Abstract: A preform for making a prosthetic limb socket includes an injection molded disk of thermoplastics material, and a peripheral portion of the disk is supported by a rigid metal ring. The ring and the peripheral disk portion have an interfitting connection which permits the disk and ring to be heated in an oven. The ring and softened disk are then inverted and stretched downwardly over a positive model of a residual limb while a vacuum is introduced through holes within the model to form a plastic socket which conforms to the model. The interfitting connection may be peripherally spaced studs on the ring and projecting into corresponding holes in the disk or may be an annular rib or arcuate rib sections on the ring which project into an annular recess or arcuate cavities within the disk. After the plastic cools, the ring is separated for reuse.

Abstract: A sub-miniature surgical staple cartridge includes an elongated housing having longitudinally extending strips forming walls with a wall thickness preferably less than 0.015 inch. The walls define a plurality of longitudinally spaced pockets which receive a corresponding plurality of U-shaped surgical staples above generally flat corresponding drivers. The thin walls are formed of sheet metal or extruded plastics material or heat-formed sheet plastics material with the outer side walls having opposite end walls welded together or integrally connected. The outer side walls may be sheet metal enclosing sheet metal or plastic extruded internal walls, or the entire cartridge may be extruded of a plastics material or formed of sheet plastics material and have a plastic bottom wall.

Abstract: A steel structural member such as a joist or beam is secured to a vertical cast concrete member or wall by a connector system including a fabricated steel receiver embedded within the wall. Embedded anchors are attached to the receiver which has front wall portions flush with the concrete wall and define a front opening. A support bracket has a horizontal plate attached to the beam and a vertical plate which fits through the front opening within the receiver. The bracket is attached to the beam which is then elevated, and the vertical plate is inserted through the opening into the receiver. The beam and vertical plate are then shifted until opposite edge portions of the vertical plate are blocked by the front wall portions of the receiver. In the illustrated embodiment, the front opening and vertical plate are generally triangular, and the support bracket has a welded reinforcing gusset.

Abstract: A steel structural member such as a joist or beam is secured to a vertical cast concrete by a connector system including a fabricated steel receiver embedded within the wall. Embedded anchors are attached to the receiver which has front wall portions flush with the concrete wall and define a front opening. A support bracket has an attachment plate secured to the beam and a vertical plate which fits through the front opening within the receiver. The bracket is attached to the beam which is then elevated, and the vertical plate is inserted through the opening into the receiver. The beam and vertical plate are then shifted until opposite edge portions of the vertical plate are blocked by the front wall portions of the receiver. In the illustrated embodiments, the front opening and vertical plate are generally triangular, and the support bracket has a vertical or horizontal attachment plate.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a player's efficiency in shooting by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are stored, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball.

Abstract: A rotor for an electrical machine that comprises two parallel magnet wheels, each of which comprises axial teeth so that each tooth on a wheel is situated in the space existing between two consecutive teeth on the other wheel, and that comprises magnetic elements, each arranged between two adjacent teeth and partly received in a groove produced in each of the opposite lateral faces of the two adjacent teeth. In one embodiment, each of the two adjacent teeth comprises one groove at a maximum, which emerges at the base of the first tooth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the automatic determination of the coefficient of a slope from a motor vehicle fitted with a camera.

Abstract: A method of inserting an undulating winding into an alternator stator. The method comprises the following steps consisting of shaping each phase winding into a succession of crenels comprising two lateral branches which are intended to be attached at a position for reception in a slot, positioning the windings on an insertion tool and inserting the turns into the slots of the stator in the reverse order to the winding order. The windings are wound around the insertion tool simultaneously, and the turns that succeed one another in a determined winding order belong alternatively to different windings.

