Abstract: A vessel provides a decorative display of a floral arrangement or like items utilizing a reservoir of liquid for providing visual effects, with the items placed within the reservoir and extending upwardly out of the reservoir, and a light source within an inner chamber surrounded by the reservoir, the walls of the reservoir being light-transmitting and the inner chamber being flared radially outwardly and upwardly to dissipate heat from the light source and to deflect the items radially outwardly away from the heat emanating from the light source.

Abstract: In a knee prosthesis, the condylar surfaces of a femoral component engage corresponding articular surfaces of a tibial component along prescribed tracks of predetermined curvature which enable relative rotation between the femoral component and the tibial component about a longitudinal axis during articulation of the knee prosthesis, and at least the condylar surfaces or the articular surfaces are flared in a direction away from corresponding articular surfaces or condylar surfaces along engaged posterior and anterior portions of the condylar surfaces and articular surfaces to provide an increased area of contact in deep flexion and in extended hyperextension for reducing contact stresses and concomitant wear while militating against unwanted distraction of the knee prosthesis.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for developing ability in the neuromuscular system of a user coupled, at coupling sites adjacent selected musculature, to anthropomorphic members of the apparatus by moving the anthropomorphic members through repetitive cycles such that during each cycle a force exerted by the user on the anthropomorphic members, along predetermined prescribed paths of movement through a prescribed range of motion at a predetermined speed of motion, with the paths of movement, the range of motion and the speed of motion unaltered by the user, and with an applied force transmitted by the anthropomorphic members to the selected musculature at the coupling sites, while varying the applied force in response to variations in the further force so as to develop an ability in the neuromuscular system associated with the selected musculature.

Abstract: A wall-washer lighting fixture is installed flush with a ceiling surface and directs light horizontally and vertically along adjacent wall surfaces, closely adjacent to the intersection between the ceiling and the wall surfaces in order to reduce to a minimum any shaded area along wall surfaces adjacent the intersection. The lighting fixture includes first lens elements oriented, located and configured for directing light toward first areas of the wall surface, spaced vertically downwardly from the intersection, and a second lens element located vertically lower than the first lens elements and oriented and configured for directing light toward second areas of the wall surface, located between the first areas and the intersection between the ceiling surface and the wall surface, so as to illuminate the wall surface more uniformly while reducing to a minimum any shaded area along the wall surface adjacent the intersection.

Abstract: A fluid material is applied to a surface by an applicator implement shown in the form of a brush having a stem and an applicator in the form of bristles supplied with the fluid material through an array of relatively small diameter lumens extending along the stem of the brush and delivering the fluid material to the bristles in a corresponding array of small streams of fluid material directed along the bristles to lay down the fluid material in an essentially even distribution of regulated amounts of fluid material along the bristles.

Abstract: A pinch valve has a resiliently flexible tubular valve member folded upon itself at an intermediate portion of the length of the valve member to establish a folded configuration including a longitudinally extending folded portion, preferably in the form of folds, and an operator for selectively exerting a lateral force upon the valve member to unfold the folded portion, or folds, so as to restrict the flow of fluid through the valve member by closing down the valve member. Upon release of the lateral force, biasing forces established by memory characteristics in the construction of the valve member return the valve member to the folded configuration to open the valve member for unrestricted flow of the fluid.

Abstract: A wireless telephonic communication system and method facilitates the establishment of telephonic communication with any one of a multiplicity of wireless telephonic devices by enabling access to an existing telephonic communication infrastructure by any one of the multiplicity of wireless telephonic devices for the conduct of telephonic communication over the existing telephonic communication infrastructure without requiring a corresponding multiplicity of telephone access numbers.

Abstract: A bone fracture located in one of the distal area and the proximal area of a long bone of the body is stabilized by inserting an intramedullary nail at a corresponding proximal end or distal end of the long bone, the intramedullary nail having a shank long enough to extend into the shaft of the long bone and reach the corresponding distal area or proximal area, and sockets located intermediate the ends of the shank for receiving anchoring pins extended transversely from the shaft of the long bone and to which a drill guide is coupled for enabling the drilling of holes in the long bone aligned with the fracture for insertion of stabilizing fasteners to stabilize the fracture.

