Abstract: An arthroscopic video camera system especially constructed to utilize a compact miniature CCD chip type of color video camera for high resolution and high light sensitivity. A disposable sterile plastic housing is provided for the camera. Prior to the arthroscopic procedure, the camera is placed in the sterile plastic housing, and is connected through a sterile electric cord to an electronic control unit. A gas sterilized adapter is attached to the front end of the camera, and the adapter is plugged into an arthroscopic mounting bracket, and a sterilized light cord extending from a remote light source is then plugged into the mounting bracket. Finally, a selected arthroscope is also plugged into the mounting bracket to be illuminated through the mounting bracket by light from the remote source, and to provide images through the mounting bracket for the video camera.

Abstract: A self-standing inflatable bath is provided which is constructed in a manner somewhat similar to the construction of an inflatable rubber raft, and which is intended to be placed on a solid surface, such as a patio, deck, and the like; or to be floated in a swimming pool, ocean, lake, or other body of water. The bath is filled with water, or water is circulated through the bath. Pressurized steam is introduced into the bath to inflate the bath and to heat the water in the bath. The steam also serves to create bubbles in the bath water for therapeutic effects. The bath may be used as a whirlpool bath for further therapeutic effects.

Abstract: A prime mover for transforming energy from the pressure form to the mechanical form. The prime mover comprises a pair of toothed rotors which engage one another so as to be self-timing. Each rotor has a first portion of relatively large diameter and a second portion of relatively small diameter, each of the portions extending approximately 180.degree.. The rotors are enclosed in respective intersecting cylindrical chambers in a housing, with the tips of the teeth of the small diameter portion of each rotor being displaced radially inwardly from the peripheral surface of the corresponding chamber, and with the tips of the teeth of the large diameter portion of each rotor being directly adjacent to the inner surface of the corresponding chamber. First and second sealing members are mounted in the housing, and these engage the tips of successively passing teeth of the large diameter portion of each rotor, as the rotors turn.

Abstract: A spinal retractor for use in lumbar or dorsal laminectomies or spinal fusions, and for microscopic lumbar laminectomies, which comprises a pair of parallel arms and a corresponding pair of toothed blades which are slidably received on the arms, the blades being forced apart from one another by the arms under the control of a rack and pinion mechanism. The blades are constructed so that their teeth and configuration serve to hold the lumbar musculature when they are forced apart and adequately to expose the facets, and the blades are also configured so that they will not slip out of the wound as they are spread apart by the retractor arms.

Abstract: A simple and inexpensive instrument for measuring electric current that may be mounted on existing current-carrying conductors to provide a ready visible indication of the current flowing through the conductor. The instrument comprises an outer transparent tube mounted coaxially with the current-carrying conductor, a number of O-rings mounted within the tube and spaced along the length of the tube to form different compartments along the instrument, and a number of differently colored tubular indicators respectively forming the inner walls for the compartments, with each compartment being filled with a material, such as paraffin wax, which melts at a different temperature from the material in the other compartments, to become transparent and reveal the corresponding colored inner indicator, when the current in the conductor heats the conductor to a particular temperature.

Abstract: A decorative light switch cover for a child's room which may be easily mounted over an existing wall switch, and which serves to turn the wall switch on and off when respective actuator cords are pulled by the child. The cover also includes a decorative design with one or more moving elements that are shifted from one position to another as the wall switch is actuated. The light switch cover may be easily mounted in place over the light switch merely by removing the standard light cover by unscrewing the mounting screws, and by replacing the standard cover with the decorative cover of the invention.

Abstract: A simple and inexpensive water temperature sensor that may be mounted on existing water faucets or showers to provide a ready visible indication of the temperature of the water flowing through the faucet or shower. The temperature sensor comprises an outer transparent tube mounted coaxially with the pipe leading to the faucet or shower head, a number of O-rings mounted within the tube and spaced along the length of the tube to form different compartments along the sensor, and a number of differently colored tubular members respectively forming a second wall for the compartments, with each compartment being filled with a material, such as paraffin wax, with the material in each compartment melting at a different temperature from the material in the other compartments, to become transparent and reveal the corresponding colored inner tubular member, when the water flowing to the faucet or shower has a particular temperature.

