Abstract: An internally-illuminated medical data card in a credit card format containing a summary of the medical history of the bearer germane to his existing medical condition. The card, which is of laminated construction, includes a core panel formed by front and rear plastic sections having light-transmitting properties, a metallized layer functioning as a double-faced mirror being sandwiched therebetween. Nested in the respective faces of the core sections are front and rear film transparencies containing medical data in a directly legible scale, the combined data affording the required summary. The long edges and one end of each core section are in a concave formation to define reflective convex terminations whereby light entering the remaining flat end is transmitted through the section is reflected by the convex terminations and by the mirror to provide multiple internal reflection, causing the light to illuminate the transparencies to enhance their readability.

Abstract: A load-bearing square plate usable in conjunction with an anchor bolt to firmly secure a layer of thermal insulation material to a roof surface to prevent the layer from being blown away as a result of strong updrafts. The plate has a center hole for receiving the shank of the anchor bolt to be driven by a hammer into the roof. The plate is embossed to define both a raised hub which surrounds the hole to catch the head of the hammer when it drives in the bolt and thereby prevent overdrive thereof, and a plate-reinforcing pattern to resist flexure thereof omnidirectionally. This embossed pattern is constituted by a four-sided marginal frame adjacent the edges of the plate, a star formed by radial spokes of progressively diminishing width extending from the hub to the corners of the frame, and a cross formed by short ribs lying between the radial spokes and extending from the hub to the midpoints of the frame sides.

Abstract: An open-front carton for packaging and displaying a toy vehicle, the carton having an internal locking device to prevent unauthorized withdrawal of the vehicle. The carton includes a back wall, a bottom wall and a platform elevated thereabove, the vehicle being snugly received within the carton so that its inner wheels lie adjacent the back wall, and its outer wheels lie adjacent the open front. The locking device is constituted by cooperating major and minor flaps. The major flap is cut out of the platform to define a leading edge and a fold line both parallel to the rear wall, the minor flap being cut out of the bottom wall to define a leading edge and a fold line both at right angles to the back wall. The major flap is provided at its middle with a transverse slot aligned with the minor flap fold line whereby when the minor flap is folded in, it engages and raises the major flap, the leading edge of the minor flap then entering the slot to maintain this flap in an upstanding position.

Abstract: A work transfer system conveying a work basket in a programmed sequence to the processing tanks of an assembly thereof placed 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 during 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 along the front of the bench is a rail on which a robot is driven to a position in the proximity of the selected tank, the robot supporting a hoist which can be raised or lowered. Cantilevered from the hoist and extending transversely across the bench is a hollow arm having a trolley therein provided with a turntable whose spindle projects upwardly to join the upper end of a loop which encircles the arm, the loop being provided at its lower end with a hand that engages the work basket.

Abstract: A toy vehicle propelled by a bi-directional, miniature d-c motor, coupled by a clutch through a gear train to a wheel axle. A manually-operated shift stick mechanism is operatively linked both to the clutch and to a polarity-reversing switch interposed between the motor and a battery. The arrangement is such that when the stick is in neutral, the battery is disconnected and the clutch is disengaged, whereby the vehicle is then free rolling. When the stick is put in its forward position, the clutch is engaged to couple the motor to the gear train and the switch is operated to apply voltage to the motor in a polarity causing the vehicle to travel in the forward direction. When the stick is put in its reverse position, the clutch is again engaged and the switch is operated to apply voltage to the motor in the reverse polarity, causing the vehicle to travel in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A four-wheeled toy vehicle provided with a driver's cab and a steering post therebehind which extends above the body of the vehicle and makes it possible for a player to steer the vehicle from its exterior. Each front wheel has a short axle which extends transversely through a bearing that is pivotally supported on a vertical axis at right angles to the axle whereby the wheel is steerable. The steering post passes through the chassis and terminates in a crank at right angles to the post at the underside of the vehicle. The crank is pivotally connected to the leg of a T-shaped lever having arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of the leg, the lever fulcrum being at the junction of the leg and the arms whereby rotation of the crank in one direction by the steering post causes the arms to swing in the opposite direction. Each arm is pivotally connected to the bearing of a respective front wheel to effect steering thereof as the arms swing.

