Abstract: An operative laparoscopic instrument is equipped with proximal and distal loops closed by slip knots and tightenable from the proximal end of the instrument. A forceps extending from the distal end of the instrument grasps an anatomical tube to be both ligated and transected and pulls it into the instrument past both loops. The distal loop is first tightened to ligate the tube and the proximal loop is then tightened to transect the tube.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method of using the apparatus for teaching horseback riding skills without the use of a horse. The apparatus is secured to the student so that the student may move about. The student uses reins to manipulate a bit. A pendulum suspended from a spring simulates the motion of a horse's mouth. A feedback mechanism compares the tension exerted by the student on the reins to the simulated motion of the horse's mouth, assisting the student in learning how to follow the bit and other riding skills.

Abstract: A module, a wall made from said block, and a method of constructing a wall using such blocks, wherein the block has the general shape of a plus sign. The block is made from a first rectangular piece and a second rectangular piece joined perpendicular to said first rectangular piece. The blocks are assembled in a parquet fashion to construct a wall.

Abstract: Electrical barrier strips, such as are commonly used in power distribution panels, may utilize a variety of fasteners by which wires are connected to the strip. To prevent shorting between adjacent connectors, insulating partitions are formed between the connectors. While most barrier strips leave the tops of the connectors exposed to the environment, the present invention provides a barrier strip cover which removably snaps onto the barrier strip partitions to protect the connectors. Complimentary extensions on the base of the cover and on the top of the partitions engage each other to hold the cover to the partitions. A partition at the end of the barrier strip, which does not have any extensions, engages a groove in the bottom of the cover to align the cover over the barrier strip.

Abstract: A trocar assembly consisting of a trocar in a central opening in a cannula. The cannula is provided with at least one separate passage running parallel to the central passage. The separate passage is connected to a source of cleansing fluid and a pump for pumping fluid through the separate passage. The separate passage terminates in an orifice near the distal end of the central opening of the cannula. In operation, when the cannula is used to provide access for a laparoscope or other viewing instrument, the end of the viewing instrument may become clouded with moisture and other debris. In this case, the end of the viewing instrument may be withdrawn into the distal end of the cannula adjacent the fluid orifice. The pump is actuated and cleansing fluid is forced over the end of the instrument cleaning away the obstructing matter without removing the instrument from the cannula. Drying air can also be supplied to the instrument, either through the same or a different separate passage.

Abstract: The "hardness" of water flowing through a pipe, and attributable to ions dissolved in the water, is reduced by producing molecular agitation in the water to transform the ions into much larger crystals, followed by filtration using a conventional filter having a mesh size much larger than the size of the ions, but smaller than the size of the crystals.

Abstract: Straight line flow rotary valves with the valve member flow passage (21) turned away from the pipeline flow axis (22), to dispose the valve internals to an access port (50) located downstream on the same flow axis of the valve member (11). Another embodiment is used in place of pipe elbows where the rotary valve internals are accessed through a port (50) on the same flow axis (22) as the upstream pipe. In both valve body embodiments, the flow is turned again, downstream of the valve member (11), to communicate with the connecting downstream piping which, in the first embodiment is along the same axis as the upstream pipe (22), and in the second embodiment, is on a different axis (39), and, is generally 45 or 90 degrees turned from the upstream pipe.In both embodiments the flow turns in a component (12) installed, through the body access port (50). In all embodiments the turning component also services as the pressure boundary access cover over the body opening (50).

Abstract: A resistor-capacitor network has a wound film capacitor as its capacitive component and, as its resistive component, a stripe of resistive material located on the surface of the spiral laminate which forms the wound film capacitor and extending onto at least one of the schoopage metal terminations of the capacitor. To form a parallel R-C network, the resistive stripe also extends onto the opposite schoopage metal termination. For other network connections, the stripe ends short of one of the metal terminations and is provided with an external connection at that end.

Abstract: An umbrella holder is provided which permits the user to be protected by an umbrella while permitting the user's hands to remain free. The holder includes a waist belt and shoulder strap. Means for securing the umbrella handle to the waist belt and the umbrella shaft to the shoulder strap are provided. The belt and strap are adjustable and permit the umbrella shaft to be secured to the user's chest without impinging on a breast of the user and permitting the belt to be raised or lowered with respect to the user's waist thus enabling umbrellas having different shaft lengths to be accommodated as well as users having different waist to shoulder dimensions.

