Abstract: An ankle joint enabling an amputee to walk more naturally with better balance and security in which an ankle or like joint is constructed with broad circumferential surfaces so that it will resemble the action of the human ankle when walking. The ankle joint is composed of one cup-shaped member attached to the bottom of the leg sliding over another cup-shaped member attached to the top of a foot. A third cup-shaped member fits over the first cup-shaped member and a bolt extends through the foot and the cup-shaped members to secure them in assembled relation. Lateral sides of the cups are essentially vertically straight preventing any rotary movement about a vertical axis and the bolt has a pivot joint enabling lateral movement of the foot about a front to rear axis. A resilient cushion is mounted on the upper end of the bolt and engages a cavity in the lower end of the leg to cushion and control the articulate movement of the foot in relation to the leg.

Abstract: A timing mechanism to control the sequential progressive opening of a valve in a gas line leading to a gas fired kiln with the sequential progressive openings taking place at predetermined time intervals until the object being heated in the kiln has matured. Once maturation has taken place, the valve is sequentially progressively closed at predetermined time intervals in order to allow the kiln to cool down slowly. Adjustable controls are provided in order to allow the user to vary the time period between the progressive further opening of the valve and also the degree of opening of the valve to take place at each activation thereof.