Abstract: Disclosed is a spark plug for an internal combustion engine including an annular end portion with a central electrode having an end within the annular end portion. A ground electrode extends from the annular end portion and has a portion extending over and spaced a predetermined distance above the end of the central electrode. The improvement comprises the end of the central electrode having cross-grooves therein defining four end faces and the ground electrode having diverging prongs at its end over the central electrode, a portion of each prong being over two adjacent end faces of the central electrode. Improved ignition is provided without critical manufacturing problems of prior art spark plugs.

Abstract: A two-part surgical fastener comprises a staple and a receiver which are adapted to secure body tissue together. The staple is generally U-shaped and includes at least two prongs with barbed distal ends which penetrate the tissue and are latched by the receiver. Each prong of the staple is configured as an elongated prism of hexagonal cross-section and includes a barbed tip with an enlarged hexagonal cross-section at its free end. Each aperture of the receiver is hexagonal in configuration and includes a pair of opposed ledges for engaging the barbed tip. The tip of each prong has a pointed distal end formed by a first pair of sloped surfaces which form the sharp angle and a second pair of sloped surfaces which form a blunt angle. The staple includes longitudinal ridges or grooves on the prongs which are engaged and guided by longitudinal channels or ribs provided in a staple cartridge. The staple and receiver consist of bioabsorbable material.

Abstract: A surgical staple for securing a purse string suture to human tissue comprises a staple body of deformable material formed into a loop through which the purse string suture is threaded. The staple body includes a pair of legs which are deformable into an overlapping configuration upon insertion into the tissue to secure the staple body and the purse string suture to the tissue. Alternatively, the staple body includes two or more legs including barbed ends for anchoring the legs to the tissue. To secure the purse string suture, a plurality of staples is positioned about the periphery of the tubular section of tissue, the purse string suture is threaded through the loops in the staples, and the staples are driven into the tissue to secure the purse string suture thereto. In addition, a surgical instrument is provided for applying the staples and the purse string suture to the tissue.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument for performing a circular anastomosis stapling operation is provided. The surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly mounted by a curved shaft to an actuator handle assembly and incorporates an improved actuator mechanism for transmitting the required operating forces and movements from the actuator handle assembly through the curved shaft to an anvil and staple driver of the stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a longitudinally movable trocar detachably secured by one or more retainer clips on a hollow shaft of the anvil. When the trocar is retracted, the anvil shaft slides into a central support tube which aligns the anvil axially and circumferentially with a staple holder on the stapling head assembly. The retainer clips are locked against the trocar by the support tube and transmit tension from the trocar to the anvil with no tension load on the anvil shaft.

Abstract: A razor head or cartridge is provided on its skin engaging surfaces, e.g. caps and/or guard surfaces with an array of closely spaced projections which, in use, produce a pleasant tactile sensation tending to reduce shaving discomfort.The projections may be formed by closely packed flexible filaments, or by moulded fins or pillars.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying purse string sutures to human tissue includes a pair of jaws on which a plurality of teeth are configured to firmly grip the tissue to be sutured and to pinch the tissue into a desirable configuration to receive the purse string sutures. The successive teeth on each jaw are alternately pointed and smooth with the pointed teeth on each jaw being opposed to the smooth teeth on the other jaw. A needle passage extends through the teeth on each jaw for guiding a needle attached to each purse string suture through the tissue which extends into the valleys on opposite sides of the teeth. A needle retainer is provided on each of the jaws for capturing the needles advanced through the needle passages. The needles are advanced by a pair of tubular sleeves which slide through the passages and receive the purse string sutures therein to guard the sutures against damage as the needles are advanced to draw the sutures through the passages.

