Abstract: A magazine loaded pistol has a safety mechanism for disabling its trigger when its magazine is removed. A disabling member supported for reciprocal sliding movement on the pistol frame extends through and moves within a passageway in the trigger and is retained by the trigger pivot pin. When the magazine is removed the disabling member is biased to a safety position wherein an abutment surface thereon is aligned with a stop surface on the trigger to block trigger movement.

Abstract: A stabilizing attachment for firearms is provided to support the forearm during firing and includes two rods through horizontal holes in a vertical extension of the grip with the rods extending to the rear connected to an upright "U" shaped support for the forearm and a hand released securing mechanism to hold the horizontal rods in an adjustable position.

Abstract: A cartridge receptacle adapted to facilitate the filling of a cartridge magazine, by hand. To permit efficient manipulation during the filling operation, the receptacle can be affixed to the magazine, whereby both can be held in one hand. The other hand is thus free to insert the cartridges into the magazine. The receptacle can be adapted for use with various cartridges, various cartridge clips, and various magazines. The receptacle can also be used with loose cartridges.

Abstract: A fishing float which removably receives a penlight to provide illumination both to indicate the position of the float and to attract the fish. The float is generally top-shaped and at least partially formed of transparent materials. A reflector is included in the upper portion of the shell to reflect a portion of the light downward to illuminate the lower portion of the shell to attract fish.

Abstract: The invention provides for an automatically releasing mounting system by dint of which a weight member may be releasably connected to a fishing-line. The mounting system comprises a receptacle resiliently biassed into essentially conical shape. Wall portions of the receptacle are interconnected by a pivotal joint near the upper end thereof, while latch apparatus are provided to releasably connect the lower ends of the wall portions. The latch apparatus include a latch member having a wing formed integral thereto. When the receptacle hits the surface of the water, the relative movement between the water and the wing portion of the latch member will cause moving of the latch member out of the associated latch-catch. Thus the wall portions of the receptacle cooperating in defining the lower aperture of the container can expand. The receptacle including the latch apparatus can be molded as a single essentially flat part.

Abstract: A low-cost, environmentally safe rodent trap is disclosed composed generally of a pair of coaxial telescoping cylinders including an internally actuated trigger mechanism which supports one of the cylinders at an elevated height within the other cylinder. Upon reaching the bottom of the elevated cylinder, the weight of the rodent actuates the trigger mechanism, causing the elevated cylinder to fall whereby a cap attached to the upper end of the elevated cylinder sealingly engages the other cylinder to suffocate the rodent. The cylinders are housed within a box-like platform which provides easy ingress of the rodent to the trap, ensures stability during operation, prevents viewing of the rodent carcass, and provides for marketing of the trap without additional packaging material.

Abstract: An inflatable article having a thin outer wall formed from a flexible, gas impervious, resilient material forming a closed surface. At least one hollow protrusion provided with a sealed end and an open end is associated with the wall, and at least one movable internal object is contained within the closed surface. A non-elastic connection member is attached on one side to the sealed end of the hollow protrusion and attached on the other side to the internal movable object. The article further includes an external control member connected to the sealed end of the hollow protrusion for imparting and controlling movement to the internal object through the connection member and extending from the protrusion externally of the closed surface so that the movable internal object will be moved when the user pulls the external control with the article in a restrained condition.

Abstract: Hoppity toy systems formed by the combination of a hoppity toy with a variety of mechanical devices, such as an elevator and other moveable objects. The hoppity toy is directed by a track which confines the hopping motion to a prescribed route that includes a hoppity toy operable device.

Abstract: A wheeled push toy including a housing and a push rod. A first action element is adapted to move up and down in a generally continuous fashion with respect to the housing while a second action element is adapted to be intermittently propelled up the push rod a short distance and fall back by gravity. The action of the above described elements is controlled by the movement of the supporting wheels of the toy and preferably in a fashion such that the intermittent movement of the second action element is produced only upon forwardly pushing the toy in contrast to rearwardly pulling such.

