Abstract: A keyboard with a cursor control device and a palm support which supports the palms while allowing the fingers to be placed in the typing position. The palm support is connected to the cursor control device which allows the user to maintain the fingers in the typing position while controlling the position of the cursor on the display screen with palm movements.

Abstract: A lock box assembly is mountable to a vehicle to receive an item to be protected and to affix a license plate thereto. The lock box apparatus comprises an elongated housing formed by an anchoring plate and a door and having an interior sized to receive the protected item. The anchoring plate has a pair of anchoring holes that are alignable with installation holes on the vehicle so that the anchoring plate may be mounted to the vehicle. The door is pivotally mounted to the anchoring plate between a closed position enclosing the interior and preventing access to the protected item and an opened position exposing the interior and permitting access to the protected item. The door is provided with a pair of door holes registerable with cooperative holes in the license plate so that the license plate may be affixed thereto.

Abstract: Security box apparatus is adapted for use with a conventional license plate mounting structure of a vehicle which includes a plurality of spaced apart installation holes. The security box apparatus is adapted to affix a license plate thereto to secure a protected item and comprises a housing member, a door, a locking structure and a license plate mounting assembly. The housing member is provided with a plurality of anchoring holes alignable with the installation holes so that a mounting fastener may extend through these holes to securely fasten the housing member to the license plate mounting structure. A recess is formed in the housing member and the door is sized and adapted to be received in this recess to enclose the interior and the protected item. The door is movable between a closed position wherein access to the interior is prevented and an opened position wherein access to the protected item is permitted.

Abstract: A transducer device includes a pair of transducers in the form of a speaker element and a microphone element mounted in a common housing that may be positioned and retained in the external auditory canal of the human ear thereby allowing the user to interface with communications apparatus. The housing is structured to acoustically isolate the microphone and the speaker sufficiently to avoid feedback, i.e., audio coupling. In one embodiment, this isolation is accomplished by a layer of acoustical damping material interposed between the two transducers. In another embodiment, isolation is accomplished by using a separate guide structure for each transducer. In a third embodiment, isolation is accomplished by a ported metallic plate interposed between the two transducers.

Abstract: A connector is provided for use with an end-frame assembly having an outer frame and a support member. The connector includes an annular back wall having a first lateral dimension and is formed for engagement with the support member. A sleeve extends from the back wall and has a second lateral dimension that is less than the first lateral dimension. Ribs are positioned on the sleeve. In addition, the connector includes an outer end that extends away from the back wall and has a fish-mouth portion formed thereon that includes a fish-mouth opening, a leg mount that has a side wall extending through the fish-mouth opening, and a support tongue. The support tongue engages the side wall and extends through the fish-mouth portion.

Abstract: Data storage media for use with optical scanning machines are adapted to limit access to information stored thereon. Optical disks are used in an optical readout system of a computer to limit continual access to stored data by the optical readout system. A method is provided for limiting access to data stored in an optical media environment.

Abstract: A connector assembly is provided that is adapted for use with a spindle. The connector assembly includes a bar formed to include an opening having a central axis and a bar-opening dimension and a connector adapted to receive the spindle. The connector includes a base positioned to lie upon the bar. The base includes a base opening and a retaining tab that extends outwardly from the base. The retaining tab includes an outer surface having a dimension less than the bar-opening dimension and an inclined surface converging from the base toward the central axis.

Abstract: A key operated restraining device is provided to create a securing loop of adjustable dimension. The device comprises a locking head portion, an elongated strap insertable into the locking head portion to form a securing loop of adjustable dimension, a support block disposed in the interior of the head portion, and a pawl member. Both the support block and the pawl member terminate in a spaced relation to an interior wall surface of the head portion and form a slideway for the strap portion. The pawl member is connected to the locking head by a resilient hinge structure biasing the pawl member into a locking position wherein the locking structure is operative to lockably engage a plurality of tooth structures on the strap portion and a release position wherein the locking structure is disengaged from the tooth structures.

Abstract: A lock box apparatus is adapted for mounting onto mounting structure to secure a protected item thereto. The lock box apparatus comprises an anchoring plate, a door, and a latching assembly. The door is connected to the anchoring plate to provide a housing which is fastened to the mounting structure. The housing has an interior sized to receive the item to be protected. The door is operative to move between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the interior is enclosed thereby preventing access to the protected item. In the open position, the interior is exposed thereby permitting access to the protected item. The latching assembly has a secured state and an unsecured state. In the secured state, the door is locked onto the housing in the closed position thereby preventing access to the protected item. In the unsecured state, the door is movable between the closed and open positions thereby allowing access to the protected item.

Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a spindle to a tube. The method includes the step of punching a hole in an exterior wall of a tube to create a perimeter edge bordering the tube. The perimeter has a first pre-determined shape. The method further includes the step of press-fitting an end portion of a spindle having a second pre-determined shape different than the first pre-determined shape into the hole to establish a tight fit between the spindle and the tube retaining the spindle in coupled relation in the tube.

Abstract: A golf club stand device is adapted for use with a conventional golf club employed for striking a golf ball laying on a support surface. The golf club includes a shaft having a shaft end portion attached to a club head. The golf club stand device generally comprises a connector and a leg structure. The connector is adapted to connect to a portion of the shaft of the golf club. The leg structure is secured to the connector and includes a pair of legs. Each leg terminates in a distal end portion and adapts to contact the support surface so that in cooperation with the club head, when it is in contact with the support surface, the golf club is supported in an upright state. The legs are interconnected for common movement and are operative to move relative to the connector between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the legs are disposed alongside the shaft of the golf club.

