Abstract: An improved sintered cemented carbide body and method for making same is disclosed. The improved sintered cemented carbide body contains at least one metal carbide and a binder metal, on which body there is applied at least one thin, wear resistant surface layer consisting essentially of aluminum oxide and is characterized in that at least 85% of the aluminum oxide consists of the kappa form, the remainder, which mainly constitutes the alpha form, being formed as surface portions or spots having a size of at the most 10 .mu.m, .[.the size and the occurrence of the surface portions being so adjusted that they lie within the area AOB in FIG. 1 of the attached drawing..].The body is made by a method wherein a cemented carbide substrate is contacted with a gas containing an aluminum halide and a reducing agent at high temperature, characterized in that a dopant addition of tetravalent titanium, zirconium and/or hafnium ions is added to the gas in an amount of 0.03-0.5% of the totally supplied amount of gas.

Abstract: A heat-resistant protective glove having first and second shells which generally define the palm side and backside of the glove, respectively, each of the shell sections being made of a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide fiber, the first shell section being a twill weave, the second shell section being a knitted fabric, a first liner section having a flame-resistant, elastomeric coating on a surface contiguous the inner surface of the first shell section, and a second liner section inwardly of the second shell section, the first and second liner sections generally conforming to the configuration of the first and second shell sections, respectively, both of the first and second liner sections being comprised of a felt fabric of a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide fiber.

Abstract: A breast prosthesis comprising inner and outer flexible containers, each having a self-sealing valve associated therewith. The valves are arranged in such a fashion that each container can be separately filled with fluid. The prosthesis is implanted in a deflated state and each container is filled in turn before closing the incision.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a chemical aided water closet odor neutralizing device. The odor neutralizing device is located or mounted between the water closet and the water closet seat and is characterized by having a suction cavity on one side of the seat and a pressure chamber on the opposite side, including a chemically saturated filter whereby in operation, a circulating air blanket is created over the bowl combining chemically the escaping gases and thereby neutralizing their offensive odors.

Abstract: A device for operating the seat and cover of a flushing toilet having a flushing tank, comprising a pair of floats installed in the flushing tank and capable of ascending and descending in the flushing tank, the floats being operatively connected with the seat and cover so that the seat and cover are raised to an upright position when the floats ascend, and lowered when the floats descend. The device further comprises holding levers adapted to hold the floats submerged in the water in the flushing tank. The holding levers are operable by hand to release the floats thus allowing the floats to buoy up or ascend and consequently raise the seat and cover, which are then lowered when the water in the flushing tank is drained to flush the toilet and the floats descend with the descending water level.

Abstract: A self-contained sewage waste disposal system including a housing structure and a toilet bowl adapted to receive human waste and fluid for diluting the waste, transporting the waste and rinsing the bowl. A removable filter cassette is in the housing in communication with the toilet bowl. Structure is provided for flushing the bowl and dumping the contents into the filter cassette and for subsequent refilling of the bowl. A filter is in the cassette for separating the particles of solid material from the fluid received from the bowl. The solid material is stored in the cassette in a compact manner for subsequent disposal upon removal of the cassette. Pumps and interconnected conduits are in the housing to transport fluid directly from an external source to fill the bowl after a flush, to transport and recirculate filtered fluid through the system for further waste disposal treatment, and to direct the effluent fluid from the system thereafter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a toilet apparatus with forcible drainage.Said toilet is of the type comprising a bowl supplied with water and communicating through its bottom part with a lower chamber equipped with means for crushing the faeces and removing them towards a draining conduit. Said toilet being characterized in that the crushing and draining means are designed to be removable, thus permitting the dismantling of the crushing means from the bottom part of the bowl. The invention finds application in toilet apparatus permitting the ready dismantling and cleaning of the crushing and draining members.

Abstract: A half-flush mechanism for a commode. The half-flush mechansim allows user control of the amount of water used in flushing the commode. Activation of the mechanism entails pushing of a button located in an otherwise conventional flush handle. The mechanism is always in the full flush mode and returns to the full flush mode until again activated by the pushing of the half-flush button. The half-flush mechanism is adaptable to a variety of commode designs and may be adjusted by the user to release varying amounts of water during the half-flush mode.

