Abstract: A removable medical electrode system for monitoring electrical activity of selected tissue comprises a flexible member of electrically insulating material shaped to conform to a surface of the tissue. It includes a mechanism for articulating the electrode between an expanded and contracted position to place and remove the electrode on the tissue, and to hold the electrode in place during an operation. An electrical conductor is fixed to the electrode to carry electrical impulse signals from the nerve tissue to a monitoring system.

Abstract: Emergency I.V. set-up apparatus comprises a flexible bag and flexible tube fixedly attached to the bag, and pre-packaged in one sterile package. The apparatus includes a base to which a cap is securely attached, with an output end of the flexible tube inserted into the cap in a sterile manner to block off the I.V. tube. A valve is connected to the tubing to control flow from the bag into the tubing. The bag and tube, may be pre-filled and pre-primed. In operation, an emergency field personnel paramedic can remove the flexible tube with one hand to begin an I.V. solution delivery to a patient alone in a very small amount of time.

Abstract: A rotor flap apparatus is attached to the trailing edge of a wing of a craft. The rotor flap apparatus includes a rotatable rotor mounted on an attachment arm, which is pivotally mounted on a trailing edge of the wing. The attachment arm can be raised or lowered to move the plane of the rotor up or down to vary the lift and thrust characteristics of the wing, to prevent stall and also to allow very low speed take off and landing. In one embodiment, propellers are provided at the leading edge of the wing, in conjunction with the rotor flap apparatus, to provide a system which allows vertical take off and landing of the aircraft. Other embodiments include wings with rotor flap apparatus attached to land craft and underwater craft as well.

Abstract: A hitting practice device comprises a frame on which is mounted a rotatable arm. The arm is attached to a shaft which is driven by a motor also disposed in the frame. Attached to one end of the arm is a tethered ball such as a baseball or a tennis ball. The motor is drivingly connected to the shaft to rotate the arm about the frame and propel the ball repeatedly past a hitter to allow hitting practice.

Abstract: A golf ball dispensing and retrieval system comprises a hollow tube for holding a plurality of golf balls. A stop mechanism is removably attachable to the bottom end of the tube for dispensing balls one at a time. The stop mechanism includes a biased lever which is pivotally attached to the outside of the tube movable between an open position and a closed position. To dispense golf balls from the tube, the lever may be moved by depressing a trigger end to an open position in which the detent is lifted away from the end of the tube to allow passage of the balls. Balls may be picked up from a surface by pressing the end of the tube and detent down onto a golf ball, which moves the detent out of the way to allow entry of a ball into the end of a tube. The lever is biased to be normally closed so that the balls remain inside the tube as desired. A stop pin is attached to the lever to prevent release of more than one ball at a time.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a kite having a sail with a left and right wing, each being connected to a supporting frame, with the frame having a leading edge support member associated with a left wing strut member and with a right wing strut member. It also includes bridle apparatus associated with the frame, the bridle apparatus having a horizontal line member connected to the leading edge support member, a left wing vertical line member connected to the left wing vertical support member, and a right wing vertical line member connected to the right wing strut member. The horizontal line member is connected to the left and right wing vertical line members at upper left and upper right control line contact points. The set of control lines includes an upper left line and an upper right line connected to the upper left and upper right control line contact points.

Abstract: A system for recycling refuse comprises mixing a predetermined amount of refuse with a predetermined amount of plastic, heating the mixture until the plastic becomes liquid, forming the liquified mixture into a desired shape such as a brick, and cooling the mixture. This results in a solid brick in which the refuse is encapsulated, and the brick can be used in construction. Prior to mixing, the refuse may be dried and ground to a particulate size as may be desired. The plastic may be preheated prior to the mixing step to aid in forming the desired shape of the article which uses the refuse in its encapsulated form.

Abstract: A training device for improving one's putting stroke has a long, slender rigid bar attached to the shaft of a putter. The bar is rigidly attached to extend rearward in an orientation perpendicular to the face of the head of the putter. A resilient, flexible line is attached to the bar. The line has one end adapted to be anchored to a stationary point, to maintain proper alignment of the putter face during a practice putting stroke. In another embodiment, a base is fixedly attached to the shaft, and a telescoping tube is hingedly connected to the base to allow vertical movement, but prevent lateral movement or rotation of the shaft during the practice stroke. In another embodiment, a base includes a flat end flange for vertical pivotal attachment by a clevis hinge to a long rigid rod, which passes through a stationary eye. Also included is a movable L-shaped member for establishing a proper angle for holding the putter.

