Abstract: An isolator for protecting a display object from damage as a result of shock and vibration associated with seismic activity or other external forces. The isolator has a base support which is fixed in position with respect to the ground, an intermediate support which interengages with the base support and may slide side-to-side along one axis, a top support for mounting the object thereon and interengaging with the intermediate support to slide side-to-side along a different axis, and restoring means to urge the top and intermediate supports to return to their neutral rest positions. The interengagement between levels is accomplished by tracks that slidably engage rows of roller bearings rotatably mounted along opposite side edges of an adjacent support, and the restoring means include elongated, non-flexible compression spring assemblies formed by stacked Belleville washers that yieldably urge follower rollers against cam tracks formed along the sides of the supports.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus for retrieving digital electronic images representative of opaque and transmissive objects. The apparatus is equipped with a reflective scanning platform for scanning documents and photographs and a docking port for receiving a transmissive scanning platform for scanning transparencies and slides. A scanning camera equipped with light sources for illuminating the respective platforms may be aligned by the operator to retrieve images from either the reflective scanning platform or from the transmissive scanning platform. An optical switch which is included within the optical pathway selectively toggles the view of the scanning camera between the reflective platform and the transparent platform. An operator using a control panel button or software can selectively scan either type of object. The choice of two scanning platforms optimizes the digital image quality for each type of media.

Abstract: A document feeder which can be coupled to a motorized, portable optical scanner to feed documents across the scanner window of the scanner, including a housing with a support surface and an opposite offset platform surface which together form a slit through which the document is fed and including openings in the support surface for a drive and a drive set of spring-loaded rollers which are coupled together by a belt, and which extend partially below the platform surface and are adapted to cooperate with drive roller(s) of the motorized, portable optical scanner to feed documents across the scanner.

Abstract: A ramp weight-reducing assembly which reduces the weight of a ramp manually lifted up to the working surface of a vehicle bed by an operator to then couple the ramp with the bed to maintain the ramp in load-bearing position. The assembly is simple in design, easy to manufacture and low in cost which will allow the manufacturer to offer the assembly to the majority of ramp users at a minimal price. The ramp weight-reducing assembly includes a ramp and a ramp connector, modified to accept a weight-reducing spring assembly between the ramp and ramp connector legs. The spring assembly includes a piston rod coupled to the ramp having a stop, inserted into a main compression spring which is then inserted into a hole in a support bar that spans the two connector legs running parallel to each other. The spring assembly also includes two supplemental springs attached to plates between the ramp and ramp connector. The springs cooperate to reduce the weight lifted by an operator raising or lowering the ramp.

Abstract: A wheelchair and lifting apparatus and method for loading a wheelchair and its occupant into a desired position in a vehicle, such as the driver's position, by attaching the wheelchair to an open door of the vehicle, utilizing the seat-height adjustment mechanism of the wheelchair that varies the height of the seat of the wheelchair relative to its wheels to lift the wheelchair off the ground and closing the vehicle door so as to position the wheelchair inside the vehicle in an unassisted manner by the occupant, and reversing this sequence of operation for unloading the wheelchair and its occupant from the vehicle.

Abstract: A lavalier microphone assembly wherein ambient and mechanical interference are minimized. The assembly comprises a lavalier microphone. The microphone includes a microphone casing having an aperture for the entry of sound waves and a transducer disposed within the casing near the aperture for conversion of sound waves into electrical signals. The assembly also comprises a cable, which is connected to the transducer for transmitting the electrical signals to a remote location for processing. The assembly further comprises a microphone cage which is attached to the cable and which surrounds the microphone. By surrounding the microphone, the cage both prevents the microphone from being inadvertently contacted and spaces the microphone from noises produced by the rustling of clothing. The cage is mounted on an article of clothing by means of a mounting pin, the mounting pin being fixedly mounted on the cage.

Abstract: A merchandise display assembly comprising a frame of posts and struts defining recesses for groups of mens' shirts, by sizes, each recess having a pair of display racks on an extendable slide. The display racks have hinged wickets comprising elongated, channel-shaped trays, with downturned end tabs pivoted to the sidewalls of bases of the racks, and upright supports formed by rods at each end bent to form front and rear legs for supporting the shirts. The front leg has a forward closed-loop bend at its upper end and the rear leg has a laterally offset V-shaped return for rear support, and an integral bend between the legs is clamped against the open end tab of the tray by a rivot which also forms the pivot. An individual rack also shown is for countertop use.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing distortion during recording in a tape recorder of the type including a recording head which includes an electrically grounded, electrically conductive member in light contact with a coated surface of the recording tape provided adjacent the recording head. With this structure, excess electrons present on the coated surface of the tape after recording are removed.

