Abstract: A handheld electronic thoroughbred horse race analyzer includes a housing carrying a display and a number of input keys. The display is controlled by an internal microprocessor to show prompting messages to which an operator responds by depressing selected keys to provide information regarding the history of each horse in a race. The display ultimately provides a rating for each of the top horses.

Abstract: A portable electronic card game simulator having a housing mounting a display and input keys and containing electronic data processing circuitry organized to provide the automatic play of a hand of Gin Rummy in opposition to an operator. The simulator deals a hand to the operator and to the electronic opponent. The play of the electronic opponent is controlled by circuitry to simulate the play of a human in accordance with the rules of the game. The simulator includes circuitry for determining the presence of runs, of cards of the same value, and of the value of cards left in a hand.

Abstract: A method of making flying surfaces is disclosed which employs a panel of foam plastic to form a one piece frame. A plurality of apertures are die cut in the panel to establish the desired interior shape of the frame. One side of the panel is coated with an adhesive. A sheet of thin plastic film material is applied over the adhesive to cover the surface of the panel. Shapes in the form of the desired outline of the flying surface are cut out of the panel. The size of the panel is chosen so that a multitude of flying surfaces may be produced simultaneously.

Abstract: An alcohol still having a boiler with a valve for maintaining the amount of liquor constant. The boiler mounts a distilling column having a temperature controlled inlet for liquor to be distilled which assists in maintaining the operation at a constant optimum operating temperature.

Abstract: An electronic guessing game is disclosed which includes a keyboard for entering numbers, and a light and speaker for producing a variety of visual and audible signals. A prize is also provided within a transparent housing. A first player enters a secret number by means of the keyboard. A second player then enters his guess at the secret number using the same keyboard. The second player attempts to retrieve the prize by reaching into the transparent housing. The position of the players hand is detected by a group of photocells. If the player's guess is not equal to the secret number, the game will generate an error signal and the player must withdraw his hand. The closer the player's guess is to the secret number the closer he may approach the prize before the error signal is sounded. If the player guesses the secret number within a preallotted time interval, he may retrieve the prize. A mode of operation is also disclosed in which the game chooses the secret number by means of a random number generator.

Abstract: A toy trap door mechanism is disclosed which includes a trap door pivotably mounted within and flush to a panel which simulates the floor of a castle. A chair in the shape of a throne is rotatably mounted to the floor in the vicinity of the trap door. An actuating lever is pivotably mounted to the underside of the floor and is operatively coupled to both the chair and the trap door. When the chair is rotated from a first position facing an observer to a second position facing the trap door, the lever unlatches the trap door which swings open. Holding the trap door in the closed position and rotating the chair to the first position resets the mechanism.

Abstract: An electronic baseball game which includes a housing mounting a display centrally on an upper surface. On either side of the display are operator consoles for controlling a visiting team and a home team. At least one operator selects two lineups of players based on batting averages, throwing abilities, and the like. The operator controlling the team at bat selects when to hit by depressing keys which select different swings and controls runners in the attempt to reach and to steal bases. On defense, an operator controls the pitches thrown by the pitcher and the bases to which defensive fielders throw the ball in attempting to throw out the runners. An operator may also substitute in his batting order to obtain pinch hitters or relief pitchers. A special feature of the invention is that the results of each phase of the game depend on the characteristics of the players involved.

Abstract: A portable electronic game for simulating the play of the game of soccer including a housing mounting a display and containing circuitry for controlling the play of the game in accordance with the rules of the game of soccer. The housing also mounts a number of input keys for providing input signals for controlling the movement of the ball and one of more offensive players shown on the display. In the preferred embodiment, a goalkeeper and five defenders are operated by the control circuitry and formations are provided for kickoffs, throw-ins, corner kicks, and goal kicks.

Abstract: A flow meter prover is disclosed which includes an outer fluid housing having an inlet and an outlet, a measuring conduit coaxially mounted within the outer housing and having first and second sets of fluid apertures adjacent, respectively, the upstream and downstream ends thereof, a fluid barrier mounted within the annular cavity between the outer housing and the conduit, a controllable piston mounted within the conduit, an actuating rod axially projecting from the downstream side of the piston where the free end of the rod extends through the downstream end of the outer housing, a bypass valve connected between the inlet and outlet of the outer housing, and first and second piston detection switches spaced apart along the length of the measuring conduit. There are provisions for automatically correcting for variations in the dimensions of the measuring conduit due to variations in fluid temperature.

