Abstract: A differential pressure transducer of the capacitive type responsive to fluid pressure. The transducer includes a cylindrical body having insulating sections at either end provided with a planar end face and a concave cavity surrounded by an annular rim. The cavities communicate with each other through an internal duct in the body and are filled with a dielectric fluid. Covering each cavity and sealed to the surrounding rim is a diaphragm provided with a movable electrode which cooperates with a fixed electrode on the cavity surface to form a capacitor therewith whose value varies as a function of diaphragm deflection in response to an applied pressure.

Abstract: A toy figure having artificial eyes which when viewed by an observer, create, as a result of an optical illusion, apparent eyeball movement as the observer changes his orientation relative to the figure. Each artificial eye is constituted by a case formed of a transparent sphere or truncated sphere having a ball supported concentrically therein to simulate an eyeball. The artificial eye is mounted on the head of the figure to expose its convex frontal section, this being covered by a mask having a window therein which displays the eyeball and the regions above and below the eyeball and those on either side thereof. As a consequence, an observer looking at the artificial eye in a direction normal thereto in alignment with the eyeball center sees the eyeball in its centered position.

Abstract: A set of gem-like jacks for playing the game of jacks, the jacks being adapted to form in combination with a band of resilient material having a row of holes therein a bracelet or other article of jewelry. Each jack is molded of transparent plastic material to form an opposing pair of four-sided pyramids having triangular sides and a common square base, the peaks of the pyramids and the diagonal corners of the base having small balls integral therewith to satisfy the functional requirements of a playing jack. Because of internal reflections from the triangular sides of the jack and its external geometric form, the jack simulates the optical properties of a multi-faceted gem. To form an article of jewelry, jacks are combined with the band by snapping a ball of a jack into a band hole, the hole dilating to admit the ball and then resuming its normal diameter to trap the ball and thereby retain the jack on the band.

Abstract: A screw anchor including a four-legged compressible shank whose normal shape is diamond-like, the front legs of the shank being joined together by a front apex hinge, the rear legs being joined to the front legs by side apex hinges. The rear legs terminate in feet whose adjacent soles normally assume the form of an inverted V-inlet. A socket whose bore lies in axial registration with a hole in the front apex of the shank is secured by a pair of normally outstretched resilient webs to the respective rear legs. To install the anchor, its side apex hinges are manually compressed to collapse the shank into a tongue which is then inserted through a hole drilled in the wall until the socket is seated therein and the shank which is now behind the wall resumes its diamond-like shape. Then a screw for holding the fixture against the wall is inserted in the socket bore and turned therein until its tip is intercepted by the inlet which is dilated thereby to admit the screw.

Abstract: A flat blank formed of transparent, synthetic plastic material which when erected creates an open bin that is readily secured to the front edge of a supermarket shelf to enlarge its capacity to store and display additional merchandise. The blank is constituted by a rectangular base panel whose opposing long sides are joined by living hinges to the corresponding sides of rear and front panels, the opposing ends of the rear panel being joined by living hinges to end panels. By folding up the front and rear panels and swinging in the end panels and latching them to the front and base panels, a three-dimensional bin is created whose rear panel can then be adhesively attached to holding clips received in the existing price channel at the front edge of the shelf.

Abstract: A one-piece wall anchor capable of being driven axially into a hole drilled in masonry to cause the inserted anchor to lodge securely therein to hold a fixture or other part against the masonry surface. The anchor is constituted by a shank formed of resilient material whose memory is such that when the shank is forcibly deformed, it seeks to maintain its original shape, the shank being integral with a drivable head and having a maximum cross section which is substantially equal to the diameter of the hole. The shank is pre-shaped to include at least one undulation which deviates from the longitudinal axis passing through the head to create a shank bend having a peak on one side of the shank and upper and lower bases on the other side thereof.

Abstract: A work transfer system conveying a work basket in a programmed sequence to the processing tanks of an assembly thereof at various positions on a work bench. The system acts to transfer the basket to a selected tank and to properly orient the basket with respect to this tank before lowering the basket therein for processing for a given dwell period, at the conclusion of which the basket is hoisted from the tank and transferred to another tank where the procedure is repeated. Running parallel to the front side of the bench is a rail on which a robot rides, the robot supporting a hoist carriage which can be raised or lowered. Cantilevered from the carriage is a main arm articulated by an elbow shaft to a forearm that extends over the bench. The forearm is joined by a hand shaft depending therefrom to a hand that engages the handle of the work basket. A main arm motor acts to rotate the elbow shaft and thereby swing the forearm to a position generally aligning the basket with a selected tank therebelow.