Abstract: A method for determining the distance of visibility for a driver of a vehicle in the presence of an element disrupting the visibility of the driver, the method comprising the following steps: determining the luminosity of the pixels of a region of an image taken in the field of vision of the driver, resulting in a luminosity curve, determining a first tangent to the curve of luminosity, determining a second tangent to the curve of luminosity, determining a sweep-line according to the first tangent and second tangent, the sweep-line being representative of the distance of visibility.

Abstract: A method of preparing a reversible electric machine with a phase for starting a heat engine of a vehicle that is equipped with an automatic start/stop system, whereby said machine comprises a rotor which is connected to the heat engine. The method comprises the following steps consisting in detecting an action prior to a heat engine start command and applying a magnetizing electric current to the rotor of the machine upon detection of the action.

Abstract: The applicator is made of a material that is compatible with the cosmetic. In the manufacturing method, a digital model of the applicator is prepared, the material is conditioned in a raw form that is capable of flowing, and the material in raw form is solidified in slices that are defined by the digital model. The material in raw form is capable of being solidified by photo-polymerization, in particular by means of a light source comprising a laser, or else by sintering, in particular by means of a heat source comprising a laser. The applicator is a mascara brush or comb, for example.

Abstract: A method of managing the degraded modes of a system for the automatic starting/stopping of a heat engine of a vehicle, whereby the system receives information supplied by measurement and detection sensors and by a bus for the communication of vehicle operating data. The method comprises the following steps consisting in verifying the presence and validity of the information supplied by the sensors and, in the event of a negative result, defining a first degraded mode in which any stopping phase of the automatic start/stop mode is forbidden until an end-of-restriction condition has been fulfilled, and, in the even of a positive result, testing the communication with the data communication bus and, in the event of a negative result, defining a second degraded mode in which the automatic start/stop mode is inhibited until an end-of-inhibition condition has been fulfilled.

Abstract: An interface for a database. The database contains information about subnets in a large network, such as the Internet. The interface displays the information in a hierarchical fashion. However, because all subnets cannot be displayed on a display at once, some subnets are displayed, and a user reaches other subnets by calling for subsets of the subnets displayed.

Abstract: A method and headlight adapted to supply power to a dual-mode automobile headlight light source able to provide either main beam mode lighting or dipped beam mode lighting, wherein the light source is supplied with electrical power at a first voltage when it is in main beam mode and at a second voltage when it is in dipped beam mode, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage.

Abstract: A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a head of a bone fixation device. The steps of fixing include inserting the pedicle screw into a bone, the pedicle screw including a head portion, expanding a first inner member over the head portion of the pedicle screw after the pedicle screw is inserted into a bone, fixing an angle of the tulip assembly relative to the pedicle screw using the first inner member and a second inner member, the first and second inner members situated in an outer member of the tulip assembly and positionally locking a rod in the tulip assembly after the angle is fixed by rotating the second inner member and outer member relative to each other after the fixing step.

Abstract: A rotor for an electrical machine that comprises two parallel magnet wheels, each of which comprises axial teeth so that each tooth on a wheel is situated in the space existing between two consecutive teeth on the other wheel, and that comprises magnetic elements, each arranged between two adjacent teeth and partly received in a groove produced in each of the opposite lateral faces of the two adjacent teeth. In one embodiment, each of the two adjacent teeth comprises one groove at a maximum, which emerges at the base of the first tooth.

Abstract: A personal transporter includes a tubular metal frame supporting a platform for supporting an operator, and the frame has forwardly projecting and parallel spaced inverted L-shaped frame members which support a pair of freely rotating front caster wheels. A pair of reversible electric motor and attached gearbox drive units are mounted on the rear portion of the frame on opposite sides of the platform, and the gearboxes have right angle output shafts forming axles supporting a pair of rear wheels. A storage battery is enclosed within a box in front of the platform, and a vertical adjustable post projects upwardly in front of the box to support a handlebar. A hand control unit is mounted on the handlebar and is connected to the drive units through a control system within the box. The rear wheels are covered by fender guards which also cover the drive units.