Abstract: A shielding enclosure has an access opening for enabling selective access to a component placed in the shielding enclosure, a closure member and a connector section selectively expansible and contractible to enable the closure member to be captured within the access opening upon expansion of the connecting section to complete shielding of the component and to be disengaged from the access opening upon contraction of the connecting section. In the preferred construction, the connecting section is in the form of a perforated web having beams oriented oblique to the directions of expansion and contraction, and the shielding enclosure is made in one piece from a single blank of shielding material.

Abstract: A selected augment, shown as a tibial augment, is secured at an augmentation location on a prosthetic implant component, shown as a tibial implant component, by a securing element assembled with the body of the augment for displacement relative to the augment body to selectively engage an abutment located on a depending structure of the implant component, adjacent the augmentation location, so as to establish a securing force between the securing element and the depending structure for urging the augment against the implant component, and thereby secure the augment to the implant component at the augmentation location. In the tibial augment, a distal surface includes surface portions extending in anterior-posterior directions and oriented essentially normal to medial-lateral directions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for stacking plural electronic or electro-acoustic components in a vertical stacked arrangement on a horizontal support surface such that vibratory energy generated within each component is transmitted and dissipated while each of the plural components is isolated from vibratory energy emanating from others of the plural components and from vibratory energy emanating from the horizontal support surface. The components are supported on vertically spaced apart horizontal support members coupled to corresponding vertical support members for enabling relative horizontal movements between each horizontal support member and the corresponding vertical support members while effecting relative vertical movements in response to the relative horizontal movements.

Abstract: A folding chair constructed of synthetic polymeric material and having an aesthetic appearance simulating that of a traditional wooden folding chair, while incorporating structural features for facilitating uniform and stable stacking of like chairs, and for providing lighter weight, greater strength and enhanced structural integrity, increased comfort and safety and ease of operation. Lighter weight is attained through the use of hollow structural elements reinforced at critical locations for greater strength and enhanced structural integrity. Increased comfort and safety are attained by recessing certain components which otherwise could cause damage to adjacent chairs or to the clothing of persons seated upon the chair, or cause injury to the persons themselves.

Abstract: A flagpole halyard is replaced with a method and a tool which enables an operator to reach up from the ground, detach a flagpole truck from the upper end of a flagpole and lower the truck to the ground for threading a replacement halyard through the truck. The truck then is replaced, from the ground, utilizing the method and tool. A cradle placed at the upper end of an elongate shaft is raised by the shaft to the truck for engaging and cradling the truck to lift the truck from the top of the flagpole, is lowered to gain access to the truck for threading of the replacement halyard, and is raised again to replace the truck, with the replacement halyard threaded therethrough, at the upper end of the flagpole.

Abstract: A filter unit for filtering aquarium water includes a packet having porous filter walls configured for mechanical filtration of aquarium water, a filter medium within the packet, between the filter walls, configured for chemical filtration of the aquarium water, and a block of reticular material juxtaposed with the packet, the block of reticular material being configured for biological filtration of the aquarium water. The packet and the block are secured within a frame to establish an integrated unit for placement within an aquarium water filtration system in which aquarium water is passed through the packet and the block, and the frame is selectively removed from the filtration system and opened for selective removal and replacement of the packet and the block independent of one another.

Abstract: A coupling device is interposed between an electronic or electro-acoustic component and a supporting structure for draining, transmitting and dissipating vibratory energy generated within the component, while isolating the component from vibratory energy emanating from the support structure, utilizing a ball rolling along a bearing surface in directions away from and toward an equilibrium position, with the ball biased toward the equilibrium position by magnetic attraction forces.

Abstract: A hair ornament retaining implement includes a band of resiliently deflectable material having a normally open loop for receiving multiple strands of hair of an individual, and integral legs for being selectively intertwined to close the loop and cinch the multiple strands of hair so as to secure the implement to the hair. Knobs placed at the ends the legs secure the loop closed and are constructed of a light-transmitting material, the knobs including holes filled with a filler material of a color contrasting with the visual appearance of the legs so as to visually imbue the knobs with a color contrasting with the visual appearance of the legs and provide the implement with an aesthetically appealing decorative effect for decorating the hair when the implement is secured to the hair.