Abstract: An apparatus to assist patient breathing during surgical procedures which include a patient on an operating table. The apparatus includes a member supporting a frame over an operating table. The frame is constructed and formed to support the surgical draperies and to supply oxygen-enriched air very close to the vicinity of the nose of the patient without contacting the patient.

Abstract: An indoor space environment heating and cooling system in which a massive thermal storage unit is interposed between a geothermal heat energy storage capacity--the earth--and a heat pump heating and/or cooling apparatus for controlling and maintaining the environment in an indoor living space. A fluid circulation apparatus is provided to circulate a working fluid from the massive thermal storage unit directly to a heat exchanger in the indoor space environment conditioning apparatus, to provide cooling when the temperature of the thermal storage unit is less than the temperature in the living space.

Abstract: A surgical limb holder having a stanchion with lateral support members which hold adjustable restraining members that move into contact with a limb and hold it in optimum position for surgery.

Abstract: A heliostatic solar energy conversion system in which a plurality of multi-faceted heliostats are supported on one or more platforms that move in a segment of a circular path about a central receiver as a center. The heliostats are mounted in frames that pivot on the platform on an edge of each heliostat. In one embodiment the platforms are supported in a concave spherical depression in the ground. The heliostats of the invention are constructed with a plurality of intersecting beams and stringers, and the stringers are formed with parabolic flanges which support the facets so that the angle of incidence between the sun and the focal point of the central receiver is generally in the center of each facet. A vernier adjustment is provided for each heliostat.

Abstract: A drapery supporting assembly constructed to hold draperies or curtains in a position to form around and encompass furniture pieces and other objects which are placed adjacent thereto. A plurality of guides are provided within the assembly to reduce the friction imposed on drapery cords as they pass around arcuate portions of the frame member of the assembly during traversing operations.

Abstract: A holder for paint brushes and other paint applicators which is attached or attachable to the paint container, and which is constructed of moisture resistant sheet or film-like materials to conform to and adhere to the container. The holder folds outward to form a pocket for the paint brush during the painting process.

Abstract: An educational marble game in which players project spherical playing pieces--marbles--on a textured game board carpet on which indicia are presented having unnamed geographical significance, such as a map of the United States, subdivided into the various subdivisions, such as states. By playing the game, the players enjoy the challenge of the manual dexterity of projecting the marbles along with the benefit of naming and learning geographical facts simultaneously and in combination.

Abstract: A container constructed to cool the contents of the container by releasing a refrigerant from a pressure vessel within the container to chill the contents of the container by an endothermic expansion process of the refrigerant as a gas to the outside of the container. The pressure vessel within the container is conically formed at one end of the container as an integral part of the end wall structure of the container. The refrigerant gas is released by breaking a frangible end off a valve.

Abstract: A method for producing "dogbone" filament fibers having nodules at each end comprising rotating a heat extracting disk having an edge tapering to a narrow peripheral surface and having the peripheral surface notched at intervals with each notch comprising a leading edge, connected to a trailing flat surface, the trailing flat surface supporting an expanded land on the peripheral edge; introducing the rotating disk into the surface of a pool of molten material to form a film of the material on the edge; and removing heat from the film and at least partially solidifying the film on the edge. By the method, the segmented filament fiber products which are produced have a nodule formed on the leading end, a nodule formed on the trailing end, and continuous fiber inbetween, with the general appearance of a dogbone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for optimizing the efficiency of a biological process of treating waste and sewage, and more particularly a process in which air is supplied to the waste to adjust the dissolved oxygen content thereof to a desired optimum level. The process includes controlling the amount of air supplied to the process by adjusting the air supply means in the process in accordance with the ambient temperature of the air into the air supply means in combination with other air volume control means which are dependent on other process variables. The invention enables attainment of optimum concentrations of dissolved oxygen with minimum consumption of power and energy.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus construction (FIG. 1) is provided which clusters the keys operated by each finger closely about the finger in its "home row" position on the home row of the generally accepted keyboard configuration. The upper or "number" row is operated by a key that rests above the operator's fingers (FIG. 2) which can be operated by raising the finger. In one embodiment the keyboard is mounted in a frame that fits over and is auxiliary to the typewriter (FIG. 5).

