Abstract: An information organization system is provided which utilizes a series of imprinted organizational sheets which have releasable, pressure-sensitive adhesive on the lower edge of the reverse surface. These sheets are carried on a pad and are thereafter individually removed and placed upon preprinted notebook or other reference sheets and held in place by the adhesive. Since they are adhered along their lower edges, the organizational sheets can be placed in overlapping juxtaposition with only their upper areas showing; and, yet, each sheet can be read in its entirety from the top down without removing other sheets. The sheets can be adhered to, or removed from, the notebook pages or other reference sheets in any sequence.

Abstract: A printed data strip (7) on a substrate (5) is provided including bit encoded information (23) and control information (15, 19, 27, 29) for an optical scanner. The encoded information is in a plurality of parallel, contiguous data lines (11) formed of bits of sequentially-encoded information, the bits being of uniform height and width. The data lines (11) start along a common line and, together, form an information portion (23) of sequentially-encoded data. The data lines (11) are transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the data strip (7).Associated with the encoded information on the printed substrate (5) are printed areas serving preliminarily to align the optical scanner with the data lines (17), and to set contrast levels (17), to maintain alignment during scanning (27, 29), and to set the vertical (19) and horizontal (15) rates of scanning. Means are provided to control and adjust the timing of each scanned data line by the optical scanner during the course of scanning.

Abstract: A data strip (2) of predetermined size is made (a) by determining the total nibbles of digital information to be encoded and the maximum number of integral nibbles per data line (14), using predetermined minimum dibit dimensions, after allowing for parity checks, alignment guides (32,36), and a start line (28), (b) by increasing the dibit dimensions to achieve the predetermined size, and adjusting the bit size to account for ink spread, and (c) by preparing a reader instruction header (16) containing coded specifications as to the data strip format. These factors are interdependent and must be correlated to provide a final data strip (2) satisfying all the predetermined criteria.An associated printer (64) prints the data strip (2) with a header (16) and a data portion (12) in the determined format.

Abstract: A data strip (2) of predetermined size is made (a) by determining the total nibbles of digital information to be encoded and the maximum number of integral nibbles per data line (14), using predetermined minimum dibit dimensions, after allowing for parity checks, alignment guides (32,36), and a start line (28), (b) by increasing the dibit dimensions to achieve the predetermined size, and adjusting the bit size to account for ink spread, and (c) by preparing a reader instruction header (16) containing coded specifications as to the data strip format. These factors are interdependent and must be correlated to provide a final data strip (2) satisfying all the predetermined criteria.An associated printer (64) prints the data strip (2) with a header (16) and a data portion (12) in the determined format.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for reading contiguous, conterminous, parallel data lines (76) of minute, rectangular bits of information printed on a substrate (2) and together forming a data strip (3) with its length, perpendicular to the data lines (76).The reader (1) includes alignment means for holding the strip (5) and includes data line scanning means (33, 40, 130) on a chassis (20) which moves longitudinally of the data strip (3) while simultaneously and synchronously scanning the tranverse data lines (76) at a rate that scans each data line a plurality of times. An infra-red light source (50) illuminates the data line (76) being scanned, and crossed cylindrical lenses (30, 32, 40, 130), moving relative to each other and to the data strip (3), focus individual scanned bits upon a matched infra-red detector (42).Multiples (33) of one of the cylindrical lenses, mounted on a rotating drum (44), are used to increase speed of operation.

Abstract: A computer controlled impact printer has a replaceable ribbon guide assembly mounted on a printhead. The assembly is movable vertically between at least two stable positions. Each position places a differently colored portion of the ribbon between the printhead and a sheet of paper. Rotation of a pair of opposed cams changes the vertical position of the assembly. One cam is fixed and the other is rotatable by a pawl operating on a ratchet wheel secured to the cam. The pawl is mounted on the assembly for a longitudinal sliding movement. Movement of the printhead to a preselected position at or near one end of its travel path drives the pawl into an abutment surface which displaces the pawl a predetermined distance. The displacement rotates the movable cam from one stable vertical position to another. The mating cam surfaces preferably have matching sawtooth configurations with recesses formed in the tips of the teeth of one cam.

Abstract: A child's toy construction system, similar in purpose to "Erector" sets, is provided having reusable, distensible "rivets" instead of nuts and bolts, and a rivet "gun" to provide a feeling of authenticity in use.The system includes plates and bars to be joined together to create different structures. They are joined by use of the rivets passing through aligned holes in the plates and bars.The rivets are formed of bullet-shaped, soft distensible rubber pieces having a bore passing lengthwise through the rivet, but being closed at the leading end. The rivets have an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the holes, when the rivets are in their relaxed, undistended condition, and will, therefore, when not distended, expand to fill the holes and secure the pieces together. Their diameter is less than that of the holes when they are longitudinally distended. The base of the rivets is larger than the holes and includes an undercut gripping shoulder.

Abstract: A child's toy construction system, similar in purpose to "Erector" sets, is provided having reusable, distensible "rivets" instead of nuts and bolts, and a rivet "gun" to provide a feeling of authenticity in use.The system includes plates and bars to be joined together to create different structures. They are joined by use of the rivets passing through aligned holes in the plates and bars.The rivets are formed of bullet-shaped, soft distensible rubber pieces having a bore passing lengthwise through the rivet, but being closed at the leading end. The rivets have an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the holes, when the rivets are in their relaxed, undistended condition, and will, therefore, when not distended, expand to fill the holes and secure the pieces together. Their diameter is less than that of the holes when they are longitudinally distended. The base of the rivets is larger than the holes and includes an undercut gripping shoulder.

Abstract: A children's game is provided in which plastic animals, such as turtles, are used as playing pieces and race along the track of a game board, advancing a given number of spaces on the basis of the spinning of a dial. The game board, however, is round and rotatable and has a base with randomly positioned magnets under the spaces on the board. The playing pieces also include magnets which are affected when they are on spaces over the random magnets. In particular, the playing piece is designed so that the animal's head drops when over a magnet, so it "falls asleep." The animal can then be "awakened" by rotating the board the equivalent of one space and so removing it from the magnet. In doing so, however, another player's piece may be moved over a magnet and similarly "fall asleep".

Abstract: A child's toy construction system, similar in purpose to "Erector" sets, is provided having reusable, distensible "rivets" instead of nuts and bolts, and a rivet "gun" to provide a feeling of authenticity in use.The system includes plates and bars to be joined together to create different structures. They are joined by use of the rivets passing through aligned holes in the plates and bars.The rivets are formed of bullet-shaped, soft distensible rubber pieces having a bore passing lengthwise through the rivet, but being closed at the leading end. The rivets have an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the holes, when the rivets are in their relaxed, undistended condition, and will, therefore, when not distended, expand to fill the holes and secure the pieces together. Their diameter is less than that of the holes when they are longitudinally distended. The base of the rivets is larger than the holes and includes an undercut gripping shoulder.

Abstract: A new treasure hunt game is played by concealing magnets in a game board and passing a detector assembly in a path over the game board to provide a concealed stored indication, retrievable later, that the detector's path has intercepted a concealed magnet. The detector assembly includes a pivotable indicator having two gravitationally stable positions, and magnetic means in the indicator for pivoting it from one stable position to the other stable position as the magnetic field of a concealed magnet is encountered. The indicator remains in its second stable position after once passing over a concealed magnet to store the indication. A housing with a retractable cover encloses the indicator, and a cushioned stop for the indicator absorbs noise and vibration, so that an indication is hidden from a player moving the detector assembly until a selected juncture in the game.