Abstract: A device and method for use in spinal surgery are provided.

Abstract: A lock housing for a security drawer is disclosed. The lock drawer system includes a cabinet drawer having a front wall including a front surface and a rear surface and a combination lock on the drawer with a combination lock dial. The drawer includes a lock housing defining an enclosure within which the dial can fit and extend through. The lock housing also includes a combination lock dial window. The system integrates a keyed locking bolt extending through the housing and to the drawer and is removable therefrom.

Abstract: A gas forced air heater is provided. The gas forced air heater has a housing surrounding a combustion chamber and a blower upstream of the combustion chamber. A burner tube of the gas forced air heater has a fuel inlet in a secondary chamber coupled to the housing and a burner head proximal an air inlet opening of the combustion chamber. An air input orifice into the secondary chamber is provided upstream of the combustion chamber and allows air output from the fan to be communicated into the secondary chamber.

Abstract: An air filter having an improved structural support. A pleated air filter having a plurality of truncated pleat tips and sloping side surfaces along a front face and rear face. The truncated pleat tips are orientated perpendicular to the direction of pleating. A reinforcing support member oriented in the direction of pleating and substantially contouring and connecting to the face of the pleated air filter and thereby having truncated pleat tips orientated perpendicular to the direction of pleating. A reinforcing strip connected to the truncated pleat tips of the reinforcing member along the face of the air filter and another reinforcing strip located on the opposite face of the air filter and connected to the truncated pleat tips of the filter to form a truss structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments are provided with a polyaxial spinal screw assembly that comprise a threaded screw having a bulbous or curvate head, and a receiver for receiving the head of the screw, and a slotted collet between the receiver and the screw head. The collet may, in an un-locked condition, bear against the head of the screw to frictionally retain the screw's angular position. The collet may have a lip that may engage with a corresponding internal feature of the receiver. The screw head may be able to be inserted into the receiver through the bottom of the receiver. The screw may be cannulated and also may be fenestrated. Embodiments may also include a bone screw having fenestration holes that include a component in the rotational direction, such as backward-facing with respect to the forward-rotational direction of the screw.

Abstract: A printing device is provided with a print die storage rack, a pickup head, a print head, and a printing surface. The print die storage rack is adapted to hold a multitude of print dies. The pickup head is provided to move one or more print dies to and from the storage rack and the print head. The print head is adapted to hold one or more print dies and move them between the pickup head and the printing surface. The printing surface is provided to hold and secure print media. The device is capable of any form of printing, embossing, debossing, foil stamping and the like. A method of printing is also provided.

Abstract: A system including electronic data collection for school officials, staff, and administrators is described. The data collection system can be integrated onto school management systems to interconnect information regarding data such as student academic records, student merits, student progress, student and teacher biographies, etc. The system assesses student, teacher, classroom, individual school, school district, and state performance in a variety of educational area; associates imputed educational data; and permits the cross-application querying of the educational data and access of the educational data in real-time. The system is intended to help school systems accomplish tasks such as managing work, monitoring student progress in real-time, and determining education trends, via data linkage in real-time.

Abstract: A child resistant closure having an outer cap and an inner cap combined together. The caps are provided with complementary engaging ratcheting teeth making it possible to turn the caps as a unit in a closing direction but permits relative rotation of the caps upon rotation of the outer cap in an opening direction unless the outer cap is simultaneously deflected axially relative to the inner cap. Complementary load bearing surfaces are provided on the caps to prevent axial deflection when the caps are in a predetermined position and the caps resist rotation from this predetermined position.

Abstract: A gas baffle for a waste water treatment plant filter housing that includes a first and second deflecting plate. The gas baffle has at least one flow-through opening defined by the first and second deflecting plates. The combination of the first and second deflecting plates deflects rising gas bubbles and any solid particulates so that the bubbles and particulates do not enter the filter housing. The gas baffle may include exterior apertures to dissipate the rising gas bubbles that travel on the bottom surface of each deflecting plate. The gas baffle may be integrally formed with the filter housing or created separately and subsequently connected.

