Abstract: A CMOS PECL-rx of the present invention comprises a decision stage, an output buffer; and biasing means for adjusting the tip voltage of the output buffer by negative feedback.

Abstract: A method for installing a liner in a swimming pool including a wall having a liner edge retainer extending along the upper periphery. With the pool containing water, an edge of a liner is attached to the retainer at a first position on the wall and a pulling device is attached to the liner edge at a position opposite the retainer attachment. The pulling device is manipulated to drag the liner along the pool bottom and up the wall to a position opposite the first position where the edge is then attached to the retainer. A substantial portion of the pool water is scooped up in the liner and the remaining water can be pumped from between the wall and liner. The method can be used to install a second liner over an existing first liner by using different liner edge retainers. More than one embodiment of the pulling device is disclosed.

Abstract: A plastic clip constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises an elongated frame portion. The elongated frame portion includes a guide channel having a closed end and an open end. The closed end is located at a position proximal to a first end of the frame portion and the open end is located at the opposite end of the guide channel from the closed end. The frame portion further includes channel a blocking portion for blocking the open end of the guide channel. The blocking portion comprises a looking tab attached to the frame portion adjacent to the open end of the guide channel. The blocking means further comprises tab engaging portion for releasably receiving and securing the looking tab. The arrangement thereby permits a plurality of similar articles to be clipped by inserting them onto the guide channel and securing them there by closing engaging the blocking portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chopping board for food preparation, wherein the chopping board comprises a substantially planar frame. The frame includes an upper frame surface and a lower frame surface. The upper surface includes a substantially planar chopping surface and bowl support means adjacent to the chopping surface for maintaining a food bowl or cooking pot in a substantially horizontal orientation adjacent to the chopping surface.

Abstract: A dish drying rack comprises an elongated horizontal base frame having a first end portion and a second end portion attached to the first end portion by at least one longitudinal frame member attached to the first and second end portions. The horizontal base frame further has a ratio of overall length to greatest width of at least 1.75:1. Further included are utensil holding means for holding utensils, the utensil holding means being attached to the first member of the base frame along the top surface thereof, and a plurality of flatware holding means for holding flatware in a substantially vertical position. The plurality of flatware holding means are attached to an upper surface of the horizontal base frame and extend therealong from the second end portion of the horizontal base frame to a position adjacent to the utensil holding means.

Abstract: A cover for a pool is retained in position by a plurality of water-filled enclosures, each including a container and a lid formed of a substantially rigid, plastic material having a specific gravity of less than one. The elongated, watertight container has a continuous flange about its upper, open end with openings at spaced intervals to receive locking pins integral with the lid. The lid has a pyramidal-shape to prevent water and debris from collecting thereon. The lid outer perimeter has lip engaging the marginal edge of the container flange to retain its shape without bowing due to the expansion of freezing water. The containers and lids are nestable and stackable when not in use. The container flange openings extend downwardly along an tipper portion of the side walls to prevents overfilling. The lid may be hingedly connected to the container, while retaining the nestable, stackable capability.

Abstract: An apparatus for straining and rinsing constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a bowl portion having an upper rim. The bowl portion has a plurality of perforations through the wall thereof. The bowl portion further has attached at a first position on the upper rim engaging means for hookingly engaging a portion of a kitchen sink, thereby permitting a user to strain edibles without physically holding the apparatus and without the apparatus occupying the bottom of the sink.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drinking device which, after suitable refrigeration, acts as a heat exchanger to draw heat from a hot liquid, thereby delivering cooled beverage to the user's mouth. The device includes flexible, concentric inner and outer tubes, the inner tube comprising a length of flexible, beverage grade tubing having an outer diameter at least 1/16 of an inch less than the inner diameter of the outer tube and a length at least thirty percent greater than that of the outer tube. An air space between the tubes is filled with a thermally conductive, non-toxic solid, forming the heat exchanger portion of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages. The vending apparatus comprises:a) an outer cabinet;b) an isolated freezer compartment within the outer cabinet for storing the plurality of packages disposed within the outer cabinet, the freezer compartment having a thermal barrier for maintaining a frozen environment within the freezer compartment in isolation of the ambient temperature air filling the remaining interior space of the outer cabinet;c) a mechanism for opening the thermal barrier;d) a picker for selectively removing the selected package from the freezer compartment, the picker being located outside the freezer compartment in between operating cycles and entering the freezer compartment for removing one of the packages only during the removal operation; ande) a controller for automatically controlling the picker and opening mechanism in response to a customer's selection.

Abstract: An expanding rack for hanging articles includes a first frame member and a second frame member attached to the first frame member by attaching means, the attaching means comprising a pivotable joint consisting of a male attachment member provided on the first frame member and female receiving means for receiving the male attachment member provided on the second frame member, the male attachment member being undetachably and pivotally secured in the female receiving means by cooperative positive interlocking means, the positive interlocking means being integral with the female receiving means and the male attachment member.