Abstract: A safety cover for electrical outlet assemblies characterized by a five-sided enclosure adapted to attach over the cover plate of the outlet assembly, and a pair of braces attached within the enclosure to provide support for electric plugs engaged with the sockets of the outlet assembly. The braces and enclosure are provided with slots to permit the passage of the power cords attached to the electric plugs. Each brace is provided with a pair of brackets which help support vertical loads placed upon the braces. Removable platform members are provided to elevate the electric plugs so that they may engage three-prong sockets as well as the more common two-prong sockets.

Abstract: A door stop assembly for vertical insertion in a single hole in a floor in the path of a swinging door includes a tubular housing with a top flanged housing for retaining the assembly in the floor, a tubular door check rod within the flanged housing and spring biased to extend up into the path of the door upon being triggered, and a trigger bar coaxially extending through the door check rod. The top surface of the trigger bar is normally flush with the flange so that the door check cannot be accidentally extended by merely stepping on it. When depressed below the flange surface, a steel ball, normally contained within two aligned radial holes in walls of the door check bar and housing, drops into an annular groove in the trigger bar to thus release the door check bar from its housing. When the door check bar is pushed down, the groove in the trigger bar replaces the ball in the aligned holes to relock the check bar in its housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating semiconductor wafers characterized by the release of preheated nitrogen into an oven to considerably reduce heating time for the wafers. The oven is evacuated prior to the release of the preheated nitrogen.

Abstract: A pad with an extended margin is disclosed which includes a backing member that is wider than a pad of paper which is attached to it. The resulting margin is provided with three holes receptive to the rings of a binder, and right angle slits connect the holes to the longitudinal edge of the margin extension. These slits permit the pad to be inserted and removed from the binder without opening or closing the rings of the binder. A retrofit extension margin is also described which can attach various items within a ring binder.

Abstract: An out-of-range monitor and alarm system that may be used by a convalescent home or the like to alert an attendant in the home that a supervised person has walked beyond a predetermined prescribed distance. The system includes a base unit that transmits a signal at a frequency F1 to a receiver in a mobile unit carried by the supervised person. The receiver includes a threshold circuit that is adjustable to correspond to the prescribed distance and produces a threshold output signal whenever the F1 signal detected by the receiver drops below the threshold level. In response to the threshold output signal, a transmitter in the mobile unit produces an F2 output signal to a receiver in the base unit, which in turn sounds an alarm indicating that the mobile unit has lost adequate F1 signal strength, as determined by the threshold adjustment, by exceeding the range prescribed for the supervised person.

Abstract: A vent assembly characterized by a rear member having a perforated rear surface, and a front member having a front surface formed into a number of louvers. The side portions and bottom portions of the rear member are bent into L-shaped flanges which engage the inner dimensions of the front member. The front member has a top portion and side portions which are bent into L-shaped flanges to provide flashing for the assembly. The front member and rear member are permanently attached together to form a single unit, and a number of units can be vertically stacked to provide vent structures of various heights.

Abstract: A wrist and forearm exercising device is characterized by an elongated frame having two oppositely extending, arcuate members which engage the forearm near the wrist and elbow, respectively. A grip assembly is pivotably attached to the front of the frame, and a tensioning assembly is attached to the frame and to the grip assembly to provide spring tension on the grip assembly. The wrist and forearm is exercised by repeatedly pivoting the grip assembly against spring pressure.

Abstract: A personal security alarm characterized by a hand unit transmitter and a torso unit receiver/alarm. The transmitter of the hand unit is actuated by a button positioned at the palm of the user. As the user either voluntarily or involuntarily clutches his or her fist, the actuator button is depressed to energize the transmitter and cause the torso unit to emit a loud, penetrating alarm. The torso unit can only be turned off with a hidden switch.

Abstract: An improved protector for a sprinkler head and for the riser to which it is attached characterized by a guard which allows the sprinker head to "float" within an axial cavity. The guard has a bottom surface area which is much greater than the top surface area, greatly diluting the pressure exerted on ground beneath the guard. A two piece cover assembly and breakaway poppet guide also prevent forces which may be exerted upon the guard from being transmitted to the sprinkler head or the riser. Slots are provided in the guard to allow the protector to be used near the edge and in the corner of lawns.

Abstract: A mechanical propulsion system characterized by a housing, a number of power racks rigidly disposed within the housing, a load carriage coupled to the power racks for forward or reverse rotary thrust motion with recoil action, and means for driving the load carriage rearwardly during acceleration as the power carriage moves forwardly with the housing. Once the power carriage and a load carriage are in equilibrium, excess thrust is transferred to the housing and power carriage racks.

Abstract: A combination device including a layout tool having a rectangular plate and a rectangular endpiece; and a square adaptor having an attachment plate and a ruler assembly. The layout tool is provided with a number of slots and apertures which allow a construction worker to make quick, standard measurements. The square adaptor includes a pivotable ruler which can be aligned parallel to or perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the layout tool.

Abstract: A joystick attachment for a computer keyboard which includes a bracket on which is supported a housing for a joystick assembly, the bracket being detachably mounted on a computer keyboard having a plurality of keys arranged in a rectangular array with the joystick assembly in over lying, spaced-apart relationship with the array, the joystick assembly including an upstanding handle projecting upwardly through an opening in the housing and supported on the bracket for universal pivotal movement together with a plurality of circumferentially spaced actuating arms each operatively associated with one of said keys and movable selectively by the handle against a yieldable member from an inoperative position into an operative position into an operative position for depressing engagement by the arm with an associated key in the array.

Abstract: A steerable spotlight assembly characterized by a pair of spotlights rotatably coupled to a vehicle's front bumper, and a cable-and-gear arrangement which couples the spotlights to the vehicle's steering column. More specifically, the cable-and-gear arrangement includes a spotlight rotating mechanism attached to each of the spotlights, a split gear attached around the steering column, a pair of cable drive gears simultaneously engaged with the split steering column gear, and a pair of rotary cables coupled between the cable drive gears and the spotlight rotating mechanisms. The cable drive gears are spring loaded so that they may disengage from the steering column gear if the steerable spotlight assembly becomes jammed. The spotlight rotating mechanisms are sealed and supported so as to be resistant to environmental damage, and provided with a gearing system which will not permit rotational force to be transmitted back from the spotlights to the cables.

Abstract: A device for playing chords on a musical instrument by depressing a single pushbutton, the device being characterized by an L shaped base having a shorter leg which engages a side of the neck of the musical instrument and a longer leg which overlies the strings of the instrument. A number of spacers are provided to maintain separation inbetween the base and the strings, and a pair of straps encircle the neck to hold the base in position. Three pushbutton assemblies are provided, each of which depresses three strings on a musical instrument. The pushbuttons are color coded to correspond to colored indicia provided on the sheet music.

Abstract: A weight lifting station including a pair of guide posts for guiding a barbell assembly in a vertical direction. The barbell assembly includes a weight bar, a sleeve telescoped over the weight bar and stop pins attached to the sleeve, where during rotation of the sleeve the stop pin can pivotally engage the guide posts through holes provided along the length of the guide post.