Abstract: A packaging case for presenting elongated objects (such as pencils (103) and flat objects, such as computer disks (350), for easy removal and selection and for transporting and storing such objects in a compact and protected condition. The case comprises a base (50) having a plurality of upright partitions (58) hingedly attached thereto at spaced locations, and a plurality of shelves (68) attached to spaced, corresponding locations on said partitions. The shelves have elongated slots (66) for receiving the objects and holding them parallel to the partitions. When the partitions are folded upright, the objects are held upright so that they will be spaced and can all be easily seen, selected, and replaced. When the partitions are folded down, the objects and shelves will be close and parallel to the base so as to provide a very compact package for easy transportation and/or storage.

Abstract: A plastic open-ended generally U-shaped holder (25) has three sides (31, 33 and 35) of suitable area for advertising. The free ends of the legs of the U are bent together and flared out to form a slot (37). This can be parted with the fingers so as to fit over the top edge of a waste basket (38), the handles (40) of plastic grocery bags (26) can be anchored within the attachment in order to suspend said bags in open and upright position for receiving waste for disposal. Holder (25) can also be used when inverted to receive and embrace handles (40) of one or more plastic bags (26) so as to provide a handpiece (25) for comfortable carrying of bags (26) to and from a vehicle. In the vehicle, or elsewhere, the holder holds said handles clustered together so as the prevent rolling and spilling of the contents of said bags during travel. At a destination, the said bags can then be collectively removed and carried to the kitchen with speed and ease.

Abstract: A light stimulator device which tests and therapeutically stimulates the neurovisual system by visible light. It utilizes a balanced spectrum, magnetic, plasmatic light source (32) with different color filters (20) and different apertures (18) interposed between the light source and the subject's eyes. The flash rate of the light source (32) can be continuously varied (24) to provide for diagnostic CFF testing.

Abstract: A sealer (10) for vacuum containers comprises a valve unit (12) and a removable vacuum-pump head (14). The valve unit consists of a valve housing (24) which can be connected to a vacuum container to be evacuated, for example through a flange (16), and a cylindrical valve element (42) inserted into the valve housing. The valve element has a top transverse opening (46) for interaction with a driving tool, a middle transverse hole (48) for connection to a source of vacuum through the above-mentioned vacuum pump head when the latter is fitted onto the valve element, a bottom transverse hole (52), and an axial bore (50) which connects the middle transverse hole to the bottom transverse hole. The valve element also has a threaded portion (44) which engages an inner thread (36) formed in the valve housing, so that the valve element can be screwed into the valve housing, and can interact with saddle (40) in the valve housing.

Abstract: An underwater closed-loop track consists of at least two tracks (12 and 14) which are formed of floating pads (16 and 18 ) connected in series and containing weights (22) for maintaining the pads at a predetermined depth from the surface of water. The underwater track is supported by flexible links, e.g., by ropes, connected to stationary supports (S1 and S2). The external track (12) has a depth suitable for walking and running in water on the bottom formed by the pads, while the external track (14) has a depth for running in water without touching the bottom. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a stationary swimming pool of a closed-loop configuration (40) or a zig-zag configuration (66) having at least two tracks, one of which is suitable for running and walking in water with touching the bottom, and another for running in water without touching the bottom.

Abstract: A combined handset and headset comprises a cylindrical speaker housing (20) which fits into the pinna (46) and contains a speaker (38). The speaker housing has an upper extension (24) which in turn has an end housing or pinna clamping part (28) slidably mounted thereto. The slidable housing contains a crossbar (14) for resting against the rear side of the pinna. The slidable housing is spring urged to a compacted position against the pinna so that it can clamp the pinna between it and the speaker housing so that the unit will retain itself on the pinna. The slidable housing can be pulled back and locked in an extended position where the crossbar is far enough from the cylindrical housing that the crossbar will be clear of the pinna so that the set can be used as a handset.

Abstract: A mirror for use in harsh environments, such as an anti-condensation shower mirror where hot water is sprayed onto the back of the mirror, comprises a transparent sheet (10), preferably of acrylic, a reflective film (12) on one side of the sheet, a protective layer (14) of paint on one side of the reflective layer, and a protective backing layer (16) of plastic, preferably made of PVC, on one side of the protective layer. The protective plastic backing layer protects the fragile paint and reflective films against the effects of hot water, which would otherwise cause these layers to deteriorate and flake off, thus running the mirror over time. Also an edge gasket of rubber (18) may be provided around the edges of the mirror to protect the edges of the layers.

