Abstract: A billiard cue has a changeable cue tip/ferrule assembly wherein the ferrule has a conical projection fitting snugly into a congruent receptacle in a fixed tenon of the cue. Vibration of the ferrule is limited by being locked to the rigid cue. The configuration is also useful in establishing a concurrent center line of the cue stick and changeable cue tip assembly. The ferrule's cone has a hollow surface whose axis is aligned with the ferrule's longitudinal axis. The invention teaches that the cue, with the ferrule attached, may now be rotated in a lathe with the ferrule's cone's hollow surface mating with a live center in the lathe tailstock. Thus the final tapering and finishing of the cue stick shaft is accomplished in the lathe with the axis of the ferrule's cone defining the cue stick/changeable cue tip mutual centerline.

Abstract: A leather billiard cue tip has an insert embedded in the surface of the cue tip having a higher coefficient of friction relative to the cue ball than that of the leather tip itself. The insert has a mechanical compliance compatible with that of the leather tip, and is contoured to form a continuous smooth surface at the apex of the leather tip. The leather tip has a hardness that is not less than, i.e., that is equal to or greater than, the hardness of the insert. The composite of leather and insert provide a cue tip having enhanced friction when contacting the cue ball, diminishing sliding between the cue tip and cue ball during an off center billiard shot that significantly reduces the risk of miscuing while optimum hardness of the leather tip insures substantial maintenance of the structural geometry of the tip during and after a billiard shot.

Abstract: A cue tip tool is a cylindrical jig having a longitudinal bore forming its body into a tube that accepts a cue being tipped. The jig body has three equally positioned slots cut through the tubular wall, and the outer surface of the jig has a collar that squeezes the jig against the cue ensuring that the axis of the cue is aligned with the jig. The end of the jig is a cylindrical surface stepped to a larger diameter, and the stepped cylinder is coaxial with the axis of the jig and the axis of the cue. Three auxiliary units configured to separately engage the jig provide for burnishing the end of the cue's ferrule, positioning the cue tip being installed during gluing, and cleaning the cue tip of accumulated chalk debris, while maintaining accurate alignment of the cue tip with the cue's axis.

Abstract: Two pairs of dielectric rod radiators are positioned on an antenna, with one pair in the azimuthal and the other in the elevational plane of the antenna radiation pattern. The axes of each pair are physically canted away from the direction of the main antenna beam. The radiation pattern of the dielectric rod elements is an electromagnetic “well” which is symmetrically located with respect to the axis of the main beam of the antenna with the antenna's beam centered in the “well”. In aiming the antenna, for example, at a transmitting communication satellite, the amplitudes of signals received from the two dielectric rod azimuthal lobes are compared, and signals received from the two dielectric rod elevational lobes are similarly compared to provide servo error information for positioning the antenna beam. Signal processing may utilize a single multiplexed narrow band amplifier.

Abstract: Encryption and decryption sites are initially assigned identical one time Vernam like pads, (OTP), and each site is provided with identical compendiums of byte modifying instructions identified by instruction IDs. Encryption is implemented by a random first subset of instructions applied to the current OTP to generate a new OTP. A second subset of random instructions is applied to the message for encryption. The list of IDs of the first subset of instructions is XORed with the current OTP. The list of IDs of the second subset of instructions and the encrypted message are each XORed with the new OTP and all XORed outputs are concatenated into the payload. Decryption is implemented by applying the encryption steps to the payload in reverse order to recover the message and new OTP. A secure, new OTP is therefore available both at the encryption and decryption sites without having been transmitted.

Abstract: A digital communication network such as the Internet is used to establish and control the telephone connections between two conferees with the telephone network being the means of exchanging verbal information. Each of the two conferees has a computer connected to the digital network, and each has an independent telephone instrument connected to the public switched telephone network. One of the conferees utilizes his computer containing appropriate software to initiate the call to the other conferee. The initiating conferee sends digital control information to a switch interface controlling a telephone switch as a gateway to the telephone network using SS7 control signals which implements the telephone connection between the conferees. The switch also provides telephone status information transmitted back over the digital network, and the status information is displayed on the computer monitors of the conferees.