Abstract: A hand-squeeze driver tool which serves to convert squeezing motion into rotary motion on a variable torque basis, with the torque being inversely related to the driving speed. The torque versus driving speed relationship is determined by the position of a squeeze lever as it is displaced from its most extended position. Two distinct zones are provided as the squeeze lever is so displaced, namely a high torque low speed zone, and a low torque high speed zone. The provision of the high torque low speed initial zone, followed by the low torque high speed zone permits the operator intuitively to take advantage of the variable torque feature of the invention, which is provided by a traveling fulcrum mechanism incorporating two interacting levers. The tool of the invention may be constructed to receive standard format driver bits, permitting it to be used in a wide variety of different applications.

Abstract: A disk-shaped fastener for engaging the neck of a plastic grocery sack firmly and dependably to hold the sack in a closed condition, and which may easily be applied to the neck of the sack and easily removed therefrom; and a simple applicator for the fastener for use at the check-out stand of a supermarket for quickly and conveniently sliding the fastener over the handle portion of the plastic grocery sack into its fastening position.

Abstract: An apnoea monitor for preventing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The exhaled breath of the infant is collected in a hood. A source of infrared energy emits infrared energy into the hood. So long as the infant is breathing, the carbon dioxide in its breath absorbs a portion of the infrared energy in the hood. Should the infant stop breathing, an infrared detector responds to the resulting increase in infrared energy to activate an alarm so as to enable the attendant personnel to take appropriate life saving action.

Abstract: A table and stool assembly formed of four identical U-shaped tubular brackets. Each bracket has a central section and two parallel legs extending perpendicular to the central section, with each leg having an end section extending perpendicular to the central section. The four brackets are bolted together with the legs extending upwardly, and with the central portions of the four brackets forming a rectangular base for the assembly. A table top is mounted to the end sections of one of the legs of the four brackets, and two stool seats are mounted on the end sections of the other legs of the brackets.

Abstract: An electrically energized vaporizing unit for medications, room deodorizers, room scenting compounds, room insecticides, and the like, is provided which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and which is compact in size. The vaporizing unit has one or more compartments which are adapted to be filled with a liquid to be vaporized, or to hold a solid tablet saturated with a substance to be vaporized, the compartments being heated by positive thermal coefficient (PTC) electrical heating elements in conjunction with paraffin wax, the melting point of the wax being selected to correspond to the vaporizing temperature of the particular substance in the compartments. The vaporizing unit is equipped with an electric plug which may be directly plugged into an electric receptacle to energize the PTC heating elements, and it does not require a switch or protective thermostats.

Abstract: A gravity feed method and apparatus for displaying, dispensing and storing a variety of merchandise items. The apparatus has no moving parts. It includes a tripper which causes each item to turn automatically into a display position, when a previous item is removed. The dispenser also includes a convenient storage area which feeds each item to a display position by the force of gravity, when one of the items is removed. As each item is removed, it is replaced sequentially by succeeding items until the supply is exhausted. The apparatus in the described embodiment incorporates openings of specific size for loading items into the dispenser from either the front or rear. The apparatus may be made of wire, plastic, paper or sheet metal, and it may be constructed to accommodate a variety of items of different sizes. The apparatus may also be constructed to display the items at any desired angle.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a thermos, or other bottle, which includes a dispensing spout which is movable between a closed and an open position. The dispensing spout has an opening extending through it which becomes aligned with an opening in the cover when the spout is turned to its open position. The spout also includes a vent which becomes aligned with a vent in the cover when the spout is in its open position. The opening and vent in the cover are both closed and sealed by the spout when the spout is turned down to its closed position. The spout is held in its open and closed positions by a snap-acting leaf spring element which causes the spout to be snapped to its open or closed position when the spout is turned manually in one direction or the other. The dispensing spout may be used either to pour the contents out of the bottle, or to receive a drinking straw into the interior of the bottle.