Abstract: Structures which are considered to be primarily useful as toys can be constructed utilizing members or arms adjustably mounted on a rotating shaft within the body of such a structure. By shifting the positions of such members or arms the type of movement of such a structure on a supporting surface can be varied. If desired, adjacent of such structures may be connected through the use of flexible couplings such as suction cups.

Abstract: A liquid applicator for wipingly applying various liquids to various items includes a liquid supply container mounted on one end of a tubular handle with a shutoff valve for metering liquid flow to the handle. A pair of applicator heads adapted for different liquid application movements are interchangeably mounted on the other end of the handle, and each of the applicator heads have a liquid distributor tube for evenly dispensing the liquid to a wicking element carried by the applicator head.

Abstract: An apparatus for a wheeled vehicle for slashing pine trees to enhance the production by natural means of terpenoid materials, and comprising a tree slashing device pivotally mounted at the end of an arm extending from the vehicle, and irritant applicator also carried on said tree slashing device for applying an irritant material to the freshly slashed wound in the stem of the tree.

Abstract: A sprouting apparatus (10) is disclosed which is suitable for the merchandising of seeds to be sprouted, the actual sprouting of the seeds, and the storage of the resulting sprouts. The sprouting apparatus (10) includes an outer container (12) which receives therein an inner container (14) in which the seeds are actually sprouted. The assembly is covered by a dome member (16). Nesting structure (24, 28) is provided on the inner and outer containers (14 and 12) so that an air passage is maintained between the inner and outer containers (14 and 12) at all times.

Abstract: A portable greenhouse which includes a base, a cover, and trays. The bottom of the base is corrugated, the bottom of the trays are corrugated. The base, cover and trays all have a peripheral flange. The flanges engage with each other to form a seal around the periphery of the greenhouse. The trays have apertures in the bottom. The cover is transparent with longitudinal and lateral ribs and an air flow vent.

Abstract: A hollow tube is designed to be threaded through the mesh of a degradable tubular guard structure which protects a seedling or the like from browsing animals. The hollow tube contains an elongated degradable support stake which is driven into the ground by a drive rod contained within the hollow tube using a slide-hammer which coaxially slides along the drive rod. The hollow tube is withdrawn from around the stake, leaving the tubular meshed structure fastened to the stake by a series of angled grooves formed in a series of longitudinal ribs extending from the stake.

Abstract: A device for holding flowers such as are employed in forming bouquets so that the holder and all of the decorations thereon may be made up in advance, so that all that is necessary is to attach the flower or flowers at the time of sale.

Abstract: A method of introducing chemical agents into plants comprising application, onto plants, of preparations in the form of powders or solutions based on chemical agents and polyhydric alcohols or low-molecular carbohydrates. The method of the present inventions ensures a rapid penetration of a chemical agent into a plant or individual organs thereof in predetermined amounts thus enhancing efficiency of a chemical agent and ensuring an optimal use thereof.

Abstract: A method for growth, development and maturation of cacao embryos from the precursor stage disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 951,267, and product of such method of production.

Abstract: A propagator for the cultivation of plants in a controlled environment comprising upper and lower elongate containers having a common perforated wall, a plurality of plant seeds supported in spaced relation by or adjacent the common wall, means for injecting liquid in the form of vapor or droplets into an end of each of the elongate containers and means for maintaining a pressure in the elongate containers greater than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A personnel air lock has a transfer chamber that is separated from an atmospheric region by an outside door and is separated from a containment region by an inside door. A single drive shaft couples a motor and three clutch-operable hand wheels to the doors to sequentially open and close one door and then the other. Each door is opened and closed through a door actuator linkage that is coupled to the drive shaft through a respective dual clutch and a respective clutch-actuating mechanism. One door-opening clutch is engaged as a lead screw nut moves through an active range along a timing lead screw, while another door-opening clutch is disengaged as an associated lead screw nut moves through an inactive range along another timing lead screw, so that only one of the doors is coupled to the drive shaft at a time. Each lead screw nut forms part of a slide indicator for indicating the operating position of its associated door.