Abstract: A male/female billiard cue connector provides multi-directional vibration damping as well as accurate alignment of the cue's handle and shaft. The strike of the cue against the cue ball causes a longitudinal shock wave to traverse the length of the cue generating strong transient forces within the cue. Due to the rigidity of the cue, this longitudinal wave also excites lateral vibrations in the structure which cause the cue to bend and flex, and the resultant forces wear and abrade the connector elements. The connector provides protection against these forces, as well as assuring true axial alignment of the cue. The male section of the connector, fitting into a cavity in the female section, has two circumferential rubber “O” rings that are in contact with the walls of the female connector when the male and female sections are joined. These “O” rings absorb and dissipate the energy of the lateral vibrations induced in the cue.

Abstract: A helical scan tape recorder records VHS video and audio at speeds up to 40× the playback speed of a standard VHS VCR. The recorder employs a high speed scanner operating in a helical scan mode. Input signals feed the scanner through a capacitive coupler. For VHS recording, the scanner has 32 heads mounted on its periphery; 16 video heads and 16 audio heads. An external source of video and associated audio provides 8 channels each of video and audio, and each channel drives 2 heads in parallel. During a half rotation of the scanner, heads fed from the 8 channels contact the tape and are recorded, and during the next half rotation the other group of 8 heads are similarly recording. The audio is delayed so that a segment of video records over its associated audio segment.

Abstract: In a recording/playback system, increased information is achieved by 4 level biased magnetic recording where the maximum amplitude 4 level recording signal drives the medium's magnetization into a nonlinear region of its transfer function. The bias does not eliminate distortion at the maximum signal input level, however the system's signal to noise ratio is improved due to an increase in the amplitude of the playback signal resulting from the increased recording level. The nonlinear mapping capability of a neural network provides equalization of playback signals distorted due to the record/playback nonlinearity. The 4 level recorded signals provide a factor of 2 in information storage compared to binary recording, and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) combined with the 4 level recording technique provides an additional factor of 2, for a factor of 4 in the information content stored.

Abstract: In a telephone conferencing system, a digital communication network such as the Internet is used to establish and control the telephone connections between multiple conferees with the telephone network being the means of exchanging verbal information. Each conferee may have a computer connected to the digital network, and each has an independent telephone instrument connected to the public switched telephone network. An in-charge conferee utilizes his computer containing appropriate software to initiate the conference and to control the participation of the conferees. The in-charge conferee sends digital control signals to a switch interface controlling a telephone switch as a gateway to the telephone network using SS7 control signals. These SS7 control signals include the commands by which the conferee telephones are rung up, brought on line, or dropped from the conference.

Abstract: A bicycle saddle in which the rear one third of the saddle is an elevated level platform supports the cyclist's weight on the ischial tuberosities, while forward of the platform the saddle's surface steps down and then continuously slopes downward towards the saddle's nose. Thus the only points of the rider's anatomy in weight bearing contact with the saddle are the ischial tuberosities, as the rider's soft perineal tissue is positioned above the stepped down and downward sloping portion of the saddle. Additionally, to guard against soft tissue contact with the saddle for some riders having a lowered or forward cycling position, a groove runs from the middle of the level platform along the saddle surface to the saddle's nose. The shell of the saddle is supported by an armature rail fabricated from rigid rod, which connects the saddle to the bicycle frame.

Abstract: The present invention employs a light weight fixed bed to support an intaglio plate, and discloses a print roller mounted on a movable trolley which is advanced across the intaglio plate causing the pressure of the print roller to effect the printing. The trolley is fabricated from light weight beams substantially forming the sides of a hollow box beam, and the print roller is stiffened by support of intermediate rollers tied to a trolley beam. This precludes the print roller from flexing under the load presented by the intaglio plate and the associated paper and felt material as the print roller under pressure traverses the plate. This allows the use of a lighter, smaller diameter print roller. Handwheels attached to the trolley provide spring loaded pressure to control the pressure of the print roller on the intaglio plate assembly.

Abstract: In a telephone conferencing system, a digital communication network is used to establish and control the telephone connections between multiple conferees with the telephone network being the means of exchanging verbal information. Each conferee may have a computer connected to the digital network, and each has an independent telephone instrument connected to the public switched telephone network. An in-charge conferee utilizes his computer containing appropriate software to initiate the conference and to control the participation of the conferees. The in-charge conferee sends digital control signals to a switch interface controlling a telephone switch as a gateway to the telephone network. These control signals include the commands by which the conferee telephones are rung up, brought on line, or dropped from the conference.

