Abstract: A tubular metal insert is disclosed having a threaded exterior and an incompletely threaded interior, that is threaded into a tapped hole in a base material by an insert driver tool. Discrete locking plugs are positioned in the threaded exterior of the insert outwardly from the incompletely threaded interior. Rotation of the insert driver completes the threads on the interior portion of the insert which creates a force that urges the discrete locking plugs outwardly into engagement with the walls of the hole to securely lock the insert in the tapped hole.

Abstract: An air supply system for spas provides protection against motor short circuits caused by water backflowing through the air supply line to the housing containing the motor and blower. A moisture-proof partition isolates the motor from direct exposure to the air supply line. The partition and the blower air intake tube are arranged to prevent water from reaching the motor, unless such water first flows through the outlet ports of the blower and then through the blower air intake tube. The blower ports dissipate the water backflow pressure, thereby preventing backflow surges of short duration from reaching the motor. In addition, the inlet end of the air intake tube extends vertically well above the bottom of the motor to provide a static head to offset the backflow pressure of water in the air intake tube.In an alternative embodiment, a drain is provided by ducting the air intake tube to the exterior of the housing to positively prevent water from reaching the motor.

Abstract: A cannula used in the distention and irrigation of a saphenous vein which is being tested prior to use as a coronary or peripheral bypass graft includes a tapered and beveled tip which allows easy insertion into the vein, and a sloping shoulder just proximal to the tip which provides a convenient site for firmly securing the vein to the cannula with a ligature. The cannula can be utilized in a distention and irrigation apparatus which includes a pressure limiting device having a resilient membrane reservoir which limits static pressure delivered to the vein to a predetermined level. The device is connected between the cannula of the present invention and a syringe filled with irrigation fluid.

Abstract: A bicycle front fork assembly includes a steer tube which extends through and above the head tube on the bike frame so that a handlebar may be attached to the front fork by means of a bracket-like clamp which directly grips the exterior upper end of the steer tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to a baby pillow comprising a support board with two cases on both ends, two protection boards connected with the cases by means of screws, two side cushions bound onto the protection boards, and a base cushion between the cases and under the side cushions, characterized in that the space constituted by the side cushions is adjustable by means of the screws, and the baby's head may be held in place between the side cushions during its sleep.

Abstract: An economical, low temperature, closed loop, thermal decomposition process is provided for producing a controllable mixture of heterogeneously and homogeneously nucleated ultrahigh purity polycrystalline silicon suitable for use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices and photovoltaic solar cells.

Abstract: A replaceable shoe sole is comprised of a mid-sole, which is securely attached to the upper portion of the shoe, and an out-sole removeably attached to the mid-sole. The upper surface of the out-sole is provided with a continuous ridge which is snapped into a matching, deformably resilient groove recessed into the bottom surface of the mid-sole. The configuration of the ridge and the resiliency of the out-sole and the mid-sole material, which is preferably a polyurethane resin or foam, permits the out-sole to be easily and selectively removed and replaced by an out-sole having a new or distinctive tread pattern, the replaced out-sole being reusable if desired. The ridge on the out-sole is provided with an undercut portion to provide secure retention of the out-sole in the mid-sole, although the specific cross sectional shape of the ridge may vary depending upon the retentiveness required by a particular activity.

Abstract: An improved distributed input/output system is disclosed for controlling numerous high speed peripheral devices (both low speed, medium speed, and high speed) and the transfer of data signals, status signals, and control signals between those devices and a general purpose digital computer. The control system described includes a direct-memory-access multiplexer which can accommodate a plurality of low or medium-speed input/output services and also high-speed input/output devices under the control of separate programmable microcoded peripheral-unit controllers. The direct-memory-access multiplexer of this invention is fully compatible with controllers that can also be used with an indirect-memory access multiplexer. Each controller, being an element of a distributed system, is adapted to be located at an individual peripheral device and each is connected to the multiplexer by an identical ribbon cable.

