Abstract: An expandable stabilizing cage includes a body having a fixed cage section, an expandable cage section, formed as a number of elongate blocks, and a relief between the fixed and expandable cage sections. An orifice, which through the expandable cage section decreases in diameter with increased distance along the central axis of the body away from the fixed cage section, is provided through the body. The expandable stabilizing cage also includes a wafer, which, when inserted into the orifice through the body, causes outward flaring of the elongate bars for fixing the expandable stabilizing cage securely in place in the intervertebral disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies. Upper elongate blocks have substantially planar upper surfaces. Lower elongate blocks have substantially planar lower surfaces.

Abstract: A fail-safe system for the detection of water leaks, and for the prevention of damage therefrom. In a home or building which includes a hot-water tank and a water tank for a toilet, e.g., the damage-prevention system comprises valves for shutting off the supply of water to the tanks, and other valves for draining the tanks through discharge lines to the outside of the home or building. At the same time, power to the hot-water tank is shut off. A fail-safe water detector comprises a float with a metal cap, a first pair of electrical probes below the float, and a second pair of electrical probes above the metal cap and separated from the cap by an air gap. A circuit is closed in any of three ways: (1) when water contacts the first pair of probes, (2) when water raises the float and makes contact between the metal cap and the second pair of probes, and (3) when water contacts the second pair of probes.

Abstract: A fail-safe system for the detection of water leaks, and for the prevention of damage therefrom. In a home or building which includes a hot-water tank and a water tank for a toilet, e.g., the damage-prevention system comprises valves for shutting off the supply of water to the tanks, and other valves for draining the tanks through discharge lines to the outside of the home or building. At the same time, power to the hot-water tank is shut off. A fail-safe water detector comprises a float with a metal cap, a first pair of electrical probes below the float, and a second pair of electrical probes above the metal cap and separated from the cap by an air gap. A circuit is closed in any of three ways: (1) when water contacts the first pair of probes, (2) when water raises the float and makes contact between the metal cap and the second pair of probes, and (3) when water contacts the second pair of probes.

Abstract: A surgical spinal fixation system includes a bone bolt having first end portions that are adapted to be surgically implanted into a patient's spine at first and second spaced apart positions and a central portion of the bone bolt defining a load transfer surface, the bone bolt having a second upper threaded sections for threadably receiving a nut at a shaped, countersunk interface. As an alternate embodiment, a bone screw provides an upper enlarged head with a lower coarsely threaded shank. A plate having upper and lower surfaces and outer opposed edges is provided with an elongated slot for accommodating a selected bone bolt or bone screw. The plate edges carry fine adjustments extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the plate and a load transfer washer interfaces the plate and the selected bone bolt or bone screw for distributing load (and reducing stress) from the bone bolt (or screw) to the plate.

Abstract: A driving mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft (34), a drive arm (56) mounted on and rotatable with said drive shaft and having a swing end projecting radially therefrom on which a counterbalanced drive link (63) is rotatably mounted and arranged to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the drive arm, means (65,66,67,68,69) for rotating said drive link in a direction which is opposite to that of said drive arm, balance means (71) forming a part of said drive arm and rotatable therewith about said drive shaft so as to counterbalance the weight of said drive arm (56) and drive link (63) irrespective of the angular position of said drive link (63) relative to said drive arm (56) and a pair of flexible cables (W1,W2), each interconnected at one end with a driven element (C) to be reciprocated and each being secured at its other end with a fixed element (51,54) and the intermediate portions of said links being looped about pulley means (50) mounted on the swing end of said drive link (63) in such

Abstract: A control system for a laundry machine generates a control signal to operate a door lock unit and prevent the door from opening while the laundry machine cylinder is rotating. A permanent magnet is mounted adjacent to the drive wheel of the cylinder so that the wheel spokes cut through the magnetic field of the magnet. A pick-up coil is mounted coaxial with the magnet and generates an induced pulse signal as the wheel turns. The induced pulse signal is processed by circuitry mounted on a printed circuit board to generate a DC control signal for the door unlocking circuitry of the door lock unit. The pulse signal is rectified and smoothed to provide a DC signal and is processed by a timer circuit to provide an amplified, precise switching signal which is used as the control signal. The DC control signal operates an electronic switch which connects an AC power source across a relay coil to open the door unlocking circuit so that the door remains locked as long as the DC control signal is generated.

Abstract: A shuttleless loom having warp shed forming means and rapier type weft inserting means is provided with lay means which is pivotally mounted for oscillatory beat-up movement on a rotatable shaft, rotation of the shaft being synchronized with beat-up movement of the lay means by lay coupling means and the weft inserting means being interconnected with the shaft by weft inserting coupling means so as to insure a compact structure which is mechanically sturdy and which is timed in such a way as to afford rapid rapier insertion and withdrawal movement together with adequate dwell time for the weft insertion elements and shed forming means during beat-up operations of the lay means.

Abstract: An artificial disc for replacement of a spinal three-joint complex of a mammal includes a generally spinal disc-shaped upper plate having an anterior section and a posterior section and a generally spinal disc-shaped lower plate also having an anterior section and a posterior section. The anterior section of the upper plate is selectively separable from the posterior section of the upper plate and the anterior section of the lower plate is likewise selectively separable from the posterior section of the lower plate. A ball is interposed the lower face of the upper plate and the upper face of the lower plate and a plurality of posts, each projecting from one of the faces toward the other of the faces corresponds to a plurality of detents provided on the one of the faces opposite the face from which the corresponding post projects for engaging the posts.