Abstract: A splint system for two or more adjacent fingers of the hand includes a splint body for with the splint member for any particular finger having an extension member with a depending tongue that is received in a receiving channel formed in the end of the splint body portion of the splint for a particular finger. The fingers may be splinted along a straight line or with one or more phalanges bent at an angle to the general normal axis of a finger.

Abstract: Sheathing members surround the pile and are clamped to it by bolts inserted through flange members or portions outside the piles, which clamp the sheathing members against the pile above and below a deteriorated section of a pile and which bridge the deteriorated section of a pile. An embodiment designed for H-piles includes two channel members and one is placed in each channel of the portion of the H-pile to be repaired. A locking bar member is placed along a longitudinal edge of the H-pile and is clamped to the H-pile and the corresponding outwardly projecting flange portion of the channel patch member by nuts and bolts.

Abstract: A splint system for the thumb includes a planar base portion that fits into the user's palm and an extension portion lying at an angle of 40-60 degrees to the horizontal. The thumb is held in an extended position and strapped to the extension portion. An extension tip member includes a tongue member that is received in a slot in the end of the extension member to allow for adjustment of the length of the extension portion. Scalloped cut outs along the top edge of the base allow the user to bend his fingers inward without interference from the base of the splint.

Abstract: A splint system for the palm of the hand includes a splint body includes a splint body in the form of a block having an outwardly curving rear surface that is pressed against the palm of a patient's palm and fastened thereto by a strap secured to itself by hook and loop fasteners.

Abstract: A pair of upright arms are connected at their lower ends to an anchoring beam that lies on the floor after the truck is driven onto a ramp. The front truck axle is positioned below the top ends of the upright arms, which are then joined by a pressure distributor located above the axle to form an upright arm assembly. A hydraulic ram presses upwardly against the axle, which is restrained by the pressure distributors, thereby bending the axle to align the wheels. A system of countersunk apertures and mating conical frustrum fittings and bushings distribute the resulting forces more evenly throughout the apparatus, thereby preventing bending of the upright arms.

Abstract: A gas fired tube and shell heat exchanger directs a flame directly into an inlet end of the tube bundle and the flame and exhaust are drawn through the tube bundle by an induced draft blower located in the exhaust stream outside of the shell. Liquid to be heated is pumped through the shell by an electric pump. In another preferred embodiment, a forced draft blower is placed on behind the burner to force air into the tube bundle. Control features prevent the burner from firing unless there is liquid flow through the shell.

Abstract: A saddle tree for a horse saddle includes a pair of spaced opposed flexible rubber bars having a fork attached to the front of the saddle tree and a cantle attached to the rear of the saddle tree. The fork and cantle are made from wood or the like and are fastened to the rubber bars by screws or the like. The rubber bars are made of rubber having laminated fabric layers, with alternating layers of woven and straight cord fabric, dispersed throughout the rubber. The rubber bars are flexible and conform to the horse's back during any type of movement by the horse, more evenly distributing the weight of the rider and saddle and the forces generated by riding that prior art saddles or saddle trees.

Abstract: A bucket portion is connected to a handle portion in a unitary molded apparatus. The bucket portion holds a one-gallon (4 liter) paint can and includes a bottom well that includes a central circular recessed well portion to accept and retain a 1 quart (1 liter) paint can. Reinforcing ribs connect the small can well to the perimeter of the bottom wall. The upstanding side wall is tapered to be larger at the top than at the bottom. The arm is attached to the bucket with an enlarged reinforcing flared portion, which has a lower lip on the interior of the bucket portion, allowing a recessed rib portion of one unit to nest neatly within an adjacent unit for storage or shipping. The arm portion is inserted into the hollow rung of a ladder and retains the paint can in a convenient working position.

Abstract: An I.V. bag is connected to a drip chamber, then to a conventional tube clamp and a regulating tube containing a wick or other material that breaks surface tension of the liquid in the tube, which flows into a bubble separator that forces any remaining entrained air through one or more hydrophobic gas permeable membranes, and then into the patient. A downstream check valve adjacent to the bubble separator prevents back flow into or through the bubble separator. An upstream check valve adjacent to the bubble separator prevents air from being drawn into the bubble separator through its gas permeable hydrophobic membrane. A vent placed adjacent to the tube clamp isolates any pressure drop above the vent, allowing a pressure head to develop in the regulating tube, which insures a constant flow of I.V. liquid into the patient regardless of downstream or upstream hydraulic conditions.

