Abstract: A writing implement is balanced in accordance with the requirements of a particular individual user by a weight selectively movable along the writing implement to locate the center of gravity of the writing implement at a selected position relative to a grip by which the writing implement is gripped by the user during the execution of writing movements of the writing implement. A clip member retains the writing implement, when not in use, on a support with a gripping force adjustable to accommodate the structural characteristics of the support. A protective cover member is placed over the writing point of the writing implement when not in use and, during use, is retained at the end of the writing implement opposite the writing point by a magnet. The weight is visible through a transparent portion of the writing implement for aesthetic purposes as well as for visually determining the position of the weight relative to the grip.

Abstract: A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes includes bristles constructed of a polyamide fiber having an external surface modified to include a texturized surface configuration having a multiplicity of spaced apart indents. The bristles have a diameter of about 2.5 to 3,5 mils and are arranged in a spiral having plural turns, with more than 60 and up to about 120 bristles within each turn of the spiral arrangement. A method utilizes the improved brush to facilitate the application of mascaras in a wider range of viscosities.

Abstract: An adhesive tape of indeterminate length is capable of separation into serial segments of finite length, with each segment including a gripping element established by a non-adhesive area contiguous with at least one terminal end of the segment and spaced from each side edge of the segment so as to assure secure adherence of the segment from end to end of the segment to a juxtaposed surface and to facilitate selected release of the terminal end from the juxtaposed surface.

Abstract: A civilian anti-terrorist attack gas mask used as an emergency measure to remove hazardous air pollutants present in air drawn from an ambient atmosphere to provide a person with suitably breathable air is provided in the form of a cap fitted over the person's head and carrying a hood draped over the person's head to establish a chamber contiguous with the person's face, the gas mask including an impeller assembly placed in a peak on the cap for drawing air from the ambient atmosphere through an adsorption element and a filter element to circulate fresh breathable air through the chamber, the impeller assembly maintaining an air pressure in the chamber raised above the ambient air pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for displaying bulk items and selectively dispensing a designated quantity of the bulk items from a multiplicity of the bulk items upon demand includes containing a multiplicity of bulk items in a volume of the bulk items within a bin and simultaneously conveying bulk items in a horizontal direction toward one end of the bin, adjacent the bottom of the bin, and in a vertically upward direction, adjacent the one end of the bin, to move bulk items from the volume of bulk items to an elevated dispensing outlet, in response to a demand, while at the same time tumbling the bulk items within the volume to separate the bulk items from one another for delivery of the designated quantity of individual, discrete selected bulk items to the dispensing outlet.

Abstract: A vehicle fueling safety system, device and method precludes inadvertent premature departure of a vehicle from a fueling station having a fuel dispenser, as a result of an action by an inattentive or distracted driver of the vehicle during an ongoing fueling operation by placing a visual warning indicator in the line-of-sight of the driver when the driver is in a driving position in the vehicle during the ongoing fueling operation. The indicator reminds the driver not to move the vehicle until the indicator is removed, indicating that fueling is complete and it is safe to move the vehicle. A further feature places the indicator at an inactive location remote from the line-of-sight, when not in use, and a disabling arrangement is responsive to such placement for disabling the fuel dispenser to preclude the dispensing of fuel when the indicator is at the inactive location.

Abstract: An applicator brush for use in connection with a moisture-responsive adhesive, such as a cyanoacrylate adhesive, is made with bristles constructed of filaments of a synthetic polymeric material and treated by fluorination to provide a surface barrier against the permeation of the bristles by moisture. The applicator brush is furnished in an adhesive package in which bristles of the brush are in contact with adhesive carried in a reservoir of a container of the package.

