Abstract: Vending apparatus for optical disk restoration has a housing for receiving the disk form a customer; a disk inspection device to determine whether the disk is correctly positioned for polishing and providing a signal indicative of disk position, a disk perforation detecting device providing a signal indicative of any perforation in a reflective layer of the disk; and a device for ejecting a perforated disk from the housing. A user interface requests and receives payment from a customer in response to a signal by the detecting device that the reflective layer is imperforate and provides a signal indicating receipt of correct payment. Polishing wheels polish, with slurry, an exposed light receiving surface of a data carrying protective layer of the disk to ameliorate scratches in response to a signal from the user interface of correct payment and a device ejects a polished disk from the housing to a customer.

Abstract: First and second half or associated objects, in respective different sequential positions are aligned behind respective adjacent, first and second, inclined faces of an optical prism so that, when viewed at different angles alternately through a front face of the prism, images of the first and second half objects are seen alternately by transmission and total internal reflection at alternate faces, combining to form completed whole images of first and second objects alternatively, thereby providing an impression of animation by object movement. The half objects can be pictures of half of a same or similar face or person having respective different expressions producing a changing expression or hands producing a clapping effect. Written message portions associated with half objects can form a complete message/slogan when viewed at alternate angles. The optical prism can be solid or liquid filled and embodied in picture frames, domestic utensils or personal accessories/apparel.

Abstract: A portable universal anti-theft device for immobilizing a brake pedal of a motor vehicle having first, second and third shafts assembled in telescopic relation with an end of the first shaft providing a stand-off for engaging a vehicle body and the second and third shafts having, respectively, upper and lower clamping jaws extending transversely therefrom. One clamping jaw comprises a hook and another clamping jaw comprising a wedge so that relative axial movement of the second and third shafts together brings the jaws together about a brake pedal therebetween with the wedge member urging the brake pedal into the hook. The first and second shafts are locked together to maintain a selected separation of the wedge member from the lower end of the first shaft and the vehicle body preventing depression of the brake pedal. The wedge is pivotable into and out from alignment with the hook.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a plurality of weighing installations of the kind having a working configuration of at least one working load cell (14) with a fixed side and a load-bearing sides, a support (16) for the fixed side, and a load (12) operatively mounted on the load-bearing side, comprises portable apparatus moveable between installations to be calibrated, and fixed apparatus at each installation. The portable apparatus includes a reference load cell (30) and a fluid ram (32), the fixed apparatus includes anchorage means (22) fast with the working load cell support (16), and the reference cell and the ram are removably connectable between the anchorage means and the load-bearing side of the working load cell to apply calibrating loads to the working load cell in its working configuration. As many rams and reference cells may be provided as there are working load cells for any weighing installation.

Abstract: A heater cable is deployed in a well bore to elevate the temperature of the wellbore above the temperature of the surrounding fluid and the formation. One or more fiber optic strings are included in or carried by the heater cable which is placed along a desired length of the wellbore. At least one fiber optic string measures temperature of the heater cable at a plurality of spaced apart locations. Another string is utilized to determine the temperature of the wellbore. The heater cable is heated above the temperature of the well bore. The fluid flowing from the formation to the wellbore lowers the temperature of the cable at the inflow locations. The fiber optic string provides measurements of the temperature along the heater cable. The fluid flow is determined from the temperature profile of the heater cable provided by the fiber optic sensors.

Abstract: A container assembly for three dimensional premium item mounted removably to a beverage cup for handling as a single unit has a clear, plastic cover member, and first and second base members. The first base member is formed with a gift containing well which is closed by a clear flat top panel of the cover member by assembly of the first base member therein. The second base member releasably attaches to the bottom of the first base member to define a collectible card receiving compartment and has a flat topped bottom recess which can receive the top panel of another assembly to enable the container assemblies to be stably stacked on top of each other. The second base member is a press fit on the lid of a standard large beverage cup to releasably mount the container assembly thereon.

Abstract: A transparent container has two immiscible liquids of different densities, colors and viscosities. A pump with a magnetic coupling injects the denser liquid upwardly into the less dense liquid in response to changes in sound volume or frequency of the vicinity of the device providing a geyser display reactive to music or voice. Pump control circuitry includes a microphone, an amplifier; a filter for extracting a beat from dance music or syllabic content of speech; an amplitude detector for detecting a short-time amplitude envelope; a long time averager providing a reference signal proportional to the average sound level and an attenuator; a comparator connected to both the averager and the attenuator to change state when the attenuated version of the short time amplitude envelope momentarily rises above reference signal to provide an activating signal to a pump power controller causing electric power to be delivered to the pump.

Abstract: Adjustable body penetrating blades of a min-retractor are inserted, closed together, into a small incision in an abdominal cavity, spread to widen the incision and a trocar tube is installed in the cavity by clamping between the blades enabling performance of a laparoscopic procedure in conjunction with other trocars inserted into other incisions. Rapid reversal of the laparoscopic procedure is achieved by moving the blades apart, releasing the trocar, and swinging distal ends of the blades apart expanding an inner operating window. A stand having a flexible positioning arm attached to the min-applicator maintains the min-retractor elevated after withdrawal of the trocar and loss of pneumoperitoneum pressure from insufflation. The blades of the mini-retractor gripping the tube of the trocar define between them a scalpel access opening to skin on respective opposite sides enabling enlargement of the incision with the retractor and trocar installed in the abdominal cavity.

