Abstract: A combined bathtub and bassinet structure is disclosed that includes a collapsible X-frame which when opened will receive and support either a bathtub or a bassinet. Both the bathtub and bassinet generally are of rectangular form, made of flexible material, and when supported on the frame have opposed ends and sidewalls to which is attached a bottom wall. At least the bassinet includes an upper and a lower bottom wall in a vertically spaced relationship, and an opening in one of the upright walls to permit a reinforcing panel to be inserted between the upper and lower bottom walls. The bassinet includes a water bed type mattress preferably with a heating element to maintain it at a body temperature. The bassinet also may include sound-producing means to mimic heart sounds.

Abstract: A sensitive high speed clocked comparator for use with low level differential logic circuits which utilizes an amplifier, a Gilbert Gain Cell, and load devices to amplify the difference between analog voltages being compared, and a high speed latch to increase the output voltage level of the Gain Cell up to the level of logic signals used in low level differential logic circuits. The circuit has two modes, a "follow" mode wherein the amplifier and Gilbert Gain Cell cause an unbalance in the currents through two load devices responsive to any difference in input voltage, and a "latch" mode wherein a latch causes the current unbalance to increase and to latch. The modes are sequentially selected by clocking.

Abstract: A probe for developing a visual indication of the electrical state of a selected point in a digital circuit under test. The probe is provided with two clips for attaching to the power supply and the ground of the circuit to be tested. The operator then holds a sharp tip of the probe at the selected point at which the electrical condition of the circuit is to be tested. Two light emitting diodes visible on the probe body display which one of the six possible circuit conditions exist at the selected point, such as open circuit, positive-going pulse, negative steady-state and so forth. The circuit utilizes integrated circuit NOR and inverting buffer components. Pulses as short as ten nanoseconds may be detected. The probe may be used with any voltage range of the various logic circuit families.

Abstract: A fish catcher to be suspended beneath the water by a fishing line, comprising an elastic linear material bent within its elasticity to form a loop closed by means of a disengageable hook-and-ring latch mechanism, said loop, when the latch mechanism is disengaged by downward pulling force of the weight of a fish snapping at a bait, springing outward by the force of elastic restitution, and thereby causing the fishing line to be automatically pulled upward and securing the bite of the fish.

Abstract: A programmable action sampler system (PASS) is described which holds a large number of discrete samples in a matrix of separate sample cups. The system is capable of dispensing a sample from a sample line into any one of the sample cups. At a pre-determined later time, using a cannula, the system addresses the sample from the cup for further measurement or analysis. In the preferred system, the samples flow sequentially through a tube, the liquid intermediate the samples being dispensed into a liquid waste line. The cannula between samples is bathed constantly in a wash tube, even while moving from one sample location to another. Further, in the preferred application, bacterial samples are employed, the sample cups being immersed in a constant temperature liquid bath to hold the bacterial samples at a constant incubation temperature. Among the various novel features employed in the system is a blade brake structure that accurately locates the sample head and cannula over any selected sample cup.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surface-coated blast furnace tuyere made of copper or copper alloy capable of sufficiently resisting heat attack and abrasion attack caused by the splashing of molten metal and slag. The invention also relates to a method of surface-coating the tuyere with advantages both in process steps and in economy.

Abstract: An exhaust hood may be fabricated which will reduce the rate of exhaust air quantities circulated through the exhaust hood and thereby reduce the quantity of make up air supplied to the exhaust hood from the conditioned space with a resultant energy savings. The exhaust hood may include a supply plenum, an exhaust duct and a partial pressure chamber coupled to the supply plenum. A partial pressure is formed within the partial pressure chamber which is provided with at least one venturi slot at its lower extremity. Typically, two venturi slots are employed to produce a partial pressure region exterior to the partial pressure chamber, which region is juxtapositioned to an inlet port provided in the exhaust duct.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for repairing plastic materials, and more specifically, automobile dashboards and the like. The method enables one to provide the repaired item with a texturized finish such that cracks, cuts, and other imperfections in the surface are completely covered in such a manner that the repaired item appears to take on the appearance of being new. The method comprises the steps of filling in cracks and other indentations with a hardenable filler such that a smooth surface is formed. A base coat of an acrylic resin is then applied over the surface followed by a texturized acrylic resin coating which forms a texturized finish on the surface. Depending on the original color of the item to be repaired, a thin colored coating may be applied over the texturized finish so as to form a continuous colored texturized finish over the entire surface of the now-repaired item completely masking the cracks and other imperfections in the surface thereof.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument capable of producing an attack repeat effect. The attack repeat effect is a musical effect produced by repeated occurrences of attack and decay during a single continued sounding of a musical tone, giving to an audience an impression as if the tone started and stopped repeatedly. According to the invention, a complete envelope shape starting by an attack portion and ending by a decay portion is stored in a memory. When a key on the keyboard is depressed, the stored envelope shape is read from the memory and, upon completion of reading of one cycle of the envelope shape, reading of the envelope shape is resumed from the beginning. A time division multiplexed reading out of the envelope shape is conducted with respect to a plurality of channels. The read out envelope shape is used for controlling the amplitude of the musical tone signal. If the key is released, reading of the envelope shape is no longer repeated for a next and subsequent cycles.

Abstract: A miniature or subminiature, rectangular potentiometer which automatically disengages and engages at the extreme end settings may be fabricated by using a worm screw which engages and disengages a sector gear. The sector gear is arranged and configured to selectively engage a spring at the extremes of travel of the sector gear. When the worm screw drives the sector gear to the limit of its travel, the spring is compressed against the gear thereby compressing the spring. The compression of the spring is sufficient to permit the gear teeth on the opposing end of the sector gear to advance and disengage from the worm screw. Rotation of the worm screw in the opposing direction automatically re-engages the sector gear by virture of the urging of the spring.