Abstract: A mooring whip mounting base has a basal member for affixation to a docking structure, a holding member for holding a mooring whip for mooring a boat adjacent the docking structure, and a connecting structure for selective movement of the holding member to selectively move the mooring whip between a mooring position, wherein the mooring whip extends at a relatively shallow angle to a horizontal direction, and a more nearly vertical retracted position, wherein the mooring whip is retracted to gain ready access to the boat for boarding and better clearance for departure of the boat from the dock. A positive stop arrangement includes positive stops for limiting movement of the holding member to movement between positive first and second positions so as to positively determine the mooring and retracted positions of the mooring whip while facilitating selective movement of the mooring whip between the mooring and retracted positions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preparing a seating surface of prescribed depth, contour configuration and area delineated by a prescribed peripheral boundary extending along the bone of a natural joint at which a prosthetic device is to be implanted includes positioning a guide on the bone, the guide having a guide slot following a path geometrically similar to the peripheral boundary of the seating surface, inserting a cutting device altitudinally through the guide slot at any selected location along the path of the guide slot, and translating the cutting device along the guide slot to cut an outline groove in the bone coincident with the peripheral boundary of the seating surface. The guide then is removed from the bone, and portions of the bone lying within the area delineated by the outline groove are removed to establish the seating surface.

Abstract: A modular prosthesis, such as a shoulder prosthesis, enables the selection of one of multiple alternate offset locations of a head member, such as a humeral head member, on a stem member, such as a humeral stem member, together with the selection of any rotational orientation of the head member within a full 360° range of rotational orientation relative to the stem member, so as to locate and orient the head member secured on the stem member for optimum replication of the natural joint replaced by the prosthesis.

Abstract: A method and an order debit card enable the compilation of an order for items and quantities selected from a plurality of items and quantities available in the card and the transfer of information pertaining to the compiled order to a vendor at a remote site so as to avoid the necessity for compiling the order at the vendor's site, thereby avoiding delay. In addition, a given value is available in the card enabling the advance placement of the compiled order, and the value of the compiled order is deducted from the given value to establish a current given value in the card subsequent to placement of the compiled order.

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. The band carries a coupling element for coupling the hair ornament to the band so as to retain the ornament on the hair for decorating the hair. A hair appliance employs a decorative cord coupled to a plurality of the implements for extending between the implements and decorating the hair when the implements are secured to the hair.

Abstract: An improvement in an electrostatic precipitator and method for removing particulate contaminants entrained in a gas stream passed through an electrode arrangement in which particulates are charged in a first electrostatic field and subjected to a second electrostatic field to be removed and collected for further disposition. The electrode arrangement includes a charging section having a charging electrode and a field electrode, and a collecting section having a repelling electrode and a collecting electrode. The field electrode and the collecting electrode are integrated, providing a relatively compact construction, and the charging electrode and the repelling electrode are electrically separated by high voltage diodes in a single power supply arrangement such that the charging section and the collecting section each are provided with a corresponding electrostatic field operated at an optimum voltage and current for respectively charging and collecting particulate contaminants entrained in the gas stream.

Abstract: A shelf product management and information display identifies a product allocated to a portion of a shelf at a point of purchase and provides a purchaser with extended information pertaining to the product. The display is to be mounted at the forward edge of the shelf portion and includes a channel for displaying information pertaining to the identification and pricing of the allocated product, and a cover element which carries graphic material in the form of aesthetically pleasing product identification and logo representations. The cover element is maintained in a closed position by the force of gravity, and is selectively moved to an open position to reveal extended information pertaining to the allocated product, which extended information is hidden from view when the cover element is in the closed position.

Abstract: An acetabular cup assembly allows pre-operative or interoperative selection and securement of a bearing member within a shell member of the acetabular cup assembly, the bearing member being selected from a plurality of bearing members having different characteristics, including bearing characteristics, securement characteristics, position characteristics and orientation characteristics, so as to enable a surgeon to select those characteristics most appropriate to a particular patient, as determined by a pre-operative assessment or by an evaluation of conditions encountered at an implant site during the implant procedure, and to incorporate the desired characteristics into the acetabular cup assembly with ease and economy.

Abstract: A combination wheeled vehicle and article carrier is capable of being converted between selected configurations, including a rider-carrying scooter configuration and a rider-carried pack configuration. The scooter configuration provides a scooter having a handle, front and back wheels, and a selectively extensible foot board assembly for selecting wheelbase length to attain desired ride and handling characteristics. Steering is accomplished by tilting of the scooter with the assistance of a tiller arrangement. The pack configuration includes a pack member, and the handle, front wheels and foot board assembly are selectively retracted into juxtaposition with the pack member to provide a compact backpack when the combination is in the pack configuration.