Abstract: Apparatus is provided to sense and measure solar-induced luminescence, as well as reflectance, within the field of view of a target window for receiving a composite ray of light from the target. A first filter within the path of the composite ray of light transmits a first narrowband component thereof, including a predetermined Fraunhofer Line frequency, to a first sensor. A second narrowband component thereof, proximate the Fraunhofer Line frequency, is directed to a second sensor such that ratios of the electromagnetic energy impinging, respectively, on the first and second sensors may be determined. A removable filter tray carrying the narrowband filters and fine tuning means is employed to facilitate the selection of the predetermined Fraunhofer Line frequency.

Abstract: A hair curler system is disclosed which includes a selected length of flexible tubing used in conjuction with one or more flare members and a male coupling member to obtain a configurable assembly for rolling and looping a curl having different incremental diameters along its length. A first flare member is adapted to be partially inserted into one end of the tubing and has an outside diameter which tapers outwardly toward the flare member free end to obtain a graduated diameter along its length. The male coupling member is partially inserted into the opposite end of the tubing and terminates in a bulbous coupling element which is dimensioned and configured to be manually snapped through a reduced diameter neck region within the hollow interior of the first flare member such that, once a curl has been rolled onto the assembly, the assembly may be looped by snapping the coupling element through the reduced diameter neck region for retention during the perming process.

Abstract: A speaker transducer assembly is disclosed which includes first and second speaker diaphragms supported on a frame in over and under juxtaposition. Each of the speaker diaphragms has a central opening defining an inner periphery which is attached to a voice coil form for coaxial movement therewith and in unison. An intermediate baffle is coaxially positioned between the speaker diaphragms to define upper and lower, separately vented chambers. The upper chamber is vented through an outlet in the region of the outer peripheries of the first speaker diaphragm and the intermediate baffle; similarly, the lower chamber is vented through an outlet situated in the region of the outer peripheries of the second speaker diaphragm and the intermediate baffle. Preferably, the two vent systems have different vent exhaust areas to obtain stagger tuning and thus achieve a split of the deepest frequency load.

Abstract: A self-adjusting climbing chock is disclosed which includes a main cable structure having a looped end and first and second cable end sections. A fixed wedge element is joined to the cable end sections, and one of the fixed wedge element faces is provided with a tapered depression. A translating wedge element, having a bearing surface which is complementary to the sliding surface of the depression, may be manually retracted against a compression spring between a first position at which the combined thickness of the fixed and translating wedge elements exceeds the maximum thickness of the fixed wedge element and a second position in which the combined thickness does not exceed the maximum thickness of the fixed wedge element.

Abstract: A microclean plastic bottle and handle system in which the bottle and handle are separately fabricated and joined at an appropriate time during the use of the bottle is disclosed. The bottle has an internal surface transverse cross section which is circular at each increment of its height between the bottle bottom and the top opening in order to minimize the possibility of creating contaminant-receiving crevices. The contours within the bottle are such that the interior is devoid of any inside corner exceeding about 60 degrees to further limit the potential for forming tiny crevices capable of containing microparticles of contaminating matter which are not readily removed by an interior washing process. An integral shoulder ring extends circumferentially about the bottle neck to serve as a detent for securely affixing the subsequently emplaced handle to the bottle. The handle includes a generally cylindrical bottle neck engaging portion and a yoke portion having three sides.

Abstract: A flat belt CVT is disclosed in which a geared control system is employed to establish and maintain the effective diameter of each pulley assembly by determining the mutual angular relationship between sets of inner and outer guideway disks provided with spirals oriented in the opposite sense and supporting belt engaging elements at their intersections. The sets of guideway disks are coupled through a planetary gear system which includes a component which can be externally manipulated to adjust the angular relationship between the sets of inner and outer guideway disks while rotating. The planetary gear system includes a first sun gear which meshes with star gears whose shafts are fixed in position with respect to the first sun gear. A second sun gear meshes with planet gears which may orbit around the second sun gear while rotating on a planet carrier.

