Abstract: A board game using a game board having seven hexagonal areas of equal size which are arranged such that one of the areas is in the center of six areas symmetrically surrounding the center area. Each of the surrounding areas has one side contiguous with one side of the center area and two sides contiguous with two other areas. Each hexagonal area is divided into six equilateral triangles of equal size. The board game also uses equal size tiles having a shape and size equal to the equilateral triangular area. The thirty-six tiles form six groups of identical tiles each, each group having a different distinctive surface marking which is in the form of dots whose number varies one to six, each group having a different number of dots.

Abstract: A TEM mode strip line directional coupler utilizing an outer conductor having a dielectric slab filled cross section with photo-etched center conductors. The center conductors are arranged to form a coupling portion whose opposite ends define diverging conductors. At least one conductive element, photo-etched simultaneously with the center conductors, of generally arrow-shaped configuration having its end portion immediately adjacent and in between the diverging conductors facing the coupling portion to increase the directivity of the coupler.

Abstract: The retainer portion of the mouthpiece of an underwater breathing apparatus includes at least a portion made of a thermoplastic material. The retainer is customized to the bite of the user by heating the mouthpiece to render the retainer plastic. The retainer, while plastic, is gripped by the teeth of the user to form an impression of the user's bite in the thermoplastic material of the retainer. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic portion of the retainer comprises only a sleeve of thermoplastic material which is affixed over the conventional rubber retaining member. In an alternative embodiment, the thermoplastic retainer is formed as an integral molded portion of the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A safety crank assembly for railroad box car plug doors which is mounted between the door, intermediary of the operating crank assemblies, and the retainer track above the door. The safety crank assembly includes a crank arm having an end portion for engaging the retainer track. The engaging end portion is provided with a shuttle which has a rearwardly positioned and downwardly extending skirt which, in case of failure, exerts a load on a portion of the lower shelf of the track which is located much nearer to the side of the car than the crank arm itself would exert on the shelf in case of failure. The upper portion of the shuttle slides in a U-shaped channel at the top of the retainer track to keep it from rotating with rotation of the crank and exerts a load on the downwardly extending shelf of the U-shaped channel of the retainer.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling an automatic dialer which, in response to dial digits, automatically establishes communication paths over a plurality of telephone lines. The apparatus includes interface logic connected to a computer port for receiving serial digital data from the computer. The data includes control characters and dial digits. The serial data is stored in parallel word format in a random access memory (RAM) buffer. The RAM is operated in three modes, a write mode in which addresses and digits are stored in the RAM, a read mode in which the addresses and digits are presented to the dialer and an abort mode in which a call in progress is interdicted and resumed later, or completely aborted. Control logic responds to the serial interface and stores successive digits in successive RAM address locations, the final word being a buffer empty character to signify the end of the stored data.

Abstract: A moisture protective housing for a sound transducer located inside the face mask of a diver which face mask is vented to a breathing apparatus, such as a scuba tank with regulator, to maintain the air breathed by the diver at substantially the same pressure as the water surrounding the diver. The housing includes a deformable portion having pin prick perforations or pores therethrough to make that portion porous when formed. The number of perforations or pores, as well as their size, are selected such that the porous portion becomes permeable to air and/or water only if the pressure differential across it exceeds a preselected value.

Abstract: A switch which is activated by a voice signal which is higher than the normal voice signal but which is sustained by the normal voice signal and which is disabled by the absence of any voice signal much below the normal voice signal for a predetermined period of time. The voice actuated switch is particularly useful inside a high noise environment, such as the mask of a scuba diver or aviator in which the breathing noise is of the same order of magnitude as ordinary speech noise. The voice activated switch includes a HI comparator which provides an activation signal only when a word is spoken above a certain HI loudness level, and a LO comparator which provides a sustaining level when exposed to a signal from noise or voice at a normal level for a selected time interval.

