Abstract: A seat belt comfort clamp provides a vehicle occupant protection from injury and enhanced comfort and convenience and includes a clamp assembly having first and second arms and a pivot member. The pivot member defines an axis extending substantially parallel to the seat belt and pivotally couples the first and second arms together. The first arm pivots between an open position and a closed or clamping position. A spring member biases the first arm from its open position to its clamping position. The first and second arms engage opposite sides of the seat belt and secure the seat belt in a comfortable position when the first arm is in its closed position. The second arm includes a guide member for slidably and adjustably coupling the comfort clamp to the seat belt when the first arm is in its open position.

Abstract: A sleep aid device comprises a mouthpiece assembly with bit elements extending therefrom. An air assembly extends from the mouthpiece assembly and includes a humidification chamber therein. The humidification chamber comprises a plurality of cones therein for collecting moisture thereon and transfer to air streams passing therethrough. The humidified air diminishes parchment of the lips and throat. The bit elements preclude mouth closure during sleep so as to preclude the sensation of suffocation experienced upon mouth closure and also allows for user swallowing without the resulting discomfort to damaged nasal passages.

Abstract: An illumination system for a roller blade, roller skate, or the like comprises a power source in the form of a battery pack mounted along the back of the roller blade boot. A plurality of lights are mounted along the sides of the boot and between a front headlight and rear brake light. The brake light is operated by the brake pad of the roller blade. Upon system activation the respective side, head and brake lights indicate the presence of the roller blader, illuminate the user's path and indicate a braking action of the roller blader. The circuit wires may be embedded in the boot during the manufacturing process with the lights fitted thereon by any conventional manner.

Abstract: A biopsy instrument for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity such as the endometrial tissue forming the uterine cavity or from the cervix. The instrument comprises a first generally rigid guide housing for insertion into the cavity. An elongated, flexible shaft is slidable therethrough and has spaced from its distal end a curved portion for collecting a tissue specimen thereon. The curved portion includes a set of scraping tabs and a set of collecting tabs spaced apart around the circumference of the curved portion and extending alternately outwardly therefrom. After the shaft is extended from within the housing and rotated in a first direction, the scraping tabs scrape tissue free from the endometrial surface. Upon rotating the shaft in a second opposite direction, the collecting tabs collect the free floating tissue. When the shaft is retracted within the housing, the instrument is removed from within the body cavity, and a tissue sample is available for testing.

Abstract: A concrete distribution system for pouring concrete floors over areas inaccessible to concrete trucks comprises a conduit assembly, leveling member, interconnecting cables and activating members. The conduit assembly includes a first rigid, moveable support which supports a first pipeline immediately above the area to be concreted. The pipeline has a plurality of openings through which the concrete is poured across the area. Control valves selectively open and close access to the openings so that concrete pours across the area. The first support is interconnected by cables with the leveling member. Activating members simultaneously move the conduit assembly and leveling member across the area to be concreted.

Abstract: A sunglass system comprises a pocket releasably attached to the interior of a crown of a cap so as to present an access opening adjacent the cap visor. Upon cap positioning on the head of a user, a lens, positioned within the pocket, is user slidable between a first position above the eyes of the user and a second position below the cap visor and adjacent the eyes of the wearer. The lens is maintained at its second position by laterally extending tabs engaging the lower portion of the pocket and at its first position within the pocket by a releasable friction fit among the pocket, lens and cap crown.

Abstract: A raising and lowering mechanism is provided at a work station for vertically transferring articles or products delivered to the station by an overhead delivery conveyor. Discrimination between transfer of a load from the delivery conveyor and transfer back to the delivery conveyor is accomplished by a mechanical discriminator which appropriately conditions suspension hooks on the delivery conveyor for either releasing the load or reconnecting the load. The transfer mechanism employs a vertically reciprocating conveyor which is confined to a vertical transfer axis without the necessity to employ some degree of lateral movement to uncouple the load from the delivery conveyor, present the load at a working position within the work station, and return the load to the delivery conveyor. Drift compensation is provided to allow for some misalignment of a delivered load with the transfer axis.

