Abstract: A plant hanger of the type made from knotted yarn has a base which is suspended from a ring by a plurality of support elements, one of which is permanently attached to the ring, while the remaining support elements are removably attached to the ring so that a plant receptacle may be easily placed in or removed from the hanger by simply removing the support elements from the ring.

Abstract: A special broadcast communication link is provided between a central processing unit and plural computer peripheral devices, the communication link being in addition to normal data and addressing communication lines, and providing a distributed control channel which is used to inhibit selected classes of interrupt signals from controllers associated with the peripheral devices in accordance with an interrupt classification system. This communication channel permits the central processing unit to issue a data command which selectively inhibits the peripheral devices from issuing selected classes of interrupt signals.

Abstract: A compact, rugged sensor for use in the measurement of particle sizes in a fluid stream is disclosed. The sensor permits the use of a light emitting diode as a light source by mounting a high grade optical system with its focal point at the point light source provided by the light emitting diode to collimate the generated light. This collimated light passes through an aperture formed in one dimension by the width of the fluid flow stream and formed in a second perpendicular dimension by a narrow transparent slit in an otherwise opaque shield adjacent the fluid flow stream. The collimated light source, together with the use of the flow stream as a light path boundary, substantially increases the accuracy of the sensor. All of this is accomplished in conjunction with a solid state light emitting diode source which permits the sensor to be used in shock and vibration environments which would have prohibited particle measurement using prior art sensors.

Abstract: A time delay valve used in vacuum systems of internal combustion engines to significantly reduce exhaust emission pollutants. The valve includes a resilient valve disk with an orifice therethrough. An enlarged cavity is provided adjacent the valve disk into which either a spacer ring or spring may be inserted. In one mode, with the spacer ring inserted, the time delay valve regulates the change rate of both vacuum increase and vacuum decrease across the valve. In an alternative mode with the spacer ring replaced by a spring, the time delay valve regulates only the change rate of vacuum increase across the valve.

Abstract: A hydroponic plant growing apparatus is disclosed wherein a nutrient enriched liquid is flowed within a series of ducts adapted to mount a plurality of planting cups, each of which support a sterile media and a plant seedling. The planting cup includes an apertured bottom surface which permits capillary action of the nutrient liquid into the support media as well as allows the root system of each plant to extend into the duct yet isolates the sterile media from direct flow contact with the nutrient liquid. The individual plant cups eliminate contamination of the nutrient liquid, facilitate easy removal and replacement of individual plants on the apparatus, and form an effective seal with the ducts yielding a substantially hermetically sealed apparatus which is not susceptible to rain contamination, evaporation, or algae growth.

Abstract: Techniques for preparing stable conjugates of protein-D-GL which can then be isolated in pure form are disclosed, using hen egg ovalbumin (OVA) as a prototype protein, and conjugation and purification methods are described which involve (1) application of a coupling method employing m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS) as the coupling reagent, and (2) introduction of biotin moieties into D-GL molecules to allow application of avidinbiotin system for affinity chromatographic purification of conjugates. These methods are applicable to the preparation of D-GL conjugates of insulin and Ragweed Antigen E and are of general applicability.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprised of several integrated circuits sequentially actuates a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED's) located in an article such as eyeglass frames, which are carried or worn by a person. In one embodiment, an oscillator driven binary up-down counter drives first and second binary to one-of-four decoders. The LED's are arranged in an electrical circuit which allows them to be addressed in X-Y matrix fashion. The first decoder sequentially addresses each "row" of LED's while the second decoder sequentially addresses each "column" of LED's in the matrix so that each LED in the matrix circuit is sequentially flashed. After the entire array of LED's has been sequentially actuated a predetermined number of times, the up-down counter is electronically switched to the opposite state so as to reverse the order in which the LED's are sequentially actuated. In a second embodiment, an integrated circuit binary ripple counter/oscillator drives first and second demultiplexers.

Abstract: Techniques for preparing stable conjugates of protein-D-GL which can then be isolated in pure form are disclosed, using hen egg ovalbumin (OVA) as a prototype protein, and conjugation and purification methods are described which involve (1) application of a coupling method employing m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS) as the coupling reagent, and (2) introduction of biotin moieties into D-GL molecules to allow application of avidinbiotin system for affinity chromatographic purification of conjugates. These methods are applicable to the preparation of D-GL conjugates of insulin and Ragweed Antigen E and are of general applicability.

