Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting conditions in the atmosphere which are hazardous to flying aircraft and providing early warning to pilots or ground personnel. The method includes using a laser beam and a coherent optical receiver to optically sense sound waves produced by those hazardous conditions and measuring the effect of those sound waves on the transmitted and received optical beams.

Abstract: A body cleansing puff, constructed of organic polymer netting, which contains a plurality of pieces of solid soap product. The puff is composed of multiple layers of organic polymer netting which serve several purposes including containment of the pieces of solid soap product and the formation of a convenient handle for hanging the device, the provision of surfaces for the production of soap lather, and the production of a product which imparts a mildly stimulating effect to the skin.

Abstract: An impact attenuating guardrail including a rail extending longitudinally along a roadway, a plurality of fixed support posts spaced behind the rail, and resilient compressible energy absorbing means mounted between the rail and the posts.

Abstract: A flashlight having a reinforced tubular plastic casing including a battery compartment and a bulb compartment separated by a transverse wall integrally molded with the casing. A bulb is retained in a socket integrally molded with the wall by a bushing which may be quickly connected and disconnected from the socket, the bulb and the bushing being resiliently axially moveable with respect to the socket and the transverse wall to prevent breakage of the bulb due to shock or impact. A novel reflector is axially moveable with respect to the bulb to afford adjustable focussing of the light emitted from the bulb. The reflective surface of the reflector combines a facetted parabolic surface on the outer portion of the reflector with a smooth spherical surface at the base of the reflector to optimize the amount of light collected from the light bulb and focused in the beam.

Abstract: A sacrificial inertial barrier and an array thereof particularly useful on race circuits. The frangible barrier includes a thin walled plastic tub containing an energy absorbing dispersible mass such as water or sand, the tub being supported on a thin-walled plastic ring which elevates the dispersible mass to a height at which its CG is the same as the CG of a particular type racecar, e.g. a Formula I car.

Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle having a novel support mechanism for the front wheel which maximizes the amount of foot space available for the occupant of the vehicle. The mobility vehicle has a main tubular base frame formed by laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side members joined by a front nose section. The front wheel is mounted within and behind the front nose section by a novel bracket assembly which maximizes the amount of foot space available on the floor board around the wheel housing.

Abstract: A driver safety capsule or cell for a race car, the cell encapsulating and protecting the entire body of the driver. After a collision, the capsule and the driver immobilized therein are removable together from the car so that further head or spinal injury is avoided. Inertial tethers restrain movement of the driver's head and shoulders out of the capsule. A chest plate transforms impact forces to the capsule, minimizing injury to the chest.

Abstract: Displaceable highway safety barriers extending along the side of a roadway or forming a median strip between opposing roadway sections, the barriers including a number of skid assemblies resting, without attachment, on a supporting surface adjacent a roadway connected by a plurality of semi-rigid, vehicle/barrier interface members extending longitudinally of the roadway.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing multi-dimensional reproductions of a three-dimensional object. The novel system includes an illumination device, for housing a three-dimensional object, adapted to overlie the reproduction surface of a scanner or image reading device capable of reading an image from light reflected from a three-dimensional object. The scanner or image-reading device produces electrical signals representative of images read directly from the three-dimensional object and supplies electrical signals representing that image to an external apparatus such as a computer or computer-controlled apparatus from which multi-dimensional reproductions can be produced in the form of a three-dimensional picture on a monitor or screen, a three-dimensional printout from a printer, or a three-dimensional part from suitable computer controlled machinery.

Abstract: An electrically operated lift chair/recliner which includes a swivel base having a power drive that permits an occupant to turn the chair to the left or right as desired.

Abstract: A combination rubber/composite hose comprising an inner composite hose section and a surrounding outer rubber textile reinforced hose section sealingly fastened together at their ends, but free to shift longitudinally and bend with respect to each other.

Abstract: A guardrail terminal end system for use at the upstream end of a W-beam guardrail mounted along the side of a roadway. The system includes a flat plate rail which extends horizontally along and is flared away from the roadway in a substantially straight linear direction and is supported by a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical break away posts. A vertical energy absorbing cylinder is supported by a vertical break away post which is located generally along the center line of the cylinder. The rail is operatively associated with the cylinder to attenuate the force of a vehicle impacting the cylinder. A transition shoe has a flat section which connects to the downstream end of the flat rail and a W-beam section which is adapted to connect to the standard W-beam guardrail. The cylinder distributes the load of an impacting vehicle equally on its support post to rapidly shear the post and cause bending or buckling of the flat rail which has low column strength in comparison to a W-beam rail.

Abstract: A self-cleaning water filter system for a household or the like having a plurality of water usage zones requiring varying water quality.

Abstract: A compact, self-contained fuse assembly for producing a near surface burst of a military projectile such as a mortar shell.

Abstract: A method of producing a uniform, consistent, and predictable fragmentation grid pattern within a military projectile.

Abstract: A workpiece stacker located at the side of a table on which a sewing machine is mounted. The stacker includes mechanism whereby a workpiece is transferred from the back of the table behind the sewing machine and stacked on a support arm adjacent the front of the table where the stacked workpieces are readily accessible to the operator seated at the front of the machine.

Abstract: A filter assembly especially suitable for filtering swimming pool water includes an upright tank, and a flexible, cylindrical porous filter bag supported on star shaped core elements which are vertically spaced along a perforated outlet tube fixed centrally within the tank. Water normally flows through a filter media such as diatomaceous earth caked on the outside of the bag into the central tube and out of the tank back to the pool. When the bag becomes clogged by dirt trapped on the outer face of the filter cake, water flow is reversed for a short period of time to expand the bag suddenly and thereby release the dirt. The bag and filter media are regenerated periodically in this fashion to prolong the effective performance life of the filter.

Abstract: A lightweight, substantially hollow filter plate constructed of foam molded thermoplastic material is formed by two separate identical plate sections each having a forward and rearward face. In a recessed type plate, the peripheral area of the rearward face of each section includes a plurality of support ribs arranged in lattice type configuration. In one embodiment the plate sections are integrally joined together with their rearward faces opposing each other and with the support ribs of one section butting against the opposing support ribs of the other section to produce a cellular construction light in weight but yet sufficiently strong to withstand the operating pressures normally associated with standard filter press machines.