Abstract: A flexible flotation envelope is detachably secured to a belt encircling the wearer's chest beneath his armpits. Adapted to be supported on the user's back with its lower end connected to the belt is a container for a vertical compressed air or oxygen flotation gas supply tank or cylinder provided at its upper end with a rotary gas distribution valve. The valve contains a rotary valve member rotatable between open and closed positions respectively opening and closing gas flow through the valve to the envelope and having its opposite ends connected to the inner ends of parallel valve-operating lever arms, the outer ends of which are connected to the opposite ends of a valve-operating float. A flexible tube extends from the valve casing to the envelope by way of one arm of a Y fitting, from the other arm of which runs a flexible tube to an alarm whistle by way of a flexible inflatable bladder.

Abstract: A floatation aid for swimmers, formed of a pair of relatively thin, resilient, buoyant, generally diamond shaped sheets of a size for arrangement upon and for extending over a substantial portion of the length of the front and rear surfaces of a human torso. Straps extend between the upper corners of the sheets over the wearer's shoulders. The lower corners of the sheets are interconnected by a crotch strap which includes a separate elongated strip of similar buoyant sheet material. A horizontal waist band extends around the middle of the wearer's body and the wider portion of the sheets and interconnects the adjacent sheet corners. The device provides limited floatation aid, but leaving the wearer's arms, shoulders and hip and leg areas uncovered and unrestricted for swimming type activities.

Abstract: An improved slipper sock which conforms to the foot of the wearer is formed as follows: the bottom of the foot portion of a stetchable knitted sock, which is in a stretched condition on a foot form, has temporarily attached to the exposed side thereof a thin and flexible bottom sole by use of dots of adhesive located at the extremities of the heel and toe portions thereof, the knitted sock is then removed from the foot form, and the periphery of the bottom sole is then stitched to the stretched bottom of the foot portion of the knitted sock, this stitching concurrently creating a taper in the thickness of the periphery of the bottom sole.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a power toothbrush or the like characterized particularly by the fact that the brush element is driven in an orbital path, as distinguished from a more conventional angularly reciprocating motion. To particular advantage, the power driven brush may be motivated by a water powered nutating action motor mounted in the handle of the unit, although alternative arrangements, including conventional electric motor units, may be used to power the device. In the preferred appliance, an orbital output motion of a nutating drive motor is converted to rotary motion, and this in turn is converted back to an orbital motion in the brush or working element. In other forms of the device, the orbital output of the nutating motor is imparted directly to the working element. The latter arrangement has advantages of greater simplicity, while the former arrangement has advantages of greater compactness.

Abstract: A handle equipped wheel supported horizontal base rotatably supports a motor having its drive shaft parallel with the plane of the base. A vertically adjustable forward platform on the base transversely supports a split sleeve clamp for receiving one end portion of a flexible drive shaft axially connected at its other end with the motor drive shaft. The clamp connected end of the flexible shaft is axially secured to a scrub brush rotating in a vertical plane laterally of the base platform for frictional contact with a floor surface adjacent a mopboard or wall.

Abstract: A rotary broom for street sweepers and the like includes a central core. The spaced turns of a sweeping brush extend around the core. A spacer, such as a tape running parallel to the axis of the core, interconnects the turns of the brush for limiting longitudinal movement of the turns relative to each other to provide a desired spacing between the turns.

Abstract: An auxiliary handle for a power tool having an elongated housing of the type which is clampingly attachable to the housing of the tool near the forward end thereof. The handle includes a pair of clamping jaws which cooperate with a hand grasp to generate a clamping force which is transmitted to a split collar retained between the jaws which in turn is adapted to receive and clampingly engage a cylindrical barrel portion of the housing. The collar has a convex outer surface which defines a spherical zone, enabling the collar to be retained in a complimentary shaped annular concave recess defined by the jaws, while allowing the jaws and the hand grasp to be moved in any direction along the spherical zone to thereby position the hand grasp angularly in three dimensions relative to the housing.

