Abstract: A toy assembly capable of locomotion on a solid surface and having reconfigurable component parts is disclosed. A fuselage of an airplane or rocket includes a front section configured to simulate a mobile cockpit which can be launched from the remainder of the fuselage by a spring loaded latching mechanism. Two interchangeable tail sections are provided for coupling to the fuselage. A first tail section includes a power source and a control switch to actuate an electric motor located in a center section of the fuselage. An electrical cable connects a second tail section to the first tail section whereby the toy is remotely controllable from the control switch. A multi-piece wing section is attached to either side of the fuselage. Each wing section includes a side member which, when detached from the wing provides an operable toy dart gun. The component parts of the wing sections are reconfigurable to provide other toy assemblies.

Abstract: A toy water gun assembly capable of ejecting water in bursts or in a continuous manner, is disclosed. A separate, pressurizable water container is connected by a flexible hose, to a pistal shaped member. A section of the flexible hose, mounted in the pistol shaped member, is continuously clamped by a lever. A spring biases the lever to prevent the release of a water stream through a nozzle which is mounted on the front of the pistol shaped member. A trigger member having a pointed pawl pivotably mounted thereto, is operatively connected to the lever. An initial movement of the pawl member caused by a quick pull on the trigger member momentarily removes the lever from its position clamping the hose. Additional movement of the pawl causes it to slide off the lever, thereby allowing the lever to return to its regular position wherein the hose is clamped.

Abstract: An improved compact high speed telephoto lens system of a modified Ernostar type is provided, having from the object to the image side of the lens system, a first lens of a positive meniscus shape, convex to the object side; a second lens of a positive meniscus shape, convex to the object side; a third lens of a negative meniscus shape, convex to the object side; a fourth lens of a negative meniscus shape, convex to the object side; and a fifth lens of a positive refractive power. The fourth lens can be a doublet in an alternative embodiment. A positive Petzval sum is provided to insure an appropriate field curvature while permitting the refractive index of the positive lenses to be sufficiently high to correct coma and astigmatism.

Abstract: A variable soft focus lens system particularly adapted for photography is disclosed. The lens system incorporates two lens groups, a first object side lens group having an image side, rearmost surface convex to the image side, and a second, image side lens group having an object side, foremost surface concave to the object side. An airspace separating the first and second lens group has a meniscus shape concave to the object side. A good quality soft tone image having undersirable aberrations well within tolerable limits, is attained by shifting at least the second lens group along the optical axis relative to the first lens group whereby the airspace separating the two lens groups and a spherical aberration of the entire lens system is varied. An image does not lose proper focus while the spherical aberration of the system is varied. The second lens group has a refractive power within specified limits in relation to the refractive power of the entire lens system.

Abstract: The direction of movement of a battery-powered wheel toy such as a toy car is controlled by a remotely located, hand-held transmitter. The car has a receiver and two motors mounted thereon, one motor being connected to drive at least one wheel of a first pair of wheels located at a first axle position, and the other motor being connected to drive at least one wheel of a second pair of wheels located at a second axle position. One of the wheel pairs and driving motor are mounted for pivotal rotation about an axis normal to the plane of the support platform for the car. The transmitter sends a modulated carrier signal to the receiver. The carrier is modulated by tone bursts. The duration of the tone bursts is determined by a variable potentiometer that is controlled by the operator at the transmitter. At the receiver, the tone-modulated carrier is detected and demodulated. The duration of the demodulated tone bursts determines the time duration that current is supplied to one DC motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting an abnormality of cell growth in an organ or tissue of a body and various optical assemblies for accomplishing the same. The present invention has discovered that diagnosis of incipient abnormal tissue growth such as cancer can be accomplished in vivo by exerting a predetermined pressure on the suspected tissue or organ and by subsequently comparing the relative effect on reflection from or light absorption of the tissue or organ. An optical probe can be utilized for scanning the suspected tissue or organ and recording an initial reflecting characteristic. Subsequently the tissue or organ is placed under a predetermined pressure to provide a second reflection characteristic. A comparison of the two signals will permit a diagnosis of the condition of the tissue or organ.

