Abstract: Described is a device for establishing desired proportions of water and coffee beans. The device includes a fluid vessel and a laterally attached coffee solid vessel. The fluid vessel has vertical height and a fluid volume capacity, with the fluid vessel being formed to hold water therein. The coffee solid vessel has vertical height and an interior that defines a coffee solid volume capacity, with the coffee solid vessel being formed to hold a solid coffee product therein. Importantly, each of the fluid vessel and coffee solid vessel are formed such that a desired solid-to-fluid ratio exists between the fluid volume capacity and the coffee solid volume capacity when laterally attached with one another, with the desired solid-to-fluid ratio being maintained along the vertical height of each of the vessels (which can be readily verified through a visual inspection of the horizontal equality of contents).

Abstract: Described is a device for establishing desired proportions of water and coffee beans. The device includes a fluid vessel and a laterally attached coffee solid vessel. The fluid vessel has vertical height and a fluid volume capacity, with the fluid vessel being formed to hold water therein. The coffee solid vessel has vertical height and an interior that defines a coffee solid volume capacity, with the coffee solid vessel being formed to hold a solid coffee product therein. Importantly, each of the fluid vessel and coffee solid vessel are formed such that a desired solid-to-fluid ratio exists between the fluid volume capacity and the coffee solid volume capacity when laterally attached with one another, with the desired solid-to-fluid ratio being maintained along the vertical height of each of the vessels (which can be readily verified through a visual inspection of the horizontal equality of contents).

Abstract: A modular rack and kit of parts for constructing a modular rack may be dimensioned to vary width and depth for different applications in different rooms. Retention accessories, including article hooks, extension cross members and shelves, each have attachment portions with mating cross-sectional profiles corresponding to the rack members engage the rack members circumferentially. The retention accessories are selectively reconfigurable for evolving storage needs.

Abstract: A modular rack and kit of parts for constructing a modular rack may be dimensioned to vary width and depth for different applications in different rooms. Retention accessories, including article hooks, extension cross members and shelves, each have attachment portions with mating cross-sectional profiles corresponding to the rack members engage the rack members circumferentially. The retention accessories are selectively reconfigurable for evolving storage needs.

Abstract: Systems, gaming machines, games, and methods for displaying an exploding icon are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a gaming device comprises a display screen that presents a game. The game presented on the display screen comprises one or more game icons for display in various locations on the display screen, wherein the game presents an animated icon upon the occurrence of a triggering event such that the animated icon produces one or more wild icons that move about the display screen before being positioned in fixed locations on the display screen. Additionally, the gaming device includes a means for activating the game and triggering the presentation of the animated icon, and a means for determining whether one or more combinations of the game icons and the wild icons form any winning combinations.

Abstract: A multi-channel passive DWDM multiplexing module, which can be installed in a standard shelf of a patch panel, takes multiple optical signals of defined frequencies and provides a multiplexed optical output. The module simplifies greatly intraoffice fiber optical connections by situating itself adjacent where the fiber optical cables are terminated, thus eliminating fiber optical cable routing through overhead racks. The module saves inter-office fiber optical resources by providing passive DWDM multiplexing, which combines multiple optical signals into one fiber optical cable. The module further saves cost on spare parts at each central office by providing a maintenance connection that can be alternately used as a spare input connection.

Abstract: The game, Blind Choice, is unique because the choice is blind. No other game utilizes a board and marbles in such a manner. Every play is unknown and a complete surprise due to the nature of the game. Each player picks from a bag of marbles that will dictate the play of the game. Using the unique rules that pertain only to this game there is no way to foresee the end result of the game. The constant surprise throughout the play of the game guarantees continued interest and enjoyment for all players as can be seen by the abstract drawings included.

Abstract: An apparatus for scrubbing a gas in which a vortical flow of a gas and liquid mixture created by an entrainer is emitted from the entrainer and is introduced into a de-entrainer through a guide/deflector assembly. Particulate is removed from the gas and is picked up by the liquid. The de-entrainer separates the liquid from the gas and delivers the scrubbed gas to an outlet. The guide/deflector assembly guides the vortical liquid/gas flow from the entrainer to the de-entrainer and diverts most of the droplets away from the de-entrainer to significantly reduce the amount of liquid droplets entrained in the gas preparatory to entry into the de-entrainer, significantly reducing the amount of droplets emitted with the scrubbed gas. The vane cages of the entrainer/de-entrainer assemblies are designed so that the height to diameter (H:D) ratio is ##EQU1## to increase the operating range.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying hair from the inside out is comprised of a supply tube adapted for connection to a source of air such as a portable electric hair dryer. A plurality of feeder tubes are in communication with the supply tube. A plurality of fingers are in communication with each feeder tube with each finger having a distal end and a length sufficient for supporting the plurality of feeder tubes at locations which for the most part are removed from the hair and avoid a flattening thereof. The fingers also include a plurality of openings for permitting air from the source to dry the hair from the inside out. Adjustable belts are connected to the feeder tubes by fasteners cooperating with the feeder tubes and belts enabling the feeder tubes to be selectively disposed in a predetermined spaced relationship.

