Abstract: Underwater switching of electrical apparatus is accomplished by providing two terminals at the exterior surface of a unit to be immersed in water so that a conductive bridge is formed between the terminals through the water. Those terminals are included in a circuit in which switching action is to occur. To switch the circuit, at least one of the two terminals is covered so that it is no longer engaged by the water through which the conductor bridge is formed. In one form of the invention, one of the terminals is covered with one of the user's fingers.To provide a positive switching action and to insure that switching action results, whether the bridge is formed through highly conductive salt water or less conductive fresh water, the switching circuit is arranged so that the impedance to flow of an element in that circuit is made to change greatly in response to covering of one of the terminals. In one form, that function is accomplished by including a Zener diode in series with the switch terminals.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a bio-electric event measuring electrode combines a salt with adhesive. The adhesive serves as the vehicle for dispersing solvent to form the electrolyte in a solid or semisolid mixture. The adhesive serves further as a structural element in holding the parts of a practical electrode together and in making the electrode adhere to a subject's skin.

Abstract: A multimorph is a piezoelectric element which moves or bends as an incident to being charged or otherwise subjected to an electrostatic field so that a potential gradient appears across the element. The amount of movement or bending can be sufficient to actuate electrical contacts whereby the multimorph is useful in switches and relays. Improved multimorph construction and mounting, improved contact construction and mounting, and improved arrangements for subjecting multimorphs to electrostatic charges to provide improved switching and relay units are disclosed. Such units may be incorporated in time delay systems and the manner in which that can be done is disclosed along with other applications.

Abstract: A means for holding a drill chuck key in operative position on a drill chuck is provided by a pair of arms that straddle the chuck and include a shape and resilience to ensure that the chuck will be brought into operative position by cam action, and thereafter, held in proper position. That is augmented by a means for detachably securing the chuck key to another part of the drill when it is not in use to adjust the chuck. That function is accomplished with a retaining element associated with the key or with the drill, and which, when associated with the drill, has a shape so that the arms by which the key is fastened to the chuck co-act in the same way with the retaining element as with the chuck.

Abstract: Improved wire bonds between circuit points of such apparatus as semiconductor devices and integrated circuit units are accomplished by bonding one end of a wire to one of the circuit points and then paying out from a tool through which the wire is threaded, a length of wire sufficient to form a loop between the first bond point and the second bond point. That having been done, the wire is prevented from paying out of, or back into, the tool while the tool and the wire are lowered to the second bond point where the second bond is completed.

Abstract: A push-button, actuated electric switch is formed with a pair of flat, C-shaped fixed contacts which define an annulus, discontinuous at diametric points, the outer margins of which are clamped firmly between conformations in an upper and lower section of the switch housing. The fixed contacts are bridged to accomplish switching action by the circular perimeter of a moveable contact which is moved toward and away from the inner periphery of the annulus formed by the C-shaped contacts. A tab extending from an edge of each of those fixed contacts extends within a passageway formed in the housing where the tab is bonded to the end of an electrical conductor. The tab and conductor are free to bend and vibrate within the passageway without affecting the position of the portions of the fixed contactor that define the discontinuous annulus whereat mounting and bridging contact are accomplished.

Abstract: Improved performance in a cigarette filter of the kind that is housed in a cigarette holder is accomplished by incorporating a restriction in the flow path through the holder in which smoke is accelerated. That is followed by an expansion chamber into which ambient air is drawn to accomplish cooling and condensation of tars and nicotine products and to produce a turbulence. As a consequence, the condensate is made to impinge upon the surface of the filter element where it is retained.

Abstract: An electro-optic light pulse generator is completely contained in a gun sight holder and serves as the light source in any light responsive target shooting system. The gun sight holder is arranged for mounting on any long barrelled gun without need for modification of the gun so that its utility for shooting regular ammunition is not disturbed. The pulse generator is a laser or other light emitting unit, mounted with an optical system, electronic controls, and a battery power source in the interior of the unit. When the user "shoots" the gun, light pulses are beamed in the direction that the gun and its sight holder are pointed. The resolution of the system and its range are such as to warrant use with a telescopic sight and in one form of the invention, the gun sight holder is a telescope mount. The recoil of the gun or an action simulating recoil, is used to trigger emission of the light beam.

Abstract: An improved ground fault tester uses a magnetostrictive element or piezo-electric element, such as a multimorph, which changes dimensions upon being magnetized or electrically charged. The dimensional change is used to interrupt the power circuit in which the ground fault occurs. The existence of a ground fault is sensed by a sensor which supplies current to the magnetostrictive or piezo-electric element. In the case of the piezo-electric element, the charge is dissipated through a parallel discharge circuit whereby interruption of the power circuit is accomplished rapidly and is reclosed only after a time delay. Automatic time delay resetting may be easily accomplished by the addition of a single resistor and a rectifier.

Abstract: A cigarette holder is disclosed which contains a filtering element in a cavity within the barrel of the holder. The filter element is provided with a flange that extends from the element and divides the cavity into an upstream filtering chamber and a downstream storage and filter chamber. Conformations in the flange permit communication from the upstream to the downstream side of the cavity. Smoke enters the filter cavity through a restricted opening where it is made to pass at high velocity. Thereafter, the smoke is permitted to expand and cool such that the tars and nicotine in the smoke are condensed. The chamber and the filtering element are arranged so that the smoke swirls to impart a kinetic energy to the condensate which results in an inability to follow the conformations past the flange whereby the condensate is made to impinge upon the surfaces of the filter element where it is condensed.

