Abstract: The present invention is a toy sound producing ball, having a ball portion, such as a foam football, joined with a passive sound device, such as a whistle, which produces sound when air travels relative to the sound device, wherein the whistle is joined to the interior or exterior of the ball portion.

Abstract: In a combination of a finger ring and a size adjustment insert, the finger ring and the insert are provided with complementary interengaging portions that permit the insert to be twist received in frictional engagement adjacent the back side of the head of the ring. The insert is formed from a resilient plastic material and includes a male protrusion which is adapted to be twist-received into a complementary female opening formed in the back side of the decorative head of the finger ring.

Abstract: A stand for a Christmas tree includes an inner portion which is securable to the trunk portion of a Christmas tree and a base portion which is adapted for receiving the inner portion and the trunk portion therein in order to support the Christmas tree in a substantially upright disposition on a supporting surface. The stand further includes a centering assembly for centering the inner portion and the bottom end of the trunk portion of the Christmas tree relative to the base portion and a plurality of securing arms on the inner portion which are engageable with the base portion for adjustably securing the angular position of the Christmas tree relative to the stand.

Abstract: An apparatus for storage and timed taking of medicaments, in particular birth control pills, has a casing (1), in which a disc (12) is bearingly supported for rotation. The disc (12) has receiving openings (17) for the medicaments to be taken subsequently and is provided on its bottom side with a toothed rim (30) into which a tooth (28) of an interlocking means (25) resiliently engages such that the disc (12) can be rotated in one direction only. When rotating the disc (12) for one pitch of the toothed rim (30), a normally open contact (37) is closed which is inserted into the current circuit of a preprogrammed counter at which the desired moment for taking is adjustable. Upon rotation of the disc (12), one receiving opening (17) after the other is disposed above a dispense opening (19) of an intermediate bottom (9) wherefrom the medicament falls into a receiving compartment (20) from which it can be taken by actuating a rocker (21).

Abstract: An information scanning apparatus for scanning and marking parts of a written text comprises two viewing elements (14,16) for forwarding information concerning scanned text to a linescan camera (42) so as to provide two physically displaced digital images of the relevant parts of the text. A highlighter pen (34) located adjacent the viewing elements (14,16) marks the scanned text as well as providing control feedback to the scanning operation such that the apparatus can deal with variations in speed, text quality and attitude of the scanning head 10.

Abstract: A bi-level test fixture for testing printed circuit boards includes a shuttle plate which is reciprocated between first and second testing positions by a motorized actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes an eccentric circular cam mounted on a rotating drive shaft of a geared electric motor, wherein the cam is received in a rectangular aperture in the shuttle plate. The aperture forms a bearing surface for the cam, and as the cam is rotated it slidingly engages the walls of the aperture for shifting the shuttle plate between the testing positions. A switching assembly is provided for switching the motor on when the shuttle plate is in one of the testing positions, and for automatically switching the motor off after the shuttle plate reached the other testing position.

Abstract: A primer for protecting the exterior surfaces of an underground metal pipe against corrosion at temperatures of up to 250.degree. F. includes a butyl elastomer, an aliphatic hydrocarbon resin, a heat curable phenolic resin which crosslinks at between approximately 180.degree. F. and 250.degree. F., and a hydrocarbon solvent. The primer can be effectively utilized in a method which includes the steps of applying the primer to the exterior surface of a metal pipe, allowing the primer to at least partially cure, and applying a protective adhesive tape to the pipe over the primer.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering oil from an oil spill on the surface of a body of water includes a skimmer unit for recovering an oil-water mixture from the surface of the body of water, a three stage coalescer unit for separating the oil in the oil-water mixture from the water therein and a solvent injection assembly for injecting solvent into the coalescer unit after the first and second stages in order to reduce the viscosity of the oil entering the second and third stages. The first, second, and third stages of the coalescer unit comprise interceptors having a surface area ratios between 27 and 65 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 ; 65 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 and 2500 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 ; and 500 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 and 4200 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3, respectively.