Abstract: A gas baffle for a waste water treatment plant filter housing that includes a first and second deflecting plate. The gas baffle has at least one flow-through opening defined by the first and second deflecting plates. The combination of the first and second deflecting plates deflects rising gas bubbles and any solid particulates so that the bubbles and particulates do not enter the filter housing. The gas baffle may include exterior apertures to dissipate the rising gas bubbles that travel on the bottom surface of each deflecting plate. The gas baffle may be integrally formed with the filter housing or created separately and subsequently connected.

Abstract: In the description and drawings methods and apparatus for the compression and winding of a plurality of overlapped fibrous blankets are disclosed. The methods and apparatus may allow a leading edge of a trailing blanket to be overlapped with a trailing edge of a leading blanket that is being wound by a compressing winder assembly. As the compressing winder assembly winds the leading blanket, the trailing blanket may be moved downstream by the leading blanket and an overlapped portion of the two blankets may move through a compression zone of a winder feed chute.

Abstract: A novel board game and a method of playing said game is herein described. The invention provides players an opportunity to traverse a town or city represented symbolically on the game board by a plurality of landmark buildings and locales that can be found throughout a typical town. Accordingly, the present invention includes both an apparatus with which the game is played as well as a method for playing the game according to the rules of play.

Abstract: A tie plate slide structure comprises a tie plate slide frame having a first frame member and a second opposed frame member, the first frame member and the second frame member extending substantially parallel from a first upper end to a second lower end, a substantially central support structure extending from the first upper end to the second lower end, the substantially central support disposed between the first frame member and the second frame member, a support assembly having first and second rail wheels depending from a lower side of the tie plate frame, a gate assembly disposed near the lower end of the tie plate slide frame to discharge tie plates slidably moving downwardly along the first and second frame members and the central support structure.

Abstract: A breathing device for intra-oral use particularly useful to increase the air flow through the nares, the nasal passages, pharynx, and larynx of a user includes a generally U-shaped member curved in an arch to conform to a user's upper dentition, edentulous maxillary ridges, or any prosthetic device. The U-shaped member is provided with at least one wall having a depth slightly greater than the vertical dimension of a user's upper dentition and a receptacle to receive the upper dentition, edentulous ridge, or prosthetic device.

Abstract: In the specification and drawings a window fan control system and a method of controlling a fan unit are described and shown. The window fan control system may comprise an electronic controller, an indoor sensor responsive to at least one characteristic of interior air, and an outdoor sensor responsive to at least one characteristic of exterior air. The electronic controller may cause at least one fan of a window fan to be activated when the interior air meets certain criteria relative to a set point and the exterior air meets certain preselected criteria relative to the interior air. The method of controlling a fan unit may comprise the steps of measuring at least one characteristic of exterior air, measuring at least one characteristic of interior air, and activating an intake fan of the fan unit when the interior air meets certain criteria relative to a set point and the exterior air meets certain preselected criteria relative to the interior air.

Abstract: A filter media product and method of making the same wherein the filter media is pleatable and has at least one support scrim comprised of a melt bonded non-woven material or a fuse bonded non-woven material bonded to a layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. The filter media may have a single support scrim with one or more layers and optionally may have a support scrim on both an upstream and downstream surface where both or neither support scrim is multilayered. The filter media may have an efficiency greater than, equal to, or less than HEPA.

Abstract: An adjustable length corpectomy device is provided with a means for providing bidirectional length adjustment and a means for selectively fixing the length of the implant.

Abstract: An apparatus for screeding concrete to produce a level finished surface includes a rigid frame assembly; a telescopic boom assembly secured directly to the frame assembly; and a screeder head assembly having a plurality of vertically oriented alignment poles secured to the boom assembly. The telescopic boom assembly may include a plurality of boom sections, each having a leveling mechanism whereby each boom section may be individually leveled with respect to each preceding boom section to provide for a consistently level finished surface.

Abstract: A low pressure forced air heater is provided having a variable speed motor driving a fan and a compressor. An amount of the pneumatic output from the compressor is communicated through an air bleed valve and the remainder is communicated through an air output orifice. The air output orifice is in communication with a fuel nozzle and causes fuel to be drawn from a tank, atomized and combusted in a combustion chamber.