Abstract: A tunable plectrum or pick for guitars and the like, is formed from a suitable material with planar opposed surfaces, an opening extends through the opposed surfaces whereby the skin of the thumb and index fingers of the musician can engage each other to stabilize the pick on the fingers of the musician. The periphery of the opening defines a plurality of angularly spaced inwardly projecting finger engaging material points. The points are sharp enough to pierce the skin of the musician with enough force to further stabilize the pick on the finger. In addition, the periphery of the opening, also defines outwardly projecting tuning openings whose number and shape affects the tune of the pick. Means are provided to modify the shape of the inwardly projecting finger engaging material points, the outwardly projecting tuning openings, and the size of the opening extending through the planar surfaces to tune the pick.

Abstract: The diagnostic of the class described has a tank for holding an auxiliary fuel supply. A fuel pump is mounted in the tank. The fuel pump is provided with a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. A conduit leads from the fuel outlet of the fuel pump to the motor fuel lines. In this way operation of the fuel pump forces fuel into the motor fuel lines through the conduit. An adjustable valve is connected to the conduit for adjusting the fuel flow into the motor. A fuel flow meter is connected to the adjustable valve so that the valve can be adjusted until the fuel flow meter indicates that the fuel flow into the motor using the diagnostic tool is the same as the fuel flow when the motor is operating without the diagnostic tool.

Abstract: The sailboat is provided with an outwardly projecting outrigger which is built like a container and is buoyant. Valve controlled openings are constructed in the outrigger below the water line so a controlled amount of water can enter the outrigger and serve as ballast to make the outrigger heavier so it acts like an adjustable lateral keel. A motor controlled air pump is on the boat and connected to the outrigger by air lines. In this way operation of the air pump drives the water out of the controlled openings to lighten the boat.

Abstract: An elongated map or pad holding device has a clamp at one end for attachment at a single location to a portion of a device, and a clamp attached to the opposite end of the device so that a pad or map can be held between the jaws or plates of the clamp.

Abstract: A lighting system for a motor vehicle is provided with switches which can be removably attached to the gas and accelerator pedals of a motor vehicle. A lighting circuit is connected to these switches and when the accelerator pedal is pressed, a green light goes on. When driver of the motor vehicle turns on the motor or removes his foot from the accelerator, an amber light goes on. When the driver of the motor vehicle puts his foot on the brake pedal red brake lights blink on and off. A switch is attached to the vehicle gear shift lever in such a way that when the gear shift lever is moved to the reverse position, all or at least the brake lights of the vehicle turn on and start to blink.

Abstract: An automobile provided with electrically operated windows and electric door lock is provided with a relay circuit which is connected to both the electric door lock and the push button on the car door handle, which works in such a way that when either the electric door lock switch is actuated, or the push button on the external car door handle is pressed, all the windows in the car simultaneously move upward and close.

Abstract: A bike show is formed with a recess in the sole of the shoe. The recess is defined by front and rear walls transverse to an inwardly and upwardly spaced base, with the recess extending from the opposite sides of the sole forming a channel. The front and rear walls of the recess are spaced apart a distance generally equal to the width of a bike pedal to provide a stable seat for the pedal inside the recess. The recess is located so that the center of the recess is aligned with the center of the ball of the foot of the bike rider when the rider is wearing the bike shoe, for maximum transfer of power from the bike rider to the pedal of the bike.

Abstract: The tool comprises a frame with a roller rotatably mounted thereon. A molding contacting element is also positioned on the frame in such a way that when the base surface of a hard resilient molding engages said molding contacting element and the opposite surface of the molding engages the periphery of the roller, the molding is formed into a curve which decreases the width of the base portion of the molding. This decreases in width is just sufficient to permit the base of the curved portion of the molding to be inserted in a straight metal channel. When the molding is uncurved so it can lie straight in the metal channel, the width of the base of the molding increases enough to grip the sides of the channel to lock the molding in the channel.