Abstract: A skillet having a grease tray slidably mounted within a track system, the latter comprising a pair of rails mounted to the underside of the cooking surface. A plurality of apertures in the center of an inclined cooking surface directs grease formed on the cooking surface to the tray thereinbelow. A lid on the underside of the surface is variously adjustable by the user so as to regulate the amount of grease being drained from the cooking surface. The tray has a spout or funnel at the front end thereof to enhance drainage of the grease therefrom. Flanges at the corners of the tray preclude spillage at the corners during pouring.

Abstract: An improved game of blackjack allows the player to insure against the appearance of values of cards in a dealer's hand which would defeat the numerical value of a player's hand and cause the player to lose the original wager. If the wagered on value appears, the player is paid according to predetermined odds. The player will win or lose the original wager according to conventional blackjack rules. The improved game allows the player to sequentially insure against a winning dealer's hand in light of sequentially changing game conditions.

Abstract: A wall clip for use with a concrete form comprises a vertical nailing surface or stud for receiving fasteners of finishing material therethrough. Linkage structures extend upper and lower anchors from the upper and lower ends of the stud and into the cavity between the form sidewalls. The anchors maintain the stud along the sidewalls during concrete pouring, curing and subsequent material fastening. The anchors further reinforce the concrete laden form.

Abstract: An amplitude responsive detection system analyzes the amplitude characteristic of a received noise and determines whether that characteristic conforms to the predictable audio signature of a gunshot. If a received noise reaches a predetermined amplitude level within a rise time that may be indicative of a gunshot, subsequent amplitude criteria are established representing the decay of the amplitude profile that is expected if the noise is a gunshot. The amplitude criteria are controlled as to both level and occurrence in time to provide a dynamic range that will accommodate near and far gunshots.

Abstract: A train control-system employs beacon transponders along the track to transmit fixed data to a passing train in addition to dynamic data relating to track availability and routing provided by encoded cab signals transmitted in the track. The fixed data includes the location of block boundaries and distances to such boundaries, timetable speed limits, and the distance to a point along the track at which a speed restriction is in effect. This data and other fixed information is integrated with the dynamic data in an on-board computer which determines train control instructions from the received data and displays the instructions to the train crew. The system is capable of enforcing any restrictive instructions that are not obeyed.

Abstract: A three-terminal surge arrestor unit employs air gaps augmented with semiconductors to protect a circuit having two ungrounded conductors. Conductive electrodes and the semiconductors are mounted on a common axis in a sandwich arrangement and secured in fixed relative positions. Two air gap lightning arrestors provide current paths for the respective conductors to ground in response to lightning strikes or other damaging surges, and an equalizer is incorporated in the electrode configuration to establish a current path between the conductors to protect them from an excessive voltage differential. The resulting configuration is a single, three-terminal unit designed to replace multiple unit air gap systems and gas tube arrestors.

Abstract: A hand bag for striking by a back of a game player's hand comprises first and second panels stitched about their periphery and containing fluid pellets of a high density polyethylene material therein. Lacing further extends about the stitched periphery to further secure the panels while protecting the initial stitching. The panels are configured to complement the back of the user's hand so that upon striking a desired lift and airborne flight is imparted to the bag.

Abstract: A sausage reel includes first and second end plates with a plurality of support bars extending therebetween. The bars are releasably fastened between the end plates in either first or second arrays. A continuous sausage is wound about the entire selected array with the reel then placed in a smoker oven. Upon removal of the reel from the cooker a knife is guided along each bar to present a plurality of sausage links having a length corresponding to the distance between adjacent bars of the selected array. The releasable fastening of the bars in extension between the end plates allows the user to vary the size and/or configuration of the bar array so as to vary the length of the sausage links. The reel is rotatable within a stand to enhance the initial winding of the sausage about the array as well as subsequent cutting of the sausage links therefrom.