Abstract: There is disclosed a splint prosthesis for body limbs, such as fingers, toes, arms and legs. The splint prosthesis includes a sheath, having a size and thickness which can be varied as to application, e.g., from 1 to about 3 millimeters in thickness for toe and finger splints up to several centimeters for larger body limbs such as legs and arms. The splint prosthesis has at least two longitudinal retractable stiffeners embedded within said sheath and oriented so that the stiffeners have a stable coiled configuration and a stable extended configuration. The stiffeners are formed of thin, elastic sheet material which can be rolled into a coil, and which readily unrolls. At least two stiffeners are provided, extending longitudinally along the extended sheath configuration and these are spaced apart by an angular increment which is sufficient to maintain the sheath in its extended configuration.

Abstract: There is disclosed a telephone cord winder having a single, torsional spring driven cord reel which is rotationally mounted within a cord winder housing. The extendible telephone cord is wound on the reel and electrically connected, through an internal rotary connector, to a stationary cord. Each of the extendible and stationary cords terminates in a modular phone plug adapted to be received in conventional modular phone sockets with multiple contacts, conventionally four or six contacts for phones.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improvement in rotational wrenching tools used in the aerospace industry to apply a fastener nut to a fastener pin at a limiting, preload torsion. The pins used for the fasteners have an end recess which receives a rotational stationary key that is supported in the tool by a key holder which is slidably received in a central passage of the rotationally driven socket sleeve of the tool. This invention provides a first rotational detent at the forward end of the key holder and the central through passage and a first spring to bias the key holder axially forward into engagement with said first rotational detent to cause the key holder to rotate with the sleeve and thereby facilitate engagement and disengagement of the key with the fasteners. The invention also provides a second rotational detent at the rear end of the key holder and the housing to rotationally immobilize said key holder during run-up of the fastener nuts on the fastener pins.

Abstract: Stacked, multimodular circuit assemblies are provided which comprise stacked, resealable, modules containing electronic circuitry, each module having a plurality of electrically conductive, embedded through-vias between the upper and major surfaces thereof. The through-vias are contained within the module matrix outside of the circuit-containing cavity or "tub" of the module and within the outer edges of the module body. Electronic circuitry contained in the module cavity is electrically connected to the through-vias by signal traces or vias passing out of the cavity and into contact with the through-vias, and adjacent modules are electrically interconnected by a resealable, multichannel connector array between adjacent modules having electrically conductive channels coupling opposing through-vias of the adjacent modules.

Abstract: A conversion kit, consisting of a two piece adaptor set, allows a conventional non-cordless telephone to be converted to a cordless telephone. A first piece consists of a unitary body which houses a transmitter/receiver therein and a conventional modular male telephone plug. The second piece consists of a transmitter/receiver built into a replacement handset. To covert a standard non-cordless telephone to a cord- less telephone, the coiled telephone handset cord, and the corded-handset are removed. The first transmitter/receiver body is plugged into the modular jack in place of the coiled cord, and the replacement handset is simply set into the cradle.

Abstract: There is disclosed a stable animal feed supplement suspension which is prepared by forming a stable liquid gel in concentrated food industry by-products such as by-products of the dairy industry, such as whey permeates, delactosed whey, and by-products of the fermentation industry, such as whey and corn sweet water. These by-products have not been used with any significant success in animal feed supplements, despite their low cost and disposal problems. A major disadvantage is their limited solubility, and the resultant instability of concentrates of the by-products. The invention comprises the treatment of the protein-rich by-products with a mild enzymatic treatment which stabilizes the by-products against protein gelation, and the thermal, and/or enzymatic treatment of the lactose-rich by-products to avoid separation of the lactose from concentrates.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved automotive clutch having a pressure ring, preferably formed of aluminum, with a heat shield that includes a thin outer metallic ring, preferably of steel, which is laminated to a layer of an adhesive resin that contains metallic elements which are in substantially direct heat exchange between the outer steel ring and the aluminum pressure ring. For this purpose, copper screen of suitable mesh, from 10 to about 20 U.S. Standard, is embedded in the adhesive resin layer, reinforcing the adhesive layer and providing a controlled degree of direct heat transmission from the steel ring to the aluminum ring. In preferred embodiments, the attachment of the steel ring to the pressure ring is enhanced by a plurality of countersunk, flush head fasteners which are spaced about the periphery of the ring in a regular geometric array.

