Abstract: A single box call having a plurality of replaceable soundboard inserts and a plurality of replaceable lids having different sound characteristics, selectively used in combination together for producing distinctly different sounds that imitate turkey calls. The box call includes a housing having two receiving slots for receiving soundboard inserts, and a sound adjuster engageable with one or both soundboard inserts to vary the sound. There is a connecting means for releasably connecting the lid to the housing.

Abstract: A single box call having a plurality of replaceable soundboard inserts and a plurality of replaceable striker members, selectively used in combination together for producing distinctly different sounds that imitate turkey calls. The box call includes a housing having two receiving slots for receiving two soundboard inserts and a fastening means for fastening the soundboard inserts to the housing; and a lid assembly having a lid, a handle, a connecting means for connecting the lid assembly to the housing, a replaceable striker member, and an attachment means for attaching the striker member to the bottom of the lid.

Abstract: Articles to be sorted are loaded into carriers which move along a predetermined path that has groups of receptacles under and adjacent to it. Each carrier has gates or doors which are normally "closed" to define a bottom that can hold an article within that carrier, but which can be "opened" to release that article for direct transfer into a selected one of the receptacles, all of which are positioned below the level of that carrier. The gates or doors of the carriers are arranged so they can selectively and directly transfer articles into the centermost of a group of transversely-positioned receptacles, into the receptacle that is disposed outwardly of that centermost receptacle, or into the receptacle that is disposed inwardly of that centermost receptacle. As a result, the direct transfer sorting system of the present invention obviates the bulky and expensive chutes and guides which have been required by prior sorting systems.

Abstract: Articles to be sorted are loaded into carriers which move along a predetermined path that has groups of receptacles under and adjacent to it. Each carrier has gates or doors which are normally "closed" to define a bottom that can hold an article within that carrier, but which can be "opened" to release that article for direct transfer into a selected one of the receptacles, all of which are positioned below the level of that carrier. The gates or doors of the carriers are arranged so they can selectively and directly transfer articles into the centermost of a group of transversely-positioned receptacles, into the receptacle that is disposed outwardly of that centermost receptacle, or into the receptacle that is disposed inwardly of that centermost receptacle. As a result, the direct transfer sorting system of the present invention obviates the bulky and expensive chutes and guides which have been required by prior sorting systems.

Abstract: An internally-illuminated medical data card in a credit card format containing a summary of the medical history of the bearer germane to his existing medical condition. The card, which is of laminated construction, includes a plastic core panel having light-transmitting properties, one face of the panel having formed thereon a metallized layer functioning as a double-faced mirror. Mounted on the layer and on the other face of the panel, respectively, are front and rear film transparencies containing medical data in a directly legible scale, the combined data affording the required summary. The long edges and one end of the panel are in a concave formation to define reflective convex terminations whereby light entering the remaining flat end is transmitted through the panel and is reflected by the convex terminations and by the inner face of the mirror to provide multiple internal reflection, causing the light to illuminate the front transparency to enhance its readability.

Abstract: An easily-opened case for housing diskettes having data magnetically recorded thereon. The case not only acts to protect the diskettes from contamination and physical injury but also shields it from stray magnetic fields, electrostatic discharges and from ionizing radiation which, if the diskettes were exposed thereto, would act to erase or distort the data recorded thereon. The case is formed of a box adapted to house the diskettes and a cover to the rear of the box. The box and its cover are fabricated of aluminum or other material having shielding properties with respect to stray fields, electrostatic discharges and ionizing radiation. The cover is provided with front and side flanges which when the cover is closed lie against the front and side walls of the box, and with an outwardly inclined rear baffle which when the cover is closed assumes about a 45 degree angle with respect to the rear wall of the box, whereby when the cover is raised, the rear baffle then lies against the rear wall of the box.