Abstract: To prevent condensation on the mirror, it is heated with water from a supply tube connected from a showerhead pipe to a dispenser which disperses the heated water in either liquid or spray form, preferably from holes in a hose which is mounted in a rear temperature-control space and which surrounds the back of the mirror. The hose has an oval cross-section with holes on one of its flatter sides so that they will all face inward, toward the center of the mirror. Also the tube acts as a gasket to prevent the water from leaking through the mirror's front. The mirror is held by a flex-arm which includes breakaway flex-joints (hinge or ball), allowing rotational and translational movements. A supply tube is carried inside the flex-arm, has a friction fit in the ends of the arm, and is connected to the dispenser hose by a T-fitting. A relief slot in the mirror end of the flex-arm allows water which enters the space in the flex-arm around the supply tube to leave such space.

Abstract: A magnetic head and disc tester imitates motions of the head on a hard disc drive and comprises a stationary base (22), a slide mechanism (24) which can be installed in any required position on the base (22) with respect to a center of rotation of a magnetic disc (D). The disc (D) is rotatingly supported by a spindle unit (42) fixed to the stationary base (22). A magnetic head (52) to be tested is attached to the end of an arm (16) which is pivotally supported on a slide (36) of the slide mechanism. The angular position of the longitudinal axis of the magnetic disc with respect to a tangent to a given track of magnetic disc (52) , i.e., a skew angle, can be adjusted and the head can be fixed in the adjusted position. For measuring the parameters of the head or the disc, the slide (36) is moved linearly and carries the magnetic head over the disc in a linear direction, the head being installed at a required skew angle by means of the above-mentioned angular adjustment.

Abstract: A message-carrying, antenna-mountable windsock allows a car owner to express a thought or concept. The windsock is tubular, preferably tapered, and is attached to the antenna of an automobile via holes in the top and bottom sides of the front end of the windsock. Several holes are provided for enabling the windsock to be horizontally positioned regardless of the angle of the antenna. The windsock is held in position on the antenna by a segment of slit rubber tubing, plastic twist ties, or both, positioned on the part of the antenna's shaft inside the windsock. A message, advertising, etc. is printed on the side of the windsock. The sock is very inexpensive to produce and the stock is easy to attach and remove.

Abstract: An electronic watch includes a "traveler's time" function which can be activated when a wearer leaves on a long trip, east or west by plane, boat or the like. This function will advance or retard the operation rate of the watch so that after a user-determined trip time has elapsed, the watch will display the actual local time at the arrival location, and the watch will resume operation at its normal rate. By glancing at the watch from time to time, a traveler can become accustomed gradually to a time change caused by his travel through different time zones so that the psychological effects of "jet lag" are minimized. The watch includes a microprocessor (10), a quartz crystal (20) for providing a time standard, a display (30) for displaying the time, and a set of switches (40-90) for activating the watch's functions. The microprocessor includes a set of registers (145 to 160) for storing the departure, destination, and traveler's times, and for controlling operation of the watch.

Abstract: A sample transfer device (110) for manipulating a sample in a sealed vacuum chamber comprises a tubular housing (112) made from magnetically permeable material. The housing has one end (114) closed and another attached to the vacuum chamber. Located inside the housing is a shaft (116) which is connected to a sample holder. One end of this shaft is connected to a hollow body (140) which is made from a magnetically-permeable and air-tight material. This hollow body (140) forms a sealed cavity which contains an inner permanent magnet (142). The magnet (142) is held in place by two cup-shaped members (152 and 154) and two aluminum blocks (156 and 158). The inner magnet (142) interacts with an outer permanent magnet (166) which slides over the surface of cylindrical housing (112) and moves, through magnetic force, the inner magnet and hence the shaft (116) and the sample holder with the sample in the axial direction of the housing, i.e., into a required position in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A device for focusing and positioning a high-energy beam in a vacuum chamber comprises a high-energy beam generator (10), which is sealingly connected to a housing (18) of a high-energy beam generator (20), a focusing unit (12) which consists of two tubular elements (26 and 28) having opposite external threads engageable with inner threads on a sleeve (30), and an adjustable connector unit (14) which is connected at one end to the focusing unit and at the other end to a vacuum chamber (16). Connector unit 14 consists of two skewed rings (60 and 62). One of these rings rotates on the lower end of focusing unit (12), while the other end ring is rotatably installed on the end of vacuum chamber (16). Both rings are rotatably connected to each other by means of a set of balls (68) inserted into a race, which is formed by annular grooves on the mating surfaces of the rings. The ball race between the rings is inclined with respect to the guide element which guides ring (60) during its rotation on the focusing unit.

