Abstract: A loose fitting respirator hood made of flaccid, non-stretchable, air impervious material with a curved optical lens panel interposed in the sidewall thereof. The method of making the hood is disclosed in which curvature is imparted to a relatively stiff lens panel by the flaccid material of the hood. Head engaging members are disclosed for supporting the hood on the head of the wearer. A neck engaging ruff is disclosed which is sealingly mounted about the interior of the hood and can define a hollow annulus with apetures through the sidewall thereof to provide for air distribution to the interior of the hood. A rigid collar member for interconnecting the hood with a suit is disclosed together with the provision of an air filter in communication with a tubular member sealed through the lens panel and extending into proximity with the mouth of the wearer to supply respirable air.

Abstract: A disposable protective film accessory for use with a hood assembly including an optically transparent lens panel. The accessory includes an elongated sheet of thin, flexible transparent film having a length many times the length of the lens panel and a width which is at least a substantial portion of the width of the lens panel. The sheet of film is tightly rolled about an axis normal to the length thereof. The roll of film is loosely contained in a housing comprising an open sided cavity which is mounted on the exterior surface of the lens panel at one end thereof with the open side of the cavity against the lens panel. A tensioning bar member is mounted across the other end of the lens panel in contact with the exterior surface thereof. The free end of the protective film is pulled out of the cavity between the housing and the lens panel, across the exterior surface of the lens panel and between the lens panel and the tensioning bar member.

Abstract: A board game structure of the type consisting of a plurality of playing pieces and a game board on which the playing pieces are moved having a given axis with a plurality of elongated rectilinear sliders mounted thereon for movement in side-to-side relationship to each other at a given common angle to the axis of the board. The board game has an improved detent structure for restraining each of the sliders in predetermined positions in their movement. Such improvement is based on the use of detent cam surfaces and detent cam followers held in engagement solely by the force of gravity acting on the sliders. An improvement in the structure for retaining the sliders on the game board against the force of gravity is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved combination for use in burning an elongated candle floating in water. The improved combination comprises a float member including a passageway at least one inch long dimensioned to receive the cross-section of the candle with a sliding fit. Various structures for stabilizing the float member in the water with the passageway in a substantially vertical position and the upper end thereof at the surface of the water are disclosed. Containers of water of limited volume for use in the improved combination are described. Float members including chimneys and a preferred candle structure for use in the improved combination are described.

Abstract: A loose fitting respirator hood made of flaccid, non-stretchable, air impervious material with a curved optical lens panel interposed in the sidewall thereof. The method of making the hood is disclosed in which curvature is imparted to a relatively stiff lens panel by the flaccid material of the hood. Head engaging members are disclosed for supporting the hood on the head of the wearer. A neck engaging ruff is disclosed which is sealingly mounted about the interior of the hood and can define a hollow annulus with apertures through the sidewall thereof to provide for air distribution to the interior of the hood. A rigid collar member for interconnecting the hood with a suit is disclosed together with the provision of an air filter in communication with a tubular member sealed through the lens panel and extending into proximity with the mouth of the wearer to supply respirable air.

Abstract: A device for protecting the navigational instruments and radio equipment mounted on an instrument panel in the cockpit of an aircraft against theft. The device includes a protective cover mounted immediately adjacent the instrument panel and means for locking the potective cover to the control column of the aircraft in a manner such that the aircraft controls will not be damaged in the event that the protective cover is tampered with.

Abstract: The device includes structure defining a first passageway dimensioned to pass coins one at a time in edge-on orientation and structure defining a second passageway dimensioned to pass coins one at a time in edge-on orientation communicating with one end of the first passageway and extending transversely thereto. The junction between the first and second passageways is dimensioned to allow the faces of the coins to pivot by about 90.degree. within such junction. The device also includes structure defining a tubular reservoir mentioned to receive a supply of coins in face to face stacked relationship with the tubular axis of the reservoir extending normally to the first passageway and with one end of the tubular reservoir opening into the first passageway. A slide member is received in the other end of the first passageway for reciprocating motion therewithin.

Abstract: An air-tight self-adjusting protective garment having a torso covering portion with integral arms and legs. Gloves are sealingly affixed to the free ends of the arms and boots are sealingly affixed to the free ends of the legs. A head enclosing hood or helmet is sealingly attached to the garment, and hood and garment are supplied with a positive pressure air plenum which is exhausted through one or more one-way valves. The garment is prevented from ballooning due to the internal air pressure by a plurality of elastic strip members which are affixed to the inner surface of the garment without destroying the air-tight integrity thereof and extend longitudinally of the torso covering portion and of the arms and legs thereof, which elastic strip members also enable the garment to self-adjust to fit a range of different size individuals.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming and slicing stem-type vegetables such as broccoli and the like. The apparatus is specifically adapted to slice the stem-type vegetable stalk into longitudinal sections and includes a pair of mutually opposed resilient close spaced surfaces on opposite sides of a first plane. Each of the surfaces is divided into two closely spaced parts on opposite sides of the second plane normal to the first plane. The resilient surface parts may comprise polyurethane foam surfaces on conveyor belts or conveyor pulleys which are moved synchronously with respect to each other in order to carry the vegetable stalk along a given path. A knife is mounted in the path of movement of the vegetable stalk with its knife edge forming its leading edge with respect to the vegetable stalk in order to slice it longitudinally. The knife may have two or more blades and the vegetable stalk is preferably gripped by the resilient surfaces throughout its length during the cutting process.