Abstract: An automatic gain control circuit having a coarse analog gain adjustment section producing discrete increments of db gain and a fine digital gain adjustment section. The digital section provides for adjustment of gain through a final increment of db gain to achieve precise gain setting. The output of the digital section is squared and compared to a reference signal to derive an error signal whose value is fed to an apparatus which iteratively determines the precise coarse increment and fine digital settings to achieve the final desired gain setting.

Abstract: A pentagonal roof reflecting viewfinder assembly for a single lens reflex camera is provided. A focussing plate and a first and second reflecting mirror are part of the assembly. The improvement includes a third aspherical reflecting mirror having a lesser curvature at its marginal portions than adjacent an apex of the surface. The apex being positioned above the reflective surface of the third mirror. An ocular is provided having at least two lens elements with one of the lens elements being tilted relative to the optical axis of the ocular.

Abstract: A compact wide angle lens system for use in a camera having a range finder is provided. The lens system is of five-group, seven-element type comprising, consecutively from the object to the image side, a first lens group consisting of a negative meniscus single lens convex to the object side, a second lens group consisting of a positive doublet having a cementing surface concave to the object side, a third lens group consisting of a negative meniscus single lens concave to the object side, a fourth lens group consisting of a positive doublet, and a fifth lens group consisting of a negative meniscus single lens concave to the object side.

Abstract: A modular toy building assembly having a plurality of polygonal substantially plate like panel members and a plurality of connecting members is disclosed for forming subjectively determined toy structures. The polygonal panel members can include triangular, rectangular, hexagonal and octagonal members and are provided with a pair of apertures substantially adjacent to each of their side edges. The connecting members can incorporate a living hinge which is capable of a large number of repetitive flexing motions and which divides the connecting member into two portions. A pair of mounting posts which are complimentary to the pairs of apertures in the polygonal panel members, are located on each portion. Dependant on the relative positioning of the connecting members with respect to the panel members, the mounting posts can be press fitted into the apertures and the panel members can be optionally interconnected in a rigid planar or variable angular configuration.

Abstract: A compound food package having a sealed, heat resistant pouch and a container therefor, is disclosed. The pouch, which contains uniformly distributed food items, has a substantially flat circumferential seam. The container is composed of semi-rigid plastic material. It contains a cavity into which the pouch is placed. The container has substantially flat rim portions. The rim portions engage the seam of the pouch and position and hold the pouch by its seam. The pouch is in intimate contact with the inner surfaces of the container, thereby counteracting inwardly directed forces and significantly contributing to the overall strength of the package.

Abstract: A metering apparatus for controlling the rate of closure of a pressure-actuated valve of a type normally used in irrigation systems. When a pressure-actuated valve is closing, fluid from a supply line must flow into a pressure-actuating chamber, gradually filling it to force the valve's plug member against its seat. The metering apparatus is a compressible spring through which fluid must flow to enter this pressure-actuating chamber. As the valve closes, it compresses the spring through which the fluid must flow, thereby restricting the rate of flow into the pressure-actuating chamber. This reduction in flow reduces the rate at which the valve's plug member approaches its seat in an exponential manner, allowing rapid closure at first which is reduced considerably as the plug approaches its seat.

Abstract: A pentagonal roof reflecting mirror assembly for use in a viewfinder optical system of a single lens reflex camera is provided. The roof mirror assembly is of a modular form and includes an upper roof member and a lower roof support member that can be fastened together to form an enclosure that prevents the entrance of dust. The upper roof portion includes at least a pair of roof walls provided with a first and second mirror. The lower roof support member includes at least a lower light transmission wall and a side front wall provided with a third mirror positioned opposite to the first and second mirrors. The lower roof support member is molded of a transparent plastic material to permit light flux for the viewfinder optical system to enter the enclosure through the lower light transmission wall. Optical elements such as prisms, fresnel lens, plano-convex and plano-concave lenses can be molded as an integral part of the support assembly.

