Abstract: A muffler for muffling engine operating sound and including a double-walled cylindrical shell closed at opposite ends by double-walled closure caps. The space between the shell walls is filled with sound-absorbing solid particles. The shell is partitioned into three axially contiguous chambers. A gas charging pipe projects through one closure cap and axially within the shell, and has two pairs of facing discharge elbows for discharging gas from the charging pipe at locations in the first chamber. A first pair of gas transfer pipes extends from the first chamber into the central chamber to points of opposed gas discharge. A second pair of gas transfer pipes extends from the central chamber into the third or discharge chamber, and from this location, the gas passes out of the muffler via a discharge pipe.

Abstract: A close-up photography device includes an intermediate device of extensible and retractable type adapted to be mounted on a camera body, and a lens barrel for close-up photography adapted to be mounted on the intermediate device and arranged to be able to vary at least a focal length for variable-magnification photography. The intermediate device has a first moving member arranged to move according to the amount of extension or retraction. The lens barrel has a second moving member arranged to move to vary the focal length. The first moving member and the second moving member are arranged to be interlocked with each other when the lens barrel is mounted on the intermediate device. An interlocking relation between the first moving member and the second moving member are set so that the focal length of the lens barrel is varied so as not to change a focusing state at an image forming position of the camera body by the extension or retraction of the intermediate device.

Abstract: A hearing protection system includes a pair of assemblies each composed of an ear plug, ear plug retainer, and attachment member. The ear plug is a plastic foam body resiliently compressible for conforming to a user's ear canal. The body has an axial bore at its rear end and a conical exterior surface convergently tapering from rear to front end. Axially spaced outwardly projecting annular shoulders are formed about the conical exterior surface of the body for engaging the user's ear canal. The ear plug retainer has stem, stop and connecting portions rigidly interconnected from one to the next. The stem portion is an elongated shaft attached at one end to the stop portion and insertable at an opposite and into the bore in the ear plug body. The shaft has a plurality of axially spaced outwardly projecting annular ridges for providing an interference fit within the ear plug bore. The stop portion abuts the rear end of the ear plug for limiting insertion of the stem portion into the ear plug bore.

Abstract: A camera with a zoom lens for keeping in focus at a moving (proceeeding to or receding from the lens) object while the lens is zoomed and the magnification of the object is maintained constant. In the process, at every focal length of the zoom lens, the focusing lens group is shifted from a predetermined position (in an embodiment, it is the position of the focusing lens group where an object at infinity is focused on the film surface) by a distance C.multidot..beta., where C is a constant and .beta. is the maintained magnification. The constant C depends on the lens configuration; two examples are shown in the description of the embodiments.

Abstract: When there is relative movement, at a speed above a critical value, between the trailing edge of a body, such as a hydrofoil or aerofoil section, and a fluid, the fluid flow tends to form a pattern of discrete swirling vortices. Vortex shedding at each side of the trailing edge alternately can cause resonance or "singing" of the section. The effect of this phenomenon is reduced by forming contiguous triangular flat-faced notches in the major surfaces of the section, adjacent the trailing edge, but leaving the profile of the leading edge substantially undistrubed. The notches in one major surface are preferably staggered relative to those in the other major surface.

Abstract: A diaphragm for acoustic equipment wherein a surface-hardened layer of SiC film is formed on the surface of the diaphragm substrate comprising a completely carbonaceous film. Thus, the diaphragm for acoustic equipment having superior acoustic characteristics by utilizing the superior physical characteristics of carbon can be used effectively as a diaphragm for digital-audio equipment which are now very popular.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stringed musical instrument such as an electronic guitar, a guitar synthesizer, an electronic violin and an acoustic guitar. A fret structure member is formed by integrally forming a plurality of frets. The fret structure member is molding in a neck portion or fingerboard so as to project a head portion of each of said frets from a fingerboard surface of said neck portion or said fingerboard molded by a synthetic resin. Each base end portion of said plurality of frets is integrally molding in said neck portion or said fingerboard molded by said synthetic resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for facilitating the continuous exposure of laminar photosensitive materials placed in contact with original films. The machine includes a planar slit through which the photosensitive materials are guided, the slit being defined by a rigid planar plate of light-transparent material which is superposed on a flexible supporting and sliding surface and acts thereon with a predetermined force to ensure the contact of the photosensitive materials. Light-emitting devices are further located beyond the plate on the side opposite to the supporting surface, and at least one pair of motorized conveyor rollers is arranged upstream of the inlet of the guiding slit for continuously advancing the photosensitive materials.

Abstract: Uniform oscillating movement is imparted to a toy by a tappet rod from an output shaft of a music box drive source by a connecting rod having its opposite ends pivotally connected to a cam assembly on the output shaft and a cam follower arm on the tappet rod to define two pivot axes therewith, whereby rotation of the cam assembly imparts an oscillating movement to the tappet rod at a uniform speed through both halves of each oscillation.

Abstract: The leg of a cello, a double bass or an analogous relatively large bowed stringed musical instrument is prevented from directly contacting and scuffing and/or otherwise damaging the floor by an attachment which has a carrier member separably connectable to the leg and a supporting member which is permanently or separably connected to the carrier member and permanently or separably supports a hemispherical or conical floor contacting element of soft elastomeric material, preferably a material which contains or consists of silicone. The carrier member and/or the supporting member can be made of a metallic material.