Abstract: A laser beam surgical system provided with a cannula insertable into a body passage leading to a surgical site. The cannula includes a rotatable inner tube whose inlet section has two input ports, one being in line with the tube axis and being coupled to a white light source, the other being at right angles to the axis and being coupled to a carbon dioxide laser projecting a collimated beam. Supported at a 45.degree. angle within the inlet section is a pellicle that is permeable to the beam of white light impinging thereon and reflective to the laser beam whereby both are directed toward an outlet section at the other end of the tube. Supported within the outlet section at a 45.degree. angle with respect to the tube axis is a normally planar reflective membrane which directs both beams through a lateral output port toward the surgical site which is illuminated by the white light.

Abstract: An internally-illuminated medical data card in a credit card format containing a summary of the medical history of the bearer germane to his existing medical condition. The card, which is of laminated construction, includes a core panel formed by front and rear plastic sections having light-transmitting properties, a metallized layer functioning as a double-faced mirror being sandwiched therebetween. Nested in the respective faces of the core sections are front and rear film transparencies containing medical data in a directly legible scale, the combined data affording the required summary. The long edges and one end of each core section are in a concave formation to define reflective convex terminations whereby light entering the remaining flat end is transmitted through the section is reflected by the convex terminations and by the mirror to provide multiple internal reflection, causing the light to illuminate the transparencies to enhance their readability.

Abstract: A handle-supported oral medicament in a lollipop format to facilitate chewing or sucking thereof without the risk of inadvertent aspiration of large pieces of the medicament or of its entire body. The handle is formed by a stick of resilient material looped into a single coil whose ends are extended forwardly to define a pair of spring arms terminating in enlarged ears, the body of the medicament being molded about the ears, thereby securing the handle thereto. Because the ears occupy a large internal region therein, even if the body is chewed into pieces, these will be small and not, therefore, lodge in the throat or block the airway. And should the medicament separate from the ears of the handle in the mouth of the patient, the released arms will then spring apart to thereby block entry of the handle into the throat.

Abstract: An articulated optical arm adapted to optically link an endoscopic telescope to a viewing station through a series of mechanically interhinged and optically intercoupled arm sections, the last arm in the series being coupled to a terminal eyepiece through an image-erecting barrel which is rotatable by a barrel rotator to correct for image displacement. Associated with the endoscope are surgical instruments for performing an operation at the surgical site viewed by the endoscope. In order to make it possible for a surgeon while manipulating the instrument with his hands to rotate the barrel to maintain an erect image, the barrel rotator includes a bi-directional motor controlled by a foot-operated switch.

Abstract: A medical-electronic body fluid accounting system for use in surgical procedures and in post-operative and non-surgical care to afford a running account of the fluid intake to a patient and fluid outtake therefrom. The system is provided with a microcomputer to which is applied digital data derived from a plurality of fluid input source channels and fluid output source channels which together represent the prevailing fluid input and output sources associated with the patient. Included in the input source channels are those monitoring the flow of fluids being fed intraveneously into the patient, each such input channel having a sensor which generates a signal representing the volume of a particular fluid, such as a saline solution, being infused into the patient, this signal being converted into a corresponding digital value.

Abstract: An intelligent test head which can be plugged into an existing computer-controlled automatic test system that is adapted to carry out certain tests on integrated circuits and discrete devices, the test head making it possible for the system to execute special tests which the system is otherwise incapable of performing. The existing system includes a main frame computer associated with a programmer. A device under test is linked by a pin electronics board to the computer through a relay interface board which acts to selectively couple a forcing supply, a function generator or other testing sources to the device, which sources are appropriate to the normal test capabilities of the system. When plugged into the system, the intelligent test head is interposed between the pin electronics board and the device then under test.

Abstract: A transfer assembly interposable between a storage tube containing semiconductor devices and a processing station therefor, the assembly effecting a controlled electrostatic discharge of each device taken from the tube to prevent a destructive discharge thereof. The transfer assembly includes an insulating track adapted to receive semiconductor devices from the storage tube, each lead of the device received on the track being engaged by a pair of Kelvin contacts, one of which is connected by a normally-open high impedance relay to an input of a test system for the device, the other being connected to ground through the high-impedance drain and source channel of a field effect transistor. Applied to the gate of the transistor is a ramp voltage causing the channel impedance to diminish at a slew rate producing a gradual and safe bleed of the electrostatic charge carried on the engaged lead. At the conclusion of the discharge cycle, the relay is actuated to connect the lead to the test system.