Abstract: An automobile cigarette lighter adapted to generate an aromatic vapor, the lighter being releasably retained within a dashboard socket having terminals therein connected to the battery of the vehicle. The lighter is constituted by a cylindrical shell having telescoped therein a spring-biased plunger. A disc-shaped heater element attached to the front end of the plunger is normally disposed at a position spaced from the socket terminals. A knob attached to the rear of the plunger projects beyond the rear end of the shell. When the knob is pressed in by a user, the plunger is advanced relative to the shell to cause the heater contact to engage the socket terminals and to be latched thereto by a bimetallic element, thereby activating the heater. When the heat generated thereby reaches a level causing the bimetallic element to bend, it releases the plunger which then returns to its normal inactive position.

Abstract: An aroma generator for discharging aromatic vapors into the atmosphere. The generator is constituted by a replaceable aroma cube insertable into the well of a heater unit having a heater element positioned at the base of the well. The cube takes the form of an open-ended chimney having a shallow box coaxially supported therein at its lower end to define an outlet air passage in the spaces therebetween, the underside of the box being open to expose its interior to heat emitted by the base heater. Held within the box is a pad saturated with a volatile aromatic liquid, the box and the pad having a center hole therein to form an inlet air passage. Because of the pressure differential in the chimney created by the heated and expanding air at the lower end thereof, relatively cool air in the chimney is drawn downwardly through the inlet air passage and is heated by the base heater.

Abstract: An anodic assembly immersible in a fluoborate electrolytic bath in an electroplating process for plating tin and similar metals. The assembly is constituted by a cylindrical basket containing a replenishable pile of solid pieces of the plating metal, the basket being formed by a perforated carbon tube closed at its bottom by a carbon plug. The outer surface of the tube is impregnated with a resin acting as a reinforcing skin to prevent cracking when the tube is drilled to create the required perforations.

Abstract: Sportswear suitable for a cold environment. Though light-weight and without undue bulk, the garment is adapted to keep the wearer warm, dry and comfortable. It is fabricated of a composite fabric that includes a vapor-permeable laminate formed by a core layer of hollow fibers acting as a thermal blanket sandwiched between inner and outer skins. Both faces of the inner skin and the inside face of the outer skin are metallized to render them reflective, whereas the outside face of the outer skin is blackened to render it absorbent of solar energy. When the garment is worn, radiant heat from the body is returned thereto by the reflective outside face of the inner skin while convection heat from the wearer's body passes by conduction through the inner skin of the laminate to be absorbed by the core layer. At the same time, solar heat absorbed by the blackened face is conducted through the outer skin to be absorbed by the core layer.

Abstract: A highly compact electromagnetic flowmeter unit interposable between the flanged ends of upstream and downstream line pipes for metering fluid passing through the line. The flowmeter is constituted by a cylindrical casing of ferromagnetic material within which a pair of electromagnet coils is supported at opposed positions along a diametrical axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the casing, the longitudinal axis passing through the central flow passage of an annular pressure vessel. The vessel, which is formed of high-strength insulating epoxy material, is molded within the casing and encapsulates the coils as well as a pair of pre-cast electrodes formed of conductive epoxy material disposed at diametrically-opposed positions with respect to the flow passage along a transverse axis at right angles to the coil axis to define a unitary structure. The epoxy of the electrodes is compatible with that of the vessel, whereby a fluid-impermeable bond is formed therebetween.

Abstract: A light-weight, high-strength contourable core for inclusion in a contoured structural laminate in which the core is sandwiched between facing skins. The core is constituted by a planar array of block-like modules preferably made of end-grain balsa wood held together in edge-to-edge relation by a scrim formed by elastomeric filaments which extend through the body of the modules in an intermediate plane parallel to the opposing faces of the core. When the planar core is pressed against a wet-coated contoured skin surface for lamination thereto, the filaments bridging adjacent modules elongate to an extent permitting these modules to separate and conform to this surface. The filaments have an elastic recovery force low enough to prevent the modules from overcoming the surface tension created by the wet-coated surface and pulling away therefrom. However, the holding power of the filaments is sufficient to preclude disassembly of the core modules during normal core handling procedures.

