Abstract: Racing game apparatus in which two or more inertia toy motor vehicles are released from respective ramps and travel along respective tracks to a finish gate. A starting flag assembly is located at the ramp and is released to an upright position when the release mechanism is operated simultaneously by two players. Each ramp is equipped with a trap door and a drop gate which are actuated by a release lever to start the vehicle down the ramp. Prior to the operation of the release lever, each vehicle is started so that its rear wheels are spinning, and each vehicle is placed on the ramp with its rear wheels spinning in the open trap doors and held on the ramps by the respective gates, until the trap doors are closed and the gates released. A gate provided at the finish line which swings open in one direction or the other as struck by the winning car, and which serves to indicate which car won the race.

Abstract: Apparatus for the precise measurement of the displacement of a moving cooperative target from a reference position, traveling, for example, over a distance of several meters, and with the measurement accuracy being better than a fraction of a millimeter. The apparatus includes a low-cost laser which generates a beam of a selected frequency. The laser beam is directed at the moving target and is reflected by the target. The apparatus also includes additional elements which measure the Doppler phase shift of the reflected laser beam so as to obtain a precise measurement of the displacement of the target with respect to the reference position.

Abstract: A digital temperature indicating system which enables a relatively inexpensive thermistor sensor to be used to obtain highly accurate temperature measurements over a number of relatively narrow temperature ranges, and to obtain acceptable temperature accuracy over an extended temperature range. The thermistor controls a bridge. The bridge produces an analog signal when the thermistor causes the bridge to become unbalanced from a null point as the thermistor senses different temperatures. The analog signal from the bridge is converted into digital signals which address memory locations in a programmable read-only memory (PROM) for both scaling and linearizing purposes. The resulting output signals from the PROM are used to control a display unit which displays the temperature readings.

Abstract: A telephone answering machine which records and displays the date and time of each recorded incoming message and, if required, displays the duration of each message. The telephone answering machine is microcomputer controlled, and when a call is received, the random access memory of the microcomputer stores a number equivalent to the time and date on which the telephone line was seized. The telephone answering machine then records the call in normal manner. At the end of the call, a second number representing the time at which the call terminated may also be stored in the random access memory. At that time, the microcomputer causes the message tape to rewind to a point past the beginning of the recorded message and causes the data and time at which the message was received to be recorded on a blank portion of the tape just before the beginning of the message. The microcomputer then causes the tape to move forward to the end of the message in preparation for taking the next call.

Abstract: An operating table intended specifically for microscopic lumbar laminectomy surgery by which the patient is properly positioned for the surgery in a matter of minutes, and which serves to hold the patient in the proper flexed position during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: Pre-ski testing and exercising apparatus comprising a pair of elongated members which may be actual or simulated skis, and which are clamped by appropriate clamping devices to a pair of rigid cross bars, each of which is supported by a pair of rocker blocks. The apparatus allows the user forceably to rock the skis, or simulated skis, forward or backwards, or from side-to-side. Also, one of the cross bars, usually the rear cross bar, may be positioned relatively higher on its rocker blocks than the forward cross bar so as to tilt the skis, or simulated skis slightly forward, even while at rest. The apparatus of the invention prevents the skis, or simulated skis, from rotating freely about their longitudinal axis, and from moving freely independently of one another.

Abstract: A fitting for joining a tube to another axially aligned tube, or to a T-joint, elbow joint, or the like, comprising a sleeve fitted over the end of the tube, and an annular tubular member forced over the sleeve in coaxial relationship with the sleeve and the tube to compress the sleeve around the end of the tube to provide a high-strength fluid-tight joint between the sleeve and the tube. The fitting and the tube are formed of electrically conductive material, and an insulating dry lubricant is interposed between the components of the fitting, and between the fitting and the tube. The fitting is especially constructed to provide conductive paths from the surface of the tube and from the surface of an inner component of the fitting to an outer component so as to avoid arcing across the lubricant layer in the event of a lightning strike, or the like.