Abstract: A building has a support structure fabricated by anchoring light weight, hollow, vertical steel posts into a pre-poured foundation, and then strengthening the posts by filling the hollow cavities with concrete. The structure provides the framework around which straw bales are stacked to produce insulated wall cores for the building. The posts, which are sized to support the ceilings and roof trusses, are square in cross section and are positioned on a foundation so that the faces of the posts form 45 degree angles with the edges of the foundation slab. The center of the end faces of those straw bales that are in contact with a post are triangularly notched so that the corner of the post mates with the notch, allowing the longitudinal edge face of the bale to lie along the direction of the slab edge. Posts are not located at the corners of the building, but are spaced at least a bale's length away from a corner.

Abstract: The present invention discloses sports headgear with an attached widow's veil which covers part or all of the face of the wearer. The headgear is designed to worn by a woman wanting to humorously express her "sorrow" at being displaced by a man's exclusive interest in a sporting activity. The preferred headgear is a peaked baseball cap with the veil attached to the front of the cap. The veil is of fine mesh and has wide interstices so that the face of the wearer, (and her expression), may be clearly seen, and the preferred color of the veil material is black. It will be appreciated that the juxtaposition of a sporting element (the cap) and a badge of sadness (the widow's veil) when worn together, communicates a woman's feelings of being left out of the fun in a wry subliminal manner. Other embodiments of the invention include the baseball cap and veil, with an inscription "WIDOWWEAR" on the crown at the front of the cap along with an icon representing the sport being targeted, e.g.

Abstract: A covert communication apparatus exploits chaotic dynamics in the multi-dimensional phase space with a continuous number of states and wide internal spectral bandwidth. The information modulates a chaotically generated signal, and the modulated chaotic signal is shaped for compatibility with the specific constraints demanded by the communication channel. In an analog embodiment, the chaotic signal spectrum is band limited to be compatible with the bandwidth requirements of the transmission link, and in a digital embodiment the word length and baud rate of the transmitted digital data are selected for similar transmission link compatibility. After transmission over the communication link, the received signal is applied to a receiver chaotic signal generator substantially identical to the transmitter chaotic signal generator and the chaotic signal is recovered. This chaotic signal is used to demodulate the received signal for recovery of the information.

Abstract: Rather than cooling the brain by the relatively slow heat conduction through the low heat conductivity of the bony skull and hair covering the head, the present invention teaches the use of a light weight, easily applied neck encircling collar in firm contact with the soft tissue of the neck, and particularly in good thermal contact with the carotid arteries traversing the neck. A coolant flowing through channels embedded in the collar rapidly cools the blood flowing through the carotid arteries which branch into blood vessels throughout the brain providing vascular access and attendant rapid internal cooling throughout the brain including its deepest recesses. Placing the collar on the patient's neck is easily and quickly accomplished simultaneously with other emergency medical techniques, such as CPR, which maintain the patient's heart and lung activity. The collar of the invention contains no metallic parts; the collar, including the coolant channel, may be non-metallized fabric or plastic.

Abstract: Rather than having only two diametrically opposed band attachment points on a watch case and a single strap watchband, a watch has multiple attachment points at opposite edges of its watch case, and a watchband with multiple branches for fastening to the watch case's multiple attachment points. These branches may be straps fabricated of materials such as fabric, leather, metal or flexible plastics, and buckles and other appropriate fastening devices are integral with the strap. The multiple branch band also may be a continuously expandable linkage structure which attaches to the case, and which expands over the hand and then contracts to comfortably hold the watch on the wrist, or a metallic band having a central clasp for securing the watch to the wrist. A multiple band watchband for attachment to two opposing edges of a watch case is also disclosed.

Abstract: Each of the four players of a game of contract bridge are provided with an identical battery operated module containing switches which a player uses to enter bids of from 1 to 7 in "Spades", "Hearts", "Diamonds", "Clubs" or "No-Trump", according to the rules of the game. Additionally there are switches for signalling, "Pass", "Double", and "Re-Double". After entering a bid via the switches of a player's module, an internal microcontroller decodes the switch values and generates the bid's digital representation which is stored in RAM, and is also input to an internal voice synthesizer. The voice synthesizer drives a small loudspeaker mounted in the module which outputs a verbal message audible to all the players which is the linguistic expression of the selected bid. The verbal message's expression is free of all oral mannerisms, and is determined solely by the electromechanical characteristics of the voice synthesizer.