Abstract: A key mechanism for musical wind instruments such as a saxophone is comprised of a plurality of, generally four sets of, collectively arranged flat finger pieces at least one of which is provided with a sinking incline in a rim portion adjacent to neighboring finger piece or pieces in order to enable smooth shifting of the little finger point on the key mechanism. More preferable, at least one of the finger pieces is provided with a rising incline in a rim portion remote from neighboring finger piece or pieces in order to block excessive finger point shifting.

Abstract: Photographic apparatus for use with film units of the self-developing type. The apparatus includes an elongate member having five extensions which perform a plurality of functions as the elongate member is manually moved between first and second positions. During the movement of the elongate member from the first to the second position, two of the extensions cooperate with a latch to prevent premature movement of the elongate member back into the first position while a third extension engages an exposed film unit and advances it into the bite of a pair of pressure applying rollers. During the movement of the film unit, a fourth extension closes an electrical switch thereby enabling the camera's motor to drive one of the rollers while the fifth extension indexes a film counter.

Abstract: A portable electric lamp structure having a housing, a substantially parabolic reflector mounted on the housing, an incandescent lamp positioned substantially at the focal part of said parabolic reflector, a self-contained direct-current electric power source positioned within the housing, and manual switch means for electrically connecting the power source to the incandescent lamp for energizing same. A curved reflector is disposed adjacent the outer free edge of the parabolic reflector and extends radially outwardly therefrom. A ringlike fluorescent lamp is positioned in front of the curved reflector in concentric relationship with the parabolic reflector, and an inverter is electrically connected to the fluorescent lamp for converting direct current to alternating current. The switch means is electrically connected between the power source and the inverter.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly incorporates a plurality of key members molded of thermoplastic material, each of the keys having an integrally formed pivot wall supported on a pair of pivot points disposed on a pair of pivot members integral with a pivot bracket. A key guide strip for the key member has a pair of vertically aligned projections, for supporting bumpers which guide the forward end of the key member and which provide a cushioning action for noiselessly stopping of upward movement of the key member.

Abstract: On a Hi Hat cymbal stand the upper cymbal is one of conventional design and the lower cymbal is a cupless cymbal with four small air release holes through its central portion, each hole being about 1/2 inch in diameter.

Abstract: A musical toy includes a plurality of tone producing, whistle-like structures arranged in pairs, each tone producing structure connected by a passageway to an hermetically sealed deformable hollow cavity or bulb. Each bulb includes a top generally flat surface having fixed surface area and a resilient, porous biasing agent which inflates the cavities to a predetermined size and configuration. When a cavity is depressed to a deflated position, compressed air is forced through connecting tubes into a sound generating structure thereby producing an audible, musical sound. Eight of the sound generating structures are provided in one apparatus to produce a unit having a full octave of notes. The sealed cavities are provided by selectively laminating a predetermined pattern of seal lines between two sheets of thermoplastic material such as soft, pliable vinyl sheets.

Abstract: A series of magnetized cylindrical rollers are rotatably mounted in spaced transverse channels under a freeway off ramp. Each roller is made of non-magnetic material and has plurality of cavities around its rim in which arcuate bar magnets are mounted. The bar magnets are arranged with like poles adjacent each other to produce magnetic spokes which penetrate the off ramp and extend into the space traversed by vehicles travelling along the off ramp. Motion of the vehicles induces rotation of the magnetic rollers by magnetic interaction with the magnetic spokes. Electrical generators are coupled to the rollers to change their rotary motion into electrical energy.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens assembly for a camera is formed with a bayonet coupling affixed to the lens barrel with both being rotatable relative to an adapter shell. Upon attachment of the lens assembly to a camera housing, a detent pin is retracted from a fitted hole found in a radial flange of the adapter shell and the lens barrel is thereby rendered rotatable together with the bayonet coupling with reference to both the adapter shell and the camera housing while the adapter shell is held stationary relative to the camera housing during mounting and dismounting of the lens assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for series photography using a "still" camera for taking a series of discrete shots on a single frame of film of the subject in motion relative to the camera. A field stop is mounted on a base in front of the camera lens, the distance from the camera and the size of the aperture in the field stop being such that it reduces the effective total field of view of the camera to a portion thereof. The field stop is mounted for displacements in all directions in its plane. An operating member permits the operator to displace the field stop continuously following the displacement of the subject in motion, for example, by means of a movable finder mark mounted on the operating member for movement with respect to a viewfinder frame fixed on the base. In one embodiment the shutter of the camera is employed and in another an additional shutter is mounted between the lens of the camera and the field stop.

Abstract: A double neck string instrument in the nature of an electric guitar adapted for two voice play with one neck extending parallel to the other neck spaced apart therefrom, offset longitudinally thereof, and offset from the plane of the stringed face thereof, so that each hand can play on a different neck without play of one hand on one neck interfering with the play of the other hand on the other neck. Each neck has its own sound pick up.