Abstract: A device for counterbalancing a swivelable body part on a motor vehicle, especially a trunk lid on an automobile, said device including a hinge for the swivelable body part and a torsion bar, the torsion bar being bent to form a crank in the vicinity of a movable hinge part. An intermediate lever is articulated on the movable hinge part and engages the crank, the crank including a crank pin between two legs, the legs being connected by arcuate segments both with the crank pin and with the torsion bar. The legs are made S-shaped so as to minimize waste, provide ease of manufacture and small installation space requirements for the crank.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed for precisely grinding or polishing the surface of a workpiece, such as the mating end face of a fiber optic ferrule. The tool utilizes a planar grinding wheel which is caused to rotate and simultaneously shift transversely in the plane in which it lies by the use of an eccentric driving connection to the wheel and gear teeth on the outer surface of the wheel and gear teeth on the interior of the chamber in which the wheel is mounted. Such movement of the wheel causes the workpiece to be ground in multiple directions across its face.

Abstract: A barrel apparatus for use in treating workpieces with grinding media, comprising a novel rotary barrel provided on its inner peripheral wall with a spiral flight extending lengthwise of the barrel and one or more ancillary flights extending straight or in an extremely modulated spiral form lengthwise of said barrel and intersecting the spirals of said first spiral flight, thereby accelerating the flow of the contents in the barrel to improve grinding efficiency, and further, permitting smooth delivery of the contents even when a small amount of the contents is present in the barrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gaging the cross-sectional bore diameter generated by an abrading type finishing tool in an abrading machine. The tool and plug gage are mechanically mounted to the same spindle with the plug sized to a predetermined diameter and mounted behind the machining element. The plug gage is indexed to enter the bore being machined at predetermined cycles to determine if an undersize condition of the tool exists. Failure of the plug gage to enter the bore would indicate an undersize condition of the tool and upon the gage entering the bore it would indicate a correct tool size. The invention has further apparatus for shutting down the machine in the event an undersize condition is determined.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a process for producing a negative-crowned roller having a progressively decreasing diameter from both ends toward the center thereof by means of a one-dimensional mutual displacement between the raw material of the roller and the shaping tool.

Abstract: The invention pertains to hone stone apparatus utilizing radially movable stone assemblies located in a rotating or oscillating head and radially movable through openings defined in the head for engagement with the workpiece. The stone assemblies include an abrasive stone partially embedded within a synthetic plastic body and the end regions of the body are slightly oversized with respect to the head opening configuration and the body end regions are slotted to permit compression wherein a firm frictional engagement exists between the stone assembly and the head for retaining the stone assembly within its head opening.

Abstract: A resilient disc shaped wheel and supported abrasive belt for grinding glass. A central bore in the wheel provides for mounting to a rotating drive shaft driven by a motor. Circumferentially spaced radially extending slits are disposed incrementally around the entire circumference of the wheel, defining flexible teeth therebetween. The slits are cut only a portion of the way through the wheel leaving a continuous membrane of resilient material tending to hold the teeth in position upon rotation. An abrasive belt is positioned around the outer perimeter of the wheel, and held in place by the centrifugal forces imparted to the teeth.

Abstract: A cutaway pad for surfacing lenses with grinding or polishing slurries which flow into and along the cuts for distribution across a lens surface worked thereover. The heretofore pad floppiness is relieved with a continuous film backing which is readily conformable to a surfacing tool face and affords large area contact to prevent pad slippage during lens surfacing.

Abstract: A guard housing and liner for bladed throwing wheels, in which the guard housing is in the form of a trapezoidal section dimensioned to enclose the bladed wheel and a cover which fits onto the upper end of the trapezoidal section for pivotal movement between open and closed position and for removal from said trapezoidal section, and a liner formed of a plurality of interfitting sections lining the interior walls of the guard housing.

Abstract: A building constructed of corrugated sheet metal panels defining upright side walls, a roof and a connector for securing the roof to the side walls. The connector is a part of or integrally constructed with the side wall, has the same corrugations as the side wall, and is curved or bent inwardly towards the center of the building. The roof is secured to the inwardly directed end of the connector and the connector forms the sole support and force transmitting member between the roof and the side wall so that substantially the full space enclosed by the side walls and the roof is unobstructed. The side walls and the roof are constructed of multiple panels secured to each other and end walls attached to ends of the side walls and the roof complete the enclosure of the interior space. Also disclosed is a method for forming or bend the connector as well as for forming a curved crown portion of the roof.

