Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for synchronziing the operation of the frequency sensitive devices of two or more transceiver units in a secure, wireless communication system. A fixed frequency pilot signal is generated in a first unit of the system and transmitted to the other units. The encoding noise signal locally generated in each unit is timed by clock pulses derived from the locally available pilot signal. If synchronism between the respective noise signals is lost, the pilot signal is disabled. This causes a reset pulse to be generated in each unit. The action resets each noise generator and restores synchronous operation.

Abstract: A portable alarm is provided with a smoke detecting mechanism and circuit connected to an audible signal activated on the presence of smoke and all contained in a compact housing. To this conventional combination the invention interposes a connector means in the circuit between the detector and alarm which connector means includes a highly visible elongated external hanging electrical lead that is plugged into an opening in the housing to complete the circuit through the electrical lead thus, at all times, conspicuously indicating the armed/unarmed condition of the alarm.

Abstract: A vacuum fluorescent display is provided with control means for turning on the display elements by means of a control signal which is in phase with the AC voltage supplied to the cathode of the display. The control signal has a duty cycle which is symmetrical about the zero crossing points of the AC voltage. As a result, the display produces light output only during time periods that are symmetrical about the zero crossings of the AC voltage. In this manner, uniform brightness of the display is perceived.

Abstract: A substantially planar closure for a cabinet compartment is disclosed having two resiliently retractable pivot hinges disposed in cantilivered fashion approximately co-axial with the rear edge of the door. This closure can be deployed in a housing opening having a cross-sectional area approximately equal to the planar dimension of the door. A front edge of the door includes an integral retractable latch which can lockingly engage a catch receiving recess disposed on the housing. The latch mechanism is co-axial with the forward edge of the door. A support means integrally formed with the undersurface of the door, provides the rear portion of the closure panel with additional support.

Abstract: A selection circuit for series connection between the output of the detector stage and the input of the audio amplifier. The selection circuit requires a minimum number of components and is useful to drive a tuning indicator or similar type circuit.

Abstract: An electric oven toaster construction wherein a unique rotatable cam controls the bake, toasting and broiling modes of the oven toaster and simultaneously sets the threshold temperature of a thermostat switch during toasting, baking and broiling. The rotary cam includes a rearwardly extending rod portion having a radially outwardly extending lobe for cooperating with a cam follower portion of a bake switch for opening the bake switch when a bake operation is set and closing the bake switch when a toast operation is set. The rotatable cam also includes a circular disc portion positioned in front of the rod portion and integrally formed therewith. The circular disc portion has a cam surface that extends rearwardly and is in sliding engagement with a thermostat cam follower blade to set the thermostat cam follower for a particular toast color.

Abstract: A weighing scale of the household type includes a base, a platform vertically positioned above the base, and a force transmitting means therebetween. The force transmitting means includes relative large surface area planar bearing surfaces on the base and platform for mating contact with bearing surfaces on levers for transmitting force to a weight sensing means. The bearing arrangement permits substantial misalignments of scale components since the planar bearing surfaces do not establish the moment arms of the force transmitting means.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustable hair curler of general spool or roller shape with a pair of telescoping elongated tubes axially and rotatably movable relative to one another. A pair of nested larger diameter end caps is secured at each end of each tube with the roller generally resembling a spool. Each pair of caps includes a first cap with plural spiralled cam slots radiating from its center and a second cap nested in the first with a plurality of corresponding or equal number of straight cam slots radiating from its center. The nesting caps are rotatable relative to each other and the caps at each end are connected together by a plurality of toothed elongated curler segments. Each segment has structure at each end cooperating with the cap slots such that by rotating the end caps in opposite directions the segments are radially cammed to change the curler roller diameter. Additional structure locks the cap rotation at any desired roller diameter.

Abstract: In a strain gage weighing scale with a load platform, a plurality of foot structures support the platform. The invention is an improvement in each foot structure of a sandwich with a bottom support plate, a pair of spaced first cylindrical roller fulcrums on the plate, a floating beam plate on the first fulcrums and spaced above and coextensive with the bottom plate. A pair of differently spaced and equally offset second cylindrical roller fulcrums on the beam plate support the platform. Suitable strain gages are secured to the beam any place between the closer pair of fulcrums. The entire sandwich is held together by a deformable plastic housing that secures the plates and fulcrums together and is barb-connected to the platform. The strain gages are connected to conventional converting structure measuring the change in resistance under load and calibrated to read weight. The deformable plastic housing holding the sandwich is an integral molding with structural details reducing friction between the parts.

Abstract: An electrically heated appliance, such as a steam iron, is provided with an adjustable stacked thermostat assembly having an integrated overtemperature protection control. In the case of a steam iron, the thermostat assembly is mounted on a boss on the soleplate and includes a pair of contacts carried by spring contact blades and adapted to be actuated by a heat deformable bimetallic blade to make and break the circuit to the electric heating element of the iron. The overtemperature protection control includes an electrically conductive rivet electrically connected to one of the electrical power supply terminals of the iron and a U-shaped electrically conductive spring having a first end electrically connected to a conductive member in circuit with one of the spring contact blades and a second end soldered to the rivet by a solder joint fusible at a selected overtemperature to melt and break the circuit between the rivet and the spring.

