Abstract: An improved actuator device is disclosed which comprises a combination of activators, switches, indicator lights and power outlets for providing an alarm to those persons of impaired hearing. The device comprises a housing which has electrical power supplied thereto and switches for transmitting the received electrical power therefrom. An indicator circuit is provided to signal the activation capability of the device. Associated with the device is a pneumatic pressure switch which is activated when increased pneumatic pressure is applied to the switch, pressure being applied through a squeeze bulb and tubular conduit connecting the squeeze bulb to the switch. Other indicators and sensor switches can be associated with the device to alert one of impaired hearing to multiple dangerous situations or events.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling a circularly curved hole in a workpiece, following a curved path around an arc includes a support, shaped to rest against the workpiece, a chassis mounted to the support on a pivot axis defining a center of the curved path, and a drilling bit. The drilling bit is disposed on the distal end of a shaft which is likewise curved around the path, and is provided with a power transmission section connected to the drilling bit and disposed along the arc, coaxial with the pivot axis of the chassis. An electric motor or electric hand drill with chuck is used to apply power to the power transmission section, while manually forcing the chassis around the pivot axis, thereby moving the drilling bit along the path. The support can be adjustable to span and/or clamp on the workpiece. The power transmission section can include an internal or external member carrying power along a fixed tube or shaft respectively.

Abstract: A clip for orderly arrangement and identification of flexible lines such as hospital intravenous tubing has a pocket for grasping the tubing and interengaging protrusions and engagement holes whereby the clip can be chained in a line with other similar clips. The clip has a pair of arms attached at one end to a base, free ends of the arms being attachable to the base of another clip. The base has engagement holes for receiving snap-in protrusions on the free ends of the arms, the arms being spaced and the protrusions preferably protruding outwardly for insertion into engagement holes on the inside of a cavity in the base after compressing the arms together with finger pressure. Tubing or wiring which is grasped by the clips is thus maintained in neat and orderly spaced relation. The clips can be coded by color, shape or the like and are preferably placed at spaced positions along the tubes for identifying a specific tube without tracing it back to its source of destination.

Abstract: A segmented seal is disposed between a rotary heat-retaining body and its housing, the housing defining a hot flow path and a cool flow path through the housing and intersecting the heat retaining body, and the heat retaining body being movable to transfer heat from one flow path to the other. A plurality of serially-connected seal segments are attached to one of the body and the housing, the seal segments each extending along a seal line and overlapping one another along the seal line, the seal segments bearing against the other of the body and the housing to effect a seal.

Abstract: A method for storing, mixing, dispensing, and returning a fluid, a mixable composition and a resultant fluid meant for oral application includes the steps of providing a movable member within a cup-like container that isolates the mixable composition, containing the fluid about a portion of the movable member which isolates that composition, opening the container and displacing the movable member upwardly to concurrently mix the fluid and the mixable composition, accessing the resulting fluid for oral application by a user, and returning spent fluid to the container and closing the container. The method also may include the step of containing the discarded fluid separately.

Abstract: An optical keyboard comprising: a flat optical block whose top face (9) is intended to co-operate with the keys (12); light inlets (2) and light detection outlets (3) having intersections (4) which couple one light inlet with one light detection outlet; key-actuated elements situated at the intersections for coupling or decoupling the inlets and the outlets; optical ducts which are unobstructed from a corresponding light inlet to a corresponding matrix intersection, and from a corresponding matrix intersection to a corresponding light detection outlet; and a scanning stage for applying a signal successively to each of the inlets and for observing the state of each of the outlets after each signal application; is characterized in that the light inlets and the light detection outlets are disposed along the same one of the sides (31) of said optical block, with each key emplacement being directly connected to a single light emitter and a single light receiver via respective optical ducts (2, 3).

Abstract: A box for shipping, display and or/storage of a cassette, such as a video cassette, is folded from a single sheet of material. The folded box has a top, bottom, front, back and opposing end portions. The front portion includes a top edge defining a cutaway portion. The back portion includes a removable closure panel attached to the back along a perforated line, the perforated line also defining a cutaway portion opposing the front cutaway portion. When the box is folded and closed it may be used for shipping and/or storage. When the removable closure panel is torn along said perforation to form a sleeve container for the cassette, the opposing cutaway sections provide means for grasping opposite sides of the cassette.