Abstract: A pedometer is disclosed which calculates the distance a user walks, jogs or runs by electronically measuring the length of each stride taken by the user. Stride length is measured using ultrasonic waves. The pedometer comprises an ultrasonic generator module which is strapped to one leg of the user. An ultrasonic detector module is strapped to the other leg of the user. The generator module emits pulses of ultrasonic energy which are detected by the detector module. A processor and display module in the form of a wristwatch is also provided. The processor module is used to calculate stride length based on the speed of sound and the time delay between pulses emitted and detected by the leg-mounted modules. The pedometer is capable of displaying on a digital display the distance traveled, time per unit distance, elapsed time and time of day. The pedometer is also programmed to compensate for a variety of measurement errors.

Abstract: An electronic bowling game having indicia representing pins, indicia representing the path of a ball, and including an arrangement for varying the path to describe a large number of different curves between the release point and the pins.

Abstract: A swimming pool heater temperature control system is disclosed. The control system is designed to optimize the use of a conventional heater as a supplemental heat source for a solar heated swimming pool. The temperature control system operates by automatically adjusting the temperature settings of the heater to conform to the temperature vs. time profile of an optimum solar collector heating system. An embodiment is disclosed which employs two thermostats in conjunction with a time clock actuated switch to control the heater temperature profile as a function of time. Other embodiments are also described which employ a plurality of thermostats in conjunction with time clock actuated switches to provide a heater temperature profile which more closely matches that of an optimum solar collector heating system.

Abstract: An electronic stock market game having a plurality of display and input positions at which players may trade in stock listed by the game. Each display shows a player, the price at which a stock is selling and gives general and specific information affecting the price of the stocks. A player selects a stock to trade in and keys in his order. A microprocessor executes the order, if possible, and controls the display to indicate the status of all stocks and the players account. The object of the game is to accumulate assets having over a predetermined value.

Abstract: An electronic temperature control circuit is disclosed for use with swimming pool and spa heaters. The circuit employs a thermistor for sensing water temperature, and provides temperature control with a narrow differential. Safety circuits are also employed to prevent injury to the user or to the heater in the event of a component failure. The temperature control circuit is provided with means for presetting two desired temperature settings and for selecting one of the preset temperature settings for control. Remote control circuits are also disclosed for use with the temperature control circuit which permit temperature selection, temperature setting and a visual indication of heater status from a location remote from the heater.

Abstract: An electrical connector for effecting connection to leadless integrated circuit packages without the use of printed circuit boards is disclosed. A first embodiment is used to provide electrical connection from electrically conductive pads on one package to the respective pads on another package by means of a series of resilient electrically conductive contacts supported in a generally T-shaped dielectric body which is inserted between adjacent packages. A second embodiment is also disclosed which may be used to connect a leadless integrated circuit package to a multiconductor cable without the use of printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A roller skating doll is disclosed. The doll has a roller skate attached to each foot, and the skates are in turn driven by motors positioned in the adjoining legs. The legs and one foot of the doll are articulated and may be secured in various positions so that the doll may skate on both legs or skate balanced on one leg. A skate may be fixed in different steering positions so that the doll may progress forward or in a circle. The skate drive motors are remotely controlled and are energized alternately in a fashion that emulates the movements of a human roller skater. An alternate embodiment is also disclosed which permits the skates to be removed from the doll.

Abstract: A portable electronic basketball game having a housing containing control circuitry and mounting a display and input controls. The display shows both offensive and defensive players and a ball. The defensive players may be controlled to undertake a plurality of defenses and the offensive players may pass between one another in a preferred embodiment. The preferred embodiment also featured a twenty-four second clock, a three-second clock, foul shots, and three-point long distance field goals.

Abstract: A multiple function doll having a unitary drop-in internal mechanism including a motor which rotates a cam to cause an arm of the doll to wave and rotates a drive shaft to reciprocate a pump which causes the doll to tear. The simplified mechanism is constructed to provide conduits for liquid from the doll's mouth to a reservoir and from the reservoir to the doll's eyes so that internal tubing is eliminated. The elimination of tubing and reduction of components reduces substantially the tendency of the doll to failure.

Abstract: An improved zero voltage switching AC relay circuit is disclosed which includes two photo sensitive silicon controlled rectifiers (photo-SCRs) connected in inverse parallel as the active switching elements. The photo-SCRs are triggered into conduction by a light source including two light emitting diodes. Zero voltage switching circuitry is also provided which prevents the photo-SCRs from being triggered into conduction by the light source except when the value of the AC voltage being controlled is within a predetermined limit of zero volts. This is accomplished by using the collector-emitter circuit of a transistor to shunt the gate-cathode circuit of each photo-SCR. A transistor is provided for each photo-SCR, and the bases of the transistor are connected to each other by a single current limiting resistor.