Abstract: The present invention pertains to polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers, to methods of making such copolymers and to medical devices that contain such polymers. According to certain aspects of the invention, polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers are provided, which comprise a polyisobutylene segment, an additional polymeric segment that is not a polyisobutylene segment, and a segment comprising a residue of a diisocyanate. According to other aspects of the invention, polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers are provided, which comprise a polyisobutylene segment and end groups that comprise alkyl-, alkenyl- or alkynyl-chain-containing end groups.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers, to methods of making such copolymers and to medical devices that contain such polymers. According to certain aspects of the invention, polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers are provided, which comprise a polyisobutylene segment, an additional polymeric segment that is not a polyisobutylene segment, and a segment comprising a residue of a diisocyanate. According to other aspects of the invention, polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers are provided, which comprise a polyisobutylene segment and end groups that comprise alkyl-, alkenyl- or alkynyl-chain-containing end groups.

Abstract: An alignment device for maintaining the relative alignment between a gate valve assembly and a valve bonnet positioned over the gate valve assembly wherein the valve bonnet has an interior surface. The alignment device includes a pair of substantially identical components wherein the components are securely connectable to each other when the alignment device is attached to the gate valve assembly. Each one of the components includes a body that has a peripheral portion. The peripheral portion is adjacent to the interior surface of the valve bonnet when the valve bonnet is positioned over the gate valve assembly. The body also has a transverse edge wherein the transverse edge contains an opening that receives a part of the gate valve assembly when the components are connected together.

Abstract: An alignment device for maintaining the relative alignment between a gate valve assembly and a valve bonnet positioned over the gate valve assembly wherein the valve bonnet has an interior surface. The alignment device includes a pair of substantially identical components wherein the components are securely connectable to each other when the alignment device is attached to the gate valve assembly. Each one of the components includes a body that has a peripheral portion. The peripheral portion is adjacent to the interior surface of the valve bonnet when the valve bonnet is positioned over the gate valve assembly. The body also has a transverse edge wherein the transverse edge contains an opening that receives a part of the gate valve assembly when the components are connected together.

Abstract: A biodegradable ground anchor for use in conjunction with a ground cover. The anchor includes a head portion that has opposite surfaces and a peripheral surface. A pair of integral legs depend away from one of the opposite surfaces. The legs are generally parallel with respect to each other. Each of the legs includes a pair of fins. The distal end of each leg terminates in a point. The ground anchor is made from a polylactide polymer that is biodegradable.

Abstract: A card game apparatus for playing cards. The card game apparatus being played with a deck of cards having a letter, symbol and numerical indicia marked thereon. The card game apparatus also utilizes game chips in conjunction with a game board that has an upper surface with a plurality of jackpot areas. A plurality of windows is formed in the upper surface and is associated with one of the jackpot areas. A plurality of game board indicia is marked on an upper surface of the game board and is associated with one of the jackpot areas. A rotatably mounted wheel member is positioned below the upper surface of the game board such that portions of wheel indicia positioned on the wheel member are viewable through the windows when the wheel member is rotated between different positions, thereby defining a variety of setups for game play.

Abstract: A cardiac stimulator lead is provided that includes a connector for connecting to a cardiac stimulator and an insulating sleeve that has a first end coupled to the connector and a second end. The second end has an opening therein. An electrode is positioned in the insulating sleeve and has a piercing member. The electrode is moveable axially from a retracted position to an extended position wherein the piercing member projects from the opening. A conductor wire is disposed in the sleeve and coupled between the connector and the electrode for transmitting electric signals between the cardiac stimulator and the electrode. A lubricant is provided inside the insulating sleeve for lubricating the movement of the electrode. The lubricant reduces the potential for sticking, particularly for silicone lead sleeves.

Abstract: A cardiac stimulator lead is provided that includes a connector for connecting to a cardiac stimulator and an insulating sleeve that has a first end coupled to the connector and a second end. The second end has an opening therein. An electrode is positioned in the insulating sleeve and has a piercing member. The electrode is moveable axially from a retracted position to an extended position wherein the piercing member projects from the opening. A conductor wire is disposed in the sleeve and coupled between the connector and the electrode for transmitting electric signals between the cardiac stimulator and the electrode. A lubricant is provided inside the insulating sleeve for lubricating the movement of the electrode. The lubricant reduces the potential for sticking, particularly for silicone lead sleeves.

Abstract: A safety device to be worn by a diver includes means for monitoring the breathing of the diver and causing release and inflation of a surface marker buoy attached thereto by a line if it detects he has stopped breathing. The monitoring means may also be operable to cause release of a cover of the device allowing the surface marker buoy to rise or the cover may be a simple friction fit pushed aside by the inflating marker buoy. The monitoring means includes a transducer monitoring the pressure of gas breathed, or the flow of gas inhaled or exhaled, by a diver. Various forms of electrical and electro-mechanical logic circuits are described, each of which provides for the comparison over pre-set or pre-settable time intervals of measurements made of gas pressure or flow rate values with pre-set values or with earlier recorded values. The device may be incorporated in the divers breathing equipment or be separate from the equipment but linked to the equipment by a flexible connection.

