Abstract: A key marking overlay for telephone keypads. The overlay is mountable over the telephone keypad and allows pressing of the keys through the overlay. It provides a mechanism for keeping track of the keys which have been pressed during period of use of the keypad. The overlay may also present graphical indicia assigning arbitrary functions to selected keys of the keypad.

Abstract: A shirring blade assembly is added to a quilting machine to enable the fabrication of a shirred topmost quilting layer on an upper sleeping surface of a mattress fabricated by the machine. The various layers to be laminated into the quilted upper sleeping surface include filler and foam layers for resilience. As the various layers are fed through the quilting machine, the shirring blade assemblies reciprocate in and out to gather the material in the desired shirred configuration, and the configuration is fixed by stitching along selectively spaced stitch lines. The resulting product is cut, trimmed and beaded about its periphery, after which it is incorporated in a mattress.

Abstract: An electrical composite rotating machine capable of developing output shaft speeds in excess of the synchronous speed of a single motor without resort to gearing or frequency changers. An a-c electric motor is equipped with a rotor which is at one end connected to a rotatable field structure of a second motor. When the first two-pole motor operates at a nominal shaft speed of 3600 rpm, it also drives the field structure of the second motor at 3600 rpm. When the field of the second two-pole motor is activated, the rotor of the second motor rotates at a speed of 3600 rpm relative to its field structure, thus developing an output speed of 7200 rpm. With different numbers of poles in the respective motors, different shaft output speeds can be achieved.

Abstract: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensing apparatus for testing and displaying extremely high frequency discharges. The apparatus incorporates a surface mounted current shunt in the form of a thin foil or film of less than one skin depth thickness at the frequency of interest. This is sandwiched between a coaxial connector base plate and a ground plane mounting plate. The foil or film is symmetrically oriented about the axis of the connector at a central opening in the mounting plate. A discharge path is provided through the opening to the foil and, on the other side, through a small resistor to the central conductor of the coaxial connector which may be connected to a measuring or display apparatus for a complete test system. A calibration unit includes a plurality of sensing devices configured for different cutoff frequencies and levels of discharge pulses.

Abstract: A VDU line marker enables a specific line on a Visual Display Unit to be quickly and accurately located, similar to using a straight edge and/or a marker pen on paper. The line may be scrolled over the displayed information or the displayed information may be scrolled with the line stationary. A VDU electronic line marker is coupled between the Visual Display Unit and a computer/terminal combination and works independently of the software. It offers a choice of line color, line thickness and precise line position without using costly memory, memory controls, software, menus or multi-function use of keys and it derives its timing from the host computer.

Abstract: An absorbent pad for use with meat and poultry products in retail sale packages has a laminated tissue absorbent mat sandwiched and sealed between upper and lower plastic sheets. The pad is perforated by penetration of perforating pins entirely through the pad to develop a series of holes for the passage of liquid from the meat package into the absorbent mat inside the pad. A myriad of outwardly projecting tufts of tissue material are developed along the underside of the pad by the perforating pins. These tufts develop a wicking effect which enhances the capillary action of the tissue layers inside the pad. Methods of fabrication of the individual pads and continuous linear absorbent sheet material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A roll-up or curtain type door or panel wall for use in large doorways, the door having an improved support apparatus, an improved spring mounting mechanism, and a unique bearing block which also functions to support the door as it is rolled up. The roll-up door has a substantially stronger hollow hexagonal barrel assembly which is less susceptible to flexural stress, and a spring mounting arrangement which allows the springs to shrink or grow longitudinally as the door is rolled up or down. The barrel assembly is mounted on pivoting support means allowing the barrel assembly to move away from and toward the guide tracks as the door is rolled up and down, whereby the variation in diameter of the barrel assembly does not affect the performance of the door.

Abstract: A device for use in a centrifuge to automatically prepare microscope slide specimens from samples of body fluids. A centrifuge tube and specimen slide are formed integrally in a unitary device. A lens clearance section is provided as a planar surface to avoid interference between the device and the rotatable lenses of a turret microscope while the device is in viewing position on the microscope stage. The device is constructed to minimize packing of sediment and other constituent elements of the sample at the entrance to the slide member and is so configured as to admit of a step during the centrifuge process which flexes the slide member to enhance the distribution of cells deposited therein.

Abstract: A stabilization system for space platforms, satellites and the like. One arrangement for demonstration purposes incorporates a frame and a pair of motor/flywheel units which are pivotably mounted to the frame. These units are retained in positions of alignment with the frame axis and energized briefly to develop a torque for rotating the frame. Retraction of a retaining pin permits the units to pivot by 90 degrees, immediately generating precession forces which abruptly stop the frame at the desired angular orientation.

Abstract: A flashlamp pumped laser is controlled to emit a series of narrow pulse width laser pulses in quick succession. A control circuit associated with the flashlamp receives firing signals of limited pulse duration and serves to ignite and extinguish the flashlamp in accordance with the leading and trailing edges of a single firing signal pulse. The laser generates a coherent light pulse corresponding to the pumping flashlamp pulse. The flashlamp control circuit includes a main capacitor which stores electric charge sufficient to provide current to the flashlamp for several pulses in succession. The circuit also includes a trigger capacitor which supplies current through a transformer coupled to the flashlamp to initiate current conduction therein.

