Abstract: A surgical instrument for performing a vasectomy includes a hemostat-type instrument having a pair of jaws in which the jaws include grooves for spaced-apart ligating clips, a cutting block in one jaw having a pair of spaced-apart cutting blades and a receiver surface in the other jaw for receiving the cutting edges of the blades when the instrument is in a closed jaw position. A jig is provided which holds a pair of open ligating clips and a disposable cutting block. In use, the physician loads the jaws of the instrument by inserting into the jig and then isolates a vas deferens, placing it within the open jaws. The physician then closes the handles of the instrument causing the ligating clips to clamp the vas in two places and the blades to excise a segment of the vas between the two ligating clips.

Abstract: An electromechanical system which may be used in conjunction with spinning catheters, such as those which have differential cutting burrs, includes an electric prime mover which attaches to an advancer assembly. The advancer assembly has an off-axis drive and apparatus for loading a catheter unit, which is driven through a catheter engagement coupling. The catheter assembly can also include one or two lumens with access ports at the advancer assembly, whereby medicines may be injected or pressure readings may be obtained from the vessel.

Abstract: An instrument similar in size and use to a cystotome, combining into a single instrument two knives which can be independently used so that the cutting surfaces of the knives can cut, at right angles to the surface to be incised, in either of two directions, one direction being at an angle with respect to the other direction. The knives are located at the ends of coaxially disposed elongate members formed from hypodermic needles. A first of the knives is guarded by the other knife until relative rotation of the needles brings the second knife into use. The inner one of the needles is connected to a hypodermic needle hub which in turn is connected to a hypodermic syringe, thus allowing fluids to be injected into or withdrawn from the surgical site. Apparatus suitable for causing vibration of the knives is included.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting grass having a rotatable head and cords extending from the rotatable head. The head accommodates a reel within a chamber defined by the head. The cords are payed out through outlets formed in the head only when the head rotation is stopped and the head is simply bumped against the ground. The bottom of the head is formed with an opening through which a downwardly biased depressing member projects from inside the head. This depressing member is connected to the reel. Between the ceiling of the head and any one of depressing member and the reel is provided a pair of ratchet teeth mechanisms which allow the rearward rotation of the reel when the reel and the depressing member normally biased downwardly is depressed against the ground. The above ratchet mechanisms performs the reverse rotation of the reel through their guiding structure.

Abstract: A motorized hair styling brush with removable dryer includes a rotatable hair brush mounted on a drive shaft which is driven by a reversible direct current motor. Torque is transferred from the drive shaft to the rotating brush through a thrust bearing that establishes a maximum torque deliverable to the hair brush. A thumb nut threadably mounted on the end of the drive shaft at the forward end of the hair brush compresses a spring within the hair brush to push the hair brush against the thrust bearing. Turning the thumb nut with respect to the drive shaft alters the maximum torque deliverable from the drive shaft to the hair brush. An external AC powered blower is provided with a mounting bracket that slips along tracks on the handle for easy engagement and disengagement. The dryer is configured generally rearwardly of the brush and blows air at an angle toward the brush.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing lamellar refractive corneal surgery includes a base ring adapted for seating on the sclera of the eye to be operated upon. A planar plate is fixedly attached to this base ring so that the mutually adjacent surfaces of the plate and the base ring conjointly define an air gap. As oscillating knife is guided in this air gap during the cutting process and is moved in a guide connected to the base ring. The surface of the planar plate facing the eye contains an applanate surface which is preferably defined by the end face of an insert inserted into the planar plate. A ring-shaped recess open toward the eye concentrically surrounds the insert and communicates with a conduit to which a partial vacuum can be applied.

Abstract: A bundle of hair is clamped between a pair of corrugated curling members having alternate ridges and grooves at a predetermined pitch with a predetermined curvature, and then coated with a permanent waving solution to thereby form successive permanent waves on the hair bundle. The hair bundle clamped between the curling members is thereafter immersed in a neutralizing solution to neutralize the hair.

Abstract: A device for treating anatomical parts, particularly intestinal segments, in isolation comprising an open-ended chamber, a flexible diaphragm attached to one open end containing a plurality of incisions defining an opening through which the parts to be treated can be inserted into the chamber, a drain applied to the other end including a perforate strainer, a coupling element for connecting the drain to a source of vacuum and a plurality of nozzles positioned at equal distances abut peripherally of the chamber and substantially midway between the ends of the chamber through which a treating fluid can be ejected into the chamber.

Abstract: A bait snap for affixing a baited hook to a fishing line or the like so that different lures, hooks, and baits may be expeditiously transferred in the shortest amount of time. The device includes first and second legs which meet at an angle, the conjunction of which provides a nesting spot for a line from which the hook depends, the first leg extending substantially linearly, the second leg having a bend in it and extending into a third leg which passes through a middle portion of the bait snap and terminates in an upper portion. The first leg continues substantially linearly through the middle portion and upper portion and terminates in a curved section, the curved section extending into a fourth leg which generally is directed towards the second leg, the fourth leg or section terminating in a C-shaped clamp which serves to engage both the first leg and provide an access area for the third leg to nest therewithin for clasping engagement.

