Abstract: A mobile scenery arrangement is provided which is easy to assemble and dismantle, and which can easily be transported, stored and used with uniform curtains and a uniform set of back-drops for the same performance. The mobile scenery arrangement includes a tubular construction forming a substantially vertical left side and a substantially vertical right side, the left and right sides being joined to at least one upper front curtain rod and at least one upper rear back-drop rod via corner members. At least one of the ends of the front curtain rod and the rear back-drop rod is provided with a cord-tensioning device arranged to steplessly stretch a cord between the two ends of the rod. The cord is arranged to displaceably carry curtains or a back-drop.

Abstract: A letter opener is coupled to a body of a writing instrument to form a unique combination. The letter opener includes a frame having a tapered finger protrusion extending therefrom and defining a paper accepting channel which has a cutting element positioned therein. The letter opener may include fasteners for removably attaching the frame of the letter opener to the writing instrument, or the letter opener may be formed integrally with the elongated body of the writing instrument.

Abstract: A float valve assembly is provided for regulating water inflow to a purification module of a water purification system, such as a reverse osmosis purification module or the like. The float valve assembly is mounted within a reservoir for receiving and storing relatively purified water produced by the purification module, and includes a valve unit defining a vertically extending flow path from a tap water source to the purification module. A primary float responds to rising and falling water level within the reservoir for respectively closing and opening a primary banjo valve mounted along the flow path. A secondary banjo valve is mounted along the flow path at a location above the primary valve, and, in the event of primary valve malfunction, is closed by a secondary float responsive to rising reservoir water level. In a preferred form, the secondary valve remains closed upon subsequent descent of the water level, and is manually re-opened by depression of a reset button.

Abstract: A variable volume bottle and related system are provided for infusing a selected medical fluid to a patient. The variable volume bottle comprises a relatively rigid bottle body having a lower neck adapted for connection to an infusion line by a cap fitting having a slotted nipple for controlled flow of the medical fluid from the bottle and through the infusion line to the patient. The bottle body further includes a movable upper wall which descends as the fluid is delivered to the patient, and a flow sensor unit tracks displacement of the movable upper wall to provide an indication of the dispensed fluid volume. A flow rate controller may be provided for constricting the slotted nipple to variably adjust the open area defined by the slot therein, and thereby variably select the rate of fluid flow to the patient.

Abstract: An improved impact tool of the nonrecoil type is provided, to include a molded thermoplastic jacket encasing a hollow core canister having a flowable filler material such as small steel pellets or the like disposed therein and adapted to shift about within the canister for absorbing and dissipating impact shock forces. The hollow canister, which may be lightweight in construction, is partially filled with a selected quantity of the flowable filler material and the residual canister volume is occupied by at least one pulverable slug prior to placement of the canister into a mold for formation of the jacket thereon under heat and pressure. The pulverable slug has sufficient structural integrity to withstand molding temperatures and pressures, so that the slug and filler material cooperatively define a rigid structural backstop to prevent deformation of the hollow canister during the jacket molding step.

Abstract: A interchangeable bore clarinet barrel system is provided which eliminates the need for substituting one clarinet barrel for another in order to change tone color, intonation, and response characteristics. The barrel system is attachable to adjacent portions of a clarinet and includes a barrel body and a bore removably attached to the body. The body may be in two sections, or a single-piece unitary barrel body. The bore may be frictionally fitted or threadedly received into the barrel body. Tone rings and sleeves allow alteration of the tone color, intonation and response characteristics of the clarinet.

Abstract: An improved opaque computer keyboard cover (10) which covers only the three- or four alpha-numeric rows of the keyboard (12). Function and format keys (12) are not covered which provides a one-size-fits-all design. This configuration eliminates the need to order from 3000 various keyboard cover sizes. This cover is for use in keyboarding instruction and prevents peeking to accelerate user memorization. This cover can also be imprinted with a language option layout or Dvorak keyboard layout thus fully conforming the keyboard layout to one of the 60 or so languages available in the computer operating system keyboard preference options.

Abstract: An adjustable riser is provided for coupling an irrigation sprinkler to a water supply line, wherein the riser is adapted for quick and easy longitudinal adjustment to variably select the elevational position of the sprinkler relative to ground level. The adjustable riser comprises a pair of telescopically interfitting inner and outer riser tubes coupled respectively to the sprinkler and to the water supply line. The inner riser tube has a keyway formed on the exterior surface thereof, and the outer riser tube carries at least one key protruding into and engaged with the keyway. In the preferred form, the keyway comprises at least one recessed channel defined by an axially spaced succession of part-circumferential segments interconnected at opposite ends by axial segments extending in opposite directions.

Abstract: A method of sensing and analyzing electrical activity of the human heart comprises the sensing of voltage signals generated by the heart between four electrodes (E, A, S and I) located at key positions on the surface of a subject's body. The E electrode is attachable to the anterior midline of the subject body at a level selected from the group consisting of the fourth rib interspace and the fifth rib interspace. The A and I electrodes are attachable to the subject's body on opposed sides of the anterior midline below the level of the E electrode but high enough so they are positioned over the subject's ribs or intercostal spaces. The S electrode is positioned over the subject's manubrium sterni. Signal processing means combines and scales the voltage signals to produce xyz vectorcardiographic signals, electrocardiographic signals corresponding to the lead signals of a 12-lead electrocardiograph, or both.

Abstract: A non-lethal fluid delivery device for discharging a debilitating or other inert fluid of choice is provided that allows the device to be easily held in the hand of the user in a way so as to somewhat conceal it from a target subject, wherein the device has a housing unit to hold and carry a replaceable pressurized canister holding the fluid of choice, an actuator button placed in the back of the housing unit to cause the discharge of fluid, and a safety cover over the actuator button. In a hand-held embodiment of the device, a lanyard is provided for placing around the user's wrist to hold and carry the device. In an alternative embodiment of the device of the invention, a bracket is provided to mount the device on another lethal weapon of choice to provide the user the ability to have simultaneous access to the device for discharge of non-lethal fluid and to the lethal weapon for use of lethal force, if necessary.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for detecting man-made gemstones using an alternating current conducted through a sample gemstone is provided. The apparatus includes a hand-held housing in which is disposed electronic circuitry, a probe which extends from the housing, and a transmitting stimulus electrode in the form of a body-contact touchpad. The electronic circuitry includes a filter for eliminating non-transmitted signals sensed by the probe, and produces an alternating current signal, preferably in sine wave form, for delivery to the touchpad. The alternating current signal is transmitted through the operator of the apparatus into the sample gemstone. The operator probes the gemstone by touching the conductive probe to the gemstone in an attempt to sense signals conducted through the gemstone. An alarm is activated upon the detection of the conducted transmitted signal, indicating that the gemstone is man-made.