Abstract: A device for dissipating static charge collected on the surface of an aircraft window having a plurality of electroconductive film elements on the outboard surface of the aircraft window. The elements are electrically interconnected and grounded such that charges accumulated by the film elements passed there along to the ground. An electrical window heating system may be incorporated into the plies of the window.

Abstract: A charge-removing device intended to eliminate electrostatic charge from a thin dielectric strip, and in particular a rolled dielectric film. The device comprises at least two electrically conductive rolls (4,5) forming electrodes which are subjected to a potential difference by a low frequency high tension source. These rolls are parallel and come into transverse contact at the same time with respective faces of a thin strip dielectric (1) passing therebetween. The invention is applicable, in particular, to electrostatic type printers.

Abstract: A camera of a preliminary winding type in which a film in a patrone is previously taken out from the patrone to roll it round a spool and, each time one frame photographing is completed, the film is rewound into the patrone by one frame in photographing. The camera comprises a motor, a preliminary winding mechanism, a frame-by-frame rewinding mechanism, a focal length varying mechanism, first and second planetary clutch mechanisms, and an engagement mechanism for locking the first planetary clutch mechanism, and is capable of switching the power transmission to the preliminary winding, frame-by-frame rewinding and focal length varying mechanisms by changing the direction of rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor having an anode body which is punched from aluminum sheet, etched and folded, and provided with a dielectric oxide layer by electrolytic oxidation, which dielectric oxide layer is covered with a semiconducting oxide-layer on which a conducting layer and leads are provided. In order to prevent contamination of the portion of the anode tag 9 to which the lead has to be welded, the anode tag 9 is designed with one or more diversions or branches 124, 25, 27, 29 in and/or out of the original plane, so that one or more apertures or recesses are formed between the relevant diversion or branch and the upper side of the anode body with a projected height of at least 0.8 mm.

Abstract: The action mechanism of a piano is supported directly from a back structure of the piano and is adjustable relative to strings of the piano prior to assembly of the complete piano, the supports for the action mechanism being attached directly to back posts of the back structure, which act to absorb noises created in the action mechanism and inhibit the transmission of vibrations and noises produced in the action mechanism to the strings and soundboard of the piano.

Abstract: An educational method and apparatus for teaching reading of music to a musical instrument user. One display case is utilized with a treble clef indicia. Another display case is utilized with a base clef indicia. Each case contains unlabeled compartments arranged to represent lines and spaces of the base and treble clefs. Utilizing the prinicpal of memory association in conjunction with flash cards, each note of the scale is represented on a flash card in the form of a noun which begins with the letter for the note it represents. A note location chart is used initially by the user to place each of the flash cards in the compartments of each display case. A fixed number of cards are used. The time to remove each of the cards from a display case is clocked as an audio tape verbally indicates the memory aid, the name of the note and the sound of the note. A card is removed each time a note is generated, the exercise being clocked until all of the cards are removed from a case.

Abstract: A training and device for a percussion instrument comprising a guide means of at least one ramp forming a slide guide attached to the percussion instrument. The ramp guides the musician's sticks in a sliding movement to and from the diaphragm of the percussion instrument while freeing the musician from constant attention to the position of the sticks.

Abstract: For preventing a fall board of a keyboard instrument from crashing against a key slip of the keyboard instrument, there is disclosed a fall board assembly comprising (a) a fall board having a boss portion and a covering plate portion extending from the boss portion and (b) a pair of rotary dampers provided between the boss portion of the fall board and side arms of the keyboard instrument, respectively, and operative to allow the fall board to move between first and second angular positions, and the keyboard is covered with the covering plate portion of the fall board in the first angular position but exposed to a player in the second angular position, wherein the rotary dampers produce a damping effect against the rotation of the fall board when the fall board rotates from the second angular position to the first angular position.

Abstract: A light-weight, manually-operable security camera for photographing a person and a person's documentation in a single exposure. A camera with a first lens positioned for providing an image of a person standing in front of the camera and a second lens for providing an image of a document on a horizontal surface, and a drive mechanism for driving a single shutter and for advancing film in the film magazine, with the drive mechanism also including a lever for actuation by the person taking the photographs, and an extension spring and one-way clutch mechanism interconnecting the lever and the shutter and film advance means to assure that the lever is fully depressed and the film advanced, before a second set of photographs is attempted.

Abstract: A clear plastic hollow guitar body 20 with sides 25 which are vacuum formed together and having an attached back 24 and a colored liquid 32 which has the ability to be changed to a different color by draining from drain hole 33 and refilling through fill hole 34. It has waterproof electronic pickup boxes 26 attached inside the body and connected by tubes 27 to the volume switches 28, the off and on switches 29, and the input jack 30, thus making all electronic parts moisture proof.

