Abstract: A digital central control unit is connected in a master/slave relationship to a plurality of audio, video, and data components, at least one of which may be an analog component. A decoder digital-to-analog unit is positioned at the input of all analog components so that signals transmitted to them from the central control unit are not decoded and converted to analog signals until after the transmission has been completed. An encoder analog-to-digital unit for converting analog signals to digital signals is positioned at the output of each analog component so that their respective analog signals are in encoded digital format when being transmitted to the central control unit. The network is thus all-digital and is therefore not subject to the limitations of networks having analog transmission lines.

Abstract: A guide needle for locating the position of a lesion or tumor in soft tissue has an inflatable balloon adjacent its pointed tip so that the position of the guide needle with respect to the lesion or tumor can be determined upon visual inspection of an ultrasound, CT scan, or other imaging technique when the balloon is inflated. A flexible bulbous reservoir positioned near a proximal end of the guide needle contains a saline solution or other suitable contrasting liquid fluid and is in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon through a tube. Squeezing the bulbous reservoir inflates the balloon and releasing the bulbous reservoir deflates the balloon. A clamp attachable to the proximal end of the tube is closed after the bulbous reservoir has been squeezed to lock the balloon into its inflated configuration when the guide needle is properly positioned relative to the lesion or tumor. The inflated balloon indicates the position of the guide needle and also anchors the guide needle into position.

Abstract: An apparatus used in balloon angioplasty and/or stenting in a first embodiment includes a guide wire, a balloon catheter that ensleeves the guide wire, and a guide catheter that ensleeves the balloon catheter. The balloon catheter has a plurality of longitudinally-extending, circumferentially spaced apart slots formed in it to define a plurality of elongate members between the slots. A joint is formed at the proximal, distal, and mid-point of each elongate member. Displacing the respective proximal and distal joints toward one another causes the respective middle joints to displace radially outwardly, and radial inward travel of the middle joints is caused by increasing the distance between the proximal and distal joints. A bead is formed in the distal end of the guide wire and retraction of the guide wire causes the bead to abut the distal end of the balloon catheter and displace it in a distal-to-proximal direction, opening the elongate, jointed members.

Abstract: A prefabricated fence post assembly comprising a slotted fence post which slideably receives an adjoining prefabricated modular panel, picket fence, lattice or ornamental section for the construction of fences, walls and other structures incorporating panels.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting the gate of an animal enclosure with an electrified wire that also extends along fencing includes a reel that dispenses and collects the wire to minimize the possibility of shock during gate opening and closing procedures. A hollow reel housing is mounted to a first fence post to which the gate is hingedly attached. A truncate wire connected to a source of electrical power such as an electrified fence wire extends into the hollow reel housing through a first opening and is connected to a nonrotating electrical contact. An annular rotating electrical contact is in electrical communication with a proximal end of wire coiled about the reel and is mounted on the reel so that the wire remains in electrical communication with the source of power when the reel is rotating in a wire-dispensing direction or in a wire-collecting direction. The wire, when uncoiled, extends through a second opening formed in the hollow reel housing.

Abstract: Envelopes in a vertical orientation are delivered in sequence to an envelope bundling table from a sheet insertion table where sheets are inserted into envelopes. A stationary vertical wall forms a part of the envelope bundling table and the respective short ends of envelopes of a preselected bundle of envelopes successively abut it when discharged onto that table. A movably mounted vertical wall has a first deployed configuration where it is disposed parallel to the first vertical wall, between the sheet insertion table and the stationary vertical wall. When so deployed, the envelopes of a preselected bundle successively abut it and therefore do not reach the first vertical wall. Those envelopes are therefore laterally offset from envelopes of a different bundle that abut the first vertical wall. The movable vertical wall has a retracted position so that envelopes delivered to the envelope bundling table abut the first vertical wall when the second vertical wall is retracted.

Abstract: A chain saw has a spacer plate that provides an initial clearance space between an outer surface of an elongate flat blade that carries the cutting element of the saw and an inner surface of a recessed wall formed in a motor cover that forms a part of the chain saw housing when a pair of locking nuts are loosely seated against an outer surface of the recessed wall. When the locking nuts are firmly seated, the initial clearance space is reduced to no clearance space and the elongate flat blade is firmly held against vibration, but the light contact between the elongate flat blade and the recessed wall enables the elongate flat blade to be displaced in a first direction to loosen the cutting element and in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to tighten the cutting element. This eliminates any need to loosen the locking nuts to accomplish cutting element adjustment. The spacer plate extends through an elongate slot formed in the elongate flat blade.

Abstract: A cushioned prosthetic liner includes a distal attachment plate to which is secured a number of longitudinally extending elongate arms that are substantially non-stretchable in a longitudinal direction. The arms allow radial expansion and contraction of the liner but substantially inhibit axial stretching and therefore inhibit milking of a residuum. The arms may be embedded within the liner or secured to a surface of the liner. The structure spreads the negative pressure generated during the swing phase of a gait over substantially all of the inner surface area of the liner to further inhibit the milking effect. The elongate arms are preferably formed of silk, fiberglass cloth, or other substantially non-stretchable material. They may also be provided in the form of a strip of epoxy applied to a surface of a conventional prosthetic liner or in the form of seams sewed into the liner. Additional embodiments include prosthetic liners having no distal attachment plate.