Abstract: There is disclosed a solid animal feed supplement which is prepared in concentrated food industry by-products such as by-products of the dairy industry, such as whey permeates, delactosed whey, and by-products of the fermentation industry, such as whey and corn sweet water. The invention comprises the treatment of the protein-rich by-products with a mild enzymatic treatment which stabilizes the by-products against protein gelation, and the thermal, and/or enzymatic treatment of the lactose-rich by-products to avoid separation of the lactose from concentrates. The by-products can then be concentrated to high solids content, in excess of 50 weight percent, and the resultant concentrates can be treated with gelation agents, preferably phosphoric acid and lime to solidify the by-product. Feed nutrients such as fats, urea, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, etc., or drugs such as monisan, can be added before solidification forming useful solid animal feed supplements.

Abstract: There is disclosed an efficient, cost effective production method to bond layers of electronic devices into an integral stack, or for joining electronic devices to other devices or substrates with use of an adhesive material, preferably an appropriate polyimide, to provide, in effect, a two-stage bonding process. In the first stage, the electronic device is coated, preferably at the wafer level, with a liquid solution of the adhesive material, the coated device is heated to remove solvent, forming a dry adhesive coating of sufficient thickness to fill all spaces between metal traces on the electronic device. Coated wafers can be stacked and bonded, or preferably diced to yield individual chips, which are cut and stacked in a suitable fixture, and heat and pressure are applied in a second stage, to cause viscous flow of the adhesive, filling all voids, and to cure the adhesive, creating an integral, adhesively bonded stack.

Abstract: The invention comprises an exhaust system for a motorcycle engine which has an outer imperforate casing having a substantially elliptical cross-section and an inner, coaxial, perforate sleeve also of elliptical cross-section which is of lesser dimensions to provide an annulus within the casing which is packed with a gas permeable material, high temperature resistant material such as fiberglass. The muffler has a single piece inlet end cap and a single piece outlet end cap. Each end cap has an elliptical flange over which is received an end of the outer casing of the muffler. The end caps also have integral mounting flanges to receive and support the inner perforate sleeve. Preferably the muffler is provided with a replaceable sound choke which is a small diameter sleeve that can be removably secured in the discharge end of the muffler, thereby permitting the muffler to be switched between restricted off-road use and unrestricted off-road use.

Abstract: There is disclosed a plumb bob having a segmented bob body with an upper bob body segment which is attached to a flexible suspension cord and a removably attached lower bob body segment. The upper segment of the bob body has a marker mechanism which can be an internally contained marker that is resiliently biased within the upper segment by springs which permit the marker to project from the under surface of the body upon impact, registering a point on the lower surface. An alternative marker mechanism comprises a pair of crossed slots in the lower end surface of the upper segment which guide a marker for scribing lines which intersect at the transfer point. The upper segment of the bob body is secured on the transfer point by a central protuberance which permits the body to tilt, but not topple, resting at the transfer point.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for removal of rind from melons which has a cutting station with a flat, planar, cutting member having an upwardly facing cutting edge mounted on a flat planar pressure shoe, a rotary feeder having a body with an external surface of revolution with a plurality of teeth distributed about its external surface and rotationally mounted at the cutting station adjacent to and spaced apart from the cutting member by a distance sufficient to permit passage of separated rind; a drive to rotate the feeder; and a feed chute to introduce sectors of fruit to the cutting station for engagement with the rotary feeder.