Abstract: An aroma generator that is automatically activated when one turns on an electric light bulb in the room in which the generator is installed, the generator then functioning to discharge an air current into the room conveying an aromatic vapor which modifies the prevailing atmosphere. Included in the generator is a motor-driven fan that forces air through an air permeable cartridge containing an aroma supply, the motor being powered by a solar cell assembly mounted adjacent the bulb. The arrangement is such that when the bulb is switched on, the resultant cell output is sufficient to power the motor and activate the generator, the cell output, in response to ambient light being insufficient for this purpose, whereby the operation of the generator is coordinated with that of the bulb without any wire connection therebetween.

Abstract: A space divider system adapted to partition an interior space into working sub-areas wherein desks, cabinets, and other work components are integrated with partition walls formed by modular panels that are interlocked in a spatial pattern defining the desired sub-areas or work stations. Each panel includes a frame whose corners have recesses therein bordered by side ledges. To join two or more panels in side-by-side relation to create a planar partition wall, sandwiched between the adjoining vertical sides of the panels is a standard having a longitudinal row of slots on opposing faces thereof and a threaded socket at either end. The panels are locked together at their top and bottom by a clamp which bridges the complementary side ledges of the panels and is secured to the standard by a screw received in the end socket. To join one panel at right angles to another, use is made of a four-sided connector post whose ends are notched to create a ledge on each side.

Abstract: An adhesive sports tape windable about the handle of a sports appliance such as a tennis racquet to create a sheath thereabout which acts not only to enhance the grip of the handle but also as pneumatic cushioning minimizing the transmission of shock forces from the handle to the hand of the player. The tape is formed by a flexible band having an open-cell foam plastic core and opposing, gas-impermeable facing skins. The inner skin is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to adhere the tape to the handle. The outer skin of the tape when the sheath is formed, is engaged by the hand of the player. The gas filling the cells of the core is entrapped within the tape by the skins, whereby when the tape-formed sheath is manually compressed by the player, it seeks to rebound to its original shape, thereby providing a pneumatic cushioning action. The surface of the skins is irregular, thereby enhancing the grip characteristics of the sheath.

Abstract: A hybrid sensing system for a vortex-type flowmeter in which fluidic oscillations are generated at a frequency depending on the flow rate of the fluid being metered, the flowmeter being operative throughout a wide range of frequencies. The system includes both a thermal sensor whose signal, which is applied to a first pre-amplifier, has an amplitude that is relatively high in the low-frequency portion of the meter range, and a force sensor whose signal, which is applied to a second pre-amplifier, has an amplitude that is relatively high in the high-frequency portions of the range. The signal amplitudes of the pre-amplifiers are compared to effect control of a selector switch which acts to couple the pre-amplifier yielding a greater output at the prevailing frequency to a trigger generating pulses at a rate determined by this frequency and indicative of flow rate.

Abstract: A toy work vehicle propelled by a bi-directional d-c motor in a forward or reverse direction depending on the polarity of battery voltage applied thereto, the vehicle including a power take-off device driven by the same motor to raise or lower a load. A gear shift mechanism operatively coupled either to the wheel axles or to the power take-off device, is controlled by a shift stick which in neutral operatively couples the motor only to the power take-off device. The shift stick is movable to a lateral position having a forward and a reverse mode in which the motor is operatively coupled to the wheel axles.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flowmeter provided with a field coil to create a magnetic field across the flow tube through which the fluid to be metered is conducted, the flowmeter having an excitation circuit adapted to supply periodic current to the coil in alternating polarity and to maintain the intensity of the current at a constant level. The circuit includes a polarity-reversing commutator whose input is connected to a current supply source through an actuatable switch, and whose output is connected through a cable to the coil. The switch is actuated by a switching regulator generating actuating pulses whose duty cycle is modulated in accordance with an applied control signal. A reference signal is derived from the field coil that is proportional to varying current flow therethrough and is compared with a set point to produce a control signal that depends on the difference therebetween.