Abstract: A shoulder guard for a garment hanger is erected from an essentially flat sheet of material to include a first panel and a second panel, with at least the first panel following a desired convex contour configuration to complement the garment to be hung on the hanger, the second panel being divided into a pair of sub-panels pulled longitudinally toward one another to bow at least the first panel into the desired convex contour configuration, with the sub-panels locked together by interengaged lateral slits against relative longitudinal movement, the slits defining tabs for confronting the sub-panels to shape and reinforce the sub-panels in a convex contour configuration, and indicia providing a visual indication of the proper confronting relationship between the tabs and the sub-panels.

Abstract: A floral water tube has a piercing projection for mounting the floral water tube on a retaining base, the piercing projection having a socket extending along the piercing projection and an extension post selectively coupled to the socket along the piercing projection for mounting the floral water tube at selected elevations relative to the retaining base, the selected elevations corresponding to the axial length of the coupled extension post.

Abstract: A plastic hinge is attached to selected substrates by adhesion between the plastic hinge and the substrates to effect a hinged connection between the substrates and includes a hinge member of a synthetic polymeric material having desired hinge characteristics, a mounting member of a material capable of adhesion to a corresponding selected substrate, and mechanical interlocking elements mechanically securing together the hinge member and a corresponding mounting member such that the plastic hinge is secured to each selected substrate by adhesion between each mounting member and a corresponding selected substrate.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward providing a method and a brace for supporting a joint of the body to permit movement of the joint in first selected directions and to restrain movement in second selected directions. The brace comprises a flexible sheet and an enclosed inflatable chamber contained in the flexible sheet. The chamber is formed of a material which is light and flexible when uninflated but is relatively rigid when inflated. The inflated chamber supports the joint and prevents unwanted movement of the portion to be restrained from movement. However, the material has sufficient flexibility and when coupled with the flexible sheet serves to prevent abrasion of the sensitive areas of the joint being confined. The flexible sheet, while very flexible, also protects the transmission of shock to the joint.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing recyclable asphalt material includes an elongate drum having a generally cylindrical wall, a central axis, a first end and a second end, and being mounted for rotation about the central axis, with the central axis tilted at an acute angle so as to elevate one of the first and second ends relative to the other of the first and second ends, a heating chamber adjacent the first end of the drum, a plurality of breaker members arrayed generally parallel to the central axis of the drum and placed within the drum, a heat conduit extending along the drum coaxial with the breaker members, a heating arrangement for supplying heat to the heating chamber, ducting interconnecting the heating chamber, the breaker members, and the heat conduit serially such that heat from the heating chamber is conducted from adjacent the first end of the drum to adjacent the second end of the drum and is returned to adjacent the first end of the drum serially through the breaker members and the heat conduit, a feed

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the simultaneous measurement of rheological and thermal characteristics of a test specimen subjects the test specimen to stress for rheological measurements, while at the same time subjecting the same test specimen to controlled temperature changes for the measurement of temperature differentials indicative of thermal characteristics of the test specimen while the test specimen is being stressed for the rheological measurements, and a measuring cell for measuring the thermal characteristics of a specimen.

Abstract: An enclosure for a personal computer card is constructed by folding a single sheet of material into confronting upper and lower enclosure members which are then secured together in the confronting arrangement by nested side walls and channels formed along peripheral edges of the enclosure members to house an electronic device within the enclosure.

Abstract: A tibial component for use in a prosthetic knee implant is constructed of a one-piece unitary member of synthetic polymeric material including a bearing portion having bearing surfaces for accepting the load imposed by the femoral component of the prosthetic knee implant and a keel projecting axially downwardly from the bearing portion and having flanges extending from a generally centrally located post outwardly at an angle to one another to be placed beneath the bearing surfaces of the bearing portion for reinforcing the bearing portion against the load imposed by the femoral component during service, while providing strength as well as rigidity and added stability for providing a relatively inexpensive alternative to metallic tibial components in recipients where the levels of performance offered by the higher cost metallic tibial components are not required.