Abstract: There is disclosed a static mixer for intimate mixing of granular solids, a solids flow controller and a solids transfer tube which are useful to mix polycrystalline material with dopant solids, and to feed the resultant mixture continuously and accurately into a modified Czochralski-type furnace for growing single crystal material. The static mixer is a series of conical funnel plates interspaced by thieving divider plates that are formed by a plurality of triangular V-shaped, radial sectors. Contiguous to the static mixer is a storage hopper which has sufficient storage capacity for all the polycrystalline feed material required in a single run of the furnace. Located beneath the hopper is a solids flow controller that is a V-shaped trough which is vibrated along its longitudinal axis. At one end, the trough has a transverse baffle located with a gap between its bottom edge and the bottom of the trough that controls the rate of flow of the solids.

Abstract: There is disclosed a quick connect/disconnect coupling for tubular elements such as hoses and the like, which uses a plurality of articulated jaws, with a retainer and a retainer clip. In this invention, each of the jaws has an axial groove extending from its inner edge, and the retainer sleeve has pins which extend into the grooves of the jaws. The axial groove in each jaw has a stepped width, with a greater width at the inner edge of said jaw, thereby permitting a limited rotational movement of said ring between its rearward and forward positions. The retainer sleeve also has an inner annular groove adjacent its inner face which receives a retainer clip to secure the assembly.

Abstract: A unitary door routing template for routing hardware mounting apertures in doors is provided which affords expedient placement of the template and the cutting of hardware mounting holes while minimizing expense and hazards to operating personnel. The template comprises two elongated, planar, unobstructed, opposing sides for engaging the front and back sides of a door, the template sides being integrally formed with and extending generally perpendicular to an end plate which engages the door edge. The planar opposing sides are spaced from each other at the end plate by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the door and, preferably, gradually converge away from the end plate so that, when placed over the door, they provide a stabilizing grip on the door surfaces.

Abstract: There is disclosed a light-transmitting panel of thermoplastic sheet material which has a relief pattern defined by a plurality of generally co-planar segments which are separated by deep surface relieved areas that are characterized by greater material thickness than the planar segments and smoothly arched surfaces of greater optical quality than the planar segments. The invention also comprises a method for forming the decorative light-transmitting panel by thermoforming a plastic sheet on a mold having a plurality of generally co-planer lands which are separated by deep recesses that receive sagged regions of the thermoplastic sheet material. The sheet material which has been heated to its softening temperature is compressed against the lands to extrude the plastic material into the recess areas, following by cooling and removing the sheet from the mold to obtain the light-transmitting panel.

Abstract: A method is for expanding the solute-identifying capabilities of an infrared (IR) sparging system. In IR-sparging, bubbles transfer solutes contained in a volume of liquid to a gas stream which is analyzed in a gas cell. FTIR spectrometry provides spectral absorbance analysis to identify and measure the solutes. By repeating the spectral scans at given time intervals, data is also obtained which is related to the depletion rate curves of the respective solutes. Using this depletion rate data to complement the spectral analysis data provides major benefits in successfully identifying the solutes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a case (12) for a computer having one of a plurality of removable and interchangeable rear panels (50, 90) which provide apertures for access to I/O ports and slots for access to the rear edges of accessory cards (17, 123) of any of various mother boards (13) such as the IBM, Western Digital or Intel mother boards. For this purpose the case has a window (70) in its rear wall (22) which is generally rectangular with an extension along its lower edge. The window receives one of a plurality of removable and interchangeable panels (50, 90), each panel having a first area which is a generally rectangular recessed wall (74, 118) having a plurality of elongated slots (76, 106) that provide access to the rear edges of accessory cards, and a second area, located along the lower edge of the panel which has one or more apertures (88, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104) to provide access to I/O sockets of a mother board.

Abstract: The invention refers to a system for the technical safety check of solenoid valves, where during an operational switch of the solenoid valve, the induction current of the actuating magnet of the valve is recorded over time and stored as test function I=I(t). From the test function the control function I'=dI/dt is digitally calculated and after digital logarithmation also stored. Both functions may be displayed and evaluated simultaneously on the screen, which assures a better and more exact evaluation of the functional condition of the concerning solenoid valve, including any existing defects.