Abstract: A flush valve connectable to a wall of a toilet tank is disclosed. In one embodiment, there is a non-circular outlet formed in the bottom wall of the tank. There is also a resilient seal bearing against an upper surface of the bottom wall, the seal surrounding the outlet and having a central bore aligned therewith. A flush valve is provided having a housing that extends through the seal bore and outlet. The housing also has an outwardly extending flange above the seal to trap the seal against the bottom wall, and a radially outwardly extending projection below the bottom wall. The housing is rotatable between a first position in which the projection can pass vertically through the outlet, and a second position where the projection can catch under the bottom wall.

Abstract: The play pen of the invention has a body including a peripheric frame formed of parallel side-members and extending between corner posts (4), each side-member including a rigid core which is covered by a flexible plastic tube extending beyond the core ends and fixed (at 9) to posts (4) in order to ensure a flexible connection between the latters and the various side-members. Each post advantageously includes a pair of damping elements (12) and (13) the floor (5) being floatingly fitted on the lower damping element 13.

Abstract: A power actuated cleaner for cleaning the threads on the ends of tubular members including a housing having a rotatable disc in the housing with power means connected to the disc for rotating the disc. A plurality of cleaning brushes are provided, each of which is connected to one of a plurality of brush adjusting arms. The brush arms are pivotally connected to the disc with a releasable connection between the adjusting arms and the disc whereby the arms may be rotated on the disc for moving the brushes for coacting with different sized pipe. The housing includes an opening at one end with a plurality of guide adjusting arms, each of which supports a guide support for a pipe, pivotally connected to the housing about the opening. A releasable connection between the adjusting arms and the housing allows the guide arms to be rotated on the housing for guiding and aligning different sized pipe into the opening.

Abstract: A flexible body member has lateral fingers arranged upon rotation to knock off substance which has collected on the inner surface of a chimney. A weight is provided at the bottom end of the body member to hold the latter substantially plumb in a chimney when operated, and a spindle is provided at the top of the body member for attachment to power drive mechanism such as a conventional hand drill. The body member preferably comprises a link chain having flattened lateral engaging portions which produce a drive connection from one link to the next without buckling or twisting. In a modified form of the invention, individual lateral fingers are pivotally connected to the body member and pivot upwardly by centrifugal force upon rotation of the body member whereby automatically to accommodate different chimney dimensions and offset portions thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for stripping fluid from the surface of a vehicle including a plenum 14 and a flexible inflatable primary bag 20 having a primary bag inlet releasably mounted on the plenum 14 for allowing the flow of air from the plenum 14 to the primary bag 20 and a nozzle end 22 and a bag opening 24 disposed between the primary bag inlet and the nozzle end 22. The apparatus further includes a flexible inflatable secondary bag 26 having an elongated secondary bag inlet 28 secured about the bag opening 24 for hinging movement and a nozzle end 30 for allowing the flow of air therethrough. The apparatus is characterized by including a hinging control frame 34 for controlling the hinging action of the secondary bag 26 with respect to the primary bag 20.

Abstract: A device for cleaning surfaces using steam as dirt soaking element and dirt detergent element, whereby extraction components, suction components and steam generating components are available, comprising:a cleaning head with suction components, moisturizing components, brushing components and absorption and cleaning components interacting with spraying components anda basic unit comprising suction fans, steam generating unit and control elements.

Abstract: A one piece lubricious plastic cable guide and door stop for guiding a tensile stressed flexible cable-like member through a work piece aperture and then angularly behind the workpiece. The guide is self-retained in said aperture and includes a latch member for temporarily restraining the cable-like member against the tensile stress inducing device during assembly of the opposite end of the cable-like member with a hinged closure member. It is applicable to devices such as a horizontally hinged dryer door that is spring biased by a pair of said cable-like members and one or more coil springs.

Abstract: A shoulder skinning apparatus includes a skinning device comprised of a housing having a revolvable toothed roller mounted therein and a blade mounted thereon in close proximity to the toothed roller. The skinning device is suspended from a suspension device and power means permits vertical positioning of the skinning device to assure effective removal of the skin from the shoulder area of the hog carcass. The toothed roller and skinning blade are dimensioned whereby when the toothed roller is revolved by power means, the skin from the shoulder area of the hog carcass may be progressively removed in a single pass. A separate control handle controls the positioning and operation of the skinning device by a means of a unique cam arrangement.

