Abstract: A latching mechanism selectively maintains a first member and a second member in secured engagement by the interposition of a striker plate, mounted upon the second member, between spaced apart arms carried by a latching cam mounted on the first member for pivotal movement and locked in a latching position against such movement by a locking member, and moves the first member away from the second member upon selective release of the secured engagement by the actuation of a push-button assembly which unlocks the locking member and allows the latching cam to be moved out of the latching position by a biasing spring so that one of the spaced apart arms pushes against the strike plate to move the first member away from the second member.

Abstract: An improvement in a package closure crimping apparatus in which opposed crimping jaws are moved in crimping directions toward and away from one another to exert crimping forces for forming a sealed closure in a package constructed of thin film material having a given film thickness and placed between the crimping jaws, the sealed closures extending along a prescribed length between opposite package edges, includes a crimping jaw carrier for movement along the crimping directions, a crimping jaw carried by the crimping jaw carrier for movement with the crimping jaw carrier, the crimping jaw having a jaw length extending along the prescribed length, and a cushion of resilient material interposed between the crimping jaw and the crimping jaw carrier, along the prescribed length, for facilitating distribution of the crimping forces along the jaw length of the crimping jaw.

Abstract: An improvement in the operation of a thermal oxidizer during regeneration of an adsorber, wherein adsorbates collected in the adsorber are removed from the adsorber and introduced into the thermal oxidizer, by regenerative steam passed through the adsorber, to be oxidized in the thermal oxidizer during a regenerative cycle of prescribed duration, regulates the concentration of adsorbates in the regenerative steam passed to the thermal oxidizer such that the concentration of adsorbates introduced into the thermal oxidizer throughout the duration of the regenerative cycle is regulated to avoid excessive deviations from a selected average concentration of adsorbates, the regulated concentration of adsorbates enabling more efficient operation of the thermal oxidizer throughout the full duration of the regenerative cycle.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail is inserted at a selected location within a natural bone and is removed selectively from the location utilizing an access wire which guides a knife for making an access opening of limited size in alignment with the direction in which the intramedullary nail is to be inserted or removed. Cutting tool guides are secured within the access opening, with the aid of trocars, for gaining access to the bone at the location for insertion of the intramedullary nail, and for gaining access to the intramedullary nail for removal of the intramedullary nail. The intramedullary nail includes a hollow shaft with an end plug provided with an alignment hole for engagement with an access wire which guides a knife to the end plug, and a purchase which is protected from calcification and scar tissue during the service life of the intramedullary nail and which is accessed readily for effecting removal and withdrawal of the end plug for ease of removal of the intramedullary nail.

Abstract: A shoulder guard for a wire garment hanger has an opening for the hook of the hanger, the dimensions, location and configuration of the opening providing access to a throat of the hanger, located at the intersection of the hook with shoulder portions of the hanger, for facilitating threading of a tie through the throats of adjacent hangers in a group to secure together the group of adjacent hangers, and the garments draped over the hangers. A blank from which the shoulder guard is erected is constructed with an aperture located, dimensioned and configured for establishing the opening in the erect shoulder guard.

Abstract: An improvement in ultrasonic cleaning in which articles to be cleaned are immersed in a bath subjected to ultrasonic energy emanating from ultrasonic transducers coupled to a vibratory diaphragm contiguous with the bath, the ultrasonic transducers being in multiple sets for providing ultrasonic energy at multiple ultrasonic frequencies at interspersed locations spaced apart a distance enabling the multiple sets of transducers simultaneously to transmit to the bath ultrasonic energy at the multiple ultrasonic frequencies without deleterious interference arising out of the simultaneous presence of the multiple ultrasonic frequencies.

Abstract: A layer of material is interposed between a metallic texture coating and the substrate of a component of a prosthetic implant, the layer being bonded to the substrate and, in turn, receiving the metallic texture coating so as to deter propagation of fatigue-induced cracks from the metallic texture coating into the substrate.

Abstract: A coupling unit for connecting together serially adjacent pipe sections with coupling members selectively coupled together by placing a latch in a latching position and selectively uncoupled by moving the latch to an unlatched position is improved by incorporating a locking lever movable into a locking location to juxtapose generally complementary locking surfaces to lock the latch in the latching position and movable into an unlocking location wherein the generally complementary locking surfaces are out of juxtaposition for release of the latch for movement to the unlatched position.