Abstract: A system and a method of electronically equalizing the composite transfer function of a sound system and a room which receives the sound generated by the sound system. A test signal, such as white or pink noise, is applied to the sound system and a microphone for receiving the reference sound is placed in the room and has its output applied to an equalizer which comprises a plurality of contiguous narrow band filters covering the entire audio band. Each output signal from the filters is applied through an adjustable amplitude control means to a detector and each detected output signal is compared with a reference signal, such as the detected output signal from a selected mid-range filter and has its amplitude adjusted to provide a desired relationship with respect to the reference signal. After adjustment of the equalizer, the test signal and the microphone are disconnected from the system and the sound signal source is applied through the equalizer to the loudspeaker system.

Abstract: A building module is formed of a first plurality of isosceles triangular members forming a roof and a second plurality of isosceles triangular members forming walls which support the roof. In one embodiment, some of the triangular members are right triangles and each of the remaining triangular members have two sides which are three-fourths the length of their third side. In another embodiment, all the triangular members each have two of their sides equal in length to three-fourths the length of their third side. Also, each of these embodiments can be combined to produce larger units and can be combined with a partial cubical form to provide vertical walls.

Abstract: Several embodiments of window frame assemblies comprising novel window framing members for supporting a glazing product are described. In one embodiment, a window frame assembly is described comprising a conventional framing member including a novel rotatable rod means for preventing the cutting through of the framing member as by a saw. In another embodiment, a window frame assembly is described comprising a framing member for installing pre-glazed windows with or without a rotatable rod means in the framing member, said member including a separately attachable leg member for attaching the pre-glazed window to a pre-installed sub-framing member. In still other embodiments, window frame assemblies are described comprising novel mullions for joining pairs of pre-glazed windows. The mullions, as described, may optionally include means for the attachment of a partition and the aforementioned rotatable rod means.

Abstract: A gauge for measuring pressure is described having a casing, a transparent lens, a faceplate bearing indicia and indices, a primary depth pointer, a maximum depth pointer, and a rack-and-pinion gear assembly for moving the pointers relative to the indicia and the indices. In the rack-and-pinion gear assembly there is provided a spring-biased rack, a pinion gear and a flexible diaphragm. The pinion gear is mounted on a shaft supporting the primary depth pointer. The rack is threadably coupled to the gear and adapted to be moved linearly for turning the gear and the shaft. The diaphragm is mounted in a selected manner in a bore in the casing in contact with one end of the rack. The opposite end of the rack is in contact with a spring. A change in ambient pressure relative to the pressure within the casing moves the diaphragm and rack against the spring and rotates the pointers. The maximum pressure indiciator, which is driven by the primary depth pointer, is provided for indicating maximum pressure.

Abstract: The steering wheel covers for automobiles includes a band of foam material having a pair of road opposed surfaces, the inner surface of which is to face the steering wheel crown and the outer surface of which is to be gripped by the hand, in use. The band is perforated with a multiplicity of through-going holes passing through the band from one broad surface to the opposed broad surface. The inner broad surface of the cover comprises a carrier foil having an adhesive surface to face the steering wheel crown with the carrier foil being tear resistant, elastic and having been formed during the foaming process utilized to form the foam band. The outer surface of the cover preferably includes a surface finish and includes a closed outer skin which is produced during the foaming process utilized to produce the foam band. The peripheral walls of the through-going holes are sealed so that the foam core is completely enclosed.

Abstract: A data handling system for converting an analog signal into binary form for storage or transmission to a remote receiver and subsequent reconstruction back into a facsimile of the original analog signal. The encoder portion of the system, which is a synthetic equivalent of an adaptive inverse filter, includes a signal comparator, an adaptive function generator and a binary pulse generating means. The signal comparator provides a signal responsive to the difference between the input analog signal and the output of the function generator, and the pulse generating means converts the difference signal into the encoded binary form for storage or transmission to a receiver. The decoder portion of the system includes an adaptive RC filter means which is controlled by the encoded data so as to reconstruct the original analog signal.

