Abstract: An apparatus (10) for determining by X-ray examination whether an anterior talo fibular ligament has been ruptured includes an angle-shaped support structure (12) having an upright member (14) attachable to the lower leg (L) of the patient. The support structure (12) also includes a base member (16) for slidably supporting a foot support carriage (18) for longitudinal movement toward and away from support member (14). Carriage (18) includes a heel wedge (20) for receiving the patient's heel (H). Straps (22) are provided for securing foot (F) to the top surface of carriage (18). A predetermined force is applied to heel (H) by a pneumatic loading system (26) designed to push carriage (18) forwardly in the coronal plane away from leg support member (14).

Abstract: A strap winding mechanism for the winding of truck load straps and the like comprising a stanchion having a clamp at the lower end thereof for generally vertical demountable attachment to any selected stake hole of a conventional flat bed truck. The upper end of the stanchion has a plurality of generally horizontal journal apertures at various azimuthal attitudes for selective journalling of a reel handle and a bifurcated open-ended reel assembly in any of the journal apertures. The reel handle and reel spindle are threaded complementarily and thus readily assembled and readily reversible in the journal apertures, and readily disassembled for compact storage.

Abstract: A roller cutter especially adapted to fracture permafrost material includes a plurality of cutter teeth integrally formed with, and extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of a rotor. The rotor is antifrictionally supported on a stator to enable it to rotate about it along its longitudinal axis. The cutter teeth are arranged about the circumference of the rotor in a plurality of rings, with the rings uniformly spaced along the length of the rotor. The rings of teeth are progressively rotated relative to each other so that corresponding teeth of adjacent rows are staggered with respect to each other. However, the teeth of the rows at each end of the rotor are aligned along the rotor length.

Abstract: A video amusement system by which one or more viewers influence the course of a motion picture as if each viewer were a participant in a real-life drama or dialog. A speech-recognition unit recognizes a few spoken words such as "yes" and "run" spoken by a viewer at branch points in the movie, thus simulating a dialog between the screen actors and the viewer. The apparatus may read an optical videodisc containing independently addressable video frames, blocks of compressed audio, and/or animated cartoon graphics for the multiple story lines which the movie may take. A record retrieval circuit reads blocks of binary-coded control information comprising a branching structure of digital points specifying the frame sequence for each story line. A dispatcher circuit assembles a schedule of cueing commands specifying precisely which video frames, cartoon frames, and portions of audio are to be presented at which instant of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving the thermal efficiency of an existing fireplace is disclosed. The apparatus generally comprises a convection chamber having an open front and top, a bottom, a rear wall, and a plurality of side walls. The convection chamber is inserted into the existing fireplace and is spaced apart from the fireplace such that an air passage is defined under, behind, and along the sides of the convection chamber and the fireplace bottom, rear wall, and side walls respectively. The air passage draws room air to be heated under and behind the convection chamber, and discharges heated air into a room to be heated along the sides of the convection chamber in the air passage between the fireplace side walls and the convection chamber side walls.

Abstract: An expanding file box includes a flat bottom panel and a pair of hollow side walls extending upwardly from each side of the bottom panel. The side walls have front and rear entrance openings leading into the interior thereof. The file box also includes flat front and rear panels connected to the front and rear edges, respectively, of the bottom panel to each pivot between a closed substantially vertical position and an open, outwardly tilted position. With the front and rear panels in open position, files or cards located within the box can be tilted relative to each other so that substantially the entire front face of the file is visible. The front panel includes a front sliding panel extending rearwardly from each side edge portion of the front panel to slidably extend into the hollow interior of a corresponding side wall to pivot with the front panel to form an extension of the side walls when the front panel is tilted in open position.

Abstract: The core of a ski includes a layer of viscoelastic material positioned at the neutral axis thereof at every point therealong. An upper constraining layer is positioned above the viscoelastic material, and a lower constraining layer is positioned below the viscoelastic material. The core also includes an upper layer of low modulus of elasticity material placed above the upper constraining layer and a lower layer of low modulus of elasticity material placed below the lower constraining layer. A torsion box member constructed of high modulus of elasticity material surrounds the core to serve as the primary load carrying structural member of the ski. A cosmetic top layer is disposed above the box member while a bottom or running surface is disposed below the box member.

Abstract: A communication device is disclosed. The device comprises keyboard means having a plurality of keys. The keys are operable to enable the user to create a message to be communicated, or to select one of a plurality of predetermined messages to be communicated. User operable feedback switch means including a sequential display means presents each key from the keyboard means to the user. The feedback switch means is further operable during the time a key is presented to duplicate the operability of the key being presented. Display means presents either the message to be communicated as it is being created by the user or the selected predetermined message. Housing means having a first face mounts the keyboard means and the user operable feedback switch including the sequential display means. A second face mounts the display means.

