Abstract: A spinner toy comprised of an elongated wire element looped back upon itself at its center and twisted to form a straight helical member, one end of which is the center loop and the other end of which is bent back upon itself and disposed in a plane passing through the member, with a first element slideably disposed on the straight member in abutment with the looped end. A spinner, formed by a pair of polyester film strips is disposed on the member angularly displaced apart from each other, each strip having first and second ends and being doubled back at a single intermediate orificed apex to bring its ends together with their orifices in register and secured together by an eyelet through which, and through the apex orifices, the member is passed, with a sleeve interposed and extending part way between the eyelet and the apex orifices, and a square plate between the eyelet and the sleeve.

Abstract: Apparatus for skin packaging articles on a backing card in which a heating unit for film is disposed behind a work table having a vacuum platen on which may be placed a backing card with an article to be packaged; and, upon activation, is moved vertically between a first position above the level of the table and a second position not higher than the table level. A film clamping frame holds a section of film closely above the heating unit when it is in its first position, and when the unit is moved to its second position, moves the heated clamped film section forward and downward onto a backing card where it is drawn down tightly against the article on the card upon creation of a vacuum. Upon completion of the packaging, the backing card is pulled forwardly off the table and its film is severed from the further film which is pulled with it, such further film then being clamped on the film clamping frame which is moved back up to its elevated position for repetition of the cycle.

Abstract: A clothes stand formed of an orified vertical base member which supports an upstanding axle on which are mounted a plurality of rotatable clothes support members, is convertable into a Christmas tree by removing the axle and clothes support members from the orifice in the base member and replacing them with an element insertable in the orifice which serves to support a vertically orificed tubular shaft of a smaller size than the axle, and on which shaft are mounted a series of annular elements from each of which extend a plurality of needled branches of such lengths as to simulate the tapered appearance of a Christmas pine tree. After serving as a Christmas tree, it may be converted back to a clothes stand by replacing the support element shaft and annular elements with the axle and clothes support members.

Abstract: In a guitar or the like where fretting is detected by ultrasonic signals emitted by a transducer bridge and reflected at a point of each string held against a fret, and the same transducer bridge is responsive to audible frequency string vibration induced by a player, a damper bridge selectively dampens propagation of lower frequency vibrations from a note triggering string section adjacent to the bridge to a note selecting string section extending over the fretted neck, thereby minimizing intereference between fret detection and note triggering functions using a single set of string and a single acoustic transducer for each string.

Abstract: Note bending in a MIDI interfaceable fretted string instrument is detected by sensing relative phase shifting in an echo return of an ultrasonic acoustic signal propagated along each string. The delay between the propagated signal and echo return is indicative of the musical note obtainable by playing the string. The propagation and sensing may be accomplished by means of a single piezoelectric transducer coupled to each string, and the same transducer can sense string vibration in the audible frequency range indicative of the timing and amplitude of a musical note played on the string.

Abstract: A method of producing decorative lengths of shot chain involves pre-heating the chain, initally applying a primer coat, reheating the primed chain, then subjecting one side of the chain to the application of paint of one color, reheating the chain to set that application, applying a different color to the other side of the chain and then baking to anneal the paint. The chain is then clipped to desired lengths. The method may be practiced either continuously or step-by-step.

Abstract: An ice level sensor for a flake-ice icemaker of the type having an electrically grounded rotary shaft for scraping ice from a refrigerated surface into an underlying ice bin has a contact plate insulated connected to a control circuit, a metallic sensing arm suspended from and electrically connected to the shaft for sweeping a path in the ice bin, the sensing arm moving against the plate on contact with accumulated ice thereby completing an electrical circuit through the drive shaft and causing the control circuit to stop the icemaker.

Abstract: A wire frame for supporting a living plant wreath is made of three pairs of concentric wire rings, each pair with an inner and outer ring, the three pairs stacked in three parallel planes and interconnected by welded wire ribs to make up a structurally rigid unitary toroidal wire frame. Optionally a number of candle holders made of coiled wire are welded spaced circumferentially on the frame, also structurally reinforcing the toroidal frame. A method for constructing a living plant wreath using a kit of parts including the wire frame is described. The kit may include a drip bag for irrigating a living wreath at a controlled rate.

Abstract: A remote control receiver responds to a coded signal from a transmitter by actuating a switch that in turn acts to deliver power to a load or device connected to it. This switch responds not to one specific signal using a particular format, but instead it acts in response to any existing signal originating from any of a plurality of remote control transmitters. This switch, therefore, allows a remote control transmitter intended solely for activating and controlling a single device to control any such device provided the switch is attached to it in the manner disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible cryogenic hose is comprised of an inner cryogenic tube surrounded by a concentric heat shield, a closed concentric chamber and an outer protective jacket. At normal ambient temperatures the chamber is completely filled with carbon dioxide gas. As cryogenic liquid is pumped through the inner cryogenic tube, heat is transferred from all structures within the hose, including in particular the carbon dioxide gas in the closed chamber, which runs the length of the cryogenic tube. As the carbon dioxide gas is cooled, it liquefies, thereby substantially evacuating the chamber. The chamber has sufficient structural rigidity to avoid collapse at normal atmospheric pressures. After the cryogenic hose is used, cryogenic flow ceases and the hose warms. In warming, carbon dioxide gas in the chamber gassifies and again refills the chamber.

