Abstract: A clarinet and a flute of the woodwind family are provided with a case that holds the instrument firmly in position. The part of the case that opposes the instrument has a plurality of projections to close and hold closed all normally open keys when the case is closed, so that pressure on all of them is similar, so that there will be no malformation of keys or operating members. Thus, all keys will open and close as they are supposed to and the instrument will remain in good playable condition for a very long time. Although the invention is explained with regard to clarinets and flutes, it applies equally to all members of the woodwind family.

Abstract: A plurality of pens or other marking implements is provided. They are set forth as a minimum of two, but by the simple technique of altering the reservoirs, the colors can be substituted almost infinitely. There are two for each implement, and these can be multiplied in two by changing the ink devices. Other changes can be made by duplicating the implements or writing pens, which come in pluralities of two. Adjacent pairs are locked together by shaping of the base, and the pens can be duplicated in initial savings by the colors chosen, and the number of pens can be duplicated depending upon the shape of the devices which are made to be interlinked by joining of the bases, and by the self-return of the base station from which the pens originate, the pens being joined to the base station by flexible links of indeterminate length.

Abstract: A soccer board game of the type familiarly known as "foosball" has horizontal rods for operating the defense and offense manually. If a player wishes to practice the only option is to place all of the defensive rods in one position, and to leave them in that position while he plays the offensive. This is very unsatisfactory. I propose the electrical control of the defensive rods, so that the defensive set-up can be varied by presenting the offense with a myriad of defenses. This is accomplished by the use of an electric motor and a cam to set the defensive position. Alternatively, a rectangular wave is generated and applied to the defensive rods to change their position as wanted.

Abstract: A packer as provided for lawn waste disposal for compacting and channeling it into a throwaway bag. The disposer includes an upper portion with converging walls and a lower portion with parallel walls forming a chute into a bag. The entire structure is made of sheet polyethylene and it is entirely rectangular in outline. The upper portion, the converger, is only one-half the height of the lower portion, the chute, to prevent overbalancing. The chute is polyethylene, of which the disposer is made, is reinforced at discrete locations, the converging edges and the bottom edge, of plastic of the same type from which the disposer is made to keep the disposer light in weight, yet strong. A folding metal frame supports the disposer at bag height.

Abstract: A bypass is provided between the hot air pipes carrying heated air from a furnace and a cold air pipe carrying the return air to the furnace. A certain percentage of the air thus is bypassed. A scented pellet is provided in the bypass and is heated when the air is heated, and thereby evaporates a scent into the air. (It will evaporate scent when the air is cold, also.) Passage of the scent to the cold air pipe insures that it is heated again by the combustion chamber of the furnace, and the scent thereby is fairly evaporated and spread through the heating system.

Abstract: This disclosure is of a surfactant mixed with an aerosollizing agent, and deposited by such agent, as a treatment for airway obstruction. It has been extensively tested, and has proved successful. It has been hypothesized that the addition of a hypersmolor drug will help to minimize mucus in the airways.

Abstract: An improved temporary guard rail system for use by residential and commercial builders on construction sites in those areas of building structures where an accidental fall may result in serious bodily injury. In particular, the temporary guard rail system of the present invention includes a plurality of upright stanchions having mounting brackets integrally formed or attached thereto that are connected by a plurality of vertically spaced, generally horizontal side rails extending end to end. The vertically spaced side rails are adapted for 360 degree rotational movement in both horizontal and vertical planes. In addition, the tubular guard rails are fabricated in a plurality of sections that may be slideably engaged, one inside another, to provide a telescoping adjustment of length.

Abstract: A zero velocity gear mesh differential is disclosed. A power input shaft and a power output shaft are colinear and tend to rotate at the same speed. Power gears effect the transfer of power. In addition, there are speed control gears including a planetary system having a control carrier and a sun gear. A plurality of planet gears engage said sun gear and also engage an internal ring gear integral with an external worm gear and which is supported by the control carrier and planet gears. The external worm gear is engaged by a worm which is rotatable. A fixed gear on the control carrier engages a fixed gear on the main carrier.

Abstract: A computer keyboard is provided which is mounted for pivoting movement adjacent one of its front and rear edges. The keyboard also may be pivotable about a more or less vertical pivot. One or more cams engage the keyboard for movement thereof either continuously or from time to time. The cams are motor operated or manually operated, and may effect pivotal movement of the keyboard on a continuous basis or on an intermittent basis. In a preferred embodiment a time or counter operates a light/buzzer device to call attention of the operator to the necessity for operating a manual lever to effect movement of the cam to effect movement of the keyboard.

Abstract: A game of skill and knowledge is provided having questions the answers to which depend on a mature person's general knowledge. Boards are provided to each player, and there are answer spaces arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows. Each space has a number thereon used in determining the free spaces. There is a list of questions to be asked by a host. These questions are called or displayed at random relative to the answers.

Abstract: A defogger for the objective lens of a laparoscope provides a channel in a longitudinal direction of the laparoscope. Gas from an insufflator is supplied to the channel exteriorly of a body being operated upon. A deflector is provided at or adjacent the opposite end of the gas flow channel to deflect insufflating gas across the objective lens for maintaining said objective lens clean within said body.

