Abstract: A water dispensing assembly is provided that is adapted to connect to a fire hydrant water outlet, the fire hydrant being connected to a water supply, for safely dispensing clean water for filling water bottles and the like. The water dispensing assembly is a self-contained unit that is relatively compact and low maintenance. The water dispensing assembly can be housed in an enclosed box-like housing structure that is tamper proof so that it cannot be accessed or modified by the public at large.

Abstract: A storage apparatus is disclosed. The storage apparatus comprises a mounting mechanism, a hoist system and a storage member. The hoist system, which is attached to the mounting mechanism, comprises at least one pulley. A hoist wire is disposed within each of the at least one pulleys. A hoist wire mount receives a first end of each of the hoist wires and also includes a power source. Finally, the storage member is affixed to a second end of each of the hoist wires.

Abstract: A storage apparatus is disclosed. The storage apparatus comprises a mounting mechanism, a hoist system and a storage member. The hoist system, which is attached to the mounting mechanism, comprises at least one pulley. A hoist wire is disposed within each of the at least one pulleys. A hoist wire mount receives a first end of each of the hoist wires and also includes a power source. Finally, the storage member is affixed to a second end of each of the hoist wires.

Abstract: A storage apparatus is disclosed. The storage apparatus comprises a mounting mechanism, a hoist system and a storage member. The hoist system, which is attached to the mounting mechanism, comprises at least one pulley. A hoist wire is disposed within each of the at least one pulleys. A hoist wire mount receives a first end of each of the hoist wires and a power source. Finally, the storage member is affixed to a second end of each of the hoist wires.

Abstract: A method of making a metal snow guard is disclosed. The snow guard has a solid layer of soldering material on its base to be heated and melted with application of heat to the upper side of the snow guard to solder the base to an underlying metal roof. The soldering material may be applied as spaced spots or projections providing a rough surface on the underside of the snow guard. The amount of solder and/or flux in the solid layer is limited so that the solder and/or flux does not flow outwardly from the snow guard and run down the metal roof thereby damaging or marring the metal roof surface. The snow guards may be formed of a few pieces of sheet metal. The projections of soldering material may be formed by forcing a paste of solder and flux through spaced holes in a plate or screen onto the base.

Abstract: A storage apparatus is disclosed. The storage apparatus comprises a mounting mechanism, a hoist system and a storage member. The hoist system, which is attached to the mounting mechanism, comprises at least one pulley. A hoist wire is disposed within each of the at least one pulleys. A hoist wire mount receives a first end of each of the hoist wires and a power source. Finally, the storage member is affixed to a second end of each of the hoist wires.

Abstract: A multi-use tool device is provided with an actuator that is moveable to turn a tool relative to the tool device to change the angle of attack of the tool to the work or to change to a different work surface on the fool. Further, the tool device is releasably connected to the tool without the use of threaded fasteners or wrenches. An actuator on the tool is moved to release the tool and preferably to push the tool from the tool device so that the user need not touch a dirty or spent tool that may be coated with an adhesive, mastic or the like. Conversely, the tool may be attached by pushing the tool relative to the tool device. Also, the preferred tool is made in one piece with a connecting portion and a turning portion thereon. The illustrated tool has an upstanding post and angularly spaced teeth that cooperate with the tool device to allow the connected tool to be turned relative to the tool body.

Abstract: A multi-use tool device has an actuator moveable to turn a tool relative to change its angle of attack to the work or to change to a different work surface. The tool device is releasably connected to the tool without the use of threaded fasteners or wrenches. The tool may be removed from the tool device without the user touching a dirty or spent tool. The tool may be attached by a pushing of the tool device. The illustrated tool has an upstanding post and a turning portion which may be angularly spaced teeth cooperating with the tool device to turn the tool through predetermined increments. The preferred tool is made inexpensively and in one piece. The tool device may be lightweight and made of inexpensive parts.

Abstract: A mammographic method and apparatus are provided for obtaining improved compression of posterior, middle and anterior breast tissue without pushing posterior breast tissue from the imaging volume and with less discomfiture to the patient. An initial compression of the posterior tissue is achieved by vertical, relative displacement of the paddle relative to the bucky assembly to compress the posterior breast tissue therebetween. Less patient discomfiture is achieved by using an inclined compression surface on the paddle or bucky assembly to compress the anterior and middle breast sufficiently for good X-ray imaging without further displacement of the skin adjacent the chest wall. A horizontal force component inclined force will not push the posterior compressed breast tissue from the imaging area. Herein a paddle may have a posterior breast section and have a flexed section which is biased to engage and conform to the breast shape.

