Abstract: A travel compact for housing a cosmetic supply and a mirror, both of which in a storage mode of the compact are encased therein, the supply and the mirror being both exposed in a utility mode whereby the user may then view her face as she applies the cosmetic thereto. The compact includes a small rectangular case having an open front end and a top wall whose front section has an open window therein. Slidable in the case through its open end is a drawer whose top wall includes in its rear section a shallow well having a mirror nested therein, a front section on which is printed identifying indicia and a deeper well intermediate the front and rear sections in which a cosmetic supply is stored. In the storage mode, the drawer is pushed fully within the case, the window in the case being then closed by the front section of the drawer to expose the indicia through the window. In the utility mode, the drawer is pulled out to an extent exposing the cosmetic supply and aligning the mirror with the window.

Abstract: A double-barreled gun adapted to inject a two component epoxy into a hole to anchor a hardware element therein. The base resin and hardener components of the epoxy are stored in separate foil packs received in parallel barrels of the gun. The gun includes a removable mixing manifold having a pair of end caps which fit into the leading ends of the barrels and are joined to a manifold pipe to whose outlet is attachable a mixing nozzle. Mounted within the rear of each cap across a port therein is a cutting element. Slidable in each barrel behind the pack is a piston whose rod extends from the trailing end of the barrel. An operating mechanism effects concurrent advance of the pistons to an extent limited by a retractable stop member.

Abstract: A piggyback conditioner unit usable in conjunction with a Ni-Cad battery power pack and a standard charger for the pack, the pack being normally adapted to be seated on and connected to the charger for recharging. The power pack is subject to a "memory effect" that decreases its ability to regain its rated energy capacity unless before being recharged, it is first discharged from its existing state of discharge to a deep discharge state. When put to use, the battery conditioner unit is physically and electrically interposed between the charger and the power pack to create an assembly in which the unit is seated on and electrically connected to the charger, and the pack is seated on and electrically connected to the unit. The unit includes means to further discharge the power pack seated thereon until a deep discharge state is reached, which condition is reflected in a reduced pack voltage that is sensed to automatically activate the charger which then proceeds to recharge the pack.

Abstract: A submicron particle filter unit of the Hepa type adapted to be interposed between a source of pressurized gas and a work-processing region to provide an environment therefor free of particles and other contaminants. The membrane of the unit is fabricated from a continuous, elongated, porous metal sheet accordion-folded to define a uniform series of pleats forming a media pack having an entry and an exit face, the pack being clamped with gaskets between the side plates of a frame or welded or otherwise joined thereto. Pressurized gas from the source applied to the entry face of the pack is filtered therethrough to yield at its exit face a laminar flow of gas which creates a clean environment for the work-producing region.

Abstract: A basketball goal provided with a hoop from which is suspended a net, and a mounting assembly adapted normally to support the hoop on a backboard at a horizontal position. But when the hoop is subjected to a downward force by a player, the hoop is then momentarily deflected to absorb this force and thereby prevent damage to the goal and injury to the player. The assembly includes a mounting plate attached to the backboard and a hinge component secured to the front of the mounting plate, the component having a channel therein parallel to the plate and aligned at its midsection with a slot formed in the plate. Also included is a clevis formed by a rod shaped to define a pair of parallel legs that are joined to the hoop and are integral with inwardly-directed pin elements received in the channel, thereby pivoting the hoop on the hinge component, the pin elements merging with arms in abutting relation forming a cantilever crank that passes through the slot and projects from the rear of the mounting plate.

Abstract: A swizzle stick for stirring mixed drinks, the stick being convertible to a lensless ophthalmic device, making it possible for a typical individual having defective sight to see clearly regardless of the nature of the defect. The swizzle stick includes a strip section having a profile defining a pair of eyepieces joined to a nose piece and a handle extending from one of the eye pieces. Extending from the other eyepiece is a swizzle shank, the junction therebelow being scored so that the shank may be broken off to convert the stick to an ophthalmic device. Each eyepiece has a pattern of pin holes therein adapted to project a clear image of the object viewed by the related eye of the user of the device.

