Abstract: A dual timing event stopwatch incorporates a primary timer triggered by a remote light emission detected by an optical pick-up sensor, and a secondary timer manually triggered by a user-actuated switch. The user may select between a first operating mode wherein both timers are concurrently stopped in their interval counted cycles by a manually operated switch, and a second operating mode wherein the second timer is terminated by the manual switch and the first timer is terminated by a second remote light emission detected by the optical pick-up sensor.

Abstract: An absorption heat pump system having a generator, a condenser, an evaporator and an absorber connected hermetically to form closed cycles for a refrigerant and an absorbent, comprising a control means disposed in the refrigerant passage leading from said condenser to said evaporator and adapted to continuously controlling the temperature or flow rate of the liquid refrigerant, thereby to stabilize the temperature in said evaporator.

Abstract: New esterified carboxymethyl celluloses in which DS by carboxymethyl group per anhydroglucose unit is 2.0 or more, the ester group is a hydrocarbon residue having 1-8 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-octyl or benzyl group, DS by esterified carboxymethyl group per anhydroglucose unit is 1.50 or more and the remaining unsubstituted carboxymethyl groups are in the form of free acid and which are soluble in various polar or non-polar organic solvents and are useful as ingredients of paints of enteric coating materials.

Abstract: A toy or novelty item for selectively concealing or displaying advertisements, messages, slogans, logos, or artwork printed on a ribbon. The ribbon is rolled about a reel which is concealed in a compartment such as the head or body of a doll. The ribbon extends outward from an opening in the compartment. A string which is wound about the reel in the opposite sense to that of the ribbon extends outward from the compartment through another opening. If the ribbon is pulled outward to display the printed material, the string winds on the reel. On the other hand, if the string is pulled outward, the ribbon winds on the reel, thus concealing the printed material.

Abstract: A semipermeable membrane element of the type incorporating a flat semipermeable membrane and useful as an artificial kidney. A wave-shaped spacer is provided in intimate contact with the active side of the membrane and forms a multiplicity of parallel channels between the membrane and the spacer for passing a feed liquid therethrough. The parallel channels give a maximum clearance of 35 to 500 microns and 0.6 to 10 mm in width.

Abstract: Gene products of plasmid DNA, such as proteins, are prepared in high yields by cultivating bacteria carrying a plasmid which shows a controlled constant plasmid copy number at one temperature and a much higher or totally uncontrolled copy number at a different temperature. The plasmid may be prepared by recombinant DNA technique using a cloning vector showing the temperature dependent plasmid copy number pattern.

Abstract: A children's record player which can be in the shape of a toy vehicle designed to be placed on top of a gramophone record and drive around and over that record. The record player has a base with a central downward pin engaging the center of the record and a pair of wheels, one of which is driven to cause the device to sweep around the record. A playing arm is provided having at its trailing outer end a pick-up engaging the sound groove in the record. The whole thing is mounted on a base and the pick-up extends through an opening in the base when in a playing position but is raised forwardly so as to be totally within the base and so protected from damage when the record player is controlled by a pivoted lever whose pivoting in turn automatically lifts the pick-up wholly within the base during non-operation.

Abstract: An automatic on-off valve for use with a pneumatic micrometer connected between the main body of a pneumatic micrometer and its measuring head for economizing the consumption of pressurized air includes a valve body having, between an inlet and an exit thereof, a main flow passage to be opened and closed by a valve member and a sub-flow passage always open with a slight gap. The valve member is automatically turned on or off by the back pressure difference at the measuring head between a measuring state and a not-measuring state. The total open cross sectional area for both of the flow passages are set to be 6 to 9 times as large as the cross sectional area for a flow passage which is formed between a nozzle of the measuring head and an object to be measured upon the object being placed to measure the maximum gap, whereby a measuring error resulting from the disposition of the automatic on-off valve can be minimized within an allowable range to thereby maintain the measuring accuracy a desired high level.

Abstract: A flossing device (10) having a body (12) comprising a handle portion (26) and a barrel portion (28) terminating in a pair of spaced prongs (16, 18). A spool of floss (24) is mounted on the body (12), and is threaded about the body (12) in a plurality of grooves (70, 72, 74, 76) such that a length of floss (80) for flossing the teeth extends across the space between the prongs (16, 18). A trigger mechanism (20) operable by the same hand used to grasp the device (10) pinches the floss for tensioning the length (80) in one position and releases the floss for advancement to expose a new, clean length of floss (80) in a second position. The trigger mechanism (20) is moveable to a position wherein all soiled surfaces are fully exposed for cleaning.

Abstract: An outsole (10) for incorporation in a shoe or the like includes a generally shoe-shaped member of rubber-like material lower portion (14) contiguous with the lower surface of having an upper surface and a ground contacting bottom surface (19), the bottom surface (19) having a pair of depressed regions (21), (25) therein positioned for alignment with the heel and the ball of the foot, the bottom surface (19) surrounding the depressions (21), (25) and extending therebetween for supporting the foot about the ball and heel and in the shank region, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the depressions (21, 25) are generally oval-shaped and concave, and generally triangular indentations (32) are formed in the bottom surface 19 on either side of the shank region (23), the ground contacting bottom surface (19) thereby presenting the general appearance of a figure eight.

