Abstract: An exercise device that simulates a striding action includes a base. Four linkages support two independently swingable side-by-side foot platforms from spaced apart front and rear supports secured to uprights that are connected to the base. The front and rear supports are positioned with respect to the foot platforms to substantially match the swing length of a person's leg. The distance between the front and rear supports is less than the distance between the front and rear pivots on the foot platforms. Outwardly extending handles are integral with the foot, platforms and are spaced farther apart than the distance between the foot platforms. The rear of each foot platform is slightly elevated with respect to its front.

Abstract: An exercise device that simulates a striding action includes a base. Four linkages support two independently swingable side-by-side foot platforms from spaced apart front and rear supports secured to uprights that are connected to the base. The front and rear supports are positioned with respect to the foot platforms to substantially match the swing length of a person's leg. The distance between the front and rear supports is less than the distance between the front and rear pivots on the foot platforms. Outwardly extending handles are integral with the foot platforms and are spaced farther apart than the distance between the foot platforms. The rear of each foot platform is slightly elevated with respect to its front.

Abstract: A deep fat fryer includes a plurality of open-ended burner tubes that are end-welded between opposing walls of the fry pot. A front heat shield is formed from a pair of steel sheets and is positioned between the wall of the fry pot and the burner so that the end weld is protected from the burner flame. Airflow is established over the end weld during operation of the burner. A rear heat shield is positioned in the rear of the burner tube and blocks the rear end weld from the hot combustion products. The spaces between the rear heat shield and the burner tube inner wall and the fry pot outer wall are filled with insulation.

Abstract: A top side cooker has a pivotally mounted cooking head that is movable from an open position to a cooking position where its flat cooking surface is urged, by the weight of the cooking head, into engagement with the flat cooking surface of a grill. A simultaneously adjustable front foot and rear foot are coupled to the cooking head for establishing a distance between the cooking surface and the grill surface. A handle operates a worm gear arrangement coupled to a shaft, which extends from the front to the back of the cooking head. A front and a rear pinion gear engage front and rear racks that are coupled to the front foot and the rear foot, respectively. The handle rotates the shaft which simultaneously moves the front foot and the rear foot to adjust the distance between the cooking surface and the grill surface. The front foot includes indicia for indicating the distance.

Abstract: A deep fat fryer includes three horizontally aligned heat tubes surrounded by cooking oil in a cooking vessel. An infrared type combustion burner is in each of the two outer tubes and combustion products therefrom are directed along separate paths back and forth through the center tube. The center tube includes a divider, having a zig-zag metal baffle mounted on each side, that forms an upper and lower passage in the tube. A blower forces air to the burners and combustion products from the outer tubes flow over the baffles in the passages of the center tube and out a flue via a divided, insulated plenum.

Abstract: A triangular articulated lever system is supported on a vertical support tube. The system includes a pair of swing arms that are pivotally mounted on the support tube for supporting a lifting bar. A threaded extension of a gas cylinder spring arm is coupled to an articulated mount at an apex of the triangular lever system formed by the swing arms and the spring arm. The cylinder is coupled by a clevis arrangement to a lead screw for changing the configuration of the articulated triangular lever system and adjusting the load at the lifting bar. A bench is positioned beneath the lifting bar and is pivotally mounted to a base for rotation out from underneath the lifting bar for non bench exercises. The lifting bar is mounted for limited universal movement at the end of the swing arms and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The preferred embodiment has a cylindrical serpentine shaped tube configuration.

Abstract: A vocal communication snorkel includes a hollow body having a breather tube, adapted to extend above the water, coupled thereto and a mouthpiece adapted to be held by the lips of a snorkeler. The body has a pair of inwardly curved, spherically shaped diaphragms of thin plastic material that are tuned to resonance within the frequency band of 1500 to 3000 Hertz in water. The mouthpiece includes a passageway that is coupled to the body and a pair of flexible lips, that are closable by the lips of the snorkeler for articulating plosive sounds. A readily collapsible bubble, formed in the passageway and engageable by the lower lip of the snorkeler, facilitates closure of the passageway under pressure from the snorkeler's lower lip.

Abstract: A pressure adjustment mechanism for a top side cooker head includes an adjustable element secured to the top side cooker head arm. In one embodiment the element is adjustable in discrete one-half turn increments of a screw and in another embodiment is continuously adjustable. Both embodiments change the moment arm of a pneumatic cylinder ram that applies a counterbalance force to the cooker head. The invention permits adjustment of the force applied to foodstuffs on the griddle surface from 0 to the weight of the cooker head.

Abstract: A pair of amplifiers are coupled to respective loudspeakers. The output terminals of the amplifiers are coupled to each other through a filter network for reducing the effects of time delayed acoustic feedback from the ambient surroundings and from the other displaced loudspeaker on the amplifiers.

