Abstract: A bobbin transport apparatus and method is provided which is adapted for use with a textile yarn processing machine having a plurality of yarn winding stations along at least one side thereof. The transport apparatus includes a movable carriage having a mandrel for receiving the full bobbins from the winding station of the processing machine, and quality control means for measuring a number of physical characteristics of each full bobbin received thereon. The quality control measurements may be performed concurrently with the transport of the bobbins to a remote creel, and the measurements are fed to a computer where an immediate determination is made as to whether the measured quality characteristics fall within accepted tolerance limits. The computer may also be employed to calculate additional quality control related characteristics, such as yarn denier and bobbin wind tightness, from the directly measured characteristics.

Abstract: A novel transformer is described for use in a static inverter in association with one or two switching semiconductor devices. The transformer produces an output for control of the associated switching device(s) which changes in sense from conduction aiding to conduction inhibiting as a function of the flux level in the transformer core. The invention is applicable to single loop cores, such as are assembled from two "U" cores. Control is effected by a primary and secondary control winding wound through an aperture pair, the aperture pair being oriented for "neutrality" of the second control winding to the main flux. The aperture pair creates a five branch magnetic path which permits optimizing the control voltage applied to the associated semiconductor devices both to enhance the switching efficiency when the switching device is initially turned on and to reduce stresses on the switching device by precluding transformer saturation when the switching device is turned off.

Abstract: A neck support for use in athletic contact sports such as football, which includes a resilient, yieldable collar having at least one front support extending downwardly from the collar beneath an athlete's chin, and attached to his shoulder harness or pads. The collar intercepts the chin, and the collar and front support together prevent downward movement of the athlete's head past a predetermined position to prevent undesirable hyper-flexure of the cervical vertebrae and damage to the cervical spine, responsive to a blow or blows delivered to the athlete's head.

Abstract: Bathing trunks having substantially triangular front and rear panels joined at the corners, with said front panel being solid throughout, and said rear panel having two cut-outs leaving between them a band-like panel part of a width to cover the cleavage between a wearer's buttocks, and the cut-outs exposing the wearer's buttocks.

Abstract: An article of sportswear formed by a composite fabric which, when worn by an athlete undergoing strenuous physical activity, functions to regulate the factors giving rise to perspiration and evaporative cooling in a manner conductive to optimum performance. The composite fabric which is foraminated to afford air ventilation is composed of a hydrophobic inner layer in contact with the skin of the wearer and a hydrophilic outer layer exposed to the atmosphere. The inner layer is formed of non-absorbing fibers which act to convey perspiration away from the skin to the second layer, these fibers having a black pigmentation to absorb infrared energy emitted by the wearer. The second layer is formed of absorbent fibers functioning to absorb the perspiration conveyed thereto and to disperse this perspiration throughout the exposed surface thereof to promote evaporative cooling at a controlled rate.

Abstract: The central sections of first and second elongated string-like portions are connected by a knot. The first portion carries decorative end elements and includes first and second parts adapted to extend in opposite directions from the rear to the front of the pants to encircle the waistband in belt-like fashion. The ends of the first and second parts are tied together. The second portion is adapted to extend downwardly from the knot, between the leg portions of the pants, and upwardly along the front thereof. The second portion includes third and fourth parts adapted to be clipped onto the first and second parts, respectively, at spaced locations along the first portion on either side of the point where the first and second parts are tied or onto spaced belt loops across the front of the waistband. In a second embodiment, a fifth string-like part connects the first and second parts with the third and fourth parts.

Abstract: A weight belt which a diver can release quickly and swing free and clear of the diver's legs and gear with one hand in case of an emergency. The ends of a waist encircling piece of webbing are threaded through corresponding male and female parts of a buckle. The male part has a transversely extending hook formed at a forward end thereof. The female part has a transversely extending post at a forward end thereof and a transversely extending hook receiving cavity. The hook can be inserted into the cavity to engage and surround the post when the male and female parts of the buckle extend substantially at a right angle relative to one another. The male and female parts can thereafter be rotated so that they are in substantial longitudinal alignment and lie flat against the diver's body. The male and female parts cannot more transversely or longitudinally with respect to each other in this alignment.

Abstract: A lightweight reflective belt for runners and the like has inner and outer layers of a thin supple material secured together with a center layer of a soft spongy material sandwiched therebetween to impart body to the layered belt. Coacting fasteners are provided on the opposite ends of the belt for length-adjustably securing the opposite ends together. The outer layer of the belt has a bright reflective surface to substantially increase the wearer's visibility when the belt is worn loosely on the wearer's hips.