Abstract: A device for mounting a handle on a luggage case or the like includes a s having a pair of posts spaced apart on opposite ends of a mounting base. Between the posts is an opening through the stud sized to pass the end of a handle. The stud has a slot which extends perpendicular to the base on opposite sides of the opening into the interior of the posts. An L-shaped pin passed through a hole in the end of the handle is held closely captured in the slot to connect the handle to the stud.

Abstract: A revolving flats arrangement for carding operation, and which is provided with a drive, guide and deflection element. Flats on both ends slide on guides, and are constructed so as to avoid the use of a flats chain. A driving element pushes ahead the flats in the region of a deflecting roller. Of the two deflecting rollers that are provided, one is used as a driving element. The driving element has engaging members 8, shaped as sprocket portions, and the flats can be pressed against the sliding guide by a belt or an elastic element. The flats are directed along a predetermined path by the sliding guide, and they form on the side facing the card cylinder, at one location, a gap which is associated with a vacuuming device. The clothing of the flats is located on the side facing from the card clothing, and is cleaned by an axially movable cleaning device.

Abstract: A ring doffer is provided for carded web splitting that prevents loading of the card cylinder during operation by employing a circumferential groove therein to effect the web splitting that is cut in a reversing helix pattern at a pitch exceeding the width of the groove.

Abstract: A slide fastener is disclosed in which a plurality of thermoplastic coupling elements are each individually secured to ribs on a pair of mounting tapes. A raised attachment boss is formed on the interior of the leg portions of each coupling element with the attachment bosses each being ultrasonically fused to the ribs on the mounting tapes.

Abstract: A low cost slide fastener stringer is disclosed as including a tape formed from layers of diverse non-fabric synthetic polymer materials, with a row of coupling elements attached along a folded edge of the tape.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric having alternating stripes of high fiber density and low fiber density is made in such a manner that the high fiber density stripes run across the fabric and maximize the cross direction strength to a point that the cross direction/machine direction strength ratio approaches unity. This advantageous and desirable characteristic can be achieved by hydroforming a card web, by disposing the carded web on a relatively fine mesh screen and placing a finger-like striping bars over the web with the axis of the bars at 90.degree. to the card web's general fiber orientation. Water was then sprayed over the assembly with sufficient force to rearrange the fibers in the web thereby producing the nonwoven fabric of this invention.

Abstract: A device for laying down a continuous material with the aid of a pair of profiled rolls, consisting of two wheels, the peripheries of which are provided with teeth and which form an engagement zone, is provided. The width of the teeth in the engagement zone in the direction of the center point of the wheel remains at the most the same and should increase by no means.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for winding electrode foils with lead wires attached thereto at predetermined intervals and separators for a capacitor, in which a plurality of electrode foils and separators are superimposed and wound into a small capacitor. The electrode foils and separators superimposed in sandwiched fashion are connected at the leading ends to a winding shaft and are wound therearound. When one lead wire attached to one electrode foil has reached a position spaced a predetermined distance from the winding position, the winding shaft is stopped to position the lead wire and the one electrode foil is cut at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the one lead wire.

Abstract: A hand tool particularly adapted for compressing an automobile shock absorber spring to facilitate repairs. The tool comprises a handle with a hook pivoted at the end thereof adapted to engage under a spring coil. An arm is pivoted near one end thereof intermediate the ends of the handle, and a downwardly facing hook on the end of the arm is adapted to engage over a higher coil of the spring. By pushing the handle with the hooks engaged, the hooks or jaws are brought closer together and a short extension of the arm swings across the handle, camming back a lock sleeve slidable thereon. When the arm extension and handle are in alignment, the lock sleeve is extended by a small spring to enclose the arm extension and prevent movement thereof. The compressed coil spring exerts a force on the jaws trying to separate them. This forces the arm extension tightly against the inner surface of the lock sleeve, holding the sleeve firmly in place against inadvertent retraction.

Abstract: A device is provided for use in removing a first object from a second object, in which the first object is set fast, comprising a first manifold in which the first object is positioned, a second manifold in which the first object may be positioned with the second object pressed against the side of the second manifold furtherest from the first manifold, object securing apparatus secured to the first manifold on the side of the first manifold furtherest from the second manifold, first hydraulic apparatus operative to control the object securing apparatus, and second hydraulic apparatus comprising second pistons which extend through the first manifold and press against the object securing apparatus in order to vary the distance between the first manifold and the second manifold and to apply additional securing pressure on the object securing apparatus.