Abstract: A humidifier is provided of the type which has a water tank or reservoir for holding tap water. Common tap water frequently is "hard" due to dissolved minerals which result in the humidifier emitting a fine dust when such water is used. By affixing electroplated electrodes to the interior of the tank minerals such as calcium carbonate can precipitate on the surface of the cathodes. Temporarily reversing the polarity of the electrodes will cause the calcium carbonate to be dislodged from the electrodes and fall to the bottom of the reservoir where it can be removed.

Abstract: For producing controlled precipitation in fluid flowing through a pipe, a coil of electric wire is applied to the pipe segment in which this controlled precipitation is to be produced. This coil may be in the form of an induction coil wrapped around the pipe. Or the coil may be of a flat, rectangular spiral form. In any case, the coil is applied in such a way that the center of its curvature does not coincide with the pipe axis. Instead, this center of coil curvature is offset from the pipe axis. Preferably, this offset is approximately equal to the radius of the pipe.

Abstract: A module for displaying information which is electronically controllable and information which is not so controllable. Substantially the entire front (visible) face of the module is divided into two portions. One is the face of a LCD display. The second is the face of a solar cell. The face of the solar cell is covered by a transparent overlay which bears the non-controllable information.

Abstract: A mold designed to be operated easily by one person to form large blocks. Generally, the walls of the mold are attached to the base with a pivoting assembly such that the walls of the mold fall away from the molded material after hardening. Levers and fulcrums of various designs are used to facilitate the mold wall movements. Additionally, quick release and tightening mechanisms are used to secure the mold walls. Also, the wall of the mold can be designed to incorporate patterns such that the blocks formed in the molds can interlock when stacked, forming a very sturdy wall. Further, specially designed inserts can be utilized to quickly modify the mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mowing machine with at least one blade (4) rotating about a spindle (3), preferably with two mowing cutters (6) arranged symmetrically to the spindle, and preferably with several and especially three blades (4) rotating about parallel spindles (3), which is/are arranged in a mower housing (1) with the cuttings ejected towards the rear (regarded from the direction of mowing). In order to provide a mulch from the cuttings with such a mower, it is proposed that the blade(s) (4) be contained in the ejection direction by a wall system (8, 9).

Abstract: For producing controlled precipitation in fluid flowing through a pipe, a coil of electric wire, of flat, generally rectangular spiral shape, is sandwiched between flexible cover sheets. The resulting assembly is applied to the outer circumference of the pipe, with the lengthwise dimension of the coil extending perpendicularly to the flow inside the pipe. A time-varying electric current is applied to the coil to produce a corresponding magnetic field. This, in turn, causes induction which produces the controlled precipitation.

Abstract: Drive mechanism for a drive carrier (17) which is drivable for back and fh movement along a guide rail (10), which is connectable to a correspondingly drivable object, having a drive system (1) with a reducing gear (3) and output head (4) and having a drive web (11) driven by same and connectable to the drive carrier which is looped over a turn-around device intended to be located at the end of guide rail (10) facing away from drive system (1), which drive mechanism is so constructed for the purpose of space-saving storage and/or transportation and also orderly final assembly after connection of the guide rails without the risk of a faulty drive web run, in such manner that the drive system (1) or its output head (4) has a storage section (8) in which the drive web (11), looped over the output head and dimensioned for the total guide rail length, shortened in its lengthwise direction by wavelike folds (13,14) is contained in a small space, together with the turn-around device (12), to which storage section (8

Abstract: A solenoid coil includes a substantially parallel plurality of conductors on a flexible base. The flexible base is wound around a water pipe, body part or the like to provide a field for the treatment of fluids therein. An alignment mechanism is provided to substantially align a first level of parallel conductors to the next level of parallel conductors above the first level. Each wrap of the flexible base provides a number of conductor turns equal to the number of parallel conductors. In a second embodiment, a substantially parallel first plurality of conductors and a substantially parallel second plurality of conductors are disposed on a flexible base. A return conductor is provided on the flexible base to connect the first plurality of conductors to the second plurality of conductors. When wound around a fluid carrying pipe, the return conductor is disposed up flow (i.e.