Abstract: A font of alphabetical letters is disclosed herein which is to be employed for the printing of cursive writing script. The font is characterized by the fact that all of the letters are formed to combine with sets or subsets of individual letters of the font. The combination is by connecting each letter at the front or rear with a ligature in which it is indistinguishable that the letters are separately formed in the font. The method of printing is disclosed by which a letter of the font may be selected to indistinguishably connect in ligature with the preceding and following letters so that the printed cursive script is acceptable in appearance, and equal in form to cursive writing examples that represent the accepted standards of correct penmanship.

Abstract: A method for producing metal flake of small length-to-width ratio or small length-to-thickness ratio directly from a pool or like source of molten metal or molten inorganic compound, or from an unconfined drop of molten metal or an unconfined drop of molten inorganic compound having a surface tension and viscosity similar to that of molten metal, consisting of forming such products by the application of a rotating, generally circular serrated edge, heat-extracting disk-like member to the surface of the pool of molten material so as to form the material into discrete flake particles by extracting the flake particles from the supply of molten material; and controlling the final shape of the product by the physical shape of the member, the temperature and material composition of the melt, as well as the velocity of the member in contact with the melt.

Abstract: A method for producing flake particles by projecting a continuing stream of molten material upon the surface of a rotating generally circular, heat extracting drum, having a serrated edge with each serration comprising a radial surface and an angularly disposed connecting surface from the base of one radial surface to the peripheral extremity of the adjacent radial surface; and rotating the heat extracting drum at a speed relative to the size and shape of the serrations and relative to the rate of molten material projection to form a discrete flake particle on each angularly disposed surface; followed by removing each particle from the surface after each particle is at least partially solidified; and cooling the particles in a surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A safety circuit is provided for parallel connected electrical loads. The headlight circuit of an automobile or other vehicle is an important application for the circuit. In the circuit a reversely polled control rectifier is in a parallel conductor subcircuit to the bright lamp filament of the headlight. The gate of the control rectifier is connected to a conductor of the dim lamp filament of the headlight. The control rectifier presents an open circuit when both of the lamps are operable but is adapted to connect the bright lamp filament through a resistor and a diode when the dim lamp filament of the headlight fails.

Abstract: A method for producing metal flake of small length-to-width ratio or small length-to-thickness ratio directly from a pool or like source of molten metal or molten inorganic compound, or from an unconfined drop of molten metal or an unconfined drop of molten inorganic compound having a surface tension and viscosity similar to that of molten metal, consisting of forming such products by the application of a rotating, generally circular serrated edge, heat-extracting disk-like member to the surface of the pool of molten material so as to form the material into discrete flake particles by extracting the flake particles from the supply of molten material; and controlling the final shape of the product by the physical shape of the member, the temperature and material composition of the melt, as well as the velocity of the member in contact with the melt.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing layers of materials onto substrates by magnetically enhanced cathodic sputtering; typically comprising an enclosure having atmospheric sealing means between the atmosphere inside and the atmosphere outside the enclosure, vacuum pump means connected to the enclosure to reduce the pressure inside relative to the atmospheric pressure outside the enclosure, a cathode within the enclosure comprising a frame of substantially symmetric shape about a centrally disposed centerplane, a plurality of magnets supported in the frame and positioned with the neutral axis of each magnet substantially in the centerplane, and at least one target plate supported on the frame on each side of the centerplane, insulation means between the frame and the enclosure, means for connecting an electrical potential difference between the frame and the enclosure, and means in and supported by the enclosure for supporting and conveying the substrates on opposite sides of, and parallel to, the target plates from a pos