Abstract: An earplug is provided, of a type that includes a soft shell (12) and an insertion stem (16), which facilitates pullout of the earplug from the ear canal and which has an increased ability to block noise. The earplug includes a body or shell of soft elastomeric material with a forward portion (20) constructed to enter the ear canal and a rearward portion (22) which flares in a rearward direction. A stem (16) of more rigid material than the shell, extends along most of the length of a passage (14) formed within the shell. The shell passage has a neck part (42) at the rear of the shell forward portion. The stem has a forward flange (32) lying in interference fit within the passage at a location forward of the passage neck part, and the stem has a rearward flange (34) that lies in interference fit with the flared rear portion of the shell.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that enables a person reclined on a bed to comfortably view a television screen (36) that is set up for ordinary viewing, which is small and lightweight, of low cost, and easily used. The apparatus includes a frame (64) that can be mounted on a wall (66) and a pair of mirrors (60, 62) mounted on the frame. A first of the mirrors (60) lies above the head (H) of the reclined viewer so he can comfortably view the first mirror, while the second mirror (62) is positioned to reflect light from the screen toward the first mirror, with the first mirror then reflecting the light to the viewer. In one apparatus, the frame includes a wall mount (72) that lies behind and above the viewer's head, an arm (64) extending forwardly from the mount, and a mirror support lying at the outer end of the arm. Each of the mirrors is pivotally mounted on the mirror support about a primarily horizontal axis for fine adjustment.

Abstract: A marker is provided for use by emergency service personnel entering a room of a building, to keep the door from latching closed while he/she searches the room, and later help him find the door to exit the room, and to indicate to other rescuers that a search is in progress or has been completed. The marker includes a housing (12, FIG. 1) and a door clamp (14) mounted on the housing and constructed to fit on a door to prevent complete closing of the door. The housing holds an audible alarm generator (20) which generates sound beeps to help a searcher find the door in an environment of thick smoke. With the door clamp holding the door ajar, the sound beeps can be heard from outside the room, so another searcher can determine that a search is in progress. The alarm is settable to generate a different pattern of sound beeps, to indicate that a search is in progress, or has been completed. It also generates light flashes. The door clamp can include a length of wire that extends around the outer edge of a door.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for flaring large amounts of natural gas at a location spaced from an offshore production platform. The apparatus includes a spar buoy structure (32, FIG. 1) anchored at a location on the order of 0.1 kilometer from the platform (12) and coupled through an undersea conduit (44) to the platform. The structure is anchored by catenary chains (71-74), and has a ballasted lower portion and a buoyant upper portion to keep the structure upright so the flare (42) always remains high above sea level. The undersea conduit (44) which carries natural gas to the structure, connects to a buoy pipe (66) that extends along the structure, at a location (64) close to the center of gravity (80) of the structure, or at the bottom (keel) of the buoy, to minimize failure from constant structure pivoting. A wide lower part (34) of the structure includes several individually-sealed air-filled chambers (91-98, FIG. 2) spaced along its height. A mechanism (100, FIG.