Abstract: Electrodes utilized in various types of batteries are interconnected by means of a pair of conductive bands insulated from each other and bent into a zig-zag formation. Each conductive band overlays an electrode of one polarity, thus performing the function of separator as well as terminal conductor. Upon compression of the stacked electrodes into a housing, a compact battery is produced.

Abstract: An accessory device for lighting fixtures is described. It comprises a pair of telescoping tubular housings having at one end a standard screw terminal adapted to fit a conventional electric socket and, at the other end, a standard electric lamp socket. Electrically conductive connections are provided within the housings for interconnecting the end terminals at any position of extension of the housings.

Abstract: A retaining guide for printed circuit cards has the form of a narrow channel member having a bottom wall and vertically-extending side walls.The cards are slidably inserted into this member. The retentive force is exerted upon the cards by the fact that the channel member has a non-linear, undulating configuration as well as a plurality of spaced inwardly-extending contact surfaces of the side walls thereof.

Abstract: An impact mechanism for piezoelectric transducers, particularly intended for lighters, is described. It consists of an outer housing of plastic material, at the bottom of which the piezoelectric crystal assembly is secured. Slidably arranged within this housing is a support member which contains the impact elements, namely, a permanent magnet, an actuating spring, and a ferromagnetic hammer in magnetically-locked relationship. Slots in opposite sides of the frame member permit a pin to pass through a bore in the magnet and also through the outer housing to which the pin is secured. The frame member, being closed on top, also houses a return spring. The sliding movement of the frame member within the housing compresses the actuating spring and forces separation of the hammer to strike the piezoelectric transducer.

Abstract: A holder for paint brushes which is adapted to rest over the rim of an open paint can is described. The holder has a vertically-extending forked member for freely supporting a brush at the narrow portion of the handle thereof, and a downwardly-extending curvilinear portion forming a trough surrounding the bristles of the brush, the upwardly-extending rim of the trough has a rounded edge for removal of excess paint from the brush.

Abstract: A piezoelectric igniter with a manually operable striking mechanism which comprises a hammer, a piezoelectric transducer, and an energy storing or compression spring acting on said hammer. The hammer is held in its rest position by a release device adapted to release the hammer when a definite compressive force is developed in the compression spring. A bounce plate is mounted at the end of the transducer facing the hammer and a return spring is provided between said bounce plate and said hammer. The transducer has a lateral clearance to a housing which receives all component parts.

Abstract: A method of winding a tubular-shaped multilayer coil usable as an ironless rotor for electrical motors. A cylindrical form having a rhomboidal cross-section is used as a core for making a cylindrical winding having a number of taps intended to be connected to a commutator of a slip ring device. The cylindrical winding is stripped off from the cylindrical form and flattened to a bandlike structure without deforming the configuration of the windings. The bandlike structure is bent and the ends thereof are joined to form a tubular-shaped coil usable as an ironless rotor. The wire is wound on the cylindrical core in a multilayer formation by alternating the direction of axial advancement or displacement of the windings so as to form a cylindrical winding having a thickness of at least three times that of the diameter of the insulated wire.

Abstract: A filtering device for the preparation of coffee comprises a vessel with a permanent metallic filter disk forming the bottom thereof. Vertically extending walls divide the vessel into distinct compartments of varying volumetric content, thus separating distinct areas of the filter disk. A water inlet is provided for one of the compartments in which the coffee powder is placed so that the amount of water used at any one time determines the active area of the filter disk utilized by virtue of the overflow between compartments.

Abstract: An igniter utilizing a piezoelectric transducer intended particularly for lighters is described. It consists of a tubular housing of plastic material. Placed in the bottom of the housing, and loosely fitting therein, are a pair of barium titanate crystals stacked one over the other with a contacting electrode. A striking hammer is suspended above the crystals and held by the magnetic force of a permanent magnet. A spring acting on the hammer is arranged to be compressed by an actuating cap. Upon such compression of the spring which overcomes the retentive force of the magnet, the hammer is propelled against the transducer, thereby creating the generation of an electric potential used to provide an igniting spark. A spring plate placed between the bottom of the housing and the crystals. The spring pressure of the spring plate on the crystals is adjusted by a screw seated in the bottom of the housing.

Abstract: A blanking die comprises a relatively thin die plate having a cutout into which the punch of the press, upon blanking operation, forces the material to be cut to form the required part blank. A holder of sturdy construction is provided onto which the thin die plate is removably mounted. Slidably positioned within the holder is a reciprocating support block which, upon blanking operation, underlies the thin die plate in order to reinforce it against the impact of the punch. After the blanking cycle, the support block is moved either to eject the part blank or to allow the latter to fall through an opening in the holder.

Abstract: A piezoelectric igniter includes a piezoelectric transducer positioned adjacent the closed bottom of a cylindrical housing. A hammer of magnetic material is axially movably guided in the housing toward impact with the transducer. An axially movable actuating member is provided in the top of the housing and the hammer is biased by a compression spring disposed between the actuator and the hammer. The hammer is attracted and held in its rest position by a permanent magnet structure located within the compression spring, and is released and accelerated towards the transducer when the compressive force of the spring, when compressed by the actuator, exceeds the attraction of the permanent magnet during operation of the igniter. A spring between the hammer and transducer returns the hammer to its rest position after impact with the transducer. The hammer may comprise an iron cup filled with lead.

Abstract: An exposure control arrangement for motion picture cameras of the type in which the diaphragm is set in accordance with the amount of light passing through the objective is described. The activation of the diaphragm is automatically effected by photoelectric means which are energized upon closure of the shutter and disabled during exposure of the film.

Abstract: An electric shaver construction is described having a cylindrical, rotatable shearing foil adapted to roll over the surface to be shaved. Disposed within the cylindrical foil is a cutting head moved by a motor to oscillate in the direction axial to said foil.

Abstract: A piezoelectric igniter which has a piezoelectric transducer for converting mechanical into electrical energy. Said transducer is housed at the bottom of a housing of plastics material, which housing is resilient in the axial direction. The transducer cooperates with a hammer which is movable towards the transducer and is actuated by an energy storing spring, which may be compressed and torsioned by pressing on an actuating cap and which comprises a laterally protruding locking pin, co-operating with L-shaped recesses in the housing and with apertures in the actuating cap having a slant cam surface. The resiliency of the plastics housing leads to a greater efficiency of the igniter.

Abstract: A device for the preparation of filtered coffee is described. It has a permanent filter disk which can be reused, thus eliminating the need for frequent replacement.

Abstract: A piezoelectric igniter, especially for lighters, with a striking mechanism comprising a hammer which is movable towards a piezoelectric transducer and which co-operates with an energy storing spring which can be compressed by an actuating member. The striking mechanism has a release means comprising a permanent magnet co-operating with the hammer such that the hammer is held in its rest position by the attractive magnetic forces of the permanent magnet and is released if the energy storing spring has been compressed by the actuating member to such an extent that the spring force exceeds the attractive force of the permanent magnet. The hammer is accelerated by the energy storing spring towards the piezoelectric transducer and impinges on said transducer to generate an electric pulse which is led to a spark gap arranged adjacent a gas discharge valve of the igniter.

Abstract: A reusable coffee filter with a pot-shaped hotwater container and a filter strainer adjacent an opening in the bottom of said container. The filter strainer is made of metallic sieve sheets having perforations flaring out in the flow direction. On top of the hotwater container a distribution plate is supportably held which has a plurality of holes distributed over an area corresponding to the vertical projection of the opening of the filter strainer in order to ensure a good wetting and extraction efficiency of the coffee powder.