Abstract: A suture securing apparatus comprising an apparatus body having a upper surface, a lower surface, an outer surface, and at least one aperture, the aperture having a longitudinal axis extending from the upper surface to the lower surface and defining an aperture surface, wherein a first longitudinal direction and a second longitudinal direction thereof each extends along the longitudinal axis in opposite directions, the aperture including an integral locking means for engaging a suture threaded therethrough.

Abstract: Torsional vibrations in a rotating structure having a relatively large mass and subject to varying frequencies of torsional excitation are damped by determining the frequency of torsional excitation of the rotating structure and coupling to the rotating structure a damping pendulum of smaller mass to provide an absorber unit rotating therewith. The angular displacement of the damping pendulum relative to the rotating structure is continuously monitored, and the frequency of excitation is determined. The monitored displacement of the damping pendulum together with the mass damper characteristics of the absorber unit are processed to output a signal which produces a control torque on the damping pendulum proportional to the monitored displacement of the damping pendulum with a controlled time delay to produce control torque on the damping pendulum substantially equal to the torsional excitation of the rotating structure.

Abstract: Stage effects are moved by a computer which has stored data indicative of individual stage effects to be moved, their start and finish positions, the speed of movement, and timing and order of movement. The computer controls drive assemblies for moving the effects by a program which, while the program is running, displays on the monitor data concerning movement of the effects and enables the operator to modify at least some of the data previously established.

Abstract: A panel door has a generally rectangular panel which is seated in a frame provided by opposed pairs of integrally formed gasketless door stile and rail elements. Each frame element has an outer wall, a front wall, and a rear wall. The juncture of the rear wall and the outer wall of the aluminum extrusions is configured to enable resilient deflection of the rear wall relative to the outer wall, and the front and rear walls form a channel therebetween to receive the edge portion of the panel. Corner connectors couple the ends of the stiles and rails. The resiliently deflectable rear walls bear upon the rear surface of the panel and press it against the front wall to securely seat it in the channels.

Abstract: A method of making beaded foam molded products with corrosion inhibitor incorporated therein includes the steps of expanding a foamable synthetic resin into puffed beads, spraying onto the puffed beads a liquid containing a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor to provide a coating thereon, and molding the coated puffed beads into a beaded foam molded product with the corrosion inhibitor dispersed throughout the thickness thereof and migratable to the surface thereof.

Abstract: A drive assembly comprises a DC electric motor and an integrated charger/controller/regenerator which includes a power module, a step-up module and a control circuit. The input of the power module is connected to an electric power source during charging, and to the DC motor during regenerative braking. The input of the step-up module is connected to the power module, and the output is connected to the battery. The control circuit includes a switch, and has three modes of operation: driving, regenerative braking and charging. During driving, the switch connects the battery to the power module input and the power module output to the DC motor. During regenerative braking, the switch connects the DC motor to the power module input and the power module output to the step-up module input, and the step-up module output charges the battery. During charging, the switch connects the power module output to the step-up module input, and the step-up module output charges the battery.

Abstract: A drive assembly comprises a DC electric motor and an integrated charger/controller/regenerator which includes a power module, a step-down module and a control circuit. The input of the power module is connected to an electric power source during charging, and to the DC motor during regenerative braking. The input of the step-down module is connected to the power module, and the output is connected to the battery. The control circuit includes a multiplicity of switches, and has three modes of operation: driving, regenerative braking and charging. During driving, the switches connect the battery to the power module input and the power module output to the DC motor. During regenerative braking, the switches connect the DC motor to the power module input and the power module output to the step-down module input, and the step-down module output charges the battery. During charging, the switches connect the power module output to the step-down module input, and the step-down module output charges the battery.

Abstract: A lens storage container includes an integrally formed receptacle member having a bottom wall and a sidewall providing a cavity. A concave recess is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall and it is dimensioned and configured to seat a contact lens therein. A closure extends across the cavity and is secured to the sidewall of the receptacle member.

Abstract: A hand saw scabbard seats the saw blade of the hand saw with the handle at one end abutting its open end. The elongated molded scabbard has a generally rectangular cross section formed by spaced face walls and relatively short side walls extending therebetween and an end wall at one end thereof. The other end of the housing is open to provide the entrance into the cavity which is dimensioned to seat the saw blade. The inner surface of at least one of the face walls has integrally formed bosses thereon which bear upon the surface of the saw blade seated in the cavity to frictionally retain it.

Abstract: A workpiece being processed on a machine tool is moved by control devices to the tool head or work station of the machine mechanically or automatically. A stop defines an area around the work station from which the holding devices must be kept to prevent damage. As soon as a holding device reaches the limit of the danger zone around the tool head, it is switched into a setting releasing the workpiece and moves into a position away from the work station. The machine has a switching element connected to each holding device to be so movable, and the switching element has a switching slide which is acted on by an applied force and is supported in a first position until it abuts the stop when one slide position connects the energy source to the drive of the holding device to move it away from the stop. In another slide position, the connection to the energy source is broken and the holding device returns to the workpiece holding position.

