Abstract: A femoral guide is shown in the form of a femoral sizing guide for determining the size of a femoral knee prosthesis to be implanted at an implant site at a distal femur and includes a femoral sizing block connected to a foot component for selective pivotal movement about a pivotal axis extending in a generally axial direction and essentially intersecting the transepicondylar axis of the distal femur to enable a guide arrangement on the femoral sizing block to be located for facilitating subsequent placement of a femoral cutting guide on a distal femur in position to rotationally locate an anterior cut in a plane anterior of and essentially parallel to the transepicondylar axis of the distal femur. The femoral sizing block is connected to the foot component for selective linear movement to compensate for size variations outside standard femoral knee prosthesis sizes. Visible indications are provided of the location of a subsequently implanted femoral knee prosthesis.

Abstract: A probe for use in monitoring intake air volume in an air handling system operates in a turbulent stream found at locations near an intake for outside air. The probe has a very large transverse peripheral profile and includes a front face having a very large impact area so as to substantially disturb the turbulent stream and effect a substantial change the direction of flow of the turbulent stream, enabling accurate measurement of differential pressures to determine intake air volume with greater precision.

Abstract: An antenna construction for a wireless telephonic communications system has a body member including a sleeve-like wall of dielectric material and integral antenna elements. The sleeve-like wall is fitted over a projecting element of an existing structure, such as the top portion of an existing utility pole, to present an aesthetically unobtrusive arrangement on the existing structure. In the preferred construction, the dielectric material is provided in the form of an elongate ribbon-like substrate which, together with the integral antenna elements, is wrapped upon itself to establish the sleeve-like wall.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying humidified air to a terrarium include providing a chamber within which there is placed a reservoir of water and a humidifying member having a humidifying surface located adjacent the surface of the water in the reservoir so that air released below the surface of the water in the reservoir rises through the reservoir of water to burst from the surface of the water and thereby drive water droplets to the humidifying surface of the so as to wet the humidifying surface and expose air in the chamber to the wetted humidifying surface. The air thus exposed is humidified by exposure to the wetted humidifying surface, and the humidified air is delivered to the terrarium. The humidifying surface includes a reticulated configuration providing the humidifying surface with an extended surface area for enhanced humidification.

Abstract: A shielding gasket is affixed to a shield housing for interposition between the shield housing and a circuit board of an electronic device. The circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components and related circuitry and the arrangement of the shield housing and the shielding gasket provide for inter-component shielding of the plural electronic components from one another, together with corresponding related circuitry, as well as overall shielding of the plural electronic components on the circuit board. To that end, the shielding gasket includes partitions integral with the shielding gasket for extending between the electronic components, the partitions engaging the shield housing such that the shield housing and the partitions complete inter-component shielding of the electronic components and related circuitry from one another.

Abstract: A pain brush holder has a basal member curved to follow the curve of the rim of a paint container to which the paint brush holder is attached by depending clamp jaws spaced apart circumferentially along the curve of the basal member. A clip member has a depending shaft extending through a guideway in the basal member and clip jaws for holding a paint brush over the interior of the container. Complementary detents secure the clip member within the basal member at a selected altitudinal location so as to maintain the paint brush at a selected elevation within the interior of the container.

Abstract: A wireless telephone system, a wireless telephone for use in the system, and a method of using a wireless telephone capable of use for telephonic communications only for a predetermined limited period, within which limited period the sum of the durations of the telephonic communications reach the duration of the limited period, after which limited period the telephone is rendered inoperative, all utilize the transmission of an encrypted signal together with the transmission of selected telephonic communications to deter unauthorized use of the predetermined limited period.

Abstract: A compact modular wireless telephone includes a base unit, a headset selectively connected to and disconnected from the base unit, and a separate card for placement in the base unit to enable telephonic communication. The card includes an identifier for providing a signal identifying a dedicated service account, an interfacer for interfacing the telephone with a service provider for authorization of a telephonic communication, and a selector for placing an authorized telephonic communication, upon interfacing the telephone with the service provider and gaining authorization for the telephonic communication. Telephonic communications are authorized on the basis of the amount of airtime made available in the dedicated service account represented by the card, and the mode of operation of the telephone indicated in the dedicated service account.

Abstract: An acetabular alignment method and apparatus utilize natural landmarks available on a pelvis to guide the alignment of an acetabular device in connection with the implant of a prosthetic hip joint at an implant site in the pelvis. The acetabular device is engaged with a positioning shaft having a longitudinal shaft axis, and locators are mounted upon the positioning shaft for placement adjacent selected landmarks on the pelvis to orient the shaft axis relative to the acetabular axis of a prepared acetabulum at the implant site in order to place the shaft axis at a prescribed angle of abduction and a prescribed angle of anteversion, thereby orienting the acetabular device at the appropriate angle of abduction and the appropriate angle of anteversion.

Abstract: An artificial aquatic plant is displayed in a desired array juxtaposed with the inside surface of a wall of an aquarium by attaching one end of the plant to a retainer secured to a frame at the top of the aquarium and extending longitudinally along the wall, and by attaching the other end of the plant to an anchor buried in a bed of sand or gravel at the bottom of the aquarium. The artificial aquatic plant is constructed of synthetic resin materials and at least some components of the plant are fabricated of a synthetic resin material having insufficient buoyancy to support the plant in the desired array within the water contained in the aquarium. Support of the plant in the displayed array is accomplished by the attachment of the ends of the plant to the retainer and to the anchor.