Abstract: A bridge-balancing system for measuring minute current flows in devices having an extremely high impedance, the bridge having two sets of opposing arms to define input and output diagonals. A direct voltage is applied to the input diagonals and an amplifier having a high input impedance is connected to the output diagonals to yield an analog signal whose sense and magnitude depend on the degree to which the impedance of the device under test which forms one arm in one set differs from that of an adjustable high-impedance element forming the opposing arm of that set, a pair of fixed matching resistors defining the arms of the other set. The adjustable element is constituted by a field effect transistor operating in its variable resistance region wherein the extremely high impedance presented thereby depends on the applied gate potential.

Abstract: An inertial-electrostatic wet precipitator for removing particulate contaminants from a gaseous stream passing through a collector tube having a discharge electrode assembly coaxially disposed therein to establish an electrostatic field between the assembly and a liquid film on the inner surface of the tube which acts to ionize the particles in the gas. Liquid for flushing the particles is fed through a pipe spiralled about the precipitator tube, the pipe terminating in a nozzle ejecting the liquid tangentially into the inlet section of the tube to impart cyclonic motion thereto. As a result, liquid is caused to flow against the inner surface of the tube in a helical path to produce the liquid film which flows toward the outlet section of the tube and is discharged into a sump.

Abstract: A probe operable in conjunction with an electrometer having a high input impedance to provide an instrument for measuring air ion flux density. The probe structure is such that its presence in the atmosphere in which a measurement is being carried out will not give rise to perturbations in the localized electric field and therefore has no perceptible effect on the accuracy of measurement. The probe is constituted by a metal target to which the ions give up their charge, the target being supported at the end of a barrel of dielectric material by a conductor attached thereto and extending axially through the barrel to a contact at the rear of the barrel which is connected to the line of a shielded coaxial cable which couples the target to the input terminal of a grounded electrometer, the shield of the cable also being grounded. The surface of the barrel is coated with a layer of semi-conductive material that makes contact at the lower end of the barrel with the grounded cable shield.

Abstract: A voltage source adapted to excite a gas-ionization electrode so as to generate copious amounts of ionized gas without, however, producing measurable amounts of undesirable reactive or toxic chemical by-products. Yielded by the source is a unipolar voltage wave having a steady state DC component which, though below the ionization potential, serves to condition the gas to promote ionization. Imposed on the steady-state component is a gas-ionization component in the form of low-frequency surges, each composed of a short series of high-frequency pulses having a brief duration and an extremely high peak amplitude. The duration of the surge pulses is insufficient to break down the gas chemically, but the amplitude thereof is such as to effect intense gas ionization. The steady-state component prevents the electric field from collapsing completely in the intervals between pulses, thereby keeping the gas at a level approaching its ionization potential.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator for extracting particles and other contaminants from a gaseous stream to be purified, the contaminants being ionized by means of a discharge electrode structure which includes a column of dielectric material whose central axis is coincident with the axis of a collector tube within which the column is disposed. The column has a cross-sectional geometry that defines a circular series of longitudinally-extending niches. Supported between the ends of the column is a circular array of fine gauge wires each of which is suspended with a respective niche. A high voltage is impressed between the wires in the array and the inner surface of the collector tube to create an electrostatic field in the annular region between the discharge electrode structure and the tube to ionize contaminants in the gaseous stream passing therethrough.

Abstract: An ion projection head designed to provide a fairly uniform cloud of ions over a wide area for use in therapeutic and industrial applications, among others. The head, although being relatively small, generates a large ion cloud in a very efficient manner. A point electrode is located in a cup having a spherical internal surface of curvature. This cup causes the ions to move in a relatively common direction. An iris plate over the mouth of the cup causes the ions generated in the cup to be propelled away from the iris plate.