Abstract: A process for producing a rigid orthopedic cast in which a bandage material is provided which is impregnated or coated in the form of webs or sheets with a solvent solution of a polyurethane prepolymer, a bifunctional chain-extender and a catalyst. The prepolymer urethane having two isocyanate end groups, being formed by the reaction of a bifunctional compound reactive with an isocyanate group with a molar excess of a diisocyanate, forms a final thermoplastic polymer in the presence of the chain-extender when the solvent is removed under evaporative conditions. The heated thermoplastic impregnated fabric can be wrapped in multiple layers under normal conditions around a broken body member, molded and cooled to form a strong, rigid supportive cast which is porous so as to prevent skin maceration or other medical ramifications related to a non-porous material.

Abstract: A rope holding device including an improved cam cleat useful on a sailboat for maintaining sail ropes taut. The improved cam cleat contains two cam-type jaws to grip the rope, one of which has a serrated or tooth-like surface for gripping, while the other has a smooth gripping surface which permits easy rotation of the smooth cam member to the release position. The smooth cam member has an arcuate face with a radius of curvature for the gripping surface substantially greater than the smooth face of the release surface adjacent it. Consequently, when the smooth release cam is pivoted so that the retained rope is slipped from the smooth gripping surface to the smooth release surface, the rope is automatically released without the need for the operator to exert a force on the rope to pull it away from the cam cleat as is usually done.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellular core structural panel, comprising a plurality of bonded stacked segments, each segment being formed from a sheet characterized by a top portion having repeating peaks and troughs and sidewalls integral with the troughs. The cut-to-length segments are successively aligned so that each peak contacts the trough of the segment above it to form a cellular core panel with integral face sheets formed from the sidewalls of each segment.