Abstract: An exercise device includes a hollow flexible elastic tube filled with fluid having hook members connected in the ends thereof for detachably securing the tube to the hook members. The hook member includes first and second wedge-shaped portions for facilitating insertion of the hook during assembly of the device, and for lockingly engaging the hook member, along with the retaining ring, to the end of the tube. Further included is a substantially cylindrical, hollow handle for use in improving a golf swing, which includes a slot formed in the handle for removably receiving the stretchable tube and for holding the end of the tube within the handle.

Abstract: A bag handle apparatus comprises a thin sheet of semirigid flexible material having a locking tab formed on one end, and a locking slot formed in a second end of the sheet. A locking tab lockingly engages the locking slot to hold the bag handle apparatus in a generally arcuate shape about one or more bag handles which are loaded with articles. The sheet has a width sufficient to cover the palm of the user's hand and a length sufficient to be disposed around the desired number of bag handles. The sheet is preferably low density polyethylene having a thickness of from 0.060 to 0.090 inches.

Abstract: An improved external penile support device for aiding penile erection comprises an elongated rod with first and second ends, a yoke coupled at the first end including arcuate arms adapted for and encircling the glans of the penis, a supporting arc portion at the second end being contoured to conform to the pubic muscles, the rod having an upward bend with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a strap at the second end for securing the device to the penis. It further comprises an element for applying pressure to the dorsal vein at the top of the root of the penis, which has a generally flat base surface portion for contacting the penis for restricting flow of blood. The rod includes a core and filament wrapped thereon.

Abstract: The improved health pillow construction for receiving the head and neck of the user in a resting position comprises a cover having a first and second wall, and a partition interposed between the first and second walls so as to define a first and second chamber, respectively. Soft filler material is enclosed within the first chamber for comfortably supporting the head. Enclosed within the second chamber is a firm neck support member which is slidably moveable within the second chamber, so that the neck support member can easily be shifted from one position to another within the chamber. This enables the user to conveniently adapt the pillow to provide firm support for the neck while providing satisfactory head support. The neck support member is preferably in a cylindrical roll shape and is of a firm material, such as hard latex, or polyester fiber tightly packed within a covered fabric. The neck roll preferably has a diameter approximately in the range of 20 to 30 percent of its height.

Abstract: A method and a system for rapidly attaining a large number of different sounds in an audio signal processing system. A preferred embodiment comprises an audio signal processing system which includes a main housing, containing a main circuit apparatus, cartridge-receiving recesses, and cartridges fabricated to be removably received in the recesses, each cartridge containing an audio effects circuit which affects the signal in a unique way to provide a different sound output. A plurality of electrical contacts of the recess and cartridge respectively provide disengageable connection of the audio effects circuit to the system.

Abstract: A method and a system of organizing, arranging and rearranging, the number and sequential order of audio effects circuit modules, by the changing, including inserting, removing, exchanging and interchanging, of said modules, providing noiseless, uninterrupted signal flow through a system during each of said changing operations. A preferred embodiment of the method comprises an audio signal processing system which includes a main housing, containing a main circuit apparatus, module-receiving recesses, and modules, fabricated to be received in the recesses, each module having an electronic circuit which affects the signal in a unique way to provide a different sound output. A plurality of switches and potentiometers lie on the main housing, and each module has markings indicating which controls on the main housing are to serve its operation.

Abstract: A method and a system of organizing, arranging and rear-ranging the number and sequential order of audio effects circuit modules by the changing, including inserting, removing, exchanging and interchanging, of said modules providing noiseless, uninterrupted signal flow through a system during each of said changing operations. A preferred embodiment of the method comprises an audio signal processing system which includes a main housing, containing a main circuit apparatus, module-receiving recesses, and modules, fabricated to be received in the recesses, each module having an electronic audio effect circuit which affects the signal in a unique way to provide a different sound output. A plurality of switches and potentiometers lie on either the main housing or the module, and each module has markings indicating which controls are to serve its operation.