Abstract: An improved fluid collection tube assembly, particularly adapted for collecting blood or other biological fluid, includes a plastic collection tube having a forward end closed by a rubber diaphragm and an open rear end. A resilient piston member is slidably disposed within the tube in sealing engagement with the interior wall of the tube and is spaced forwardly from the open rear end. Prior to collecting a biological fluid from a patient, ambient air is in the space between the closed forward end of the tube and the piston member. When it is desired to collect a biological fluid from a patient, the piston is drawn rearwardly into the rear end of the tube to create a vacuum in the tube between the rubber diaphragm and the piston member.

Abstract: An improved tape drive system for an apparatus (a telephone answering device in the exemplary, preferred embodiment of this invention) which employs one or more dual reel tape cassettes or cartridges. The tape drive system of the present invention requires only a single motor and a single solenoid for providing all operating functions of the apparatus. One lever (a broadcast lever) is pivotably mounted on a base or chassis and carries a broadcast pinch roller mechanism and a broadcast record/playback head. A second lever (an incoming call recording or "ICR" lever) is pivotably mounted on the first lever and carries an ICR pinch roller and an ICR record/playback head. The broadcast, ICR and rewind operating modes of the apparatus are provided by a single motor and a single solenoid.

Abstract: A record player attachment base is provided for holding and aligning a card having a miniature or microphonograph record thereon, in proper alignment for playback by a hand-held record player, referred to as a microphonograph.

Abstract: A vending apparatus which includes a rotatable dispensing member having a plurality of separate storage compartments for storing a plurality of items to be dispensed in a predetermined manner is disclosed. A stop member is provided to disable the operation of the vending apparatus upon depletion of all of the items in any of the storage compartments from which an item is selected.

Abstract: An irrigation pipeline has a plurality of emitters equipped with discharge nipples for engagement by flexible hoses to release water at a trickle rate at selected subterranean locations within the radii of the hoses. A plurality of the nipples may be integral with a plastic manifold that is installed between confronting pipe ends and some of the nipples may be blind nipples that are sheared for activation of the emitters as required to meet increased demand for water.

Abstract: A sound editing system having a "library" of prerecorded sound effects stored on magnetic recording tape for insertion at selected locations and with a selected quality for forming a final sound track for use in association with a visual display such as a television program is disclosed.

Abstract: A load responsive switch actuator mechanism comprises a body of deformable material (e.g., an elastomeric material) which deforms under either compressive or tensile forces to actuate a switch. In one preferred embodiment the deformable material is in the form of a solid, generally cylindrical configuration which, when compressed, will expand in diameter to actuate a load responsive switch. In a second preferred embodiment the deformable material is in the form of a generally cylindrical tube which, when subjected to a tensile load, will decrease in diameter and actuate a load responsive switch.

Abstract: A lighting fixture in the form of a chandelier having chandelier arms. There is a central body having an upstanding fixture part, and to which the chandelier arms are secured. The arms are unique in that they consist of metal tubes of ornamental shape for carrying the wiring and carrying ornamental designs of plastic molded onto the tubes. Within the central body is a metal box to which the tubes of the arms connect and to which also connect vertical tubes for wiring to provide safety. The central body is of molded construction with the metal box within it.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and restraining the head of a patient (typically an infant) during medical treatment, for example, during the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure to a patient suffering from a respiratory disease. The apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a generally arcuate cradle, a pair of opposed, generally flexible restraining plates pivotably mounted within the cradle for conforming to and positively restraining the patient's head, and adjustable means on the cradle for moving the restraining plates toward one another to a position wherein they will gently, yet firmly, restrain the patient's head. Padding of a suitable material (e.g., lamb's wool) lines the interior exposed surfaces of the members and the cradle to cushion the patient's head. The padding may be held within the apparatus by means of cooperating mating strips of velcro.

Abstract: Slide dispenser apparatus comprising a manually operable, controlled-quantity merchandise dispenser of a type including a base and a separable upper merchandise-storing chamber positioned thereover and having a bottom opening for merchandise gravity-feeding relationship with respect to an upwardly open, intermediately positioned, merchandise-receiving-and-dispensing chamber positioned between the bottom of the merchandise-storing chamber and the underlying base, and with said intermediate chamber being provided with a manually-extendible-and-retractable merchandise-receiving-and-dispensing slide member having an upwardly open merchandise-receiving cavity of a size such as to receive a desired quantity of particulate merchandise material, or a unit of globular merchandise material, or the like, completely within the cavity for slidable transverse extending movement of the slide member into a position such that the cavity will be exterior of the base for dispensing the particulate material from a spoon carried

Abstract: An automatic tool changing apparatus incorporated in a drilling machine or the like comprises a plurality of collets, each for supporting and selectively grasping a tool holder mechanism. Each of the collets is slotted in its upper and central portions to divide the collet into a plurality of arcuate sections. The central portion of each collet is of generally truncated cone-shaped configuration, and rests in a generally truncated cone-shaped bore in a collet support block. A pneumatic piston arrangement is connected to the collets for selectively pulling the collets downwardly in their respective collet support blocks to move the generally arcuate sections of each collet radially inwardly to grasp a tool holder mechanism. Spring return means are provided for moving the collets into their normal positions wherein they will support, but will not grasp the tool holder mechanisms.