Abstract: A reset system for a telephone answering machine which, in the event of power failure, or disconnection from the power source, will reset the telephone answering machine when power is restored to the condition it was in prior to the power failure. The system is applicable to both single tape machines in which the outgoing announcement and incoming messages are all recorded on one magnetic tape, and dual tape machines in which the outgoing announcements are recorded on one magnetic tape and the incoming messages are recorded on a second magnetic tape. The system of the invention serves to determine whether there were incoming messages on the incoming message tape when the power failed and if so, the end of the last recorded incoming message is located so that when power is restored the incoming message tape can be set to the same position it was in when power was lost.

Abstract: A reset system for a telephone answering machine which, in the event of a power failure, or should the telephone answering machine be disconnected from the power mains, will reset the telephone answering machine when power is restored to the condition it was in just prior to the power failure. In a specific embodiment to be described, when power is restored, an incoming message magnetic tape is set to rewind for a selected time interval (for example, 2 to 3 seconds), and the number of pulses generated by the magnetic tape mechanism during that period are examined. If the number of pulses exceeds a predetermined minimum, it is assumed that there are incoming messages recorded on the tape, and the tape is returned to the position it occupied prior to rewind. In addition, control and indicator mechanisms within the system are set to the state they were in just prior to the power failure.

Abstract: A telephone answering machine which upon initial power-up plays back a message recorded by the manufacturer on the incoming message tape. This message may be in the form of advertising, operational instructions, or the like. Subsequent use of the machine causes the initial message to be erased. The message is recorded at the beginning of the incoming message tape together with a pre-defined tone. Upon initial power-up, the incoming message tape is rewound to its home position by the microcomputer of the telephone answering machine and, if the tone is detected, the machine automatically plays back the recorded message. At the end of the playback, the incoming message tape is returned to its home position and the telephone answering machine is set by the microcomputer to its auto answer mode, ready to respond to the first telephone call.

Abstract: A computerized motion control system for panning and tilting a television camera, motion picture camera or any other type of camera. The system includes a motorized camera head upon which a camera is mounted. The system also includes a digitizing tablet on which an observer follows the action transpiring before the camera with an electronic stylus by moving the stylus across the plane surface of the tablet. The resulting digital signals generated by the tablet and electronic stylus are fed to a computer in which they are converted to pan-and-tilt signals which are fed to the motorized camera head upon which the camera is mounted. The digital pan-and-tilt signals are converted to analog signals, and the analog signals activate pan-and-tilt camera head motors causing them to point the camera to a location determined by the operator by his placement of the electronic stylus on the digitizing tablet.

Abstract: A nursing garment in the form of a loose fitting poncho having an opening at its upper end to enable it to be drawn down over the head of the wearer, and a rigid annular neckpiece in the form of a hoop secured to the fabric of the poncho and surrounding the opening. The poncho is intended to fit loosely over at least the upper portion of the body of the person wearing it, and the neckpiece is intended to fit loosely around the neck of the wearer. The garment provides a simple and inexpensive means for permitting a mother to nurse her baby in public without fear of exposure. Moreover, the neckpiece provides a simple means for enabling the mother to look down into the interior of the garment to observe the baby.

Abstract: An electronic key and lock system is provided which is particularly suited for use in hotels and motels to control access to the rooms of the establishment. The system includes a battery energized microcomputer controlled unit in each door which is capable of activating an electromechanical deadbolt mechanism when a magnetically encoded card bearing a selected code is inserted into a slot in that particular door, and which includes a non-contact proximity magnetic sensor for the cards. The microcomputer controlled unit has five levels of response, namely, guests, maid, master, grand master and emergency. In addition to responding to the selected code, the microcomputer is programmed also to respond to cards bearing a new code when a new guest inserts his card into the slot in the door, and of adjusting the unit to respond to the new code and not to the previous code.