Abstract: A ratchet spool mechanism including a rear or bottom housing having a central column, and positioned around the central column a belleville-type spring, positioned thereover a rotary spool having affixed therebetween two lengths of twine and positioned over the top portion of the spool a rotary cap having beveled projections which cooperate with correspondingly positioned orifices in the top surface of the rotary spool whereby operation of the belleville spring, the beveled surfaces and the orifices provide for a locking mechanism and one-way rotation to tighten or draw in the twine, and upon pressing the rotary cap downward against the belleville spring, the beveled projections become disengaged from the orifices, and the spool may be rotated in either direction.

Abstract: A self-propelled toy train engine for pulling a train of wooden railroad cars over a variety of surfaces including a child safe magnetic coupling for connecting the engine to the railroad cars, high traction drive wheels for being propelled over a variety of surfaces, a gear train which disengages from the drive axle given a predetermined force. The train engine is weighted to provide added traction for propelling the train set over smooth surfaces and a low center of gravity for stabilizing the engine when propelling the train set over rough surfaces such as carpeting.

Abstract: An adjustable, recoiling aerobic exercise bench (20) which reduces the generation and transmission of impaction forces on a user's joints while performing conventional and power step exercises including a resilient platform (22) slidingly disposed in a left and right housings (36 and 38) which function to support the platform (22) above and relative to an exercise floor surface (42); a lateral platform recoiling assemblies is disposed between the platform ends (24 and 26) and inside lateral walls of the housings (36, 38) and adapted to generate lateral, resistive, restoring forces when platform (22) is moved downward during operation of the device (20); vertical platform recoiling assemblies (62), which includes a plurality of rigid tubular spring retainers, telescoping springs (90) mounted the undersurface of the platform and of sufficient length so as to make contact with the exercise floor surface (42) to thereby generate a vertical platform resistive restoring force when platform (22) is downwardly compre

Abstract: Miscible polymer blends of high heat resistant acrylate-maleimide polymers containing from 1 to 99% or more by weight of the maleimided polymer with conventional poly (methyl methacrylate) polymer, the blends having higher glass transition temperatures than poly (methyl methacrylate) but substantially the same optical and mechanical properties as poly (methyl methacrylate) and compatible blends of high heat resistant acrylate-maleimide polymers, conventional acrylic impact modifier, and, optionally, conventional poly (methyl methacrylate).

Abstract: A reciprocating variable isotonic resistance upper extremity and upper torso exercising belt for use while performing predominantly lower extremity and lower torso aerobic exercises.

Abstract: A high temperature heat resistant methacrylate-maleimide copolymer having at least 90% by weight methyl methacrylate monomer and up to about 10% by weight maleimide monomer to form a clear, weather-resistant copolymer having glass transition temperatures from about 105.degree. C. to about 131.degree. C. and a method of manufacture of the copolymers through an extremely high conversion bulk polymerization process.

Abstract: A golf swing training and muscle exercising device for a full-range of motion golf swing including a rotatable ring rotatable within a stationary ring; a golf club holder sub-assembly for providing hydraulic isokinetic resistance to rotation of the rotatable ring; and an electronic monitoring sub-assembly.

Abstract: A pyroelectric detector assembly for detection of 10.6 .mu.m infrared laser radiation which has a thin film detector element fabricated from thin film lithium tantalate (LiTaO.sub.3) coated with black gold, and an ultra low noise charge coupled preamplifier optimized for lithium tantalate. A postamplifier includes a low pass filter, voltage comparator, threshold adjustment, and pulse generator.

Abstract: A plastic light conduit of cross-linked polymer material having good light transmitting characteristics, without voids or noticeable bubbles, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of manufacture and an apparatus, involving progressive heating of reactive monomer mixture in a tube which is submerged in a progressive reactor utilizing cold oil to maintain a cold, non-reacting zone, and hot water to create a hot zone that causes reaction, while simultaneously carrying away the excess exothermic heat of reaction.

Abstract: A device for exercising the abdominal muscles which facilitates movement of the lower torso against a resistive force and in a complex arc which conforms to the normal forward arc of rotation of the spine comprising: a rigid shaft slidably disposed within a housing; arcuate thigh supports for maintaining the housing stationary with respect to a person's thighs; a handle generally transverse to and attached to a first shaft end; an elastic band positioned intermediate the ends of the shaft and for connecting the housing to a second shaft end so as to generate a resistive restoring force by pressing on the handle so as to displace the shaft relative to the housing in a direction from the first shaft end to the second shaft end, thereby executing a downstroke; a pivot positioned intermediate the ends of the shaft and for pivoting the upper portion of the shaft away from the torso as a downstroke is executed; a stop member for limiting displacement of the shaft with respect to the housing as the shaft moves in a