Abstract: Plug-and-jack electrical connector terminal with a blade-like plug terminal portion at one end and a slit-like jack terminal portion at the opposite end. The respective connector portions have at their mutually interconnecting ends preferably flat surfaces adapted to be juxtaposed to one another and to be interconnected, preferably disengageably, by fastener means preferably through bores therein.

Abstract: Treatment of recirculating room air with living green plants in air-permeable potting medium, so as to reduce the air content of gaseous and particulate liquid and/or solid contaminants while the air remains in the recirculation path. The air is conducted from and to a collection location to and from the treating location, where the air is passed upward through the potting soil and past the plant roots, out therefrom and past the plant leaves, and back to the collection location. The treatment location may be located at the entrance of the air into the room, at the exhaust of the air from the room, or elsewhere. Continuous or intermittent treatment of room air in such manner through such apparatus results in prompt and effective removal of cigarette smoke and other contaminants, at the same time rendering the room atmosphere more healthful for the persons therein by purifying the air they necessarily are breathing.

Abstract: Missile-launching toy, operable by one person as well as by more than one person. A single operator grasps hand grips on looped elastic tubing carrying a pocket member adapted to carry on its top or upper surface one or more toy missiles for launching. The foot of the operator is inserted removably, with leg bent, in a foot-engaging stirrup member on the bottom or under surface of the pocket member. The operator's leg is straightened, stretching the looped elastic tubing. After extending the leg and thereby stretching the elastic member, the operator extends his or her arms in the desired direction, and finally lets the strap slip off the foot, thereby launching the accommodated article.

Abstract: Liquid disposal accessory means and method for motor vehicles. Undesired liquid or fine particulates, preferably in fluidized form, are disposed from the driver and/or passenger compartment through a funnel with a drain tube to the exterior or a collection location. The funnel is withdrawn manually to a use position from a dashboard or console rest position--to which it normally retracts. Rinsewater is pumped into the funnel from a nearby interior source upon demand.

Abstract: A multi-purpose tool, partly foldable, useful as a hammer/pick, probe/ruler, knife/saw, spade/trowel, and even as a bottle-opener. Various embodiments are characterized by degrees of folding to compact stowed form and of unfolding to particular use configurations.

Abstract: Post-milking and pre-milking udder care to assure udder disinfection, including coloring the udder after milking and decolorizing the udder before milking. The post-milking step includes applying thereto an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hypochlorite and an alkali metal permanganate, whereas the pre-milking step includes applying thereto an aqueous solution of a peroxide and an organic acid. Preferred component compositions include sodium hypochlorite, potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic acid.

Abstract: Dimming fluorescent lamp solid-state ballast. The ballast is adapted for automatic sensing and control of lamp temperature to dim the lamp to an optimal operating temperature, such as that at which the light output is a maximum per energy input. The ballast is also adapted for manual continuously adjustable or multi-position stepwise dimming control, which may include such an optimal setting. Other available dimming settings include undimmed or maximum light output, and/or the lamp's minimal sustainable light output.

Abstract: Segmented fluidization of underwater subsoils in a manner resembling peristalsis. An array of underwater locations is selected, and water is injected into the subsoil, preferably in a pattern of sequence and duration to generate lateral flow of fluidized subsoil. Apparatus for practicing such method includes a water supply pipe, multiple water-jetting branch tubes interconnected to respective segments of the supply pipe, each such branch tube being individually valved at its junction thereto. Valve-control apparatus is provided to open and close the respective valves at given times and for given durations, as by pre-programming, or optionally controlled according to resulting flow and/or pressure monitored by nearby sensors.

Abstract: Mineral aluminosilicates enhanced as ion-exchange media for separating diverse ionic materials are provided by dry heating. A hydrated mineral alumino-silicate is irreversibly dehydrated in part, to improve the ratio of its affinity for preferred ions, relative to non-preferred ions, even though doing so reduces its affinity for both types of ions. Such dehydration is accomplished by heating the aluminosilicate until a temperature is reached at which its affinity for non-preferred cations is reduced enough that the ratio of its affinity for preferred ions to its affinity for non-preferred ions is greatly increased. Such aluminosilicates may be zeolites, such as clinoptilolite, or layered clays, such as vermiculite or smectite. 850.degree. C. is an example of such temperature.

Abstract: Treatment of recirculating room air with living green plants in air-permeable potting medium, so as to reduce the air content of gaseous and particulate liquid and/or solid contaminants while the air remains in the recirculation path. The air is conducted from and to a collection location to and from the treating location, where the air is passed upward through the potting soil and past the plant roots, out therefrom and past the plant leaves, and back to the collection location. The treatment location may be located at the entrance of the air into the room, at the exhaust of the air from the room, or elsewhere. Continuous or intermittent treatment of room air in such manner through such apparatus results in prompt and effective removal of cigarette smoke and other contaminants, at the same time rendering the room atmosphere more healtful for the persons therein by purifying the air they necessarily are breathing.

