Abstract: A dispenser of the coffee pot type for dispensing alternatively one or another beverage, such as coffee and decaffeinated coffee, includes a combined handle and lid unit and a two-compartment container. The dispensed liquid is manually selected by pushing on a trigger or stud positioned at the handle-allowing one-hand selection of the liquid to be dispensed from either of two compartments out of a spout in the lid. The selection is made by means of a unitary lid-handle-valve and valve actuator assembly in which all of the elements are in horizontal alignment with the pouring spout. One embodiment uses two valve units in which one valve unit is used for one compartment of the container and the other valve unit is used for another compartment of the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing reinforced leather portfolio having wide opening top and concealed name tag, the wide opening top of the portfolio is provided by a novel subassembly of sides and bottom in which the top of the side portions of the subassembly is from 10 to 25% wider, preferably 20% wider than the bottom which provides much easier access to removing the contents of the center section of the portfolio. The two top-widened sides and the bottom of the subassembly comprise stitched together sheets of leather which are sewed to the envelope side panels of the portfolio and these sides and bottom panels are reinforced in an entirely new location at the center by a separate strap of continuous length going from the top of one side around the bottom and up the other side and which is stitched to provide a central load carrying strap secured to the sides and bottom which prevents tearing away from the envelope panels to which they are stitched.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel covered zipper assembly for the top of a portfolio with two heavy duty magnetic catches, one at each end thereof and being secured between the portfolio panels at the top to hide the zipper from view. A combination lock cooperating with a hasp protrudes from one end to be inserted into a catch portion at the side of the portfolio whereby the pull tab of the zipper can be grasped to slide open the top of the portfolio. Lock means, preferably combination lock means, are provided at the hasp. The covering is preferably constructed of high grade leather which is fastened by sewing to the other side panels of the portfolio at the top inner edges thereof. Easy access to the top of the portfolio for opening is not readily suggested by observing from the top because the cover assembly hides the zipper from view.

Abstract: A dispenser of the coffee pot type for dispensing alternatively one or another beverage, such as coffee and decaffeinated coffee, includes a combined handle and lid unit and a two-compartment container. The dispensed liquid is manually selected by pushing on a trigger or stud positioned at the handle - allowing one-hand selection of the liquid to be dispensed from either of two compartments out of a spout in the lid. The selection is made by means of a unitary lid-handle-valve and valve actuator assembly in which all of the elements are in horizontal alignment with the pouring spout. A further embodiment uses two valve units for the same end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel handle and panel assembly in a zipper closed portfolio and in particular to an improved internally cushioned handle construction in which the inner seam of the handle is formed by sewing the front and back handle sections together and folding whereby the inner side of the handle presents a stitching line located between inner folded plies which constitute the front and back sides of the handle, respectively, and wherein the cushioning material is provided on the outer side of the handle to provide a soft reinforcement of this soft outer side thereby improving the feel of the handle as it is grasped by the fingers of the hand in carrying the portfolio. The handle is of the type which can be retracted, or moved up and down within the panel. The zipper of the portfolio constitutes the sole entry into a security compartment within the panels on the right and left sides of the portfolio.

Abstract: A sleeveless, preferably lined, apron of jacket length sewn together at the shoulders having a back panel of about the same length as the front panel with detachable multicolored two-dimensional cut out toys provided on the front so that the mother or babysitter can observe or actively participate in the baby's play involving detaching or reattaching these toys to the front of the apron. Exemplary multicolored toys in the form of two-dimensional detachable appliques are a butterfly, a kitten, a lion, a Noah's Ark, and the letters A, B & C. A toy may include a sounding device, such as a bell which is attached to the butterfly and cannot be detached by the infant. The Noah's Ark is attached by buttons fitting into buttonholes and these are manipulated by the child. The Letters A, B & C each differently colored, match outlines on the apron in the corresponding color, (blue for A, green for B, red for C) to attach by means of VELCRO fasteners (VELCRO is a hook and pile type fastener).

Abstract: A finger protector for hair stylist's fingers, specifically useful to protect the inner first finger joint of the index and of the second finger of one hand from being pierced and cut by scissors used by the other hand during the cutting and styling of hair. The protector is formed as a unitary device and in one embodiment is glove-like having a larger finger end, a narrow wrist band end and an intermediate narrow joining portion which joins the larger finger end to the wrist end. In this glove-like protector only the wrist and the lower joint of the first two fingers are protected. In a second embodiment, the narrow wrist portion and the narrow joining portion are omitted, so that the unitary two-finger protector is fitted over the bottom knuckle up to the first knuckle of the index and second finger. In both first and second embodiments the two tubular finger portions have downwardly beveled open front portions and thickened front wall portions with an interconnecting web defining an angle between about 25.