Abstract: This invention consists of a device by means of which worn out spoons on the teeth of the wheels of rotary hoes can be easily replaced. It consists of individual spoons which replace the worn out spoons, and portable fixtures which guide and hold the new spoons in the proper position for welding them to the existing teeth.

Abstract: Capillary fiber bundles of semipermeable membrane material may be used by winding the fibers onto a reel member to form an annular assembly of the fibers, and thereafter cutting the annular assembly into separate bundles. In accordance with this invention, the capillary tubing is fed to the reel through guide slot means elongated in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel. The tension on the capillary tubing is sufficiently low to allow the capillary tubing to move about while winding in the guide slot means in generally random manner. Accordingly, the bundles comprise strands in generally non-parallel, crossing arrangement with adjacent strands. Individual bundles may be wrapped in a special flexible sheet, and cut at their ends for improved quality.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a complementary MOS device, applicable to either silicon-on-sapphire or bulk silicon, is described wherein a buried contact is formed that is comprised of a region of doped silicon, a layer of MoSi.sub.2, a thin layer of Mo and a layer of doped polycrystalline silicon.

Abstract: A preferred method proceeds with coil injection equipment having phase windings confined by axially extending gaps defined by the equipment tooling; positioning insulation retaining and shedding means within the tooling; and draping phase insulation with legs in some of the gaps. When the legs are ribbon type, the legs are twisted, i.e., angularly oriented so that they will enter core slots in edgewise fashion. The sheet-like end turn insulating portions are confined so that at least portions thereof establish a cylinder within the tooling. At least part of one leg is moved into a core slot by moving the core axially onto the tooling. After seating and clamping the core, the coil injection equipment is actuated, the phase insulation is shed into slots of the core, and windings are axially placed on the core. Preferred apparatus has a main drive rod that undergoes an initial increment of travel without corresponding movement of a wire stripper because of a lost motion connection.

Abstract: A method of assembling a pair of magnetic material elements with an assembly having a bimetal element secured between means for carrying the magnetic material elements and means adapted for supporting the assembly.

Abstract: A rotary cutter head mounted on the end of a handle to power rotate at high speed one or more centrifugally whirled free ends of a reserve of nylon line wound on a spool co-axially pivotally mounted within the head.A co-axially spring biased indexer is subject to inertia applied through the handle while the device is running to effect the feedfing of precise increments of line from the spool to the free line ends. The indexer is automatically self-inhibiting when the line ends reach a predetermined optimum length of approximately eight inches and continues to be self-inhibiting until the line ends wear down, in use, to less than a predetermined minimum length of approximately five inches.

Abstract: Clamp capable of mechanical clamping and optionally useful for providing especially high electrical conductivity having a pair of juxtaposed clamping jaws for gripping an object. One important use of the clamp is to grip an article through which high current is required to flow as, for example, in electric welding. At least one of the jaw blocks is of deep case-hardened cold rolled steel, and when used for high electrical conductivity, is copper coated. The face of this block is provided with concentric teeth which bite into the article. The outer faces of the teeth are perpendicular to the surface of the article being gripped. This inhibits skidding of the clamp and also provides good electrical contact where needed, even in the presence of rust or corrosion. The circular shape of teeth permits rotation or oscillation of the clamp during the clamping operation, which facilitates cleaning of the engaged surfaces and enhances electrical conductivity.

Abstract: Apparatus for in-forest cutting of lumber from felled logs is provided. The apparatus comprises a frame mounting a pair of wheels around which is trained a band saw blade. A chain saw engine is releasably connected to the frame and is coupled to one of the wheels for driving the saw blade. A carriage is mounted to the frame and is adapted to extend lengthwise of the log to enable the frame to be advanced along the log as the saw blade cuts. The carriage has a series of resilient rollers which cooperate with blade guide and stabilizer assemblies to provide a straight cut. Handles are provided at opposite ends of the frame to enable workmen to mount and to dismount the apparatus and to advance the same along the log.

