Abstract: Several permanent magnets are on a playing surface, with all the magnetic field vectors perpendicular to the surface and oriented in common (pointing in the same direction) relative to the surface. A player positions a magnetic manipulator below the surface, and below a selected magnet on the surface, and controls the manipulator so that the selected magnet forms a predetermined array with at least one other magnet on the surface. The field of the manipulator interacts with those of the magnets on the surface to apply exclusively magnetic force or torque to the selected magnet or the other magnet on the surface, or both. The field vector of the manipulator may be oriented either (a) generally in common with those of magnets on the surface--to levitate the "other" magnet above the selected magnet by an interactive magnetic-wedge effect--or (b) generally parallel to that of the selected magnet, but in opposition, to repel the selected magnet above the other magnet.

Abstract: A toy molding device that has one or more mold cavities. Each cavity has a shape that defines a three-dimensional visually recognizable element such as a tree or a cat. Each cavity also has an entrance with a shape that defines a two-dimensional visually recognizable element such as a letter. The two and three-dimensional elements for each cavity are readily recognizable and appreciated by the child-user as being related to one another. For example, a cavity forming a tree may have an entrance in the shape of the letter "T". The child-user may first push moldable material through an entrance into the associated cavity which is at least partially blocked from view; the cavity is then opened to allow removal of the molded three-dimensional element.

Abstract: A dietary supplement is provided for children, consisting essentially of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), L-tryptophan, L-taurine, and vitamin B6.

Abstract: The apparatus and method produce visual sensations by applying low voltages through conductive electrodes to the outside of a person's head, for transmission by natural mechanisms to the nervous system--to entertain or inform a sighted person, or to help a blind person to locate nearby objects.As to entertainment, the apparatus generates various waveshapes, and an operator directs one or more to the electrodes. The operator also manually varies waveshape parameters such as frequency, amplitude, duty cycle and dc bias--or controls them with automatic sweep devices at selected sweep rates. Various wavetrains are combined at the electrodes or in the person's head for more-elaborate effects. The electrode wavetrains or necessary control signals are also received for playback.As to information, the apparatus produces coded patterns or even rough analogs of normal visual scenes.

Abstract: Each sample is analyzed for all desired elements before starting the next sample, using thermal or nonthermal atomizing devices fro liquid or solid samples. Other new features include the grating drive, lamp-carousel alignment, pulsed atom source, lamp-drift compensation, and dynamic range control. The grating is driven by an arm, the arm by a taut band wound on a drum, and the drum directly by a motor. The lamp carousel mounts on an "L"-shaped rocker with one horizontal and one vertical arm. The carousel rotates on a horizontal axis at the end of the vertical arm. The rocker itself pivots on a horizontal axis at the corner of the L; it is driven about its axis by a motor and screw at the other end of the L. Carousel rotation on its axis moves the right lamp into position and adjusts it accurately in a vertical direction. Pivoting of the rocker simultaneously on its corner axis positions the lamp accurately in a horizontal direction. The pulsed atom source is a combined angled-gas-jet-and-discharge unit.

Abstract: This fluid-current-transmitting mechanical joint allows relative rotation of two articles (one may be a stationary fixture), on an arbitrary axis. The joint has as much angular-rotation range as a hinge, but as many degrees of freedom as a ball-and-socket or universal joint. The invention has a dual outer structure consisting of two interlocked bodies, each generally arched and generally surrounding an aperture, with a connection point on each body for attachment of one of the articles; and a dual inner structure of two mutually fixed, interlocked rings or the like. The two bodies of the outer structure can be generally ring-shaped and if desired can take the form of two closely interlocked toroids, the minor cross-section of each toroid being sized to just fit through the central aperture of the other. These outer-structure bodies ride on the inner structure.

Abstract: A dietary supplement is provided for adults, consisting essentially of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), L-tyrosine, Siberian ginseng, and vitamin B6.

Abstract: An energy-dissipating receptacle for use with a fluid jet cutting system is disclosed. A plurality of circulating suspensoids within the cavity are impinged upon by the jet to dissipate the jet's kinetic energy. A filtered drain are included for permitting the egress of spent jet fluid while retaining the suspensoids.

Abstract: An inexpensive home basketball shooting game apparatus comprising a basketball hoop for being releasably mounted atop a door, an elongated return net for extending from around and below the hoop area outwardly and downwardly to where its opposite end is constructed and arranged to be releasably mounted on the top of a chair back. The return net catches the basketball after it is shot and returns it to the shooter. A score-sensing unit is mounted beneath the hoop to sense when a basket is made and an electrical timer and score-keeping unti is releasably mountable at the chair to record, store and display information about the basketball shooting performance of a player or players. The apparatus cooperates with the door and chair to minimize the structure required and thus the cost.

Abstract: A method of playing a board game, where the game comprises a play surface and multi-segmented playing pieces representing characters adapted to stand upright on the surface. Each character is comprised of a stack of segments. By progressively removing segments from the bottom of the stack upwardly, the character appears to be sinding deeper and deeper below the surface, as for example, quicksand or a body of water. As segments are added back to the bottom of the stack in the reverse order, the character appears to emerge upwardly again. Portions of adjacent segments interconnect to maintain the segments in the desired stacked condition and relative orientation to one another.

Abstract: This very simple apparatus enlarges in one direction, and copies without enlargement in an orthogonal direction. A tracing arm has a tracing stylus at one point, a drawing-implement holder at another point, and a longitudinal track along another part of the arm. The track engages a pivot that in effect resolves all tracing motions into radial and rotary components. Radial components are traced without change of size; but rotary components are enlarged by a factor that depends on the ratio of radii from the pivot to the stylus and implement holder respectively. A photo or other picture to be traced is held in a retainer on a platform; and drawing paper is held on an easel.