Abstract: A protective package in an album format for a compact disc having a recording on one side thereof, the other side being unrecorded. The album is defined by interhinged rectangular front and rear cover panels of cardboard or other flexible material. Secured to the inner surface of the rear panel is a face panel having a circular opening die cut therein which is backed by the rear panel to create a well in which the compact disc is nested, with its recorded side lying against the rear panel, the unrecorded side being flush with the exposed surface of the face panel. When the front cover panel is folded over to close the album, the compact disc is then surrounded by the face panel and is sandwiched between the front and rear cover panel and is thereby fully protected. To remove the compact disc from the album, the front cover panel is unfolded and the rear cover panel is flexed to pop out the disc.

Abstract: An animal-like stuffed toy figure most of whose body is covered with a simulated hairy fur of a character appropriate to the animal which the figure resembles. The body is provided with a closable internal pouch in which is received a latent offspring. The latent offspring is the collapsed state of a shaped ball formed by an outer casing covered with a fur corresponding to that of the figure and enclosing a deflated balloon whose neck projects through a port in the casing. When a player takes the latent offspring out of the pouch and inflates the balloon to expand the casing, the resultant offspring which has the same fur as the figure and, therefore, somewhat resembles the figure, can be played with as a ball.

Abstract: A fail-safe anchor bolt assembly installable in a pre-drilled hole in masonry to fasten a fixture or other object thereto, the assembly remaining securely anchored even should the hole later be enlarged as a result of a crack developed in the masonry. The assembly includes a bolt having a head engageable by a torque tool to turn the bolt and a shank extending from the head loosely encircled by an expansible shell whose normal outer diameter is close to that of the drilled hole. Threadably received on the rear end of the shank adjacent the shell is a conical frustrum-shaped wedge nut effectively divided into a leading zone and a trailing zone. The leading zone has a maximum diameter substantially equal to the normal outer diameter of the shell whereby in the course of installing the assembly as the bolt is turned to advance the leading zone of the nut into the shell, the shell is then expanded against the wall of the hole to produce an anchoring force.

Abstract: An information highway for music performance and interpretation in which a plurality of subscribers are linked by an interactive network to a central computer station. In the memory of the station is stored a library of music scores, each being defined by the nominal notation of a particular composition, the memory also storing microscores which render the music scores expressive and meaningful. Many different microscores may be stored for each score. The memory may also have stored therein global microstructure information. Music resulting from the combination of a music score and a microscore may be reproduced either at the central computer and then transmitted to the subscriber, or may be reproduced at the subscriber's post. The subscriber chooses the music score to be reproduced and also selects or creates the microscore to be imparted to the respective notes of the music score so as to render the performance of the composition expressive.

Abstract: A portable Siamese case for storing and playing two games, each having a play board and playing pieces movable thereon. The case is provided with a central section formed by a pair of open boxes in back-to-back relation on a common base in each of which is nested the playing board of a respective game and the play pieces therefor. Also included is a complementary pair of wing sections formed by covers hinged to opposite sides of the base. When either cover is folded over its related box, the closed box is then in a storage mode, and when the cover is unfolded to expose the box and its contents, the box is then in a playing mode.

Abstract: A safety container for a baking utensil provided with a thermal heating element having ferrites dispersed therein, which utensil when placed in a microwave oven and is exposed to microwave energy, converts this energy into thermal energy for cooking the food therein. The safety container in which the utensil is housed includes a removable cover and a temperature-responsive latching mechanism which releases the cover to permit withdrawal of the utensil from the container only when the utensil has cooled to a temperature level at which it is safe to handle.

Abstract: A technique for inducing analgesic effects to relieve pain in a living organism whose central nervous system is associated with thermal receptors in the skin that sense heat and transmit signals through afferent fibers reflecting the intensity of the heat and its duration to the brain via the spinal cord. Applied to an area of the skin for a predetermined period is an air stream whose temperature is periodically elevated to create high-temperature pulses separated by lower temperature intervals whereby as a result of heat transfer from the skin area to tissue underlying the skin, the temperature at the surface of the skin is at a tolerable level. The signals transmitted to the brain during this period that reflect the sensed high temperature pulses stimulate the brain into producing endorphins having analgesic effects on the organism and relieving pain.

