Abstract: An electronic utility device is provided. The device includes a user input interface and a user output interface, the user output interface including a compact virtual display for providing visual information to the user, the compact virtual display including (a) a light-transmissive substrate; (b) an input diffractive optical element integrally formed with the light-transmissive substrate; (c) an output diffractive optical element integrally formed with the light-transmissive substrate laterally of the input diffractive optical element; and (d) an image source for producing a real image, the image source optically communicating with the input diffractive optical element so as to collimate the real image into plane waves transmittable along an optical path through the light-transmissive substrate, such that when the plane waves impinges on the output diffractive optical element the plane waves are focused to form a virtual image which correspond to the real image and which is viewable by the user.

Abstract: This invention provides a combined bed and wheelchair wherein the bed frame and any mattress thereon have a cut-out extending from the foot end thereof. An insert having a head section, a center section and a foot section which are normally aligned in a common plane is adapted to fit in and substantially fill the cut-out. The sections are hingedly connected together with the insert being automatically transformable into a chair as the insert is removed from the frame. Wheels are connected to at least one section of the insert to permit the insert to be rolled and removed from the frame. The automatic transformation is preferably performed through the operation of first and second coacting elements mounted, respectively, to the frame and insert.

Abstract: A flowmeter for the quantitative measurement of small rates of flow of fluids (liquids and gases), comprising a hermetically sealed housing having two parallel walls, at least one of these being transparent, a scale being provided on said transparent wall, a thin flexible resilient vane attached by one of its ends to a sidewall of the housing so as to divide the inner space into two parts, inlet means for the fluid being provided in sidewall connected to one of these parts, outlet means being provided in a sidewall of the other part, the flexible vane having an area protruding into the inner space of the housing equal to essentially the inner cross-section of the housing at the position of the vane when no fluid is flowing. Preferred shapes of the housing are (in side view) a semi-circle, half an ellipse or a triangle.