Abstract: A viewfinder for a single lens reflex camera of the T.T.L. light measurement type, wherein light measurement is apt to be affected by external light entering through an eyepiece, includes a diopter adjusting mechanism and an eyepiece shutter. The eyepiece is divided into at least a movable first optical element and a fixed second optical element. The diopter adjusting mechanism is capable of shifting the first optical element for diopter adjustment within a predetermined space which extends along the viewfinder optical axis and is at least partially common to a space that the eyepiece shutter occupies at an advanced position for blocking the viewfinder optical path. Operation of a manually operable member for shifting the eyepiece shutter toward the advanced positon causes the first optical element to be retracted toward the rear away from the predetermined space prior to the shift of the eyepiece shutter into the advanced position.

Abstract: A robot doll made up of a plurality of diverse shaped pieces wherein each pair of pieces are joined together by a press fit joint is disclosed. The pieces that make up the body and limbs of the robot doll are jointed for articulate movement. Each arm features a pair of parallel jointed extensions mounted for articulate movement to a main shoulder piece that is attached to the body piece. The parallel jointed extensions are adapted for grasping a missile launcher. The arms of the robot doll are formed from pieces that become the trunk and leg portions of a smaller toy doll. Small heads and small articulated arms are provided and may be attached by stub-cup joints to the trunk portion of the toy doll, thus converting the robot arm into a smaller toy doll. The trunk portion of the robot doll is formed so that it can be used as the main body portion of a toy airplane. Pieces such as wings, a nose, and tail portion are provided and can be attached to the trunk by press fit joints to form an airplane.

Abstract: Suspension Eyewear consists of a pair of ophthalmic lenses attached to a metal centerpiece in the manner of conventional rimless eyeglasses. Instead of hinges and temples there are two suspension lines attached to each lens near the outer edges, and at points sufficiently separated to provide stability. The plane of the front assembly to the face is controlled by adjusting the length of these lines in a device positioned just in front of and about midway the ear. A wirebound springwire attached to the adjusting device extends over and behind each ear to below the mastoid. These spring earwires will return the front assembly to proper alignment when it is lightly pushed or pulled, in any direction, and released.

Abstract: An electronic system for selectively measuring predetermined athletic parameters, such as reaction time and impact energy, and for displaying the results of the measurements is disclosed. The system includes transducer apparatus for sensing a participant's athletic reaction or motion, a selectively actuable timing circuitry responsive to initiation for providing after a pseudo-random delay a start signal to which the participant is to respond, and logic circuitry responsive to the transducer output. The timing circuit utilizes information provided by the logic circuitry and provides outputs indicative of predetermined parameters of the participant's motion or reaction time. The disclosed system further includes display apparatus responsive to the timing circuit outputs for displaying indicia of the measured parameters.

Abstract: A wide angle zoom lens system having a compact configuration is provided for use with 35 mm single lens reflex cameras. The zoom lens system includes two lens groups that can be relatively displaced along the optical axis to provide variation in focal length. The first lens group has a negative refractive power and the second lens group has a positive refractive power. A wide field angle is provided while minimizing the number of optical lens elements that constitute the two group zoom lens system.

Abstract: The present lens system is capable of providing both a zooming operation and also a relatively efficient and economical macrophotography mode of operation. The zoom lens system contains the basic conventional lens groups of a focusing lens group, variator lens group, compensator lens group and relay lens group. These individual lens group function in a conventional manner during a zooming mode of operation. However, during the macrophotography mode of operation, the individual lens element that form the relay lens group are capable of coordinate movement with other lens elements in the lens system to provide a relatively compact and economical lens design for macrophotography.