materials may travel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mattress for supporting a reclining body with low body pressure and in alignment. The mattress, extends in a lateral direction from side to side and extends in a longitudinal direction from a mattress head to a mattress foot where the mattress includes a head part, a shoulder part, a waist part, a hip part and a leg part. The reclining body has a displacement profile that causes the mattress to undergo differing vertical displacements when supporting the reclining body. The mattress core has displacement parameters established by internal contour interfaces varying to match the displacement profile of the reclining body while supporting the reclining body with low body pressure. The core has a plurality of regions where the vertical displacement in one or more of the regions varies to match the displacement profile of the reclining body to maintain the reclining body in alignment.

Abstract: Bulk material formed by a multiplicity of individual moving particles is heat-treated by directing a light beam into an observation volume of the material and generating light reflections off at least one particle in the observation volume. A characteristic of the light reflections which is indicative of a desired extent to which the material is to be heat-treated is identified and the material is subjected to a heated environment and thereby heat-treated. The light reflections are monitored for the characteristic, and subjecting the material to the heated environment is ended in response to detecting the characteristic of the light reflections.

Abstract: A reflectometer for use with a roasting system includes a laser diode, a lens and a photodetector. The laser diode emits a laser beam having a wavelength corresponding to the maximum actinic response of the items being roasted. The laser beam is reflected off a mirror into a collecting volume of the items being roasted. The items being roasted then reflect light through the lens and to the photodetector. The system also includes a cross polarizer and a narrow-band filter between the lens and photodetector in order to filter undesirable reflected light. The collecting volume and the detector are within the searchlight cone defined by the lens and its focal point such that the reflected light from the collecting volume has a constant illumination.

Abstract: Apparatus for passing a fluid into or out of a warm-blooded animal which includes a fluid containing body, a needle assembly releasably mountable on the exterior surface of the body, a plunger for urging a fluid into or out of the body and an externally mounted cap or retraction device for automatically covering the needle after it has been used and preventing the needle from reentering the aperture in the body.

Abstract: Apparatus for passing a fluid into or out of a warm-blooded animal which includes a fluid containing body, a needle assembly releasably mountable on the exterior surface of the body, a plunger for urging fluid into or out of the body and an externally mounted cap or retraction device for automatically covering the needle after it has been used and preventing the needle from reentering the aperture in the body.

Abstract: Apparatus for passing a fluid into or out of a warm-blooded animal which includes a fluid containing body, a needle assembly releasably mountable on the exterior surface of the body, a plunger for urging fluid into or out of the body and an externally mounted cap or retraction device for automatically covering the needle after it has been used and preventing the needle from reentering the aperture in the body.

Abstract: A light weight hand holdable appliance having a plurality of blade-like components for slicing peeling and the like. The appliance preferably is cordless and rechargeable and has a handle assembly within which is a high speed motor, a reciprocating mechanism and an interconnecting gear reduction and cam means for translating the high speed rotation of the motor to a powerful reciprocating stroke of the mechanism. The blade-like components include a knife having a thin single blade, particularly suitable for slicing, and a peeler having a thin single peeling blade and a guide spaced therefrom to facilitate peeling.

Abstract: A bed wherein a spring foundation supports an air mattress. The air mattress is formed from two air-impermeable sheets, each sheet having been vacuum-formed to provide a plurality of aligned recesses. The sheets are sealed face-to-face so that the aligned recesses form a plurality of cells that are inflated, approximately 20 rows of cells extending the length of the mattress.