Abstract: An electronic circuit, capable of being fabricated as an integrated circuit, for inclusion within a programmable radio for providing the radio with sleep and nap type functional operations. The electronic circuit includes a radio circuit coupled to a control circuit having a timing circuit, a time set circuit, a manually operated switch and a circuit coupling. The circuit couples the timing circuit, the manually operated switch and the time set circuit to the radio circuit to supply the radio circuit with first and second signals when the coupling circuit is in a first state and to prevent or block the first and second signals from being supplied to the radio circuit when the coupling circuit is in a second state.

Abstract: An electric coffeemaker is disclosed of the drip type with an upright C-shaped housing, the lower leg having a heated carafe support and the upper leg having a water spreader over a supported coffee basket. The vertical leg encloses a reservoir with an apertured bottom wall and a cover is provided over the upper leg with an opening to the reservoir, and with a pump and heating chamber in the lower leg with a connected tube delivering hot water to the spreader. In this known combination, an improvement is provided in the spreader of an open cup-shaped member having a raised cut-away side towards the reservoir and connected to the tube. Apertures in the cup dispense hot water to the coffee basket and overflow structure is provided in the cup.

Abstract: An adjustable stacked thermostat assembly, particularly for use in an electric appliance, such as an electric steam iron, includes a lower bimetallic heat deformable blade, an intermediate stiff conductive spring blade carrying a electrical contact and connected to a first electric terminal and an upper less stiff conductive spring blade carrying a cooperating contact and connected to a second terminal, with all of the blades being supported, secured and spaced apart at one end by interposed insulators. In operation movement of the deformable blade is transmitted to the upper blade to make and break the contacts to control heat to the appliance controlled by the thermostat.

Abstract: An electric oven toaster construction wherein an interrupt mechanism is provided for interrupting operation of a toast timer controller when the oven toaster door is opened. An interrupt lever is positioned between a door operated rod and a heat-up/cool-down bi-metal timer controller so that when the door is opened the interrupt lever moves the toasting period controller to its off position. Thus, when the door is opened during a toasting cycle operation, the toasting period controller is returned to its off position so that a user is required to reset a new full-toast cycle when the door is reclosed. This arrangement prevents undertoasted bread that could result if fresh bread is inserted in the middle of a toasting cycle.

Abstract: A foldable mirror has a peripheral two-piece frame with an offset supporting leg and a pair of oppositely disposed hinges connecting the pieces together. The frame includes stacked channels forming an E in cross-section with the hinges at the center end of the E so the frame folds book-like to form a compact small structure. When folded, the stacked channels form a single enclosed large channel that preferably extends completely across the frame. A non-glass single flexible sheet of reflecting mirror material is secured in the frame between the hinges with the hinges centerline in the same plane as the reflective surface. The arrangement is such that, on folding, the mirror forms a tear drop fold disposed and protected in the large channel across the back of the mirror to prevent permanent mirror distortion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food processor of the slicer/shredder type having a power base L-shaped housing with a second feed chute housing rotatably attached to the L-shaped housing to extend above it in an operative position over the L with the chute foldable in a box-like position for compact and convenient storage. In this general combination, a simple clutch structure is disposed between the housing and chute to provide a rotatable function whereby the chute is rotated into one position for removal for cleaning, into a second upright position where food is inserted into cutters and discharged, and into a third position opposite the second whereby the chute is secured and locked into a compact low box-like profile for easy storage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food processer of the slicer/shredder type having a power base L-shaped housing and a second feed chute offset from the upstanding base and rotatably attached to the L-shaped housing to extend above it in an operative positive position over the L with the chute foldable in a box-like position for compact and convenient storage. A cylindrical hollow cutter disposed in one end of the chute and an axially aligned cylindrical outlet with a detachable spout is disposed adjacent the cutter. A clutch around the shaft rotatably connects the chute and housing together and the shaft is slanted down up to 10.degree. below and over the L-portion with housing and chute having abutting spaces offset substantially the same amount from the vertical for food to easily exit the outlet. An interlocking control connects the clutch so the chute is partly rotated from the vertical operative position in one direction about the shaft for removal and cleaning and/or it may be rotated substantially 180.

Abstract: An AM superheterodyne radio receiver has an RF filter which includes a biased varactor for providing a trimming capacitance and provides an AGC signal when it is tuned to a broadcast AM signal. The AGC signal and a derived time derivative signal are used to provide binary signals which drive a logic circuit and the logic circuit controls a generator which biases the varactor. The biased varactor fine tunes the RF filter towards the carrier frequency of the broadcast AM signal.

Abstract: A radio cabinet includes a compartment for three AAA size batteries. The compartment includes a housing having integral means for holding contacts which are intended to engage the batteries only when the batteries are placed in the housing in a predetermined way. The contacts are connected to provide a series-aiding arrangement of the batteries. If any one or more of the batteries is improperly inserted into the housing, electrical continuity is prevented by said integral means.