Abstract: A structural assembly, e.g. a curtain-walled building, comprises load-bearing floor slabs at successive levels and a framework of the curtain wall has vertical mullion members through which it is secured to the floor slabs at a spacing from the floor slabs. Fire-resistant panels are interposed in the gaps to check the passage of smoke and flames between floors. The panels overlie the rear faces of the mullions over a depth substantially greater than that of the floor slabs and bear against said rear faces to reinforce the mullions against wind loads. Any residual spacing between the panels and the floor slabs can be closed by fire-resistant elements that also form service ducts.

Abstract: A jointing member for supporting one or more sheets of material comprises a hollow cylindrical member divided longitudinally into several separate compartments each having an external wall formed with a slot. The walls are flexible and the edges of the slot grip and support the edge of the sheet of material once inserted into the slot.

Abstract: A wall construction unit for buildings, said unit comprising a reinforced concrete layer with parallel, projecting flanges between which insulations are provided, and joists and an intermediate insulation preventing cold bridges are positioned on the free edge of the flanges by means of clamp-irons cast into the concrete flanges.At one longitudinal edge the wall construction unit also has a longitudinally extending projection which constitutes the external corner of a building and is cast integrally with the rest of the wall construction unit, said projection being provided with an insulation and an intermediate insulation preventing cold bridges and situated beneath the joist positioned on its outer flange.The wall construction unit is a pre-fabricated building component which is prepared to be ready for mounting by a casting process during which joists, intermediate insulation and other insulation are secured to the concrete by casting.

Abstract: High temperature enclosures such as furnaces have a lining of refractory/insulating modules arranged in side to side relation after the manner of bricks and secured to metal supporting structure by means of fastening members which are disposed between adjoining modules, have laterally and oppositely directed projections which penetrate the facing sides of such modules, and a foot which is secured to the structure. A packing strip of a ceramic fibre material is arranged under compression between adjoining modules. Each module has the form of a hollow box and consists of a block moulded in one piece from ceramic fibre with a front wall, the front face of which constitutes the hot face of the module, and side walls. The module may include a block of insulating material which is secured on the back of the ceramic fibre block and the enclosed cavity may contain further insulating material.

Abstract: A girder or like structural element of the kind consisting of a pair of chords, which are usually parallel, and a web in the form of a zigzag strip consisting of oblique straights alternating with crests by which the web is joined to and between the chords by welding or otherwise, is characterized in that each of the crests is a flat of parallelogrammatic form and has the larger of the supplementary angles of the parallelogram at between 120.degree. and 150.degree.; and, each of the straights has its major cross-sectional dimension extending in a plane parallel to that of the chords or at least having a component parallel to the plane of the chords.

Abstract: A unitary package rest member for use on a wrap station is comprised of a central section (42) which can be mounted in at least two different positions to the wrap station, and first and second shelves (44, 45) extending from the central section parallel to each other, spaced apart, and of substantially different area in order to provide to the operator a selection of mounting the rest member with either the smaller or larger shelf in the active operating rest position. The shelf parts extend in opposite directions from the central section, such that the rest shelf not in use projects inwardly under the top section of the wrap station, out of the way of the operator. The rest member can be formed by bending a unitary blank of sheet metal such that the shelf parts are parallel to each other, extending in opposite directions, and the sides of the blank are so dimensioned, in symmetrical fashion, that the blanks may be struck from a strip or sheet of the material with minimum waste.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for filling and transferring a bag while maintaining the extended tab of the bag slidingly secured on holding pins. A first bag from a plurality of juxtaposed bags is opened and filled while its extended tab is maintained stationary on holding pins. After the bag is filled, the bag is caused to be displaced on the holding pin to a bag tieing position. During the displacement of the bag to its tieing position, a neck portion is formed in the upper part of the bag and this neck portion is fed against an adhesive tape which is simultaneously secured about the neck portion as it is formed.