Abstract: A device for assisting in repair of a severed tendon comprises a main tube for insertion between a replacement tendon and its sheath, and a plurality of passages extending transversely of the bore of the main tube and communicating therewith, through which passages a blood supply from the sheath to the replacement tendon is established. The lengths of the passages are such that free movement between the tendon and its sheath is permitted after the blood supply is established.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve including a frame having a plurality of commissure supports, a plurality of resilient supports, and a plurality of valve leaflets. The valve leaflets are attached to the resilient supports, and the resilient supports lie radially outwardly of the commissure supports, respectively. When in use, the valve is subjected to forces which are used to clamp the valve leaflets between the resilient supports and the commissure supports to augment whatever other leaflet attachment techniques may be used.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint component which is comprised of a metal retainer and a plastic bearing portion which is molded integrally onto the top surface of the metal retainer. The metal retainer includes a plurality of notches spaced apart from each other around the periphery of the retainer. The notches enable the plastic, during the molding process, to flow through the notches to create a thickness of plastic completely surrounding the upper surface and the peripheral edge of the retainer (or metal base plate) and terminating in a lower plastic rim surface which is flush with the perimeter of the lower surface of the metal base plate, forming a strong mechanical interlock between the metal and plastic portions of the prosthetic joint component.

Abstract: A bassinet assembly having a trigger latch which is actuated only by acceleration acting on the restraint above a threshold level to release a bassinet and allow it to swing from its normal recumbent position to a position wherein it engages and is arrested by its base at such an angle that a child is still safely restrained in the case of an accident.

Abstract: The bed frame having a swivel bracket for headboard mounting of the instant invention provides a wide range of lateral adjustment for mounting headboards of varying sizes and types. The disclosed invention includes a Hollywood or other type bed frame having side rails. First and second plates having elongated slots are rotatably mounted eccentrically to the ends of the side rails. The plates are manually rotatable between first and second positions. In the first position, the slots extend inwardly of the side rails, and in the second position, the slots extend exteriorly of the side rails. Means are provided for limiting the rotation of the plates, for guiding the plates during rotation, and for retaining the plates in selected ones of the first and second positions.

Abstract: A composite pillow of the type including one or more elements for receiving the neck or cervical region of a person lying on the pillow and another, adjacent element for receiving the person's head or occipital region, the purpose being to support the neck and head in the position occupied when the person is errect. The neck-receiving is of greater firmness than the adjoining element. In this invention, the neck-receiving element is made up of at least two end-to-end sections, one of firmness as aforesaid and the other containing a compartment enclosing an air bag which is selectively inflatable to vary the firmness of that section relative to the remainder of the pillow, thus enabling the pillow to contribute, for example, to the solution or at least alleviation of several temporary posture abnormalities suffered by the using person.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress comprising an external envelope is provided with an internal layer of viscous, polymeric sealing material for sealing punctures in the mattress. The polymeric material can be polybutene filled with a particulate filler. The sealing material can be sandwiched between two layers of polyethylene to form an internal liner assembly that conforms generally to the shape of the external envelope of the waterbed mattress.

Abstract: An improved floatation sleep system for supporting a body. The improved floatation sleep system has a first chamber adapted to contain a liquid and a second chamber adapted to contain pressurized air. The second chamber surrounds the perimeter of the first chamber to support the marginal edges of such first chamber. The improvement comprises dividing the second chamber into mutually independent cells. A plurality of valves associated with the independent cells respectively allow the cells to be individually filled with pressurized air. As an additional aspect of this invention, a flexible, dimensionally stable, fluid impervious sheet is connected to the second chamber and extends across the bottom of the first chamber in order to capture any fluid leaking from the first chamber.

Abstract: In a process for continuously pulling a web of tows of carbonizable material under tension through an oxidizing oven, the web is introduced into the oxidizing oven by initially feeding a leader in the form of a web of heat-resistant cloth through the oven and then heating the oven if the oven is not already hot. The trailing edge of the leader which remains outside of the oven is then spliced to the leading edge of the web of carbonizable tows, and the leader is used to pull the web of carbonizable tows into and through the hot oven. Use of the heat-resistant leader greatly minimizes wastage within the web of carbonizable tows. Splicing of the trailing edge of the lead to the leading edge of the web of carbonizable tows is accomplished by taping, stitching and folding the two edges to form loops therein into which elongated rods are inserted. The two edges are then secured within a splice bar, the opposite halves of which define slots for receiving the two edges and the included rods.

