Abstract: A lap top keyboard is provided having an outwardly curved center for user mfort and efficiency. The lap support on an underside of the keyboard is recessed, allowing the keyboard to extend downward to an outside of the user's thighs.

Abstract: The improved coupler in combination with a mailing machine base having a postage meter base. A postage meter is insertable and removable from a receptacle. The receptacle is mounted within a base and includes a lock engagement assembly for locking the postage meter in the receptacle. The mailing machine also includes a tape feed assembly having a first drive assembly for positioning the tape feed assembly to a first position and a second position and a second drive assembly for motivating the tape feed assembly. The coupler includes a link coupled to the feed assembly at one end for translating lateral displacement of the feed assembly to rotational displacement of a cam surface formed on the other end of the link. A following lever rides along the cam surface and causes the lock engagement assembly to be coupled to the second drive assembly only when the feed assembly in the first position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an autofocus system for cameras with a separator (4) to split the object (2) in an autofocus measuring field (3) viewed through the camera lens (1) into two beams to determine the distance of the object (2) from the film plane (30). A control system which sets the focus of the camera lens (1) in accordance with the measured distance by means of servomotors or similar is provided to control the focusing of the camera lens (1). The invention provides for the autofocus measuring field (3) to be displaced such that it occupies any desired location within the frame (14).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a thermal fixing unit which includes a heater to thermally fix an image on a recording medium. The temperature in the apparatus goes down when a replaceable unit is exchanged. A temperature sensor detects the reduction in temperature. A status sensor detects an exchanging state in which the replaceable unit is exchanged and outputs a detection signal indicating the exchanging state. A CPU judges that the heater is properly operating even if the temperature signal indicates the reduction in temperature when the detection signal is outputted.

Abstract: A photographic printer has a light source for illuminating negative film. A filter turret is disposed rotatably across an optical path from the light source, and is rotated by a stepping motor. A scanner is provided for measuring light. The turret is stopped in a predetermined position other than a position which keeps the photometric opening in the turret fully open, in order to reduce a light amount passed through from the light source. Data for the predetermined stop position is stored in a memory. A controller controls rotation of the stepping motor by reading out the stop position in order to detect a position taken by a picture frame on negative film. The memory also stores three other predetermined stop positions to stop respective color filters in offset positions in order to reduce a light amount at the time of three color separation photometry. With the invention, a conventionally used ND filter can be omitted while detecting the picture frame and three color separation photometry.

Abstract: A foldable stick bag for drumsticks, the stick bag being configured to be removably mounted to a drummer's stool and support a plurality of drumsticks in a readily accessible configuration at the sides of the drummer's stool. The stick bag is fabricated from a fabric-like material and with a seat portion that generally corresponds to the profile of the seat of the drummer's stool. A skirt depends downwardly from the periphery of the seat portion and supports a plurality of open-top pockets into which the drumsticks are inserted. Partial platforms in the pockets allow the drummer to selectively elevate preselected drumsticks above the rest of the drumsticks in the pockets. A cover encloses the exposed portions of the drumsticks and can be folded behind the drumsticks when the stick bag is mounted on the drummer's stool. A handle is secured to the skirt along with a bundling strap. The bundling strap secures the stick bag as a bundle with the handle exposed to accommodate hand carrying of the stick bag.

Abstract: A speaker installing holder comprising the device a fixed plate having at least two hook members upwardly projected at its ends, said hook members being detachably insertable into insertion holes formed on a chassis; a vertical wall vertically extended from the inside of said fixed plate; and an inclined wall inwardly extended from said vertical wall in an inclined manner, all the above parts being integrally formed. A speaker can be installed in a simple manner by placing a speaker into the space of the holder body, and press-fitting the hook members into the insertion holes, with the result that the productivity is improved.

Abstract: An external pinion type odometer, in which the outer diameter of at least a lower digit wheel, a surface portion of which has numbers stamped, is made smaller than the outer diameter of the lower digit wheel, another surface portion of which slidingly contacts with a wide tooth of the corresponding transfer pinion. The stamped numbers do not contact with the wide teeth of the transfer pinion, thereby excluding the likelihood that the stamped numbers will come to peel off.

Abstract: A capo for simultaneously adjusting the pitch of a stringed musical instrument. A worm-and-sector gear provides for adjusting the pressure exerted on the strings of the instrument.