Abstract: A media basket mill for dispersing a selected constituent into a liquid vehicle to produce a mixture of the constituent and the liquid vehicle within a mixing vessel includes a basket extending in an axial direction between a upper end and a lower end, a media bed in the basket, and an impeller, the basket having a wall for retaining the media bed within the basket and openings in the wall for permitting passage of the mixture through the wall in response to operation of the impeller when the basket is immersed in the mixture in the vessel, the wall including a bottom wall portion at the lower end and an axially extending side wall portion having an overall diametral dimension, the openings being located at least in the side wall portion, the impeller including a rotor mounted for rotation about the axial direction, and impeller blades on the rotor, the impeller blades having at least blade portions located radially outwardly beyond the diametral dimension of the side wall portion of the wall of the basket fo

Abstract: A whelping box is constructed of a selectively foldable bottom wall member and a selectively foldable tubular wall member joined together with selectively engaged fastener elements enabling the component parts of the whelping box to be collapsed into a highly compact configuration for shipping and storage in a package having dimensions not exceeding the dimensions prescribed for commercially available economical package delivery systems, while being readily erected for use.

Abstract: Apparatus for making personal computer cards nests side walls with side channels and end walls with end channels to close an enclosure of a personal computer card and then qualifies the dimensions of the closed enclosure by forming the nested walls and channels, preferably by impacting the nested walls and channels within forming dies, to attain the critical length, width and thickness prescribed for the personal computer card.

Abstract: A femoral preparation instrumentation system and method employs a multi-purpose sizing guide for placement at the distal femur, secured to an intramedullary alignment rod seated within the femur, enabling the determination of the appropriate size for the femoral knee prosthesis to be implanted and the setting of the axial rotational position of the femoral knee prosthesis, and providing for the accomplishment of preliminary posterior condylar cuts and the location of a distal femoral resection guide at the distal femur, while the sizing guide remains in place at the distal femur.

Abstract: A folding assembled article in the form of a toy airplane has a fuselage of paper folded along a longitudinal line, a paper wing assembled with the fuselage and movable between a folded configuration, wherein the assembly is flat for packaging purposes, and an erect configuration, wherein the wing is in an extended lateral position relative to the fuselage for flight, and a locking member for locking the wing in the extended lateral position against inadvertent return to the folded configuration.

Abstract: A cart provides facilities for handling and transporting a wide variety of equestrian equipment and supplies, including a saddle, tack containers, bales, packages and buckets, and includes a wheeled frame, a foot pivoted on the frame for retraction to a compact configuration and extension to support some of the items, a rack pivoted on the frame for retraction to a compact configuration and extension to support others of the items, and a shelf pivoted on the frame below the rack for retraction to a compact configuration and extension to support still others of the items.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing the concentration of solvent vapor in the drum of a drycleaning machine upon completion of a cleaning and drying operation, during which articles are cleaned in the drycleaning machine, the drycleaning machine being of the type having a drum, and a solvent recovery system communicating with the drum for recovering solvent from solvent-laden air circulated through the solvent recovery system and the drum during a drying and solvent recovery cycle, the apparatus and method including an arrangement for circulating solvent-laden air from the drum through the solvent recovery system during the drying and recovery cycle, and closing communication between the drum and the solvent recovery system during a post-recovery cycle, subsequent to the drying and recovery cycle, and then circulating solvent-laden air from the drum through an adsorption unit during the post-recovery cycle to reduce the concentration of solvent vapor in the drum to an acceptable level prior to accessing the dru

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting the presence of ultrasonic wave energy at a selected location within a volume of material provides a visual display indicative of the ultrasonic wave energy at the selected location, and certain characteristics of the detected ultrasonic wave energy, by coupling with the volume of material, at the selected location, a column of ultrasonic wave energy responsive fluid medium with ultrasonic wave energy responsive visible particles suspended therein so as to induce corresponding ultrasonic wave energy in the column whereby the particles are suspended in the column and are arranged in a visible pattern to establish the visual display indicative of the ultrasonic wave energy at the selected location.

Abstract: An improvement in a toy marking device of the type in which a writing tip is carried by a housing, and an oscillating mechanism in the housing is selectively actuated to impart oscillatory motion to the writing tip, the improvement including a visible display coupled with the oscillating mechanism for oscillation in response to actuation of the oscillating mechanism, the visible display including at least one visible element coupled with the visible display such that the visible element is excited by the oscillation of the visible display into movement providing a viewable changing effect during actuation of the oscillating mechanism.