Abstract: A method of carpet treating and apparatus for the dyeing of intricate patterns is provided wherein a plurality of spray nozzles are disposed in a spray line transverse to the direction of movement of a carpet. Each spray nozzle is connected to a mixing chamber where air and treating liquid preferably dye, are applied at selected pressures between 0 and 60 p.s.i. Depending on the relative pressure of the air and liquid dye, the mixture is caused to be either atomized or foamed through the spray nozzles onto the face of a moving carpet web. Each nozzle is connected to its own separate mixing chamber the input of which are controlled through a corresponding control valve which turns on and off the spray nozzle by opening and closing a corresponding gas valve and corresponding dye valve.

Abstract: A textile sheet strand is dyed by conducting it in at least two separate passes around an annular path having a first path section in a dye vat and a section path section in a gas-treatment location. In the dye vat the strand is contacted with a liquid dye bath in each of the paths, and the excess dye is squeezed out of at least two of the passes at the same time by pinch rollers immediately downstream of the dye vat. In the gas-treatment location the passes of the strand are each treated with a gas to fix the dye.

Abstract: A method of, and wire machine for, washing stock suspensions is disclosed wherein a cylinder having a solid smooth surface is encircled along a portion of its circumference by an endless wire or filter band. The stock suspension which is to be dewatered is infed between the solid cylinder and the wire by means of a flat jet nozzle. After throughflow of the stock suspension between the cylinder and the wire the dewatered fiber material is removed from the wire and the cylinder, respectively, collected in a collecting container and delivered for further processing.

Abstract: A novel friction nut having friction material substantially filling the interior thread groove from end to end except for substantially less than a full convolution at one or both ends, in which the thickness of the deposit of friction material does not substantially exceed the normal thread clearance with a mating part. The method for producing the nut comprises filling the thread groove from end to end and then displacing and shaping the deposit in the end of the thread groove to provide for ready initial threaded engagement with a mating part by inserting and rotating the end of a threaded tool conforming to the threaded tool conforming to the threaded end of a mating part, and limiting threaded advance of the tool into the nut to about one-half of a full turn.

Abstract: A dockboard to be attached to the front of a loading dock. The dockboard includes a deck plate, the side edges of which are pivotally connected to guide bars that are movable vertically within guideways formed in the upper portion of a rectangular frame. The frame is mounted for vertical movement within guides mounted on the front face of the loading dock, and the frame and deck plate are partially counterbalanced to an upper position by a counterweight mechanism that is connected to the frame through a synchronized chain drive. The deck plate is stored in a vertical position below deck level and, in use, is lifted to a raised position above dock level, pivoted to a substantially horizontal position and then lowered into engagement with the bed of a carrier located in front of the dock.

Abstract: A claw retaining clip for a windshield wiper structure including a relatively rigid base with a locking post extending from one side thereof. A pair of relatively resilient fingers extend in generally parallel relation from the base and each terminates in a hook-like element receivable in grooves in a flexor of a blade. The fingers are provided with cam surfaces which may be engaged by a claw of a pressure applying superstructure to cam the fingers apart so as to allow the claw to enter a claw receiving recess formed intermediate the ends of the fingers in which movement of the claw is restrained. Projections carried by the fingers along with the hook-like elements and the post cooperate together to provide for positive retention of the retaining clip at a desired location on a flexor.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning the so-called anode bars of electrodes re-cycled for use in electrolytic smelting comprises a frame with upstanding columns supporting a raisable and lowerable carriage. A table is displaceably supported between the columns on the carriage and a pair of depending swinging arms beneath the table support rotatable cleaning brushes which selectively engage on a bar to be cleaned. The brushes rotate inside extractor cowls from which air is sucked to withdraw dust and particles removed during cleaning. The cowls are urged with springs against the bar to be cleaned independently of the brushes to maintain the cowls in a set position regardless of any wear suffered by the brushes.