Abstract: Warm water, (preferably 110° F.) in a reservoir is delivered under pressure to teeth and gums in a spray or mist that is emitted from the bristle-carrying base of a toothbrush. The spray loosens food particles and plaque deposits from tooth surfaces and facilitates their removal by the physical action of the bristles. An inlet conduit has a free end positioned within the reservoir, above the water level, and an outlet conduit has a free end immersed within the water contained in the reservoir. A pump in fluid communication with the inlet conduit pumps air into the container and the pressure in the container drives the water into the outlet conduit and to the toothbrush. A closure member in the container is apertured to accommodate the inlet and outlet conduits.

Abstract: Water is conserved and poultry raised for human consumption is cleaned by a viscera-removing machine that incorporates a unique nozzle member positioned adjacent a crop-removing tool. The close positioning of the nozzle to the crop-removing tool insures that contaminates are washed out of the internal cavity of the bird immediately upon crop removal. This prevents contaminates from being absorbed into tissue surrounding the internal cavity. The nozzle is mounted in longitudinal alignment with the crop-removing tool at the lowermost or leading end of a spiral rod that rotates about its axis of symmetry and reciprocates up and down as previously slaughtered poultry is delivered to a crop-removing and washing station. Each downward motion of the spiral rod causes the tool and nozzle to enter the vent of a bird and to exit at the neck opening.

Abstract: An elongate, flexible tether line connects to a life jacket a large, brightly-colored balloon that is easy for a rescuer to observe when it is inflated and floating in a body of water. The balloon is stored within an internal cavity of the life jacket in a deflated condition and is inflated upon removal from the cavity. A first end of the tether line is secured to a liner that forms a pocket in the internal cavity so that when the balloon is fully deployed, the liner is turned inside-out to prevent water from the external environment from entering into the internal cavity. A funnel is formed in the balloon and is in fluid communication with a downspout that is in fluid communication with a reservoir formed in the balloon. The funnel collects rainwater and the reservoir stores the rainwater. A drinking spout enables a user to consume the stored water as needed.

Abstract: An adjustable running board comprising an elongated deck having an integrated first end-cap and an underlying support frame in which clamping bolts may be slideably positioned. The elongated deck may be cut to the length required for installation on a particular vehicle. A mounting shoulder on a second end-cap is bolted to the underlying support frame forming the running board assembly.

Abstract: An aesthetic pool enclosure of modular design includes cover members that hide from view various utilitarian structural components such as bolts, screws, rubber splines for holding screens, and the like. The structure is made of extruded posts and beams and interlocking members for interlocking the posts and beams to one another to reduce the number of fasteners needed and to provide enhanced strength of the finished assembly. The extruded pieces include corner posts for ninety and sixty degree corners, doorjambs, bottom door sweeps, and other specialized parts for completing the assembly. Many of the parts are snap fit to one another to further reduce the number of fasteners required to assemble the enclosure and to facilitate the construction process.

Abstract: An aethetically pleasing sign holder releasably engages a pole or post without requiring tools and protects a sign from the elements. A sign is slid into an opening formed in an edge of a thin, hollow sign housing, and a front wall of the housing is transparent so that the sign within the hollow housing is visible to observers. The sign housing is mounted to a swivally-mounted base and a pair of flexible and resilient, semi-circular parts are integrally formed with the base. The half parts are spread apart from one another to admit a pole between them, and converged toward one another to lock onto the pole. A catch is formed integrally with one of the half parts and a latch that releasably engages the catch is formed integrally with the other half part. The catch and latch include mating teeth that extend along a predetermined circumferential extent to enable attachment of the sign holder to poles of widely varying diameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring water quality parameters is protected from the deleterious effects of its environment when water quality is not being monitored. In a preferred embodiment, a sensor is mounted to a leading end of an elongate worm gear that is mounted in a housing that is positioned above the water level of the body of water under study. An output shaft of a reversible motor engages the worm gear so that the worm gear and sensor are displaced in a first direction when the output shaft rotates in a first direction and are displaced in a second, opposite direction, when the output shaft rotates in a second direction. A hingedly mounted door closes an open end of the housing and is biased to a closed position when a bias member is in repose. When the worm gear is extended, it pushes the door open and the door closes under its bias when the worm gear is retracted. When the worm gear is fully retracted, the sensor is protected by the housing.

Abstract: A facial contact electrode assembly for use in electrotherapy. A galvanic current is applied to acupuncture points of a human face by adjustable electrodes. A screw head on the distal end of the electrode comes into contact with the face of a user. The screw head is rotateably adjustable whereby rotation of the screw in a first direction causes advancement of the screw head towards the user's face and counterrotation causes retraction of the screw head. Therefore, when employing an array of electrodes for electrotherapy of the face, each individual electrode can be lengthened or shortened to adjust to the individual characteristics of the user's face. Further adjustment is automatically achieved by each electrode using a resilient conductive spring enclosed within the housing of each electrode. The spring biases the electrode against the face of the user while carrying the galvanic current from an electrical power source to the screw head.

Abstract: A bailer has two externally-mounted weights. The first weight is positioned at the uppermost end and the second weight is positioned at the lowermost end of the bailer. The combination of weights increases the insertion rate of the bailer into a liquid so that the time elapsed for an insertion is reduced relative to the time required to insert unweighted bailers, top-weighted bailers, or bottom-weighted bailers. The weights also prevent wobble about the longitudinal axis of the bailer as it descends. The external mounting of the weights further prevents contamination of the liquid collected by the bailer and eliminates back pressure and turbulence caused by interior weights.