Abstract: A disposable medical instrument and light pipe illumination assembly fabricated of synthetic plastic material. When put to use, the instrument, such as a surgical retractor, assumes a position at which its operative section lies adjacent the field of medical interest, such as a body cavity or surgical site. Joined to the instrument is a short flexible light pipe whose optical inlet end is coupled to a light source and whose optical outlet end is next to the operative section to project light into the field. The outlet end of the light pipe is sheathed in a bendable tubular neck having dead-soft characteristics whereby by bending the neck, the user is able to orient the outlet to direct the projected light toward a desired region in the field of interest.

Abstract: A system operating in conjunction with a computer whose central processing unit is adapted to process data fed thereto by a variable data source to yield at its output port, parallel binary-coded data having an even number of bits which are supplied to a data bus. The system is coupled to the data bus and includes a series of binary rate multipliers to convert the binary-coded data to a conversion frequency which is divided to provide an output frequency in a range suitable for indicating the variable data and which is at the same time converted to an output current proportional to the variable data. The output frequency and output current are electrically isolated from the computer and its associated data source to avoid any interaction therewith.

Abstract: A lamp stand adapted to support in a fully expanded state a collapsible oriental lantern formed by an open-ended translucent shell on a floor or table surface. The upper opening of the shell is bounded by a top rib to which is attached a spider whose center hub has a hole therein, the lower opening being bounded by a bottom rib provided with tie strings or other leg connectors. The stand includes a raised mounting plate supporting a lamp socket and a harp from which upwardly extends a vertical rod that passes through the hole in the spider hub. The rod has an elastic collar thereon which is axially shiftable to a point under the hub to maintain the upper end of the lantern at this level, which print depends on the length of the lantern. Depending from the mounting plate is an array of legs each having an outwardly sloped upper section and a straight lower section whose foot rests on the surface.

Abstract: A toy vehicle having a set of wheels driven through a gear train and a gear shift by a direct-current motor. The motor and a single light bulb shunted thereacross are connectable by way of a switch to a battery power supply. The bulb is placed within the optical inlet of a plastic light guide contoured to define light outlets in the form of a pair of simulated front headlights and a bank of simulated dashboard and gear shift light indicators, whereby the illumination of these outlets is derived from the single bulb. In the automatic mode, with the switch closed, the motor is energized to drive the vehicle, the bulb being concurrently energized to provide a constant level of illumination for all lights. In the manual mode, with the switch open, the player propels the vehicle by hand, causing the turning wheels through the gear train to rotate the motor. The motor then functions as a dynamo to energize the bulb whose light intensity varies to reflect the force applied to the vehicle by the player.

Abstract: An articulated exercise bar having left and right hand weighted arms provided with rotatable handles. The arms are joined together by a rotatable hinge assembly making it possible for the arms to be held initially at parallel positions lying within a main plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the arms. The rotating hinge assembly permits a user grasping the rotatable handles to swing the arms in and out within the main plane or at right angles thereto, or to rotate the entire bar and to thereby execute more or less complex movements which function to bring into play and develop many of the muscles in the muscular system associated with the user's arms which are uninvolved in conventional arm exercisers.

Abstract: A disc-playing aroma generator whose appearance and function are analogous to those of a phono disc record player, the user when playing a selected aromatic disc enjoying an olfactory rather than an auditory experience. Each aromatic disc houses a supply of a liquid fragrance whereby when the disc is inserted in the player, an aromatic vapor is then discharged into the atmosphere. The disc is formed by a circular sheet of absorbent material impregnated with the liquid fragrance and sandwiched between a pair of annular plastic films which are peripherally joined to create a central zone exposing the impregnated sheet. In the player, heated air under positive pressure is forced through the central zone to volatilize the liquid to produce a vapor which is discharged through vents in the casing of the player.

Abstract: A miniature toy vehicle capable of performing rear wheelies, spinouts and other playful stunts, the vehicle including a chassis having rotatable front and rear wheel axles mounted thereon, a hollow body being supported on the chassis to simulate the appearance of an automobile. A flywheel motor is supported for rotation on the chassis within the body on a flywheel axle normal to the rear wheel axle. The flywheel axle is operatively coupled to the rear wheel axle whereby when the rear wheel axle is rotated, it causes the flywheel motor to spin and to store energy for propelling the vehicle in the forward direction. The relationship of the flywheel motor to the structure of the vehicle is such as to cause the vehicle to behave as a gyro exhibiting precessional motion which in combination with the concurrent forward motion makes it possible for the vehicle to perform stunts.The flywheel has a layer of abrasive material on its upper face.

Abstract: A handle-supported oral medicament in a lollipop format to facilitate chewing or sucking thereof without the risk of inadvertent aspiration of large pieces of the medicament or of its entire body. The handle is formed by a stick of resilient material looped into a single coil whose ends are extended forwardly to define a pair of spring arms terminating in enlarged ears, the body of the medicament being molded about the ears, thereby securing the handle thereto. Because the ears occupy a large internal region therein, even if the body is chewed into pieces, these will be small and not, therefore, lodge in the throat or block the airway. And should the medicament separate from the ears of the handle in the mouth of the patient, the released arms will then spring apart to thereby block entry of the handle into the throat.