Abstract: A rotary motion feedthrough mechanism for an external sealed chamber (206) located outside the mechanism through an inner sealed chamber formed inside the mechanism comprises a first driven shaft (220) with a through opening and a second driven shaft (234) moveably inserted into the through opening of the first shaft. The first shaft (220) carries an eccentric sleeve (242) which is rigidly attached thereto and rotatingly supports on bearings (246 and 248) a cylindrical bushing (244). The bushing (244) in turn supports a cylindrical body (250) which is supported on the bushing by bearings (251 and 253). Cylindrical body (250) is driven into rotation from an external drive means, e.g., manually from a handwheel (266) via a pinion (260) and a gear wheel (256) which is attached to the cylindrical body. Because of eccentricity of the bushing with respect to the axis of rotation of the first shaft (220), the bushing will describe planetary motions with respect to the above-mentioned axis of rotation.

Abstract: A rotary motion feedthrough mechanism for a sealed chamber comprises a first driven shaft (56) with a through opening (66) and a second driven shaft (96) moveably inserted into the through opening of the first shaft. At its rear end the first driven shaft has a recess (102) which is eccentric and inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of both shafts. The recess rotatingly supports one end of a conical sleeve (110), the other end of which is rotatingly supported in an inclined opening of an external sleeve (68) which is connected to a rotary drive unit through a sprocket (76) installed on the outer surface of the external sleeve. The end of the second drive shaft opposite to the eccentric opening of the first shaft is connected to an independent rotary motion feedthrough mechanism which is capable of transmitting rotation into a sealed space. When the mechanism is sealingly connected, e.g.

Abstract: A flexible wire coil (12) has spaced loops (14) and inwardly bent end prong portions (16A and 16B). The prong portions are inserted in holes (18A and 18B) in ends (23A and 23B) of baseplate (22), which is secured by screws or adhesives (28) to insides of cabinet doors (32) or elsewhere in kitchens, or other places. Plastic grocery bags (24) can be stored between adjacent turns of the coil for later re-use as waste disposal bags. The coil is easily mounted on the baseplate by first stretching it, then inserting the prongs into the respective holes in the ends of the baseplate, and then releasing tension so that the coil's ends will grasp the baseplate securely, yet allow the coil to be compressed and expanded and flexed from side to side to facilitate use and prevent injury.

Abstract: A two-part, self-locking electrical connector (10) consists of a male plug (12) with prongs (16, 18, 20) and a female receptacle (14) with sockets and contact blades (28, 30, 32), which engages the respective prongs. The female receptacle has a self-locking device which automatically locks both parts of the connector after insertion of the prongs (16, 18, 20) into respective sockets for electric contact with the blades (28, 30, 32). The self-locking device comprises a rectangular block (48) located in a recess (44) of the receptacle's body. The block is constantly urged toward the prongs by a compression spring (56). The block has tapering side surfaces (58, 60), which exert wedging action to expand the prongs, so that the prongs are pressed against the blades and are maintained in this position by a frictional force which is increased by the action of the spring (56).

Abstract: A folding workbench (20) comprises a top portion comprised of two parallel spaced boards (12 and 14) with an adjustable work holder (17) mountable along each board. One corner of the top has a vernier vise (16) attached thereto; the vise can grip work itself and can cooperate with the adjustable work holder for wide work or a fixed stop 80 at an adjacent corner for gripping very long work. The vise is mounted on a swivel plate (101) which has a quadrant shape and is surrounded by a groove (100) cut in the top of the bench to give unrestricted pathway to the vise's locking plate. The top is supported by two pair of legs (38 and 40), one pair at each end of the top. Each pair is hingedly attached (45) to the underside of the top, with one pair being hingedly attached at a lower position (spaced from the top) by the use of a spacer block (32) so that the legs can be folded against the top in a compact arrangement.

Abstract: An improved circle cutting tool for performing circular cuts on a wide variety of materials. Comprises a body (10) having a horizontal rotating radius bar (18) which is provided with an adjustable knife holder (20) and knife blade (30). The knife holder may be reversed for right or left handed users. The body is also provided with anchor pins (12) on the bottom and a swivel handle (38) on top.

Abstract: A circuit is connected to the line of a telephone for disabling the ringer (22) of the telephone and supplying, instead of the regular ring signal, any of a plurality of predetermined alternative signal melodies or voice messages. The circuit comprises a ring detector (24) for detecting the incoming rings, a relay (26) which is responsive to the rings for turning off the regular ringer, a signal library (28) for storing the predetermined alternative signals, and an amplifier (32) and a speaker (34) for reproducing the signals in an audible manner. Also a current detector (30) is provided to detect direct current flow when the telephone is answered and thereupon disable the alternative signal source. The alternative signal may be selected by the telephone user with a switch on the signal library, or by supplying predetermined tones to the circuit, either by the caller or the called party (FIG. 4).