Abstract: A novelty pillow comprising a pillow base structure, a front surface and a back surface, at least one slit opening in at least one surface, a cavity recessed in the base structure below the slit, at least one phallic member extendable from the cavity out through the slit and indicia for conveying predetermined messages.

Abstract: The invention provides an exemplary support pillow and methods for its use. In an exemplary embodiment, a support pillow includes a resilient cushion body and an attachment member that is removably attached about the cushion body. The attachment member has at least one connector which is adapted to hold an article near the cushion body.

Abstract: A system of padded covers that are attached to adjustable split bed rails, and which are pivotally engageable so that the bed rails may be adjusted with a bed without having to remove or reposition the bed rail covers. The bed rail cover system includes a pair of upper covers, which are mirror images of each other, so that they fit on the upper bed rails adjacent the head of the bed on both sides, as well as another mirror image pair of lower covers fitted over lower bed rails adjacent the foot of the bed on both sides. Each upper cover includes two sides having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end refers to the portion of the cover toward the head of the bed, and the lower end refers to the portion of the cover toward the foot of the bed. The lower covers each include a pair of longitudinal sides that form a slot therebetween, at an upper end. The lower end of the upper cover slides into the slot formed between the longitudinal sides of the lower cover.

Abstract: A pressure adjustable, anatomically contoured mattress includes an elongate body supporting member that has a resilient, air pressure adjustable, self-inflating foam core and a flexible covering that encloses the core. The body supporting member further includes a contoured recess formed in an upper surface of the body supporting member and extending laterally relative thereto. The recess accommodates the breasts of the female user lying face down on the body supporting member. The recess also accommodates the shoulder of a user lying sideways on the mattress. One or more valves are connected communicably to the core and extend through the covering. The valves are opened to exhaust air from and at least partially collapse the core and, alternatively, to allow a core that is at least partially collapsed, to draw in air and expand. The valves are closed for maintaining a selected air pressure within the core.

Abstract: A foldable multi-purpose tool includes a pair of jaws and a pair of folding handles, with one or both of the handles configured to receive removable cartridges. In the extended position, the handles operate the jaws. Each removable cartridge contains a number of relatively small tool blades that are preferably selected by functional categories. Various cartridge hold-down and removal mechanisms are also provided.

Abstract: A clothes load estimation method for a clothes washer, and a washing machine having a controller for controlling at least one operating condition for a clothes washer, are provided, in which a value of an inertia (I.sub.c) of the clothes load is determined in accordance with a relationship to a sensed basket acceleration (.alpha..sub.o) and a sensed motor phase angle (.phi..sub.m). The relationship is based on and derived from a dynamic modeling of a motor/inner clutch subsystem, an outer clutch, subsystem, a belt subsystem, and a washer basket/clothes load subsystem. The method and apparatus require only low cost motor phase sensors and either velocity or position sensors in controlling the washer operating condition.

Abstract: A bendable, unicast pig formed of polyurethane is disclosed. It has symmetrical front and rear end discs, seal discs there between and can wipe paraffin from a pipe. The body is devoid of intermediate discs to bend about 15.degree. or more.

Abstract: A floor wiper construction 10 for cleaning a floor surface and including a slipper member 20 having a sole portion 22 provided with compressible cleaning material 31 and a plurality of friction members 40 which will project through the compressible clearing material 31 when the user places their weight on the slipper member 20 to prevent the user's foot from sliding on the floor surface.

Abstract: A bath ball is formed from multiple layers of superposed elastic nets woven out of artificial fibers. The elastic nets are axially compressed to produce a corrugated ring that is tightened at two diametrically opposite points with fastening means, such that outer peripheries of the corrugated ring automatically widely spread to form a loosely ruffled spherical body. The multiple layers of elastic nets have numerous overlapped meshes that define numerous small angular spaces to enable the bath ball formed from the elastic nets to produce more bubbles from reduced amount of cleansing product.