Abstract: A three-dimensional play character provided with translucent eye and mouth elements, the character having fixedly mounted within its body a pre-recorded microcassette which is accessible through a body opening, the recorded sounds being appropriate to the personality of the character. Within the body are light guides that run from an optical inlet on the wall of the opening to the eye and mouth elements. Insertable through the opening to occupy an operative position with respect to the microcassette is a battery-powered playback module that serves to drive the microcassette, the module including a pick-up heat coupled to an audio amplifier whose audio signals are applied both to a loudspeaker which reproduces the recording and to a light bulb that is modulated by the signals to produce light pulses in synchronism with the reproduced sounds.

Abstract: A ribbon-type, gas-fired burner head usable as a heat source, which head may also be combined with a refractory body to form an infrared radiation heater. The burner head includes a pair of parallel plates having a circular, oblong or other configuration having a continuous contour free of discontinuities, and a stack of continuous corrugated ribbons having the same configuration sandwiched between the peripheral margins of the plates to define an internal fuel chamber. Fed into this chamber through an inlet nipple attached to one of the plates is a mixture of pressurized combustion air and gaseous fuel in a stoichiometric ratio, the mixture being expelled from the chamber through a continuous array of minute jet openings created by the stack of ribbons. By igniting the expelled mixture, there is projected from the head a generally planar, omni-directional flame whose intensity is substantially uniform in all directions.

Abstract: A wrist watch and bracelet assembly in which the case is of bipartite construction and is formed by a base section adapted to accommodate a watch movement and an ornamental face section that is readily replaceable by a face section having a different ornamental display, whereby the decorative appearance of the watch may readily be changed. The base section is provided at either end with a pair of pierced ears that project forwardly from the corners, while the face section which is seated on the base section is provided at either end with an array of equi-spaced lugs having holes therein which register with those in the ears so that by inserting a cross pin through the holes to bridge the ears and the lugs, the two sections are then interlocked.

Abstract: An air freshener unit having an impermeable backing sheet that is adherable to a substrate, and a facing sheet laminated to the backing sheet. Trapped between the sheets is a rupturable capsule containing a supply of a volatile fragrance. The facing sheet is formed of microporous, opaque material having good wicking properties. Printed on the rear surface of the facing sheet or on the front surface of the backing sheet is artwork that is normally blocked from view; but when the unit is activated by rupturing the capsule, the released fragrance is absorbed and exuded by the facing sheet which is made wet thereby and rendered translucent. As a result, the artwork becomes visible to a viewer. But when the exuded fragrance approaches exhaustion, the facing sheet, as it dries, reverts to its normal opacity, thereby causing the artwork to fade from view to signal to a user the need for a fresh unit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic echo-ranging meter for measuring the changing level of liquid in a tank or open channel, the meter including a transducer at a raised position above the liquid surface. Pulses of ultrasonic energy transmitted by the transducer are directed toward the liquid surface and reflected thereby to produce main echo pulses that are picked up by the same transducer. The round trip transmit time of the pulse energy in the gaseous medium above the liquid depends on the distance between the transducer and the liquid surface, this time being measured to provide a reading of liquid level. Also intercepted by the transducer are parasitic echo pulses originating from reflecting wall surfaces and other obstacles in the vicinity of the tank or channel, which parasitic pulses may be confused with the main echo pulses and result in an erroneous reading.

Abstract: A biofeedback therapy system in which an individual during a training run in stress control is intermittently subjected to stress-inducing stimuli while one of his physiologic functions is being continuously monitored. The individual is able to observe the effect of the stimuli on a stress-graduated tripartite scale, making it possible for the individual to regulate the function being monitored. The scale takes the form of three series of light indicators, the first being graduated in gross steps, the second in increments of a gross step, and the third in fractions of one increment, whereby the readout accurately reflects the prevailing stress level. The tripartite scale is provided with adjustable markers which can be set on the scale to present the stress level at the time a training run is commenced so that subsequent changes in stress level are seen as deviations from the set point.

