Abstract: A system for performing several functions in caring for crops such as vines grown in rows uses a high pressure water jet to selectively prune, thin shoots and remove leaves from growing crops. Water jet size, pressure, movement and position relative to the crops are controlled to obtain desired functions.

Abstract: A plant stake support and deep root feeder sleeve contains structure that provides insertion of the sleeve into a soil volume adjacent young bushes, plants and trees without digging an adjacent hole. The sleeve is inserted directly by impact force, whereby minimum soil disturbance occurs in the plant root region. The sleeve further contains structure that provides moisture and nutrients to the plant's deep roots while serving to support a plant support stake when needed.

Abstract: A large array probe/contact having spring characteristics for relieving stress in the contact caused, for example, by temperature change is fabricated using a unique combination of semiconductor fabrication operations. The contacts in the array have a “U” shaped resilient portion, are fixed at one end to a substrate and have an accessible low electrical noise contact tip. The contacts are encapsulated on the substrate in an elastomer to provide additional stress relief resilience, support and protection from damage during handling.

Abstract: A crop picking head assembly has a known oscillation generating head supported in a head support frame suspended from a harvester framework by two pairs of depending arms. One pair of arms is variable in length to adjust picking head height and the other pair is fixed in length. The picking head has a variety of crop contacting rod arrays to accommodate various cordon types supporting extended rows of crop foliage, such as grape vines. The harvester may carry one such picking head on one side of the vine row or may carry mirror image heads, one on each side of the vine row.

Abstract: A large array probe/contact having spring characteristics for relieving stress in the contact caused, for example, by temperature change is fabricated using a unique combination of semiconductor fabrication operations. The contacts in the array have a “U” shaped resilient portion, are fixed at one end to a substrate and have an accessible low electrical noise contact tip. The contacts are encapsulated on the substrate in an elastomer to provide additional stress relief resilience, support and protection from damage during handling.

Abstract: A bone wax applicator has a cylinder magazine for storing bone wax and a piston for movement within the cylinder in response to manual activation of a trigger connected to the piston. The wax is moved out of the cylinder magazine through a tube mounted to communicate with one end of the cylinder magazine. The tube has a free end extending from the cylinder magazine with an opening at the free end. A dissector tip is attached to the free end adjacent the opening. Wax exuded from the opening is available to be spread on bleeding bone surfaces using the dissector tip.

Abstract: An inexpensive and readily available pruning blade for pruning crop growth, such as grape vines following harvest, has a disc-like base plate. The base plate has ordinary small diameter radial Skil-saw blades mounted around the periphery. The saw blades are fixed rotationally on the base plate by a clamp and have a portion of the saw teeth extending beyond the base plate periphery so that rotation of the base plate induces cutting action by the saw teeth at the periphery of the base plate. When the extending saw teeth become dull, the clamp is loosened, the saw blade is rotated through an arc sufficient to expose sharp teeth at the base plate periphery, and the clamp is tightened.

Abstract: A vibratory shaker for mounting on a crop harvester framework for removing crops from vines, bushes, and trees has a crop foliage engaging brush that is driven directly about a brush rotation axis by a brush driving motor. The crop foliage engaging brush and the brush driving motor are supported for rotation on the crop harvester framework. The power for driving the brush driving motor is controlled to provide oscillatory motion subject to operator controlled frequency, amplitude and oscillatory wave shape.

Abstract: A stack of integrated circuits in thin small outline packages (TSOP's) is constructed with an air space in between adjacent packages. The TSOP's have a plurality of connection terminals extending therefrom. A lead frame is disposed adjacent to the packages, positioned medially of the air space and having a plurality of connection terminals in registration with and in electric contact with the plurality of TSOP connection terminals. The TSOP's have a chip select terminal and several unused terminals. The lead frame has a strain-relieved conductor extending between the chip select terminal on a TSOP higher in the stack to the adjacent TSOP lower in the stack. Moreover, TSOP locating surfaces are included on the lead frame in the finished stack.

Abstract: An improved gondola assembly for receiving harvested crops in the field from a crop harvester has a lightweight molded drop in tank held in place by a tank framework on the gondola assembly. The drop in tank lowers the gondola center of gravity as it replaces stainless steel or painted mild steel tanks and requires no periodic maintenance. A built in scale for continuous in the field monitoring of the weight of received harvested crop is constructed to be viewable by a tow tractor operator whether towed from one end of the gondola or the other. The towable gondola obtains power for operation of a pair of tank framework lift cylinders from the tow tractor so that the tank is movable between an elevated dump position and a lowered crop collection position. The gondola has a reversible towing tongue for towing in either direction so it may be configured to be towed on either side of a crop harvester.

