Abstract: A retractable electrical conductor cord reel assembly comprising a single continuous round cord from a display fixture cord end to a device cord end, wherein the cord includes a coiled portion disposed between a cord retention ring and the display fixture cord end to accommodate and/or compensate for torsional forces in the cord associated with the pay out and gathering of the cord.

Abstract: A cord storage assembly is disclosed. A length of cord can be wound onto a reel. The storage assembly includes a retraction mechanism and a latch mechanism. A latch pilot mechanism is provided to selectively engage and disengage the latch mechanism. The latch pilot mechanism can be adapted to engage the latch mechanism when the cord is extended from the reel less than a predetermined length to prevent the operation of the latch mechanism. The latch pilot mechanism can be disengaged from the latch mechanism once the cord is extended greater than the predetermined length from the reel. The latch pilot mechanism can have different configurations and can be adapted to engage and disengage the latch mechanism at one or more predetermined lengths.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to the invention, detects the relative speed of the apparatus with respect to the fluid into which it extends. The apparatus includes a streamlined body portion having an upper end, a lower end, a front edge, a back edge, and a pair of sides. A conduit extends through the body portion and is exposed to the fluid at an orifice located beneath the fluid line. The other end of the conduit is coupled to a pressure transducer which produces an output proportional to the pressure acting on the orifice and thus proportional to the speed of the apparatus relative to the fluid. This apparatus can be connected to an appropriate speedometer and is particularly useful for measuring the speed of a watercraft to which the apparatus is mounted.

Abstract: A marine speedometer system is disclosed which utilizes a short pitot tube or air column. The speedometer system includes an inlet having a short air column, a transducer, a control circuit, and a display. The electric signal from the transducer is representative of the pressure in the short air column. The control circuit preferably utilizes a microprocessor and a look-up table to generate a display signal in response to an electric signal from the transducer. The look-up table includes T-Buoy values and count values. The count values are used to drive a frequency signal for an air core meter. The display provides a needle and a metered background which is easy to read. The microprocessor is coupled to receive calibrate up and calibrate down signals. The microprocessor causes the needle to jump when it receives a signal to provide feedback to the driver. The microprocessor includes an auto zero subroutine which automatically calibrates the speedometer at start up.

Abstract: A telephone holder and latching mechanism for use in conjunction with a hand-held, credit-card telephone in, for example, a commercial aircraft is disclosed. An integrally formed face plate, an integrally formed handset holder, and an integrally formed latching mechanism cooperate to firmly secure a hand-held telephone in a cavity of the holder while discouraging unnecessary tampering and permitting easy removal of the telephone when desired. A first end of the telephone includes a collar which fits into a collar opening at one end of the cavity. An opposing end of the cavity has a latching opening that permits a finger from the latching mechanism to extend therethrough. The latching mechanism is spring-loaded so that the finger is urged through the latching opening. A second end of the telephone incorporates a latching protrusion which the finger engages when the telephone is secured in the holder. A slot in the face plate is dimensioned to accommodate a credit card and prevent insertion of larger objects.

Abstract: For use in conjunction with vehicular, hand-held, pay telephone, a telephone dispenser and latching mechanism for securing the telephone in the dispenser and, in response to actuation by a telephone user, releasing the telephone from the dispenser. The dispenser includes an elongated dispenser channel or stepwise construction. The dispenser channel is enclosed at one end by a latch plate including a credit-card-actuated latching mechanism. The dispenser channel is enclosed at an opposite end by a face plate having an opening for the insertion and extraction of the telephone from the dispenser channel and a slot for the insertion of a credit-card. The latch-release actuator is located behind the face plate slot and is mechanically linked to the latching mechanism. A credit card, once inserted into the slot, causes the latching mechanism to disengage from the telephone, permitting an ejector mechanism to urge the telephone out of the dispenser.

Abstract: In conjunction with a hand-held, credit-card telephone for use aboard, for example, commerical aircraft, a telephone dispenser and credit-card unlatching mechanism ("CCUM"). The dispenser includes a dispenser channel of generally longitudinal stepwise construction. The dispenser also includes an outer cover affixed substantially over the dispenser channel and a face plate secured to a first end of the outer cover. A latch plate is secured to a second end of the dispenser channel, so that the dispenser channel, the outer cover, the face plate, and the latch plate, in cooperation, define a telephone-receiving cavity in which a hand-held telephone is secured when not in use. The face plate includes an opening providing access to the telephone-receiving cavity and a slot for the insertion of a credit card. The CCUM itself includes a latch plate secured to the dispenser channel.

Abstract: For use in conjunction with vehicular, hand-held, pay telephones, a telephone dispenser and latching mechanism for securing the telephone in the dispenser and, in response to actuation by a telephone user, releasing the telephone from the dispenser. The dispenser includes an elongated dispenser channel of stepwise construction. The dispenser channel is enclosed at one end by a latch plate including a credit-card-actuated latching mechanism. The dispenser channel is enclosed at an opposite end by a face plate having an opening for the insertion and extraction of the telephone from the dispenser channel and a slot for the insertion of a credit-card. A latch-release actuator is located behind the face plate slot and is mechanically linked to the latching mechanism. A credit card, once inserted into the slot, causes the latching mechanism to disengage from the telephone, permitting an ejector mechanism to urge the telephone out of the dispenser.