Abstract: Mobile medical lifting apparatus comprising a mobile support means having wheels, castors or rollers, which mobile support means supports or provides a mounting for a lifting device comprising a stack of inflatable bags for raising a seat or platform supported by the lifting device, an inflatable bag at the bottom of the lifting device is actuable to raise the wheels, castors or rollers off the ground to enable the wheels, castors or rollers, and, optionally, associated parts of the mobile support means, to be removed so that the lifting device can lower the seat or platform to very close to the ground to minimize the effort required to move a fallen person onto the platform.

Abstract: A video otoscope comprises an image forming assembly for producing an optical image of selected portions of an ear canal and a video camera for converting the optical image into a video image and transmitting the video image to a display system. The image forming assembly includes a speculum portion at a front end thereof, an optical lens system, and a coupling mechanism connecting the video camera to a rear end of the image forming assembly. The optical lens system is disposed along a longitudinal axis extending from a front distal end of the speculum portion to the video camera. The optical lens system includes an objective lens means disposed adjacent the front distal end and expander lens means spaced rearwardly from the objective lens along the longitudinal axis. Conically shaped inner taper tube surface defines a trapezoidal chamber portion around an optical image path that extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of an inner optical passage.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transferring disabled persons horizontally on a slider (11) from a first supporting surface to an adjacent supporting surface by using a cable winch (10) to apply tension to a cable (15) to drag the slider (11) (and the person thereon) from one surface to the other. The cable and/or winch is/are relocatable to drag the slider substantially horizontally in the opposite direction. Either or both of the supporting surfaces may be on platforms (beds, seats etc) supported by lifting devices (39, 60, 63) and bridging means (42) may be provided on the platforms. The apparatus can be integrated into a bed, trolley, wheelchair or a medical, nursing or sanitary installation.

Abstract: A precision cutting assembly comprises a frame, a material support table mounted to the frame and a cutting blade for cutting sheet stock material. A cutting blade carrier is mounted to the frame for movement along a linear path. Pressure producing elements contiguously hold the cutting blade carrier within precise parallel limits of movement along the linear path. The cutting blade carrier causes the cutting blade to accurately cut precision segments from a sheet of material disposed on the material support table. A precision measuring mechanism includes a precision threaded rod member and an indicating element mounted to move along a linear scale upon rotation of the precision threaded rod member. A circumferential scale has a plurality of marks spaced from a circumferential zero point and spaced to indicate a preselected amount of rod member rotation between adjacent circumferential marks.

Abstract: An ornamental scroll device comprises a flexible sheet including two opposed outer end portions two opposed outer edges, and an indicia bearing section having a message located on an obverse side of the flexible sheet and between the end portions and outer edges. A stiffening member maintains the indicia bearing section rigid between the outer end portions. Each of the outer end portions includes a roll section having two end caps secured at opposite ends of each roll section. A hanging or folding member is used for displaying the indicia bearing section.

Abstract: Applicants' invention comprises an apparatus for safely yet effectively handling steam table pans. The apparatus is a frame formed from cylindrical steel of a shape and size for surrounding a steam table pan under its lateral flange. The frame includes two handles positioned so as not to interfere with proper seating of the pan in the receptacle hole in the steam table. One embodiment of the pan handling device includes lid/pan clamps for securing the pan handling device to a steam table pan as well as for securing a pan lid to a pan such as when food is to be stored in a pan.

Abstract: A self-unblocking spray nozzle 10,11 in which an easily removable insert 12 is automatically moved by fluid pressure to form a spray orifice 26, and expands resiliently when the fluid pressure is interrupted. The insert 12 may include swirl vanes 33 to rotate the fluid, and may operate with a static member 14 to form an automatic anti-drip valve.

Abstract: A musical display combination comprises a postage stamp display mounted on a music box that reproduces an audible rendition of a music composition having a theme that substantively and correspondingly relates to a particular subject matter theme depicted by the visual image of the postage stamp. The postage stamp display includes a postage stamp disposed on a rigid planar thin sheet substrate. An envelope defined by two pliable sheets having an outer edge is secured on the rigid planar thin sheet substrate. A postage stamp is disposed between the sheets within the envelope allowing a visual examination of the postage stamp therethrough. A clear material forms a transparent overlay structure over the postage stamp through which the postage stamp may be viewed.

Abstract: A process for phosphorylating a peptide comprises reacting an aqueous solution of the peptide with an effective amount of phosphorous oxychloride under conditions favoring phosphorylation of the peptide. In a specific embodiment, the peptide is insulin. A phosphorylated insulin is used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus wherein the phosphorylated insulin is produced or purified with an effective amount of phosphorus oxychloride to have substantially reduced iso-electric points and to have the property of reducing hyperglycemia without substantially inducing hypoglycemia. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the method comprises administering to a human being an effective therapeutic amount of a phosphorylated insulin essentially free of unmodified insulin and having substantially reduced iso-electric points whereby hyperglycemia is reduced substantially without inducing hypoglycemia.