Abstract: A form adapted to facilitate the neat stacking and bundling of newspapers to be recycled, the form being composed of a pair of complementary sections whose dimensions are such as to accommodate folded standard newspapers and unfolded tabloids. Each section of the form is created from a cardboard blank that is scored, slotted and die cut to define a side wall and major and minor end walls at right angles thereto, each of these walls having a fold-in bottom flap. Projecting from the minor end wall is a locking tongue and cut into the major end wall is a slot to receive a locking tongue. To assemble the form, the sections are placed in opposing relation with their minor and major end walls overlapped, the locking tongue of one section being received in the slot of the other section. In its assembled state, the fold-in flaps of the walls are overlapped at the corners of the form to maintain its rectangular shape.

Abstract: A system for converting a printable sheet of heat-shrinkable, synthetic plastic film material into a custom-made miniature having an image thereon of a selected individual. In this system, the face or figure of the selected individual is viewed by a video camera whose output signal is applied to a high-resolution TV monitor, on the screen of which is exhibited an image of the individual. The image is transferred from the monitor to an associated printer which impresses the image on the sheet in a scale appropriate to its dimensions. The sheet is then subjected to an elevated temperature, causing the sheet to shrink uniformly, and in doing so to markedly reduce the scale of the image thereon, thereby creating on a relatively thick substrate the desired miniature.

Abstract: A portable stereo sound set adapted to be worn by a dancer who listens to dance music through left and right earphones mounted on his head and connected to the binaural amplifier channels of the set. Included in each channel is an amplitude-control stage to adjust the base level of sound volume in the related earphone. Attached to each earphone is an attitude-sensitive potentiometer connected to the amplitude control stage on the corresponding channel. The volume of sound in each earphone is caused to deviate from the base level in a direction and to an extent which is a function of the changing resistance of the related potentiomer. The resultant volume of sound heard in each earphone therefore depends on the inclination or tilt of the head of the dancer.

Abstract: An art craft kit which makes it possible for a child to reproduce a painting, a map, or other multi-colored artwork printed on a master sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing, the master sheet being adhered to the face of a blank canvas or other copy sheet. The printed artwork is dissected into stencil segments, the periphery of each segment being defined by a contoured line of perforations. To reproduce the artwork, the child runs a pointed tool along the contoured line defining a selected segment, thereby cutting this line and separating the segment which is then removed from the master sheet to expose a corresponding blank segment on the copy sheet. Using the removed stencil segment as a guide, the child colors in the blank segment of the copy sheet to match as best he can, the portion of the artwork appearing on the removed segment. This operation is subsequently repeated until all stencil segments on the master sheet are removed and the artwork is reproduced on the copy sheet.

Abstract: A multi-channel transparent jacket for accommodating strips of microfilm to create a microfiche, the jacket having non-blocking characteristics, thereby minimizing the tendency of one jacket in a stack thereof to stick to an adjacent jacket. The jacket is constituted by front and rear panels formed of flexible polyethylene terephthalate film joined together by a parallel array of ribs to define the channels. The exposed surfaces of the panels have a friction-reducing layer thereon constituted by a multiplicity of discrete silicon dioxide nodules bonded to the film, the nodule shape approximating a surface segment of a sphere. The peaks of the segments form microscopic contact points which are bonded by molecular attraction to an abutting panel when the jacket is juxtaposed against a like jacket in frictional relationship thereto.

Abstract: A pneumatic cushion or bolster adapted to function as a bumper for boats, as protective packaging and as pneumatic elements included in wearing apparel. The bolster is composed of a non-stretchable fabric casing shaped to define, when fully expanded, a bolster in a configuration appropriate to its intended use, the casing having a small, closable port therein. Inserted through the port in its unexpanded state is a rubber balloon whose stem initially projects out from the port to permit mouth inflation of the balloon to an extent causing it to engage and conform to the inner surface of the casing. The stem is then tied and pushed within the casing, after which the port is closed, thereby fully encasing the balloon to provide a bolster having pneumatic properties.

