Abstract: A cereal bowl having separate cereal and milk compartments, with a valve permitting emptying the contents of the milk container into the cereal container. Separate lids are provided for the milk and cereal compartments. The cereal bowl enables young children to serve their own breakfast meals without spilling milk and cereal.

Abstract: A waste water disposal system for recreational vehicles. When emptying the black and grey water holding tanks, grey water is emptied into the black water holding tank, thereby helping to flush solids out of the black water holding tank.

Abstract: Tape head positioning apparatus that includes a head carriage frame and a parallel beam positioning structure supported by the head carriage for supporting the magnetic tape head and for variably positioning the magnetic tape head relative to the carriage along a path generally transverse to the tape travel direction. The parallel beam positioning structure includes parallel support beams secured at their ends to the head carriage. The magnetic tape head is secured between the bender beam at a location generally between their ends. In a particular embodiment of the parallel beam positioning apparatus, the parallel support beams comprise first and second resilient reed beams having their ends secured to the head carriage and configured to be deflectable in a direction transverse to the tape travel direction. A voice coil linear motor deflects the reed beams pursuant to a control signal to move the magnetic tape head along the path transverse to the tape travel direction.

Abstract: A golf bag with integrated support legs is disclosed. The legs are pivoted at the top of the bag, and may be extended to a stand position, forming a support stand for the golf bag to support the bag in an inclined position. A flexible rod extends longitudinally along a side of the bag between the legs, with a spring member extending between the bottom support of the bag and respective positions intermediate the leg ends. To cause the legs to be opened to the stand position from a upright position adjacent the bag body, a force is applied to the top of the flexible rod, causing it to flex and thereby pivot the legs outwardly to the stand position. When the bag is picked up the legs are automatically restored to the upright position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for assembling data read from a data storage DAT tape into data groups. A tape data processing circuit responsive to the playback of DAT tape for provides for each frame a serial frame information output including a frame header and frame data, and an associated subcode information output, the subcode information output being available in advance of the associated frame information. A processor responsive to the subcode information checks the validity of the subcode information and determines the destination group memory locations of the associated frame data, such destination group memory locations being group frame locations specified pursuant to valid subcode information or temporary storage areas for frames having invalid subcode information. DMA circuitry transfers the frame data to the destination group memory locations.

Abstract: A multi-featured electronic vehicle security system is disclosed. The system is controlled by an electronic controller such a microcomputer. To reduce noise pollution due to false alarms caused by repetitive tripping of the system sensor devices, the system will not respond to more than a defined number of successive trippings of the same sensor device to initiate an alarm condition. The system includes a user-enabled feature wherein a first alarm signal generator is activated by a sensor tripping, and a second, distinct alarm signal generator is activated when a trigger device has been tripped. When the system is passively armed, active sensors and triggers are automatically diagnosed and bypassed, permitting the system to be passively armed even if one or more trigger or sensor is active.

Abstract: A horizontal oscillatory feeder apparatus is disclosed for feeding a plurality of different types of electrical components of varying mass along respective tracks to component pick-up stations. The components and the tracks are supported on a base plate, which is excited in an oscillatory movement. The movement of the base plate is constrained so that movement is permitted only along an axis parallel to the feeder tracks. An excitation apparatus excites the base plate so that the acceleration forces applied to the components in a desired direction of movement exceeds the frictional force tending to prevent slippage of the components on the tracks; the acceleration forces applied to the components in the opposite direction are limited so that the components do not slip on the track in the opposite direction to the desired movement.

Abstract: An electronically programmable remote control for an vehicle security system. The system remote control comprises one or more hand-held remote transmitters and a receiver unit located in the vehicle. The receiver is operable in conjunction with a control unit which contains a microprocessor capable of performing control functions and encoding functions. The remote control enables the user to electronically program into or delete from the receiver a digital code from any of a plurality of transmitters. It is not necessary for the user or anyone else to know the specific encoded signal which is transmitted from any of the transmitters to the receiver. The receiver is operable with a plurality of transmitters, all of which operate on the same frequency.

Abstract: Rows of closely spaced apertures are installed in a sail to control boundary layer air flow over a sail to laminar flow type by "bleeding" high energy air from the windward or concave side of the sail through the apertures to the convex or leeward side of the sail. The "bleed air" vents the windward boundary layer air through the apertures, gently lifts the leeward or convex side boundary layer off the sail surface; then new laminar boundary layers are formed, on each side of the sail, downwind of the aperture. The increase in air energy adjacent to the sail surface maintains desirable air flow velocity and pressure gradients on the sail that prevents flow separation. The apertures permit large camber of sail contour and high angles of attack without stalling. The air "bleeding" action continuously removes old boundary layer air and creates new laminar boundary air layers on the sail.

Abstract: An electromechanical demonstrator board of one or more of the six trigonometric functions. The board is powered electrically by a battery and mechanically by a hand crank which drives a pointer and contact arm. The circuits include light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged into three groups. The first group represents a unit circle. The second group is on a vertical segment, and the third group is on the path of the function and the horizontal axis. The first group of LEDs indicates particular angle measures on the unit circle. In the second group, vertically oriented LEDs indicate harmonic motion. The third group of LEDs demonstrates a graph of the trigonometric function and the measure of linear movement related to rotation on the unit circle.