Abstract: A self-locking hinge is disclosed for pivotally attaching a door to a frame member. The hinge includes first and second hinge members which are pivotally joined together by a pin. A socket is formed in the first hinge member which is designed to receive a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism has at least one tooth formed on its lower surface which will engage a complimentary notch formed on the upper surface of the second hinge member upon rotation of the first hinge member relative to the second hinge member. The tooth and notch are so configured as to permit rotation of the first hinge member in one direction but will prevent its rotation in an opposite direction once the tooth has engaged the notch. A spring is positioned located within the socket of the first hinge member so as to bias the detent downward towards the second hinge member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for producing a synthetic multifilament yarn having the appearance, bulk and hand characteristics normally associated with spun yarns of staple fibers. The yarn is air jet textured to form loops, coils, bows and the like in the filaments, and at least some of the projecting loops, coils, and bows are enlarged or parted by advancing and looping the yarn around one or more rotating rollers, such that the portion of the yarn running onto the roller overlaps and contacts the portion of the yarn leaving the roller and thereby clampingly engages the projecting loops, coils, bows and the like of the leaving yarn portion. The efficiency of the process may be controlled by varying the number of rollers, as well as the yarn tension during the parting operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for separating clumps of resilient fibers such as aramid polymer fiber agglomerates. Rotating blades throw the fiber clumps outwardly against a surrounding resilient "cushion" of fibers of the material. Rather than physically cutting or chopping the fibers, the blade tips exert a rubbing or dissecting action on the clumps. The separated fibers are swept to an outlet by an airstream, while unseparated fibers in the cushion are urged toward the blades for further separation. It is an important advantage of the invention that the average length of the fibers is not substantially reduced as the clumps are being separated by the blades.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a sliver from a web of fibres leaving the upper part of a horizontally extending delivery roller (2) of a cotton type carding machine. The web is delivered downwardly from the upper part of the delivery roller into proximity with a surface of power driven selvedge support means, in one embodiment conveyors (9 and 10). The surface of the selvedge support means moves at a level below the upper part of the delivery roller in a direction that is generally longitudinal to the delivery roller and into a sliver-forming nip (15). The downwardly travelling web passes through the nip and tension is applied to the web by the action of the nip. The sliver is delivered from the nip (15) and may pass directly to calender rolls (27) immediately downstream of the nip. If parts of the web should break, the selvedge support means will guide these back into the nip to regain normal running.

Abstract: A disposable one-piece security sealing device primarily intended to surround the neck of a bag or like package comprises a strap (1) having an enclosure (3) at one end defining a passage (4) through which the other end of the strap is irremovably insertable to an adjustable extent as a result of interaction between a plurality of teeth spaced in a row along the strap with a resiliently deformable member (4b) which is integral with the housing and situated at or adjacent a bend (4a) in the passage; characteristically an identity or pull-off tab (6) is formed as an extension of the strap around and beyond the enclosure for tearing when required along a line of weakness which extends round the enclosure (3) and terminates in a side edge of the strap. By tearing along that line the end of the strap having the tab (6) is separated from the enclosure (3). There may be two rows of teeth on the strap and the enclosure would then have a passage formed with two channels to accommodate the respective rows of teeth.

Abstract: A clutch for post earrings is disclosed. The clutch comprises a housing which is open at one end thereof and has an aperture therethrough in the opposite end thereof, a cap member which is received on the open end of the housing and also has an aperture therethrough, and a pair of resilient leaves which extend inwardly in the housing from the cap member in integral relation therewith and in converging relation with respect to each other, the leaves preferably meeting in substantially face-to-face relation at a point spaced from the cap member. The clutch is receivable on a post earring so that the post of the earring extends through the aperture in the cap member, between the face-to-face portions of the leaves and through the aperture in the housing. The leaves of the clutch are operative to resiliently embrace the post to retain it in the clutch for releasably securing the clutch on the earring.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure transducer is disclosed in which a sensing diaphragm bearing an electrode is mounted to flex in response to applied fluid pressure relative to a reference member having an opposed electrode. A thin film or layer of dielectric material such as glass covers the reference member electrode and has formed therein a concavity matching the flexed curvature of the sensing diaphragm at its limit position. The dielectric layer has a high compressive strength and substantially enhances linearity by providing a substantially higher capacitance than the equivalent fluid-filled space. The transducer is retained within a transducer assembly under compressive preload, the assembly further including thermal strain relief means. Also disclosed are methods of making the transducer, which methods include thick film screen deposition techniques for forming concavities having preselected contours in the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cantilevered composite structure plate for double floors, decks, roofs or the like, with a trough serving as outside reinforcement and made of a material with high tensile strength and high elasticity module, preferably sheet steel, and a filler material of low tensile strength and low elasticity module, e.g., anhydrite or concrete, placed in the hollow of the trough, and also with an armature in the trough floor, preferably in the form of funnel-shaped holes. The trough is formed with masses of the strong material being provided on the bottom of the trough floor in the form of substantially parallel, downwardly extending, flex-resistant rods that are disposed in substantially perpendicular relation to the trough floor.