Abstract: A flat belt CVT is disclosed in which an idler pulley is situated intermediate variable diameter driving and driven pulley assemblies and within the axial dimension given by their respective inner guideway discs. the frame supporting the idler pulley is linearly moved on a rail by the slack side belt forces to automatically position the idler pulley in an intermediate position between the belt drive elements of the driving and driven pulley assemblies in accordance with their instantaneous effective diameters. While many arrangements are possible (positioning of the idler may be accomplished on or from either side of the center line between the two pulley assemblies, etc.), a preferred disposition is disclosed in which the idler pulley is situated in a region external to the slack belt side in order that the support apparatus for the idler need not enclose moving belts.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission employing a flat belt extending between driving and driven pulley assemblies, each having a circumferential array of radially adjustable belt engaging elements, is disclosed in conjunction with a control system. The radial positions of the belt engaging elements of each pulley assembly depend upon the angular relationship between inner and outer guideway disk structures carrying logarithmic spiral guideways oriented in the opposite sense. Each pulley assembly includes a power consuming or producing element, such as an oil pump/motor, which is coupled through harmonic drive differential gearing to the guideway disks. When the load on the hydraulic unit operated as a pump is changed by changing the output pressure against which it pumps, the angular relationship between the inner and outer guideway disk structures changes to correspondingly change the positions of the guideway intersections.

Abstract: A regatta board game is disclosed in which a rectangular game board is laid off in a grid of squares established by a first series of parallel lines extending in a first direction and a second series of parallel lines extending in a second direction which is normal to the first direction. Some of the squares are designated as falling within a first, second or third category, the first category designating preliminary course marker positions, the second and third categories providing an indication that a player is to draw a card which partially determines the progress of play. A single eight-sided die is provided, and a plurality of players' tokens and a plurality of course marking pennants are also included among the game accessories, the pennants being each adapted to mark a selected one of the squares in the first category as a sequential position in a randomly selectable course set forth on a "Course Card" drawn just prior to the commencement of play.

Abstract: A security intercommunication system is disclosed which includes an inside housing, an outside housing and a peep-hole optical assembly including a cylindrical body having first and second threadedly engagable, longitudinally aligned sections. The inside housing contains electronic apparatus including an inside speaker/microphone unit, an amplifier having an adjustable input and an output, a battery, an on/off switch and a talk/listen switch. The outside housing contains an outside speaker/microphone unit. Each of the first and second housings are provided with mounting apertures in order that the inside and outside housings may be secured, respectively, on the inside and outside surfaces of the door by passing the sections of the optical assembly cylindrical body through the apertures and into a borehole through the door and screwing the cylindrical body sections together.

Abstract: A method for restoring and preserving bronze gravestones is disclosed and calls first for cleaning the surface to remove any scale or corrosion present by applying a dilute acid solution to the bronze surface. Then, any raised features are roughly polished after which the entire surface is coated with marker stain which will ultimately provide a contrasting background to the raised features. After the marker stain has dried, it is selectively removed from the raised features which are then further polished with fine steel wool. A clear lacquer finish is applied over the surface and allowed to thoroughly dry, preferably overnight. The restoration process is completed by applying a unique liquid preservative mixture to the metal surface. One preferred embodiment of the preservative contains, by weight: paraffin--19%, mineral spirits--70%, lemon oil--3% and silicone--8% although other proportions are discussed and contemplated.

Abstract: A very high performance digital ignition system is disclosed which includes a precision angular position sensor within the distributor of an internal combustion engine (or otherwise coupled to the engine to sense its angular position) to provide accurate timing information which is applied to gating means for selectively passing bursts of triggering pulses having, in the exemplary embodiment, a 7-to-1 duty cycle ratio. The selected burst of pulses are applied to a driver circuit which provides power amplification to energize the primary circuit of an ignition coil. An alternative mode of operation is also disclosed which simulates a conventional make and break ignition system to effect a service mode. In the service mode of operation, a single pulse is issued to the ignition coil upon the occurrence of the first or second pulse of the pulse burst after the angular position sensor has sensed that a cylinder firing operation should be instituted.

