Abstract: An expandable orthopedic drill includes a shaft provided with a handle at is proximal end. Several cutters are supported around the hub by a linkage which maintains the edges of the cutters at a predetermined angle to the axis of the tool. The cutters are driven outward from the shaft, expanding the effective size of the drill, by means of a sleeve. The sleeve is driven along the shaft by turning a nut engaged with threads on the shaft. Tapered holes may be produced by changing the lengths of the links.

Abstract: High molecular weight surface proteins of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae which exhibit immunogenic properties and genes encoding the same are described. Specifically, genes coding for two immudominant high molecular weight proteins, HMW1 and HMW2, have been cloned, expressed and sequenced, while genes coding for high molecular proteins HMW3 and HMW4 have been cloned, expressed and partially sequenced.

Abstract: A postage meter includes a printing device, for example an inkjet print head cartridge having an integral ink supply, removable from the postage meter by a user of the postage meter whereby a cartridge with a depleted ink supply can be replaced with a cartridge having a full ink supply. The printing device includes means storing a unique identification of the printing device. The postage meter includes reading means to read the unique identification of a printing device installed in the postage meter to determine from whether the printing device is authorized for use in the postage meter. The postage meter is operable to print postage indicia only if the printing device is authorized for use in the postage meter.

Abstract: A new type of bone fastener is proposed, which is suitable for implantation either in a fractured shinbone (tibia) or a fractured thighbone (femur). The bone fastener includes an elongated steel tube having a bent tail portion, a middle portion, and a frontal portion, with a plurality of screw holes being formed in a non-parallel manner in the bent tail portion and the frontal portion. Further, a set of bolts are selectively screwed to the screw holes depending on the case of either a shinbone fracture or a thighbone fracture so as to secure the fractured part together. Since the screw holes and the bolts are oriented in a non-parallel manner, the bone fastener can be hardly loosened off position when the user moves on foot at fast paces, thus providing a better fastening effect than the prior art.

Abstract: A battery-operated device, for example, a blood pressure measuring device, consists essentially of a housing (2) and a compartment (3) to accommodate batteries. The compartment (3) is rotatably hinge-connected to the housing (2). The compartment (3) can be pivoted between an insertion position (E) for receiving batteries and an operating position (B). The device (1) has a standing surface (15). The compartment (3) for accommodating batteries is arranged so that the outside surface (4) of the compartment (3) in the operating position (B) forms part of one of the side walls (16a, 16b, 16c), and the inside (8) of compartment (3) is open at the top to receive batteries in the insertion position (E).

Abstract: A loose-leaf binder mechanism has a housing containing a pair of pivotally mounted hinge plates each carrying a series of spaced prongs. The hinge plates toggle between open and closed positions under the control of an actuating lever. One portion of the lever is selectively moveable into a wedged-in position between the housing and hinge plates to lock the prongs in closed position. The lever is specially constructed so that it can be moved while wedged between the housing and hinge plates to a safety locking position such that any point of contact between the lever portion and the housing is advantageously disposed longitudinally inward of any point of contact between said one portion and the hinge plates, and so that it cannot be moved inward past the safety-lock position out of the wedged-in configuration between the housing and hinge plates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inorganic particles comprising at least two chemical elements in a predefined and analytically identifiable ratio. These particles are used as a marking means incorporated into or applied onto any desired article. They provide a high security potential against counterfeiting since the analysis depend on a combination of spatial as well as of chemical information. In a first step the information containing particle has to be localized by scanning electron microscopy and in a second step the ratio of elements is analysed using energy—or wavelength—dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX).

Abstract: The yarn sheet (1) of a finished yarn winding (2) for example on a warping machine is with the help of a transfer means (8) transferred onto a winding beam (3) for example of a beaming machine. The transfer means with this has a suspension rod (9) which preferably can be displaced on a transport chain pair (10) along an advance path from the region of the yarn winding (2) to the region of the winding beam (3).

Abstract: Notches are cut in a “Z”-section closure to be installed across seams on a standing seam metal roof by means of a tool which punches holes in the central web of the closure. The lower flange of the closure is subsequently cut manually to finish the notch. The tool's die surfaces correspond in shape to that of the closure, and the punch and die are aligned so that the elongate hole they make in the central web extends to the bottom of the web.

Abstract: A hammock which comprises a bed having an entrance slit, situated in the same vertical plane as its longitudinal axis of symmetry and located on one side of its center of symmetry. The bed is provided with a self closing feature for the entrance slit. This feature is located at the mid point of the bed's short side, where the entrance slit begins. The bed has a bundle of gathered folds, situated at both its ends. The bundle is made of each short side of a rectangular sheet which forms the bed. A ridge line goes through each opposite bundle of gathered folds, where it is connected to each suspending rope.