Abstract: Cardboard packing cases, which have been loaded with bottles or the like, are fed to apparatus for severing the top flap connecting tabs at diagonally opposite corners of the case. These tabs are provided to hold the top flaps of the case in place during loading, but must be severed prior to closing and/or gluing of the top flaps at a succeeding stage in the packaging of the product. The apparatus includes an infeed station where the cases are separated, by slowing each case on a flight bar conveyor having its flights spaced less than the length of the case, and side belts accelerate the case to match the speed of a pocket chain conveyor. The case has its forward end lifted, and opposite corners tilted, on this pocket chain conveyor to spread the top flaps at the two corners of the case without connecting tabs. Guide plates on either side of the pocket chain conveyor serve to guide the case so that fixed knives cut both tabs without necessity for turning the case through 90 degrees.

Abstract: Herein described is an automated machine for filling a carton or crate with containers such as liquid filled plastic bottles. The machine includes a filling station, a stand having a conveyor line sequentially feeding empty cartons to the filling station and a conveyor line sequentially removing filled cartons from the filling station. The conveyor line to the filling station is substantially higher in elevation than the conveyor line from the filling station. A ramp interconnects the two conveyor lines and is positioned directly under the filling station. Empty cartons from the higher conveyor line are allowed to slide down the ramp on suitable tracks onto the lower conveyor line. Appropriate stop mechanism timed with mechanism in the filling station cause the carton being filled to stop at selected positions in order to be filled with bottles. A feed conveyor line sequentially supplies bottles to the filling station and onto a platform positioned directly over the ramp and empty cartons disposed therein.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine comprises a source of flexible packaging material, a tube former which receives the material and forms a depending upwardly open tube, a product dispenser above the former discharges measured quantities of product to the tube, a side sealer closes juxtaposed edges of the tube, a feeder draws the material through the former, and an improved end sealer and stripper has jaws which close horizontally about the tube to a partially closed position, a stripper means on the jaws clears and flattens the end seal area of the tube as the partially closed jaws are swung downwardly to an end sealing position, and the jaws thereafter close and seal the tube.

Abstract: A husk separator for cleaning a mixture of corn ear fragments including pieces of corn cob, corn kernels, and pieces of corn husks includes a first generally planar comb having generally horizontal first tines positioned to support the fragments, and a second rotary comb having a central shaft and a plurality of generally radially extending second tines displaceable on rotation of the shaft between and past the first tines. This second comb is rotated with its tines passing through those of the first comb to separate husk pieces from the cob pieces away from the first comb. The husk pieces are then stripped off the second comb by a plurality of stripper elements located between the tines of the second comb and engageable with the husk pieces on rotation of this second rotary comb.

Abstract: A mower comprising a mower frame attached to the bottom of a vehicle body, cutting blades rotatably supported by vertical shafts on the mower frame, a drive assembly on the frame for rotating the blades, arms supported on the frame and pivotally movable upward or downward, gauge members supported by the free ends of the pivotal arms, an operating member operatively connected to the pivotal arms for pivotally moving the arms, and locking means for disengageably holding the operating member. The mower frame is upwardly or downwardly movable by the movement of the pivotal arms with the gauge members in engagement with the ground to position the cutting blades at the desired level. The blades are retainable at this level by the locking means.

Abstract: Problems associated with row crop attachments for harvesting machines are limited by replacing previously known gathering chains with a plurality of rotary elements adapted to define a stalkway formed of intermeshing rotary crop conveyors.

Abstract: A machine for removing the top foliage of sugar beets having a frame with longitudinal side walls and a longitudinal center beam carrying three gear boxes. Rotor assemblies drivably connected to opposite sides of the gear boxes are rotatably mounted on the side walls. A PTO drive is connected to a main drive shaft located above the center beam. A chain and sprocket speed reducer surrounds the main beam and transmits power from the main drive shaft to drive shafts connected to the first and second gear boxes. The chain and sprocket speed reducer is located within a housing mounted on the main beam. The main beam extends through the housing. Each rotor has a cylindrical member carrying a splined sleeve that is mounted on a splined hub connected to an output shaft of a gear box. A bearing assembly mounts the outer end of each cylindrical member to a side wall. A plurality of flail carrying assemblies having flexible rubber flails are mounted on each cylindrical member.