Abstract: Certain contaminants are removed from a stream of contaminant-laden commercial and industrial exhaust gases conducted through an electrostatic precipitator by passing a reagent fluid through corona discharge active zones to activate the reagent fluid as the reagent fluid is injected into the stream such that the activated reagent fluid reacts with the contaminant to be removed. A combination discharge electrode and injector carries a plurality of electrode elements which establish the corona discharge active zones and include injector passages juxtaposed with the corona discharge active zones. The reagent fluid is injected into the stream by delivering the reagent fluid through the injector passages such that the reagent fluid passes through the corona discharge active zones and is activated as the reagent fluid is injected into the stream.

Abstract: Apparatus and method reclaim make-up of the type ordinarily supplied in block form by processing broken, unusable random-sized pieces of such make-up into a block of usable make-up of prescribed consistency, size and configuration, by advancing the random-sized pieces through a mesh member of selected mesh size to form intermediate particles of a size appropriate for agglomeration into the block of usable make-up. A measured charge of intermediate particles is established in a compression chamber where the measured charge is compressed by a ram into a mold member to form the block. The mold member preferably includes a tray which selectively is removed to a cosmetic case for ease of carrying and using the reclaimed make-up.

Abstract: A finger ring fitting aid is attached readily to a finger ring and has a sizing member selectively movable between a first position, wherein the sizing member lies outside the finger ring opening to enable unrestricted access to the opening for placement of the ring on a wearer's finger, and a second position, wherein the sizing member lies inside the finger ring opening to constrict the opening to a desired fitted size. A resilient biasing mechanism biases the sizing member into either one of the first and second positions such that movement of the sizing member to either position and retention of the sizing member in either position is accomplished with ease and without requiring any auxiliary tool.

Abstract: Cribbing apparatus for stabilizing a post-accident vehicle against unwanted shifting of the vehicle during a rescue operation in which a victim trapped in the vehicle is to be extricated from the vehicle includes cribbing blocks hinged together for pivotal movement to fill a space between the vehicle and the ground at the site of an accident. A wedge is inserted between the pivotally connected cribbing blocks for operating the cribbing apparatus without jolts and dislocations which otherwise could cause shifting and concomitant increased danger of injury to the victim, as well as to a rescuer. A hinge includes leaves and wings in U-shaped configurations which deter skewing of the cribbing blocks during pivotal movements. The cribbing blocks include grooves for reception of the wedge such that skewing or collapse of the wedge is deterred by virtue of the confined movement of the wedge within the grooves during operation of the cribbing apparatus.

Abstract: A compact modular wireless telephone includes a telephonic module having a compact body member within which there is integrated basic wireless telephonic circuitry, and a remote modular arrangement having at least an earphone for connection to the telephonic module through an elongate cable which places the earphone at a remote location relative to the body member of the telephonic module. In addition to the earphone, the remote modular arrangement can include a microphone and a power source, both of which are removed from the body member to the remote modular arrangement. A loop antenna can be incorporated into the body member so that manipulation of the telephonic module will optimize reception of a wireless telephonic signal without disturbing the placement of the earphone at the ear of a user of the wireless telephone.

Abstract: Towing apparatus for towing a personal watercraft at a desired distance behind a tow boat includes towing units having straight tubular walls, the towing units diverging from the personal watercraft toward the tow boat, each towing unit including a central tow line tensioned between the ends of the tubular wall, with each tubular wall in compression, enabling managed flexing of the wall of each towing unit for controlled lateral and altitudinal movements of the personal watercraft relative to the tow boat while maintaining the desired towing distance between the personal watercraft and the tow boat.

Abstract: A condensing wet electrostatic precipitator for cleaning hot gases is constructed of collection electrode modules which establish longitudinally extending collection electrodes and a cooling jacket, each collection electrode module having a configuration including at least one part-tubular section and a cooling fluid chamber integral with the part-tubular section for containing cooling medium for cooling the part-tubular section. In some arrangements, the collection electrode modules are spaced apart laterally to enable the passage of the hot gases through the collection electrodes in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction in which the collecting electrodes extend.

Abstract: An address plate is fitted over a building wall having a stepped profile configuration established by overlapped courses of shingles or clapboards. The address plate includes a generally flat display panel for displaying indicia pertaining to the address of the building and tongues inserted between the overlapped courses to hold the display panel in juxtaposition with a selected course. Tabs are placed at steps between the overlapped courses for fasteners which secure the address plate in place.

Abstract: A garment hanger shoulder guard has an elongate overall configuration with a central portion, a coupling member at each end of the shoulder guard and shoulder support portions intermediate the ends of the shoulder guard. The coupling members each have an end wall connected to a corresponding shoulder support portion by a gusset and fold lines which enable the coupling members and the shoulder guard to be flattened for shipping and storage and erected in the field for assembly with a garment hanger without requiring supplemental operations, such as on-site stapling or manual interlocking of a tab-and-slot assembly.