Abstract: Structural elements of biocompatible material are interlocked with one another in an array to repair, augment or replace natural bone, the structural elements each including a hub having a center, and a plurality of posts projecting from the hub and spaced from one another to establish inter-post spaces between adjacent posts, each post having a root at the hub, an opposite tip, a length, and a transverse cross-sectional configuration, the number of posts and the relative length, cross-sectional configuration, and location of adjacent posts in each structural element being such that the inter-post spaces of one structural element will receive the posts of adjacent structural elements in the array to promote interlocking of adjacent structural elements in a relatively tightly meshed relationship for resisting shear stress in essentially all directions within the array.

Abstract: An animal-like toy having hollow appendages into which a wearer can insert his arms and feet.

Abstract: A biasing device for use in a pegboard merchandise display in which items of merchandise are suspended along a hook of the display includes a strip of resilient synthetic polymeric material forming a bow between the pegboard and the items of merchandise suspended along the hook, mounting tabs captured between the pegboard and the hook to secure the strip in place, and a pusher pad for pushing against the rearwardmost suspended item to maintain the forwardmost suspended item at a dispensing location at the forward end of the hook.

Abstract: An improvement in a bicycle lock extends the ability of an existing bicycle lock of the type having a U-shaped shackle to secure a bicycle to a post, against theft, by slipping a generally U-shaped essentially rigid link over a leg of the U-shaped shackle of the existing bicycle lock, subsequent to locating the rear wheel of the bicycle in the link, so that upon locking the bicycle frame and front wheel of the bicycle to the post with the U-shaped shackle, the existing bicycle lock also secures the rear wheel of the bicycle against theft.

Abstract: Method for completing personal computer cards of prescribed accurate dimensions includes nesting side walls with side channels and end walls with end channels to close an enclosure of a personal computer card and then qualifying, or conforming, the dimensions of the closed enclosure to the prescribed dimensions of the personal computer card by forming the nested walls and channels, preferably by impacting the nested walls and channels within forming dies, to attain the critical length, width and thickness prescribed for the personal computer card.

Abstract: A two-way safety trip is placed at selected locations along a railway track to demarcate a safety zone within which the travel of a railway vehicle is stopped upon entering the zone and is permitted to continue upon leaving the zone, the safety trip including a bracket for attachment to the track and a trip member selectively mounted upon the bracket in alternate mounting orientations for serving at either boundary of the safety zone.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the direction of the mechanical axis of the femur of a patient in relation to the corresponding knee of the patient in connection with resecting the distal femur for the reception of a femoral knee prothesis include at least partially suspending the patient's leg to locate the knee at a suspended position wherein external forces on the knee, such as the weight of the leg, are balanced and the knee remains essentially stationary at the suspended position, applying a force to the femur at a predetermined location relative to the mechanical axis of the femur, directing the applied force in a direction such that the knee remains undeflected from the suspended position while the force is applied to the femur in that direction, and employing that direction of the applied force to indicate the direction of the mechanical axis of the femur.

Abstract: Affixation of a glenoid component of a prosthetic shoulder implant is enhanced and forces exerted upon the glenoid component during service are managed by the location and orientation of affixation pegs on the glenoid component, and especially the location of a medially extending superior affixation peg closely adjacent the superior edge of the glenoid component, and the offset orientation of an inferior affixation peg, relative to the superior affixation peg, the glenoid component including intermediate affixation pegs extending medially and spaced from one another in the anterior-posterior direction intermediate the superior affixation peg and the inferior affixation peg.

Abstract: A gate hinge hinges a gate to a vertical post at an installation site where the post projects vertically in an upward direction from a surface having a first surface portion extending laterally of the post in an inward direction normal to the upward direction of the post and a second surface portion inclined rearwardly of the post upwardly at an angle of inclination, the gate hinge including a hinge axis, mounting members mounting the gate hinge relative to the post with the hinge axis skewed relative to the direction of the post such that the hinge axis passes through a first location adjacent the upper end of the post and a second location vertically below the first location and placed rearwardly and outwardly, with respect to the post, relative to the first location, a bracket mounting the gate to the hinge for swinging movement about the hinge axis between a closed position and an open position, the bracket having bracket arms for locating the gate relative to the hinge axis such that the gate, when in th

Abstract: The invention is directed toward providing a method and a brace for supporting a knee joint to permit movement of the joint in first selected directions and to restrain movement in second selected directions. The brace comprises a flexible sheet and at least two enclosed inflatable chambers contained in the flexible sheet. The chamber is formed of a material which is light and flexible when uninflated but is relatively rigid when inflated. Each inflated chamber follows a path corresponding to that of one of the cruciate ligaments and together they support the joint and prevent unwanted movement of the portion to be restrained from movement. However, the material has sufficient flexibility and when coupled with the flexible sheet serves to prevent abrasion of the sensitive areas of the joint being confined. The flexible sheet, while very flexible, also protects against the transmission of shock to the joint.