Abstract: An improved aluminum propane gas cylinder with a braced liquid line or pipe. The brace is welded to a joggle formed in the rim of the cylinder top head section, and includes a pair of tines which are crimped around the liquid pipe to secure it against vibration. Securing the brace to the top head joggle permits assembly of the liquid pipe to the brace before joining the top and bottom head sections, and complies with regulations against welding to the straight surface of the cylinder. With the liquid line brace in this manner, the susceptability of the liquid line to fatigue cracking is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A technique for protecting the tape and mechanism of a DAT tape drive that includes engaging a PAUSE mode of operation, wherein the reel motors are off and the tape is stationarily positioned at a predetermined location, when the drive is not able to record or read a data group. If the amount of time during which the PAUSE mode is engaged exceeds a predetermined PAUSE mode limit, a STOP mode of operation, wherein the reel motors remain off and the pinch roller is disengaged from the tape and capstan, is engaged. If the amount of time during which the STOP mode is engaged exceeds a predetermined STOP mode limit, the tape is unloaded.

Abstract: An interfacing system for integrating a wide variety of cellular communication systems with most vehicle security systems. The system includes a controller and an interfacing arrangement for matching the cellular telephone to the controller. The interfacing arrangement includes a library, stored in memory, having a plurality of unique translation tables corresponding to the protocols of a plurality of unique cellular communication systems. The interfacing arrangement further includes an initializing capability for selecting an operating protocol for the interfacing system from the library which is compatible with the protocol of the cellular communication system. Hardware and software are included for interfacing the vehicle security to the controller and for interfacing the controller to the vehicle. In a specific embodiment, the selection of cellular telephone type or make is made from the keypad of the cellular telephone.

Abstract: An automated tool changer system for a drilling or other type of machine tool system. A gripper apparatus transports tools held in a tool magazine to a tool working unit such as a drill spindle. The tool working unit is supported by an upper support beam above a workpiece-supporting table mounted for movement in an X-Y plane. The magazine is supported by a sliding carriage mounted on the upper support beam, and can be moved upwardly and downwardly to insert and remove tools from the gripper apparatus. The gripper apparatus is supported by the X-Y table, and can be raised or lowered relative to the table during the tool changing operation. The gripper apparatus is provided with two possible grip pressures, and with a sensor for detecting the presence of the tool end at a predetermined grip jaw reference point. The sensor permits the tool to be inserted into the spindle chuck with a predetermined length of tool extending from the chuck.

Abstract: A method for drilling very small diameter holes (0.005 inches or smaller) in a printed circuit board is described, employing an entry overlay sheet. The entry overlay sheet is a thin layer of a homogenous polymer material, having a thickness of 0.005 to 0.010 inches, but at least 1.5 times the drill diameter. To provide improved drilling characteristics the polymer may be filled with mineral filler particles such as talcum powder. The method of drilling the printed circuit board includes (i) placing a sheet of this entry material on top of the printed circuit board, and (ii) drilling through the entry material and printed circuit board in succession.

Abstract: The specification herein discloses a golf club having an improved moment of inertia. The improved moment of inertia is for both a driver and a putter. The driver is formed of an investment casting having peripheral weights proximate the toe side and heel side of the club. A third weight is provided at the rear of the club. The weights provide a three dimensional configuration for weighting the club wherein the rear weight provides an increased moment of inertia. By increasing the moment of inertia, the club has a lesser tendency to twist when it strikes the ball off the center of gravity thereby creating less torque or twist to the club head for more accurate direction. The putter has the moment of inertia weighting applied above its midline center of gravity so that it provides overspin or top spin to the ball when struck.

Abstract: An axial lead component feeder is described, which includes a lead cutting and forming station, at which the processed parts are presented at a part pickup location for robotic pickup. Taped axial lead components are fed to a lower process-start location. A cut/form pneumatic cylinder drives a lower die support block upward, directly passing cutting die carried by the support block through captured components leads to cut the leads to a desired length. In the same upward stroke of the cylinder, the leads are formed, and the processed part presented at the pickup location. The feeder has many advantages, including narrow footprint and low Z axis profile, reduced number of change tooling parts, increased part refresh rate and improved scrap tape removal.

Abstract: A component lead cutting apparatus for tape-fed radial lead electrical components is disclosed. The taped components are driven through the machine by a rotary index wheel, with the cutting station element adjacent the wheel periphery. Clamping and cutting die elements are placed at the cutting station, and are actuated by a pneumatic cylinder to clamp and cut the lead components. The apparatus includes adjustment elements readily accessible from the top of the machine to raise or lower the index wheel and thereby adjust for different lead cut lengths, and to position the wheel to accommodate different tape sprocket opening configurations. The machine has a compact, narrow footprint, so that the machine is space-efficient.