Abstract: Photoelectric sensing apparatus is operative for sensing the absence of filament at a particular point on a supply bobbin wherein several strands of filament will still be present on the bobbin. The sensing apparatus includes a light source which directs an angled photoelectric beam at a sensing point near the center of the bobbin and a light sensor which detects reverse reflections of the beam. If there is filament present at the sensing point, the beam will reversely defect off the round surface of the filament back to the light sensor. If there is no filament present at the sensing point, the beam deflects off the exposed core of the bobbin away from the light sensor in a different direction. Electronics means are provided which cooperate with the sensing apparatus to automatically shut-down the machine pursuant to absence of filament at said sensing point.

Abstract: Exercise apparatus includes a counting device for counting the number of push-up completed during a period of exercise and a plurality of platform elements. The counting device comprises a housing, a digital counter mounted in the housing and a button switch mounted on the top of the housing. The counter is positioned on a supporting surface beneath the chest of the person performing the push-ups and it is incremented each time a person lowers his/her chest to contact the top of the housing when doing a push-up. The platform elements are stackable one on top of another and the counting device is stackable on top of the uppermost platform element to enable the user to adjust the vertical height of the counting device above a supporting surface.

Abstract: A method of O-methylation of a phenol, S-methylation of a thiophenal, or methylesterification of a carboxylic acid is disclosed, which involves contacting the phenol, thiophenol, or carboxylic acid with a halomethane in the presence of a fungus selected from the group consisting of Hymenochaetaceae, Polyporaceae, and Corticiaceae.

Abstract: An adaptor device for use in the carrying of a compound archery bow having a cable bar attached thereto, the adaptor device including a body portion through one end of which a bore extends for receiving the cable bar therein, the body portion being secured to the cable bar in a selected position thereon, and the body portion being mountable on a carry member in supported relation wherein the bow is supportable by the adaptor body portion on the body of the user in a carrying position which provides for convenient access to the bow by the user.

Abstract: A toy game apparatus includes a plurality of independent character figure body portion segments which are rotatably received on a bent rod so that they extend upwardly from a base and a plurality of upwardly facing, hand-like ball receiving elements on each of the body portion segments. The apparatus further includes a sound responsive operating mechanism for rotating the bent rod to shift the body portion segments back and forth in response to a predetermined level of sound. The apparatus is operative in an amusement game wherein game players are required to assemble balls in the ball receiving elements and wherein talking or laughing sounds produced by game players cause the operating mechanism to rotate the bend rod to shift the body portion segments back and forth.

Abstract: A toy top comprises a base plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a rotatable disk which is mounted beneath the base plate, a plurality of balls which are received on the base plate and a transparent dome enclosing the balls and the base plate. The device is operative by depressing a central plunger to rotate the disk beneath the base plate. The rotatable disk has a plurality of projections thereon which pass beneath the apertures in the base plate so that they engage any of the balls received in the apertures to bump or pop the balls out of the apertures as the disk is rotated.

Abstract: A self-fastening hanger for attaching a picture-frame wire to the rear of a wooden picture frame. The hanger includes a substantially planar body portion, a ring portion which extends outwardly from one end of the body portion, and a pair of prongs which project outwardly in spaced relation from the body portion. The prongs are formed in a spiral configuration, wherein they spiral in opposite directions of rotation, and they each have a plurality of barbs formed thereon which project outwardly from opposite side edges thereof. The prongs are adapted to be embedded into a wooden picture frame for permanently securing the hanger thereto, so that a pair of the hangers can be effectively utilized in combination with a picture-frame wire for supporting a picture frame on a wall.

Abstract: An annular disk-shaped pipe adaptor permits a small water meter to be connected to a large diameter water pipe. The adaptor has a first side which is adapted to attach to the large flange of the large diameter pipe. The opposing side of the adaptor includes a plurality of outwardly extending threaded studs which are adapted for extending through holes provided in the flange of the inlet pipe of the water meter. A tapered central aperture gradually reduces the flow of water as it passes from the large diameter pipe to the water meter.