Abstract: A device for removeably supporting a stringed instrument in playing position, of the type comprising a large sound box with strings mounted thereover that extend along a narrow neck, comprising a wide, waist-encircling belt defined by spaced-apart upper and lower edges, terminated by spaced-apart ends and including inter-connecting Velcro pads for attaching the belt about one's waist in overlap fashion, a first short length of flexible strap attached to one end to the belt, a second short length of flexible strap attached at one end to the instrument, spaced-apart from the neck, inter-connectable buckle halves for temporarily inter-connecting the first and the second straps to provide support for a portion of the weight of the instrument while providing room to lift the instrument away from the belt, and a shaped bracket including a shank portion including screws for mounting on the back surface of the sound box spaced-apart from the point of attachment of the second strap, a wide, downwardly angling hook por

Abstract: A physical shape-conformable, disposable, self-sustaining sound dampening unit adapted to attach to the air exhaust of a pair of electric motors to dampen the noise produced by the same, which comprises:a body member formed of a thin imperforate film outer layer and a polymer foam inner layer lining the interior of said body member and having two inlet ports and at least one outlet port, the body having an interior pathway between the inlet ports and the outlet port, said inlet and outlet ports being disposed so that the incoming airstream impinges on an interior closed foam covered wall of said body and is made to turn at a right angle before reaching said outlet port.

Abstract: A loudspeaker cabinet which is formulated from a nonfoamed, molded, filled polymer having between 20-90% inert filler and a density of between 1.0-6.0 gm/cm.sup.3. Preferably the polymer is a polyester.

Abstract: An image forming device including a photosensitive member, a development device and a thermal treating device is provided to form an image on a sheet of paper. The development device uses pressure rollers to develop the paper under pressure and includes a mechanism for varying the pressure. A movable shutter controls the amount of radiant heat provided by the thermal treatment device. When the power is turned off, the shutter closes to prevent further heating. The image forming device also includes a device for removing gases formed during the image forming process.

Abstract: A swinging camera includes a distance measuring section, an automatic release section, a rotating section, an angle detecting section, a determining section, a storage section, and a control section. The rotating section rotates the camera within one plane. The angle detecting section detects a rotational angle of the camera set by the rotating section and outputs rotational angle data. The determining section operates the distance measuring section in unit of a predetermined angle while the camera is rotated by at least one revolution by operating the rotating section prior to photography, and determines on the basis of output distance data and/or rotational angle data whether objects to be photographed are people. The storage section stores only rotational angle data of objects determined to be people, of rotational angle data output from the angle detecting section.

Abstract: An autofocusing system for a camera having a photographic lens including a focusing lens group and a zooming lens group, and a focus-lock means for inhibiting the driving of the focusing lens group once the photographic lens is brought into an in-focus condition. However, when the zooming lens group is thereafter driven, a re-focusing operation, or focus-correction operation, is executed.

Abstract: An electroacoustic diaphragm is provided, which diaphragm comprising a pyrolytic graphite film obtained from a polymer selected from polyoxadiazole, an aromatic polyimide obtained by polycondensation or pyromellitic acid and an aromatic diamine, polybenzthiazole, polybenzbisthiazole, polybenzoxazole, polybenzbisoxazole, poly(pyromellitimide), poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide). poly(m-phenylenebenzoimidazole), poly(m-phenylenebenzobisimidazole), polythiazole and poly-p-phenylenevinylene. The graphite film has a discontinuous layer of a polymeric material formed on and in the film whereby not only good electroacoustic characteristics, but also good mechanical strength and good adhesion of an adhesive applied thereof are obtained. A method for fabricating such diaphragm is also described.

Abstract: An electrode element for an electrolytic capacitor comprises an electrode body having a plurality of ultra-fine, ribbon-shaped filaments of Al and X (where X is selected from Nb and Ta) interspersed and aligned along an axis of the body. The Al filaments are preferentially removed from a portion of the electrode body to provide a large surface area electrode surface comprising exposed end surfaces of the Al filaments and exposed lengths of the X filaments protruding beyond the exposed end surfaces of the Al filaments. Dielectric oxide films are formed on the exposed surfaces of the Al filaments and on the exposed lengths of the X filaments by an anodizing operation. A solid or liquid electrolyte is infiltrated into interfilament interstices between the exposed lengths of the X filaments and a cathode electrode is placed in electrically conductive relation to the electrolyte to form an electrolytic capacitor.

Abstract: An improved muffler including a body 2 with an exhaust inlet 3 in the form of a porous pipe enclosed in s second porous pipe 31 for diffusing exhaust gases into the interior of body 2. A pair of pipes 5 introduce ambient air into the discharge region of the muffler. A constricted discharge opening 41 of the body 2 encircles the pipes 5 and confine helical vanes 51 which impart a helical path to the exhaust gases just before mixing with ambient air from the pipes 5. A venturi section 6 with a bell shaped outlet 62 completes the tailpipe section 4. An auxiliary air inlet 43 to the venturi 6 adds additional ambient air to the final outlet via ports 63. In an additional embodiment (FIG. 8), the venturi section 113 is within the muffler body 100. A constricted tube 121 provides a direct path for a portion of the exhaust gases while the major quantity of exhaust gases traverse the helical paths defined by the vanes 123.

Abstract: The device reduces the intensity of noises with localized outlet like those present in the exhaust pipes of endothermic motors, making use of sound-interferences determined by an elastic vibration by means of springs (10) or (12) or (15) of a rigid rod (6) having its fulcrum in (11) and passing through coupled tubes (1) and (2). The acoustic waves spreading in the exhaust and acting onto blade (7) out of one piece with said rod (6) inside the exhaust pipe (1), determine the vibration of the corresponding blade (8) out of one piece with the opposite part of said rod (6) and housed in the coupled pipe (2) so as to generate vibrations in perfect phase opposition interfering at the exhaust pipe's outlet, thus anulling or strongly reducing the noise.