Apparatus for the Conversion of Attention into Nothing

[0001] The present invention relates generally to devices which accept an input and return nothing, and more particularly to such devices as are operated voluntarily and at length by the person supplying the input.

[0002] Devices of this general class are well known in the art. What distinguishes the present invention from the prior art is that it does not conceal the absence of an output. The absence is disclosed, drawn, numbered and claimed.

[0003] Referring now to FIG. 1, the apparatus comprises a housing (10) of substantially rectangular section, closed on all faces except as hereinafter described.

[0004] An input aperture (12) is disposed in the upper surface of the housing (10) and is tapered inwardly so as to admit material readily and return it with difficulty.

[0005] Material admitted at the aperture (12) falls upon an impeller (14) journalled for rotation about a horizontal axis. The impeller turns whenever material is present and, in the preferred embodiment, for some time afterwards.

[0006] The impeller (14) drives a shaft (16) which is coupled to a reduction gear (18). The gear ratio is selected such that no motion is transmitted beyond it.

[0007] Beneath the reduction gear (18) lies a terminal chamber (20), sealed at manufacture. The contents of the terminal chamber have not been established and the applicant does not propose to establish them.

[0008] An indicator lamp (22) is provided on the forward face of the housing. The lamp is wired to the terminal chamber (20) and does not illuminate.

[0009] An output port (24) is shown in broken outline at the right of FIG. 1. The broken outline indicates that the output port is absent. It is shown because its absence is a feature of the invention and, in the applicant's submission, the principal one.

[0010] In use, the operator supplies attention at the input aperture (12) and observes the impeller (14). The impeller is visible through a window provided for that purpose. No further operation is required of the apparatus or of the operator.

[0011] It has been found in testing that operators continue to supply attention at the aperture (12) for periods substantially exceeding those which the apparatus would appear to warrant. The applicant regards this as the operative principle of the invention rather than a defect in it.

[0012] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, provided that none of them results in an output.