Abstract: An electric curling iron includes an electrically heated cylinder having an exterior surface around which hair is wrapped for applying heat to the hair being curled and a partial cylindrical clamp member pivotally movable toward and away from the cylinder for clamping the hair against the cylinder. Rotation of the curling iron during use is facilitated by a main handle and clamp handle coupled to the heated cylinder and clamp member, respectively. The main handle and clamp handle are elongated members grippable in one hand of the user of the iron and are freely rotatable relative to the cylinder and clamp member so as to enable the cylinder and clamp member to be rotated within the hand of the user while hair is clamped between the clamp member and cylinder. The main and clamp handle are each provided with a locking mechanism selectively movable between a first position locking the respective handles against rotation and a second position wherein the respective handles are free to rotate.

Abstract: An improved hair curling iron is disclosed having a heat conductive cylinder with a flocked outer surface and a hollow center, a handle joined to the cylinder, a heating element disposed within the hollow center of the cylinder, an electrical mechanism activating the heating element when connected to a source of electrical power, and a clamp having a partial cylindrical section with a flocked inner surface which is biased against the flocked outer surface of the cylinder by a spring.

Abstract: A hair curling roller with a flocked outer surface for curling the hair. The curling roller includes a central core member having an opening in one lateral end of the core member and longitudinally extending within the core member; this core member is formed of a material highly conductive of heat. A hollow sleeve member with a flocked outer surface is arranged on the core member. A first end ring is attached to the core member at one lateral end thereof; this first end ring has a flange extending over but spaced from the adjacent end portion of the flocked outer surface of the sleeve member. A second end ring having an attachment member is connected to the core member at the other lateral end thereof by the attachment; the second end ring has a flange extending over but spaced from the adjacent end portion of the flocked outer surface of the sleeve member. The first and second end rings are formed of a low heat conducting material.

Abstract: A control system is provided for selectively generating one of a plurality of control signals with each signal corresponding to a particular predesignated function of a system such as a video camera system. Such a video camera system includes a plurality of video cameras, each of which can be individually controlled. The output signals from the control system are generated in response to constant voltage input signals produced by an input circuit. The input circuit is coupled to a control circuit associated with a video camera through a transmission line over which different constant level voltage input signals are transmitted. The input circuit enables the operator to first select the particular camera to be controlled and then to transmit the input signals to the control circuit for the selected camera. The voltage level of the input signal which is transmitted is selected from among a plurality of predetermined levels in dependence upon the control function to be achieved.

Abstract: A micro-Winchester disk drive system particularly suited to meet the demands of a portable computer system. The micro-Winchester disk is a Winchester disk of 85-100 mm in diameter. This disk drive system by virtue of its small size and vibration isolation is ideally suited for use in portable computer systems. The micro-Winchester disk drive system was developed to store data at a density of 600 tracks per inch utilizing open-loop positioning mechanism. This disk drive system provides fast access data storage for use with small business computers, terminals and microprocessor based systems, portable or otherwise, and many other areas where compact, rugged light-weight hard-disk storage is required. The disk drive system of the present invention normally utilizes either one or two hard disks such as Winchester disks and provides data storage on each disk in excess of 5 Megabytes, once the disks are formatted.

Abstract: A hair curling roller system having a plurality of post members have substantially the same outer diameter for heating the rollers and a plurality of rollers having inner cavities for mounting the rollers on the posts with such inner cavities having substantially the same inner diameters. There are at least two groups of the rollers, with the outer diameter of the rollers of one group being larger than the outer diameter of the rollers of the other group. Each of the curling rollers includes an interior core member having an opening in one lateral end of the core member and longitudinally extending within the core member; this core member is formed of a material highly conductive of heat. In each of the larger rollers the interior core has a central hub and a plurality of heat radiating fins extending out from the hub for facilitating the transfer of heat to the outer surface of the roller. A hollow sleeve member with a flocked outer surface is arranged over the core member.

Abstract: A television surveillance system is disclosed. A first embodiment of the invention is a system for selecting sectors of rotation of a camera that are contained within predetermined angular limits of rotation of the camera. The system for selecting sectors of rotation include a camera, rotating means for rotating the camera within and between predetermined angular limits, and a mechanism for selectively limiting the rotation of the camera to a sector contained within the predetermined angular limits, and a mechanism for selectively limiting the rotation of the camera to a sector contained within the predetermined angular limits. A second embodiment of the invention is a system for changing the mode of operation of a camera from a first mode to a second mode of operation.

Abstract: A data disk storage system utilizing a bipolar stepper motor for use in conjunction with the controlling of the operation of the storage system. The stepper motor imparts a drive force for moving a control arm to which a read/write head is coupled. The operation of the stepper motor through driving of the control arm causes the read/write head to move across the various tracks of the data disk within the data storage system during operation of such system. The stepper motor includes a stator and a rotor coupled to an output shaft of the motor which output shaft in turn is coupled to the read/write head through the control arm. A first drive mechanism within the stepper motor generates a first phase signal within the stator for creating a first drive force for rotating a rotor. A second drive mechanism of the stepper motor generates a second phase signal within the stator for creating a second drive force for rotating the rotor.