Abstract: A door latch actuator is adapted for use in association with a bolt receiver which is to be engaged by a latch bolt of latch bolt assembly on a door mounted for movement between a first door position and a second door position. The latch bolt assembly includes a latch bolt having a distal end which slideably moves between an extended state and a retracted state. In the extended state, the latch bolt assembly is operative to engage a bolt receiver to retain the door at the first door position in a secured condition. Broadly, the door latch actuator comprises an actuator element and a driver. The actuator element is disposed in proximity to the distal end of the latch bolt when the door is at the first door position in the secured condition and moves between a first actuator position and a second actuator position. In the first actuator position, the actuator element allows the distal end of the spring latch bolt to engage a bolt receiver in the extended state.

Abstract: A mulching device for a reel-type mowing machine, especially power-driven machines, wherein the mulching device is mounted to the front of a reel-type lawn mower such that the device is in substantially closely spaced relationship to the rotating reel assembly, and above a portion of the reel assembly so as to direct a significant portion of the particles generated by the cutting action of the reel in front of the reel assembly for more complete comminution and eventual deposition upon the turf surface.

Abstract: A core lock assembly which is operable by two differently bitted keys is disclosed. The core lock assembly includes a shell defining a hollow portion for receiving a core which is capable of rotating to a first position under the control of a first key and to a second position under the control of a second, differently bitted key. The core lock assembly also includes a core rotation mechanism housed in the core for changing from a locked state to a first core rotatable state when the core rotation mechanism is engaged by the first key and for changing from the locked state to a second core rotatable state when the core rotation mechanism is engaged by the second key. The inner surface of the shell defines locking, first and second surface areas for cooperating with the core rotation mechanism.

Abstract: A key control device comprises a primary key, a primary lock, a secondary key, a secondary lock, and a mechanical drive. The primary lock operably receives the primary key and is keyed such that when the primary key is inserted into the primary lock, it becomes movable between a primary key release state and a primary key capture state. The secondary lock operably receives the secondary key and is keyed such that when the secondary key is received by the secondary lock it becomes movable between a secondary key release state and a secondary key capture state. The mechanical drive interconnects the primary and secondary locks such that when the primary lock moves from its primary key release state to its primary key capture state, the secondary lock simultaneously moves from its secondary key capture state to its secondary key release state and vice versa.

Abstract: An anti-theft apparatus to prevent "car jacking" includes a transmitter carried by the driver and a receiver and a switch circuit installed in the vehicle such that, when the receiver fails to detect the signal broadcast by the transmitter, the switch circuit disables the vehicle for operation. Timer circuitry is disclosed to cause the disablement only after a selected period that the broadcast signal is lost. An event detector, such as a switch circuit connected to the door light switch circuit of the vehicle, may be used to arm the disable circuit for a selected period so that disablement occurs only when the transmitter and receiver are separated beyond their communication range during a defined time interval following the occurrent of the event.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for multiple level user and master key lock rekeying changes externally by the use of appropriately bidded level change keys. Several variations of methods and apparatus for removing user level change wafers to rekey user levels independent of master levels and to rekey master levels independent of user levels are disclosed. Some of the apparatus are suitable for locks wherein the cylinder is rotatable at 180.degree., and other embodiments are disclosed for locks wherein cylinder rotation is limited to less than 180.degree.. Further, apparatus for enhancing the security of such rekeyable locks are disclosed.

Abstract: A pick resistant lock includes a secondary hole in the cylinder which is turned into alignment with a driver pin as the lock is being opened. A shuttle pin slidably positioned in the secondary bore prevents the driver pin from entering the secondary bore when a key bit is inserted in the key way. However, when there is no key bit in the key way, the driver pin will drop into the secondary bore and prevent opening the lock. Two embodiments of the lock also include features to prevent the driver pin from being pushed out of the secondary bore without disassembling the lock. In one of these embodiments, the shuttle pin is locked against movement by a tertiary pin, and in another embodiment, the service pin blocks access to the shuttle pin to accomplish this result.

Abstract: A rekeyable cylinder lock includes removeable spacers between top and bottom tumbler pins, and a key bit device for removing a spacer from the pin chamber through the key way. The key bit device includes bitting thereon to position the spacer in the top pin chamber and a cut in the opposite side thereof adapted to capture the spacer from the top pin chamber and remove it from the lock. In another embodiment of the invention, a key bit device is provided for placing a spacer into a pin chamber of the lock to rekey the lock. It includes a mechanism, such as a spring, in a cut on the back side of the key bit that is adapted to force a spacer out of the cut and into the pin chamber in the lock.

Abstract: The interchangeable ball hitch connector apparatus of this invention includes a generally spherical ball connector adapted to engage a conventional ball hitch socket, a support base adapted for fastening on the tow bar of a vehicle for supporting the ball connector, and a spring-biased latch pin in the support base for releasably attaching the ball connector to the support base. When the ball connector is assembled with and attached to the support base, the latch pin is contained entirely inside the ball connector and not exposed to damage from the socket or parts thereof on the exterior of the ball connector. A channel in the ball connector allows the latch pin to be readily unlatched from the ball connector by use of an elongated utensil, such as an ignition key.