Abstract: A toy missile having a hollow head created by a collapsible plastic film casing and a balloon inflated therein, causing the head to assume a globular form. Projecting from the casing are shaped pieces which impart a figurative or fanciful form to the head. Extending from the rear pole of the globular head and held thereto by a tail is a streamer. When a player grasps the streamer and then whirls the missile and lets it fly, the streamer then acts as a tail fin to stabilize the flight pattern. Deposited in the balloon is a liquid charge which due to centrifugal forces generated by the whirling action causes the liquid to form a concentrated mass at the leading pole of the head which acts to lengthen the flight path of the missile.

Abstract: A squeezable toy ball which simulates a human organ such as the intestine, the ball when squeezed and released then generating a gurgling sound similar to that produced by a functioning intestine. The ball comprises a generally spherical outer shell formed of flexible plastic film encasing a hollow inner core. The core is molded of resilient plastic material to simulate the appearance of an intestine and is provided with an orifice which renders the hollow core collapsible. Injected into the core through the orifice is a charge of oil or other viscous liquid. When the ball is squeezed and deformed, oil and air are discharged from the orifice into the confined spaces between the core and shell, and when the ball is then released to recover its normal shape, oil and air are then sucked back into the shell, these actions producing a gurgling sound.

Abstract: An all-metal expansible hollow anchor and nail assembly adapted to fasten to masonry a fixture or other object having a mounting hole. The anchor which goes through the fixture mounting hole into a hole drilled in the masonry, is provided with a head that then engages the fixture and an expansible body projecting from the head into the drilled hole whereby when the nail is driven into the hollow anchor, the anchor body then expands against the wall of the hole to lock the anchor therein. The expander nail has a head whose diameter is greater than that of the drilled hole and a shank of smaller diameter joined to the underside of the nail head by a junction section of progressively increasing diameter whereby the shank gradually merges with the head. Countersunk in the head of the anchor is a well that conforms to the shape of the nail head and the junction section, the well receiving and nesting the nail head and junction section when hammer blows are applied to the nail head.

Abstract: A technique for degrading a chemical warfare poison gas to render it innocuous. The toxic compound to be so treated is conducted through a reactor containing an anhydrous liquid halide which acts as a catalyst to degrade the toxic compound without yielding toxic effluents. The liquid halide is reclaimed and reintroduced into the reactor whereas the benign breakdown by-products are routed to other uses.

Abstract: A decorative three-dimensional figure or other shaped object clad in a transparent, synthetic plastic film conforming to the contours of the object and exuding a fragrance whose scent is appropriate to the nature of the object. Thus when the object is a Christmas tree ornament, the fragrance may then simulate the aroma of pine needles. To clad the object it is first enveloped in a foraminated sheet of shrink wrap film that is impregnated with a volatile liquid fragrance, the sheet then being heated to cause it to shrink and conform to the contours of the object whereby the clad object then proceeds to emit the fragrance for a prolonged period.

Abstract: A water-pistol and puppet assembly in which the pistol is concealed within the puppet, yet is fully operable. The pistol includes a hand grip provided with a trigger, a liquid reservoir and a pump which when the trigger is pulled then draws liquid from the reservoir and pumps it into the barrel of the pistol from whose outlet nozzle the liquid is ejected. The puppet includes a head having an open mouth that simulates that of a human or animal-like figure and a costume shroud simulating the body of the figure associated with the head. The shroud is provided with open top end defining a neck that is attached to the head and an open bottom end affording access to the interior of the shroud in which the pistol is housed. The barrel of the pistol is socketed in the head of the puppet with its outlet nozzle in alignment with the open mouth. When a player extends his hand through the open bottom end of the shroud to grasp the grip of the pistol, he then appears to be holding the puppet.