Abstract: A high capacity saw type cotton gin having the usual ginning ribs, hulling ribs, and saw cylinder, and structure defining a roll box generally above the intervening zone between the ginning and hulling ribs having an entrance at the top of the intervening zone to receive cotton carried through the hulling ribs, wherein a rotatable perforated seed removal tube is located at the interior portion of the seed roll formed in the roll box near its axis of rotation having many peforations sized to pass ginned seeds therethrough into its interior while preventing passage of unginned seeds. The seed removal tube is continuously rotated in a direction corresponding to the direction of seed roll rotation and at a surface speed significantly exceeding the speed imparted to the immediately confronting seed roll portions by the saws, and screw conveyor structure as provided within the tube rotated to convey the ginned seeds in the tube outwardly through end portions of the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing waste from below machinery, for example a carding engine (1), a receiving member (3) covers the area beneath the machinery and suction means (5) extends across the full width of the receiving member at one end thereof. Guide means (9) is positioned adjacent to the other end of the receiving member and extends the full width thereof. A traveller (11) is mounted for movement along the guide means and carries a nozzle (13) directed towards the receiving member. The traveller can be reciprocated along the guide means with compressed air supplied to the nozzle during each movement to direct waste matter from the receiving member into the suction means.

Abstract: The closure device comprises a box-like body associated with one of the ski boot flaps to be brought together and provided with a knob for actuating a spool whereon at least one small cable associated with the other of the flaps to be brought together is wound. Also provided is a ratchet gear mechanism driven by the knob to lock the spool at any selected position as the knob is turned in one direction, and to release the spool as the knob is rotated in the opposite direction.

Abstract: This fastener for closing two opposed closure flaps of a sports footwear, notably a ski boot, comprises on a first flap of the footwear a coupling member adapted to interconnect these flaps, means for anchoring one end of the coupling member to a catch member secured to the one flap, a binding lever pivoted to a support fixed to the other flap of the footwear and having pivoted thereto the other end of the coupling member and comprising beyond its pivot point a rigid extension lying substantially within the plane and thickness of the binding lever extension for interlocking substantially in a common plane the end of the lever extension and the binding lever in their closed and fold-down position which is also the closed position of the fastener itself.

Abstract: A fastener for roller skates, which can be manipulated quickly and simply by young children while providing a secure attachment of a skate to a user's foot, comprises a band with transverse teeth which is fixed to the skate, and a spring pawl engageable with the teeth. The pawl is carried by a U-shaped support fixed to the skate in correspondence with the band.

Abstract: The push fastener of this invention includes a plastic receptacle held by a metal member to a workpiece, the receptacle having four leaf springs for improved alignment and load carrying ability. Two inclined inner surfaces are provided on the receptacle, one for engagement by the end of the plunger and the other for engagement by the release collar. A lip at the ends of the leaf springs is received within the interior of a washer on the end of the plunger when the fastener is secured, resisting outward displacement of the ends of the leaf springs.

Abstract: Apparatus for spreading and guiding a web of textile fabric or the like being longitudinally fed, comprising a pair of web spreading and guiding devices disposed at opposite sides of the web, each device comprising a pair of rotary members rotatably supported in generally axially spaced apart and opposed relation to each other, with the axis of rotation of one of the rotary members being tilted relative to the axis of rotation of the other of the rotary members. The tilted rotary member is provided on the periphery thereof with a circular array of pushing members projecting toward the corresponding periphery of the other rotary member. As the two rotary members are rotated about their respective axes by friction with the running web held therebetween, the pushing members successively come to engage a selvage of the running web at a nipping point and disengage from the selvage at a releasing point.

Abstract: An acoustic spherical lens where in a hemispherical hole is formed from a bubble which appears owing to the expansion of residual gases in a lens material employing silica, and the hemispherical hole is used as a lens surface.

Abstract: These tools efficiently and rapidly remove a snap ring and clips by initially applying a torque thereto along the length of the flat portion of the clip or along the annular length of the ring. When such rings and clips are thus stressed to a limited degree they exhibit resilient twisting or torsion about such axis. The tools are adapted to then displace the portion of the smap ring or clip that provides a locking action on the groove to which the ring or clip was attached in a direction in part at least perpendicular to the wide flat surface of the portion of the snap ring or clip in the vicinity of that then resiliently twisted portion of the ring or clip and so move that portion of the ring that initially provided locking action on the groove therefor in a direction parallel to or along the wider initial plan or surface of the snap of the snap ring or clip surface. Such movement controllably and readily disengages the locking portion of the snap ring or clip.