Abstract: A U-shaped part (1) of which the two parallel branches (1a, 1b) may slide in corresponding grooves (9a, 9b) of a casing, forms a key receiver ring. In a chamber (13) of the casing (2) there is provided a mechanism comprising an oscillating part (3) provided with a spring blade (11) and having a series of notches (14) forming latch locks. The free end of the longer branch (1b) of the U-shaped part (11) is provided with a bolt (4). A maneuver button (10) allows to oscillate the oscillating part (3) against the action of its spring (11) to disengage the bolt (4) of the latch lock (14) where the spring was keeping it engaged, thereby allowing to disengage from the casing (2) the shorter branch (1a) of the U and to bring the bolt (4) selectively facing one of the latch locks (14) so that the length of the portion of the ring (1) being outside the casing corresponds to the number of the keys engaged on that portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed an expandable towel rack which comprises a central base member having a left and a right extending tubular section. A left and a right U-shaped section, each having one arm adapted to coact with the corresponding arm of the base member. The other arms of the U-shaped member are accommodated within an outer support member. In this manner the entire assembly can be adjusted in length by controlling the depth of insert of the U-shaped members with respect to the base member and with respect to the outer support member.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning dye bottles uses an elongated tubular member having a first inlet end adapted to be coupled to a source of water and having an outlet end for discharging water. On the surface of the tubular member are groups of apertures with each group spaced a predetermined distance apart. The groups of apertures are surrounded by a coupling member having an inner threaded section for engaging the threaded neck of a bottle. In using the device a separate bottle is retained within each coupling member and water is directed to the inlet end and discharged from the outlet end. The apertures in the tubular member allow water to enter each bottle and to clean the same during operation.

Abstract: The envelope of a compact halogen-cycle incandescent lamp is made from hard glass and the uncoiled legs of the tungsten filament are used as filament connector-support members by fastening them directly to flattened ends of a pair of single lead wires and embedding the resulting electrical junctures in the hermetic seal of fused glass which is formed on the end of the envelope. The lead wires originally comprise the legs of a hairpin-shaped wire member which permits the filament-mount to be made and handled as a separate subassembly. The U-bent part of the hairpin-shaped wire member is severed and removed after the mount has been sealed into the envelope to provide the required pair of separate lead wires.

Abstract: Precise placement of one or more coiled filaments within the envelope of a miniature type incandescent lamp is achieved by positioning the coil legs in end-to-end abutting relationship with the respective lead wires and locking them in such junctured relationship with metal tubes that enclose and are fastened to the abutted end portions of the mated lead wires and coil legs and thus couple the members together. The coupling tubes are first secured to the lead wires so that their open ends provide tubular pockets which receive the coil legs and guide them into the proper mounting position on the lead wires. The open ends of the tubes are then hot-clamped around the associated coil legs, thereby mechanically and electrically joining the members together in operative relationship. The invention is particularly useful in the production of miniature halogen-cycle type incandescent lamps that are employed as compact light sources in sealed-beam automotive lamps which require one or more precisely-mounted filaments.

Abstract: The quality and useful life of regenerative-cycle type incandescent lamps that employ iodine as the halogen are enhanced by dosing the lamps with controlled amounts of SnI.sub.4 in combination with elemental iodine. Alternative dual-additives that provide iodine-bromine type lamps are SnI.sub.4 in combination with a compound such as methylene bromide (CH.sub.2 Br.sub.2) or mercury bromide which decompose within the energized lamp and release free bromine, and mercury iodide in combination with CH.sub.2 Br.sub.2. The combined use of two different additives or dosing materials to provide either an iodine or an iodine-bromine atmosphere within the operating lamp permits elongated tubular lamps having singly-coiled filaments to be operated in various non-horizontal burning positions at voltages above their nominal voltage ratings for much longer periods of time than lamps of the same rating and construction that are dosed with a single additive such as elemental iodine, SnI.sub.4 or CH.sub.2 Br.sub.2.