Abstract: A method of making a metal snow guard is disclosed. The snow guard has a solid layer of soldering material on its base to be heated and melted with application of heat to the upper side of the snow guard to solder the base to an underlying metal roof. The soldering material may be applied as spaced spots or projections providing a rough surface on the underside of the snow guard. The amount of solder and/or flux in the solid layer is limited so that the solder and/or flux does not flow outwardly from the snow guard and run down the metal roof thereby damaging or marring the metal roof surface. The snow guards may be formed of a few pieces of sheet metal. The projections of soldering material may be formed by forcing a paste of solder and flux through spaced holes in a plate or screen onto the base.

Abstract: A metal snow guard is provided with a solid layer of soldering material on its base to be heated and melted with application of heat to the upper side of the snow guard to solder the base to an underlying metal roof. The preferred soldering material comprises an interior layer of solder and an outer layer of flux. In one form, the soldering material is in the form of spaced spots or projections providing a rough surface on the underside of the snow guard with the projections melting and spreading laterally into uneven surfaces where the roof or the base of the snow guard is not flat. The amount of solder and/or flux in the solid layer is limited so that the solder and/or flux does not flow outwardly from the snow guard and run down the metal roof thereby damaging or marring the metal roof surface. The preferred snow guards are formed of sheet metal of relatively few pieces and which are folded and joined together in an inexpensive manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for conducting transactions through a financial network using a document such as a check or money order at an unattended automated machine. For security purposes a signature detector detects the signature and the user uses a card to operate the machine. A reader reads the amount on the document; and, for a check, the LAR and CAR amounts are compared. If the document is a money order, the user may be prompted to endorse the money order if the signature detector fails to detect a signature. A card writer writes an amount on the card related to the amount of the transaction being done and a calculator calculates the amount to be written on the card and subtracts a user's service charge. A bill may be paid and a receipt generator will provide a receipt preferably showing payment of the bill and the service charge. If the check or money order is for an amount greater than the bill and service charge amounts, the card writer may write the difference on the card.

Abstract: An automated document cashing system is provided with an automated machine that cashes monetary transaction documents such as checks, money orders, and that makes deposit entries into the bank account of the user after validation of the user and monetary transaction document, without the aid of a bank teller. Validation of the identity of the user is performed with the use of a card associated with intelligence that identifies the user. A biometric device also may be used in identifying the validity of the user. Validation of the document involves one or more of: validating the presence of a signature; validating the amount of the monetary transaction document including a manual entry of the amount by the user; validating CAR against the LAR; and validating the banking system parameters and rules for the customer and/or the transaction. To assist in the automatic analysis of data on monetary transactional documents or on remittance documents, the user is prompted to provide a bounding box about the data.

Abstract: A mammographic method and apparatus are provided for obtaining improved compression of posterior, middle and anterior breast tissue without pushing posterior breast tissue from the imaging volume and with less discomfiture to the patient. An initial compression of the posterior tissue is achieved by vertical, relative displacement of the paddle relative to the bucky assembly to compress the posterior breast tissue therebetween. Less patient discomfiture is achieved by using an inclined compression surface on the paddle or bucky assembly to compress the anterior and middle breast sufficiently for good X-ray imaging without further displacement of the skin adjacent the chest wall. A horizontal force component inclined force will not push the posterior compressed breast tissue from the imaging area. Herein a paddle may have a posterior breast section and have a flexed section which is biased to engage and conform to the breast shape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fastening an elongated strip such as a felting strip or the like to a roof with the rolling of the apparatus along the roof. Preferably, the machine applies the staples at an acuate angle of about 30° to 40° to the longitudinal axis of the strip and staple gun extends at the acute angle with the user's arm also extending at this acute angle. The staple gun must be enabled by placing it against the roof before an actuation of the trigger will cause a firing of the staple. The strip may be mounted in a reel that is in a substantially vertical plane with a strip guide and point of application of the strip to the roofing felt so that the strip is not twisted in its travel from the reel to the roof. The strip may be severed by a severing device, as when reaching an edge of the roof, and automatic strip advancing device may be actuated to advance a new leading end of the strip for placement beneath the nose of the staple gun.

Abstract: A multi-use tool device is provided with an actuator that is moveable to turn a tool relative to the tool device to change the angle of attack of the tool to the work or to change to a different work surface on the fool. Further, the tool device is releasably connected to the tool without the use of threaded fasteners or wrenches. An actuator on the tool is moved to release the tool and preferably to push the tool from the tool device so that the user need not touch a dirty or spent tool that may be coated with an adhesive, mastic or the like. Conversely, the tool may be attached by pushing the tool relative to the tool device. Also, the preferred tool is made in one piece with a connecting portion and a turning portion thereon. The illustrated tool has an upstanding post and angularly spaced teeth that cooperate with the tool device to allow the connected tool to be turned relative to the tool body.