Abstract: A flash changeover device for a shutter is operative when the exposure operation is performed by cancelling the retention on a shutter blade control in the charged state by the operation of an actuating member which has previously been charged and is actuated by a shutter release operation. The device includes a flash system changeover member, a switching member, a synchronizing switch and wherein the switching member is oscillatably mounted on the changeover member so as to close the synchronizing switch in connection with the operation of the actuating member when the flash system changeover member is set to a first position and to close the synchronizing switch in connection with the shutter blade opening operation of the shutter blade control member when the flash system changeover member is set at a second position. The synchronizing switch has contacts having relative positions which are independent of the position of the changeover member when the synchronizing switch is in the open state.

Abstract: An accessory for use in an instant camera designed for standard film packs and by which the same camera may be used to expose and process film units of reduced image format size prepackaged in corresepondingly sized film packs. The accessory takes the form of a U-shaped housing having exterior planar dimensions to complement the interior planar dimensions of a well in the camera designed to receive a standard film pack. This configuration of the housing establishes a front opening chamber to receive and position the modified film pack of reduced size. The accessory is further configured to retain and position a sheet-like battery in position for supplying electric power to the camera during exposure and processing of a plurality of the reduced sized film packs. Indicating means are also contained in the accessory for informing the camera operator as to the charge level of the storage battery.

Abstract: Bayonet-type attachment apparatus for coupling a lens or similar device to a camera wherein a one-piece, molded plastic annular camera body mount has tapered and resilient engagement claws which wedge, in the axial direction of the mount, between annularly parallel and oppositely facing engagement surfaces of the comating annular mount which is attached to the lens or similar device.

Abstract: An open-ended reflector for being positioned within a camera to provide a controlled pattern of light on a rectangular subject field located at a distance, e.g., five feet, from the camera. The reflector includes three specular reflective surfaces and a fourth surface having a ribbed diffusing region thereon. These four surfaces are oriented in such a manner that the mechanical axis through the reflector's open end will be offset from the reflector's optical axis when viewed from in front of the reflector.

Abstract: Shifting of the image plane during multiple exposure photography is prevented by releasing the unwinding button and a film locking member after the shutter operation. The release mechanism is preferably operated by an electromagnet used in the shutter operation.

Abstract: A base drum pedal assembly is disclosed and includes a foot pedal for operating a beater head, the foot pedal including a foot plate which is slidably mounted on a support coupled to the beater head and which is biased towards a rest position. In use, the player depresses the foot pedal and can, at the same time, slide the foot plate forward against its biasing. At the end of a stroke, the pedal returns upwardly and the foot plate is returned to its rest position by said biasing means.

Abstract: In a lamp shade of the type comprising a plurality of panels, preferably glass panels, held together by a support system having stiff collars at the corners of the panels and connecting members connecting together groups of said collars, some of the connecting members are formed as elastic members, as a result of which the support system holds the panels together into a lamp shade of a desired polyhedral configuration under the tension of the elastic members. The support system may be preassembled and compacted to a small size for storage, packing or shipping in such state together with a stacked pack of the panels to be used therewith, permitting final assembly of the panels to the support system by the ultimate consumer in a very short time without the need for tools. There results a decrease in space and fragility during storage, shipping and handling, with attendant cost savings.

Abstract: A film pack for small format, self-processing film sheet assemblies and by which such film sheet assemblies may be exposed and processed by instant camera designed for larger format, standard film sheets. The small format film pack has the same exterior dimension as the standard film pack but positions the small format sheet properly for exposure in the camera. Movement of a camera carried film pick is transmitted to the reduced format film sheets by a pick relay which may include a mechanism for amplifying the distance of camera pick movement. A mask is provided for the camera viewfinder to correlate the size of a subject image to that of the reduced image format of the film sheets.

Abstract: An accessory for use in an instant camera designed for standard film packs and by which the same camera can be used to expose and process self-processing film sheet assemblies of reduced image format size prepackaged in corresponding sized film packs. The accessory is in the nature of a U-shaped housing having exterior planar dimensions to complement the interior planar dimensions of a well in the camera for receiving a standard film pack. The U-shaped configuration of the housing defines a recess to receive and position the modified film pack of reduced size. The accessory carries movement transmitting relays by which actuation of a camera mounted switch is energized by insertion of the modified film pack and by which movement of a camera carried pick is transmitted to an accessory pick for initial ejecting movement of an exposed film sheet from the modified pack.

Abstract: An accordion support apparatus having an elongated flexible belt surrounding the waist of the player. The belt is hooked to a ring attached to a link. The link has an end fastened to the lower part of the treble section of an accordion. The weight of the accordion is transferred through the link to the belt surrounding the waist of the player. The link has a structure for adjusting the length of the link to enable the player to move the accordion to a convenient playing position when the player is standing or seated.