Abstract: A bouquet holder assembly (10) with a holding element (14) within a cylindrical cage (12A) and a conical wall (12B) of a head (12) and a handle assembly 17 attached to the head (12) with an inner, relatively rigid, plastic inner handle member (17A) and an outer handle (17B). The outer handle member (17B) is made of flexible material, such as cloth, in the form of a sheath to cover both the inner handle member (17A) and the conical wall (12B) of the head (12). The outer handle member (17B) is formed of two layers, an outer decorative layer (26) with decorative elements (30, 32) and a padded sponge-like moisture absorbent inner layer (28). The outer handle members (17B) are made in multiple styles at one location (38) and then assembled at a retail distribution center (40) with uni-style inner holder elements from another location (36) pursuant to special customer orders.

Abstract: A bowling ball having a mass of preselected density and a spherical surface equidistant from the center of the mass. The improvement being a weight block of a greater density than the preselected density in which the weight block has a first elongate section having a pair of opposite ends with an intermediate portion therebetween adjacent the surface of the ball and another elongate section having an axis of symmetry extending generally transverse of the first elongate section and extending from the intermediate portion and located between the center of the spherical mass and the first elongate section. Further, this invention includes a method for marking the center of the spherical mass and center axis of symmetry of the weight block on the surface of the ball and the plane of symmetry of the elongate weight block on the surface of the ball.

Abstract: A personal information carrier (10) having a radiographically readable code (12) uniquely identifying a person which is installed in a cavity (34) in the side (30) of the person's tooth (32) which is then filled with a radiolucent composite filler (50) to protectively seal the carrier (10) within the cavity (40). Detecting the location of a missing child is achieved by using a filler (50) which matches the color of the surrounding tooth surface (30) to conceal the presence of the personal information carrier (10) from a potential kidnapper and distributing the code (12) of the missing child to the authorities and professional dental community. Amnesics and corpses are also identified by radiographically reading the carrier (10) and comparing the code (12) to a list of codes (12) of missing persons which are listed in alphanumeric order.

Abstract: A card counter (10) prints card inventory information locally and communicates with a remote computer (43) for permanent storage and retrieval of inventory information. A microprocessor controller detects a counting error in response to the actual count failing to match a preset count, failing to match a precount information machine read from a machine readable precount label (130) attached to the cards (18), in the event of a phrase error from a pair of parallel scanning card sensor circuits (58, 59) or if the final counts of the two card sensor circuits (58, 59) do not match. In the event of detection of a counting error, an error indication is provided and entry of the count into an accumulator memory is inhibited. The present number is entered into memory by selectively entering an actual count into the preset memory. A pair of separate accumulators are provided for concurrently accumulating totals of two different groups of cards (18).

Abstract: A tool holder assembly having a pair of mating handle parts which hold a tool therebetween and which form a compartment therebetween, in which the improvement is a releasable handle fastener assembly.

Abstract: A portable, safety, play chair (10) of molded plastic construction with a chair body made (11) of a relatively thin cylindrical wall (12) with openings (16R, 16L) on either side for receipt of a child ages 3-6 and a base (18R, 18L ) for supporting the cylindrical wall (12) against tipping or rolling. The thin cylindrical wall (12) is reinforced adjacent the openings (16R, 16L) by crescent shaped, inwardly turned rib (28) forming arches that are supported at opposite front and back by a pair of L-shaped legs (22F, 22B) which extend forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front (12F) and back (12D) of the cylindrical wall (12) for enhanced support against rolling, while an elongate underlying foot member (20) extends laterally of the sides of the cylindrical wall (12) for enhanced protection against tipping as well as provision of a support for a person's foot.

Abstract: Hot water in a supply tank (38) of a coffee maker, (20) is dispensed through a shut-off valve including a tube (84) at a uniform rate for a preselected time period until the open inlet (84C) of the tube (84) is raised above the surface level (110) of the water to not only stop the flow but to also drain and steam clean the tube (84) of any residual water to prevent the formation of mineral and lime deposits which undesirably alter the flow rate. A brewing strength by-pass valve assembly (80) for passing diluted hot water to an urn (24A or 24B) is drawn from a supply temporarily collected at the bottom of a drain chamber (76) received into the top (76A) of the drain chamber (76) as a stream through air to pressure isolate the strength control by-pass valve (80) as well as a mixing nozzle (116A), so that adjustment of the strength control will not create a variation in back pressure to alter the uniform flow rate.