Abstract: An improved artificial horticultural product air freshener comprised of a vase-like outer decorative housing formed to appear like crystal, said housing co-axially encompassing a replaceable inner aromatic fluid-containing vessel conforming generally to the shape of the inner wall of the outer housing, but spaced therefrom. The upper rim of the housing is provided with a cap through which extend, supported thereby, one or more stem-like wicks down into the bottom of the vessel and up into one or more artificial leaf-like or flower-like dispenser elements. When the fluid has been dissipated, the vessel may be replaced.

Abstract: For use in a spectrophotometry or spectrofluorimetry system, where a fluid to be analyzed, is passed into or through a tube having at least one branch, a plastic device insertable into said branch, said device comprising a tubular plastic member the inner end of which is closed by a transparent transverse end wall, extending into the tube branch and within which an end of a fiber optic cable is removably secured with such end disposed in facing engagement with the inside of said wall, and a detector cap defining a chamber to hold some of the fluid or a dye color reactive to such fluid, is secured on the opposite side of the end wall. The tubular plastic member is removably securable in, and closes the tube branch.

Abstract: A cooker and/or radiant-heating space heater system comprises a plurality of arcuate sheet metal shell segments assembled with overlapping edge portions so as to form a substantially cylindrical inner shell surrounded by a plurality of similarly overlapping arcuate segments which may be spaced selectively relative to the inner shell and to each other so as to vary the spaces thus defined between the inner shell and the outer segments. The inner shell is spaced above a support surface such as the ground, and the outer segments rest on the support surface so that a combustion zone within the inner shell is in communication with the spaces between the inner shell and the outer segments. For highly efficient combustion, air is drawn down such spaces, due to negative pressure induced by convection over a fire within the combustion zone, and preheated through contact with the hot inner shell prior to entering the combustion zone.

Abstract: A rotary-to-linear mechanical motion converter has a housing attachable to a drive engine, an input shaft reciprocable to the housing and coupled directly or through a gear arrangement to a reciprocating output shaft of the drive engine, a first drive train coupling the input shaft for turning a rotor in a given sense of rotation for a first direction of movement of the input shaft, and a second drive train coupling the input shaft for turning the rotor in the same given sense of rotation for an opposite direction of movement of the input shaft, the first and second drive trains alternately driving the rotor, as in an electrical generator, for continuous rotation in a given sense relative to the housing. In an alternate converter, both drive trains drive a rotor for only one direction of movement of the input shaft.

Abstract: A modem system includes an RS232C interface; a modulator/demodulator; an input-output device having a parallel interface connected with a data terminal unit having no communication function or having a parallel specification; a parallel-to-serial converter for performing the mutual conversion between parallel data and serial data; a memory for temporally storing the transmitted or recieved data; and a controller for controlling the transmission and reception of data. The modem system can perform the convertion between RS232C specification data and centronix specification data such that a parallel specification printer or plotter having no communication function can be used as an output device for data transmitted to the modem system through the telephone network.

Abstract: Reliable repeatable electromagnetic sealing between a door and jamb is accomplished across a broad band of frequencies without dependence upon closure pressure between the door and jamb by combining conductive resilient finger stock with electromagnetically absorbing material in alternating parallel peripheral strips along the door and jamb interface. The electromagnetically absorbing material is characterized by optimal energy absorption at frequencies higher than a predetermined frequency whereas the conductive resilient finger stock is characterized by optimal electromagnetic attenuation at frequencies lower than the same predetermined frequency. As a result, a broad band attenuating seal is provided between the door and jamb characterized throughout the frequency spectrum by high attenuation and without critical dependence upon the pressure or nature of contact of the finger stock against the conductive opposing surface of the jamb.

Abstract: A method and machine for cutting precise sized mults from billets of a nickel based alloy, which involves rotating each billet by means of a chuck while the billet is supported on rollers coaxially in the chuck; providing a track parallel to the billet axis and a carrier movable along the track, on which carrier is disposed a rotatable saw movable toward and from the axis of the billet to effect cutting, the location of the saw cut being determined by a computer programmed to control a servo motor acting on a screw coupled to the carrier by nut means, the computer being provided not only with basic information as to the density and stated diameter of the billet, but with information as to variations in such diameter, detected by sensor means provided on the carrier in proximity with the saw, and transmitted to the computer.

Abstract: A disassembleble clothes or other garment rack or stand having a base, a supporting axle rod extending upwardly from the base and a plurality of spool-like elements separated from each other, and disposed for rotation about the rod at different height levels, and each said element having angularly, upwardly extending peg-type hangers insertable into it, with each of said elements and its hangers being greater in size and extent than the element and its hangers at the level immediately below.