Abstract: A toy water gun includes a molded plastic handle having a hose coupling thread at one end and a bottle thread coupling at the other end. A trigger and a nozzle are formed in the handle with the trigger displacing a ball from its seat to form a water jet. A check valve includes a ball that is held against its seat in the hose thread coupling end of the handle by pressure in a water reservoir. A siphon tube is used in one version for reaching to the bottom of a plastic bottle reservoir that is screwed into the bottle thread coupling of the handle. An adapter may be screwed into the bottle thread coupling of the handle and coupled to one or more plastic bottle reservoirs that are carried in a backpack. The water gun is charged with pressurized water from a household water spigot by screwing it to the spigot and forcing water under pressure into the reservoir. A two piece handle version is also disclosed.

Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a pole piece that is transversely divided into magnetically coupled, but electrically isolated first and second sections. The first pole piece section is surrounded by the voice coil and is magnetically coupled to, but electrically isolated from, the loudspeaker bottom plate. Other versions include pairs of loudspeakers with reversed polarity magnets and magnetic intercoupling for offsetting distortion produced therein.

Abstract: A strobe lamp switching system includes first, second and third capacitors of different value for simultaneously storing energy from a DC power supply. The strobe lamp is connected across the power supply and periodically fired by energizing an ignition electrode. The number of capacitors are permitted to discharge through the strobe lamp determines the intensity of its light output. An intensity control energizes a pair of relay operated switches that complete discharge paths for the second and third capacitors. A diode parallels each of the relay operated switches so that the second and third capacitors are charged whenever the power supply is on. A discharge resistor is coupled across the power supply for discharging energy in all of the capacitors when the power supply is off.

Abstract: A method of injecting molding an intake manifold for an internal combustion engine includes forming a thin-walled hollow shell to match the interior configuration of the manifold, inserting tapered mandrels in the openings of the shell, the mandrels being configured to define grip surfaces thereon, filling the shell with water, freezing the water to form a core assembly with the mandrels secured by the action of the ice gripping the grip surfaces, supporting the core assembly by the mandrels in a mold cavity that defines the outer configuration of the manifold, and injecting flowable, hardenable material in the space between the cavity wall and the core assembly. The manifold and the core assembly are removed and the ice is melted out. The manifold is formed with flanges that have outwardly tapered interiors for ready removal of the complementarily tapered mandrels.

Abstract: A protection system for an occupant seat in a vehicle has a net stored in the headliner above and forward of the front seat. The net is secured at its four corners to cables that are trained along the inside of the vehicle to a pair of pistons in barrels that are located beneath the vehicle. A sensor electrically triggers firing of charges that propel the pistons in the event of a vehicle crash in a wide angle frontal plane. The pistons tension the cables to deploy the net across the front (and sides) of the occupant seat to restrain movement of any occupants in the seat. The cables are latched to maintain the net in its deployed position. A quick release mechanism enables an occupant to release the net after a crash impact or series of crash impacts. Additional protection systems may be provided for additional occupant seats in the vehicle.

Abstract: An interface for coupling an engine analyzer to an engine having a distributorless ignition system includes a pair of pickup clamps for coupling signals from respective groups of spark plug wires. A logic cell array is supplied with spark plug secondary voltage polarity and pattern information, corresponding to an engine under test from a ROM. The technician is instructed as to which wires to place in each clamp. A semiconductor input switch is controlled by the logic cell array to sort the secondary voltages from the pickup clamps according to polarity. The real and the wasted sparks are then determined based upon the magnitude of the signals from the input switch. The apparatus permits a "rapid test" (of secondary voltages only) by developing a pseudo primary clock from the pickup clamp signals. A CPU in the interface is controllable by an external computer or by an operator keypad.

Abstract: A portable security device for preventing normal opening of a door includes a hard steel strap having a hooked end for engaging a doorjamb and an extension that includes a plurality of aligned rectangular apertures. A U-shaped clip is slidable along the strap extension and has a tang formed in one leg for engagement with any of the apertures. A spring-loaded plunger is captivated between the legs of the U-shaped clip with the plunger extending beyond the clip to engage a door and force the tang into one of the apertures during installation. A bow in the leg in which the tang is formed permits a small lock to preclude movement of the tang out of the aperture and makes the device useful for securing a drawer in a mating frame.

Abstract: An interface for coupling an engine analyzer to an engine having a distributorless ignition system includes a pair of pickup clamps for coupling signals from respective groups of spark plug wires. A logic cell array is supplied with spark plug secondary voltage polarity and pattern information, corresponding to an engine under test from a ROM. The technician is instructed as to which wires to place in each clamp. A semiconductor input switch is controlled by the logic cell array to sort the secondary voltages from the pickup clamps according to polarity. The real and the wasted sparks are then determined based upon the magnitude of the signals from the input switch. The apparatus permits a "rapid test" (of secondary voltages only) by developing a pseudo #1 primary clock from the pickup clamp signals. A CPU in the interface is controllable by an external computer or by an operator keypad.