Abstract: Guard rail actuated safety apparatus (42, FIG. 1; 89, FIGS. 5A and 5B) is operative to prevent simultaneous lowering of both of a pair of guard rails (26, 28) to inoperative positions in which they are ineffective to prevent a patient from falling off the edge of a patient support assembly 12. In one embodiment, the guard rails are secured together by a cable (44) which holds the guard rails against concurrent lowering. In an electromechanical embodiment, a controller (89, FIG. 5) senses the guard rail (26, 28) position, and blocks the lowering of either guard rail (26, 28) whenever the other is lowered. In addition, or alternatively, the controller (89) actuates a brake 146, sounds an alarm (136), raises the guard rails (26, 28) after a time delay (158), deactuates a drive motor (118) for a movable or adjustable patient support assembly (12) or releases air from a pneumatic mattress (12A').

Abstract: A card counter (10) prints card inventory information locally and communicates with a remote computer (43) for permanent storage and retrieval of inventory information. A microprocessor controller detects a counting error in response to the actual count failing to match a preset count, failing to match a precount information machine read from a machine readable precount label (130) attached to the cards (18), in the event of a phase error from a pair of parallel scanning card sensor circuits (58, 59) or if the final counts of the two card sensor circuits (58, 59) do not match. In the event of detection of a counting error, an error indication is provided and entry of the count into an accumulator memory is inhibited. The preset number is entered into memory by selectively entering an actual count into the preset memory. A pair of separate accumulators are provided for concurrently accumulating totals of two different groups of cards (18).

Abstract: A portable, safety, play furniture assembly with a relatively lightweight chair body (10) and a chair base (12) for supporting the chair body (10) against rolling or tipping. The chair body (10) has a smooth, closed, concave, preferably cylindrical interior surface (14) and a depth (10) which is approximately no less than half of the width or diameter (18) of the body (10). The chair base 12 has legs (24A, 24B) with feet (26A, 26B) that are part of a single planar foot (26C) which substantially underlies the entire chair body (10) and spans the depth (16) to reduce the risk of tipping. The bottom of the foot has a roughened surface (26D) to reduce the risk of sliding across a floor (28). In an alternate embodiment, cavities (36A, 36B) are provided to hold ballast and empty buffer zones (40) are provided in the upper part of the chair body (10) to increase stability. The assembly is molded as a single integrated piece, preferably using rotational molding.

Abstract: A medical vacuum regulator (10) with a vacuum regulation chamber (20, 34) connected with a supply of unregulated vacuum (26) through a regulation control valve seat opening (24A) controlled by means of a valve head (28, 28A) at one end of a valve stem (30) extending through a valve stem guide (32) and coupled at its opposite end to a movable wall (36, 38) of the regulation chamber (20, 34) is provided with an antibinding valve stem connector assembly (12) comprising a ball and socket connector (46, 48) respectively coupled to the valve stem (30) and the movable wall (36, 38) to enable relative movement between the valve stem guide (32) and valve stem (30).

Abstract: A credit card counter (40) with a self-adjusting card loading apparatus (42) having a card elevator plate (46) for elevating a rack of cards (14) to a position with the top edges (19) aligned with a sensor location (26) for optimal sensing. A spring (56) biases a pivot plate (52) to rotate in a direction to move the card elevator (46) until the top edges (18) abut a card guide member (50) aligned with the sensor location (26) which is located above the cards (14A) and out of path of debris carried by the rack of cards (14). The connection to the elevator plate (46) is by means of a pivot axle (72) and the sides of a slot (44A) in a base plate (44) have a snug fit with the sides of the elevator plate (46), so that relative movement is substantially translational. The elevator plate (44) is lowered sufficiently to allow the edges (18) under the guide member (50) and then permitted to rise to the correct position depending upon the height of the cards (14A).

Abstract: A vacuum regulating cartridge (10) having a roller diaphragm (52), a coil spring (54) and a cantilevered spring arm (68) to form a regulation system for regulating vacuum in a medical regulating vacuum controller (26).

Abstract: A controller (8) of air conditioning apparatus (18) with a cycle timer (12) for periodically actuating the apparatus (18) irrespective of temperature combined with a thermostat (10) for actuating the apparatus (18) in accordance with sensed temperature and logic circuitry (FIG. 3) for recycling the timer (12) to prevent excessive actuation of the apparatus (18) while ensuring minimum actuation in accordance with sensed conditions. Both the duration of the cycle period and the duty cycle of the timer are selectively variable over a wide range through means of timer circuitry employing dual electronic timers (12a and 12b) which are controlled to operate in a complementary manner.