Abstract: An electric hair drier comprises a shallow housing 10 having an apertured boss 11 formed on its base. An electric motor 12 drives a thin cup shaped impeller 15 which in use draws air in through apertures 14 in the boss 11 and blows air radially towards a heating coil 17 surrounding inside peripheral surface 25 of the impeller 15. The impeller has external blades 26 which in use draw air from the inside peripheral surface 25 towards a central axis of the drier at the mouth of the drier. The drier has an array of comb members 20 at its mouth. The thinness of the impeller 15 and the inherent even distribution of air passing over the coil 17 provides a hair drier which can be much thinner overall, and hence more comfortable to use, and in which the air is effectively and evenly heated.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for sorting, counting and dispensing tokens such as coins used in games in which its driven member is composed of a driving block and a turntable set on a spindle of an electric motor so that a simple assembly can be achieved. The turntable is operated within the limitation of a ledge of a hopper so that threading connections can be omitted and the turntable will not separate from the hopper during operation. Furthermore, the improved apparatus has a stop lever mounted on the holder for preventing the tokens from falling from the delivery passages back to the turntable. The turntable is designed with a plurality of flanges extending integrally and upwardly from the surface thereof. The flanges are spaced and arranged to form a plurality of channels therebetween so that fingers of a block of the holder can extend into the channels to smoothly deliver the tokens.

Abstract: A magnetic key operated lock has an anti-rap arrangement which comprises a magnet pin supported in a bar mounted in a slide member. The remote end of the pin fits into an aperture in a locking plate and is pivoted to swing downwards out of the aperture when a correctly coded key is inserted into the lock. The correctly coded key has a repelling spot to pivot the magnet as required and before the key attempts to move the slide member from its locked position. Rapping on the face of the lock cannot move the remote end of the magnet pin out of the aperture because it is restrained by its pivoting action from moving laterally out of the locking plate. Another anti-rap arrangement includes a padlock incorporating both anti-rap arrangements.

Abstract: An electric toaster which comprises a body having a compartment (20) for accommodating a slice of bread, a vertically movable support for supporting a said slice of bread in the compartment (20), an operating member (36/42) operable to move the support downwards, heating elements provided on opposite sides of the compartment (20) for heating a said slice of bread, and a movable holder (16 & 18) having opposite sides (16 & 18) supported for movement towards each other upon operation of the operating member (36/42) in order to hold therebetween a said slice of bread in a stationary position between the heating elements. Each said holder side (16/18) has upper and lower end portions which are guided to move along respective slots (28).

Abstract: An electronic controller for a room air conditioner includes a memory for storing operational parameters, a thermistor for measuring ambient temperature, and a microprocessor capable of calculating the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature set point, and capable of controlling the speed of the fan and fan motor based on the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature set point. The controller includes an electronic system clock, an electronic control panel with a display, the ability to store in memory a start time for normal operation of the room air conditioner and a stop time for ending normal operation of the room air conditioner, and a timer mode activation device.

Abstract: A bumper bowling system is provided that eliminates the function of bowling lane gutters and uses bumpers to maintain a bowling ball within the confines of a bowling lane through to contact with the bowling pins. The bumper bowling system provides hardware, electronic circuitry, and software modifications in conjunction with scoring displays to provide a system of original manufacture or retrofit for existing automatic bowling scoring systems. Specifically, the system provides a bumper, a means for detecting when a ball strikes the bumper and at what location, a signalling display means generally running parallel to the bumper and the detection means, and the hardware necessary to position these devices along the length of each side of a standard bowling lane. In addition, the system utilizes appropriate circuitry for interfacing both the sensor means and the light display means with standard scoring control units.

Abstract: A method of playing a multi-frame game on a bowling alley in which the player or players are allowed to select from a menu of "bonus" and/or penalty frames for a player selected or randomly selected locations between the first and last frame of the game. "Bonus" frames are scored according to an ancillary scoring system that may or may not be related to a pin total for a particular frame.

Abstract: A solar thermal water heating system including a solar collector unit, first and second heat exchangers, and a drain back tank, ordered respectively in vertically descending relation. The solar energy collector comprises a plurality of heat absorbing modules formed by deforming two plates into intimate contact with parallel metallic pipes disposed intermediate the plates. The uppermost surface of the pair of plates is provided with a black body coating to emit infrared radiation when sunlight is incident thereon. A glazing is provided over such black body surface to freely transmit incident light to the black body surface but to reflect infrared heat energy emitted by the black body surface. A pump for pumping fluid from the drain back tank to the solar collector unit is positioned horizontally adjacent the drain back tank. The first heat exchanger is vertically disposed within the water storage tank for conducting heat to potable water within the storage tank.

Abstract: A device for enhancing lucidity in the dream state of an individual. The device includes electronic circuitry incorporated into a headband for the user to wear while sleeping. The circuitry includes a detector for fitting adjacent to the eye of the sleeping individual, for detecting Rapid Eye Movement (REM), which occurs during the dream state. The detector emits a signal that is evaluated by additional circuitry to determine whether or not REM sleep is occurring. If REM sleep is occurring, a signal is generated to operate a recorded, which typically plays prerecorded messages through the headphones engaging the ear of the sleeping individual.

Abstract: A combined supplemental shading and carrier apparatus for a canopied stroller. A fabric shade panel is arranged for attachment overlapping and underlying the stroller frame. The apparatus is retained in proper alignment by connecting the upper end shading panel and the lower end of the body panel to a center mounted child restraint member. The apparatus further has a carrier or pocket positioned at the rear of the stroller adapted to be easily accessible to the user of the stroller. A number of complementary fasteners are affixed to the shading panel and the body panel such that when engaged the fasteners retain the shading panel in either open or closed conditions. The shade panel is composed of ultraviolet radiation screening material, yet provides for a flow or ventilation within the carrier area of the stroller.