Abstract: An improved fracture fixation device for securing an external fixator system to bone structure and for compressing a first bone fragment of the bone structure against a second bone fragment of the bone structure. The fracture fixation device includes a screw portion for screwing into the first bone fragment; a bone engagement portion for engaging the second bone fragment and for coacting with the screw portion to compress the first bone fragment against the second bone fragment when the screw portion is screwed into the first bone fragment and the engagement portion engages the second bone fragment; and a attachment portion for attaching the engagement portion to the external fixator system.

Abstract: A mechanism for releasably attaching a parachute to a kite to allow the parachute to be carried aloft by the kite and to be released while the kite is in flight when the flight string of the kite is merely given slack. The mechanism includes a first member fixedly attached to the kite and a second member pivotally attached to the first member and fixedly attached to the end of the flight string. The second member is moveable from a first position in which the parachute is attached to the kite to a second position in which the parachute is released from the kite. The second member is held in the first position when the kite is aloft and the flight string is held substantially taut. The second member will then move to the second position when the flight string is given slack.