Abstract: A disposable, double-breasted gown for medical patients fabricated of non-woven synthetic plastic sheeting. The gown body is formed from a rectangular blank whose straight upper long edge is die cut to provide chamfered corners, an off-center neck indentation and isosceles triangular arm-hole indentations on the left and right sides of the arcuate indentation, the resulting straight edge shoulder segments formed between the corners and the indentations all having the same length. The peaks of the triangular indentations are aligned with parallel left and right transverse fold lines that define a rear gown section on one side of which is a relatively narrow left-front gown section, and on the other side of which is a broad right-front gown section.

Abstract: The apparatus is provided with a unidirectional motor operatively coupled to the hinged sign through an eccentric drive by a link arm which incorporates a pre-loaded helical compression spring to prevent damage to the link arm should an attempt be made to forcibly swing the sign. Two normally-closed limit switches are associated with the link arm whereby in the course of a motor operating cycle, the stop sign is caused by the link arm to swing out to its outstretched position, at which point one limit switch opens, and then to return to its retracted position, at which point the other limit switch opens. The limit switches are included in a control circuit which supplies power to the motor. The control circuit is responsive to a door switch associated with the bus door so that when the door is open, the door switch is then closed, and power is supplied to the motor through one limit switch until the sign reaches its outstretched position, at which point this limit switch is opened to cut off the motor.

Abstract: An athletic shoe adapted to maintain a foot housed therein in a relatively cool and dry state despite heat and moisture developed within the shoe interior in the course of activity. The shoe upper is provided with a metallized coating to reflect incident solar radiation. The shoe includes a ground-engaging outer sole, an inner sole and a contoured compressible inner liner which engages the plantar area of the foot. Interposed between the inner and outer soles is a thin insulating insert acting as a thermal barrier minimizing the conduction of ground heat to the shoe interior. Embedded in the inner sole is an array of tubes each extending along a diagonal axis and terminating at its leading end in an air scoop that projects from the outer side of the inner sole to intercept relatively cool ambient air.

Abstract: An industrial process control system in which an electronic controller acts in a controlled process subject to process "dead time" to maintain a process variable at a desired value. Applied as inputs to the controller are signals representing the process variable and a set point, the controller yielding an output signal that reflects the deviation of the process variable from the set point and acts to adjust a final control element in the system to cause the process variable to conform to the set point. To effect self-tuning of the controller, a microprocessor is provided which is responsive to the process variable signal and the output signal from the controller and functions while the controller is operating to identify in a discrete-time process model parameter-identifier the process dead time and the process parameters, and to compute tuned controller parameters, and to transfer the calculated controller parameters to the controller so that the controller can be tuned to prevailing process conditions.

Abstract: A replaceable air freshener unit adapted to be adhered to an automobile window to suffuse the interior of the vehicle with a pleasing or stimulating aroma. The unit is constituted by a bipartite rectangular frame and a transparent film chip having artwork thereon, the film chip being mounted behind the back section of the frame. The rear surface of the chip is coated with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive whereby the unit may be attached to the window at an appropriate site. The front section of the frame is impregnated with a volatile fragrance that is thematically related to the artwork and slowly released into the atmosphere. When the fragrance is exhausted, the unit may readily be detached from the window and replaced.

Abstract: A home organizer adapted to store in readily retrievable form monthly receipts such as telephone bill receipts. The organizer, which has a full year capacity for these receipts, is constituted by a panel formed by superposed front and rear plies, each having an end pocket. Die cut in each ply adjacent the pocket is a transverse array of six crescents which create parallel slots therein. Marked near the face of the front ply pocket in registration with the slots are the names of the first six months of a given year, and similarly marked on the face of the rear ply pocket are the names of the last six months. Receipts for the different months are stored in the slots assigned to these months, the lower edge of each receipt being inserted in the slot and the leading end of the receipt being received in the end pocket, thereby retaining the receipt at its assigned position.

Abstract: Computer graphics for an industrial process installation or other computer-controlled system in which the system is graphically displayed on the screen of the computer terminal. Each controllable element in the system, such as a valve, a control dial or a switch, is marked on the display by an action point. In order for an operator to select any desired action point on the display to carry out an action appropriate thereto, a cursor is provided which can be manipulated by a key matrix to occupy a position coinciding with any action point thereon. The key matrix is a three-by-three-matrix constituted by a home key surrounded by eighty arrow keys whose arrows are directed to the major axes of a compass rose. Only one action point can be selected at a time. The selected point then effectively becomes the compass center, the previously selected point being then de-selected.