Abstract: A wiper arm for a vehicle windshield includes an arm head to be rotatably connected to a driving motor mounted in a vehicle, a spring member, a retainer pressed against the windshield by the spring member, a wiper blade supported by the retainer. The retainer has a channeled structure tapering to the wiper blade and is composed of an upper wall, a first side wall extending from one side of the upper wall, a second side wall extending from the other side of the upper wall to be located at a downstream side on the windshield relative to the first side wall and an open side disposed opposite the upper wall to face the windshield. The first side wall has a larger height from the upper wall than the second side wall.

Abstract: Replacement wiper blades are disclosed which adhere directly to the surface of a pre-existing wiper blade and which have advantageous physical properties. Wiper blades according to the invention are simple to install and may be adapted for use in any vehicle and on front or rear windshields or headlights.

Abstract: A windshield wiper includes a wiper bridge pivotally connected with at least two claw units for mounting a flexor thereto for engaging a wiping blade. However, the flexor and the two claw units define a receiving housing therebetween for storing an additional wiping blade for selectively replacing the wiping blade. Whereby, the user may simply pull out the additional wiping blade and replace the wiping blade by engaging the additional wiping blade with an holding groove of the flexor, and that the replaced wiping blade can also be stored in the receiving housing.

Abstract: A cylinder cleaning device for use with a cleaning fabric supply element having an outer surface comprises a frame and a receiving and supporting member connected to the frame for supporting the outer surface of the cleaning fabric supply element.

Abstract: A removable suction nozzle inlet adapter is taught for converting the suction inlet of a vacuuming nozzle from a straight line inlet to one having either a convex or concave suction inlet whereby curved carpet and/or upholstery surfaces may be vacuumed. The adapters are particularly useful for use with hand held hot water extractor nozzles upon the curved carpet surface between the step and risers of carpeted stairs and/or the curved carpet transition from the riser to the horizontal step. Further, the invention described and taught may be used to vacuum curved upholstery or carpet surfaces found in the typical household and/or automobile.

Abstract: An elongate, plastic housing has formed on the upper surface thereof two, spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending grooves the first of which has slidably positioned therein an elongate, metal, tackless carpet securing strip the opposed side edges of which extend slidably beneath elongate flanges that project from opposite sides of the first groove. Nails or the like are employed to secure the strips and the underlying portion of the housing to a floor, with the second groove facing upwardly to accommodate and secure therein the integral rib section of a conventional threshold insert. In a second embodiment a third groove is formed on the surface of the housing slidably to accommodate a second tackless carpet securing strip adjacent the side of the second groove remote from the first groove.

Abstract: A bearing caster for resting heavy objects thereon for permitting easy movement of the object. The inventive device includes a body with a pad provided on the top of the body. A plurality of rolling balls are rotationally mounted to the bottom (14) of the base to permit free rotation of the rolling balls.

Abstract: A handle for a compact tool which includes two handles and each of the handles has a tool member pivotally connected thereto. Each handle includes a connecting plate from which an operation end longitudinally extends, and two side walls bent downwardly from two respective opposite sides thereof. Each of the side walls has an engaging end extending longitudinally beyond the operation end and a tool member is pivotally connected between the two engaging ends. Two recesses are defined respectively between each of the engaging end and the operation end.

Abstract: An improved hinge assembly is disclosed that is particularly apt for use with deployable trusses utilized on satellites and other spacecraft. In one arrangement, the inventive hinge assembly comprises a tapered roller bearing assembly having tapered rollers angled towards a hinge axis, and a needle roller thrust bearing assembly positioned radially about at least a portion of the tapered roller bearing assembly to yield a compact and lightweight bearing arrangement, while providing satisfactory radial and axial loading bearing characteristics. An axial preload assembly may also be employed with the roller bearing assemblies in the invention to yield enhanced hinge stiffness and repeatability benefits. Such characteristics are of particular importance with deployable spacecraft truss assemblies for supporting instrumentation during orbit. An additional needle roller bearing assembly may be included at an axially spaced position from the tapered roller bearing assembly to provide overload protection (e.g.

