Abstract: An apparatus for receiving high-speed bursts of input news-type text data and displaying this data on a low-speed LED matrix display is disclosed. The input data is placed into one of two circular input buffers, one buffer is for regular stories and the other buffer is for "flash" or particularly important stories. The stories in the flash buffer are displayed prior to regular stories with several modes of interrupting available. When the contents of the buffers reach a first certain predetermined limit, paragraphs subsequent to the first paragraph of stories are discarded prior to display. Likewise, when the contents of the buffers reach a second certain predetermined limit, all paragraphs of the stories are discarded prior to display and only the headline is displayed.

Abstract: Apparatus for reliably anchoring a vertical shaft to various types of earth. The apparatus includes an anchor pin having a helically coiled portion at the lower end thereof designed to be screwed into the ground, and a shaft holder releasably attached to the anchor pin and having a shaft-receiving opening through which a shaft carrying a load to be anchored is adapted to be extended. The shaft-receiving opening is laterally offset from its attachments to the anchor pin such that the shaft may be extended fully through the opening and firmly inserted into the ground. The anchoring apparatus of the invention is designed for general use in anchoring vertical shafts carrying various types of loads including umbrellas, birdhouses, signs, flags and the like.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the exercising of body muscles or the like. The device has a body that is provided with a passageway from one side to the other through which can be passed any conventional belt-like member. Positioned within this passageway is a switch operator that is mounted so as to deform when increased tension is applied to the belt-like member. Upon adequate deformation, this operator causes a first switch contact to engage a second switch contact to complete a series electrical circuit containing both an audible and visual signal-generating unit. The spacing between the first and second switch contacts is adjustable by a user at any time, even while in use, to thus adjust the sensitivity of the device. The adjustment feature also provides an "on/off" switch for the device.

Abstract: A rotatable grinding wheel bears against a rotatable wafer disk support wheel to grind the wafer disks to a predetermined thickness. The grinding wheel is translatable laterally to its axis of rotation, which translation repositions the grinding wheel with respect to the support wheel in a fixed proportion to the lateral distance traveled and permits high tolerance grinding with relative coarse lateral positional adjustment of the grinding wheel.