Abstract: A coolable rotor blade 14 for an axial flow rotary machine and a method for making the rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade includes a spar 38 and a shell 34 for defining the airfoil surface of the rotor blade. A platform 36 extends over the shell and the spar. The spar has a root 42 and an airfoil section 40. The shell is spaced from the spar and is joined to the airfoil section of the spar for defining cooling passages in the blade. The shell and the platform are each attached to the spar for support against rotational force. The method includes the steps of joining a shell to the airfoil section of the spar which extends over a portion of a projection 139 on the spar and forming a platform about the spar and the shell such that the platform is attached to the spar and extends over the projection and a portion of the shell. In one embodiment, the spar is formed of a first material, the shell of a second material, and the platform a third material.

Abstract: A hand held tool for installing compression rings includes a pair of relatively reciprocable coaxial cylindrical independently spring biased elements housed within a cylindrical handle which includes mode control means automatically preconditioned for enabling the tool to perform either an installation or ejection operation. The mode control means includes a cylindrical radial cavity containing plural spring biased spherical ball detents and extends into corresponding portion of the outer reciprocable element. The positioning of a tapered central section of the inner reciprocable element coincides with the cavity so that one of the spherical ball detents normally sits within a hollow defined by the taper. When one spherical ball detent, in response to the mode control means being preconditioned by depressing a front end or shaft portion of the inner element, is positioned to lock the outer member to the handle, this allows the ring to be installed onto the cam shaped front end of the outer element.

Abstract: A pipe tool for assembly pipe particularly the type having a collar or fitting containing a seal which must be brought into engagement with the free end of the next section or joint. The tool includes a first pipe engaging member having a collar engageable about the pipe in abutment with a collar of a pipe section in place. A winch and cable are attachable to a second pipe tool engageable at the free end of the section or joint to be placed. Actuation of the winch will bring the section into sealing engagement with the collar. The yoke and collar of the second tool are also pivotable to provide an additional joining force. A bearing plate is securable at the collar of the second pipe engaging tool to abut the end of the pipe section and when removed permits the collar to engage the exterior of the pipe abutting a fitting on the pipe.

Abstract: The invention provides a tool for disconnecting a guideline connector hooked in a sleeve forming the extension of a guide column of an underwater station, by means of retractable locking heads housed in a bore in the body of the connector.It comprises a re-entry cone, whose upper cylindrical part 1, adapted to cap the top of the connector having helical ramps, comprises swivel pins to cooperate with said ramps and is connected to a widened cylindrical part 4, ending in an upturned funnel 5, by a truncated cone-shaped part 3, with which are associated valve means 18 for controlling hydraulic cylinders 14 and 14a responsive to the pressure exerted by the body of the connector, when the re-entry cone rests on the connector, as well as two hydraulic cylinders 14 and 14a and hydro-pneumatic accumulator 12, mounted outside the cone.

Abstract: A carpenter's level holding device and method for plumbing a wall partition is disclosed, characterized by use of a bracket to hold a conventional carpenter's level to removably attach and self-register the level on a wall partition and a method providing for the positioning, plumbing, and securing of a wall partition by a single user. The bracket includes a first portion adapted to mount one end of the level and a second portion formed to be selectively rested upon the top of a wall partition to thereby hold the carpenter's level securely against and parallel to the vertical timbers of the wall partition with the bracket maintaining the carpenter's level in position upon the wall partition, an individual user has both hands free to properly plumb and temporarily secure the wall partition in place.

Abstract: The following specification discloses the use of a nickel titanium alloy component referred to as Nitinol for purposes of providing a pre-stressed structure. The alloy component provides stiffness to shell structures and tubular members such as oil well pipes, and conduits, as well as pre-stressed loadings for head bolts on engines or other pre-stressed fasteners. Pre-stressing is accomplished by deforming the Nitinol component below its transformation temperature which can be a cryogenic temperature, after which the Nitinol component returns by its memory to a desired shape for pre-stressing. The foregoing develops a large pre-load on a structural joint, so that successful design applications of Nitinol can pre-load joints with minimum load path offset for a shell or other structure. This minimizes in-plane local moments, as well as eccentric loading, and provides joints of lower weight and less internal volume protrusion.