Abstract: A harness is disclosed herein for training a cat to walk which includes an elongated back or base strap for fixedly carrying a buckled neck strap and a buckled chest strap for encircling the cat in front of and behind the forelegs of the cat. A walking strap is detachably connected to the back strap at one end and incorporating a handle loop at its other end for controlling direction of the cat. Forward urging and control of the cat is achieved by an endless looping strap trained under the tail of the cat and extending along its opposite sides through guide loops carried on the chest strap and being extended along with the direction control strap to cooperatively forceably urge the cat into a desired direction.

Abstract: A stock for restraining an animal has a screen with two sides formed into a V-shape. The screen is supported in a frame and there are rods of appropriate thickness and length to extend through openings in the screen on either side of the stock in order to restrain the animal between the rods and the screen. The numerous openings in the screen allow an infinite number of adjustments to be made in the positioning of the rods for animals of different shapes and sizes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutter for cutter-bar mowers of harvesting machines, with a top cutter (1) and bottom cutter (2) stamped out of flat material and connected to one another in front of the blade gap (3) by projection welding, a layer of material (14) being applied by additional welding to the point of connection (12), directed towards the cutter tip, between the top cutter (1) and bottom cutter (2). The invention also relates to a process for producing such a cutter.

Abstract: This invention is a hand operated powder dispenser, and includes a case having a powder chamber, and a trigger activated mechanism that slides a ram rod through the chamber to move the powder out a dispensing opening.

Abstract: An iron for straightening curly hairs includes a handle, a rod support mounted on the handle, a pair of first and second electrically heatable rods mounted at one end to the rod support and extending parallel to each other in spaced relationship, a rod moving plate pivotably mounted on the rod support, and a third electrically heatable rod rotatably mounted at one end on the rod moving plate and extending parallel to the first and second rods. The third rod is movable between a first position between the first and second rods and a second position away from the first and second rods in response to pivotal movement of the rod moving plate.

Abstract: A baler comprises two winding spaces disposed side-by-side. In use, a pick-up device picks up crop from a swath and feeds it to one of the spaces. A pivotable wall portion comprising powered rollers initiates winding of a bale and pivots upwardly about an axis as the bale grows. Other powered rollers surrounding the winding space assist in the formation of the bale. When the bale is complete it is bound with twine, a door is raised by a ram and the bale is discharged. As soon as winding of a bale in one of the spaces is complete, the pick-up device in whole or part is moved relatively laterally with respect to the winding spaces so that crop is then fed to the other winding space while the completed bale is bound and discharged.

Abstract: This invention relates to lawn rakes having detachable and replaceable tines, and particularly to an improved form of rake of the type having a channel like crosshead adapted to mount a handle and with spaced flanges that have opposed slots for receiving and detachably mounting resilient tines, wherein each slot is formed with a first profile and a second profile so that the slots can accommodate either one of two tines having different cross-sections. The second profile is preferably recessed into the flanges from the limits of the first profile and the tines complement the size and shape of the respective profiles.

Abstract: A removable grass catcher for a rotary lawn mower that includes a relatively rigid housing for the collection of grass clippings. The housing includes a top wall with at least one downwardly extending flange, at least a part of which top wall is spaced apart from the upper edges of at least one of the rear and side walls of the housing to provide air gaps therebetween that serve as air vents for the housing during the accumulation of grass clippings therein.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for severing an umbilical cord while simultaneously applying a single umbilical cord clamp and compressing the placental (maternal) end of the cord is discussed. The instrument allows release of the hemostat on the maternal end of the umbilical cord immediately after severance of the cord for enabling collection of a blood specimen for a fetal thyroid screen test to avoid discomforting the infant by obtaining the specimen directly from the infant. The instrument includes upper and lower clamping jaws being arranged for detachably holding an umbilical cord clamp, a blade assembly, and upper and lower hemostat surfaces adapted to compress the umbilical cord when the upper and lower clamping jaws are closed.

Abstract: A selective bird feeder has a cylindrical, transparent feed container located inside a concentric, coaxial, transparent shroud. The shroud is supported on the container by a spring for movement between a bird feeding position and a position in which heavier birds or animals cause the shroud to block access to the feed. Perches are supported on the shroud adjacent access openings in the shroud and container. Light birds can obtain feed through the openings while heavier ones or animals cannot.

Abstract: A doffer unit for cotton picking machines is provided comprising a central hub portion, a ring or flange portion concentric thereto and a plurality of radially extending lugs carried by the ring and wherein such lugs are advantageously constructed from millable polyurethane elastomers.