Abstract: A card reader utilizing an array of magnetically-operable solid state switches for reading magnetically coded cards. Magnets are employed to provide magnetic fields of sufficient strengths from poles of specific polarity to trigger or actuate some or all of the solid state switches. An array or matrix of the magnetically-operable solid state switches are provided in combination with a magnet-carrying block having magnets disposed therein. In several embodiments the magnets are slidably mounted in the block and are adapted to be attracted or repelled by a properly coded card having magnetized spots arranged in a predetermined pattern therein. In two preferred embodiments the card reader is combined with a card-operable magnetic lock. In that embodiment some of the magnets in the magnet-carrying block function as locking elements or tumblers.

Abstract: A parking gate of the type having a blocking arm located horizontally above the ground during its blocking position and pivotable at one end so as to be raised to permit passage of a vehicle when a switch is activated is disclosed. Electronic logic circuitry is associated with an electrically reversible motor for controlling the timing and direction of the rotation of the motor to control the movement and direction of the blocking arm.

Abstract: A cylindrical, cup-shaped, porous, sintered powdered metal filter is sealed in a tubular thermoplastic fitting (e.g., the needle-retaining hub of a hypodermic needle or an adaptor or a connector in the line of an intravenous infusion set) by force-fitting the open end of the filter within an annular bead on the interior wall of the tubular fitting and induction heating the filter so that the thermoplastic bead will flow into the pores of the filter to form a continuous ring seal between the filter and the interior wall of the fitting.

Abstract: A telephone answering device employing a conventional tape recorder and an endlesss broadcast recording tape having a twist of 180.degree. therein, popularly known as a Mobius loop, driven by the drive capstan of the conventional tape recorder, activates a tone switch and a shut-off switch in alternate 360.degree. revolutions of the broadcast tape.

Abstract: A safety razor comprising a razor blade support member connected to a handle through a linkage assembly is disclosed. The linkage assembly maintains the angle of the razor blade support member in relation to the handle at substantially a constant angle to prevent the razor blade from moving in a circular path. The razor blade support member is spring biased and retracts responsive to pressure being applied to it by the force during shaving, and maintains the pressure applied by the safety razor upon the face constant. The spring biasing means associated with the linkage assembly may be adjusted to vary the applied pressure.

Abstract: A bubble-making device comprising an aperture edge means defining a bubble-making open aperture which is adapted to be dipped into a bubble-making liquid having suitable surface tension and capillary-action characteristics such as to cause a film of the liquid to be formed across the bubble-making open aperture whenever the aperture edge means is dipped thereinto and removed therefrom. The device is normally provided with effective handle means to facilitate handling the bubble-making device and includes a supplementary area-increasing, liquid-pickup means comprising an effectively perforate structure carried by the aperture edge means and, in a preferred form, extending inwardly thereof and adapted to increase the amount of the bubble-making liquid picked up when dipped into the bubble-making liquid and subsenquently available for bubble-making purposes when air is forced through the bubble-making aperture and against a film of the bubble-making liquid normally extending thereacross.

Abstract: An improved filter for medical infusion and injection equipment is manufactured by compacting stainless steel powder particles of an irregular or dendritic shape, in the substantial absence of a binder, to form a porous, self-supporting green article, and thereafter sintering the green article. The resulting filter is porous with the pores communicating with one another to form a network of tortuous or winding paths having lateral, oblique and vertical segments which function to trap contaminating particles of a solution passed therethrough. The porous filter is sealed in a tubular fitting by force-fitting the filter into the internal peripheral wall of an annular plastic bead in the fitting and heating the filter to cause the plastic bead to soften or melt and flow into the pores of the filter along a continuous peripheral ring.

Abstract: 1. A hypodermic needle support structure comprising in combination .[.;.]. .Iadd.: .Iaddend.a plastic main support member having .Iadd.an inner end, and an outer end portion terminating in an outer end; .Iaddend.a passage extending longitudinally .[.therethrough which provides.]. .Iadd.through said support member to provide .Iaddend.access to the interior of said support member from either end thereof.Iadd.; said longitudinally extending passage including a smaller diameter portion adjacent said outer end and a larger diameter portion adjacent to said smaller diameter portion; means defining a shoulder between said smaller diameter portion and said larger diameter portion; .[.with said support member having at the outer end.]. .Iadd.; said outer end portion of said support member including .Iaddend. a rigid support section.[.,.].; a generally tubular metal eyelet member .Iadd.; a hypodermic needle cannula; said eyelet member being .Iaddend.