Abstract: A spring-hinged actuator has a first attachment member (1) joined pivotally to a second attachment member (2) with a hinge (3). The first attachment member and the second attachment member are spring-tensioned pivotally on the hinge with at least one torsional spring (4, 5) fastened to the first attachment member. At least one base torsional extension (6, 8) of the torsional spring is positioned to direct base torsional-spring pressure against the first attachment member in a first rotational direction and to direct torsionally rotative spring pressure in an oppositely second rotational direction against the second attachment member. The first attachment member and the second attachment member have sides at a dihedral angle proximate an axis of the hinge. The dihedral angle is maintained in opposition to opposite-directionally rotative pressure from the torsional spring by a releasable tensioner (14) that is extended intermediate the first attachment member and the second attachment member.

Abstract: A hinge assembly normally limits pivotal movement of a door within a first range and selectively permits pivotal movement of the door within a second, larger range. The hinge assembly includes a body hinge member fixedly attached to a frame and a door hinge member fixedly attached to the associated door. The body hinge member and the door hinge member are pivotally interconnected. The hinge assembly further includes a latch mechanism which normally limits pivotal movement of the door within the first range. Manual urging of the latch member to a release position selectively permits the door to be pivoted beyond the first range. The latching member is operable to automatically return to its latched position in response to closing of the door.

Abstract: To provide a tilt hinge capable of obtaining a great frictional torque despite of its small size and insuring a clip stop, the present invention comprises a bracket to be mounted on the body side of the equipment, a rotating shaft designed to be mounted to the end of an opening-closing body which is rotatably mounted on a bearing section of the bracket, a friction washer mounted between the large-diameter portion of the rotating shaft and the bearing section and/or on the other side face of the bearing section with the rotating shaft inserted into the central part, and an elastic means mounted with the rotating shaft inserted in the central part to press the friction washer against the large-diameter portion and/or the bearing section; and a click stop means is provided between the rotating shaft and the bracket.

Abstract: After a release, a screwed connection of a hinge bracket for a vehicle door is to be returned into a precisely preadjusted condition. For this purpose, an alignable thread plate is fixed by an additional fixing screw in an adjusted position in the part to which the hinge bracket is to be screwed. As a result, a released screwed connection of a hinge flange is restored in a simple and secure manner.

Abstract: A multi-faceted cleaner for a cotton gin includes a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and an upper and lower portion. Disposed proximate to the upper portion of the casing is a separator that controls the air flow through the casing. The flow of air through the casing allows for the natural separation of the seed cotton as it enters the casing through the inlet. The seed cotton naturally separates into high density and low density seed cotton, where the low density seed cotton typically remains in the air flow and travels to the outlet and the high density seed cotton descends to a rotating spiked cylinder positioned proximate to the lower portion of the casing. Once received by the spiked cylinder, the seed cotton is cleaned by the interaction of the rotating cylinder and a grid. Positioned substantially beneath each cylinder is a saddle configured to house the grid. The configuration of the saddle and the grid permits the removal and insertion of the grid in the saddle.

Abstract: A clip is provided for releasably securing an article of personal use, the article having a stud with a head spaced from the article. The clip includes a base connectable to a strap and a spring member biased against the base. The base includes a recess hole adapted to receive the stud head. The spring member includes a slot therein extending to an end substantially aligned with the recess hole, with the aligned end of the slot having a first width less than a diameter of the stud head.

Abstract: A wrist-mounted tag holder is provided including a plurality of clothing tags and a wrist mount removably secured on a wrist of a user. A hook is connected to the wrist mount for coupling with the tags.

Abstract: A hose clamp is provided with a pair of radially outward bent terminal ends which are squeezable towards each other to expand the clamp. One of the terminal ends is provided with a projecting tongue which cooperates with the other terminal end to function as a stop member as well as an interlocking assembly. The interlocking assembly maintains the clamp in an expanded state while the stop member prevents the clamp from over expansion thereby maintaining its structural integrity.