Abstract: Disclosed is a line marker for tennis courts and the like and particularly for clay courts. The line marker consists of a generally T-shaped strip of material of predetermined color and length. The T-shaped material has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the vertical portion being of a continuous length of material whereas the horizontal portion comprises a plurality of spaced laterally extending elements. Preferably the horizontal portion is made with alternate spaced elements, these elements being formed by cutting laterally about half way into a strip of material and alternately folding the elements at 90.degree. to form the horizontal portion, the remaining part of the strip forming the vertical portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a strap device for storing or carrying ring toss game apparatus including two posts and four rings. The device has a first elongate strap and two second straps, one at each end which extends generally along the line of the first strap. The second straps are each adapted to be wrapped around parts of two rings and secured to the first strap. There are also two third straps. Each third strap extends perpendicular to the first strap and is adapted to be wrapped about an upper part of a post and secured with respect to the first strap. The lower part of each post is preferably located in a pocket at each end of the first strap. Each post has a step portion which enables the post to be forced into the ground by foot, the step also providing resistance to tilting of the post by contact by tossed rings.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for raising and lowering a platform having wooden leg support means. A box girder is adapted to move axially about a wooden support leg of a platform, the box girder having means for securement of the girder to material forming the frame of a platform. The box girder has apertured lug on an exterior surface thereof. A header device is provided for detachable assembly with the top of a support leg of the platform during raising or lowering of the platform frame and screw means operationally cooperate with the header device and the girder lug for selectively raising or lowering the frame about the leg. Also disclosed is a method of using the apparatus in raising and lowering platform systems and has particular utility in dock systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypropylene composition comprising a crystalline ethylene-propylene block copolymer having an ethylene content of 5-20% by weight and a melt flow index of 11-90, a thermoplastic elastomer, an amorphous propylene-.alpha.-olefin random copolymer having a number-average molecular weight of 1,000-20,000 and a propylene content of 40-95% by weight and an inorganic filler. This composition can be made into a molded article having no flow mark on the surface. The molded article is superior in rigidity, heat deformation resistance, low temperature impact resistance and coatability, has appearance free from waviness, voids, etc., and is suitable for use particularly in high quality bumper for automobiles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reinforced polypropylene composition comprising a polypropylene component (a modified polypropylene or a mixture of said modified polypropylene and an unmodified polypropylene), an ethylene-propylene copolymer, a glass fiber and mica having an average particle diameter of 40-160 .mu.m and an average aspect ratio of 30-85. This composition can provide molded articles of very low warpage and is useful for the production of molded articles, particularly core materials of instrument panels for automobiles requiring high rigidity, high heat resistance and deformation resistance.

Abstract: An animal identification system for swine or other livestock employs an identification implant or pellet consisting of food grade material and imprinted with information to identify the source of the animal and its carcass after slaughter. The pellet is implanted under the hide or skin of the animal for purposes of identification. In the case of swine, the identification pellet is located in the fat layer of the shoulder area underneath its hide or skin. The pellet and the imprinted information consist of food grade material which is capable of being dissolved with the fat layer or disintegrated into cracklings in a rendering process. The pellet remains in the carcass after the animal is slaughtered until its removal to permit identification of the source of the animal. If the pellet is not removed, it is either dissolved with the fat of the animal or disintegrated into cracklings in the rendering process.

Abstract: A chair which is convertible to an exercise machine comprises a front L-shaped frame member (51) and a substantially straight rear frame member (52) which is pivotable between a vertical position to form a chair and a horizontal position to form an exercise machine.In the configuration as an exercise machine, the seat (90), which has wheels underneath, slides along the rear frame member (52) as the user pulls on a bar (80) against the force of springs (85, 86). Cross-members (66, 67) serve as foot rests. The bar may be replaced by two spring members (40, FIG. 3) attached to the top of the vertical limbs of the front frame member.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates a jaw clamping mechanism which applies clamping forces to its jaw members to resist the forces exerted on the anvil and staple cartridge carrying portions of the jaw members when the staples are formed. Preferably, the stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife blade assembly is slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members to sequentially drive the staples from the cartridge and form the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows in the tissue. The pusher bar and knife blade assembly includes a knife blade for cutting the tissue along a line between the longitudinal staple rows.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis. The stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife blade assembly is slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members to sequentially drive the staples from the cartridge and form the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows of formed staples in tissue gripped between the jaw members and to cut the tissue along a line between the staple rows. A latching mechanism is operable to a partially latched position in which the jaw members are loosely connected together to permit the staple cartridge and anvil to be adjusted in position on the tissue without disconnecting the jaw members from each other.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates a staple height adjusting mechanism which enables the gap between its jaw members to be adjusted to select different staple heights to be produced when the staples are formed. Preferably, the stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife assembly slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members sequentially drives the staples from the cartridge and forms the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows in the tissue. The pusher bar and knife assembly includes a knife blade for cutting the tissue along a line between the longitudinal staple rows.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates an improved staple actuator mechanism operable by separate control buttons to accomplish its stapling and cutting actions in two stages. The two stage operation of the stapling instrument reduces the maximum force required to operate the instrument. The improved actuator mechanism permits selection of different staple heights to be produced by the same instrument. In addition, the actuator mechanism is designed to stabilize the upper and lower jaw members by providing longitudinal and lateral support along substantially the entire length of the operative portions of the jaw members. Preferably, the actuator mechanism comprises an elongated, I-beam structure slidably mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the jaw members.