Abstract: A full duplex communication system including a pair of full duplex modems. Each modem has both a call originate mode of operation and a call answer mode of operation. In the call originate mode outgoing data is transmitted by modulation of a carrier frequency F2 and incoming data is received by demodulation of a data modulating carrier of frequency F1. When in the answer mode of operation, the data is received on frequency F2 and transmitted on frequency F1. Means are provided for injecting a carrier frequency F6 in the outgoing data transmission path. The frequency F6 is near the midpoint between F1 and F2. The amplitude is such that the distribution of power within the transmission band is balanced so that the power in the frequency band set aside for single frequency signaling systems does not exceed the power in the remainder of the transmission band.

Abstract: A standard magnetic tape storage reel in combination with an insert for decreasing the tape storage capacity of the reel. The insert fits over the hub of the reel and is welded to the flanges. The insert is of integral construction and includes an inner circular rim portion which has an opening dimensional to fit over the reel hub, an outer circular rim portion which forms the new hub about which the tape is wound, a flat central web rib portion which extends between the outer and the inner rim, a plurality of radial ribs extending on both sides of the central web rib portion between the inner and outer rim portions, and a circumferential rib, concentric with the rim portions, located on either side of the web integrally connecting the radial ribs and the central web rib portion.

Abstract: A plastic foam rigid swimming pool cover is fabricated by forming an amorphous plastic foam material into a shape conforming generally to the periphery of the pool and into a shape for covering the swimming pool. The cover is also shaped for lifting as an integral unit from a covering position to an uncovered position above the pool via the intermediary of a plurality of lifts such as electric or hydraulic jacks coupled to the pool cover at a plurality of points spaced around the periphery thereof. The amorphous plastic foam material is formed to the desired shape by either casting or spraying the material into or onto a form of proper shape. In some embodiments, the reinforcing members are embedded in the foam to provide added strength and rigidity. The foam cover may include soil and plant receptacles for landscaping. The cover may be formed in situ or at a remote location to a template and segmented for transport to the pool and reassembled in situ.

Abstract: A curved architectural structure is formed by tensioning a membrane into a curved shape and forming an intermediate structure conforming to the contour of the tensioned membrane by applying a rigidizing material such as foam, resin or other lightweight rigidizing material to form a rigidized curved architectural structure or form for same. Cemetitious material having discontinuous reinforcing fibers, as of steel or glass, dispersed therein is applied overlaying a surface of the rigidized structure to shape and support a curved architectural structure of reinforced cemetitious material.

Abstract: Iron rings and radially polarized magnets are alternated with axially magnetized rings on both a rotor and a stator in which like poles of axial magnets on and between the rotor and stator face one another to produce a field within the air gap between the magnets equivalent to that produced by radially magnetized magnets, to redistribute flux within the air gap, to smooth out non-uniformity of individual magnetic flux distributions, to provide repulsion between the stator and the rotor, to minimize energy losses due to rotor rotation, to produce a uniform field in the air gap despite non-uniformity in the magnets, to reduce spin drag torques due to non-uniform magnetization to near zero value, to maximize the flux collection effectiveness of the iron rings, to fill the entire volume with a useful material, and to obtain a more intense field in the air gap, thereby providing a weight effective structure.

Abstract: In laser absorption spectroscopy a fluid sample is irradiated with a beam of coherent optical radiation preferably in the infrared band. A detector such as an acoustic detector or thermal detector is coupled in acoustic or thermal energy exchanging relation, respectively, with the fluid medium to detect the absorption of energy, if any, by the fluid from the beam of coherent radiation. One or more of the physical or chemical parameters of the fluid or substances interacting with the fluid are changed and resultant changes, if any, are detected in the absorption of energy by the fluid to yield information concerning the fluid or substances interacting with the fluid.

Abstract: A divider structure for a shipping carton consists of first and second divider members, the patterns for which are preferably slotted and scored into a common blank so that the blank may be separated, along a scored part line, into two blanks, one for each of the two divider members. The two divider members are to be interlocked together for division of the carton into a plurality of compartments. Each divider member is preferably scored for folding and includes a central intermediate panel portion and a pair of outer wing panel portions on opposite sides. The wing panels are folded up toward each other to define a generally U-shaped channel member. One of the channel divider members is slotted laterally across the intermediate panel portion and into the wing panels, whereas the other channel divider member is slotted from the outer edges of the wing panels toward the intermediate panel portion.