Abstract: A frangible hose connector that has a knit line at the intended point of fracture, as opposed to a circumferential groove or notch. The knit line provides a break zone which has a lower tensile strength than that of the parent material, thereby providing that the connector is relatively easy to fracture. The connector also includes finger grips which makes breaking the connector easier. The finger grips provide that the connector is configured to be fractured via a twisting or torsion force, as opposed to a bending force. As such, the connector tends to break in a manner wherein fluid does not fling or spray. The connector is formed of plastic, and the knit line is created during the plastic injection molded process, wherein two mold fronts are “squared-up” and meet in the mold cavity to form the knit line.

Abstract: A collector unit for collecting tissue or bone from a dental patient during a dental implant procedure generally includes a cover member, a filter support member, a filter medium and a gasket member. The support member is mountable within the cover member with the gasket member positioned therebetween to form the unit. A passage is provided through the unit to allow the passage of fluid material through the unit. The support member has a pair of spaced-apart, opposed filter support arms for removably supporting a substantially flat section of filter medium so that the filter medium overlies the inlet passage such that fluid material passing through the unit must pass through the filter medium which will filter out any bone or tissue specimens. The filter medium is removable from the supporting structure so that it can be positioned in a flat-orientation to facilitate the removal of bone or tissue specimens therefrom. Once removed, the filter medium cannot be reattached to the supporting structure.

Abstract: An infant supporting and positioning system for retaining and supporting an infant in a selected position. The supporting and positioning system includes a generally horizontally oriented base which has a primary surface in which is formed a plurality of bores. The system includes a plurality of infant positioning modules each of which have a body portion and at least one post projecting from the body portion. The posts are sized and dimensioned for cooperative engagement with a corresponding one of the plurality of the bores in the base. The posts interfit with the bores with sufficient interference to maintain the modules in the selected position relative to the base. The interference between the posts and bores allow for removal of a post from a bore to change the position of the corresponding module as necessary to configure the system to achieve desired infant support and positioning.

Abstract: A surgical staple extractor which has a gripping portion and a pair spaced-apart jaws and an anvil associated with the gripping portion. Structures are provided with the gripping portion for moving the anvil and the jaws in a scissor action to transfer forces from the anvil and jaws to a staple retained therebetween in order to mechanically deform or reform the staple for extraction from a patient. Cams are positioned between the jaws and the anvil for positively camming or displacing the jaws outwardly when the anvil jaws and jaws are operated. Actuation of the gripping portion results in moving the anvil and jaws with the cams interacting between the anvil and jaws for positively displacing the jaws outwardly in relation to the anvil for promoting controlled deformation of the staple in a removal path approximating the entry path thereby disengaging the staple from the patient.

Abstract: A headlamp adjuster mechanism, constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, for use with a headlamp for controlling movement thereof comprises a housing. Gear means is disposed within the housing, and an adjusting member is connected to the gear means for movement in response to rotation of the gear means. The gear means is operatively connected to the headlamp for attaining controlled positioning thereof and for providing prevailing torque for the mechanism to prevent inadvertent movement thereof. The housing comprises a main body portion and a cap for slidable engagement with the main body portion. The body and the cap have interengagable locking means for providing a snap-type interference fit therebetween to maintain the housing components in assembly.

Abstract: A gasket retaining cap member, and method of forming same, comprising an integral cap member having a downwardly extending annular flange forming an exterior cap wall and a downwardly extending annular retention wall spaced radially inward of the cap wall thereby forming a ring-shaped well therebetween into which a gasket member is placed and thereafter held securely in position by deformation of the retention wall. The method of forming the gasket retaining cap member comprises positioning the cap member, with the gasket placed inside, within a heat staking press which operates to stake deformation into the upper surface of the retention wall thereby causing the retention wall to partially overlie the gasket member and hold it securely in place.

Abstract: A method of producing a pasta product (macaroni, spaghetti, noodles, etc.) wherein either hard or soft wheat or blends with durum semolina are improved with soy protein isolate to provide physical characteristics in the products substantially equivalent to those of durum semolina pasta in both the conventionally cooked and retorted products while increasing the usable protein content.

Abstract: A method for producing breaded vegetable shapes such as onion rings, wherein the coating of the breaded ring is set quickly, as by flash frying, before freezing and without cooking appreciably the vegetable ring; and where the ring is made directly from onion slices, the breading is provided in two layers; an interior layer of viscous batter with fine mesh breading, and an outer layer of relatively less viscous batter with relatively coarse mesh breading.