Abstract: A disposable diaper which is capable of providing a readily visible indication when wet which includes a strip of moisture absorbing paper of a selected water insoluble color, or carrying a water insoluble printed pattern on its inner side, the strip being inserted between the absorbent pad of the diaper and the translucent moisture-impervious outer layer. So long as the diaper is dry, the pattern is covered by the carrier strip, and is not visible. However, when the diaper is wet, the carrier strip absorbs the moisture and becomes transparent, so that the pattern is visible through the translucent outer layer not only that the diaper is wet, but the degree of wetness.

Abstract: A high voltage switching circuit for a printed circuit board tester, or the like, utilizing field effect transistor (FET) switches which are controlled by CMOS logic circuitry, which incorporates a voltage level shifter circuit for high voltage switching operations, and which performs its switching functions with a minimum of FET's and associated elements, as compared with similar switching circuits in the prior art.

Abstract: A message playback control system for a telephone answering machine of the type in which a user, in order to recover his messages, by operation of a manually operated local switch, causes the message tape in the machine to rewind to a particular position, and then causes the message tape to move in the forward direction and play back the messages recorded on the tape, and then automatically causes the message tape to stop when all the messages have been played back. In the system of the present invention, provision is made so that if the local switch is subsequently operated further control operations may be effectuated.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a magnetic tape recorder which uses a single reversible electric motor that drives the magnetic tape in the recorder in the forward direction through a pinch roller-capstan drive assembly, and which automatically disengages the pinch roller from the capstan so that the tape may be rewound at high speed when the motor is reversed.

Abstract: A toy in the form of an egg. When rolled along the floor, the egg opens and a monster or other figure within the egg springs up is held in an upright position as the egg continues to roll along the floor.

Abstract: A switching circuit for turning on and off an electronic instrument, an electric lamp, or other electrically powered electric or electronic circuits, by means of a single switch, and which is constructed so that when the switch is closed momentarily and opened, the switching circuit remains "on" until the switch is again momentarily operated. However, when the switch is closed for a longer time interval, the switching circuit remains "on" for so long as the switch is closed and turns "off" when the switch is opened.

Abstract: A telephone answering machine which includes a speakerphone feature to enable the user to converse directly with a calling party through the machine. A microphone and a speaker are included in the machine together with interconnecting circuitry which may be activated by the user upon the receipt of a telephone call to enable the user to communicate with the calling party through the machine instead of having the calling party record his message on the machine in response to a recorded announcement.

Abstract: An adjustable canopy for a wheel chair, beach chair and the like, which includes a tubular frame which may be turned and set to any desired angular position, and which may be coupled to a tubular back frame of the chair in frictional relationship to be slidable in the back frame so that the canopy may be set to any desired elevation.

Abstract: A board game which allows players to travel back in time to uncover the many lives they may have lived. The game is divided into four periods of history, namely, Ancient Times, The Dark Ages, The Age of Kings and The Age of Industry. The players travel backwards in time, while attempting to accumulate wealth and treasures, and to avoid specific hazards and pitfalls. The first player to reach "Nirvana" brings the board play to an end. A "Book of Past Lives" is included in the game which lists and describes numerous past lives in ascending progression of desirability and significance, with each past life being equated to a different accumulated point score. All of the past lives described in the book are taken from actual history. Each player refers to the book for his "past life" as determined by the number of points he has accumulated when the first player reached Nirvana.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled loop detection system to be connected to a number of inductive loops which are buried in a road bed and which is used to detect the presence of motor vehicles above the loops to control the operation of traffic lights at an intersection. A common oscillator is connected to each loop on a time-shared basis under the control of a microprocessor, and the frequency of the oscillator in each instance is dependent upon whether or not there is a vehicle above the loop. The microprocessor provides a null time as the system is switched from one loop to another to prevent spurious responses in the system due to transient signals. The microprocessor acts to count the number of cycles of the output signal of the oscillator which occur during a predetermined time interval as each loop is connected to the oscillator by the microprocessor to determine the oscillator frequency for each loop and thereby detect the presence of a vehicle in the particular loop.