Abstract: A competitive electronic game toy for one or more players, dependent upon personal reaction time and hand-eye coordination. Players manually trigger the sequencing of lights along one or two paths having successive segments bearing award indicia of a selected game or sport, and also manually halt the sequencing at will. The segments are marked with award indicia of a selected game or sport, and may be point scores or instructions to add or delete turns or for simulated playing of a game or sport, such as baseball. The players, striving to be awarded a high score or good play, try to stop the light sequencing at a path sgement with favorable indicia.

Abstract: Fluidization-assisted beach stabilization. Water is collected from beach-underlying subsoil, and is used to fluidize adjacent off-shore subsoil. More particularly, a first foraminous pipe is buried in beach-underlying subsoil, a second foraminous pipe is buried in adjacent offshore subsoil, such pipes are interconnected, water is collected from the beach subsoil in the first pipe, is transported through the interconnecting pipe to the second pipe, and is jetted from the latter pipe to fluidize the offshore subsoil therewith. Such apparatus and method make more wave-suspended subsoil particles available for deposition onto the beach and for retention thereon.

Abstract: Placement of foraminous dual piping in non-cohesive subsoil, and use in beach stabilization or use in fluidization as navigation channel maintenance. Air, water, or mixed fluid medium is jetted from the foraminous piping downward onto and into such subsoil so as to fluidize it, while the piping is pressed downward, as by earth anchors, into the fluidized subsoil until it is below the level of adjacent subsoil located apart from the fluidization vicinity. A zigzag arrangement of flanking earth anchors as viewed from above and interconnected by tie bars from earth anchor to adjacent earth anchor in the pattern.

Abstract: Means and methods for treating Crohn's disease, as an example of selectively influencing the immune systems of patients afflicted with intractable disorders and thereby abating or relieving the symptoms of such disorders, including many having an autoimmune abnormality or unbalance, such as an excessive concentration of killer T cells or an insufficient concentration of helper T cells or indeed both. A triazolo composition, such as a triazolobenzodiazepine, is administered to such a patient periodically in an amount effective to influence the immune system accordingly and to alleviate such symptoms, whereupon the dosage is gradually reduced to a maintenance level at which the symptoms do not recur but below which such recurrence is likely or certain.

Abstract: Differential mode rejection networks and their use in measuring and limiting electromagnetic interference such as is conducted back into power transmission lines by noise-generating electrical equipment powered from such lines. Both single-phase and three-phase embodiments are specified. Improvement in filter design is enabled.

Abstract: Surge-protective apparatus having a plurality of varistors or equivalent non-linear resistance means interconnected in parallel with one another between external power lines and ground to protect utility meters and downstream electrical equipment subject to damage from transient electrical surges. Interconnection is accomplished by interleaving electrically conductive laminar members in one or more assemblies of adjacent varistors, as in a cuplike holder.

Abstract: Selectable mode rejection network (SMRN) for electromagnetic interference (EMI) excludes common mode (CM) and, alternatively, differential mode (DM) conducted emissions (CE) from entering power transmission lines from electrical equipment powered from such lines and producing such unwanted electrical noise. Phase-switching the SMRN determines whether CM or DM is so excluded, thereby facilitating measurement of the unexcluded type of CE. So used in measuring EMI, such SMRN enables improved filter design for the respective types of CE and composite filters for limiting both CM and DM CE.

Abstract: Pretreatment of cellulosic material with carbon dioxide gas, preparatory to being converted chemically, as by hydrolysis, etc. Biomass material, such as branches, stalks, brush, or foliage, or cellulosic products, such as waste paper or cardboard, is reduced to finely divided dry form and is exposed to carbon dioxide in an anhydrous environment, is compressed to superatmospheric pressure and then is decompressed to subatmospheric pressure, expelling air and other gases, particulates, water, other volatiles, etc. Then the cellulosic material is returned to atmospheric pressure, and subsequently is either recycled through such compression and decompression and return, or is compressed to even high pressure. Such environment is enriched in carbon dioxide, such as comprising it in substantial or major part or consisting essentially thereof.

Abstract: Educational marble board game for facilitating the teaching of arithmetic or other mathematical or related mainly numerical games. Marble launchers fitting upright near corners of a game board, outside a bounded generally horizontal playing surface, store marbles for use by the players. The players move player pieces along a pathway and receive instructions printed on the pathway segments. Released marbles are launched individually or together onto the playing surface, where they come to rest in respective indentations. Underneath each rest position is an answer to a question posed to the player, as by being keyed to the row and column in which the rest position indentation is located or alternatively printed directly on the playing surface alongside the marble rest position. Players are rewarded for correct answers, penalized for incorrect ones, or both, and optionally also by chance, with simulated money.