Abstract: A fully implantable hearing aid system comprised of an implantable sound generator module and an implantable sound receiver module connected by an implantable electric cable. The system includes: a) a sound generator module configured for implantation in subcutaneous tissue to place an output electric/acoustic (E/A) transducer, e.g., a speaker, immediately adjacent to, or preferably, extending percutaneously into, a patient's outer ear canal; b) a sound receiver module configured for implantation proximate to a patient's pinna to place an input acoustic/electric (AJE) transducer, e.g., a microphone, so that it is acoustically isolated from the E/A transducer; and c) an electric cable configured for implantation in subcutaneous tissue for directly electrically connecting said sound receiver module and said sound generator module.

Abstract: An illuminated sign assembly is provided, of the type that includes illuminated alphanumeric characters lying on a dark background, wherein the characters and/or color can be readily changed at low cost. The sign includes a thick rigid structural plate (26, FIG. 3) of colorless translucent material which can be readily placed in a lightbox that shines light through the plate. A thin color sheet (30) which passes light of a selected color, lies on the front face of the translucent plate, and an opaque character sheet (34) which has apertures (20) defining alphanumeric characters, lies on the front face of the color sheet. The color and character sheets are each thin, so new color and character sheets can be provided at low cost for mounting on the plate. The color and character sheets each have a layer of water-soluble adhesive so a water spray (62, FIG. 11) can be applied to greatly reduce the adhesive viscosity to enable squeegeeing (at Z) of each sheet to remove air bubbles.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for tying together ski poles and skis into a compact package that can be stably carried not only with the poles and skis horizontal, but also when they extend vertically. The tie has a middle (44, FIG. 4), a pair of pole strip end portions (40, 42) extending from one part of the middle for wrapping about a pair of ski poles, and a pair of ski strip end portions (46, 48) extending from an opposite part of the middle for wrapping about a pair of skis. Velcro-type fasteners lie on the outer side of a first end portion and on the inner side of a second end portion of each pair to hold the pair of strips together when wrapped about poles or skis. Each strip end portion is long enough to wrap by an angle (82, 84) of substantially 180.degree. about the poles or skis, and the inner surface of one of the strip end portions is formed of a soft rubbery material (56).