Abstract: A loud-speaker is combined with a device for producing lighting speakers is covered by two discs provided with openings and, for example, being formed of a grating. The inner disc of the discs, which is facing the speaker cone is rotatable, whereas the outer disc is stationary. Rotation of the rotatable disc is driven either via a motor or via driver members fixed to the speaker cone of the loud-speaker which are actuated by transmission of the vibrations of the speaker cone to the rotating disc in order to provide rotating movement. Light sources for illuminating the surface of the inner or, respectively, outer disc, which is facing the light sources, are provided either within the speaker cone or outside of the loud-speaker. The lighting effects are then generated by the rotation of the inner disc.

Abstract: An adjustable, conductive body strap utilizing a connector securing a strip of material held in a closed loop with a mechanical connector with the interior surface of the strip of material being electrically conductive. An electrical connector connects the conductive surface of the strip of material to a connection point to provide for external electrical ground connection. The mechanical connector secures one end of the strip of material in place. The mechanical connector is formed from an electrically insulative outer piece and an electrically conductive inner piece which has a slot through which the opposite end of the strip of material which is adjustably secured back on itself intermediate the mechanical connector.

Abstract: A musical wall hanging, in the shape of a decorative figurine, has no forwardly visible music box or mechanism for actuating a music box retained therein. The wall hanging includes a body member with an upper wall attachment device and a lower opening in which is mounted a music box. An actuator mechanism extends outwardly from a back surface of the body member so that when the body member is forced towards the wall the music box is activated.

Abstract: A shoe ground strap which has a static dissipative exposed surface and offers protection against static charges building on the wearer and offers protection against electrical hazards if contacting a source of electrical power. The strap comprises a band comprising a conductive metal ribbon, a static dissipative material and an adhesive layer to aid in holding the strap to the shoe, with at least the surface and the two edges of the band covered by said static dissipative material to expose only the static dissipative material.

Abstract: A device for adjusting a reed for a clarinet, or the like, said device having a reed guide base and an adjusting spatula having a curved end portion with a file bonded thereto for adjusting the thickness of the reed.

Abstract: A plastic violin is provided with means for compensating for change of tension in the violin strings due to dimensional instability of the plastic caused by variations in temperature or pressure. The plastic violin comprises an elongated bar below the finger board and is bonded thereto. An elongated stabilizing bar is placed in the hollow portion of the violin body and has a proximal end which abuts an upright portion or identation in the reinforcing bar and a distal end which is received by a threaded compensating screw which is manipuable to bias the proximal end of the stabilizing bar against the surface of the indented upright portion of the reinforcing bar.

Abstract: This invention relates to an acoustic stringed instrument having a resonance body, characterized in that an elongated opening is formed on the surface of a surface plate of the resonance body in its transverse direction, a bridge number to which one of the ends of each string is fixed and which has a protrusive sectional shape is fitted into the elongate opening in such a manner that only the protrusive portion of the lower bridge is exposed to the surface of the surface plate, and a step portion of the bridge number is bonded around the periphery of the elongate opening on the back of the surface plate.

Abstract: A suspended idiophone is described in which a plate of sonorous material is formed along an axis in a manner by which the plate will be capable of expanding and contracting resiliently to produce an acoustical vibrato. The musical sound produced by the present idiophone will resemble that produced by a standard cymbal or gong with the addition of vibrato afforded through the particular configuration due to resiliency of material along an axis. When sounded, the resilient material will oscillate axially to produce the vibrato effect.

Abstract: A camera comprising a document table for placing a document thereon, a photographing assembly for photographing the document on the table on a film on a reduced scale, and a marking assembly for photographing on the film a size mark corresponding to the size of the photographed image. When documents of different sizes are photographed on the same reduced scale by the photographing assembly, the corresponding size mark provided by the marking assembly is also photographed on the film in the vicinity of each film image. Such size marks recorded serve as image size data when the film images are thereafter copied by a reader-printer or printer on an enlarged scale, and are useful for automatically selecting copy paper of suitable size.

Abstract: An electrostatic grounding system for work surfaces having a covering such as a laminate covering, which includes a conductive layer to carry static charges. The system includes a grounded conductive plug in the work surface. To maximize the area of contact between the plug and conductive layer, the plug has a head with a tapered circumference which may also include ridges to further maximize the area of contact. Also set forth is the plug and a device for grounding a person through the work surface and plug.