Abstract: A respiratory protection apparatus includes a nose engaging means for urging the outer walls of the nose toward the inner wall, which includes spaced-apart urging members, and a mouthpiece, said nose engaging means being rigidly secured to said mouthpiece. The apparatus further comprises a conduit arrangement for supplying air to said mouthpiece, said mouthpiece secured to a portion of the conduit arrangement, said conduit arrangement being sufficiently rigid so that said conduit arrangement can be used to direct said nose engaging means onto said nose and then direct the mouthpiece into the mouth of the worker. The apparatus further includes a valve for communicating with the conduit arrangement for allowing for the inhalation and exhalation of air.

Abstract: A non-skid device made of side link sleeve and pin chain for the spoked wheels of wheelchairs, bicycles and the like. The chain includes a removable pin to enable assembly of the chain onto the wheel with a spoke of the wheel captured between the free ends of a pair of spaced side links thereof. A slotted plate having major surfaces of larger dimensions than the transverse dimensions of the chain is rigidly fixed to the chain with its slot extending from between the free ends of such pair of spaced side links to the adjacent edge of the plate to pass the spoke upon assembly and removal. One embodiment includes a resilient shoe member. Alternate removable pin structures are described.

Abstract: A document carrier carton is disclosed which is adapted to provide variable size compartments for the transportation of bank drafts and checks in pre-arranged order with reduced likelihood of damage to the bank drafts or checks. The carton or insert for a carton includes a bottom wall having a plurality of U-shaped slits defining upwardly bendable partitions and side walls having U-shaped slits defining inwardly bendable spaced abutment members for holding the partition members in an erected position. In use, one of the partition members and the abutment members associated therewith are erected to provide a compartment of suitable size to contain a quantity of bank drafts or checks under compression. The partitions and abutment members are designed to provide sufficient physical strength to contain a substantial range in quantity of bank drafts and checks under a substantial range of compressive force. Specific embodiments of the compartmentalized document carrier carton are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for constructing a reinforced foundation including locating and supporting a reinforcing rod at a preselected position in the foundation and securing a mudsill to the foundation without affecting the location of the supporting rod.

Abstract: A construction framing anchor (22) for mounting vertical underpinning (20) to a foundation (12) having a sloped top surface or footing (14), the framing anchor (22) including a lower inclined plate (24) connected to the foundation (12), an upper horizontal plate (26) having the lower end of the underpinning (20) secured thereto, and locking means (46) to integrally lock the lower inclined plate (24) to the upper horizontal plate (26) to define a truss (48) to support the underpinning (20) and the load of the structure supported thereby.

Abstract: A removable towel means for mounting on the belt, pants, or accessories worn by or in the possession of the user. The towel means includes a support member and a length of toweling which are quickly and easily attached to each other by manual pressure and separated from each other by manual pulling. The support member is made of solid material in the form of a clip and has a gripping means including a strip of fabric with projecting hooking elements affixed thereto. The length of toweling forms an integral pocket and has a receiving means including a strip of fabric with exposed loop elements affixed thereto for removably receiving the hook elements of the gripping means on the support member.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for the linear predictive coding of human speech in which the speech is sampled through the use of analog filters and the linear predictive coding computations are performed with respect to such samples using digital techniques. The filters are MOS switched capacitor filters which can be implemented on a silicon chip together with the digital circuitry. Specific circuits for implementing two different linear predictive coding speech analysis techniques are disclosed.

Abstract: A submersible positive buoyancy habitat structure for use in rearing shell fish and the like in an open ocean environment. The habitat structure is designed to take advantage of the mass movement of water due to wave action in a vertical plane to provide continuous flushing of the habitat. To this end, the habitat structure is based on a generally tubular body having impervious side walls open at both ends with one end tethered to the ocean bottom. The open ends of the habitat are covered by a grill to keep predatos out and a screen to keep adolescent shell fish within the structure. A venturi device is provided at the lower end of the structure to enhance downward vertical flow of water therethrough. Variable buoyancy flotation devices are described and an arrangement providing a plurality of habitat structures sharing a common flotation device is disclosed. A feeding device for use with the habitat structure is provided.