Abstract: An applicance housing includes a box-like front part having a front panel and an open rear end, and a pair of symmetrical, box-like side parts, each having an open front end and an open medial side. The open medial sides of the two side parts snap together in coplanar abutment along a sagittal plane, and the open rear end of the front part then snaps onto the front ends of the two engaged side parts to form a closed housing. In an air cleaner embodiment, each of the two side parts is provided with a ventilated lateral side panel which is recessed to create a space for holding a sheet of filtering media, and a flush grill which snaps onto the side panels over the filters to hold them in place.

Abstract: A rotary switch assembly for use with a stand-mounted appliance includes a conventional rotary switch which is installed through the side of the stand and mounted therein on a plate such that the stem of the switch is coaxially aligned with the long, central axis of the stand. A control knob in the form of a split, annular sleeve is snapped circumferentially around the stand to cover the opening and has an arm which extends radially inward through the opening to grasp the switch's stem such that rotation of the knob about the stand in the circumferential direction produces a corresponding rotation of the stem.

Abstract: The valve includes an electromagnet having a pole face inclined at an angle to a disk-shaped poppet or valve plate to define a wedge-shaped air gap therebetween. A peripheral housing surrounds the plate and extends between the pole face and a planar floor below the plate to define a chamber within which the plate is loosely captivated for pivotal movement about an edge of the plate disposed at the thin end of the gap. The floor contains a valve seat disposed toward the thick end of the gap so that the plate experiences its maximum stroke in the vicinity of the seat, thus resulting in a faster-acting valve for a given effective stroke length.

Abstract: A stereoscopic display capable of displaying monochromatic or colored views of moving, three dimensional scenes comprises means for sequentially projecting alternate ones of successive pairs of substantially monochromatic images corresponding to right-eye and left-eye perspectives of the scene at a display rate sufficient to avoid a perception of flicker in the images. A variable polarizer is used to circularly polarize alternate ones of the images in respectively opposite senses synchronously at their projection rate. The images are analyzed by highly-transmissive eyewear comprising at least one pair of oppositely-sensed cholesteric liquid crystal circular polarizers tuned to the particular color wavelength of the images and disposed, one over each eye, to transmit appropriately-polarized images to corresponding eyes and to reflect inappropriately-polarized images away therefrom.

Abstract: A driver with automatic speed and torque switching including two different drive trains which operate in parallel and are driven at the same time by a motor. One drive train provides a high-speed output while the other provides a low-speed output. A single drive head for transmitting torque to the nut is normally coupled to the high-speed output, and not to the low-speed output. The machine operates initially at the high speed for the "free rotation" of the nut. When the nut contacts the surface of the structural body, the drive coupling to the high-speed output is disabled, and the low-speed output (which formerly was not coupled to the drive head) is not at the same time coupled to the drive head. The nut is then driven much more slowly but with a higher driving torque. Within the low-speed drive train there is included a friction clutch, and adjustment means for adjusting the level of torque at which it will slip.

Abstract: A ring-shaped brace or frame for supporting the ribs of a knockdown-style lamp shade includes a plurality of rigid, elongated members which are formed to lie in a plane and interconnect end-to-end to form a rigid, closed polyagonal ring. Means are provided which receive ends of adjacent members and connect them in rigid, snap-together, pull-apart, locking engagement. Because the ring frame is quickly and easily assembled or disassembled by the consumer without the use of tools, it can be packed, along with the shade, in a compact, disassembled condition for shipment and sale.