Abstract: A hearing aid telephone interconnect system for permitting hearing impaired persons to use conventional telephone instruments employs a T-coupler adapted to hook over the ear of a user of a conventional behind-the-hear, in-the-ear, or eyeglass hearing aid of the type employing an input T-coil. The T-coupler, as well as the telephone base unit and the telephone receiver, are connected to an adaptor box that permits switching the telephone receiver signal between the telephone receiver and the T-coupler to permit use of the telephone by persons with and without hearing impairment. When interfacing the T-coupler to cellular telephones and princess style landline telephones in which the touchtone keypad and receiver form an integrated unit, the adaptor box may be eliminated because switching of the receiver signal is not necessary.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing timed basketball drills includes one or more ball return units, a basketball goal assembly, a timer/counter, and one or more remote transmitters. The timer/counter senses, processes, stores, and displays the number of balls thrown at and returned from the one or more ball return untis and/or the number of successful shots to the basketball goal assembly. The remote transmitter provides an encoded signal to the timer/counter from either the one or more ball return units or the basketball goal assembly.

Abstract: An card game for teaching children the alphabet utilizes a deck of one hundred eighteen cards, each card being associated with a single letter of the alphabet that is displayed on one side of the card, the frequency of cards containing each letter being roughly the same as the frequency with which each letter occurs in the English language, there being more cards containing letters which are more frequently used and less cards containing letters which are less frequently used. A desired graphic design may be placed on the reverse side of each card. Scoring involves only simple addition, which is educational in itself. Points are earned by players as they form sets, runs, and words with the cards initially dealt to them or subsequently drawn from a draw pile or discard pile and held in a hand. Bonus words can be specified at the beginning of play to provide additional scoring incentive.

Abstract: A transducer for musical instruments formed as a sandwich structure that utilizes a length of polarized fluoropolymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film folded over itself to form a U-shape over a center conductor of a length of shielded coaxial cable. Conductive silver epoxy is used to attach the center conductor of the coaxial cable to the inner surface electrode of the PVDF film. A length of double-sided tape is sandwiched between the two legs of the U-shaped PVDF film. The free end of the coaxial cable is folded over a side edge of the U-shaped PVDF film such that an outer shield of the coaxial cable is exposed outside the PVDF film. A U-shaped brass channel, whose inner surface has been coated with conductive epoxy, is then crimped over both the outer shield of the coaxial cable and the U-shaped end of the laminated PVDF film to form a transducer assembly, which is then laminated to a length of double-sided tape having an outer removable backing layer.

Abstract: A miniature phased array antenna system employs a substrate having a high dielectric constant. A plurality of antenna elements are located on a surface of the substrate, and a superstrate having a high dielectric constant covers the antenna elements. The dielectric constant, thickness, and shape of the superstrate enable it to act as a dielectric lens for controlling the phase relationship of a signal received by the antenna elements. The design of the superstrate dielectric lens permits a reduction in the physical spacing between the antenna elements while maintaining spatial diversity in phase between signals arriving from different directions. Thus, the antenna array may be significantly smaller than conventional phased array antennas while maintaining a similar phase relationship to that achieved using conventional phased array antennas.

Abstract: A disposable pet food bowl in combination with a removable food chamber containing a pre-packaged serving of pet food to facilitate feeding a pet in a manner that is sanitary, quick, and easy.

Abstract: An improved method for creating a multi-layered optical lens structure which appears, from an observer's point of view, to have a brushed metal finish, matte finish, decorative pattern, image or logo on the surface of a sunglass lens, but which is optically transparent from a wearer's point of view. The present method for creating a lens structure does not require the use of epoxies or adhesives and allows the lens structure to be made as a polarized lens. The present method offers vast improvements over previously disclosed methods in that it simplifies assembly of the lens structure, allows for greater repeatability, and significantly improves the optical clarity of the final lens structure.

Abstract: A retrieval system for rapidly removing articles from a plastic molding machine or other manufacturing process includes two pairs of lightweight non-metallic telescoping retrieval tubes arranged for telescoping motion into and out of an open mold. Each pair of telescoping retrieval tubes is coupled to a pair of slidable bearing tubes. A movable one of each pair of retrieval and bearing tubes is driven in concert by a low inertia cable or other drive system. A fixed one of each of each pair of retrieval and bearing tubes includes longitudinal strips of plastic bearing material.

Abstract: An anti-rollback system allows wheelchair users the freedom of travelling up and down inclines without enlisting the assistance of others to do so and includes a pair of non-rotatable axles fixed to the frame of a wheelchair, a pair of wheel hubs, each of which includes two sprags or one-way clutches mounted in opposing rotational directions therein, and a shifting mechanism for selectively engaging either or neither sprag with the associated axle. The user may thereby select normal free-wheeling operation of the wheelchair or anti-rollback in either the forward or reverse direction.

Abstract: A transducer for use in a viscoelastic analyzer of the type in which a mechanical probe member is immersed in a fluid or gel and driven to impart a desired oscillating motion to such fluid or gel whose viscoelastic properties are to be determined including means for restricting motion of the probe member of the transducer in all directions except the direction of desired oscillation motion.

Abstract: An integral water circulation device reliably provides rapid hot water at remote hot water faucets throughout a building by creating a low rate convective circulatory flow from the building water heater through a return line and the circulation device itself, without mixing hot and cold water within the system.

Abstract: A tether device for horses and other animals includes a flat rear mounting plate for fixedly mounting the device to a stall or barn wall, for example. A web plate is formed to protrude perpendicularly forward from the mounting plate. A rope slot is formed between an upwardly extending hook portion of the web plate and the rear mounting plate. A spring clip is hingedly attached to the rear mounting plate in alignment with the hook portion of the web plate, the spring clip being arranged to urge itself into a quiescent position against the inner surface of the hook portion of the web plate. A pawl having a toothed, arcuate peripheral surface facing an inner surface of the web plate, is hingedly mounted to the front surface of the rear mounting plate. A coil spring positioned between the pawl and the rear mounting plate serves to rotate the toothed peripheral surface of the pawl upward into a quiescent position against the inner surface of the web plate.

Abstract: An organizer notebook for holding index cards provides complete visibility of work schedule and content at a glance, with portability, security, and the flexibility of retaining additional work materials. The orgainizer notebook includes a zippered case and a cardholder member retained within the zippered case. Conventional index cards are removably retained by the cardholder member.

Abstract: A tool for indicating the presence of potentially dangerous voltages to the user includes circuitry for detecting the presence of an AC voltage on a blade or other operative portion of the tool, circuitry for filtering and processing the detected AC voltage, and a display for indicating the detected AC voltage to the user.

Abstract: An improved air freshener for use inside motor vehicles in which heat produced by a light bulb within the air freshener housing controls the release of fragrance from a removable fragrance impregnated pad positioned in close proximity to the light bulb. Light produced by the light bulb illuminates a translucent decorative cover mounted at the front of the air freshener.