Abstract: A brace for supporting a weakened knee joint and a method for attaching the brace wherein lower and upper anchor bands are located upon and attached to the lower leg and the upper leg adjacent the knee joint, with essentially inextensible support straps following respective helical paths around the knee joint between the lower and upper anchor bands, and inflatable elements within the lower and upper anchor bands subsequently are inflated to anchor the attached lower and upper anchor bands in place for firm and accurate securement upon installation in the desired location and for maintaining the desired location during use.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing fully annealed metal anodes are disclosed. The methods contemplate supplying metal and heating the metal until it has obtained a molten state. The molten metal is permitted to flow into a die and transported therethrough where it is cooled until it solidifies. The flow rate of the metal through the die and the extent of cooling are selected such that a fully annealed metal anode is obtained.

Abstract: An improvement in an acetabular cup component of a prosthetic hip implant in which an acetabular shell receives a bearing member within the interior of the acetabular shell and has at least one bone screw hole, the improvement enabling the interoperative selection of implanting the acetabular shell without the employment of a bone screw or with the employment of at least one bone screw for assisting securement of the acetabular shell within the natural bone at the implant site, the improvement including a plug for seating in the bone screw hole to close the bone screw hole, the plug including a fastener arrangement for engaging the acetabular shell to fasten the plug within the bone screw hole, and a sealing arrangement for engaging the acetabular shell essentially to seal the bone screw hole against the migration of debris from the bearing member through the bone screw hole, the fastener arrangement including an operator arrangement for being selectively operated from the interior of the acetabular shell to

Abstract: A bumper cover overlies a longitudinally extending bumper frame to establish a bumper corner in a vehicle bumper assembly and includes a unitary member of resilient elastomeric material, the member having a generally L-shaped overall configuration including a front leg extending longitudinally along the bumper frame and a side leg extending laterally relative to the bumper frame and across a corresponding end of the bumper frame, a pair of parallel splines of a relatively rigid, relatively higher strength structural material integral with the front leg of the cover member, the splines each including an engagement portion projecting from the cover member and complementary to a corresponding groove in the bumper frame for engagement with the groove to secure the spline to the bumper frame, and a securing arrangement securing the splines in the bumper cover such that by virtue of affixing the engagement portion of each spline to the bumper frame, the bumper cover is affixed to the bumper frame to complete the bu

Abstract: A system for the wireless transmission of multiple information signals utilizing digital time division circuits between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations. The subscriber stations may be fixed or movable. The number of time division circuits is determined by the transmission quality of the signals. The base station is interconnected with an external information network, which may be analog and/or digital. The information signals are selected from the group consisting of voice, data, facsimile, video, computer and instrumentation signals. The modulation level of the signals and the power applied to the system are adjusted in accordance with signal error detection in the system. The system is provided with spatial diversity by using a plurality of antennas selectively spaced from each other to provide relatively high signal reception despite signal fading. The base station operates over a plurality of RF channel pairs.

Abstract: A subscriber unit for wireless communication with a base station in a wireless subscriber communication system includes a FIR chip, a DIF (digital intermediate frequency) chip, a single processor chip and a radio. The processor chip transcodes a digital voice input signal to provide digital input symbols; demodulates an output signal received from the base station to provide digital output symbols; and synthesizes a digital voice output signal from the digital output symbols. The FIR chip FIR filters the digital input symbols and generates timing signals for timing the transcoding and synthesizing operations in the processor chip. The DIF chip digitally synthesizes a digital intermediate frequency signal by direct digital synthesis (DDS) and modulates the digital intermediate frequency signal with the filtered input symbols to provide a modulated intermediate frequency input signal. The radio further processes the modulated input signal for transmission to the base station.

Abstract: In a digital wireless subscriber telephone unit for wireless connection with a base station which includes a modem processor whose signal is converted to an analog signal which is then upconverted and filtered to form an IF signal, a deglitching circuit for removing glitch spikes occurring during the transition periods from digital signals to analog signals comprising a timing system, a detector for detecting the transistion periods in order to control the timing system, and a mixer coupled to the output of a D/A converter to mix a blanking signal from the timing system with the analog signal received from the D/A converter during the transistion periods, whereby the output of the mixer is returned to an intermediate reference level.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter system utilizable in a wireless digital telephone network, the system comprising a circuit to produce an analog signal, and a circuit for amplifying this signal, mixing the amplified signal with a signal from a timing circuit and applying the output of the mixer to a sample and hold circuit; the output of the sample and hold circuit being then applied to an analog to digital converter, the output of which is applied to a FIFO, whose output is then available for further processing.

Abstract: A telecommunication system and method for communicating communication signals between various stations over a selected carrier medium. An improved encoder and method is provided for compressing a communication signal into a selectively formatted encoded signal to facilitate its transmission over the selected carrier medium. The method is particularly useful for encoding fax and modem data signals which do not exhibit the harmonics of a voice signal. A decoder and method for reconstruction of the encoded signal are also provided.