Abstract: A dipstick assembly including a handle member having a passageway extending therethrough between the ends thereof, a measuring blade connected to the handle member and a cap member also having a passageway extending therethrough between the ends thereof and connected to the handle member in such a way as to allow ventilation of a sealed chamber when the dipstick assembly is disposed in an access passageway to the chamber. The cap member includes a sealing device for perfecting the seal between the dipstick assembly and the access passageway. Auxiliary venting ports allow ventilation of excess gases from the access passageway and the sealed chamber in the event that the open end of the passageway in the cap member is below the fluid level of the chamber.

Abstract: An improved portable mechanical roller measure device for moving forwardly along a surface and thereby measuring a distance there along. The device comprises a housing which supports a rotatable wheel or roller. The rotation of the roller is transmitted through a simple symmetrical straight-toothed gear arrangement to a counter mechanism, which indicates the distance over which the device has traveled along the surface being measured. The roller measure device may be used in a hand-held fashion or may be connected to an elongated handle. The handle has an attachment section for detachably connecting to exterior attachment sections at either the rear or front of the housing so the device can either be pushed or pulled in its forward measuring direction.

Abstract: An improved height measuring instrument includes a hollow profile support member measuring a scale mounted to the support member, and a relatively flexible guide member which is adjustably mounted to the support member by means of a plurality of threaded fasteners which can be used to push or pull the guide member to correct measurement errors. A measurement carriage is guided along the guide member. This carriage bears an intermediate member onto which is mounted both a sensor and a reading unit arranged to scan the scale. A spring parallelogram including a pair of opposed, parallel plate springs connects the intermediate member to the carriage to provide a substantially constant measuring force. An apparatus is disclosed for altering the spring constant of the parallelogram to compensate for the proper weight of the intermediate member, the reading unit, and the sensor.

Abstract: A compliance element for a remote center compliance unit is formed from a multi-stranded cable having an elastomeric collar molded around a center portion thereof and terminating in threaded connectors for incorporation into the compliance unit.

Abstract: A machine for measuring the dimensions of a workpiece, comprising a base te for receiving the workpiece and a mechanical structure carrying a feeler for movement along three orthogonal axes at right angles by means providing for direct measuring of the amounts of movement of the feeler along the axes. Optical deviation measurement means determine the errors due to deformation of the components, lost motion as well as pitch, yaw and/or roll of the movable components. The corrections to be applied to the data delivered by the measuring means are computed and may be made automatically for the display to be free of errors.

Abstract: A method and test apparatus for testing the tooth flank profiles of large diameter gears, contemplates the provision of two contact elements and a measuring feeler, which is movable along a X-axis parallel to the connection line of both contact elements and a Y-axis extending transversely thereto. The contact elements are inserted into a respective tooth gap or space of a gear which is to be measured and the test apparatus is brought into a position where both of the axes are located in a plane normal to the gear axis. Then, there is determined the origin of a X-Y-coordinate system formed by both axis, the measuring feeler thereafter is moved along at least one tooth flank and the thus measured coordinates are compared with reference values. Importantly, the invention contemplates measuring the spacing between both of the contact elements and determining therefrom the spacing of the coordinate origin from the gear axis.

Abstract: In a pair of intermeshing gear teeth each having a tooth surface, the gear contact pattern is inspecting by steps of measuring each tooth surface at a regularly positioned measuring points to detect deviations from a standard gear profile at corresponding measuring points, calculating relative distances between the teeth surfaces at the measuring points, and counting the number of combinations of measuring points wherein the relative distances are within a predetermined limit. Where the counted number is greater than a predetermined value, the pair of gears are accepted.

Abstract: A drier, especially for viscous materials, comprises a double-wall cylindrical vessel which is heated and to which the material to be dried is fed at one end with the dried material being removed at the opposite end. A drying gas inlet is connected to the drying chamber to pass the drying gas in counterflow or uniflow with the material and a shaft is rotatable along the axis of the chamber and carries adjustable disks with alternately inner and outer openings so that the material path through the vessel is deflected toward and away from the axis as the material passes successively through adjustable-length cells between these disks. All of the disks carry blades which scrape the material from the heated wall from the vessel and at least some of the disks carry rollers of predetermined spacing from this wall to adjust the particle size of the dried product.