Abstract: A luggage container accessory is disclosed which includes a unitary enclosure assembly fabricated from a light weight and water repellent flexible material such as urethane treated nylon. The enclosure assembly includes top, bottom and front panels as well as a left side panel, a right side panel and a rear panel which each depend upwardly from the bottom panel. A zipper is provided near the top of the left, right and rear panels for selectively coupling and decoupling the side and rear panels to the top. A skirt depends downwardly from the top panel to conceal and provide weather protection to the zipper region. The skirt is secured in place to the side and rear panels (by snaps or the like) to maintain the weather resistant integrity of the enclosure assembly. The enclosure assembly is attached to the vehicle by a first pair of straps extending transversely across the top panel and a second pair of straps extending fore and aft across the top panel.

Abstract: A foldable mirror structure for providing self-observation reflective images from any desired position about a user. The mirror structure includes a main frame with a primary reflector mounted centrally thereon for pivotable movement between forwardly facing, right angular facing and left angular facing attitudes. Right and left hand secondary reflectors are coupled to the opposite sides of the frame by coupling frames and are pivotably movable between folded and extended positions.

Abstract: A tool is provided for drilling a hole in a construction material precisely concentric to a nearly inaccessible reference aperture situated opposite the side of the construction material from which the hole must be cut. A typical application is in cutting a sprinkler head receiving hole concentric with the open end of a downwardly directed drop of a sprinkler distribution system. The tool includes an elongated rod which carries a sliding guide member constrained between a stop positioned at one end of the rod and a compression spring urging the guide member toward the stop. Intermediate the length of the rod, there is provided a hole saw retaining shoulder against which a conventional hole saw of the desired diameter cut to receive a sprinkler head may be affixed with its teeth directed toward the rod first end.

Abstract: A unitary tool assembly is disclosed for making up bell and spigot joints to couple adjacent pipe sections. The tool includes forward and rearward pipe engaging subassemblies and an intermediate linkage mechanism. The forward subassembly, which straddles a pipe section having a bell end, includes a reciprocative actuator which, through the linkage mechanism, selectively causes toothed cams carried by the rearward subassembly to engage and disengage a pipe section having a spigot end and straddled by the rearward subassembly. When the actuator delivers a power stroke, the toothed cams securely engage the pipe section with the spigot end, and the rearward subassembly is simultaneously pulled toward the forward subassembly such that successive strokes of the actuator effect a ratcheting action in which the bell and spigot joint is made up through a series of stepwise movements of the pipe sections together.

Abstract: In order to eliminate glare from a space illuminated by an uplight luminaire, an elongated reflector is employed in conjunction with a pair of mutually vertically oriented fluorescent lamps to obtain uniform light intensity on the space ceiling. The reflector, in cross section, includes a central point from which first and second line segments extend symmetrically in opposite directions and at slight respective downward angles. At the end of each of the first and second line segments, one or more additional line segments extend upwardly and at such angles as to simulate corresponding sections of a parabolic curve. The pair of fluorescent lamps are situated in over and under mutual orientation and are disposed with their axes positioned vertically immediately above and parallel with the longitudinal extension of the central point.

Abstract: In order to achieve effective control of pests (such as insects and rodents) in residential and commercial buildings, a permanently installed pest control system is disclosed which is particularly adapted for incorporation into existing structures without substantial modification. The system includes an exterminating liquid supply subsystem and an exterminating liquid distribution subsystem. The supply subsystem includes a replaceable exterminating liquid reservoir, an electrically driven pump and switch means (which may include a time clock and a short term timer) coupled to a source of electrical energy to selectively energize the pump.