Abstract: Each guide member of a fluidic oscillator has a diverter which acts to split the flow from the power nozzle into a control stream that is diverted toward the inlet of an associated feedback path and an output stream that is directed toward an output duct. The resultant fluidic forces exerted alternately on the diverters are sensed, and the sensor outputs are processed to generate a sinusoidal wave from which volumetric flow or mass flow output signals are derived.

Abstract: A night light assembly which plugs directly into an electrical wall outlet to provide low level illumination while at the same time generating an aromatic vapor whose odor is thematically related to a replaceable picture slide incorporated in the assembly and illuminated thereby. The assembly includes a shell supported by a plug projecting from its rear and insertable into the wall outlet. Housed in the shell is a low-wattage bulb, the shell being covered by a removable frame within which is nested the picture slide to be illuminated. Coated on the rear face of the slide is a translucent layer having a volatile aromatic liquid dispersed therein. The shell is vented, and as the air in the shell is heated and expanded by heat arising from the bulb, a convection current is produced which passes across the slide layer to volatilize the liquid, thereby creating an aromatic vapor which is discharged through the vent into the atmosphere.

Abstract: An aroma-generating miniature capsule adhesively attachable to the surface of an incandescent light bulb to be activated by heat emanating therefrom. The capsule, preferably formed of a flexible synthetic plastic skin, includes a top wall having a vent hole therein and a base wall provided with a pressure-sensitive outer coating to adhere the capsule to the bulb. Supported within the internal cavity of the capsule is a pad of porous material having good wicking properties impregnated with a volatile aromatic liquid. The pad is at a position within the cavity adjacent the top wall to define therebelow an air chamber which when heated creates a positive air pressure forcing a stream of heated air through the pad to produce a vaporous scent. This is discharged into the atmosphere through the vent hole.

Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter which includes a spool formed by a metallizable ceramic through which the fluid to be metered is conducted. The outer surface of the spool is metallized in its central region to define a pair of metering electrodes at diametrically-opposed positions, an electromagnetic field being established within the spool whereby when the flowing fluid intercepts this field, an emf is induced therein to produce a signal at the metering electrodes which is a function of flow rate. Overlying each metering electrode and projecting from the spool is a ceramic block whose outer surface is metallized to define a shield electrode which covers the metering electrode.

Abstract: A vibration-proof anchor bolt assembly which is insertable in a hole drilled in masonry for fastening a fixture to the surface thereof, the diameter of the hole being slightly larger than that of the bolt. The bolt is provided with an enlarged head that lies against the fixture and is engageable by a torque tool, the threaded rear section of the bolt being of reduced diameter. The upper portion of the rear section is encircled by an expansible shell which when expanded is forced against the wall of the hole to anchor the bolt therein. Received on the lower portion of the rear section is a wedge nut having an upper conical zone and a lower ring zone whose normal diameter is larger than that of the hole, slots being cut into said ring zone to define spring fingers. These fingers are inwardly flexed by the wall of the hole when the assembly is inserted therein, thereby compressing the ring and constricting the internally-threaded bore thereof.

Abstract: A light-weight contourable core of high strength for inclusion in boat hulls in which the core is sandwiched between facing sheets of resin-reinforced fiberglass. The core is formed by a planar array of block-like modules made of end-grain balsa wood or other material having acceptable properties whose adjacent edges are held together by flexible adhesive joints that have a short elastic limit, such that when the planar core is pressed against a contoured surface for lamination thereto, the resultant stresses cause the joints to stretch beyond their elastic limit to an extent necessary to permit the modules to conform to this surface. There is no spring back when the pressure is released, and the modules, therefore, maintain their conformed positions.

Abstract: A rechargeable sachet for scenting articles of apparel, the sachet being in a snake-like form so that it may be coiled or knotted about a post or rod in a clothes closet, or placed in a drawer in any desired shape. The sachet includes a permeable fabric sleeve having stuffed therein a flexible core of absorbent material having wicking properties. Within one end of the sleeve is a non-permeable socket which receives the corresponding end of the core, the base of the socket being provided with a projecting plug having an axial bore therein from which is extended a dip tube. The plug is inserted into the mouth of a squeeze bottle containing a reserve supply of liquid fragrance. The core is initially impregnated with a charge of the same liquid fragrance which, as it evaporates, is diffused through the sleeve into the closet or drawer to scent the clothing housed therein.

Abstract: A stoppering device for a bottle having a neck provided with a protruding rim surrounding a mouth, the device being intended for the restoppering of bottles containing champagne or other gaseous beverages. The device includes a cylindrical inner part whose lower section is slotted to define a multilobed skirt, each lobe of which terminates in an inner tooth adapted to engage the bottle neck below the rim and to apply a sealing member onto the mouth. Also included is a cylindrical outer part forming a locking member adapted to surround the skirt so as to engage the teeth of the skirt below the rim and to hold these teeth at that position.