Abstract: A ring shaped seal is formed from an elastomeric material and is generally circular in cross-section. The material is covered in part with an elastomeric impregnated fabric secured thereon which serves as a work contacting surface for making a sealing engagement with a surface on a duct. A tubular ring shaped insert formed from an elastomer is embedded in the seal. A ring shaped spring is movably mounted in the bore of the tubular insert in such a way that the spring is not bonded to and does not adhere to the walls of the tubular insert. The insert is mounted in the seal so the walls of the tubular insert are between the spring and the elastomer impregnated fabric to hold the spring away from the fabric to prolong the life of the seal. The spring is sized so when the seal is mounted on the duct the spring can move in the bore of the tubular insert and exert a compressive force on the seal to compensate the seal for the decreasing resilience of the elastomeric material forming the seal.

Abstract: A rubber ring-shaped seal is provided with a centrally disposed ring-shaped elastomeric tubular insert mounted therein. A helical coil spring is mounted in the insert so that part of the ring-shaped insert is between the helical coil spring and the work-contacting surfaces of the seal. The seal is mounted on formations formed on a tubular housing which serves as a connector. These formations define seal-receiving channels which position the seal rings in the housing.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a piston rack depending from each piston. This rack is connected to a power output shaft through a mechanical rectifier so that the power output shaft rotates in only one direction. A connecting rod is pivotally connected at one end to the rack and at the other end to the crank of a reduced function crankshaft so that the crankshaft rotates at the same angular velocity as the power output shaft and at the same frequency as the pistons. The crankshaft has a size, weight and shape sufficient to return the pistons back into the cylinders in position for the next power stroke.

Abstract: A steam table adapted to hold containers of food comprises an open tank for holding the water used to heat the food. The tank has a double bottom, and water, separate from the water used to heat the food, fills the double bottom. Heat is supplied to the double bottom to heat the water there, and this heated water both heats the water in the open tank used to heat the food and, in addition, provides hot water for the sink. Water is gravity fed to the double bottom of the steam table by a reservoir mounted above the steam table.

Abstract: A rack comprising a plurality of generally horizontally projecting hose supporting pegs is moveably mounted on a vertical support. A power train is connected to the rack to raise and lower it on the support. The midpoint of a fire hose which is to be dried, is draped over a horizontal peg and when the rack is elevated, the half portions of the fire hose hang vertically downward for drying. In this way, the rack can mass-dry a number of fire hoses simultaneously in accordance with the number of pegs on the rack.

Abstract: A high speed tape reader has a buffer positioned between the read head output and the reader output which may be connected to the input of a data receiving station. When the data receiving station sends a signal to the tape reader that it has stopped accepting data, the tape reader slows gradually to a stop. While the tape is slowing, the characters on the tape move by the read head on the tape reader and these characters are read by the tape reader but instead of being transmitted to the data receiving stations, they are stored and accumulated in the buffer in the same sequence that the characters appear on the tape. Thereafter, when the data receiving station requests more data, the data is first taken off the buffer output in the same order it entered into the buffer to prevent the tape reader from skipping characters when it received the signal that the data receiving stations are no longer accepting data.

Abstract: A hot air duct is formed from thin walled metal tubing. The duct is provided with a plurality of linearly spaced reinforcing rings. Each reinforcing ring is formed from sheet metal and is channel-shaped in cross-section. The rings are rigidly secured to the outer surface of the duct and positioned so they project radially outwardly from the duct with the channel portion inwardly open and facing the outer surface of the duct. With this arrangement the channel portions are closed off, defining ring shaped chambers around the duct. Each ring shaped chamber surrounding the duct is provided with holes to provide communication between the ring-shaped chamber and the ambient air around the external surface of the duct.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pressure transducer and more particularly to a pressure transducer having means by which the pressure transducer can be removed from a pressurized line without loss of line pressure. The pressure transducer is mounted in a housing, which is adapted to be releasably mounted on a bracket. The bracket is provided with a tubular needle valve coupling which is adapted to be connected to a pressurized line. The coupling normally keeps the pressurized line closed, but when the housing of the pressure transducer is mounted on the bracket, the needle valve in the coupling is automatically actuated, opening the pressure transducer to the pressure in the line.