Abstract: A flight simulator instrument trainer has operational controls and instruments similar to a conventional aircraft. An AC driven position simulator moves a simulated station position according to simulated power, attitude, flap condition direction and distance traveled to control simulated ADF, ILS and VOR instruments. Angularly offset phases are generated and are provided to potentiometers on directional instruments. Wipers on the potentiometers move with simulated direction indicators. Signals from the wipers are fed to other devices, and phases are compared with one of two ninety degree offset reference phases. The latter are shifted according to simulated flight characteristics, and the thus-varied output of the phase comparators are used to drive instruments and to shift angle position accumulators and distance position accumulators.

Abstract: This invention relates to collapsible display members in general and more specifically to a personalized calendar suitable for mailing to current or prospective clients having a plurality of recesses, slots and pivotable members which allow various items to be displayed upon the calendar, and which provide support surfaces for maintaining the display surfaces in an upright position.

Abstract: A record bearing assembly for encapsulating a planar record member. Included is a thin substantially flat base member comprising an aperture therethrough. A plastic capsule comprises as an integral part thereof the following: a thin substantially planar closed cavity is provided for a planar record member positioned within the perimeter of the aperture; first and second sides of the plastic capsule sandwich the base member therebetween around at least a portion of the capsule cavity; and a plurality of pegs are integral with and extend between the first and second sides stitching through the base member at a plurality of locations around at least a portion of the perimeter of the capsule cavity.Also disclosed is a subcombination of a capsule part for use in forming the plastic capsule and a method for forming a record bearing assembly.

Abstract: A graphical display apparatus having an enclosure with a thin opaque cover made up of an outermost sheet of paper bearing a design, to serve as a display face, and an underlying sheet of aluminum foil backed by an aluminum screen. Incandescent lights are mounted within the enclosure to light its interior. Through the use of pointed markers made of transparent plastic, pinpoints of light can be spotted where desired on the display face for any of various purposes. This is accomplished by pushing the markers through the display face, aluminum foil and aluminum screen at desired locations. The markers are exposed to light in the interior of the enclosure as they pierce the aluminum foil, and therefore show up as points of light on the display face. The incandescent lights in the enclosure emit heat, as a result of which the layer of aluminum foil reacts to bring about a tightening and smoothing of the display face.

Abstract: Sign assembly having a generally planar panel mounted on one or more supporting posts. The panel is attached to the post by an interlocking cleat which is secured to the post and engaged by the frame of the panel in an interlocking relationship.

Abstract: A cartridge/carrier locking device for an automatic gun including a latch plate pivotally mounted on an inner wall of a receiver to pivot in a seesaw like manner to have two ends thereof alternately protrude inside of the receiver. The front end protrudes to restrain a cartridge and the rear end to restrain a carrier. A spring pushes the rear end toward the inside of the receiver. Against this spring, a breechblock and a cartridge brought out of a magazine respectively restrict the protruding motion of the rear end until the breechblock moves backward approximately to a maximum extent. The position at which the breechblock comes to restrict the protruding motion of the rear end of the latch plate is arranged to differ from the position at which the cartridge comes to restrict in such a way as to allow the rear end to lock the carrier.

Abstract: An improved trigger guard for a pistol having trigger guard actuated means has an upwardly and rearwardly extending, elongated lever member which facilitates manual actuation of the trigger guard for opening the breech and setting the trigger mechanism and safety.

Abstract: A unique pommel or butt plate for handgun stocks is described. The pommel comprises a pommel plate (32) having a mounting boss (34) extending from the inner surface of plate (32) and a mounting pin (36) extending from a mounting boss (34). The pommel can be secured to a stock by inserting the mounting pin (36) into a mortised section (40) and pre-drilled hole (38) on the inner surface of one of the stocks (24).

