Abstract: This invention provides a connector for optical fibers which includes a receptacle within which is a lens member, with plugs being connected to the opposite ends of the receptacle so that optical fibers carried by the two plugs are in a light-transmissive relationship at the lens member. The plugs include forward tapered surfaces which are biased by resilient forces against tapered surfaces of the lens member for directly aligning the plugs with the lens member. Each of the plugs includes a back shell carrying a clamping member in which resilient pads are biased against the fiber to grip it without damaging it. Within the front shell the optical fiber is caused to bow in a predetermined direction which enables compensation to be made for any offset in the axes of the cavities in the lens member.

Abstract: A bale-tie wire for use with press platens in a baling press for baling materials includes a body portion having looped members formed at each end of the bale-tie wire body portion with a portion of each of the looped members bent out of the plane in opposite directions of each of the respective looped ends. Each of the looped members includes rearwardly extending legs which engage the body portion of the bale-tie wire with one of the extending leg portions being substantially longer than the leg portion of the other end looped member to provide a bale-tie wire structure which substantially reduces the force necessary for the engagement of the looped end portions of the bale-tie wire.

Abstract: For clamping a hose or flexible pipe on an insert of corresponding cross-sectional shape, there is disclosed a hose clip which is of generally coil spring configuration and which has two mutually engageable hooked end portions each projecting generally outwardly of the coil, the hose clip having, in its relaxed condition, a non-integral number of turns of a characteristic diameter and being constructed such that, on elastically deforming the hose clip (without plastically deforming it) to bring the hooks of the hooked end portions thereof into mutual engagement, the hose clip assumes its clamping position and the configuration of a coil spring having an integral number of turns the diameter of which is smaller than the said characteristic diameter. Preferably, the hose clip is formed of spring steel wire and comprises one complete and one incomplete turn of the wire when the hose clip is in its relaxed condition.

Abstract: The collar comprises a wire of elastically yieldable material forming a coil. Two opposite end portions of the coil each comprise hooking means and, between the coil and the hooking means, an intermediate bent portion. The curvature of each bent portion is opposed to the curvature of the corresponding end portion of the coil.

Abstract: A self-tightening elastic clamp is provided for firmly holding a plurality of pieces together, comprising, in combination, an elastically deformable metal helix having a predetermined shape and size and having a spring back force maintaining the predetermined shape and size in the absence of deforming forces of greater strength than the springback force, and clamp opening portions connected to the helix and operative when the helix is to be fitted over the pieces for deforming the helix through straining by transmitting compressive stress from the fingers of a user.

Abstract: A bale tie wire for use in conjunction with press platens in a baling press for baling material includes loop members formed at each end of the tie wire with a portion of each loop member bent out of the plane of each respective loop in opposite directions. Predeterminedly positioned notches are located in the bale tie wire to facilitate insertion and engagement of the bale tie wire about the corners of the baled material to provide alignment of each of the end loop members for proper engagement together.

Abstract: This invention relates to split ring markers fabricated in whole or in part from a radiopaque material, usually metal, having the terminal ends thereof and a medial portion formed to define eyelets by means of which said marker can be sutured to the tissue at the site of an anastomosis to provide a visual indication of its location when examined fluoroscopically.

Abstract: A length of wire of uniform composition throughout has end portions of circular cross section bent into the form of mutually interengageable loops with free ends. The loops can be interengaged and then drawn into a knot by endwise tension applied to the wire. The portion of the wire intermediate the end portions is of uniform oval cross section of such less area than the circular cross section of the end portion that, when the wire is subjected to a direct tensile pull, its load capacity approaches more nearly the load capacity of the knot than in prior wire bale ties. The longest cross sectional dimension of the intermediate portion of the wire is juxtaposed flatwise against the bale in the installed condition of the tie.