Abstract: A portable electric fan including a housing having a front wall defining a front opening for transmitting air, a rear wall defining a rear opening for transmitting air, a top surface, and a bottom surface; a fan blade rotatably mounted in the housing and adapted to move air in a given direction through the front and rear openings; and retainer means projecting upwardly from the top surface and adapted to engage one side of the sash of a vertically movable window. Also included are first and second elongated legs movably mounted in spaced apart positions on the bottom surface and adapted for movement between floor and window positions, each of the legs projecting in the given direction beyond the front and rear walls when in its floor position and extending in longitudinally aligned directions substantially perpendicular to the direction when in its window position. The retainer means and elongated legs facilitate alternative use of the fan for either internal or window applications.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a reservoir for retaining a liquid volume having an upper surface; a humidification unit removably mounted on the base and having an electrically energized humidifier adapted to induce dispersion of liquid retained by the reservoir, and a switch adapted in an active condition to energize the humidifier and in an inactive condition to cause deenergization thereof; and an actuator retained by the base and adapted for movement between activating and inactivating positions with respect to the switch, the actuator adapted in its activating positions to actuate the switch into its active condition and in its inactivating positions to actuate the switch into its inactive condition and wherein both given changes in the level of the upper surface and movement of the humidification unit relative to the base produce the controlling movement of the actuator.

Abstract: An ice fishing apparatus including a pedestal adapted to be supported on an ice surface surrounding a fishing hole therein; a reel retained by the pedestal and adapted to retain fishing line to be used in water below the ice surface; and a standard retained by the pedestal means and adapted for movement between an extended signalling position and a retracted armed position. Also included is an actuator assembly operatively coupled between the standard and the reel and adapted for automatic operation by movement of the reel to induce movement of the standard from its retracted position to its extended position.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in isolating solids from liquids by evaporating the liquid, including a vessel for receiving a composition of liquid and solid substances; a gas supply for supplying a drying gas; a gas line for directing the drying gas from the gas supply to the vessel; a liquid supply for supplying a solvent capable of dissolving the solid substance; and a liquid line for directing the solvent from the liquid supply to the vessel. Also included is a sensing means for sensing conditions of evaporation within the vessel and an automatic control system adapted to sequentially initiate a flow of drying gas to the vessel, initiate a flow of solvent to the vessel in response to sensing of a given evaporation condition by the sensing means, interrupt the flow of solvent to the vessel after a certain quantity of solvent has been received thereby, and interrupt the flow of drying gas to the vessel in response to sensing of a particular evaporation condition by the sensing means.

Abstract: A punch and die assembly including a punch having an outer surface conforming generally to a configuration desired for a sheet metal part to be produced and adapted for rectilinear movement in a given direction between retracted and extended positions, the punch having a rear portion with a cross-section of given width and a front portion with a cross-section of predetermined width greater than the given width; and a die body defining a cavity comprising an outer portion defining an opening for receiving the punch and an inner portion communicating with the outer portion. The inner portion has a cross-section with substantially uniformly spaced side walls dimensioned so as to closely accommodate the front portion of the punch and a sheet metal workpiece, and to provide between said rear portion of the punch and the side walls a gap greater than twice the thickness of the workpiece when the punch is in its extended position within the outer portion of said cavity.

Abstract: A muscle function analysis system including a base; a restraint device supported by the base and shaped and arranged to receive and immobilize a human body portion retaining a muscle group concurrently activatable to produce a body function; and a support apparatus supported by the base and shaped and arranged to support other portions of the body, the support apparatus adapted to substantially isolate activity in the muscle group from muscle activity in the other body portions. Also included are an electrode array adapted for coupling to the muscle group so as to receive myoelectric signals generated by muscle activity therein and a processing system coupled to the electrode array and adapted to process the myoelectric signals. By isolating muscle activity in a particular muscle group, more useful data is obtained for evaluating muscle dysfunction in the group.

Abstract: A muscle function analysis system including a base; a restraint device supported by the base and shaped and arranged to receive and immobilize one portion of a person's body, the one portion retaining a muscle group concurrently activatable to produce a body function; an electrode array adapted for coupling to the muscle group so as to receive myoelectric signals generated by muscle activity therein; and a processing system coupled to the electrode array and adapted to process the myoelectric signals.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a base defining a water reservoir and a cavity for receiving leakage, a device for inducing dispersal of water in the reservoir, and a tank removably supported by the base and having a bottom wall defining a discharge opening communicating with the reservoir and an inlet opening communicating with the cavity. A wall surrounding the inlet opening and extending from the tank into the cavity intercepts leakage which is directed into the reservoir.

