Abstract: A portable humidifier including a base defining a reservoir; a storage tank demountably supported by the base and adapted to retain a supply of liquid, the tank defining an orifice communicating with the reservoir; and a valve for controlling liquid flow from the tank into the reservoir through the orifice, the valve adapted to provide a liquid flow rate that maintains a given liquid level in the reservoir. Also included is a wick means comprising supply portions disposed in the reservoir below the given liquid level and evaporation portions disposed above that level, the wick means adapted to provide by capillary action a liquid flow from the supply portions to the evaporation portions; a housing defining an air flow path including the evaporation portions, the housing defining inlet openings and discharge openings; and a blower for producing air flow into the inlet openings, through the evaporation portions, and out of the discharge openings.

Abstract: A process and apparatus by means of which the premier vapor cycle, known as the Carnot cycle, can be approximated in practice, involve the application of novel energy-efficient, mixed phase, high volume-ratio fluid-handling machinery to a single-component working fluid that exists during certain processes as a mixture of fine droplets of saturated liquid in saturated vapor. This combination of fluid-handling machinery and the saturated mixed-phase working fluid enables the approximation of isentropic saturated liquid/vapor expansion and compression. These process approximations, in addition to isothermal heat addition and rejection, enable Carnot heat engine, refrigeration and heat pump cycles to be approximated.

Abstract: A portable electric appliance including a fan device comprising a rotatable blade assembly and an electrical motor operatively coupled thereto; a standard having an upper end fixed to the fan device; a pedestal base; a coupling including an upper member joined to a lower end of the standard and a lower member pivotally coupled with the upper member and joined to the pedestal, the upper member being freely demountable from the lower member; a manually operable latch for preventing demounting of the upper member from the lower member; and a positioning mechanism for selectively fixing the relative angular positions of the upper and lower members.

Abstract: A smokestack including an elongated tube means having an open bottom end for receiving smoke emanating from a campfire and an open top end for releasing the smoke into the atmosphere, and a base for supporting the tube means with its open bottom end directly above the campfire and defining openings that provide physical and visual access thereto. The elongated tube comprises a top tube section defining the open top end and a plurality of longitudinally distributed lower tube sections, each including a support surface for demountably supporting a directly upwardly adjacent tube section. Retained by one of the lower tube sections is a cooking grate disposed directly adjacent to an upper end thereof and a door providing access to the grate is retained by another of the tube sections supported by the one tube section.

Abstract: A beverage container including an inner tubular wall defining a reservoir; a transparent outer tubular wall surrounding the inner wall and spaced therefrom to form an annular chamber having upper and lower annular openings; a top wall joining upper ends of the inner and outer walls and closing the upper opening; a base closing the lower opening; and a refrigerant gel retained within the chamber.

Abstract: A golf training device including a first platform member having a lower surface adapted for placement on a base surface and an upper inclined surface adapted for supporting one foot of a golfer; a second platform member having an upper surface adapted for engagement by the other foot of the golfer and a lower surface adapted for placement on the base surface; and a connector having one end secured to the first platform member and an opposite end secured to the second platform member, the connector being functional to establish a predetermined spacing between the first and second platform members and an opposite end secured to said second platform member. Each platform member includes an outer portion and an inner portion which is movable downward relative the upper portion, to actuate a resilient snap disc member.

Abstract: A satellite receiver protection apparatus including a housing; an electrical power supply connector retained by the housing and adapted for connection to an AC outlet; a plurality of AC outlet sockets retained by the housing; and an electrical power surge suppressor retained within the housing and connected between the supply connector and the outlet sockets. Also included are an electrical input terminal retained by the housing and adapted for connection to a television antenna; an electrical output terminal retained by the housing and adapted for connection to a television receiver; and an electrical signal surge suppressor retained within the housing and connected between the input terminal and the output terminal.