Abstract: A flat strip of metal formed as an expandible wedge having an inside triangular space bounded by jaws that correspond to the beveled sides of the wedge and a rear portion that corresponds to the thick end of the wedge opposite from its apex. The apex ends of the jaws are sharpened. A shaft extends through a hole in the rear portion of the wedge and has an eccentric inside of the triangular space. The shaft has a projection that is larger than the hole and can be reciprocated for the projection to drive the wedge and can be turned for the eccentric to spread the jaws.

Abstract: An apparatus for salvaging nailed boards employed in the building of temporary board roads over marsh land. The boards have nails extending from one side thereof which must be bent flush and the boards stacked in bundles for reuse in laying a new board road. The apparatus has at its front end a set of board receiving rolls with their axes along the major axis of the machine for receiving the boards with their major axis transversely of the machine on the rolls with the nail extending upwardly. Co-extensive with the board receiving rolls for advancing the boards edgewise from the front to the rear of the machine are pivoted dog pushers. In advance of the nail bending roll there is provided a pair of barriers for maintaining a single vertical layer of boards. A pair of endless chains are positioned to engage and move boards edgewise rearwardly from the board receiving rolls through the machine.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a universal joint which involves punching a blank out of a metal sheet material, the blank having a hub member portion, edge member portions on the opposite ends of the hub member portion, and a pair of prong portions projecting from one of the side edges of the hub member portion, with a neck portion therebetween, pressing the free edges of the edge member portions to form slanted surfaces on the ends thereof and to increase the width of the blank from the original punched out size and pressing the neck portion for removing fine cracks therefrom, and bending the edge member portions against the hub member portion with the slanted surfaces facing away from the surface of the hub member portion. Then the hub member portion is bent into a cylinder with the edge member portions abutting each other and projecting from the cylinder and with the slanted surfaces substantially aligned with the inner surface of the cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus includes means that both advance wedge material stock and also substantially permanently form the stock material to precise dimensional tolerances; means by which the formed material is retained in the formed configuration thereof; wedge severing means; and means for loading severed wedges into a wedge magazine.The means for advancing and also substantially permanently forming the stock material includes a pair of pinch wheels or rollers that pinch the stock therebetween to feed wedge material. One of the wheels is driven unidirectionally through a clutch-brake system. The other wheel is supported so that it may be selectively urged toward the first wheel in order to pinch and feed wedge stock material. A toggle linkage controls the operation of the pinch wheels.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting sheet metal plates and the like includes a support table for the material to be cut. A shears frame mounts a movable shears blade and the frame is movable back and forth along one edge of the support table. In addition to the movable blade, the shears frame mounts a circular saw in spaced relation to the movable blade. The circular saw is movable on the shears frame in the up and down direction relative to the support table. Further, the cutting line of the circular saw is parallel to the cutting line of the movable blade.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor layer with a main surface and a second semiconductor layer forming a PN junction with the first semiconductor layer, the PN junction reaching the main surface. An insulating layer is formed on the main surface and has at least one window which at least exposes a part of the second semiconductor layer. A third semiconductor layer, which is the same conductivity type as the second semiconductor layer, is formed on a portion exposed in the window. A metal-semiconductor alloy layer is electrically connected to the third semiconductor layer. According to another aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing the smiconductor device uses the steps of providing a first semiconductor layer with a main surface, making a second semiconductor layer to form a PN junction reaching the main surface of the first semiconductor layer, and forming an insulating layer with at least one window exposing at least a part of the second semiconductor layer on the main surface.

