Abstract: A support (12) has a playing field (14) demarked thereon with a plurality of sets (16, 18, 20, 26, 28, 30) of attachment devices. Each set has an attachment devices in the form of a hook member (24) for each team of a league for removable attachment of a team designator (40) unique to the respective team of the league. Separate attachment devices (34, 36) are provided for the winner of each league and the ultimate winner of the World Series (38).

Abstract: A protective device (10) for preventing damage to the hull of a watercraft (12) is shown formed of elongated members (10a, 10b) of flexible material and having pressure sensitive structural adhesive on a side thereof for attaching the members to the surface of a watercraft. Member (10a) serves as a first protective member and is formed with a central section (13) having longitudinally extending cavity (30) to enable the member to conform to variously shaped hulls. One or more supplemental members (10b) are shown for attachment on each opposite side of the first protective member and serve as auxiliary protective members.

Abstract: An emergence cuff (30,30') formed of suitable biocompatible synthetic plastic is shown having a bore adapted to be received on an abutment in turn mounted on a root marker implanted in the alveolar ridge of a patient. The cuff has a bore (36) generally matching the crown receiving surface of the abutment and an outer surface which goes from a feathered edge portion with the bore a first end (34,34') closest to the root member and a larger outer surface at the second end. The gum tissue is sutured onto the cuff and abutment so that after sufficient healing when the cuff is removed a sulcus is formed to receive a crown with the interface of the crown and the abutment located below the gum line. The emergence cuff can also serve as the cervical portion of a temporary crown (40) by attaching it thereto as by using a mechanical interlock (39), if desired. An optional radially inwardly extending flexible lip (48) is shown at the first end to provide a positive seat for the cuff member on the abutment.

Abstract: A self-locking cylindrical drive (10,10') to deliver and assemble internally hexed prosthetic components such as screws and abutments into place is shown. The head (14) of the tool engages and locks with the flat side surfaces of the internally hexed prosthetic component. The tool (10,10') allows for extra-oral assembly of a component with the tool to minimize any risk of a component falling off or being lost in a patient's mouth during delivery of the component. Final seating of the component is then accomplished using a conventional hexagonal drive tool with appropriate delivery torque. The tool is formed into both a standard hand driven wrench (10) and contra-angle drill (10').

Abstract: A continuous particle treating system (10) is shown having an elongated treatment chamber (12) with a slurry supply network (14) connected to the inlet end (12a) of the chamber and an outlet network (16) connected to the outlet end (12b) of the chamber. The supply network includes a loading chamber (24) coupled to a slurry container (18) forming a main circulation loop and a by-pass conduit (32) connected in parallel with the loading chamber forming a by-pass loop with the slurry container. High pressure liquid (36) is used to pressurize the treatment chamber (12) and at selected times during an operational cycle, the loading chamber (24). A plurality of valves (V1-V7) are interconnected and sequenced to maintain slurry circulation at all times and to intermittently separate the loading chanter (24) from the circulation path and to pass on the slurry in the loading chamber into the treatment chamber (12).

Abstract: A high quality writing instrument (100) has a special tip member (108) in one embodiment adapted to protect the distal end of the outer shell (102) from damage while allowing the shell to extend essentially all the way to the writing tip end of the instrument. An intermediate bushing 116 removably locks the tip member and threadingly is received in the retraction/protraction mechanism (14). In a second embodiment (130) the outer shell (132) is formed with a thicker wall portion adjacent the writing tip end so that a thread (136) can be formed in the bore. A bushing (140) has an end which is threaded into the bore of the shell with the distal ends of the shell (130) and the bushing (140) being flush and with the bushing (140) protecting the writing tip end from damage. The outer shell (102, 132) of both embodiments can be pierced in a selected pattern showing the outer surface of an inner shell (122, 150) spaced therefrom.

Abstract: A hydration system having one or more units (10, 10', 10") for providing a continuous flow of water to newly placed concrete has a plurality of spaced elongated soaker tubes (12) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (14) of the unit. Respective manifold tubes (16-19) are attached to each end of soaker tubes (12) and a supply coupler (32) is in turn attached to the manifold tubes at one end of the unit and an additional coupler (34) is attached to the manifold tubes at the opposite end of the unit. An upper impervious layer (28) is disposed over the tubes (12, 16-19) and a lower pervious layer (28) is disposed under the tubes (12, 16-19). Layers (26, 28) are attached to each other along the outer periphery of the unit and on opposite sides of the tubes by rivets (30) or stitching (42).

Abstract: A test fixture (10) for mounting electrical circuit boards (CB, CB') and placing a plurality of test locations of the circuit board in electrical engagement with respective probe test pins (16) of an array of such pins has a cam mechanism (22) mounted in an integrally formed modular frame (20) of an upper assembly (12). The upper assembly (12) is pivotably mounted on a lower base assembly (14) and latched thereto by a latch assembly (28). A circuit board to be tested is placed over an array of longitudinally depressable pins (16), the upper assembly (28) pivoted to a closed position and latched by latch mechanism (28). Handle (22k) attached to the cam assembly (22) is then rotated causing blocks (22f) to slide in rectilinear track (22e) of slide plate (22c) while translating rotary motion of the cams members (22g) to a vertical motion of a pusher plate (30) attached to the slide plates (22c).