Abstract: A rotatable wheel on a mobile frame carries radially extending pairs of movable, opposed crop-gripping arms which are spring-loaded toward each other. Brackets on each face of the wheel pivotably secure the arms. A roller on each arm moves onto and out of engagement with a cam on the frame with each rotation of the wheel, opening and closing the arms. Preferably the brackets, springs and rollers have quickly defeasible attachment hardward for ease in replacing worn parts, like a readily accessible removable pin securing each arm spring in a cavity in the arm, and rollers having shafts with indents in which a spring-loaded lock removably lodges. In one embodiment a lone threaded member secures each bracket and also affords a base locator for the arm spring. A bracket is removable with arms still attached for ease in maintenance with access to the threaded member through the spring cavity.

Abstract: A method for harvesting fruit from a row crop trained on a trellis wire and an apparatus having a vehicle adapted for earth traversing movement along a row crop supported on a trellis wire, a striking member having an end portion, an assembly mounting the striking member on the vehicle with said end portion disposed for movement with the vehicle along a course adjacent to the trellis wire and for reciprocal movement in a path to and from engagement with the trellis wire, and a mechanism connected in driving relation to the striking member for reciprocating the striking member to move the end portion thereof in the path repeatedly to strike the trellis wire to shake the fruit from the row crop.

Abstract: A cable strand tension-controlling apparatus is described. As numerous individual wire or fibre-optic cable strand material is fed from multiple pay-off neutralizers, the cable strand material is directed across a rotating driven capstan and subsequently a rotating idler capstan. The cable strand then is directed into contact with a moveable accumulator. The moveable accumulator is positioned appropriately in response to the internal tension of the cable strand that is in contact with it. Signals eminating from the rotating moveable accumulator are then transmitted to a take-up in order to control the position and movement of the take-up reel.

Abstract: An open end spinning machine includes a plurality of spinning units, in each of which a sliver is opened by a carding roller and transported, in the form of individually opened fibers, into a spinning rotor through a fiber supply channel provided in a housing for the carding roller. The supply channel has a mouth opening towards the carding roller with a fiber separating edge, which is greatly subject to wear during operation of the spinning unit. A portion of the carding roller housing, which defines at least the fiber separating edge, is detachable from another portion of the housing and is urged in a predetermined direction by a biassing spring so that any undesirable clearance, which would be produced between the portions of the housing by structurally separating them from each other, can substantially removed.

Abstract: The false twist machine has a texturing part arranged below heat treatment zones in which three supply devices and a false twist device are superimposed and staggered from the back to the front in such a manner that in threading in of the thread into these devices turning about and overhead working processes of the operator are avoided. The thread paths formed by the threading in are placed one in front of the other in the sequence of the threading in process. A bobbin creel is movable to the texturing part and is equipped with a thread transfer device which transfers the threads coming from the individual creel bobbins into the vicinity of the first supply device. The winding device is arranged opposite the texturing part at a distance forming an operating alley and gives off the full bobbins to the outerside of the winding device opposite the operating alley. The empty bobbins can be moved from the machine end into a readiness reserve position.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine cowling suitable for a helicopter contains a gas turbine engine having a vortex tube separator panel for the purpose of separating water droplets and particulate material from engine inlet air. The vortex tube separator panel is mounted in a duct extending the length of the cowling so that air passing through the duct supplies air for passing through the panel to the engine inlet as well as maintaining a flow of air transverse to the panel. The air flow transverse to the panel ensures that blockage of the panel by ice is substantially reduced or eliminated. Under forward flight conditions, ram air passes through the duct but during hovering, the air flow through the duct is induced by an ejector powered by the exhaust efflux from the engine. The portion of the air flow through the duct which does not enter the gas turbine engine is utilized in the cooling of the engine exhaust efflux in order to reduce the amount of infra-red radiation emitted thereby.