Abstract: An adjustable strap is comprised of an elastic band generally folded in half with one section slightly longer than the other. The end of longer section is folded back over the shorter section and stitched to the end of the shorter section and an adjacent portion of the longer section. An elongated small loop and an elongated large loop are formed on opposite sides of the stitching. A D-ring is connected to the small loop, and a clip hook is hinged to the D-ring for clipping to a supporting structure. The lateral sections of the large loop are both threaded through at least two slots in a buckle, which is slidable along the large loop to divide it into two variable-size storage loops for strapping and holding items. The buckle is slidable for changing the sizes of the storage loops for tightening around the items. A triangular ring is connected to the storage loop farther away from the clip hook. The strap may be wrapped around a supporting structure by clipping the triangular ring to the clip hook.

Abstract: A loadable cord lock comprising an outer telescoping member and an inner telescoping member slidable within the outer telescoping member, each telescoping member having an aperture extending therethrough. The inner and outer members are biased against each other so that the apertures are not aligned, to pinch a cord threaded through the apertures. There is at least one leg having an L-shaped free end attached to the inner telescoping member and extending into the interior cavity of the outer telescoping member. There is at least one leg retainer located within the outer telescoping member to lock the inner telescoping member into first and second locking positions. In the first locking position, the apertures on the inner and outer telescoping members are aligned for feeding a cord therethrough, and in the second locking position, the apertures are not aligned to pinch the cord.

Abstract: A waist-belt and buckle assembly for mounting a pack on a person, preferably on a back side portion of a human torso, having two strap portions extendable forwardly from each side portion of the pack toward a front side portion of the person where the four strap portions are fastenable, for example with a buckle, and preferably with a buckle having substantially discrete accommodations for each strap portion. The strap portions are independently adjustable, and are loosenable independently without loosening other strap portions, preferably by moving a corner portion of the buckle away from the torso.

Abstract: A laundry holder having a length of nylon webbing, with its ends joined with a side release buckle fastener. A sock snare, comprising a loop of nylon cording, is secured to the nylon webbing in depending relation thereto. The nylon cording is threaded through a releasable cordlock fastener. The cordlock fastener is used to adjust the size of the sock snare loop.

Abstract: A combined shower curtain and liner construction held together by hook and loop strips, wherein the liner sheet is attached below the hook apertures of the shower curtain sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stenter for a textile material web with two chain conveyors mounted to be pivotable in a scissor-like manner in the feeding section of the machine. The chains extend in the chain conveyors and have gripping means for grasping the material web edges. The free wings or webs of the pivotable chain conveyors are mounted to be movable on a horizontal support by carrier wheels. At least one carrier wheel is in the form of a driven friction wheel, and a drive motor is directly associated with the carrier wheel.

Abstract: A jewelry setting for accommodating a plurality of different size stones is provided. The jewelry setting includes a plurality of prongs each angularly directed from a substantially common location such that any of a number of different size stones may be set within the prongs without adjusting the angular direction of any of the prongs.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer array, and a method for manufacturing it, having a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis in an imaging plane. Each transducer element includes a piezoelectric layer and one or more acoustic matching layers. The piezoelectric layer has a concave front surface overlayed by a front electrode and a rear surface overlayed by a rear electrode. The shape of each transducer element is selected such that it is mechanically focused into the imaging plane. A backing support holds the plurality of transducer elements in a predetermined relationship along the array axis such that each element is mechanically focused in the imaging plane.

Abstract: A tool for installing a seal on a flange in a motor vehicle or the like comprises a generally cylindrical housing; a depressible actuator button extending outwardly from the surface of the housing; a sleeve surrounding the housing in rotatable engagement therewith; and a shoulder within the sleeve for engaging the actuator button when the sleeve is moved longitudinally with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A tool which has the capability of removing the nut from both large and small nut plate assemblies, the tool also including a portion for installing a nut into the plate assembly cage. The tool comprises a handle having a removal nose portion at one end and a threaded shaft portion for receiving a reinstallation socket at the other end. In a preferred embodiment, the portion of the handle incorporating the removal nose portion is angled with respect to the remaining portion of the handle. The reinstallation socket has a threaded aperture for receiving the thread shaft portion, therefor securing the socket to the tool. The nose portion has an upper jaw portion separated from a lower jaw portion by an opening. The upper jaw portion is used to pry open the nut plate cage and the lower jaw portion pushes and lifts the nut from the cage. The space between the two jaw portions enables a pivoting action around the pried open cage wall.