Abstract: A unitary garden stake is provided from a formable length of tubing wherein an anvil is formed on an upper end of the tubular body and a wedge is formed on a lower end thereof. The anvil is formed by a plurality of longitudinal crimps along the length of the upper end. The wedge is formed by compressing the lower end of the unitary stake while removing a segment of the tubing wall near the lower end. The anvil is sufficiently strong to absorb the impact of blows administered to drive the wedge into underlying soil. A protective coating is applied to the stake when necessary.

Abstract: A vibratory shaker for mounting on a crop harvester framework for removing crops from vines, bushes, and trees has a crop foliage engaging brush that is driven directly about a brush rotation axis by a brush driving motor. The crop foliage engaging brush and the brush driving motor are supported for rotation on the crop harvester framework. The power for driving the brush driving motor is controlled to provide oscillatory motion subject to operator controlled frequency, amplitude and oscillatory wave shape.

Abstract: A game for play between opposing teams on a field involves a resilient ring that is thrown by a team member to be caught by another member of the same team. The field is marked to display a rectangular playing area having a midfield location and scoring or URT areas extending across opposing ends of the playing area. Supplemental scoring or PAU areas are marked by fiat rings situated a predetermined distance beyond the ends of the playing area. Scoring occurs when a player on offense catches the resilient ring within the defense URT area. Supplemental scoring occurs when the player on the offense throws the ring from the defense URT area to come to rest in the defense PAU area.

Abstract: A soil sampler provides samples for on site disposition in forty and twenty milliliter vials for subsequent off site volatile organic analysis. A split sleeve contains a plunger positioned within the sleeve on a shaft to obtain a desired volume of soil when the sampler is thrust into the soil. An outer shell contains the split sleeve and a set screw device fixes the shaft and plunger in desired position within the sleeve. Metering marks on the shaft provide predetermined sample size indication.

Abstract: Structure is disclosed for supporting immature plants and small trees to assure straight and healthy stem and trunk growth until the stem and/or trunk reaches a growth phase where it is self-supporting. Several embodiments of two part stakes are discussed including detachable upper and lower portion stakes and telescoping upper and lower portion stakes. Plant feeding features in the stakes are described and structure for providing cooperating stake pairs with novel interconnecting straps and stem/trunk engaging apparatus is disclosed. Stabilizing structure for the stakes is also disclosed, so that stem trunk support is strong enough to accomplish the intended purpose.

Abstract: A process is described for insertion of a prosthesis within an intradiscal space during a posterior laminectomy. The process insures proper orientation and alignment of prostheses inserted in the intradiscal space. The process also involves minimal removal of bone from the facet joint, which assures retention of the major portion of a patient's spinal column weight bearing capability.

Abstract: A fixture for use in testing microcircuit assemblies, such as flat panel displays and silicon wafers, has a high dielectric strength or resistivity fixture body with density less than 1.9 gm/cm3. The fixture therefore has low inertial properties and may be used with mechanical positioning components in microcircuit test apparatus in enlarged fixture sizes without diminishing test apparatus response or accuracy characteristics. The fixture body has conductive and insulating layers applied thereto and connecting terminals communicating with the conductive layers so that high voltage, Kelvin, coaxial and triaxial configurations are provided.

Abstract: A disc replacement prosthesis is described which is placed within the intradiscal space vacated by a removed deteriorated disc, and which affords mobility rather than fusion between adjacent vertebral bodies. The prosthesis also protects remaining discs from deterioration by providing a shock absorbing prosthesis portion. Structure is provided that affords resistance to shear force applied to the shock absorbing portion. The prosthesis adheres initially mechanically to the vertebral bodies and adheres through arthrodesis over a period of time.

Abstract: A tractor for over the row in line towing of a trailer along a row of plants, wherein either the trailer or the tractor itself has the capability of carrying mechanisms for performing certain operations on a row crop. Such mechanisms include crop harvesters, plant pruners, plant sprayers or device for tilling the ground adjacent the plant rows. Use of these mechanisms in sloping fields is specifically envisioned. A portion of the tractor is designed to carry these mechanisms and is maintained in a level configuration in fields of row crops without substantial elevation of the tractor center of gravity. The main elements of the tractor are kept near ground level for easy access in all types of row crop terrain, sloping or otherwise, so that fueling and maintenance tasks may be readily performed and ground access to an operator's station is always available.

Abstract: An upper torso support for riders on vehicles such as motorcycles or bicycles has a padded surface for contact with the upper torso or the chest of a seated rider. The support is fixed to the vehicle framework and positioned forward of a vehicle seat. The angle of the support relative to the vehicle framework is adjustable to accommodate and provide support for riders of various statures.