Abstract: An improved self-aligned conductive gate member formed by suppressing or decreasing the size of the as-deposited grains of polysilicon and by suppressing further grain growth which may occur during a subsequent annealing or processing step. By maintaining the as-deposited grains as small as possible, the initiation of intergranular voids is minimized. This is accomplished by forming a low resistivity oxygen doped polycrystalline silicon layer in place of the conventional polysilicon.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device wherein grooves are formed between vertical type-npn transistors and insulating oxide layers are formed on the bottoms of the grooves, thereby preventing parasitic p-n junctions, which is characterized in that said grooves are formed by using as a mask a conductive pattern containing an impurity for forming an impurity region or by using as a mask an insulating film formed by the annealing of the conductive pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is fabricated using a process involving all ion implantation and using only five masks prior to metallization. A buried contact mask is used to form a buried contact layer (114), an isolation mask is used to form grooves (130a, 130b) in an epitaxial layer of silicon (113), a self-aligned transistor mask is used to form a mask (134a to 134e) to define the areas in which emitters (138a, 140b, 140c) bases (113, 139) and contact regions (140a) are to be formed, a base exclusion mask (135a,b) is provided to exclude certain impurities from being implanted into a region to be formed of one conductivity type, and a second exclusion mask (137a, 137b) is provided to exclude impurities to be implanted in a region of opposite conductivity type from the prohibited regions of the structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a dynamoelectric machine comprises the steps of manufacturing a magnetic frame of polygonal cross section by welding together at their respective ends a plurality of sides, some of which may include projections so that a required portion on each side is transected by the circumference of a circle or cylindrical plane of a radius of curvature equal to the distance between the longitudinally central axis of the dynamoelectric machine and a field device magnetic core mounting surface, of circularly machining the required portions on each internal face of the magnetic frame along the circumference of the aforementioned circle or cylindrical plane which transects the required portion on each side to form field device magnetic core mounting surfaces, of mounting field devices, either main pole field devices or interpole field devices, each comprising a magnetic core surrounded by a coil, on said field device magnetic core mounting surfaces, and of axially rotatably mounting an armature ax

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a flywheel magneto of the radial magnetic flux type for motor bicycles, motor scooters and the like, which comprises the steps of forming a sub-assembly comprised of a ring, the magnets, the pole shoes by scotching said ring on a plurality of wedges placed around a cylindrical body whereafter the pole shoes and an inner ring of a metallic nonmagnetic material are positioned and a punch rams all these component parts forcibly together. Finally, the sub-assembly so composed is surrounded by a casting of a nonmagnetic material.

Abstract: A magnetic core with reduced losses is provided along with a related improvement in the process for fabricating magnetic cores for electromagnetic devices from strips of amorphous magnetic alloys. Magnetic powder, or magnetic powder mixed with a suitable carrier, is applied to the core for filling gaps occurring between the layers of the amorphous strips.

Abstract: An improved coil insertion apparatus for inserting coils, for example, into stator cores of electrical rotary machines, in which blades and a coil pusher of the apparatus are arranged to be movable at optimum timing and speed suitable for various winding specifications of stators so as to make it possible to efficiently insert coils having low coil ends and a short circumferential length into stator cores, with simultaneous reduction of coil inserting resistance.

Abstract: Press element insertion apparatus (86) is a press-like apparatus used to insert pins (82) or sockets (82) into a cable connector (84). Clamp (104) is adapted to securely hold a pin (82) or socket (82) with a conductor attached for insertion into a cable connector (84). Clamp (104) readily releases the pin (82) or socket (82) after insertion into a cable connector (84) by operating lever operated cam (120) which releases movable jaw member (118). Internal springs (122) cause movable jaw member (118) to laterally release pin (82) or socket (82). The cable connector support (90,92) is a two-axis position guide that prevents cable connector (84) from rotating during cable fabrication while simultaneously providing two degrees of freedom that are necessary to insert pins (82) and sockets (82) in an array (86) of element insertion locations.

Abstract: An extracting tool (14 ) for extracting a keying block (12) having keying pins (13) extending outwardly therefrom from the terminal pins (11) of a backplane (10) of an interconnection system. A keying pin seizing mechanism is retained on a mounting card (27) dimensioned to fit between the rails 17 and 18 of a guide frame normally holding a circuit board. The seizing mechanism comprises a pair of adjacent vise blocks (15, 16) having aligned holes (19) to correspond to the locations of the keying pins (13). When the card (27) is fully inserted in the guide frame, the keying pins (13) of the keying block (12) pass through the aligned holes (19) of both vise blocks (15, 16). The latter blocks have opposing parallel faces (20, 21) lying at an angle to the axes of the keying pins (13).