Abstract: A communication transmission system includes one or more modulated carrier communication channels in which a receiver has a modified vestigial side band filter for eliminating phase cancellation. Accurate design of the modified vestigial side band filters at the receivers, further reduces susceptibility to frequency drift caused by component aging and component response to environmental changes. The system has particular utility in multiple channel carrier telephone communication systems which utilize limited available band width for providing a maximum number of communication channels over an extended length communication line.

Abstract: An improved external fixation device is disclosed composed of a pair of arcuate frame segments and multiple adjustment rods and pin holders, which cooperate with one another as well as plural pins extending through the soft tissue and bone of a patient to rigidly immobilize a bone fracture and permit compression, neutralization or distraction of the fracture from a location external to the body.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube controller provides character cell mapping of the entire cathode ray tube screen, including the blanked margins. This mapping permits video control signals, such as sync signals, blanking signals, retrace signals, etc., as well as character address designations, to be generated from a single ROM in each of the vertical and horizontal directions on the cathode ray tube screen. A horizontal character counter divides the cathode ray tube screen, including the blanked margin areas, into an integral number of character widths. This counter is used to address a read only member which provides, at its output, the horizontal character addressing in the non-blanked area of the cathode ray tube screen, as well as video control signals, including blanking signals, sync signals, etc. A vertical counter, similar to the horizontal counter, divides the entire cathode ray tube screen vertically, including the blanked areas, into a discrete number of character heights.

Abstract: A shoulder strap retractor mechanism employs a gear system and clutch that connects a rewinding spring to the strap to shift from a direct high tension mode to an indirect drive reduced tension mode for a limited range of strap movement to improve the user's comfort, while maintaining the strap lightly against the user's shoulder.

Abstract: The gas inlet tube and the outlet tube in the upper end of a "bubbler" container are each sealed with an easily breakable wall adjacent the wall where the tubes join the container. A second seal is formed on the outer ends of the tubes creating a compartment in which may be positioned a small hammer. The outer seals are sufficient to meet safety regulations regarding the shipment of highly corrosive or poisonous materials. The user of the material, breaks the outer seals, positions the hammer if not already in place, makes the desired connections to the tubes, applies a purging gas to the upper ends of the tubes, and breaks the inner seals by magnetically or otherwise actuating the hammer resting on the inner seal, thereby connecting the material to the desired system without exposing the material to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A high-speed printer, such as a daisy wheel printer, utilizes a carriage which transports a printing font, such as a daisy wheel, laterally along a print line adjacent a paper-supporting platen. An ink ribbon is supported on the machine frame rather than the printing font carriage and is positioned between the daisy wheel and the platen. This ribbon is adjusted so that, as the printing font progresses along a print line, it impacts the ribbon along the line which is slanted relative the lengthwise axis of the ribbon. When plural such slanted printing tracks are overlapped along the length of the ribbon, efficient use is made of the ribbon without incurring problems associated with a narrowed ribbon. In addition, the slanted ribbon impact line permits the ribbon to be mounted on the machine main frame rather than on the font carriage while still permitting a minimum of over-impacting on the ribbon, all while eliminating the requirement of rapid ribbon movement during carriage return.

Abstract: A transcutaneous gas sensor for application to the skin of a patient for bloodless measurement of a partial gas pressure comprises a separable sensing cell and a circumferential heater, the heater being in direct thermal contact with the skin of the patient but not in contact with the permeable sensing face of the sensor cell. A differential temperature measuring thermocouple is utilized to monitor the temperature of the patient's skin and the temperature of the heater to provide a warning of a decrease in local perfusion in the area of the sensing cell.

Abstract: A signal pattern recognition system includes a reference pattern memory storing plural reference data patterns against which input patterns are compared for recognition. The reference data patterns are formed by merging training patterns together. Each training pattern, to be accepted for merging, must match the previously merged patterns by a threshold amount. The threshold is automatically varied as the number of previously merged training patterns increases. If a predetermined number of successive training patterns is below the threshold, the training process is repeated, from the beginning, for the reference pattern which generates the errors. The system automatically trains each reference pattern with the same number of training patterns to assure uniformity when input data patterns are compared for recognition.