Abstract: A gas burner log set for a fireplace has a pair of spaced apart ceramic fiber logs with a gas burner therebetween. The rear face of the front log has a substantially flat planar surface angled upwardly toward the front surface of the rear log to form therewith an elongated triangular flame channel having an apex at the top. The burner is spaced from the rear surface of the front log by a small selected distance and the burner has ports which emit gas and create a flame in the flame channel. The front surface of the rear log has an upper portion which overlays the ports of the burner. The log set provides a flame which closely simulates visually the burning of logs and provides a clean burning flame with a minimum amount of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A laboratory faucet has a base, a spout and a vacuum breaker wherein at least a portion of the vacuum breaker is cast within an upper portion of the spout. The upper portion of the spout assists in protecting the vacuum breaker from vandalistic acts. Additionally, the base of the faucet is advantageously designed to provide access to the valve operators to allow use of the valve operators at a location to minimize drippage from the operator's hands onto a counter top. Furthermore, the base may be configured with a gas supply controlled by valves.

Abstract: A novel, monopolar, electrosurgical instrument is provided with one active and one non-active end effector. Current is passed through a conductive portion of one effector into tissue of a patient. The active blade may be partially or totally conductive. The non-active blade may be utilized to shield current from the active electrode effector.

Abstract: A truck trailer having a pair of tandem spaced apart rear axles and a suspension system for supporting the axles from the chassis of the trailer having a pivot member intermediate the axles about which the axles may pivot relatively to one another, the axles being connected to respective ends of leaf springs. The trailer has apparatus for lifting one of the axles relative to the other axle selectively so that the wheels carried by the lifted axle may be lifted off the roadway. The apparatus for lifting includes air bags which may be inflated by pressurized air or deflated to control the position of the axle to be raised. The air bags are positioned between one of the axles and the chassis and when pressurized air inflates the bags the other axle is lifted about the pivot member.

Abstract: A needle, which may be one of a plurality of needles in a needle module, has a rod attached to the shank adjacent the yarn guide groove or to the blade in the guide groove and extending laterally or transverse to the axis of the needle committing yarn to be directed readily into the yarn groove with a minimum angular deviation in its path. When the needle is one of several in a needle module the rod may be common to all of the needles and passed through an aligned hole in each of the needles and secured therein by bending of the rod. A yarn entrance guide is formed by each respective needle, the adjacent needle, the rod and the module body and this entrance permits ready threading of each needle.

Abstract: An orthotic device developed and customized to control the desired movement of the patient's defective lower limb. The device incorporates a footplate made of a rubber-like elastomeric material and a proximal segment that encompasses the foot at the metatarsophalangeal joints and the shin portion of the leg. This proximal segment is made of a rubber-like elastomeric material laminated into multiple layers of fabric throughout the proximal segment. Additional strips of fabric are positioned within the proximal segment of the device to limit or promote certain motions within the foot and ankle. This device incorporates a continuous closure from the foot to the proximal segment, creating total contact and hydrostatic containment of the foot and lower leg.

Abstract: A novel microtubing and a method of manufacture is provided. The resulting microtubing has at least two thermoelements separated by a resin layer except in defined areas where the insulating resin layer is selectively removed. The resulting microtube provides improved performance, reduced size, increased flexibility, and can be efficiently manufactured.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing novel composite microtubing with variable stiffness over the length of the tubing. By varying the pick count of a braided layer the stiffness of the microtubing may be varied by a factor of 100 from proximal end to distal end. The continuous process allows a predetermined stiffness pattern to be repeated over a measured length for economical manufacture and results, if desired, in tubing of extremely small diameter and extremely thin tube walls.

Abstract: A novel, bipolar, electrosurgical instrument is provided with two end effectors. Current is passed through the second end effector and through an insulated conduit to the distal tip of the first end effector. The first and second end effectors allow the current to travel along exposed conductive strips which are spaced apart cutting surfaces by a gap of preferably approximately 0.020-0.040 inches when the first and second blade supports are brought into contact with tissue. Current flows between the exposed metal strip on the first blade and the exposed metal strip on the second blade thereby effecting cauterization, preferably slightly in advance or at the point of cutting between the ceramic and metal blades. The first and second end effectors may be partially insulated to direct current between the conductive strips, and both may have gaps at their respective surfaces.

Abstract: The improved top dressed synthetic turf according to the patent invention provides thatch like fibers to retain top dressing and particularly the rubber or resilient particles in the dressing. The grasslike surface is formed by polyethylene co-polymer slit fibers more than two inches in height tufted through a fiberglass reinforced backing. The thatch zone fibers are dense and texturized so that they will contract to only about one inch in height after curing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tufting comprises a hollow tufting needle supplied with a plurality of yarns. The plurality of yarns are maintained within the cavity of the needle. One of the yarns is selectively fed out of a yarn opening by releasing the yarn from a yarn feed device and utilizing an air injector proximate to the yarn entrance of the needle to assist in expelling the selected yarn from the needle. When a different yarn is desired to be utilized, the yarn feed device secures the previously selected yarn and another yarn is selectively fed in a similar manner as the first yarn. The needle utilized includes a plurality of holes or vents angled relative to the axis of the needle.

Abstract: A pillow carrying book holder includes a frame in the form of a plate within the pillow. The plate supports retraction mechanism which is connected externally of the pillow to a pair of book engaging fingers. The retraction mechanism includes a pair of springs having one end mounted within the pillow and the other end secured to the book engaging fingers. A housing within the pillow encloses the retraction mechanism within the pillow and separated it from filler material within the pillow. The filler material may include freely moveable particulate for conforming the pillow to the shape of the surface on which the pillow is positioned.

Abstract: A concentric air diffuser for use with climate control systems to direct air to desired locations within the interior of a building and return air to the system includes a perforated plate between a supply inlet and supply vents. The perforated plate assists in balancing air flow out of the vents. Additionally, a baffle plate is located along the portion of the perforated plate below the supply inlet to assist in distributing air throughout the diffuser housing prior to allowing the air to flow through the clear area portion of the perforated plate and out through the vents.

Abstract: An air diffuser plenum for use with climate control systems to direct air to desired locations within the interior of a building. An inlet receives air from the climate control system. Within the air diffuser plenum is a cavity which receives the incoming air. The bottom of the housing has a diffuser insert mounted thereon which directs air from the cavity to outlets connected to the sides of the diffuser. The diffuser has a rectangular inlet to cooperate with a transition duct which preferably installed from the roof into a building. The diffuser also has a transition portion directing air from the inlet to a substantially square cross section area prior to directing air out of the vents. A method for making the diffuser is also disclosed.