Abstract: A facing for wall board such as sheet rock, adapted to reinforce the board as well as to enhance its thermal barrier and acoustic characteristics. The facing is a laminate sheeting formed by a paper ply cold-laminated to a synthetic plastic oriented film ply, the opposing surfaces of the film ply being corona-discharge treated to render them receptive to adhesives. The exposed surface of the film ply is coated with a water moistenable adhesive, so that when this coating is moistened, the facing may then be adhered to the wall board to reinforce the board and to impart sound absorbing and decorative properties thereto. The film ply or the paperply in the facing is metalized to reflect infrared rays and thereby reduce the transfer of thermal energy through the board.

Abstract: An anchor sleeve and bolt assembly adapted to chemically fasten a fixture or other object having a mounting hole to a masonry body. The assembly compresses a bolt provided with a head engageable by a torque tool and a shank extending from the head, an anchor sleeve threadably received on the shank and extending therefrom to define a void between the end of the shank and the end of the sleeve, and a deformable collar interposed between the head of the bolt and the sleeve. To install the assembly, it is inserted through the fixture mounting hole into a hole drilled in the masonry body whose depth is such that the bolt head then lies adjacent the fixture. Deposited in the drilled hole is a charge of an uncured flowable bonding agent which when the assembly is inserted therein, then spreads into the space between the sleeve and the bank of the drilled hole whereby when the agent is cured and hardened, the sleeve is then chemically anchored in the hole.

Abstract: A holder to protectively pack several diskettes in separate pockets, the holder being fabricated from a single, rectangular blank of sheeting so die cut and scored that when the blank is folded on the score lines, there is then erected interhinged pockets. The blank is divided by longitudinal score lines into a broad central panel flanked by narrow side panels each die cut to define a series of equi-spaced lobes projecting outwardly therefrom. Transverse score lines divide the panels of the blank into a plurality of like sections, each including a pair of opposing lobes, each section being divided in half by a transverse score line extending through the center of the lobes. Diagonal score lines extending from the ends of each lobe and running through the related side panel to a common point on the adjacent longitudinal score line, form the boundaries of a gusset zone.

Abstract: A computer system in which the sounds of different speech messages are stored or synthesized, the system being adapted to reproduce a selected speech message and to impart emotional expressivity thereto whose character depends on the user's choice. To this end, stored in the system is a set of sentograms whose respective wave forms reflect different emotions, the selected speech message being reproduced, being modulated as a function of the wave form of the sentogram in the set selected by the user whereby the reproduced speech message is emotionally colored and therefore has a human quality.

Abstract: A platform for animating a doll mounted thereon, the platform being provided with a base having a circular well recessed in its underside. Anchored on the base is an upright bearing in which is received a shaft whose upper end projects above the bearing and is clamped to one leg of the doll to support it above the base. The lower end of the shaft projects into the well and is joined to an actuator having an eccentric tip which frictionally engages the horizontal play surface on which the platform is placed. When a player pushes the platform back and forth along this surface the tip is then caused to sweep in a circular path within the well and in doing so to cause the shaft and the doll clamped thereto to rotate. Thus as the platform is pushed, the advancing doll rotates to execute a pirouetting dance movement.

Abstract: A modulated steam cooker in which food to be cooked is received in an oven chamber having an access door associated with a door switch, steam being fed directly into the oven by a steam generator having an electric heater immersed in a pool of water. The heater is connected through the door switch to a power source whereby the generator is powered only when the door is shut. The pressure of steam draining from the oven is sensed by a pressure-responsive switch interposed between the heater and the power source, the pressure switch intermittently interrupting the power supplied to the heater only when the sensed pressure exceeds a predetermined level somewhat above atmospheric pressure, thereby modulating the generation of steam supplied to the oven as a function of the quantity and temperature of food therein to effect efficient cooking of the food. Mounted on the steam generator is a spray head supplied with water only when the door is opened.