Abstract: An improved knockdown tray assembly which is capable of supporting heavier loads than the tray assembly of my companion co-pending patent application Ser. No. 639,045, using paperboard or cardboard trays and supporting members. The tray supporting members are of a new construction and are formed of inverted U-shaped beams which are provided at the center of each beam with interfitting pivot structure. The interfitting pivot structure is formed by providing a pin in a shallow wall molding on the bottom U-beam and a socket which has a much greater elevation on the upper U-beam, the shallow beam and deep socket improving the stability of the interfitting pivot portion of the beams thereby preventing any unintended disengagement of the pivot and socket element.

Abstract: A new two part closure for a sanitary wash bottle assembly comprising an inner multiple lobed elastomer plug and a sealing stopper. A dispensing tube passes through the inner plug and a bulb is positioned next to the neck of the flask of the wash bottle. The sealing stopper is formed with a downwardly extending skirt which encompasses the top rim of the wash bottle and an inner lip-matching groove to engage the wash bottle rim at the lip edge. The inner plug member is formed with uniformly spaced apart lobes at the bottom of the plug and with a central axial bore having narrowed portions at the top and bottom of the bore to facilitate pushing in the dispensing tube. The plug is molded by a transfer molding operation and is formed of a yieldable elastomer having a Durometer (Shore A). The multi-lobe construction of the plug provides a yieldable easily manipulated plug mass which can be easily inserted within the outer skirt and cap member of the double stopper assembly.

Abstract: A printer for producing both standard printed characters and braille characters on a recording medium comprising a platen having a cylindrical exterior recording medium surface, a braille embossing mechanism on the inside of the platen and the surface of the platen having solid and perforated regions so that on rotation of the platen the solid regions serve as a backing for standard printed characters and the perforated regions comprise holes in a 6 dot braille pattern, thereby providing for the simultaneous printing or typing of printed words and braille words. The braille characters are embossed directly below the printed characters in a one to one fashion which permits the typed correspondence to be read by the sighted and the braille embossing to be read by the blind simultaneously thereby saving time, effort and money for communicating with the blind and the sighted in the fields of entertainment, education and employment.

Abstract: A check valve for cardiac surgery and the like has a hollow valve body supporting spring biased split leaflets hinged for swinging movement from the base thereof between normally closed position and open position wherein the leaflets form a continuation of one end of the hollow annular valve body. Out turned edges of the separable spring biased split leaflets are in sealed engagement with a seat on the valve body and terminate in longitudinal edges which are in sealed engagement with adjacent leaflet sealing edges in the normally closed position. Said longitudinal out turned edges provide braking action to slow the closing velocity of te leaflets during the closing portion of their cycle. Said longitudinal out turned edges are shaped to provide a cushioning effect at the instant of closure due to their resiliency and springiness thereby minimizing closing impact and blood cell damage.

Abstract: If a plurality of essentially circular sheets of filter paper are stacked in a pile, the individual sheets have a tendency to stick to each other rendering it difficult to remove the topmost sheet from the pile. To overcome this inconvenience, it is provided that adjacent sheets within the pile have a different contour, e.g. by providing every second sheet with a protruding tongue arranged at the circumferential edge thereof. All the intermediate sheets either do not have such tongue or are provided with a recess arranged anywhere along their circumferential edge.

Abstract: A knockdown tray assembly which is capable of supporting heavy loads, using paperboard or cardboard trays and supporting members. The tray supporting members are of a new construction and are formed of inverted U-shaped beams which are provided at the center of each beam with interfitting pivot structure. The interfitting pivot structure is formed by providing a pin in a shallow wall molding on the bottom U-beam and a socket which has a much greater elevation on the upper U-beam, the shallow beam and deep socket improving the stability of the interfitting pivot portion of the beams thereby preventing any unintended disengagement of the pivot and socket element. Also trays are utilized in which the circular openings are ordinarily provided within the corners and at the bottom of each tray to accommodate the circular posts are modified to provide trays which are relatively long. The placement of the circular openings for the sockets is determined by the dimensions of the interfitted U-beams.