Abstract: A brake compensator for a vehicle using a resilient device or resilient elastomeric material which is connected to the cable or the cable sheath of a cable-controlled brake, and is extended or compressed in response to a force applied thereon when a brake is applied. In one embodiment, the resilient device is disposed between the sheath and the frame of a vehicle, and is arranged so that the control cable passes directly through the compensator and to a brake caliper. In a further embodiment, the brake compensator may be disposed between the sections of sheath around a continuous brake cable. This arrangement avoids the need for an assembly to mount the compensator to the vehicle frame. Apparatus is shown for pre-loading the resilient device and thereby advantageously adjusting for different product and rider characteristics. Additionally, structure may be provided for limiting the maximum compression, beyond which the cable and sheath operate in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A remotely releasable hoisting coupling for engagement with an anchor cast in place within a concrete slab. The anchor provides a passage opening through the surface of the slab and an annular abutment shoulder spaced beneath said surface. The coupling comprises a body insertable into the anchor, a pair of lugs supported in the body at diametrically opposed positions for rocking movement about a diametric axis extending normal to the body, and means to selectively move the lugs between a protruding condition engaged with the abutment shoulder and a retracted condition disengaged from the shoulder. The means to selectively move the lugs comprises a rod axially moveable within the body and having cam surfaces directly engagable with the lugs to force the lugs to the protruding condition and holding surfaces to maintain the lugs in the protruding condition, without loading the cam surfaces.

Abstract: A socket cavity formed in a concrete slab of the type poured horizontally and subsequently tilted up, which cavity affords engagement of hoisting equipment to the slab. The inner portion of the cavity is in the form of a frusto-conical wall surface communicating with the surface of the cavity through a cylindrical bore concentric with the frusto-conical surface. The cavity is formed by placing in the slab form an expendable flask-like hollow article formed of synthetic resin or the like which is left in the slab after erection thereof. Engaging apparatus cooperable with the cavity which has on the inner end thereof arms that are pivotally moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the arms engaging the frusto-conical wall of the cavity when in the extended position.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting a projectile such as a tennis ball and launching it through the air is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conduit having an upstream end adapted to receive the projectile and a downstream end at which the projectile is expelled. A transfer valve is interposed in the conduit and prevents passage of air through the transfer valve towards the upstream end of the conduit. Suction is provided to the conduit immediately upstream of the transfer valve and forced air is provided immediately downstream of the transfer valve. The projectile is sucked through the conduit from the upstream end thereof to the transfer valve. The transfer valve allows the projectile to pass, and the forced air forces the projectile through the remainder of the conduit so that it is expelled at the downstream end thereof.

Abstract: A lifting anchor for incorporation into a poured concrete slab. The anchor comprises a steel sleeve having an irregular exterior surface to effect a bond between the sleeve and the concrete of the slab and an interior surface defining a cylindrical opening formed with an annular abutment. During pouring, concrete is excluded from the interior of the sleeve opening by a plastic cap clipped onto the exterior of the bottom end of the sleeve and a plastic plug telescoped into the upper end of the sleeve. After formation of a slab with the anchor in place, the plug is removable to afford access to the interior of the sleeve.A hoisting coupling is engagable with the anchor through means of a cylindrical body sized for entry into the sleeve. The inner end of the body is provided with a pair of lugs which can be extended radially outward to engage the abutment of the sleeve and contracted radially inward to afford removal of the body from the sleeve.

Abstract: A joint clamp particularly useful in joining braces of the type used temporarily to brace concrete slabs employed in tilt-up construction. The clamp can be installed onto a cylindrical brace without the employment of tools and without access to either end of the brace. It comprises, as a principal component, a tubular member that defines an opening having a generally cylindrical cross-section corresponding to the cross-sectional size of the brace. The wall forming the cylindrical opening is formed with a helically extending slot having a width, in an oblique direction, slightly larger than the cylindrical brace so that the clamp can be placed on the brace in an oblique position and then twisted into parallelism with the brace to snugly embrace the brace. The tubular member carries one or more secondary clamps for securing cooperating secondary brace members thereto.

Abstract: A socket cavity formed in a concrete slab of the type poured horizontally and subsequently tilted up, which cavity affords engagement of hoisting equipment to the slab. The inner portion of the cavity is in the form of a frusto-conical wall surface communicating with the surface of the cavity through a cylindrical bore concentric with the frusto-conical surface. The cavity is formed by placing in the slab form an expendable flask-like hollow article formed of synthetic resin or the like which is left in the slab after erection thereof. Engaging apparatus cooperable with the cavity which has on the inner end thereof arms that are pivotally moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the arms engaging the frustoconical wall of the cavity when in the extended position.