Abstract: The universal replacement handle of this invention may be used with a variety of tools such as shovels having a handle-receiving socket. The handle comprises a handle member having a tool coupling section at one end thereof and a hand-grasping section extending outwardly from the tool coupling section. The tool coupling section includes a plurality of socket adaptors effective to cause the handle to fit the handle-receiving sockets of a variety of shovels selected from the group consisting of a handle back shovel with a shoulder, a Razorback.RTM. open back shovel, a lock socket shovel, a solid socket closedback shovel with a shoulder, and a solid shank closedback shovel without a shoulder. The tool coupling section includes first and second adaptor mounting sections for carrying respective first and second adaptor mechanisms having removable segments designed to adapt the handle to a particular handle-receiving socket.

Abstract: A lifting device locatable proximal to a chair for raising and lowering a person's legs by an inflatable bag providing a pneumatically resilient leg supporting cushion, which bag is supported by a mounting interposed between the bag and the chair, the mounting being in engagement with the chair to determine the position of the mounting. The mounting is preferably held in position by legs of the chair resting on abutments provided on the mounting; and the mounting is preferably geometrically adjustable.

Abstract: Portable, low noise air pump apparatus employing an inexpensive lightweight pump and motor unit, which pumps a pulsed noisy output into a plenum chamber inside a rubber impervious sub-housing which absorbs noise and vibration; and a sound deadening plastics tube which carries the compressed air from the plenum, via a sound absorbing chamber (surrounded by lightweight sound absorbing material which supports the sub-housing) and across an accommodation space to an outlet fitting from which a smooth low-noise compressed air output can be supplied.

Abstract: The retainer assembly secures a container in a free upstanding position. A rigid outwardly projecting element defines a stabilizing configuration for disposition adjacent a container at a height location intermediate the top and bottom of the upstanding container. The stabilizing configuration is effective to maintain the container in a stabilized upright position. The projecting element is adapted to connect first and second flexible tie-down lines at an outer free end line coupling section of the projecting element. The first flexible tie-down line has a length effective to extend around an outer periphery of the upstanding container and is connected to firmly maintain the container in the upright position adjacent the stabilizing configuration. A second flexible tie-down line has a length effective to extend over the removable lid member and includes a coupling device for connecting the second flexible line to firmly maintain the lid member on the container.

Abstract: The assembly of the invention includes a pressure vessel having a size to fit in a usual home refrigerator for the domestic fermenting of a fermentable liquid mixture under pressure and under chilled conditions, The pressure vessel defines a closed fermentation chamber for containing a bath having an amount of fermentable liquid mixture effective to provide a pressurized atmosphere above the surface of the bath within the closed fermentation chamber during the fermenting process, A pressure relief valve controls the pressure within the fermentation chamber at a level sufficient to maintain safety conditions during the fermentation process, Pressurized gaseous material is introduced into the pressure vessel to enhance the fermentation process within the chamber. A spigot is part of an output discharge mechanism including a float used to remove fermented beverage from adjacent the surface of the bath to draw beverage from the pressurized vessel while a pressurized atmosphere remains in the vessel.

Abstract: A method for making beer includes use of a pressure vessel having a size to fit in a usual home refrigerator. With the assembly of the invention, it is possible for the domestic fermenting of a fermentable liquid mixture for making beer under pressure and chilled conditions. The pressure vessel defines a closed fermentation chamber for containing a bath having an amount of fermentable liquid beer mixture effective to provide a pressurized atmosphere above the surface of the bath within the closed fermentation chamber during the fermenting process. A pressure relief valve maintains the pressure within the fermentation chamber at a level sufficient to provide safety conditions during the fermentation process. An output discharge mechanism includes a spigot and a float used to remove from the bath beer located adjacent the surface of the bath to draw beer from the pressurized vessel while a pressurized atmosphere remains in the vessel.

Abstract: A display tray for use in a package of mushrooms comprises an upper mushroom crown-displaying portion and a lower mushroom stem-containing portion. The crown-displaying portion includes an outer peripheral edge section and a mushroom crown-supporting surface around each of a plurality of stem-receiving holes. A flange structure extends around the edge section and defines a matrix around the mushroom crown-supporting surface. The plurality of holes defines a mushroom weight-correlated hole design whereby, when all of the holes each receives a single mushroom, a preselected total net weight of the mushrooms is substantially consistently maintained from one mushroom tray to the next. The lower stem-containing portion includes a closed, liquid impervious wall structure defining a mushroom stem-containing chamber for receiving each mushroom stem that extends through each of the holes of the weight-correlated design.