Abstract: A knockdown tray assembly comprising a plurality of horizontal rectangular trays made of paperboard or cardboard from a one-piece blank and supporting members formed by interfitting a T-beam bracing member over a comparable T-beam by the interfitting of a pin on the top of the beam with a socket at the bottom beam at the center, these beams serving as a cross brace below the tray and each of the beams having a double socket at the end with a supporting web, these double sockets adapted to receive tubular members which are supported on the webs. The sockets each have a flange and each of the trays has a hole cut out at the corners for the insertion of the socket. Tubular posts fit in each socket above and below the trays to form the assembled rack useful for storage or display.

Abstract: A tubular test device for testing occult blood in fecal matter using hydrogen peroxide in an ampoule and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine as the chromogen dissolved in chloroform to impregnate a cellulosic pledget which, when dried, is substantially colorless and is introduced adjacent a sampling swab into the device to lie adjacent the ampoule containing dilute hydrogen peroxide and a wetting agent. A special conditioning pre-coating for the pledget before impregnation with liquid chromogen in chloroform is provided consisting of hydroxyethylcellulose dissolved in an aqueous non-volatile acid buffer such as citric acid and sodium citrate to maintain a pH of 5-7, and then dried. The swab takes a sample of fecal matter. A cap is placed over the swab. The ampoule is broken.

Abstract: A two hand operated instrument, for controlling electronic music synthesizers, video games and computers, capable of producing two independent control voltages, in addition to the signals produced by keyboards held in each hand, such additional control voltages actuated by rotating and telescoping the concentric tubes with respect to each other. In musical applications, the finger operated voltage signals may be used to select notes and the twist and telescope signals to control musical parameters, such as volume, pitch, timbre, pulse, width, spatial location, etc.

Abstract: A three dimensional puzzle or toy, of the type sold under the registered trademark RUBIK'S CUBE, in which eight outer bodies or blocks are rotated four at a time about any one of three axes, so that different shapes may be presented in different combinations of said outer bodies. The outer bodies present a desired shape, such as an egg, sphere, clown's head or other desired shape only when the outer bodies are in proper combination. The outer bodies revolve about a spherical core, and are releasably maintained assembled about said core by magnetic means on the adjoining surfaces of the outer bodies.

Abstract: A magnetic apparatus comprising an electromagnetic coil surrounding a feed water inlet tube, having an electrical D.C. winding about the tube and a ferromagnetic helix closely fitting within the inside of the tube rotating in response to water pressure. The magnetic helix which rotates in response to water flow in the casing fits quite closely to the inner wall of the tube, the helix being only slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the tube to thereby create a flow directed tangentially along the tube surface the helix further creates an induced electromagnetic field interaction with the winding to direct the magnetic lines of force within the casing. This combines electromagnetic forces and water flowing forces to prevent calcareous deposition along the walls of said casing and to assist in keeping the walls of deposits.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for blow drying hair in which the air is dehumidified by passing it through a special housing fitted with a moisture-absorbing filter insert placed ahead of the air which impinges against the hair. A regeneratable drying agent such as aluminum oxide, silica gel, or the like constitutes the moisutre absorbing filter insert. In a preferred embodiment a fan driven by an electric motor sucks the drying air through a slit in a double-walled hood which fits over the hair so that the air sucked through the slit must pass through the filter insert into an inside wall portion of the hood which is perforated and lies next to the hair which is being dried. A holder for the hood is swivelably mounted so that it can be fixed to a wall. Moist air which reaches the outside hood is recirculated to the inside wall and again fed to the filter insert for repeated dehumidification. In this manner at least part, if not all, of the air is dehumidified.

Abstract: A continuous process for carrying out the process for preparing substantially dust-free thermoset plastic particles from soft plastic mixtures of reactive thermoset plastic-forming materials and volatile components. These soft mixtures which quickly harden after drying are extruded under low pressure and are granulated by cutting while soft. To eliminate excessive amounts of dust the invention uses a premixer and a worm conveyor in a special housing and the conveyor flights are at a low angle of inclination to the horizontal to extrude the soft mixture at low pressure. The soft material at the outlet of the special material is pushed out of the nozzle under a worm rotation which is less than 25 r.p.m. and a pressure is of the order of one pound after which the material is conveyed pneumatically to a cooling station to harden and after cooling is cut into uniform size particles by knives without the formation of dust.