Abstract: An absorbent underpad for use on an article of bedding includes a liquid impervious backing sheet, a liquid permeable upper facing sheet adhered to the backing sheet about the edges thereof, and an interior absorbent pad combination comprising upper and lower tissue layers generally coextensive with the boundarees of the underpad, a pair of spatially separated barrier strips formed of super-absorbent material between the tissue layers, and a non-woven transfer layer along the central region of the upper tissue layer adjacent the upper facing sheet. The plies of the tissue layer are formed with a crepe-like irregular surface oriented to develop a wicking action directed along the layers in a transverse direction, toward the absorbent barrier strips.

Abstract: The charcoal lighter device uses wadded paper or other readily combustible, non-polluting material in place of polluting charcoal lighter fluid as a fire starter. The device has a housing which includes inner and outer concentric shells surrounding a central space with open top and bottom. The shells are mounted by thermally insulative connectors, such as ceramic blocks, joined to the sidewalls of both shells. The inner shell terminates short of the outer housing bottom, defining a space for the starter material. A horizontal charcoal grate is installed at the bottom of the inner shell. A series of spaced air holes extend through the outer shell below the grate. In use, charcoal is loaded above the grate with wadded newspaper below. When lighted, one newspaper sheet serves to start the charcoal which is soon glowing and ready for barbecuing. A thermally insulative handle is connected to the outer shell. The outer shell and handle remain relatively cool and safe to touch during use of the device.

Abstract: A high discharge rate electrochemical battery structure is disclosed as having a perforated disc electrode stack comprising pluralities of disc electrodes respectively connected to a pair of busbars. Each disc electrode has a tab with two fins which are bent at 90 degrees to the disc electrode. Each fin is inserted between two parts of the corresponding busbar and welded thereto. The design of the busbars and disc electrodes provides for redundancy of electrical contact, high thermal and electrical conductivity and improved resistance to mechanical shock.

Abstract: An automatic pumping system for removal of floating contaminants and oil and gasoline seepage from water wells. A vertically reciprocating cone-shaped member, like an inverted funnel, is moved between positions above and below the water surface. As it submerges, the inverted funnel collects the floating product within its circumference and transfers it to a collection space surrounding the cone. In the upper position, this collection space is sealed so that air may be blown into it while the collected product is driven out through a pickup tube to a collection sump for ultimate disposal. A second embodiment incorporates a hydraulic pumping system which operates in synchronism with the contamination collection and disposal system to create a cone of depression which draws the floating product into the space covered by the circumference of the reciprocating cone.

Abstract: Improvements to a method for preparing N-phosphonomethylglycyne by oxidation of N-phosphonomethyliminodiacetic acid. N-phosphonomethylglycine may be obtained by oxidation of N-phosphonomethyliminodiacetic acid with O.sub.2 or with an oxygen-containing gas, in the presence of a noble metal catalyst on activated carbon. To avoid the catalyst losses, the improvements of the invention consist in a pressure scavaging with N.sub.2, after completion of the oxidation reaction. Owing to such treatment, the catalyst losses are reduced from 30% to 1%, making the processing economically viable on a large industrial scale. The recovered catalyst holds its catalytic activity and may be reused at least 20 consecutive times. N-phosphonomethylglycine is a herbicide of extended application.

Abstract: A hair dryer holder apparatus which is light in weight, durable and efficient, and is fully adjustable for releasably holding a dryer. The holder includes a horizontal ring base and a pair of spaced vertical telescoping posts, to the upper ends of which are hinged a pair of adjustable arms which are angled generally toward each other. The arms have grippers on their free ends which releasably hold two portions of the dryer e.g., the handle and nozzle, at any desired angle for the convenience of the user. The hinges may be releasably locked into position or be frictional joints. The grippers may each have a pair of spaced jaws. In one embodiment the jaws are flexible and resilient. In another embodiment they are movable by a screw or bolt driven toward and away from each other. The telescoping posts can have lock rings or transverse lock pins.

Abstract: A beam distributor apparatus employing an eccentrically mounted retroreflector prism is driven to revolve about a central axis by a motor/encoder to direct an input beam to a plurality of optical fibers in sequence. The retroreflector prism possesses the property of reflecting a beam in a directional parallel to the incident beam but displaced laterally therefrom. In one arrangement, a synchronously triggered laser is used as the light source. In a second embodiment, a non-laser light source is employed with a shutter coupled to be triggered in synchronism with the position of the rotating prism relative to the output optical fibers.

Abstract: A roll-up or curtain type door is disclosed which is for use in large doorways, the door having an improved support apparatus, an improved spring mounting mechanism, and a unique bearing block which also functions to support the door as it is rolled up. The roll-up door has a substantially stronger hollow hexagonal barrel assembly which is less susceptible to flexural stress, and a spring mounting arrangement which allows the springs to shrink or grow longitudinally as the door is rolled up or down. The barrel assembly is mounted on pivoting support means allowing the barrel assembly to move away from and toward the guide tracks as the door is rolled up and down, whereby the variation in diameter of the barrel assembly does not affect the performance of the door.