Abstract: An emergence cuff (30) formed of suitable biocompatible synthetic plastic is shown having a bore adapted to be received on an abutment in turn mounted on a root member implanted in the alveolar ridge of a patient. The cuff has a bore (36) generally matching the crown receiving surface of the abutment and an outer surface which goes from a feathered edge portion with the bore at the end (34) closest to the root member and a larger outer surface at the second end. The gum tissue is sutured onto the cuff and abutment so that after sufficient healing when the cuff is removed a sulcus is formed to receive a crown with the interface of the crown and the abutment located below the gum line. The emergence cuff can also serve as the cervical portion of a temporary crown (40) by cementing or bonding it thereto, if desired.

Abstract: A float post (12, 12', 12") is shown having one end (14) receivable in a mounting stand (20) or directly into the bottom surface of a body of water and a second end (16) which mounts a storage locker 50 having a plurality of beverage container holders mounted thereto. A tether mounting device (36,80,90) is mounted adjacent the second end and receives one end of a tether (46,46') with the opposite end of the tether formed with a loop for reception on a foot or other body part of a person on a floatation device. The post may be unitary of may have a plurality of telescoping sections (70,72,74) to provide adjustable length.

Abstract: A carriage (22.28) is slidably mounted on a pair of shafts (22.20,22.22) and moves between protracted and retracted positions. A pusher element (22.32) extends downwardly from the the carriage and has a free distal end portion (22.34) attached to a rod (22.36) of a pneumatic cylinder (22.38) which extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the shafts. A print head support body (22.44) is pivotably attached to the pusher element adjacent the distal end portion (22.34) and has a pair of followers (22.50) extending laterally from the support body and which are received in track means (22.14) formed in side walls (22.12). The print head support body assumes a first angular orientation at a printing station (22.52) when the carriage is in the protracted position and a second, different angular orientation at an ink replenishing station (22.54) when the carriage is in the retracted position. The track has a path portion (22.

Abstract: First and second tubes (16, 18) extend between first and second housings (12, 14). A magnet assembly (52) is slidably received in the first tube (16) which is formed of non-magnetic material. A timing belt (38) is attached to one side of the magnet assembly (52) and extends through tube (16) to the first housing (12) around timing pulleys (24, 26) through second tube (18) into second housing (14), around pulleys (28, 30) back into the first tube (16) and is attached to the other end of magnet assembly (52). A carriage (20) is slidably received on the first tube (16) and mounts thereon a second magnet (70) magnetically coupled to the magnet assembly (52). A wheel (74) or a block (92) having a bore therethrough rides on the second tube (18) to maintain the selected orientation of the carriage. First and second proximity switches (76, 78) are mounted in the housings adjacent the ends of the second tube (18) which respond to a sensor element (80, 81) attached to the timing belt (38).

Abstract: A machine is shown for feeding a length of wire to a forming station, cutting and forming the length into a U-shaped element around an arbor, moving the U-shaped element to a presentation position in a channel of a face plate with the free ends of the element extending out of the face plate, then forming the free ends into a closed loop by means of a forming head engaging the ends and bending them into the loop and finally ejecting the element from the face plate.

Abstract: A cylindrical alongated extender element (20,60,72,80) of various incremental lengths has a bore (22) and a first end portion formed with a sleeve portion (24) and threaded portion (26) adapted to be received in the choke receiving seat (14) formed in the bore of a shotgun barrel. A sight (46) is mounted on a rib (40, 68, 76) which is coextensive in length with the extender elements to provide an improved sight picture. The extender elements are adapted for use with a single barrel gun or a double barrel over-and-under and side-by-side arrangements. With the over-and-under arrangement a rib assembly having a single tubular portion mounting the rib is mounted on an adaptor seat of one of the extender elements and with the side-by-side arrangement a rib assembly has first and second tubular portions mounting the rib and received on adaptor seats of two extender elements. The extender elements can optionally, in turn, be provided with choke receiving seats.

Abstract: A training aid for developing strength and coordination for a person's swing in swinging a sporting implement, such as a baseball bat, used to strike an object is shown to include a plurality of vanes (16,16',160,260) attached to first and second collars (12,14;120,140;220,232), the vanes formed with an integral spring (46,46') adapted to engage the surface of the bat or other inplement to secure it to the implement. The vanes provide an aerodynamic drag by increasing the force required to swing the implement due to increased air resistance. In one embodiment the vanes are attached and locked to the collars using a radial motion, while in another embodiment the vanes are attached and locked to the collars using a longitudinal motion. In still another embodiment a vane (260) is permanently attached to a segment (220,232) of two collars with several segments being attachable to one another to form a complete unit.