Abstract: A portable dispenser is adapted to filling water balloons and water pistols. A reservoir is pressurized by a hand pump that draws air in from the atmosphere and forces the air into the reservoir. The pressure in the reservoir forces water down a flexible tube to a trigger mechanism in a water pistol. The trigger mechanism performs three functions: it throttles the water, it acts as relief valve by releasing water if the pressure is greater than a predetermined limit, and it indicates the pressure within the reservoir. When the trigger mechanism is actuated, water flows through the mechanism to a valve that directs the water either to a filling nozzle or to a spraying nozzle. In an alternative embodiment, the pump takes water from a storage chamber within the reservoir and pumps it into a high pressure chamber within the reservoir.

Abstract: A device for removing a surgical blade from a scalpel handle includes a housing having an aperture. A surgical blade attached to a boss of the handle is inserted into the aperture. The boss is pressed downward into a narrow notch in the wall surrounding the aperture so that the edges of the notch engage the shank of the blade, preventing it from being moved into the notch with the boss and separating the shank of the blade from the rear portion of the boss. Two spring loaded pinch members extend from within the aperture so that they can be pinched together by the fingers of a user and engage the opposed edges of the blade, preventing it from moving as the handle is pulled away from the blade, causing the boss to become disengaged from the blade and withdrawn from an elongated hole in the shank of the blade. When the pinch members are released, the blade falls to the bottom of the interior of the housing, which serves as a receptacle.

Abstract: A portable cooler includes a urethane foam shell having a storage compartment and fan recess. An internal heat exchanger is mounted to a wall of the storage compartment and conducts heat out of the storage compartment by means of a thermally conductive block to an external heat exchanger mounted in the fan recess. An electric fan mounted in the fan recess blows outside air through fins of the external heat exchanger. A grill covers the fan recess. A solid state thermoelectric device is disposed between the external heat exchanger and the thermally conductive block. A control circuit includes a first thermistor which senses the temperature of the internal heat exchanger. A comparator having one input coupled to a temperature control reostat and another input coupled to the first thermistor controls a switch circuit which connects the terminals of the thermoelectric device and the terminals of the fan motor to a supply voltage conductor.

Abstract: Sounds produced by human or mechanical sources are recognized by comparison of certain waveform characteristic ratios with prestored ratios. Transitions and transition glides of characteristics are used to select certain stored groups of ratios for comparing.

Abstract: An audiometric testing system containing a processor and programmable analog circuitry for controlling frequency and intensity of audiometric test tones communicates with a remote data processing system via a communications link. The remote data processing system stores prior audiometric records for a large number of subjects. Each day, the audiometric records of a number of selected persons are transmitted from the remote data processing system to a memory of the audiometric testing system in response to identification numbers entered by an operator. The audiometric responses of each person to patterns of sounds of varying frequencies and intensities are determined. The varying frequencies and intensities are determined by a bracketing subroutine of an algorithm stored in and executed by a processor of the audiometric testing system. A person's responses to such test tones are utilized by the bracketing subroutine to determine his threshold levels at the respective frequencies for each ear.

Abstract: A sighting device for attachment to the hood of the tractor is remotely adjustable by a driver seated in a driver's seat of the tractor to enable him to visually align the tractor with a swath or furrow previously cut in a field by a towed farm implement so that a swath or furrow presently being cut by the farm implement is properly aligned with the previously cut swath or furrow. The sighting device includes a pair of opposed horizontal telescopic extension arms and a pair of pivot arms pivotally attached to respective outer ends of the extension arms. Each of the pivot arms is utilized as a sighting blade which is oriented so that, as seen by the eyes of the driver, the sighting blade is parallel to and aligned along the previously plowed furrow or the edge of the previously cut swath. The degree of extension of the horizontal extension arms and the degree of inclination of the pivot arms are independently controllable by means of a pair of momentary switches located near the driver's seat.

Abstract: A rotatable transfer stand includes a base supported by a plurality of castors, a platform rotatably supported by means of bearings on the base and a support structure rigidly attached to the platform and partially surrounding a central standing area on the upper surface of the platform. The support structure includes a horizontal gripping element which can be grasped by a patient, allowing him to pull himself up and securely support himself safely in a standing position with his feet placed in the central standing area.

Abstract: A safety plug for insertion into a female electrical connector of an arc welder includes an electrically insulating slotted male member which can be inserted and locked into a receptacle of the female electrical connector to avoid shorting of an exposed brass core of the female connector when a user disconnects a welding stick from the female connector and drops the female connector to the floor.

Abstract: A durable sandal includes a composition rubber sole, a first composition rubber insole, and a unitary leather element including four straps and a second insole section of substantially the same shape as the first insole. Two of the straps having buckles attached thereto are substantially shorter than the other two and extend from one edge of the second insole section. The other two straps extend from an opposite edge of the second insole section. The unitary leather element is aligned with and peripherally sewn to the top surface of first composition rubber insole. The bottom surface of the composition rubber insole is adhesively bonded to an upper surface of the composition rubber sole.

Abstract: A thermoelectric cooler includes a base unit having an internal heat exchanger located on the upper surface of the base unit and an external heat exchanger disposed in a duct which is located in lower compartment of the base unit. A thermoelectric module transfers heat from the internal heat exchanger to the external heat exchanger. A fan located in the duct blows outside air through the fins of the external heat exchanger. The internal heat exchanger supports a pair of vessels containing liquid to be cooled. An insulated cover unit has a lower peripheral edge which contacts the peripheral lip of the base unit to completely seal the compartment in which the jugs are contained. Each vessel has a spigot which extends through a respective opening in the base unit from the lower portion of that vessel. A pair of stirring mechanisms extend through the top of the cover unit through the lids of the respective vessels to permit stirring of the fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a plurality of digital signals to an analog signal and m-bit digital-to-analog converter having an LSB current switch. A most significant m bits of an .[.m.]. .Iadd.n .Iaddend.bit digital signal are applied to m bits, respectively, of the m bit digital-to-analog converter, and successive values of the n bit digital signal are substituted at a first frequency. An interpolation signal is produced at the first frequency. A least significant n-m bits of the n bit digital signal are applied to the interpolation circuit to cause it to interpolate between successive values of the n bit digital signal. An LSB current switch distinct from the m bit digital-to-analog converter produces an output signal in response to the interpolation signal. An analog output signal produced by the m bit digital-to-analog converter is combined with the output signal produced by the LSB current switch to produce an analog output signal with n bit resolution.