Abstract: A burette tip (1) for metering a titrating agent consists essentially of a burette body (10) with a seat (3) for a membrane and with such a membrane (2). The burette tip (1) comprises, for protecting the membrane (2) and the seat (3) against mechanical damage, a covering (4, 5, 15) which at least partly encloses and covers the membrane (2) and the seat (3). The membrane (2) is clamped between the burette body (10) and a cover part (5) and is held in the burette body (10).

Abstract: A sleeve part (1) for a plug connection for fiber optics is provided with an opening (2) for accommodating a plug part (21). The plug part (21) is insertable in the direction of an insertion axis (A) into the sleeve part (1). The sleeve part comprises a sleeve (3) for receiving a plug pin of the plug part (21). The sleeve part (1) is furthermore provided with a securing element (4) with a coding consisting of projections (5) and/or reliefs (6). The securement section (4) is arranged on at least one separately formed coding element (7, 7′). The coding element (7, 7′) in a snap-on direction (R) roughly perpendicular to the insertion axis (A) can be snapped on the sleeve part (3).

Abstract: A permanently locking ring binder includes a housing, a pair of hinged plates within the housing, each supporting a plurality of ring segments arranged so that, when the plates are in one position, the ends of the ring segments are spaced apart, so that one can insert loose-leaf papers over the segments, and a second position, in which the ends of opposing ring segments meet, forming closed rings for retaining the papers. The binder has an initially inactive lock which can be activated once papers have been placed in the binder, to prevent movement of the rings to their open position. The lock cannot be manually deactivated.

Abstract: A convertible hassock has a base whose walls enclose a storage area, a flat lid which covers the storage area, and at least one seat which is hinged to one of the walls. The seat can be pivoted from an outboard position resting on top of the lid, to an outboard position substantially coplanar with the lid. The seat is supported, in its open position, either by a cantilever construction or by a prop which engages the floor. The seat has a cushioned side and a flat panel side. The cushion is uppermost when the seat is folded inward, to provide a hassock function, and the panel side is uppermost when the seat is folded outward, providing an extended table surface. While the seats are folded outward, the lid can be raised to permit access to the storage area beneath.

Abstract: Workpieces such as chips are removed from a receiving plane by a transfer unit, which carries them to a delivery plane. The workpieces are transported in two segments during two phases, each workpiece being deposited between the phases on an intermediate station arranged in the region of the feed path. The transfer unit has two working heads, which simultaneously transport one workpiece from the receiving plane to the intermediate station, and another workpiece from the intermediate station to the delivery plane. The workpiece can be pivoted or rotated at the intermediate station so that its lower surface can be grasped by the depositing head.

Abstract: A secure communication system for transmission of messages utilizes postage meters as terminals of the system. The postage meters include means for input of postage amount, an encryptor to encrypt postage information to be printed by a printer of the meter. The input means are used for input of a message, the encryptor encrypts the message with a key unique for an intended recipient terminal and the printer prints the encrypted message on a mail item. The terminals also are provided with reading means to read a received encrypted message and the encryption means is utilized to decrypt the received encrypted message using the unique key of the recipient terminal.

Abstract: Postage indicia are printed on mail items using an ink having a characteristic such that the ink is rendered invisible when subjected to light or light and heat of sufficient intensity. When an attempt is made to copy the imprint of a postage indicia on a mail item for which proper accounting has been effected the imprint is subjected to a butst of light or light and heat and the ink becomes invisible and prevents copying of the imprint. The imprint of the postage indicium may overly and obscure a void mark which becomes visible and is copied in the event of attempting to copy the original authentic postage indicium.

Abstract: A postage meter includes a printing device including a removable ink supply carried by the printing device. The printing device is movable on a carriage over an area in which printing of a postage indicia is to be effected and is movable to a location beyond that area for the purpose of replacement of the ink supply. Access to the printing device to replace the ink supply is by means of a hatch in a housing of the postage meter. The printing device can be moved and from the location only when the hatch is locked closed and the construction of the carriage and the mounting thereon of the printing device is such as to inhibit access to electrical connections between the printing device and the postage meter.

Abstract: A valve arrangement includes a valve housing and a closing element movably arranged within the housing. The housing has a cylindrical bore a lateral inlet opening, an axial outlet opening, and a valve seat arranged axially at a distance away from the inlet opening. The closing element includes a sealing section adapted to seat against a valve seat so as to block fluid flow through the outlet, and tapered portion which defines a rotationally symmetrical circumferential distribution space between itself and the bore.