Abstract: A plurality of waveshape memories are provided for storing the sampled values of one cycle sinusoidal wave as the fundamental frequency, two cycle sinusoidal wave as the second harmonic, . . . and m cycle sinusoidal wave as the m-th harmonic and, in addition thereto, of harmonic-abundant complex waves such as a triangular wave, a sawtooth wave and a rectangular wave. These waveshape memories are read at the same reading rate. The read out sinusoidal waves and triangular, sawtooth and rectangular waves are controlled in their relative levels in accordance with the tone-color of an intended musical tone wave shape. The sinusoidal waves and the triangular, sawtooth and rectangular waves are thereafter synthesized to produce a desired tone-color wave shape. Since the triangular, sawtooth and rectangular waves contain abundant harmonic components, many kinds of musical tones containing abundant harmonic components can be produced despite a limited number of waveform memories.

Abstract: An exhaust hood may be fabricated having a plurality of slots disposed at one side of the cavity formed by the hood to form a substantially streamlined, and uniform air flow across the cavity to efficiently entrain smoke laiden air without requiring large volumes of air flow. This type of air flow pattern within the cavity is obtained by appropriately baffling the air supplied to the multiple slots, forming a number of high velocity venturi slots, and canting oppositely disposed inlet filters away from the outlet slots. The uniform air flow creates a low pressure area which then draws underlying smoke laiden air upward. The hood canopy may be provided with a second source of tempered air to direct comfort condition air through a slot on the face of the hood along the cooking line for the safety and comfort of the workers below.

Abstract: A universal handling head which includes a lifting and/or a guiding head, for a pipe racker for handling pipe in a drilling derrick comprises a housing member and latch assembly having at least one latching finger. A latch assembly is engaged with the housing member to allow a latched finger to be placed in a left hand and right hand position with respect to the housing member. In one embodiment, the latch finger and latch assembly is rotated in the housing member in order to close on the pipe from both the left or the right sides. In another embodiment, the latch assembly has two latching fingers, a right and left latching finger, each of which may be translated as a unit by translating the latching assembly with respect to the housing member. The reversability of the latch finger by automated means allows the latch assembly to be positioned in such a manner as to facilitate closely spread pipe in a pipe racker.

Abstract: In an electrostatic dust precipitator of the type including a dust collection electrode structure and a discharge electrode structure which are impressed with DC voltages of the opposite polarities, the discharge electrode structure is constituted by a plurality of rod shaped parallel electrodes having a substantial surface area and discharge members.

Abstract: In this telephone answering device, the incoming message record tape is driven by a motor that is oriented by a cam mechanism from a forward drive position to a rewind position. The mechanism is driven by a cam drive motor under control of a circuit which initially responds to detection of a beep tone that begins remote playout of recorded incoming messages. The control circuit programmatically directs the cam mechanism first to orient the tape drive motor in the rewind direction to rewind the tape and then to orient the motor to drive the tape in the forward direction to facilitate remote playout of the messages. Provision is made to inhibit beep tone response during tape rewind.

Abstract: This heart novelty and relaxation device has a heart-shaped housing that contains a speaker and circuitry for producing a slow heartbeat sound which has a relaxing effect on a listener. The housing is assembled from two molded plastic conformal sides having integral complementary stanchions that mate to hold the sides together along a median plane. The circuitry is mounted on a board which also supports an on-off switch having a flat arm that pivots in the median plane. A portion of the switch arm projects unobtrusively from the housing through a slot at the interface between the sides to facilitate external control of the device.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a somatic element of single crystalline sapphire ceramics for use as an implant for dental surgery, orthopedic prosthetic surgery and the like, which element is excellent in mechanical strength, flexibility and affinity with its ambient tissue so much so that it eliminates a fear of development of bone cancer and facilitates the proliferation of uniform bone tissue around the somatic element implanted.

Abstract: A composition of matter primarily including cooked, dried and pulverized artichoke may be used as a flavor enhancer for meat, fish, foul, vegetables and foods of all kinds. The flavor enhancer increases the natural flavor of the food upon which it is used without masking or adding a particularly distinctive flavor different than the food with which it is used. Minority amounts of fava beans, and escarole, similarly cooked, dried and pulverized may be combined in a mixture with the processed artichoke.

Abstract: This invention relates to a safety coupling such as found in boats and the like. The coupling is used to couple one shaft efficiently and safely to another flanged shaft and comprises a flange member with a keyed or splined axial opening disposed therethrough. The opening is configured to matingly engage with a second shaft which is keyed or splined and to permit a section of the second shaft to pass through the opening. A coupling plate is sandwiched between the flanged shaft and the keyed or splined flange member and is bolted to the flanged shaft. The coupling plate has a threaded opening disposed therethrough which engages the keyed or splined shaft adjacent the end thereof. The keyed or splined shaft then passes through the opening in the keyed or splined flange member and is retained in the coupling plate whereby linear displacement of the second shaft relative to the flanged shaft and coupling plate is prevented in a safe, secure and efficient manner.

Abstract: A device for counting the number of persons entering or exiting a given area including a mat switch having a plurality of normally open independent switches arranged in the form of a ladder and a plurality of resistors each connected to one of the plurality of switches, the switches and the resistors configured such that the output resistance of the mat switch undergoes a monotonic reduction as the switches are successively closed by the pressure of a person's foot as the person to be counted moves in a predetermined direction across the mat switch and a means for converting the change in the output resistance of the mat switch into a signal which is counted.