Abstract: Optical arrangements are provided by which observers of flat containers or display boxes, such as compact disc (CD) jewel boxes, can be presented with different information about the contents of the box when looking at one of its surfaces from different angular perspectives. Advantageously, parallax effects are compensated where the size of the observable images and the viewing distance create undesirable visual artifacts. Horizontally and vertically oriented lenticulated panels are used in combination with interlaced images to convey the differently coded views without the need for physically manipulating such boxes as in the past to see equivalent information. Compliant inserts preferably provide the information content of the various views and are adapted for use with industry automated insert machinery while being self aligning with the lenticulated panels.

Abstract: Optical arrangements are provided by which information about the contents of flat containers and display boxes, such as compact disc (CD) jewel boxes, that is carried on or near the surfaces its flat panels, can be observed by looking at or through its narrow edges. Preferred arrangements include one or more prisms or diffractive optical elements that are snapped to or molded with existing structure to provide folded optical paths between the viewer and the interior information to provide views of information that is located in planes that are at angles to an observer's natural line of sight.

Abstract: The present invention provides a collapsible net assembly having a shaft with a main body disposed at one end and two support arms rotatably coupled to opposing sides of the main body for pivotal movement of support rods, which engage the net and are mounted within the support arms, between an open position and a closed position. The opposing sides of the main body comprise inclined surfaces formed within respective planes which converge at a point along the shaft so as to define a generally V-shaped main body. In order to obtain an angular displacement between the support rods in the open position and a parallel arrangement when in the dosed position, the support rods are mounted within the support arms at an angle .alpha. to their respective inclined surfaces. The magnitude of the angle .alpha.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a database system for organizing large amounts of data to be accessed by a digital computer. More particularly, a free form type database, in the form of a summarized, multikey tree, is built from files stored on the computer. After a building operation, the user obtains specified information by using the summarized database. Information in the files is divided into three categories; that is, a dimension field which comprises data to be organized, a summary field which comprises a numeric quantity on which calculations can be performed, and a non-summary field which comprises other information associated with an input record. The internal nodes of the tree summarize and organize sets of input records. Methods are provided for reducing the amount of storage space used by cutting off the tree when the size of sets go below a given threshold, and sharing parts of the tree so that each record does not appear n! times in the database.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic testing device for use in responding to questions of quizzes periodically provided in an educational text book. The testing device itself comprises a rectangular housing either permanently or removably affixed to the back cover of the book, an input section for entering selected answers corresponding to the questions, a logic section for comparing the selected answers with correct answers programmed into memory and an output section for providing immediate and enjoyable audio-visual feedback to the user. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a small and compact rectangular housing adapted for permanent affixation or removable attachment to a protruded edge of the back cover of a specific educational book. Alternatively, the device may form a small, portable unit that can be detached from the book for use with quizzes of a plurality of different text books.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a database system for organizing large amounts of data to be accessed by a digital computer. More particularly, a free form type database, in the form of a summarized, multikey tree, is built from files stored on the computer. After a building operation, the user obtains specified information by using the summarized database. Information in the files is divided into three categories; that is, a dimension field which comprises data to be organized, a summary field which comprises a numeric quantity on which calculations can be performed, and a non-summary field which comprises other information associated with an input record. The internal nodes of the tree summarize and organize sets of input records. Methods are provided for reducing the amount of storage space used by cutting off the tree when the size of sets go below a given threshold, and sharing parts of the tree so that each record does not appear n! times in the database.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a database system for organizing large amounts of data to be accessed by a digital computer. More particularly, a free form type database, in the form of a summarized, multikey tree, is built from files stored on the computer. After a building operation, the user obtains specified information by using the summarized database. Information in the files is divided into three categories; that is, a dimension field which comprises data to be organized, a summary field which comprises a numeric quantity on which calculations can be performed, and a non-summary field which comprises other information associated with an input record. The internal nodes of the tree summarize and organize sets of input records. Methods are provided for reducing the amount of storage space used by cutting off the tree when the size of sets go below a given threshold, and sharing parts of the tree so that each record does not appear n! times in the database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible, telescoping device for the sorting and storing of papers in an office. The paper sorter device comprises a series of sequentially smaller frames configured to nest into one another so as to conserve space when not in use. In addition, the device is adapted to be mounted on a wall or other vertical surface so as to not add to congestion on the surface of a desk, whether or not in use.

Abstract: A transmitter is mounted for movement with a skier or other self-propelled sportsman and transmits ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves toward the stationary medium over which the skier or sportsman is moving. An element of the same transmitter or a separate transducer detects waves reflected from the stationary medium. A computer calculates the speed of the skier or sportsman from the Doppler shift of the reflected waves and actuates a readout unit to indicate the speed to the skier or sportsman. The readout system has a head-mounted display including a character generator and a semitransparent reflector in which the character generator is viewed so that the speed indication appears superposed over the normal background in the viewing direction.

Abstract: An instrument for making graphic designs on walls or ceilings, including an elongated member having a plurality of rigid sections joined together by a unitary, integral flexible portion, center-line apertures spaced along the longitudinal axis of each rigid section providing a pivot point and a plurality of marking points along the instrument, each section having paired edge apertures spacially located along respective, opposite longitudinal edges of each section, and a paint pad having a pair of upstanding lugs for detachably mounting the paint pad at a selected pair of edge apertures to selectively place painted arc segments or stripes on walls or ceilings. A guide member having rollers can be mounted to one end of the instrument to aid in placing vertical or horizontal stripes on walls or ceilings. For very large wall or ceiling surfaces a link member can be used to couple together two instruments.