Abstract: In a photographic copy process the copy master is scanned in intervals by a source of measuring light. The measuring light is spectrally split, detected and converted into electrical measuring signals. The n spectral measuring signals are converted into n spectral density values, compared with neutral densities and n spectral density differences formed. In a data compression the n spectral density differences are converted by an orthogonal transformation to m<n transformation coefficients. The transformation coefficients are analyzed in a color and density correction routine and deviations computed. From the deviations the copy light quantities and exposure corrections adjusted to the copy material are determined. The photographic copies are produced by the exposure values determined.

Abstract: A plastic actuator for a postage meter is provided with a resilient extension having a plurality of detents adapted to engage a detent post at fixed positions of the actuator. The extension is not stressed at these fixed positions, and is not subject to any stresses greater than the yield point during rotation.

Abstract: A contact printer for producing graphic material, such as engraving plates, by exposing a metallic surface by means of a light source emitting ultra-violet light. The light source is situated in a box with a lid which can be tipped up. Inside the box, a vacuum frame is provided which can be tipped down from a horizontal position below the lid to an inclined position for the exposure. The resulting apparatus is very compact, and simultaneously, an almost uniform exposure over the entire metallic surface is achieved.

Abstract: A photographic camera comprises a camera body having a pair of opposite ends and respective front openings for a taking ends and a viewfinder situated between the opposite ends, and a pair of cover parts normally substantially encasing the camera body. According to the invention, the camera body and the cover parts are connected for pivotal movement of the cover parts relative to the camera body to a convering or closed position encasing the camera body and to a fixed open position removed from the front openings to uncover the taking lens and the viewfinder and to form respective enclosed spaces between the opposite ends and the cover parts to allow one to manually grasp the cover parts at separate locations extended from the opposite ends.

Abstract: A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope, which is used to control the quantity of illuminating light when a photograph is to taken through the endoscope.

Abstract: A protective casing (1) for optical instruments, particularly for video cameras, having a tubular casing shell (2) with a sealed front wall (3) added to the respective end, a backwall (4), an instrument support (11) placed within the casing shell and rigidly connected to the backwall, and a casing support (9) placed outside the casing shell for the attachment of the protective casing (1) on a stationary support (12). The electrical connections pass through the backwall (4), and the casing shell can be removed from the backwall of the instrument support (11). In order to facilitate the assembly, the instrument support (11) has a U-shaped section forming a trough open on the top with two parallel side walls and a crossbar connecting both sidewalls, and the inner side of the side walls are equipped with several grooves located parallel to the casing axis in order to allow the insertion of at least one instrument support plate at adjustable heights.

Abstract: A camera body has an elongate recess which is dimensioned to receive a looped wrist strap to substantially integrate the wrist strap with the camera body. When the wrist strap is in the elongate recess, it slightly protrudes from the recess to permit it to be used further as a fixed hand grip for the camera body.

Abstract: A speaker grill assembly, which comprises a grill constructed to support a speaker on a wall. The grill includes a body having an opening through which the speaker emits sounds and a passageway through which the body may be connected to the wall. A perforated screen constructed to cover the opening and passageway in the body of said grill detachably is connected to the grill. A pad is constructed to prevent viewing the opening and passageway in the body of the grill while permitting the sound emitted by the speaker to pass substantially unimpaired therethrough. The pad is disposed between the grill and the perforated screen when the grill and the preforated screen are fastened to one another.

Abstract: A camera having a variable focal length lens, a strobe unit and a light receiver which receives light reflected from an object to be photographed is disclosed. An acceptance angle varying apparatus includes an acceptance angle varying device for varying the acceptance angle of the light receiver in accordance with the focal length of the variable focal length lens and a drive for moving the acceptance angle varying device in association with the focal length of the variable focal length lens.

Abstract: A photographic color copying apparatus and an exposure control process includes measuring filters variable as a function of the spectral sensitivities of different copy materials, in particular electro-optical filters. The variable measuring filters are constructed in the manner of Solc filters or Lyot-Ohman filters and include polarizers and electro-optical crystals, preferably liquid crystals.

Abstract: The invention is an electric guitar that has seven strings and a scale length of 25.5 inches. The highest string is a "top A" string that provides the guitarist access to higher notes than is available on a conventional guitar. This seven string guitar is constructed on a solid body and has a neck with twenty-four frets. The neck has "pronounced tapering" such that the proportionate relationship of the neck at the 24th fret and at the nut is greater in the present relationship than in the Fender Stratocaster guitar. The solid body has cut-aways on each side of the neck to permit fingering access to all the frets. The guitar has staggered headmachines so that the headmachine upon which the "top A" string is wound has a shorter post than those headmachines upon which the lower strings are wound. The guitar also has a vibrator bridge unit that is firmly connected to the solid body by two connecting screws and less than firmly attached to the solid body by two stabilizing screws.