Abstract: A potentiometer control for use as a volume or tone control for a musical instrument, such as a guitar, that includes a switch which switches out the resistive element when the control is set to its most clockwise position so as to not load the instrument pickup when desired and so permit maximum volume to be achieved.

Abstract: Variable focus spectacles which comprise i) a focus module that includes two variable focus lens sections, said sections each including a first fixed plastic lens and an adjustable focus liquid lens, and ii) a second fixed plastic lens that preferably includes most or all of the optical power needed by the intended wearer to correct his/her distance vision. The second fixed plastic lens is preferably attached to the focus module by magnetic attraction.

Abstract: An igniter for use in aircraft gas turbine and rocket engines that derives its energy from a directly connected magnetron. The igniter is intended to be mounted exterior of the engine, and to protrude into the engine's combustion chamber. The magnetron energy is conductively connected to one end of a coaxial transmission line. The other end of the transmission line is at a region of high potential, and there is a small gap between the inner and outer transmission line conductors in that region. A gas comprised of either an oxidizer or fuel is flowed past the gap, and into the combustion chamber of the engine. The high potential causes a plasma to be formed in the gas, which plumes into the combustion chamber and ignites the propellants flowing therein.

Abstract: A positioning aid for a stringed musical instrument of the lute family that includes a pair of arms frictionally attached to the instrument and adapted to fit diagonally across the front of a player's body, in such a way so as to maintain the attitude of the instrument with respect to the body without the instrument being held.

Abstract: A triangularly shaped flexible bottle having a gusseted body section, and a neck section comprised of narrowed portions of the side panels and gusset of the body section, with a fitment in the neck section. The bottle has a flat bottom that may be created by tapering the webs forming the bottom at about 30 degrees. The body has a triangular cross section when filled, but may be contoured in the vertical direction. A process for fabricating the bottle is also disclosed which involves feeding webs, including a side gusset, creating perimeter seals around only the top portion of the bottle, inserting the fitment from the input end of the machine in the direction of web travel, forming the remainder of the perimeter seams, detaching the nascent bottle from the web, and sealing the neck section of the bottle to the fitment by clamping the neck section with a heated clamp, and preferably repeating the seal operation at a different radial angle.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a fitmented flexible bottle is disclosed which involves feeding webs including one or more gussets, creating perimeter seals around only the top portion of the bottle, inserting the fitment from the input end of the machine in the direction of web travel, forming the remainder of the perimeter seams, detaching the nascent bottle from the web, and sealing the neck section of the bottle to the fitment by clamping the neck section with a heated clamp, and preferably repeating the seal operation at a different radial angle. Sealing the fitment by application of ultrasonic energy is also disclosed. In another embodiment, the fitment is sealed to the neck section of the bottle by utilizing heated wheels against the neck and rotating the bottle to create a seal all around the neck.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism for spectacles which include two variable focus lens units. The mechanism mounts on the spectacle bridge; and includes two elongated drive levers mounted near opposite ends of the bridge, each extending toward the other end of the bridge. The free end of each driving lever is connected to its corresponding lens unit through a linkage. The driving levers are caused to rotate simultaneously, but in opposite directions, by a cam that is driven by a sliding member that slides along the bridge. By positioning the sliding member as desired, the spectacles wearer causes the cam to rotate, thereby causing the driving levers to rotate, and both lens units to change focal length.

Abstract: A magnetically affixed attachment for spectacles, including a preferably non-magnetic eyewire having front and rear regions. An auxiliary ens is held in the front region, and the rear region contains a plurality of micromagnets. Each micromagnet, preferably of the rare earth type, is located on the inner periphery of the rear region, and is thereby protected from physical abuse. The inner periphery of said eyewire has the same shape, but preferably is slightly larger than the outer periphery of the spectacle rim to which it is intended to attach, hence allowing maximum contact between each micromagnet and the spectacle rim, which rim is fabricated of, or includes, magnetic material.

Abstract: A string clamping and tuning mechanism for stringed instruments is disclosed. String tension, through lever action, provides the clamping force on the string to anchor the string. A screw adjusted stop causes a change in the position of the lever system to increase or decrease the tension in the string.

Abstract: A tuning post for a stringed musical instrument which includes an integral string severing mechanism which automatically severs the excess length of a string while the string is being tensioned. A sharp edged aperture in the string post through which the excess string protrudes cooperates with a stationary sharp cutting edge to sever the string while the post is being turned during the initial tuning operation.

Abstract: A sliding Capo for a musical instrument of the lute family which rides in a track in the neck of the instrument. The Capo includes a rigid cross piece holding elongated flanges which ride in the track. A cylindrical elastomeric roller runs in bearings carried by the cross piece, and adjustment means are provided for adjusting the height of the roller above the fingerboard. In the case of curved fingerboards, the shaft on which the roller runs is flexible and springy, so that it can bend and the cylindrical roller can press all strings to the fingerboard.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism for spectacles which include two variable focal length lens units. Each lens unit is fitted with a coupling member which extends from the lens unit into the bridge of the spectacles. A linearly-movable finger-operated slider, having a finger pad extending above the bridge, causes a cam within the bridge to rotate as it is moved, the cam being coupled to the coupling members causing them to move and the focal length of the lens units thereby to change.

Abstract: A liquid-filled variable focal length lens of the type which has a distensible membrane as one of the lens surfaces, and a membrane support member to support the perimeter of the free area of the membrane. By using a membrane support member having a toroidally shaped portion, the membrane is supported such that it has a circular free area irrespective of the shape of the perimeter of the lens. The cross sectional shape of the toroidal portion of the support member is preferably approximately an arc of a circle, and the perimeter of the free area of the membrane is maintained tangent thereto.

Abstract: A pouch making machine which simultaneously creates perimeter seams for a plurality of pouches on a web and temporarily stores the seamed web in an accumulator at the conclusion of the seaming step, and then withdraws the web from the accumulator to sever the individual pouches from the web. The individual pouches are severed from the web by a cutoff knife that is moving at the same velocity as the web during the cut. The withdrawal of the web from the accumulator is carried on independent of the seaming step, except that regulating means is included to make the long term average web speed the same through the seaming step as through the cutoff step.

Abstract: A musical instrument of the violin family which has a piezo-electric pickup installed under the foot of the bridge which is supported by the bass bar. The forces generated in the bridge by the vibrating strings are transmitted through the pickup to the top of the instrument. The pickup is comprised of a sandwich including a small piezo-electric sensor covered by conductive foils on the outside which serve as the ground of the pickup and an electrostatic shield.

Abstract: A Capo comprised of two hingedly connected jaws with a torsion spring which urges the jaws toward a closed position, and a hand operated toggle type of linkage operating against said spring to open the Capo. The force needed to be applied to the toggle linkage drops as the Capo is moved toward the open position reducing the effort required to maintain the Capo open while moving it to a new position.