Abstract: A proportional flow valve wherein inlet fluid pressure urges the valve member toward the valve seat. A pressure member, which may be a piston, has an effective area substantially larger than that of the valve member, and is also selectively subjected to inlet fluid pressure to urge the valve member away from the valve seat, so as to open the valve and keep it open. A solenoid actuator determines the position of a pilot valve member which controls the flow of inlet fluid to the pressure member, and hence controls the location of the pressure member and the spacing of the valve member from the valve seat. The position of the pilot valve member, and hence the spacing of the valve member from the valve seat, is proportional to the amount of electric current applied to the actuator.

Abstract: A labelled padlock has a body circumscribed by a heat shrunk plastic sleeve displaying a notice. The notice can be imprinted on a hermetically sealed label adhesively affixed to the body of the padlock before a transparent sleeve is applied, or on a surface of the sleeve itself.

Abstract: An opener for a videotape cassette case of the type having a body and a cover hinged to the body, the body and cover presenting two parallel spaced-apart flanges when the case is closed. The opener includes a rigid element, which may be a flat plate, having a shoulder portion wider than the spacing between the case flanges when the case is closed, the shoulder portion tapering toward a nose portion which is narrower than the spacing between the case flanges when the case is closed. A closed videotape cassette case is opened by inserting the nose portion of the opener into one end of the space between the flanges and moving the case with respect to the opener so as to bring the shoulder portion between the flanges to urge the flanges apart. Continued movement of the case with respect to the shoulder portion of the opener causes the flanges to progressively separate from each other so as to pry the cover from the body and thereby open the case.

Abstract: A toy ball having a soild body of foam plastic material and a noisemaker completely embedded within the foam plastic body. The noise maker includes a hollow rigid housing, which may be formed of a hard plastic, and a marble within the housing free to roll around therein so as to create a clattering sound when the ball is shaken, thrown, and caught. The internal surface of the housing has inwardly-projecting ridges to enhance the clatter produced as the marble, which may be a steel ball, rolls around within the housing. The foam plastic body of the ball is made in a mold cavity having the shape of the ball to be produced. While the mold is open, the noisemaker is resiliently suspended along the centerline of the mold cavity so that the center of the noisemaker substantially coincides with the midpoint of the mold cavity centerline. Plastic material is placed within the mold cavity, the mold is closed, and the plastic foam expands to fill the mold cavity, at the same time completely surrounding the noisemaker.

Abstract: An electrical switch contact arrangement having a spring which snaps the movable arcing contact away from the stationary arcing contact at a high rate of speed to open the arcing contacts, but only after the movable main contact has moved through a considerable portion, for example, at least about 50%, of its opening movement away from the stationary main contact. The spring is tensioned as the main contacts open. At an intermediate point during the opening movement of the movable main contact, the moveable main contact positively initiates opening movement of the arcing contacts whereupon the spring snaps the arcing contacts open at a high rate of speed independent of the opening speed of the main contacts.

Abstract: A water-jet propulsion system for ships, which are intended to be used in shallow waters. A semi-axial, bladed turbine wheel with a vertical axis of rotation is disposed so that it can rotate in a well-shaped pressure housing. Into the pressure housing, the driving mechanism for the turbine wheel is introduced from above through a cover plate. At the lower end, the pressure housing is closed off by a bottom plate, which has a concentric, centrally disposed water inlet for axial flow against the turbine wheel and at least one water outlet with a shallow inclination. A guiding apparatus in which the flow energy of the water conveyed by the turbine wheel is largely converted into pressure energy is disposed between the outlet end of the conveying channels of the turbine wheel and the at least one water outlet.

Abstract: A safety disposable needle has a shroud with a canted bore region slidably mounted thereon. A face of the shroud directed to engage the skin has an adhesive coating for fixing the shroud to the skin as the needle is withdrawn and its tip enters the shroud after which the shroud is separated from the skin as it engages an enlargement on the needle and is then canted to entrap the needle tip.