Abstract: A method for analyzing muscle function and comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of electrodes each having a pair of elongated, substantially parallel detection surfaces; locating in a human body a muscle activatable to product a given torque; fixing each of the electrodes over a different muscle in the group with the detection surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular to muscle fiber direction in the muscle; activating each of the different muscles to generate therein myoelectric signals detected by the electrodes; and processing the myoelectric signals detected by the electrodes. Myoelectric signal quality is enhanced by orienting the detection surfaces peripendicular to the direction of muscle fiber.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a liquid reservoir; an electrically energized humidification device adapted to induce dispersion of liquid retained by the reservoir; a power supply for supplying electrical current to the humidification device; a control circuit connecting the power supply to the humidification device and including a switch operable in an active state to produce energizing current flow between the power supply and the humidification device and operable in an inactive state to prevent energizing current flow therebetween; and a sensing mechanism operatively coupled to the switch and adapted to sense the liquid level in the reservoir, the sensing mechanism adapted to provide the active state for the switch in response to a minimum liquid level in the reservoir and to provide the inactive state for the switch in response to a liquid level in the less than the minimum liquid level.

Abstract: An environmental conditioning apparatus including a control unit for conditioning a surrounding environment; a housing retaining the conditioning unit and comprising a flange defining an opening, the flange having inner and outer flange edge portions separated by oppositely directed front and rear flange surface portions; and a grill covering the opening and comprising a rim juxtaposed to the flange, the rim having inner and outer rim edge portions separated by oppositely directed front and rear rim surface portions and the rear rim surface portion facing the front flange surface portion.

Abstract: A valve apparatus including a housing having a plastic body defining an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a fluid communication path and an abutment surface therebetween; a valve seat movably disposed in the communication path and adapted to engage the abutment surface, the seat defining a surface area exposed to fluid pressure at the inlet opening and a valve opening in the communication path; a valve adapted for movement between a closed position engaging the valve seat and closing the valve opening and an open position separated from the valve seat and opening the valve opening; and a bias means exerting between the housing and the valve a given force biasing the valve into the closed position. Pressure below a predetermined level at the inlet opening exerts on the surface area a force that moves the valve seat away from the abutment surface and exerts on the valve a force less than the given force and in opposition thereto.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a base defining a boiler cavity, a liquid supply being supported on the base and having a discharge opening communicating with the boiler cavity and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid therein. An evaporation unit is removably mounted on the base and includes an electrically energized heater projecting into the cavity and a magnetically operated switch. A float includes a magnet which activates or deactivates a switch. A vapor passage discharges the vapor from the cavity.

Abstract: A die for use with a punch for bending flat metal stock and including a body defining a support surface adapted to support a piece of flat metal stock, a cavity disposed in a path of movement of the punch and intersecting and projecting below the support surface, and a stop surface forming a bottom wall of the cavity and having first and second surface portions; and a mounting retained by the body. A first elongated die bar is supported by the mouting for both translational and pivotal movement on a first axis in the cavity on one side of the path of movement; the first die bar defining upper and lower surfaces having a wedge shaped cross-section. A second elongated die bar also is supported by the mounting for both translational and pivotal movement on a second axis in the cavity on an opposite side of the path of movement; the second die bar defining upper and lower surfaces having a wedge shaped cross-section. This combination eliminates scoring during the bending of flat metal stock.

Abstract: A centrifuge apparatus including a rotor; a drive coupled to the rotor; an inner ring adapted to pivotally support an annular array of inner containers having open upper ends; an inner coupling coupled between the rotor and the inner ring so as to cause rotation thereof and resultant centrifugal force induced inward pivotal movement of the upper ends into the centrifuge positions; an outer ring adapted to pivotally support an annular array of outer containers having open upper ends and displaced outwardly from the inner array in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of the rotor means; an outer coupling coupled between the rotor and the outer ring so as to cause rotation thereof and resultant centrifugal force induced inward pivotal movement of the upper ends of the outer containers into centrifuge positions; and an inner orientation mechanism for preventing movement of the upper ends of the inner containers into their centrifuge positions.

Abstract: A fire sprinkler including a body defining an inlet adapted for connection to a supply of fire extinguishing fluid and an outlet adapted for placement in a zone to be sprinkled; a valve retained by the body and movable between a closed position providing a fluid tight seal between the inlet and the outlet and an open position allowing fluid flow therebetween; an actuator for moving the valve from the closed position to the open position in response to a predetermined condition; and a deflector disposed to disperse into the zone fluid discharged from the outlet; the deflector comprising a plurality of deflector elements each adapted to deflect fluid discharged from the outlet. Also included is a coupling between the deflector elements and adapted to permit adjustment in the relative positions of the deflector elements so as to selectively change the pattern in which fluid discharged from the outlet is dispersed into the zone.