Abstract: Differential gearing is provided between an input shaft and an output shaft. The gearing comprises a pair of similar gear sets mounted in confronting, coaxial relation, and may comprise known differential gearing such, for example, as planetary gearing or harmonic drive gearing. A control effects differential speeds between the input and output shafts. A spring loaded friction clutch acts between the input and output shafts, and parallel with the differential gear sets, to reduce the loading on the gear sets, and to provide an essentially zero backlash torque connection between the input and output shafts. The friction clutch may be used to provide loading or drag to a gear set at the end of a series of gears.

Abstract: An extracorporeal isocentric lithotripter is presented having a common isocentric axis of rotation. The patient having a bodily concretion to be destroyed lies on a table which is movable to position the concretion on the isocentric axis. An X-ray emitter and an image intensifier lie on a common diameter which is rotated about said isocentric axis to position said X-ray apparatus and said image intensifier in at least two positions to ascertain the location of the concretion. A shockwave lithotripter shockhead is mounted on a support rotatable about said isocentric axis to align said shockhead with said bodily concretion. The shockhead is mounted on said rotatable support by a double pivot arrangement to bring the second focus point of said reflector into coincidence with said bodily concretion for destruction of said concretion.

Abstract: A powder inhaler and process are provided for aerosolizing finely powdered or pulverized medication and a gas provided in a pillow or blister-type container of extremely thin elastic suitable plastic construction. The pillow is compressed between an anvil with a conical depression and a confronting conical piston. The conical depression has a small orifice at its apex, and the periphery of the pillow is restrained so that compression between the conical pillow and the conical depression produces explosive rupture of the pillow and exit of the gas and medication at a very high speed up to supersonic through said orifice. Medication particle clumps are very efficiently separated into separate particles, and the gas/medication exiting from the orifice are conveyed through a very small area linear or curved tube to a dispersal chamber or directly to a patient, movement through the tube producing a shearing action further enhancing separation of aggregated particles of powder medication.

Abstract: A water system is provided for an extracoporeal lithotripter. The reflector is aimed downwardly and has a spark gap at the first focus point thereof for generating a shock wave. A rubber diaphragm spans the lower end of the reflector. A water reservoir is provided along with pipes and a pump for circulating water from the reservoir to the reflector and back. A vacuum pump maintains pressure below ambient in the reservoir, the reflector and connecting pipes to control downward ballooning of the diaphragm.

Abstract: An extracorporeal lithotripter has an ultrasound transducer mounted within the lithotripter reflector. The reflector and transducer are oriented downwardly, and a housing surrounds the transducer to protect the transducer from shockwaves generated within the reflector at the first focus point thereof. The housing opens downwardly, and a sleeve encircles the lower portion of the housing and extends below the housing. A conduit is connected to the sleeve to provide pressure less than atmospheric in said sleeve to effect filling of said sleeve with water for operation of the ultrasound transducer. The conduit alternatively and selectively effects filling of the sleeve with gas to protect against reflected shockwaves from below that might otherwise damage the transducer.

Abstract: An extracorporeal lithotripter has a base mounted on wheels for movement about a floor or the like. There is an upright extensible support on the base caring a horizontal extensible support. The horizontal support has a swivel at its outer end with a pair of diverging arms pivotably carrying a truncated ellipsoidal reflector having an otherwise open end closed by a flexible membrane. A spark gap is disposed at the first focal point of the reflector. The second focal point is beyond the membrane and is to be placed on a kidney stone or the like to be disintegrated. Parts are manually movable, and an electric screw jack controls extension of the upright support. The movable parts are all locked by electric brakes except when a pushbutton switch is pushed and held to unlock the brakes for movement of the movable parts. The lithotripter is remarkably simple, rugged and inexpensive.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for locating a target in a living body. Three cameras are supported at an elevated location such as on a wall or from a ceiling. The cameras are supplied as an integrated unit with a computer and are factory calibrated to said computer. A patient examining table is provided with a single radiation device, the radiation which is detectable by the cameras. The table is moved both horizontally and vertically to establish X, Y and Z coordinates relative to the room in which the installation is made. A hand held ultrasound probe is positioned to detect a target in a body disposed on said table, and an ultrasound scan screen apparatus displays the relation of the probe to the target, and also provides information for moving the table to position the target at a predetermined location.

Abstract: A pressure controlling system for an insufflator includes a plurality of parallel connected, solenoid controlled valves. Each valve has in series therewith a gas flow limiter with the limiters arranged in digital succession. The valves are in parallel with one another and in series with the gas flow line so that solenoid opening of one or more of the valves controls gas flow in an on-off fashion with gas flow continuing through the respective flow limiting means to determine total flow rate in a digital manner.

Abstract: A trouble light is provided which has an insulating housing and male prongs extending from one end of the housing and shielded by an extension of the housing. There is no conventional wired-in drop cord on the trouble light. Instead, an extension cord has a female socket and the aforesaid prongs on the housing are plugged into the extension cord female socket. A flexible retainer strap interconnects with the extension and is anchored on projections on the housing to prevent inadvertent disconnection of the extension cord from the trouble light.