Abstract: A multi-mode playball whose components are a shaped casing of flexible material having an opening therein that is closable by a drawstring whose end portions, when the string is drawn, then extend from the closed opening, and a toy balloon, which in its uninflated state is insertable into the casing and when then inflated stretches to conform to the shape of the casing to create a pneumatic playball. The playball is operable in any one of three modes, the first being a ball mode in which the end portions of the drawn string are inserted into the casing before the balloon is inflated and the resultant pneumatic ball can then be thrown, kicked and bounced. In the second or bop mode, the pneumatic ball is tethered by the end portion of the drawstring whereby the ball can then be punched back and forth.

Abstract: A velocity meter attachable to a baseball bat or other hand-held swingable sports implement to indicate swing velocity. The meter is provided with a ratchet wheel rotatable within a case whose cover has a window exposing a pointer on the upper face of the wheel. Affixed to the under face of the wheel at an eccentric position thereon is an inertia weight. The teeth of the wheel are engaged by a retractable pawl which permits counterclockwise motion of the wheel but prevents clockwise motion except when the pawl is retracted to permit meter resetting.

Abstract: A shadowless background board for photography, a subject to be photographed being placed in front of the board and being illuminated by light rays directed toward the board. The shadow cast on the board by the subject creates thereon a shadow zone bordered or surrounded by an illuminated region. The board is constituted by a translucent light-diffusing front panel behind which is a light distributor responsive to light rays inmpinging on the illuminated region on the panel and adapted to convey these rays to the shadow zone and thereby illuminate this zone. The light distributor is in the form of a light-conducting circuit matrix having a network of light-conducting lines, either end of each line functioning as a light input to the line or as an output therefore. The ends of the lines engage respective sites on an array thereof that is uniformly distributed throughout the rear surface of the translucent panel.

Abstract: A card filing assembly in which file cards are accommodated in a tray or other holder dimensioned to store a stack of cards, each of which at its lower edge has a stripe or band of ferromagnetic material attached thereto. The file card holder is provided with opposing side walls to confine the stack of cards to the holder and a pair of parallel rails each defined by a transversely-polarized permanent magnet strip running the length of the holder and sandwiched between opposing pole pieces. The cards stored in the holder bridge the rails, with their lower edges resting on the pole pieces, whereby the cards are held to the rails by magnetic attraction, yet the cards so held may be angled to facilitate their inspection or slid along the rails, or removed from the rails without, in doing so, in any way mutilating the cards.

Abstract: A camera for producing a picture in which an individual whose picture is taken is seen jointly with a figurative character in such a way as to establish an apparent relationship therebetween. The camera is loaded with a dual track film having a picture track and a parallel guide track. The picture track is formed by a series of light-sensitive picture frames each being partially pre-exposed to create a latent image thereon of a character at a predetermined position within the frame. The guide track has a series of transparency viewfinder frames each having a printed image thereon corresponding to the latent image on the adjacent picture frame. The camera includes an exposure section provided with a lens and a shutter, the picture track being advanceable through this section. And it also includes a viewfinder section through which is advanceable the guide track.

Abstract: A universal applicator for applying therapeutic heat to a localized skin area of a patient. The applicator includes a casing dome whose open base is maintained in spaced relation to the skin area to define an air flow zone therebetween. Coaxially mounted at an intermediate position within the dome is a motor-driven fan which creates a negative pressure region in the dome above the fan and a positive pressure region therebelow, whereby air drawn from the negative pressure region is propelled into the positive pressure region from which it is discharged into the air flow zone. From this zone, the air is returned to the negative pressure region, thereby creating a circulatory flow loop minimizing the discharge of air into the atmosphere outside the flow zone. Mounted coaxially within the dome in the negative pressure region is an electric heater ring formed by a helical resistance coil.