A means for continuously folding a fabric band into a shape adapted for edging fabric material. The mechanism includes an elongated guide plate having a series of retaining means for securing the band against the guide plate as it moves lengthwise. A first fold means bends or folds opposite edges of the band towards one another and over a core element. A second fold means or former which is positioned at the end of the guide plate to receive the twice-folded band, includes a narrow channel adapt…

The spacing between the heel and toe abutting members in a sole pressing machine is adjustable automatically to enable proper spacing of the abutting members lengthwise of shoe assemblies of varying sizes. The machine includes a pad box which supports the shoe, bottom down, below the abutting members. The pad box is movable upwardly to urge the shoe against the abutting members and to apply pressure to the bottom of the shoe. Means are provided for moving the heel and toe abutting members inward…

A multi-compartment laundry storage device is of drum-like configuration and has rotatable elements which close the sides of the device and which define the compartments. The rotatable elements may be rotated to selectively expose the compartments individually through a door in the top of a stationary peripheral drum. The multiple compartments are defined by divider panels which may be manipulated to adjust the size of each compartment.

A hydrodynamic torque converter or converter-coupling, either on its own or as part of a motor vehicle automatic transmission, wherein the impeller blades are adjustable over a range, so as to provide over said range, variation in the effective diameter of the impeller.

A system for quick freezing of articles in which an elongated, vertically oriented housing is provided with elevator means for successively and incrementally lowering trays containing the articles through a freezing chimney within the housing. A cryogenic coolant is introduced through metered orifices along vertical pipes extending upwardly through the chimney. The internal chimney surfaces are arranged to cooperate with the trays and coolant orifices so that the articles in the trays are subjec…

A baby’s pacifier exercise or teething device including a tube of resilient flexible material. The tube may be formed in a ring having one or more intertwined loops. The tube also may be filled with a material, such as bunched or crumpled sheet plastic, which generates an audible crinkling sound as the tube is deformed.

Improved gas discharge radiation detecting devices have long life spans under severe environmental conditions and under high vibration. A first, tubular electrode surrounds a second, elongated wire electrode with a hermetically sealed gas ionization chamber therebetween. A pair of electrode mounting means mount and tension the wire electrode through friction joints to provide sufficient tension to prevent electrical failure under severe vibration conditions. It has been found that electrical fai…

An eye measuring instrument employing a modulated invisible light source which illuminates the eye and a pair of photocells directed to the interface of portions of the eye with different light reflecting properties. The interfaces selected move in response to eye movement or pupil area change, and the changes in the photocell outputs are a measure of the eye movement or pupil area change.

A cigarette holder-filter includes a cigarette receiving socket at one end and a mouthpiece at the other end. The interior of the holder includes a fibrous filtering material impregnated with water. The ends of the holder are sealed in a manner both to prolong substantially the shelf life of the unit and to enable the holder to be filled fully with water. This is achieved by forming a minute air-escape hole in the otherwise sealed mouthpiece end of the filter to enable the interior of the filter…

A light weight serving tray of inexpensive construction is suited particularly for disposable use. The tray is fabricated from a single sheet of material such as corrugated cardboard. Selected regions of the tray are scored and compressably deformed in a manner which insures that the peripheral margin of the tray will assume and maintain its upstanding, rail-like configuration.