Abstract: A sound activated fountain display. A plurality of transducers are disposed on the bottom of the pool of a fountain display with the fountain being normally off. Whenever a coin is tossed into the fountain's pool, the sound waves generated by the coin are received by the transducers, activating the fountain display. By gating the responses of the various transducers, the area of the pool in which the coin was tossed may be identified. In this manner, the display may be caused to be directed to that area of the pool, customizing the display for that particular viewer. If desired, the fountain display may be in a central pool with separate "satellite" coin pools surrounding the fountain and for activating the fountain display.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for producing a laminar output of fluid which is substantially turbulence free. The present invention utilizes an input tank or enclosure which includes turbulence reducing and flow straightening devices for producing a turbulent free output flow of water. This enclosure uses a tangential input port to introduce water to the enclosures which results in much more uniform and controllable flow profiles of the water through the device. The entire device may be situated entirely beneath the surface of a pool, pond or fountain, with a clear glass or plastic tube extending above the water level to provide a visibly nonintrusive protective path for the laminar output flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating a kinetic water display is provided having a plurality of water jets for outputting streams of water and also having a transparent plate of clear glass or acrylic material. The transparent plate is disposed proximate to and in opposing relationship to the streams of water such that the streams impinge upon the inner surface of the transparent plate thereby forming at least one kinetic shape comprised of ambient air and water upon the inner surface of the transparent plate.

Abstract: An underwater lighting system for the illumination of decorative water displays and the like is disclosed. Each light in a typical lighting system is disposed below the surface of the water, with the light source having a flat lens to avoid the spreading of the rays due to the index of refraction of the water. Disposed over the light source with the upper surface thereof above the water surface and the lower surface thereof below the water surface is a light guide for allowing the passage of light therethrough substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces, though at the same time substantially inhibiting light from passing therethrough which is not substantially perpendicular to the surfaces of the light guide, at least with respect to one transverse axis thereof. In this manner, the normal diffusing of underwater lighting encountered in water display caused by ripples in the pool are avoided because of the upper surface of the light guide being above the water level.

Abstract: A non-dripping sweat band that encircles the users head between the hairline and eyebrows with loose ends secured by quick release fasteners behind the user's head. The ban has a tube-like body formed by a porous cloth cover (e.g., cotton) which is bias cut to form panels on each side of a lengthwise fold. A strip of porous, thick batting material (e.g., Dacron polyester pad) is sewn lengthwise to the cloth cover and also to the edges of the panels. The assembly is turned inside out whereby the cloth cover is exterior of the tubular batting material which extends between the temples. Velcro strips can be attached to the loose ends of the body. The band is pulled into a flat belt-like band across the user's brow so as to wick sweat sideways away from the eyes and towards the sideburns where excess perspiration can be released. The band resumes a tubular configuration upon relaxation of the tensioning forces to promote quick drying after washing.

Abstract: A powdered talc-containing material useful, for example, as a parting agent or compound, containing talc together with at least one organic compound which possesses good adhesion properties with respect to talc. The powdered materials preferably contain 1-15% of the said organic compounds, for example, high molecular number organic compounds formed by distillation fractionation of mineral oil having a boiling point exceeding 200.degree. C; aryl and alkyl esters; aryl and alkyl amides of benzene; alkane, alkene and alkyne carboxcylic acids or the corresponding dicarboxcylic acids; polyalcohols; glycerine; silica oil and silicone oil; and secondary alkyl sulphates. The preferred agents are dioctyl phthalate and a combination of glycerine with secondary alkyl sulphate.