Abstract: A secure tally method and means is provided for tallying events such as dispensing of product and receipt of coins by a vending machine. These events are made to initiate a signal in a signal generator. The number of those signals is recorded in a counter which is physically removeable from the signal generator and which must be removed to determine what count is stored. The counter is one that has a maximum counting capacity either by its construction or pre-loading. To read it, one adds counts until the capacity of the counter is reached. Subtracting the added counts from the counter's maximum capacity determines the number of counts that were entered as a result of the occurrence of the events being counted. When the event is the receipt of coins, the system is extended to compute value received by generating and counting signals in an amount corresponding to the value of the coins.

Abstract: A wiring harness in which each of a number of conductors is to have a first end connected at a first place and its other end connected to a respectively associated second place is produced by applying an initiating signal to one of the first places. All of the first places are examined in sequence and the sequencing is stopped when an initiating signal is found. An indication is provided at the second place which corresponds to the first place at which sequencing is stopped. Then, unless previously done, a conductor is connected with its first end at said first place and the other end of that conductor is connected to the corresponding second place whereupon the indication is terminated and the sequencial examination continues.That method may be practiced with an apparatus which is connected between all first places and second places and which "looks" at pairs of first and second places in sequence.

Abstract: A reel for tapes and film strips is formed with a hub which extends between a pair of flanges. A section of the surface of the hub is moveable relative to the remainder of the hub so that the end of a tape or film strip can be inserted between the removeable and the remaining portion, there to be clamped whereby winding of the tape on the reel is facilitated. In one form of the invention that separable section is hinged so that it can be tilted and removed from the space between the flanges through a window in one of the flanges. In another form of the invention, the removeable section of the hub surface has the form of a clamp which is cammed to open and closed to position by movement radially relative to the hub.

Abstract: An improved filter cartridge for use in cigar and cigarette holders is formed by a cylindrical cup having an inlet perforation in its side wall and a barrier wall extending from the bottom wall of the cup past and closely adjacent to the inlet perforation. The cartridge is used with a cigar or cigarette holder of the type having an internal cavity in which the cartridge is disposed and having conformations with which the open end of the cartridge interfits such that the flow of smoke proceeds from the cigarette recess of the holder to the cavity surrounding the cartridge and then through the inlet perforation against and past the barrier at the interior of the cartridge.

Abstract: An electrical bus bar is disclosed which is formed of two parallel bars that lie together in juxtaposition in parallel planes except where conformations in one or both bars result in their separation to form a region into which a connector pin can be inserted. A means is provided for holding the two bars of the bus bar together so that they grip the connector pin after the pin is inserted into the connection position. Several means are disclosed for holding the bars together. The preferred means for that purpose is a non-conductive, resilient material which encompasses the two bars that form the bus bar and grips them together sufficiently to pinch the two bars against opposite sides of a connector pin with which they are assembled.

Abstract: An improved method for placing the work point of a work piece in alignment with a line of action of a bonding tool is provided by interposing a partially reflecting mirror between a viewing microscope and the line of action of the tool, and projecting a target image on said mirror such that the image coincides with the line of sight to the work point of the tool.The method can be practiced with an apparatus attached to the output end of a microscope and which includes an image projector formed by a light source and a transparency. Provision is made for moving the transparency to an effective distance from the mirror corresponding to the distance from the mirror to the work piece whereby the image will appear to be superimposed on the work piece notwithstanding that the degree of illumination of the work piece exceeds the level of target image illumination.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a bio-electric event measuring electrode combines a salt with adhesive. The adhesive serves as the vehicle for dispersing solvent to form the electrolyte in a solid or semi-solid mixture. The adhesive serves further as a structural element in holding the parts of a practical electrode together and in making the electrode adhere to a subject's skin.Such an electrolyte is combined with a mesh or otherwise foraminated patch of pliant material and a connector to form what can be an inexpensive, effective electrode having long shelf life, low irritation, and low electrical resistivity.

Abstract: An aquarium system is made self contained, even for salt water, by providing it with a sub-gravel filter in series with a carbon filter, and ultra-violet sterilizer and a temperature control unit, and a water withdrawal and return that insures circular flow in the tank. The system includes a means for introducing outside air into the filter circulation system, advantageously at a point just prior to reintroduction of the filtered water to the tank. Capability of the system to provide an environment in which long-time survival of sensitive fish and invertebrates is made possible by the addition of an air stripper unit in parallel with the sub-gravel filter. The air stripper and the ultra-violet sterilizer are specially constructed to enhance the operation of the system.

Abstract: An ion selective combination is formed by creating a measuring electrode from an elongated tube whose wall is made with a depression along its length. That wall depression is covered with a material of a kind that can be pierced by the needle of a syringe or otherwise treated so that an electrolyte, or a liquid to form an electrolyte, can be injected into the cavity formed by the depression and that covering material. The electrolyte in the cavity then serves as the electrolyte of a reference cell which is completed by some non-metallic means for conducting ions from the interior of the cavity to the exterior where contact is made with a material to be tested. That ion path can be completed by a salt bridge or by ionic conduction through the pliant or piercable cover over the cavity in which the electrolyte is housed. An electrode having those features is combined with a coaxial cable so that the electrode structure is formed on the end of the cable.

Abstract: Removal of cartridges or cores and sleeves from valve bodies is facilitated with a tool having a threaded rod extending through a base and through a spacer which is rotatable relative to the rod and to the base. The rod is provided with a means at its end, at the side of the base toward the spacer by which the tool may be attached to the core of a valve. Rotation of the base relative to the rod draws the valve core up into the spacer whose end is placed in abutment with the valve body. The sleeve part of the valve cartridge is removed with the aid of a tube which is carried by the base and extends therefrom so that its axis is substantially parallel with the axis of the threaded rod. The end of the tube away from the base is split along its length from the end of the tube so that the tube is divided into segments which may be spread apart.