Abstract: A machine for making conductors of sections of a winding of electrical machine and for laying these conductors into the slots of an electrical machine comprises the following units arranged in an assembly line: an unreeling device, straightening rollers, a wire feed mechanism, a device for stripping portions of the wire, a cut-off device, a receiving tray, a mechanism for setting and turning the armature of the electrical machine, and a mechanism for insertion and lay-out of the wires in the slots of the armature and commutator of the electrical machine. The mechanism for setting and turning the armature of the electrical machine is made in the form of centers provided with a ratchet gear. The mechanism for insertion and lay-out of the wires of the winding of the slots of the armature and commutator is made in the form of a rotary disc with a slot and two pushers.

Abstract: Dielectrically isolated single crystal silicon of high quality is produced by an extremely convenient process. This process involves the fusing of two silicon bodies where at least one of these bodies has a region of silicon oxide. The bodies are contacted so that the silicon oxide is at an interface between the two bodies. The bodies are then heated to an elevated temperature while applying a nominal electrical potential across the interface. This combination of applied potential and temperature permanently fuses the two bodies without producing any significant damage to the crystal quality of these bodies.

Abstract: A method for stripping an organic photoresist layer from a semiconductor device comprises oxidation of the photoresist layer with oxygen plasma and subsequent removal of residual sulfur species using a fluorine-containing plasma.

Abstract: A stabilized super-conductor of the type containing a super-conductive region consisting of an intermetallic compound containing at least two elements, such as Nb.sub.

Abstract: The magnet insertion apparatus includes a first passageway along which magnets are fed. Arranged in communication with the first passageway, and at right angles to it, is a second passageway. A transport blade, reciprocably mounted in the second passageway, displaces the leading magnet to a position in a third passageway disposed parallel to and offset from the first passageway. A drive rod, reciprocably mounted in the third passageway pushes the magnet into a stylus arm held in alignment with the third passageway. According to a further aspect of the invention, the third passageway is provided with a guideway for accurately guiding the magnets. The insertion machine is additionally equipped with a reciprocably-mounted tucking element to tuck the magnets into the guideway.

Abstract: A machine for automatically placing chips or similar micro-electronic components on a substrate carried on an X-Y type table, the machine having means to supply components, means to convey the components, means to transfer the components from the supply source to the conveyor, the conveyor transporting the components to a placement head located above the substrate to place the component on the substrate. The machine can also include a station for applying an adhesive or similar means on the substrate to adhere the component on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for consistently handling, inserting, and driving wire pins of reduced cross-section into circuit board holes and the like while retaining control of the pins and avoiding breakage of the apparatus due to constraints imposed thereon by such reduced cross-section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dual headed razor system having a handle supporting a pair of separately detachable razor heads respectively useful in shaving forwardly and rearwardly in to and fro strokes. The identical razor heads are usable interchangeably and are telescopically supported crosswise of the handle.

Abstract: A razor blade assembly, in the form of a razor or shaving unit, comprises a top cap 114, a razor blade 113 fixed relative to the top cap, and a guardbar 115 which is pivotally movable relative to the blade from a shaving position, in which the blade is exposed for shaving, to a protecting position in which the guardbar prevents contact between the cutting edge of blade 113 and a user of the razor. The guardbar can be formed integrally with a platform 112 on which a second blade 123 is secured, or the second blade 123 could be secured to the top cap. In either case the guardbar and platform will pivot between the shaving position and the protecting position, and in latter position both blades will be protected.

Abstract: A pocketknife provided with a cutting blade and a sharpening blade wherein the two blades are sheathed within the handle and are pivotally movable from sheathed to extended positions characterized in that the sharpening blade, when extended, can be removed to enable its use for sharpening of the knife blade, but, when sheathed, is captured within the handle.

Abstract: A cutter for wall papers comprises a triangular grip and a sheath embedded therein for slidably holding a cutting blade. According to the invention, a base of the triangular grip defines a slide edge extending at an acute angle with the cutting blade and having a V-shaped cross-section symmetrical with respect to a plane containing a cutting edge of the cutting blade, thereby uniformly trimming edges of the papers extending on a baseboard without requiring rulers to obtain aesthetical workmanship of interior finish work in buildings.

Abstract: A tool is provided which incorporates a ring gauge into which the external tapered threads of a pipe are screwed by hand until tight, at which time a mechanical impulse of predetermined, consistent amplitude and duration is applied to the pipe-gauge combination from a hammer portion of the tool propelled, by rapidly-released spring energy against an anvil portion of the tool, the impulse being immediately coupled to the joint between the pipe threads being checked and the ring gauge, for overcoming any dirt or nicks in the thread which are restricting the engagement of the thread by the ring gauge.