Abstract: A commemorative card is formed from water impervious or water resistant material and is provided with means for mounting at least one fresh or artificial flower thereon. Where the card is to carry a fresh flower or flowers, means for supplying moisture to the flower or flowers, such as a water-retentive hard foamed plastics material, may be provided to keep the flower or flowers fresh. The water retentive material may be mounted in a pocket or recess formed at the rear of the card, the flower stem or stems passing through an aperture in the card. A region is provided on the face of the card which is receptive to ink so that a message or signature may be written on the card, while the card as a whole is resistant to moisture.

Abstract: A cross-flow water turbine has a casing, a runner, a horizontal inlet and a vertical outlet. The inlet is divided by a pivoted guide vane to form a pair of inlet passages. A horizontally extending admission passage is connected to the casing at the inlet side thereof, and a vertically extending discharge passage is formed as a draft tube and connected to the casing at the outlet thereof. The inlet and the guide vane are arranged such that the inlet flow to the runner is directed downward at an angle of about 40.degree. with respect to the horizontal, and the outlet flow from the runner is directed substantially vertically. At the outlet there are a pair of side spaces on either side of the runner resulting in an increased cross section conforming to the cross section of the draft tube. Both of these side spaces are vented to the atmosphere by a single venting valve so that the suction pressure in the draft tube does not exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: An assembly of a container (1) and a child resistant closure (5) therefor. The container (1) has an external bead (3) on the neck (2) thereof and the closure (5) an inturned flange (8) on the skirt (7) thereof which makes snap engagement with the bead (3). The neck (2) of the container (1) comprises an external screw thread (4) while the skirt (7) of the closure (5) is locally severed or weakened to provide local deformable skirt portions (11) which can be deformed inwards by finger pressure thereon to enage thread portions (13) on the skirt portions (11) with the screw thread (4). The closure (5) is removable from the container (1) by deforming the skirt portions (11) to engage the thread portions (13) with the screw thread (4) by finger pressure thereon and rotating the closure (5) relative to the container (1) while maintaining said finger pressure.

Abstract: An incontinence and surgical protective device for use by an animal having a flexible pad holder having a pocket formed therein for removably containing a disposable pad. The pad has a semi-rigid frame which provides additional strength to the holder. Elastic straps are used to secure the pad holder to the torso of the animal. Velcro fasteners are sewn into the straps which permits the device to be fitted to animals of various sizes and shapes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal adaptive lens system wherein the index of refraction profile of the liquid crystal is controlled electrically to bring entering light to focus.

Abstract: A holding fixture used to mark pieces of sheet material that includes a base and a pair of upraised support towers mounted upon the base. The towers each contain vertical slots for receiving a worksheet therein so that the sheet is supported in a vertical posture. Straight edges are slidably mounted in each of the towers on each side of the worksheet that are used to guide a marking tool so that straight horizontal lines can be made on either surface of the sheet. A scale is provided for adjusting the position of each straight edge.

Abstract: A combination otoscope and audiometer provided with conventional lighting means and an unobstructed viewing passage for visually inspecting the ear canal of a patient. The hand held instrument is also provided with a calibrated electronic circuit that automatically produces a sequence of tones of different frequencies and intensities, together with means for transmitting these tones to the patient's ear. The circuit includes timing means for precisely controlling the duration of each tone. Neither the production of the tones nor the duration thereof is under the control of the operator. The exterior of the instrument is provided with indicators in the form of light emitting diodes to tell the operator when each tone is being transmitted to the patient's ear.

Abstract: A spray nozzle for combating fires that includes a housing having a flat end face and a contoured chamber passing upwardly through the end face. A plate is supported adjacent to the end face to provide a circular spray opening therebetween. A fire extinguishing fluid is pumped through a rigid pipe from a high pressure supply into the chamber where the fluid is expanded into a vortex before being projected through the spray opening in a 360.degree. pattern. The pipe enables the nozzle to be inserted into the fire region by a firefighter situated at a remote and relatively safer location.

Abstract: A heart rate monitor device suitable for use in monitoring aerobic exercise training, automatically calculates a fitness parameter for a subject by monitoring the subject's heart rate and pacing the subject through a submaximal exercise stress test protocol. A microprocessor in the device is fed data peculiar to the individual subject, and then generates pacing signals to produce audible tones or beeps. The stride frequency, or rate of the tones varies at intervals so that the subject can exercise by running at progressively faster speeds. At the point of exhaustion, or maximum heart rate, the subject's maximal oxygen uptake capacity is calculated, based on the elapsed time, and is displayed as a fitness parameter. The subject's exercise level is automatically monitored based on his or her exercise heart rate, maximum heart rate, and rest heart rate.

Abstract: A friction clutch constructed so that it can operate as either a push or a pull type clutch with only a minimal change in parts. The parts for the two types of clutches are interchangeable except for the release levers and release bearings. This simplifies the tooling and greatly reduces parts inventories.

Abstract: In the treatment of high strength wastewater containing anaerobically digestible nutrients and organic substrates, the water is passed through a sealed reactor housing and the pressure in the headspace over the water is reduced under controlled conditions to provide for optimum operating conditions.

Abstract: A wall adapter that can be incorporated in a wall that separates a soiled laundry room and a clean laundry room. The adapter is constructed in such a manner that it coacts with the tilting action of a tilt type washer-extractor machine whereby the latter can be utilized in a hospital laundry.

Abstract: A concrete serpentine noise barrier formed by a series of vertically disposed concrete panels that are placed in end to end abutment. Each adjacent pair of panels is provided with a socket-like joint that allows the panels to be angularly adjusted in assembly.

Abstract: An improved earthworm irritant composition that is highly effective in causing worms to leave their holes during the day time or at night and come to the surface. The composition is mixed with a relatively large amount of water and then poured on the ground, and the effectiveness of the composition is at least in part due to its slow rate of evaporation. The composition of the invention is a liquid and it is essentially comprised of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, which is the irritating agent, and a nonionic surfactant which enables the 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene to mix thoroughly with the water that is added.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring device including a housing, a rubber bulb connected to the housing for providing fluid under pressure to a cuff and a gauge on the housing for indicating the pressure of the fluid in the cuff. In the housing there is a piston and rolling diaphragm assembly arranged so that the piston is moved by the fluid under pressure. The piston in turn moves the free end of a leaf spring operatively connected to the gauge needle whereby movement of the piston causes the needle to rotate with respect to its dial. The leaf spring is engaged by an adjustable fulcrum that can be moved on one axis to adjust for the zero setting of the gauge needle and on another axis to control the spring rate of the spring. By controlling the spring rate, the gauge can be accurately calibrated. The adjustments for the fulcrum are accesible from the exterior of the housing. The device also includes a valve for bleeding the fluid under pressure and a trigger element for operating the valve.

Abstract: Medication dispensing apparatus for hospital and nursing home use that can satisfy patient prescription requirements on a large scale. The apparatus includes a carriage for dispensing pills or other medication required by the prescription of a particular patient on command from a computer control system. The pills are automatically selected from a large array of bins, deposited in an individual patient tray and delivered to an inspection station where verification of the prescription is achieved by comparing the tray contents with a display of patient data.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in sequential color imagery wherein three successive monochrome images are acquired by a video system and then displayed simultaneously upon a screen as a color picture. A flash lamp is used to sequentially illuminate a target through a color wheel and thus create three primary color separated images which are recorded in series by the video camera. The intensity of each image is controlled by varying the output of the lamp during each imaging sequence to balance the primary colors used to recreate an original target upon the television screen so that the video picture accurately duplicates the colors found in the original.