Abstract: A wall is formed by stringing on cables a plurality of similar buoyant panel elements lying flat on water. Each panel element has an inner end, an outer end and two side edges. A first chain extends laterally through the panel elements adjacent the inner ends thereof and a second chain extends laterally through these elements spaced from the first chain. The first chain is tensioned to draw the panel elements together to abut each other at the inner ends thereof. The second chain is then tensioned while water ballast is added to compartments in the elements to cause the outer ends of the panel elements to swing downwardly to bring the side edges thereof together to form a wall. The resulting structure is made up of these panel elements side by side. Gripping means at the ends of the cables maintain them under tension to retain the side edges of the panel elements together.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp is connected across a step down auto transformer and in series with a solid state switching device and a resistor, and this combination is connected across a rectified AC voltage source. This switching device is controlled by a monostable multivibrator, the input of which is connected to the output of a comparator amplifier sensing the difference between the voltage drop across the above-mentioned resistor and a voltage which may be selected to vary light intensity. A starter aid conductor is placed adjacent the lamp and connected to the grounded side of the voltage source. This results in an efficient, high frequency operation of the lamp wherein the voltage gradient inside the lamp during starting ignition of the lamp is greatly increased to facilitate ignition despite the presence of the step down auto transformer, thereby permitting a decrease in the minimum fly back voltage necessary to start the lamp. As a result, reliability is increased.

Abstract: Contact lenses and a method of preparing the same in which a central area tinted with particular polymer bound or water insoluble colorants are disclosed.

Abstract: A container is provided with a valve opening at its bottom wall to permit steam to circulate into the container and to permit any condensation to drain from the container while the valve is open. The valve is closed by an expandable chamber in response to the pressure drop at the end of a sterilizing cycle. A valve controlling the flow of steam into the expandable chamber closes when subjected to the high temperature steam, thus capturing steam within the chamber. This steam expands when the pressure drops to close the valve in the container. The container lid and gasket permit steam to be withdrawn from the container but prevent air flow into the container. A vacuum created in the container at the end of the sterilizing cycle holds the container lid in place and holds the valve closed.

Abstract: A bench top printed circuit board scrubber apparatus is disclosed having a roller conveyor for transporting varying thickness circuit boards through a scrubbing and drying compartment. The apparatus includes a pivotal top plate which mounts a scrubber brush and its respective motor drive such that the brushing assembly may be extended away from the roller conveyor as a unit to facilitate easy access to the internal components. Additionally, the apparatus provides a quick change mounting means for the roller conveyor, and a compact axial flow air drying system which effectively dissipates water applied to the circuit board during the scrubbing operation.

Abstract: A container lid is released at a desired point in a sterilizing cycle with the actuating movement being provided by an expandable chamber having a quantity of sterilizing environment captured during the sterilizing cycle.

Abstract: There are disclosed improvements in the passenger unit for a ski lift such as a chair and the like to incorporate a swivel mechanism in the standard which supports the lift chair from the traveling, overhead cable. The swivel mechanism includes a swivel actuator which can be a hydraulic system to rotate the chair, permitting the occupant to rotate from a forward facing position and turn his back to wind, driving snow and the like or to change his direction of view. The ski lift also includes a mechanism for automatically restoring the forward direction of the passenger unit at the disembarking station or at any other preselected portion along the ski lift.

Abstract: A file card for use in a filing system for compact filing of information. Such a system includes a file receptacle for a plurality of the file cards. The cards include fulcrum means adjacent their bottom edges and are normally supported in the file receptacle in substantially vertical positions. However, by manually fanning apart any pair of the file cards at their top edges, the fulcrum means of these and adjacent cards cooperate with one another and with the file receptacle to automatically fan apart the upper portions of file cards adjacent the manually fanned apart cards, thereby making visually scannable the information on the upper portions of such cards. In one embodiment the file cards are merely divider cards, and data cards are inserted between them. In this instance the data cards are supported by a data card support arrangement which is integral with the file receptacle, and holding elements are provided on the file cards to position the data cards against desired ones of the file cards.

Abstract: An improved above ground landing pit particularly suitable for pole vaulting events is disclosed wherein the frontal portion of the pit includes an opening which surrounds the plant box having an angularly inclined back wall to accommodate the substantial flexure of the vaulting pole during the vault. The sidewalls of the pit are additionally provided with a tapered recess adjacent the lower edge thereof which permits the upper portion of each sidewall to extend in a cantilevered manner over the respective post standard thereby preventing injury to the athlete. Further, the present invention discloses a unique post standard which is exclusively anchored in position by the weight of the pit yet permits the post to be selectively positioned relative the length of the pit.

Abstract: A resin bonded glass fiber grating adhesively bonded together in unitary construction to form a lightweight, high strength industrial grating, which may include a non-skid elastomer surface and the capability to be rolled up for storage and a method of constructing the same.

Abstract: The input/output system for a computer of this invention permits a peripheral device and its associated peripheral processor to be connected either (a) directly to the central processor unit of the computer, or (b) to a remote hardware peripheral control device which permits the central processor unit to directly control the peripheral processor, or (c) to a remote input/output controller which controls the peripheral processor independently of the central processor unit of the computer. The input/output system of this invention permits the use of the same software set stored in memory to control the input/output operations of a selected peripheral device regardless of where the peripheral device is connected.

Abstract: An improved orthopedic fixation pin holder device is disclosed composed generally of a body member having a pin receiving aperture formed therethrough and a locking member slidingly mounted within the body member including a mating pin receiving aperture formed therethrough. Both apertures are provided with opposingly disposed V-shaped wall portions which apply a concentrated shearing force at discrete locations along the pin diameter to positively clamp the pin within the pin holder.