Abstract: A splint for a human patient's leg, especially for emergency use, has a housing tube and a base tube telescoped for length adjustment. A holder secures a selected length. A base bar on the end of the base tube fits approximately against the patient's ischial tuberosity. An ankle tube telescopes on the housing tube and is movable against the tension of a spring at one end anchored within and to the housing tube. The outer end of the spring is joined by a cable to the ankle tube after passing around a pulley within and journalled in the housing tube. An ankle bar extends transversely on the end of the ankle tube and does not project from but lies well within the outline or compass of the patient. Suitable cravat loops are provided on the base bar and on the ankle bar. An operating handle assists in displacing the ankle tube and the housing tube to adjust the tension of the spring to an indicated amount.

Abstract: The ladder of the invention includes first and second upright angle members connected together for movement in a parallel, arcuate relationship between an open position and a nested position. A cam surface on one of the uprights, when the uprights are going toward nested position, bears against a notched lever mechanism including a cap pivoted on the other one of said uprights. Normally, the lever mechanism is urged by a spring into latching position. The movement of the movable upright with respect to the other upright cams the cap and lever out of the way. The first and second uprights, when nested, are in a position with a flange on one of the uprights in a notch in the lever so that the uprights are contained in nested position. There is a pull cord for releasing the lever mechanism.

Abstract: A resilient tube of predetermined length, inside diameter and outside diameter has embedded therein, in axial relation, a helical winding of substantially non-resilient material. The helix is effective to resist forces exerted on the walls of the tube by internal fluid pressure tending to change the inside and outside diameters of the tube but is ineffective to resist the forces tending to lengthen the tube as the internal fluid pressure is increased or to resist the resilience of the tube material in restoring the tube toward original length as internal fluid pressure is decreased.By using the tube as an enclosure to define an opening, the area of the opening can be selectively varied by establishing fluid pressure within the tube at the required values; and by varying the extent of the opening as a function of sample height, an accurate core sample can be obtained when the variable opening device is used in conjunction with a sampler for bulk loads of fruits or vegetables.