Abstract: An improved cylinder lock in which at least one tumber assembly includes a pin tumbler supported for rotational movement about its axis within a tumblerway, a driver, and a coupling mechanism releaseably coupling the driver to the pin tumbler for rotational movement of the driver about its axis in response to said rotational movement of the pin tumbler. The coupling mechanism at least partially defines a split line along which the pin tumbler and the driver may separate when the one tumbler assembly is axially and rotationally positioned relative to a plug and a shell in a predetermined releasing position wherein the split line is aligned with a shear line between the plug and the cylinder, and the pin tumbler has means for positioning the one pin tumbler assembly in the releasing position in response to engagement with a proper key in a keyway through the plug.

Abstract: A control including an activator for effecting a control function; an actuator coupled to the activator and movable in a reciprocating path to control operation thereof; an operator coupled to the actuator and adapted for manual manipulation between active and inactive positions, the operator in its active position rendering the actuator functional to control operation of the activator and in its inactive position rendering the actuator dysfunctional to control operation of the activator; and a means biasing the operator in its inactive position.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a table saw having a generally horizontal surface defining at least one rectalinear groove and a circular saw blade projecting through the horizontal surface and parallel to the groove; the accessory including a plate having lower and upper surfaces with the lower surface adapted for sliding movement on the horizontal surface; a first rectalinear rail supported by the plate and projecting in an active position below the lower surface and adapted to ride in the groove and guide movement of the plate parallel to the groove and for movement into an inactive position above the lower surface; a second rectalinear rail supported by the plate and adapted for movement between an active position below the lower surface and an inactive position above the lower surface, the second rail in its active position adapted to ride in the groove and guide movement of the plate parallel to the groove and being perpendicular to the second guide surface and oriented at an angle of 45.degree.

Abstract: A method for preventing arterial restenosis after angioplasty and including the steps of providing from a plastic material filament a base coil of a substantially uniform given diameter, inducing in the base coil an elastic memory that provides an inherent tendency thereof to return to the given diameter after any distortion, forming from the base coil a coil stent with a substantially uniform predetermined diameter substantially less than the given diameter, releasably coupling the coil stent to an elongated delivery device adapted to pass through a blood carrying vessel, inserting the coil stent and delivery device into a vessel, and manipulating the delivery device within the vessel so as to position the coil stent at a desired location therein.

Abstract: An angular position measurement system including a rotatable mechanism, a potentiometer coupled to the rotatable mechanism and adapted to produce a first output signal indicative of the angular position thereof; a graduated element retaining a plurality of annularly distributed graduations representing different angular positions of the rotatable mechanism, and a detector for producing second output signals in response to alignment thereof with any of the graduations. Also included is a drive for producing relative movement between the graduated element and the detector in response to rotation of the rotatable mechanism so as to render the second output signal indicative of an angular position of the rotatable mechanism and a comparator for comparing the angular positions indicated by the first and second output signals.

Abstract: A circuit board assembly including a first board; a second board substantially parallel to and separated from the first board; a spacer comprising a body portion disposed between the boards and having a shoulder portion engaging on one side of the first board a surface area directly adjacent to an opening through the first board, a stem portion extending through the opening, and a latch portion engaging another side of the first board opposite to the one side thereof; an actuator retaining the latch portion in a position providing the engagement with another side of the first board; and a fastener engaging opposite sides of the second board and thereby preventing any substantial movement thereof relative to the first board.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly including a male plug having a male inner conductor and a cylindrical male outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor and having an annular outer surface portion; a female plug having a female inner conductor and a cylindrical female outer conductor surrounding the female inner conductor and having an annular inner surface portion surrounding the outer surface portion, and an annular electrically conductive coil spring extending around the outer surface portion and engaged between the inner and outer surface portions and wherein the spring is adapted to exert therebetween forces that cause axial loading between the male and female outer conductors. In addition to locking the male plug to the female plug, the electrically conductive coil spring enhances the electrical connection between the outer conductors and improves radio frequency interference suppression.