Abstract: A contact lens container comprising an integrally molded one-piece synthetic resin receptacle providing a well having a peripheral wall with a bottom portion, and a flange extending about the periphery of the upper end of well. The bottom portion has a generally concave inner surface for seating a contact lens thereon and is being relatively rigid. The peripheral wall of the well has an annular, resiliently deflectable inversion portion above the bottom portion, and it is invertible to position the bottom portion of the well above the plane of the flange. Pressing upwardly against the bottom portion of the well inverts the inversion portion of the well and dispose the bottom portion with the lens thereon above the plane of the flange. The receptacle is moved against the eye of the user to place the lens against the cornea and thereby cause the lens to seat thereon.

Abstract: A panel lifter pry bar comprises an integrally formed elongated bar with an elongated substantially rectilinear shank portion having a U-shaped portion at one end disposed to one side of the longitudinal axis of the shank portion, and an inverted U-shaped portion at the other end disposed to the other side of the longitudinal axis. At the end of the U-shaped portion spaced from the shank portion is a claw, and at the end of the inverted U-shaped portion, is an elongated panel lifter portion which extends at an obtuse angle to the shank portion. The U-shaped and inverted U-shaped portions provide fulcrums on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the shank portion for the claw and panel lifter portions respectively.

Abstract: An adjustable hinge for pivotally mounting a door on a frame has a first leaf mounted and an adjustable mounting assembly to be mounted on the frame or the door. The mounting assembly includes (i) a bracket, (ii) a vertically extending threaded shaft, (iii) an internally threaded pinion gear, and (iv) a rotatable screw. The threaded shaft is fixed on the bracket and threadably engaged with the pinion gear. The rotatable screw has a threaded outer surface portion engaged with the pinion gear for rotating the pinion gear relative to the shaft so as to axially move the gear relative to the shaft. A second leaf is pivotally mounted on the mounting assembly and has one end pivotally engaged with the first leaf. A horizontally extending adjusting screw has a shank threadably engaged in the second leaf, and the end of the shank abuts the bracket so that the rotation of the adjusting screw pivots the second leaf inwardly and outwardly relative to the bracket.

Abstract: A LED lamp for use in lighted sign assemblies has a base configured to engage an associated electrical socket, a light array extending from the base, the base has conductive elements on the outer surface thereof to effect a power connection to the socket and internal contacts coupled thereto. The light array consists of three elongated circuit boards extending from the end of the base and oriented with respect to each other to form an array of triangular cross section. Each of the circuit boards has a multiplicity of light emitting diodes mounted upon its outer surface and spaced along its length, and a conductor connected to the diodes. A power transfer circuit electrically connects the circuit board conductor to the contacts in the base to provide electrical power to the diodes, and a generally tubular housing of light transmitting material mounted upon and extending from the end of the base in spaced relationship to the array.

Abstract: A rigid corner connector for a door having a frame with stiles and rails seating a panel therein, includes a bracket having a generally planar body portion with perpendicular sidewalls defining a channel and having inwardly extending lips along an intermediate portion. An end wall extends between the sidewalls at one end thereof, and an end flange at the other end extending in the opposite direction and having tabs engaging the rail thereon. The sidewalls also have outwardly extending side flanges adjacent their ends, and the side flanges adjacent the end flange have a tab engageable in the end of the stile. The other side flange has a tab engageable in a slot in the wall of the stile. A roller mounting member is slidably seated in the bracket for sliding movement on the bracket and it transfers loads to the end wall. A roller is rotatably mounted on the mounting member, and a detent tab seated in a channel in the roller mounting member limits the movement of the mounting member on the bracket.

Abstract: On laser cutting machines the laser cutting head is movable relative to the laser generator, respectively relative to the workpiece to be cut, in a plane parallel to the workpiece by means of a drive controlled by a numerical control. The laser cutting head also has an adjusting device for adjusting the focal position of the laser beam, by means of which the focus can be shifted with respect to the laser cutting head perpendicular to the workpiece. The position of the laser beam focus perpendicular to the workpiece influences the cutting quality obtained, respectively the resulting cutting characteristics. A laser cutting machine which is functionally efficient under workshop conditions and suitable for automatic operation, for which a sure optical adjustment of the focal position is possible, has not been available up to now. The new laser cutting machine should eliminate this problem.

Abstract: A nipple for use in igniting a propellant charge in a muzzle loading firearm employing percussive ignition caps, has an elongated body with a generally cylindrical cap receiving portion adjacent one end and a mounting portion adjacent the other end. The outer surface of the cap receiving portion is cooperatively dimensioned and configured to slidably seat percussion caps thereon. The body has a passage extending axially therethrough with a generally funnel shaped inlet portion extending axially from the one end through a major portion of the length of the body. The funnel shaped inlet portion tapers radially inwardly from the one end towards the other end at an angle less than 25.degree. relative to the longitudinal axis of the passage, and the throat portion has a generally uniform cross section corresponding to the smallest cross section of the inlet portion.