Abstract: A tool block holds an integrated lead suspension during assembly. The tool block has a number of features for precisely positioning the integrated lead suspension while transducer heads are being mechanically and electrically connected to it. The most critical feature is a movable datum clamping pin which is positioned to precisely engage a mount plate on the integrated lead suspension. Other features of the tool block include a platform support, a locating hole, a platform clamp and a pivot arm.

Abstract: A method of mounting a suspension bumper (10) in a motor vehicle providing a high degree of manufacturing confidence. The method includes inserting a first end (54) of an installation tool (50) in a blind bore (20) of the suspension bumper; aligning a retaining tip (40) with an aperture (44) in the vehicle; applying an insertion force (60) on the suspension bumper to compress the retaining tip through the aperture and allow a retaining groove (48) to engage a periphery (49) of the aperture; and applying a withdrawal force in a direction opposite from the insertion force sufficient to remove the installation tool from the suspension bumper, the withdrawal force being smaller in magnitude than a force required to disengage the retaining groove from the periphery.

Abstract: A method of operating a roll stand arrangement including one or more edging/roughing stands followed by a compact rolling group arranged transversely offset relative to the edging/roughing stands and connected to the edging/roughing stands through connecting roller conveyors and a transverse conveying unit. The compact rolling group is composed of first and second universal stands or two-high stands and an intermediate edging stand arranged between the first and second stands. In accordance with a predetermined cycle, preliminary sections arriving from a continuous casting plant are supplied directly without intermediate storage to the roll stand arrangement and are finish rolled successively in the compact rolling group into profiled rolled strands and are supplied, before or while the next following preliminary section enters the compact rolling group, to a cooling bed arranged laterally of the rolling line.

Abstract: A spinning ring for a ring spinning machine is produced by clamping and pressing a ring-like steel blank by a mandrel and a forming roll, pressing and deforming the blank by cold rolling, causing the blank to fluidize in, and fill, the gap between both machining surfaces of the forming roll and the mandrel, and rolling the blank in the direction of thickness and so expanding its diameter into a predetermined size. To prevent crack, a ring-like blank whose portion having a large machining quantity is in advance machined to a smaller thickness by machining means such as forging, cutting and rolling is preferably used. Since this production method does not essentially remove the material, the yield of the material is high, and because the number of production steps is less, the production cost can be reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a superconductor billet, in which superconductor billet there are used superconductor rods with a circular cross-section, and which superconductor billet can be extruded into a superconductor in a single-step extrusion process. According to the invention, the superconductor billet (12) is formed of interconnected blocks (1), into which blocks there are packed monofilament superconductor rods (5) with a circular cross-section.

Abstract: A method for forming electrical wires into flat coils for use in inductive devices wherein a rapid setting cement is used to maintain the wound wires prior to encapsulation thereof.