Abstract: A method of forming cast concrete modules made of a floor, two spaced apart upstanding walls, and a roof extending between the walls. The method uses casting beds in groups of four and one set of forms, two interior and two exterior forms, which are movable from bed to bed. By performing different steps of the method on different casting beds on different days, separate modules can be erected progressively on separate beds in a group of four, so that with one set of forms and one group of beds, three modules can be produced every eight consecutive days.

Abstract: Gene products of plasmid DNA, such as proteins, are prepared in high yields by cultivating bacteria carrying a plasmid which shows a controlled constant plasmid copy number at one temperture and a much higher or totally uncontrolled copy number at a different temperature. The plasmid may be prepared by recombinant DNA technique using a cloning vector showing the temperature dependent plasmid copy number pattern.

Abstract: The present application discloses a sunlight-into-electrical and thermal energy conversion apparatus wherein a heat collecting plate fitted with a heating medium tube and solar cells is contained in a cubiform container and wherein the upside opening of the cubiform container is covered with a light-permeable glass plate through a metal sealing collar having the same coefficient of thermal expansion as that of the light-permeable glass plate, thereby permitting a large quantity of electrical energy and thermal energy to be extracted simultaneously from a small space of installation and at less cost. Moreover, the completely airtight construction of the combination of the cubiform container and the light-permeable glass plate ensures that the solar cells contained therein are thoroughly protected.

Abstract: A cooking device (10) disposable above a heating means for cooking an article of food (32) comprises a grill assembly (12) comprising first and second grills (16, 18) and means (44, 48) for releasably securing the grills (16, 18) together in confronting spaced relation whereby the article (32) to be cooked is releasably securable in the space between the grills (16, 18), a post (80) having one end secured to the grill assembly (12), a frame (14) having an opening (58) for receiving the grill assembly (12), the frame (14) defining a channel (66) along one side thereof for slidably receiving the other end of the post (80), a pivot arm (90) rotatably secured at one end to the frame (14) and at the other end to a side of the grill assembly (12) substantially at the midpoint thereof, and handle means (34) secured to the grill assembly (12) for rotating the assembly substantially 180.degree.

Abstract: An electrically operated transmission gear system for a bicycle includes a plurality of transmission gears selectively drivable by an endless chain trained around a pedal-driven crank gear, a reversible motor, a takeup reel drivable thereby, and a wire connected at one end to the takeup reel and at the other end to a chain guide for shifting the endless chain into driving mesh with one of the transmission gears at a time. The transmission gear system also includes means for measuring the speed of travel of the bicycle and/or the speed of rotation of the crank gear, means for detecting a transmission ear with which the endless chain is in driving mesh, and an arithmetic unit for deriving a proper speed range from one of the measuring and detecting means and for comparing an output from the other means with the proper speed range as derived to determine whether the transmission gear held in mesh wish the endless chain is proper or not, whereby gear-shifting for the bicycle can properly controlled.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing cellulose derivative which is represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is acetyl group which may be partially replaced by propionyl or butyryl group, x is 1.7-2.5, y is 0.05-0.6, p is 0,1,2 or 3 and n is the degree of polymerization, to be usable for the material of fibers, moldings, films, semipermeable membranes, coatings or the like.

Abstract: Gene products of plasmid DNA, such as proteins, are prepared in high yields by cultivating bacteria carrying a plasmid which shows a controlled constant plasmid copy number at one temperature and a much higher or totally uncontrolled copy number at a different temperature. The plasmid may be prepared by recombinant DNA technique using a cloning vector showing the temperature dependent plasmid copy number pattern.

Abstract: Fibers coated with polymer are prepared by adding the polymer to a fiber material, typically cellulose pulp, and subjecting the fiber material with the added polymer to impact of grinding forces in a defibrator, typically a hammer mill. The resulting fibers are very efficiently coated with the polymer and are suitable as binder fibers in fibrous materials consisting completely or partially of the coated fibers bonded through the polymer, and as reinforcing fibers in fiber-reinforced cement products. The polymer is preferably applied as a hot melt, and the defibration is performed immediately after the application.

Abstract: Improved flat annular washer for indicating tension on associated high tensile strength bolt. Washer bears against either bolt head or nut of given radius. Washer includes means for indicating stress on washer which visibly moves when stress on washer, which is related to tensile stress on bolt, reaches a preselected level.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of increasing the volume of cut tobacco ribs by impregnating tobacco ribs with an impregnating agent, which contains at least water, up to a water content of at least 45% by weight, heating the impregnated tobacco rib parts with a gaseous heating and transport medium containing steam and having a temperature of from approx. 105.degree. to approx. 250.degree. C., said tobacco rib parts being transported through an expansion zone and a drying zone a pneumatic transport system. The impregnated tobacco rib parts are kept in the expansion and drying zones for a period of at least approx. 10 seconds and are dried to a final moisture content of at least 12.5% by weight.