Abstract: A bed covering has connectable panels which are connected at overlapping borders by complementary fasteners. When used to make up a bed, one panel can be hidden by the bed's blanket while the other is folded over the upper portion of the blanket, or the foregoing appearance can be simulated, to provide an aesthetically pleasing visible effect.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a disinfectant solution which may include hydrogen peroxide, a salt and a buffer to an instrument wherein the instrument can be inserted into an opening in the wall of a vessel containing a disinfectant normally at a level below the opening. A floatation plunger is urged downwardly to displace the disinfectant to a level in engagement with the instrument and the electrodes are energized to activate the disinfectant. A magnetic latch holds the floatation plunger in place during disinfection and the disinfectant level is sensed to enable energization of the electrodes only when the level is sufficient to engage the instrument.

Abstract: A device for positioning/retaining a transducer relative to a body characterized in that it comprises a supporting member for placement on the body, connected thereto one end of a flexible and elongate arm, which has a mount for the transducer at or near the remote end thereof, and means for locking the arm in a fixed position relative to the body is disclosed.Also disclosed are an apparatus for monitoring aortic blood velocity and derived parameters by Doppler ultrasound and, optionally, ECG comprising such a device and that use of such an apparatus.

Abstract: A device for positioning/retaining a transducer relative to a body characterized in that it comprises a supporting member for placement on the body, connected thereto one end of a flexible and elongate arm, which has a mount for the transducer at or near the remote end thereof, and means for locking the arm in a fixed position relative to the body is disclosed.Also disclosed are an apparatus for monitoring aortic blood velocity and derived parameters by Doppler ultrasound and, optionally, ECG comprising such a device and that use of such an apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic tilting toy car has a lift wheel lever extending from the underside of the car chassis for periodically raising one side of the chassis as a motor drives the car thereby giving the appearance that the car travelling on one front and one back wheel on the same side of the chassis and enabling the car to automatically turn away from a motion impeding obstacle to resume movement without operator intervention.

Abstract: A pulse oximeter apparatus characterized in that it comprises a bandpass filter adapted selectively to exclude motion artefact from wanted signal is disclosed.Also disclosed is the use of such an apparatus for the determination of pulse rate and/or arterial blood oxygen saturation.

Abstract: A transcutaneous sensor probe having dual sensing electrodes responsive to the effects of two different transcutaneous gases on an ion solution separated from the skin surface by a selectively permeable seal having respective regions overlying the corresponding electrodes. The permeable seal is mounted on a removable fixation ring which is indexed to ensure alignment between each region of the seal and its respective electrode when the fixation ring is connected to the electrode housing.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor comprising an electrolyte and an analyte separated by a selectively permeable membrane preferably characterized in that the electrolyte is an electrically conductive solid comprising a homogeneous dispersion of a polymeric matrix phase and an electrically conductive salt and substantially free of water. Preferably the polymeric matrix phase is plasticized, the plasticizer forming a continuous phase in which the conductive salt is dissolved. The sensor is used, for example, for sensing and measuring gases especially in transcutaneous measurement of blood gases.

Abstract: A gasoline filter for the entranceway to a gas tank filler tube has three preferred embodiments. The first includes a semipermanently mounted cap having a bore in which there is disposed a removable cylindrical filter element. The element is seated on a rotatable retainer for alignment with an eccentric opening in the filler tube entranceway. Normally closed resiliently mounted doors seal the entranceway but permit a gas pump nozzle to be inserted into the entranceway. The second embodiment has an integral hinged door atop the filter element for use with a conventional gas cap. The third embodiment has dual hinged doors mounted within the bore of the filter element arranged to be opened automatically by a pusher bushing when a gasoline dispensing nozzle is inserted in the gas tank filler tube.

Abstract: A sensor appliance removably attachable to a living body for non-invasively producing signals indicative of a condition of the body and applying them to a monitoring or measuring device and method of making the appliance characterized by a small, highly flexible light weight substrate with surface mounted light emitting and photodetector components hermetically sealed in a flexible moisture resistant envelope. Provision is made for inclusion of a form sustaining spine to enhance positional stability.