Abstract: A connector structure 1 has a cable 3, and a left connector 10 and a right connector 20 connected respectively to left and right ends of the cable 3. The left and right connectors 10 and 20 respectively have terminal holding members 11, 21 that are made of an insulating material and hold a plurality of terminals, protective covers 13, 23 that are made of a conductive material and covers the terminal holding member, and pull tabs 15, 25. The pull tabs 15 and 25 respectively have tip end parts thereof bonded onto the covers 13, 23 respectively and extend out in the cable direction. The left and right connectors 10 and 20 are removed from respective counterpart connectors 5, 7 into which the left and right connector 10, 20 have been fitted by grasping the pull tabs 15, 25 and pulling in a direction such that the left and right connectors 10, 20 separate away from the respective counterpart connectors 5, 7.

Abstract: A fastener comprises a shank 10 for extending through an opening 60 from a near side 56 to a far side 58 of a wall and a catch 20 retained In the shank of the fastener, in which the catch has first and second orientations in which, respectively, it projects less and more beyond the profile of the shank, whereby the catch can pass through the opening in the first orientation but the catch engages the far side of the wall and prevents withdrawal of the shank from the opening in the second orientation, the catch being supported by a shoulder 42 when the shank is tensioned by a nut 50. Swivelling of the catch is controlled by rotation of the shank.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing flood water entering a building through a wall opening has a first member for permanent attachment to the wall and second member detachably fixed to the first member. The first member has a frame having first fixing mechanism and two upright members for permanent fixing to the wall around the opening and a third member bowed away from the building and having a flat upper surface. The second member has a curved member with circumferential flanges and a second fixing mechanism engaging the first fixing mechanism. Two flanges extend outwardly from the curved member, and third flange is perpendicular to flanges and to the curved member. The flanges fit flat against the members of the frame through a gasket with the third flange extending horizontally on top of the third member forming a step.

Abstract: A magic trick in which one of two perpendicularly extending subjects vanishes behind a lenticular screen while the other subject remains visible and extends over aligned locations formerly occupied by portions of the one subject. The screen has parallel lenticules. One subject is an upright human figure, living creature or other vertically extending article, printed or live, and adjacent the second subject which is a series of printed horizontal parallel stripes or solid bars/wires forming a background for the first subject. The subjects can form scenery on a stage or be on the inside back cover of a book with the screen mounted across the front.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor system provides sufficient thermal information to determine the mass flow rates of produced fluids within a well bore, using an optical fiber placed within or adjacent to the well bore without interference with production or prejudicing the integrity of the well. Mass flow rates of fluid in a conduit (20) located in a heat sink differing in temperature from the fluid are determined by obtaining a distributed temperature profile (32) of fluid flowing along a length of conduit (15) by using optical data obtained from a length of optical fiber in thermal contact therewith, obtaining a profile of the heat sink temperature external to the conduit, and deriving mass flow rates of fluids in the conduit from the said profiles and from measured thermal transfer parameters.

Abstract: An upstream side motherboard 50 having an upstream side system slot 51 and upstream side daughter board mounting slots 52 to 58 and a downstream side motherboard 60 having a downstream side system slot 61 and downstream side daughter board mounting slots 62, 63 . . . are connected together by a bridging board 10. The bridging board 10 has bridge wires that electrically connect a plurality of wiring pins provided in the upstream side daughter board mounting slots and a plurality of wiring pins provided in the downstream side system slot when an upstream side connector 11 is fitted into one the upstream side daughter board mounting slots and a downstream side connector 12 is fitted into the downstream side system slot 61, and IC switches 13 and 14 that carry out connection changing on prescribed wires out of the bridge wires.

Abstract: A blowgun comprises cylindrical front and rear blowpipes 2 and 4, which are connected with each other by a connection member 3, a handle member 5 attached to the rear blowpipe 4, a collimator composed of a front sight 6 and a rear sight 7, and a mouthpiece 8. The front sight 6 is provided on the front blowpipe 2 while the rear sight 7 is provided at the top of the handle member 5. The mouthpiece 8, which has a blow inlet 8b, is connected to the rear opening of the rear blowpipe 4. The blow inlet of the mouthpiece is offset from the connection part of the mouthpiece that is attached to the rear opening of the blowpipe, so that a user, while he is collimating the blowpipe toward a target by looking through the collimator, can touch the blow inlet by the mouth and blow air to eject a dart, which is inserted and set in the blowpipe beforehand.

Abstract: An apparatus for reminding individuals when to take a medication, in a first embodiment 10 is a mechanical timer with different varieties of pegs 18 disposed to ring an alarm when a medication is to be taken and indicative of the medication by their style. A second embodiment 10A actually dispenses the medication that is required at that time. A third embodiment 56 is in the form of a wrist watch and displays 64 the medication and (any caveats) that is to be taken. A fourth embodiment 56A is pre-programmed so that the patient cannot tamper with the settings. The invention is apt for multi-medication multi-dose time situations.

Abstract: A fiber optic instrumentation line is introduced down a hydrocarbon (oil) well bore 12 by control line 16 formed by pressure tubing conduit fixed on the outside of intermediate casing 14 and set in cement slurry 21 between casing 14 and surrounding rock 13 and reaching to the hydrocarbon production zone 15. Hollow primary member 18 accepts distal end of control line 16 at the end of casing 14. Secondary member 22 having sealed terminal control line 27 on its outer surface is lowered through primary member 18 to zone 15, automatically angularly aligning and engaging respective top and bottom end couplings 24 and 20, sealing together a respective top and end of terminal control lines 27, 16 forming a continuous, high pressure, fiber optic receiving tube, from well head 10 to well bottom. Alternatively, two lines 16 linked by loop 26 provide a continuous control line returning to the surface.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication cable is deployed in a pipeline from a static coil drawn from a rearwardly facing exit of a cassette carried by a pipeline pig as the pig is driven along the pipeline from a launcher having a drive fluid inlet and a cable anchorage with a pressure penetrator for connecting an instrumentation cable to the deployed cable.