Abstract: A ring transformer having a core, at least one winding and at least two flanges, and a rotor plate packet having at least one winding is arranged on a rotor shaft before the winding process. A coil body having at least two wind-on connectors is arranged on the transformer core. The wind-on connectors are offset relative to one another and a section of wind-on connectors radially projects outside the circumferential contour of the ring transformer. The winding wire ends of the transformer winding are secured to the wind-on connectors during the winding of the synchro system. The section of the wind-on connectors projecting outside the circumference of the ring transformer is subsequently removed. In this way, the iron parts of the rotor winding and of the ring transformer can be mounted in advance on the rotor shaft and all windings can be continuously wound in one work process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mounting an electrical connector on a printed wiring board. The printed wiring board is initially positioned on locating projections on a tooling plate. Eyelets are positioned in hold down apertures in the connector. The hold down apertures initially engage the locating projections to align the connector pins with pin receiving apertures on the printed wiring board. Engagement continues until the pins are positioned in the apertures and the lower end of the eyelet is deformed to engage the innerside of the down aperture and the lower side of the printed wiring board.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically connecting prepared wires to a connector (plug or socket) is described. The prepared wires have a terminal on at least one end. A connector holder is provided for holding the connector in position. A chuck is provided for taking a prepared wire from a storage case. The wire is transferred to a rotator for correcting the rotational angle of the wire and its associated terminal. The wire is gripped by another chuck, which inserts it into the connector.

Abstract: A wire harness distributing method in which a wire harness is easily distributed with the aid of a trimming plate which is mounted to a wall surface such as a vehicle body panel, and once the trimming plate is mounted, even if the trimming plate is removed, all or part of the wire harness remains on the wall surface for easy maintenance. The method of distributing a wire harness with connectors to a wall surface such as a vehicle body panel includes the steps of: providing a first preliminary locking member for a wire harness on a trimming plate which is to be mounted to a wall surface; providing a second preliminary locking member to the wire harness, and detachably and preliminarily locking the wire harness to the trimming plate; and fixing the trimming plate and the wire harness to the wall surface.

Abstract: A cord (3) which consists of a plurality or a bundle of individual filaments (2), especially individual wires, can be inserted into an opening (4) with a stripped or bare end (1), even if the filaments (2) are spread out at this end (1). The cord is grasped near the free end (14) of the bare filaments (2), and the filaments (2) are pressed together over the total circumference of the cord. The free end of the cord is provided with a contour which corresponds to the receiving opening (4). The compacting occurs for this purpose in such a manner that opposite the pressure position a projection at the free end (14) still remains, which now in this contoured shape fits and is inserted into the opening (4). Thereafter, the bundle of filaments (2) is then pressed together again at a slight distance from the opening (4), and by this aforementioned distance is inserted into the opening (4) or the sheath (5).

Abstract: Disclosed is a jack assembly and a jack assembly panel system for use in telecommunications equipment, as well as a method for manufacturing both. The jack assembly is a one-piece, single-molded jack assembly and the method for making the jack assembly involves placing the switch assemblies into the mold cavity and molding the framework with the switch assemblies in it. The jack assembly panel consists of numerous molded components which can be substantially snapped together for ease of assembly and resulting in a significant reduction in the number of assembly steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to permit automatic installation of pistons and shoes on a swash plate, for reducing in costs and improving the quality of a swash plate type compressor. A slide table 52 is provided which is movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis O of a rotating shaft 2. A plurality of pistons 4 to be assembled are disposed on the slide table 52 in a manner parallel to one another. When the slide table 52 is advances, the shoes 7 disposed within a notch 4a in each of the pistons 4 on the slide table 52 are raised to a substantially vertical position by a presser member 54 and the piston 4 is aligned with the peripheral edge of the swash plate. A pair of heads 50 and 51 for supporting the rotating shaft 2 are provided with a shaft support portion 55 for supporting the rotating shaft 2 thereon. A plurality of piston support portions 67 for supporting the pistons are provided around the shaft support portion at circumferential positions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for coupling heat exchange tubing to header pipes which include flanges are disclosed. Heat exchange tubing may generally be coupled, or bonded, to header pipe arrangements in order to produce heat exchanging devices which may be used in solar heating systems and thermal energy storage (TES) devices. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for forming a heat exchanging device includes pretreating the ends of the heat exchange tubes used in the device. The pretreated ends are then heated to at least partially melt the pretreated ends. At the same time, heat is also applied to the header pipe arrangement included in the device to at least partially melt a flange arrangement which is a part of the overall header pipe arrangement. The pretreated ends of the heat exchange tubes are then sealed against the header pipe arrangement.