Abstract: A system of modular furniture construction includes basic elements of corner posts, intermediate posts, and a corner leg converter post, which each have longitudinal slots to receive panels and a rows of equally spaced holes for retaining fasteners that hold shelves in place. Vertical bores in each end of the center posts and intermediate posts allow connecting rods to couple two or more posts vertically together to form longer post members. Quite different and disparate types of furniture may be readily assembled from these elements, including, for example, desks, computer work stations, open shelves, entertainment centers, and so forth.

Abstract: An upper plate includes a depending truncated cone member that supports a ball. A lower plate supports an upstanding truncated cone member that supports a cup socket that the ball is press fitted into. The cup socket embraces the ball to a line above the middle diameter of the ball to prevent the ball from coming free of the socket in normal use. A number of wires form a repeating X pattern between the upper and lower plates about their perimeters and serve to restrain rotational motion. The upper plate includes upwardly projecting spikes and the lower plate includes downwardly projecting spikes. The upper and lower plates each include two anchoring brackets that project outwardly to lie adjacent to an upper and lower spinal disc, and that are fastened to the discs by bone screws. The spikes further anchor the vertebral body prosthesis in the adjacent spinal discs.

Abstract: A pneumatically driven pump includes a piston threadably connected to each end of a common connecting hollow rod which is inserted over a pumped material receiving tube, with this assembly enclosed in a housing. The pistons reciprocate in response to compressed air sequentially directed through different air ports in the housing, alternatively drawing in pumped material and then pumping it out of the pump through the pumped material tube along the center of the pump. A check valve at each of the inflow and outflow ends of the pump prevents back flow of the pumped material.

Abstract: A mop with a quick-release connector for connecting a handle to a mop head comprises a female section for attachment to the handle and a male fitting for attachment to the mop head. The male fitting includes a flat thin base portion that is sewn into the mop head. The female section has plurality of receptacles which mate with a similar plurality of bayonet projections in the male section. At least one of the bayonet projections is resiliently flexible and flexes outwardly when the male section is pushed into the female section so as to mate with one another and be securely gripped by an indentation in the female section, providing a positive interlock between the female and male sections. Another of the bayonet projections is a central, rigid, longer bayonet, which acts as a guide when the two sections are connected together.

Abstract: An I.V. bag is connected to a drip chamber, then to a conventional tube clamp and a regulating tube containing a wick or other material that breaks surface tension of the liquid in the tube, which flows into a bubble separator that forces any remaining entrained air through one or more hydrophobic gas permeable membranes, and then into the patient. A check valve near the patient prevents back flow. A vent placed adjacent to the tube clamp isolates any pressure drop above the vent, allowing a pressure head to develop in the regulating tube, which insures a constant flow of I.V. liquid into the patient regardless of downstream or upstream hydraulic conditions.

Abstract: A elastic membrane includes a pair of parallel strips of a lamination consisting of a non-stretchable plastic film coated on both sides with a pressure sensitive adhesive, resulting in a pair of pressure sensitive adhesive bands bonded to a rear side of the membrane along each lengthwise edge of the elastic membrane, leaving an uncoated midsection of elastic membrane. The adhesive bands are covered with a release liner, with longitudinal slits cut through it to allow selective removal from one adhesive band or the other or a portion of one adhesive band as desired during installation. One side of the elastic membrane is attached to the wall surface adjacent to a crack to be covered and repaired, and the midsection of the elastic membrane is stretched across the crack and the other elastic band is pressed against the wall. The elastic membrane can be treated with spackle or dry wall mud to blend into the surrounding wall and can be painted.

Abstract: Damaged sections of existing piles are replaced with a replacement pile section that includes various segments, including a jack section for sizing and preloading the replacement pile section to original design loads and strengths. The replacement pile section includes at least one coupler having a jack section, which includes a jack for applying a design load to the pile and a plurality of jack screws that are adjusted to accept the design pile load; the hydraulic jack is removed through an access opening, so that the jack screws carry the load; the cavity in the jack section is filled with grout, such as concrete through the access opening, which is then sealed. Other sections of the replacement pile section include, for example, intermediate pile sections, shock absorbing sections, and additional couplers. An alternative embodiment employs two or more balanced hydraulic jacks bearing against external jack flanges fastened to the pile above and below the replaced section.