Abstract: A device for harvesting shrimp, prawn, and other aquaculture from man-made ponds. The device includes an elongated truss which is maintained at each end thereof by a carriage. Depending from the truss are a plurality of support arms maintaining at the ends thereof rows of flexible tines. A net extends between the support arms and is connected to the tines. The truss is maintained above the pond with a carriage on each side and is moved over the pond such that the tines contact the pond bottom, stirring aquaculture therefrom and into the net. Preferably, the pond is of a rectangular shape having an inclined ramp at one end thereof, the ramp emptying into a trough, such that the device may move the aquaculture up the ramp and into the trough from which it may be finally harvested.

Abstract: A device for use with a fishing rod for signalling when a fish has struck the hook. The device is protected from damage and is extremely accurate and reliable. One form of the invention comprises a plurality of strain gages mounted on the rod and controlling circuitry located inside the rod to signal when the rod flexes a predetermined amount. A method of teaching casting is also described wherein the strain gages closely monitor rod flexure and the signal from the circuitry is used to identify proper rod flexure.

Abstract: Insect electrocution apparatus comprising a housing defining an outward facing direction and an inward facing direction; an inner electrode disposed within the housing; an array of composite members disposed within the housing and spaced in an outward facing direction with respect to the inner electrode, the composite members each comprising an outward facing insulative member defining a safety guard and fixed thereto an inward facing conductor, defining an outer electrode array, and means for coupling the inner electrode and the outer electrode array across a high voltage source.

Abstract: A percolating bubble generator in which a stream of air is utilized to form a succession of bubbles and launch them into the air. The stream of air under pressure utilized to effect the objects of this invention is divided into two streams; a main stream of air is directed by a nozzle through a cylindrical percolation chamber, while a second stream is passed through a tube into a bubble-forming liquid contained in a lower portion of the percolation chamber, such lower portion having an outlet opening for the discharge of bubbles formed by percolating the liquid. The main air stream passes out the outlet of the percolation chamber, causing expulsion of bubbles formed in the lower portion of the percolation chamber.

Abstract: The toy doll includes a body and a movable head having a mouth opening formed therein. A drive mechanism is contained within the doll's body for oscillating the head in a forward and aft direction in response to the insertion of an object into the doll's mouth opening. Simultaneously, oscillation of the doll's head operates a pair of cymbals for producing sounds simulating those of a child sucking on a bottle.

Abstract: A puppet structure includes a support pole to which is attached a pair of protruding eye parts at the top end thereof. A cooperating operator's glove encircles the support pole and terminates in a mouth part, which serves both to add to the play value of the item and to retain the operator's glove to the pole. Finger manipulation of the operator provides various appearance configurations for the mouth part and rotation of the support pole animates the eye parts.

Abstract: A multi-stage energy storage device having a multi-stage construction of energy storage units adapted to uniformly distribute energies stored to each stage, and its embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A toy vehicle for multiple lane track racing includes rear wheels releasably driven for traction and pivotable front wheels for steering. The pivotable front wheels pivot in unison periodically at a repetition rate directly related to the rotational speed of the motor thereby causing the car to swerve alternately between two lanes on opposed sides of the track. The wheel pivoting mechanism may include a cam and snail gear for speed reduction. Pick-up shoes attached beneath the car chassis contact power conductors along the track lanes to energize the motor. An input circuit on the vehicle provides forward vehicle motion regardless of the input voltage polarity. When the vehicle is intermediate the vehicle lanes, the motor is de-energized and a clutch may disengage the rear wheels.

Abstract: A liquid applicator device and a method of utilization thereof to effect plant destruction. A first distinct container containing herbicide, with a rotary valve extending from one end thereof, is mounted on a second elongated container with the metering valve between the first and second containers. An elongated roller having a fibrous cover for receiving herbicide from the container and for ultimately transferring the herbicide to a plant is insertable into the second container, and has a handle extending from one end thereof outwardly of the second container. The opposite end of the roller is operatively connected to an actuator for the valve between the containers so that relative rotational movement between the roller and the containers results in metering of a predetermined amount of herbicide from the first container to the second container.