Abstract: Reading glasses are specially constructed to permit them to assume a compact storage condition when not in use. Lightweight half lenses are pivoted to the lower ends of an arched nose bridge which functions as a spring to provide the sole force necessary to maintain the eyeglasses on the nose. The lenses may pivot about pivot pins on the nose bridge through pivot arcs of 90.degree. between the wearing and storage positions. The lenses occupy a common plane in all positions. Notches in the lens edges receive the legs of the nose piece to provide a detent for retaining the lenses in the wearing position.

Abstract: A keyboard encoding device which directly develops a digital, valid and reliable output signal without electronic encoding circuitry. The preferred device has a plurality of juxtaposed, flexible conductive strands or wires each having a number of axially spaced impact zones which are either insulated or conductive; corresponding zones on the separate wires are aligned to cooperatively define a series of spaced impact zone sets each made of a unique pattern of conductive and insulated zones. An electrically conductive, rubber-like resilient pad having a series of ridge-like elongated members respectively aligned with corresponding impact zone sets is oriented for shifting of the members into momentary contact with the associated zone sets, whereby electrical contact is made between the ridge members and the conductive impact zones of the set. This directly generates a momentary unique, digitalized output signal. The device is particularly suited for use in impact-type keyboards.

Abstract: An improved, low cost, high speed, impact printing apparatus usable as a typewriter or as a machine printer is disclosed which includes a carriage translatable along a page through a rack and gear assembly and having an electronically controlled printing unit oriented to reveal the line of write and give constant printing characteristics independent of carriage speed. The printing unit includes a thin, lightweight, circular, bidirectionally shiftable, distensible synthetic resin band having printing characters thereon, along with a single, spring-powered impression hammer for selectively engaging and distending the band toward the page in order to print a selected character. Printing and letter-spacing are concurrently initiated and accomplished using only a single, windable, energy-storing mainspring and a mechanical energy transmission assembly coupling the rack and gear assembly and printer in parallel.

Abstract: A moldable, impulse operation synthetic resin keyboard, and a method of fabricating the same, are provided wherein the keyboard achieves essentially standard, tactile feel and feedback, mechanical N-key rollover protection and precise, reliable output. The keyboard includes a synthetic resin base plate having a plurality of elongated, cantilever mounted flippers, along with a plurality of elongated, laterally spaced, inwardly and opposedly extending, pivotal, key-supporting arms. Upon depression of a key, the associated flipper is deformed until a release point is reached, whereupon the flipper is disengaged, allowing the flipper to quickly return to its rest position. A keyboard output is developed as the flipper, during overtravel thereof past its rest position, strikes a signal-generating assembly.

Abstract: An extremely low cost, high speed, full stroke keyboard is disclosed which provides momentary impulse operation. N-key rollover protection and standard tactile feedback. The keyboard includes a plurality of depressible keys mounted on respective upright synthetic resin flaps designed to collapse upon key depression and engage and move an underlying, resilient, U-shaped shifting member; the member in turn engages and shifts another U-shaped resilient element which supports one or more upstanding encoding posts. When the U-shaped element reaches a cocked position it is disengaged from the shifting member and allowed to snap back toward the original rest position thereof independently of subsequent return movement of the key and shifting member. The snap back motion is sensed and a corresponding key output signal developed.

Abstract: A low cost, structurally superior bridge and fabrication method are described which take maximum advantage of the compressive strength of concrete, and the tensile strength of steel, to give a bridge structure having the lowest allowable depth-to-span ratio and good dead load/live load ratios, as well as minimum deflection under impacting, moving concentrated loads. The bridge is most preferably shop cast in sections which include lowermost, substantially planar structural metallic plates (e.g., 5/16" thick self-rusting steel) of length and width dimensions substantially equal to that of the sections; a separate layer of concrete is then composited to each plate, preferably by means of upstanding studs secured to the plate and embedded within the concrete. Monolithic bridge sections are thus formed which can be transported to the bridge site, erected and connected, typically by welding the respective section plates together at regular intervals.

Abstract: A low cost, factory fabricated, force distributing bridge truss assembly is disclosed which includes respective, interconnected, converging pairs of carrier truss structures designed to be composited to an overlying concrete bridge deck such that the latter serves as a top chord diaphragm for absorbing live load-induced compression and bending forces. The carrier truss structures are fabricated using only two standard shapes of plasma arc cut steel angles (normally 6".times.6" for truss webs and 8".times.8" for truss chords) welded directly together without the need for special order steel or supplemental gusset plates. The preferred deck for use with the truss assembly hereof is a concrete structure having a lowermost, spanning metallic plate substrate composited (by means of upstanding studs) to a concrete layer thereon. This assembly may be applied to the carrier truss structure in either precast, sectionalized form or field cast in place.

Abstract: A moldable, impulse operation synthetic resin keyboard, and a method of fabricating the same, are provided wherein the keyboard achieves essentially standard, tactile feed and feedback, mechanical N-key rollover protection and precise, reliable output. The keyboard includes a synthetic resin base plate having a plurality of elongated, cantilever mounted flippers, along with a plurality of elongated, laterally spaced, inwardly and opposedly extending, pivotal, key-supporting arms. Upon depression of a key, the associated flipper is deformed until a release point is reached, whereupon the flipper is disengaged, allowing the flipper to quickly return to its rest position. A keyboard output is developed as the flipper, during overtravel thereof past its rest position, strikes a signal-generating assembly.