Abstract: A method of attaching bottom stops of a generally H-shaped cross section to a slide fastener chain. One of successive spaced pairs of opposed blank tape portions of the fastener chain is spread apart. A bottom stop, which has two pairs of gripping legs, is placed between the spread pair of opposed blank tape portions. The spread pair of opposed blank tape portions is then released and thereby allowed to come toward each other until a pair of opposed blank beaded tape edges are threaded one through a space between each pair of the gripping legs of the bottom stop. Then, the blank beaded tape edges are compressed against the bottom stop on opposite sides. Finally, the gripping legs of each pair are clinched about the compressed beaded edge of a respective one of the stringer tapes. An apparatus for carrying this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wire harness manufactured by a new method and a new apparatus is provided. A covered wire paid out from a selected one of reels is extended in a predetermined lay-out and fixed. The thus fixed wire is cut-off from the reel. Then, another wire is paid out from another reel for arranging it in a juxtaposing relation to the previously laid-out wire and cut off from the reel. After repeating the above steps, the arranged wires are tied up to form a wire harness. There is also provided a device which puts the above method into practice, thereby reducing complicated assorting work involved in the manufacture of a wire harness. A method and a device for automatically uncovering end portions of each wire of the wire harness and attaching terminals thereto are also provided to greatly increasing the productivity.

Abstract: Each ceramic fiber block is temporarily supported by a supporting member and bar combination previously secured to the furnace casing, before it is finally secured to the casing by another supporting member and bar combination. No separate means for holding the block temporarily is required. As ceramic fiber blocks and supporting members are alternately attached to the casing, it is possible to ensure intimate contact between every two adjoining blocks. The absence of any extra work for holding the blocks temporarily improves the efficiency of the block installation work.

Abstract: A flexible carrier sheet has an adhesive releasing outer surface and a heat-sealable inner surface, and one or more retaining pads are die-cut from a sheet or strip of breathable foam material attached to the outer surface by pressure-sensitive adhesive. Each retaining pad covers a hole cut within the carrier sheet and supports an electrical contact assembly which projects through the hole to confine an electrical conducting gel. A flexible bottom cover sheet has an air-impervious outer surface and a heat-sealable inner surface, and the edge or border portions of the carrier sheet and bottom cover sheet are heat-sealed together to form an air-tight chamber for the gel. The carrier sheet and bottom cover sheet may also be heat-sealed together in an area extending between adjacent electrodes, and the heat-sealed area may be provided with a line of weakening to provide for convenient separation of single electrode assemblies.

Abstract: An improved method of making a retention collar (16) medially of an elongated electrical contact (10) of the type including a shoulder portion (14) and a termination portion (18), the shoulder portion (14) being formed with an axial passage (22) sized to secure several straight conductive wires (24) for mating. The individual wires are inserted into the passage and the shoulder portion then swaged (i.e., squeezed) by a pair of movable dies (36, 46) in an axial direction along the entire length of the passage so that an outer wall portion of the shoulder portion is pushed axially rearwardly and radially outwardly to thereby form the retention collar (16) and also pushed radially inwardly to thereby secure the wires within the passage.

Abstract: A disposable razor assembly has a handle portion comprising an elongate aerosol canister containing shaving foam and having a foam release valve at one end thereof; and a head portion comprising a cap removably attached to the handle portion and enclosing the valve, and a razor head mounted on the cap; the arrangement being such that the cap must be removed to allow foam to be dispensed.

Abstract: A cable stripper, including an elongated handle, a conventional single edge razor blade supported in each opposite end of the handle, one of the blades having an exposed corner of its cutting edge, while the other blade has a portion of its cutting edge inside a groove formed on the handle.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the measurement of the dimensions of footwear lasts and for determining reference directions for measurement and manufacture are described. Horizontal and vertical projection tracings are made from a master last, by a mechanical sensing-following mechanism combined with an optical projection system. Deviations from desired positions are rectified by displacing the last, in at least two directions. The location and magnitude of deviations can be marked on the last.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring the girth of compressible objects comprising a graduated tape and a one-piece tension reading member. The tension reading member is substantially planar and comprises first and second sections interconnected by a reduced cross-sectional bendable hinge portion which permits relative movement of the first and second sections in the plane of the member. The first section is secured with the tape and controlled by grasping and drawing the tape with one hand. The second section is drawn in an opposite direction by the other hand, thereby tensioning the tape and deforming the hinge portion. The tension applied to the tape is indicated by the relative positions of the first and second portions and preferably by aligned scales on each. The first portion has an arm which is extensible within a corresponding cutout in the second section. The arm has an expanded end which engages a pair of stops protruding into the cutout to revent overstressing of the hinge portion.

Abstract: A key reading apparatus having a slot for receiving a key and at least one reading pin sensing depressions or raised projections on a key. The pin has a magnetic portion movable to two different positions, each of which positions place a Hall transistor at a different energy level. The key may have at least two rows of reading points. A clock line device distinguishes successive reading positions.