Abstract: A rotary cutting knife for paper cutting apparatus or the like includes a circular periphery carrier with a planar front face and a peripheral wall. Cylindrical bores in the peripheral wall receive cylindrical blade inserts. Each blade insert includes at its outer end an inclined planar blade face which intersects the cylindrical insert wall to form a cutting edge of elliptical contour. The insert receiving bores in the carrier are so oriented that inserts can be and are mounted therein with their blade faces all lying in a cutting plane parallel to the planar front face of the carrier and perpendicular to the axis of carrier rotation. Additionally, the bore orientation is such that the outer ends of the inserts lag their inner ends in the direction of carrier rotation. The assembly provides improvements in strength, blade wear life and precision of cut.

Abstract: An improved ultrasonic wire bonding method and apparatus is disclosed having a wire delivery conduit for removing coil set in the wire through a serpentine movement prior to being bonded, which also provides sufficient drag to prevent displacement as the bonder with the wire is being moved from one location to another, and which orients the wire to said bonding tool end. An improved wire cutter moves independently of the wire bonding tool and is directly connected to the main Z positioning movement of said wire bonder so that the wire bonding tool and the cutter can move independently during the process. The wire bonding tool can be biased by a magnetic bias with an armature connected to the wire bonding tool. The wire bonding apparatus and the method provide a loop in the wire between first and second bonds by forming an arcuate bend in the wire as it moves away from the first point of bonding.

Abstract: In the catalytic processing of hydrocarbons, a hydrocarbon oil is successively contacted with a particulate catalyst in a first reaction zone and contacted at a higher temperature with a second portion of the particulate catalyst in the same reaction zone or in a second reaction zone.

Abstract: In a continuous casting plant of the wheel and belt type, the grooved casting wheel 11, and the associated belt or band 12, are tilted laterally so that the plane of rotation is inclined. As a result, the cast bar 30 emerges from the casting wheel without any horizontal surface, and passes to bar preparation machinery with this orientation, prior to being rolled.

Abstract: The following specification discloses a touchdown sensor for ultrasonic wire bonding devices. Such ultrasonic wire bonding devices are used for purposes of bonding wires to integrated circuits, package terminations, hybrids, and discrete semiconductor devices. The devices entail the utilization of a transducer that operates in a series resonant mode. The means of exciting the resonant mode is through an electrical signal imparted thereto, so that a tool attached to the transducer can then impart an ultrasonic bond to a wire with which it is placed in contact. The tool attached to the transducer is lowered by the device to a discrete location. The point of contact is monitored by sensing an increased impedance by contact of the tool and dampening of the transducer's resonant mode. This increased impedance is read by means of producing a voltage proportional to transducer current and determining when it has decreased below a previously set reference voltage.

Abstract: A fail safe air wipe for use with a casting band cleaning system wherein cleanser and rinsing agent used to clean the casting band of a continuous casting machine is removed from the band by mechanical wiping means when pneumatic supply to pneumatic wiping means falters to prevent explosion which may result from contacting the molten material being cast with the cleanser or rinsing agent.

Abstract: An improved mechanic's glove having a plurality of openings on various of the finger stalls, and in the palm, to permit feel of the tools or other work being handled while at the same time providing substantial protection. The improved glove also includes padding on the back side and some of the palm side of the hand, together with a removable gauntlet.

Abstract: An air drag reducing tail gate adapted to fold into the utility compartment of a pick-up truck or the like to promote fuel efficiency while eliminating unsafe conditions inherent in operation of a pick-up truck, trailer or like vehicle with a tail gate extending out of the area occupied by the body of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for continuously lubricating cable during continuous dry curing of cable insulation and insulation shield to reduce friction between the cable surface and the dry curing apparatus, thereby eliminating cable oscillation and vibration and increasing product quality and the speed of production, comprising coating insulation compound pellets and insulation shield compound pellets with incompatible lubricant immediately prior to extrusion of insulation and insulation shield on to the cable.

Abstract: The second wire bond is made in a semiconductor circuit simultaneously with breaking of the wire, in such manner that a "tailless" wirebond is achieved in minimum time and with no damage to either the wire or the bonding pad. The bond is made ultrasonically, and tension is applied to the wire during the actual time that ultrasonic bonding energy is supplied to the bonding tool. Such tension is applied by a spring or its equivalent, and is so predetermined that application of the bonding energy to the bonding tool will not only create the ultrasonic bond but will also break the wire.