Abstract: A cutting guide for cutting plastic laminate material is used in conjunction with a conventional router. The cutting guide includes an elongate, flat base plate having an opening in one end portion thereof for receiving the bit of the router which has been mounted thereabove. An elongate guide fence is disposed transversely below the base plate and is mounted on a sliding carriage for movement toward and away the router cutting tool. An upwardly biased support roller is axled on the horizontal leg of an L-shaped axle to make rolling contact with a strip being cut from a larger sheet of material along a line parallel to the length of the fence. An auxiliary roller is axled to the trailing end portion of the fence to support the edge portion of the strip of material opposite the cutting tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for tightly compacting material within a wheeled, open top container including a frame composed of a stationary base and a overhead section disposed above the container and coupled to the frame base section by a plurality of telescoping columns which permit the overhead section to raise and lower relative to the container. A plurality of nominally relaxed tension lines extend downwardly from the frame overhead section to interconnect with the upper rim portion of the container. The apparatus also includes a pressing head suspended below the frame overhead section by a pair of spaced apart hydraulic cylinders which are retractable to lift the pressing head to an elevation above the container or extendible to force the pressing head downwardly into the container. As the pressing head pushes against the material within the container, a reaction force is generated which initially causes the frame overhead section to lift upwardly until the tension lines are drawn taut.

Abstract: The front end portion of an endless belt type conveyor is detachably connected to the floor of a self-propelled tunneling shield, and the rear end of the conveyor is supported inclined upwardly by a trailing, mobile power unit which rides on spaced apart rails disposed along the tunnel floor. A pair of double acting hydraulic cylinders advance and retract a boom supporting carriage along support rails mounted along the length of the conveyor. An elongate boom is mounted on the carriage for movement with the carriage toward and away from the tunnel face. A combination digging and hoeing excavator tool is carried by the front end portion of the boom to loosen material at the tunnel face and then hoe the loosened material rearwardly onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A circular seed plate for use with a tilted, cylindrically shaped hopper includes a plurality of cells formed in, and spaced around, the circumference of the plate. Each seed cell includes an end surface which extends radially inwardly from the outer diameter in a direction toward the center of the plate, a trailing shelf surface which extends forwardly in the direction of rotation of the plate from the radially innermost end of the end surface, and a leading shelf surface which extends forwardly from the trailing shelf surface also in the direction of rotation of the plate. Ideally each leading shelf surface is substantially longer than its corresponding trailing shelf surface. The edge defined by the intersection of each leading shelf surface and the upper face of the seed plate is beveled along substantially the entire length of the leading shelf surface.

Abstract: An apparatus forming hay pellets from bales of hay is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rotatable pellet die having a plurality of axially extending pellet forming holes. The cutter knife disc is secured to one face of the pellet die and carries a plurality of cutter knives aligned with each pellet forming hole. The cutter disc further has openings beneath each cutter knife aligned with each pellet forming hole allowing hay to be urged through each pellet forming hole after it is cut. Means urges a bale of hay into the cutter knife disc such that as the pellet die and cutter knife disc rotate, the bale of hay is cut and urged through the openings in the cutter knife disc into each pellet forming hole for compaction into hay pellets. Means aligned with each pellet forming hole controls the moisture in each hay pellet as it is urged through each pellet forming hole.

Abstract: A golfing figure is shaped to resemble the stance of a human golfer when addressing a golf ball and is designed to duplicate an ideal golf swing. The golfing figure includes an upper body member which is joined with a lower body member to rotate about an axis extending generally along the length of the upper body member in the same manner in which the upper body of a golfer swings when hitting a ball. The upper and lower body members are interconnected by a torsion spring which automatically rotates the upper body member forwardly after it has been manually rearwardly rotated. The degree of relative rotation permissible between the upper and lower body members is limited to approximately the actual movement of the upper body of a golfer when hitting a golf ball. The torsion spring is mounted within mating upper and lower sockets contained at the juncture of the upper and lower body members.

Abstract: A sail mounting frame extends upwardly from the hull of a boat and is constructed of a lower section and an upper section which rotate relative to each other about a first axis of rotation which extends generally vertically upwardly with respect to the hull of the boat. An overhung axle is rotatably journaled to the mounting frame upper section for rotation about a second axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the axle. A circular convex sail is supported by a correspondingly shaped support frame, which support frame is mounted on the free end of the axle for rotation of the sail about both the first and second axis of rotation.