Abstract: A foil screen is held in registration with a printed circuit board during the application of solder paste on the printed circuit board, within a frame assembly with a prescribed tension by providing a rigid frame for juxtaposition with the foil screen, engaging the foil screen with at least one coupler, engaging the one coupler with a tensioner for resiliently biasing the one coupler to exert a tensioning force of prescribed magnitude upon the foil screen to tension the foil screen with the prescribed tension, and selectively applying an actuating force to the one coupler, the actuating force being opposite to the tensioning force, and selectively releasing the actuating force from the one coupler, such that upon actuation of the actuator to apply the actuating force, the tensioning force is overcome for release of the foil screen from the one coupler, and upon actuation of the actuator to release the actuating force, the one tensioner resiliently biases the one coupler to exert the tensioning force of prescr

Abstract: A wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and for the purchase of selected goods and services in purchase amounts is responsive to the purchase amounts so as to enable the purchase amounts to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime. A method of using a wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and for the purchase of selected goods and services in purchase amounts enables the purchase amounts to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime. Preferably the purchase amounts are placed through a purchase account and are converted to additional periods of airtime in proportion to the purchase amounts.

Abstract: A disposable portable electronic device has a body of prescribed length and thickness and constructed of an elongate, ribbon-like substrate of dielectric material, the substrate having a continuous length much greater than the length of the body, and a thickness much less than the thickness of the body, with conductors and components formed on the substrate, the dielectric material of the substrate having a high degree of flexibility such that the substrate is folded upon itself into at least shorter lengths juxtaposed with one another within the thickness of the body, and the juxtaposed lengths of the substrate are secured together to establish a self-sustaining structure which forms the body of the device.

Abstract: A remote-operated elevator door safety control for holding open a door of an elevator from a remote location includes a transmitter remote from the elevator for selectively transmitting a door-open signal, a receiver at the elevator for receiving the door-open signal, and an actuator coupled with the receiver and responsive to the door-open signal to hold a door-operating mechanism in a door-open mode so as to hold the door open in response to reception of the door-open signal.

Abstract: A smart card reader includes a housing having a rectangular plan configuration and housing members secured together by sets of complementary overlapping tabs located at the four corners of the rectangular housing and joined together, as by welding. Some of the sets include locator elements on one of the tabs of the set for locating the overlapped tabs accurately relative to one another to assure accurate dimensions in the completed housing. A stiffener plate is secured to at least one of the housing members, as by welding at spaced apart locations along the stiffener plate, to add stiffness to the housing. A lead-in ramp assists in leading the smart card from an inlet section of the reader into an intermediate section of the reader for connection to an electrical connector located in a connector section of the reader.

Abstract: A weight bearing and weight pulling muzzled harnessing apparatus with an easily shortened lead for training and conditioning animals and preventing unwanted biting.

Abstract: A patella clamp and method for use in resecting a patella for the reception of a patellar prosthesis holds the patella in a preparation position and provides the surgeon with a direct and interoperative accurate visual indication of the bone thickness of the patella prior to and subsequent to resection, as well as a direct and interoperative accurate visual indication of an interoperatively settable depth of resection, all without the necessity for introducing supplemental instruments or other apparatus during the resection procedure.

Abstract: A holder secures a disk to a backer member at a point of purchase, with the disk retained in the holder while providing an indication of any tampering to access the disk in the holder, the holder including a back sheet, a front sheet juxtaposed with the back sheet and joined with the back sheet, a pouch between the joined front sheet and back sheet, the pouch having an access opening for selective removal of the disk from the pouch and selective re-insertion of the disk into the pouch, a loading opening in the back sheet for enabling insertion of the disk into the pouch through the loading opening, an adhesive layer along the back sheet for securing the back sheet to the backer member with the backer member closing off the loading opening such that upon securement of the back sheet to the backer member selective removal of the disk from the pouch is accomplished only through the access opening of the pouch, a flap joined to the assembled front sheet and back sheet and overlapping the front sheet to close the

Abstract: A platform is interposed between an electronic component of a sound reproduction system and a support structure to absorb unwanted vibrational energy originating in the electronic component and thereby enhance the sonic performance of the electronic component, the platform having a body constructed of a plurality of layers integrated into the body and having densities progressing from higher densities at outer layers to lower densities at inner layers, with an inner layer recessed relative to the outer layers for facilitating the absorption of unwanted vibrational energy.