Abstract: A vehicle access ramp especially for wheel chair access includes alternative horizontal and vertical pivot assemblies. A foldable ramp is pivotably attached to a horizontal axis hinge, and vertically pivotable around a vertical rod at a side of a doorway. For deployment to the ground, the ramp is pivoted horizontally and unfolded. To provide access to the doorway without use of the ramp, the folded ramp is locked into its stored vertical position in the vehicle and pivoted or swung out of the way on a vertical pivot assembly in the vehicle doorway.

Abstract: An inverse flow depth filter assembly includes an elongated, generally elliptical housing with gas inlet and egress means, and a bottom drain. A filter cartridge is suspended from the housing top so that an annular channel is created between the housing and the cartridge. The cartridge has passages at the top, leading to the egress means and an open bottom. Air enters the housing and is channeled downward through the annular channel until it reaches the cartridge bottom, quiets the turns upwardly through the filter. Heat exchange apparatus cools the down-flowing air and promotes condensation of the water. The heat exchange apparatus can include a plurality of fins fixed to the exterior of the housing to promote heat exchange with the surrounding atmosphere. Heat exchange fins disposed internally at the annular channel promote heat exchange between the flowing air and the housing. The fins increase the contact surface area for better heat exchange with the outside air.

Abstract: A low cost sprayer and method of using the sprayer is disclosed. The sprayer is formed with a length of flexible tubing having an inlet end and a tubing outlet end. A nozzle is secured to the outlet end of the hose in a manner to provide a predetermined flow pattern upon rotation of the tubing and nozzle. In use, the inlet end of the tubing is placed within an agricultural chemical containing tank and a predetermined length of the remainder of the tubing is rotated by a worker as he walks through the area to be sprayed. By varying the radius of the rotating portion of the tubing and by varying the type of spray nozzle employed, the swath width and the droplet size of liquid chemical application can be closely controlled. Granular agricultural chemicals can be applied by rotating a granular material nozzle about its axis while rotating the tubing in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A cleaning machine, such as a washing machine, is provided in the bottom region of its wet chamber with an outlet and an intake connected thereto immediately above a feed pump, adjacent to which a heating section with an electric heating element located outside the wet region is provided, in such a way that a circulating duct is formed which leads through the wet chamber, the outlet and back to the inlet to the inlet side of the feed pump, in which the washing solution is carried in circuit form under thermosiphonic effect, so that the washing solution is heated and portions of the cleaning agent added to the washing solution and which tend to sink are dissolved.

Abstract: A device for retaining an attachment member having an engagement portion for engagement with an outer circumferential surface of a rod-like member, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a main part of the attachment member with some play; an elastic member for retaining the main part at its first position for keeping the rod-like member and the engagement portion from interfering with each other when the rod-like member is brought into a preliminary position for engagement with the engagement portion; and a pressure unit for bringing the attachment member to its second position for engaging the engagement portion with the rod-like member against a biasing force of the elastic member. When the attachment member is placed in the receptacle, it is held in its first position for not causing any interference between the engagement portion and the rod-like member by being supported by the elastic member. The rod-like member is then placed at a prescribed position.

Abstract: A fisherman's ice auger has a hollow tubular body with an open end and a closed end, and a support pivotably retaining a crank handle in either of a deployed position, for cranking the body about its axis, and a stowed position wherein the crank handle is pivoted back along the body for gripping and transporting the ice auger. Helical webs on an outside of the tubular body, extending helically away from the open end. Preferably-replaceable cutters are mounted at the ends of the helical webs. A removable cap overfits the open end of the body, closing off the inside of the tubular body and defining a receptacle for carrying ice fishing articles, and also protecting the cutters. The cutters have a disc-shaped or spade-shaped blade attached to the leading edge of a shoe mounted on the open end of the tubular body.