Abstract: A spacer for use in the centering of the far end portion of the stem of a prosthetic implant is molded of a synthetic polymeric material compatible with the cement employed to affix the prosthetic implant within the natural bone and includes a post for coupling the spacer with the stem, a flanged spacer portion for extending longitudinally and radially beyond the stem to engage the natural bone for centering the stem, and a reinforcing core extending longitudinally into the post and into the flanged spacer portion to reinforce the spacer against stresses to which the spacer is subjected, especially at a location between the post and the flanged spacer portion of the spacer, during implant and during subsequent curing of the cement.

Abstract: A prosthetic knee implant accommodates and enhances articulation in an anterior cruciate ligament deficient total knee replacement, throughout flexion and extension, by enabling relative axial rotational movement between the femoral component of the implant and the tibial component about an axis generally parallel to the tibia and passing through the lateral compartment of the implant for allowing anterior-posterior displacement of the medial condyle relative to the lateral condyle of the femoral component during articulation of the prosthetic knee implant between flexion and extension in an anterior direction during articulation from extension to flexion and in a posterior direction during articulation from flexion to extension.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting cap assemblies presented serially in a stream of random oriented cap assemblies, each cap assembly having a span between a leading edge and a trailing edge and an axis located intermediate the leading and trailing edges, the apparatus including a gate having opposite abutments spaced relative to the span and the axis of each cap assembly, and a rotor for advancing the cap assemblies through the gate such that a selected one of the leading edge and the trailing edge of each cap assembly will engage one of the opposite abutments as the cap assembly passes through the gate to turn the cap assembly into the desired orientation for delivery of a stream of uniformly oriented cap assemblies.

Abstract: A modular component for a prosthetic implant includes a first member, in the form of a tibial tray member, and a second member, in the form of a stem member, joined together by the insertion of a tapered post on the stem member into a tapered receptacle in the tibial tray member, the relative tapers and relative dimensions of the post and the receptacle being such that the inner surface of the receptacle is seated against the outer surface of the post at least adjacent one end of the receptacle and the corresponding end of the post, and a stabilizing mechanism urges annular segments of the post, adjacent the other end of the post, toward engagement with the inner surface of the receptacle adjacent the corresponding other end of the receptacle to stabilize the connection between the tibial tray member and the stem member.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance analyzing apparatus includes a sampling region; a first temperature stabilization assembly for maintaining the sampling region at a predetermined temperature; a magnet for applying a base magnetic field to the sampling region; a coil for applying a first 0.degree. phase excitation pulse to the sampling region at a first time, and a second 90.degree.

Abstract: A storage tray system includes a plurality of storage trays each of which has a receptacle bounded by vertical walls, each having an inner surface, and a lip extending along at least one of the walls of the receptacle and projecting upwardly to be engaged within a horizontal slot between two mounting plate portions of a mounting plate such that the lip is juxtaposed with one mounting plate portion, above the slot and behind the one mounting plate portion, and a wall of the receptacle abuts the other mounting plate portion, below the slot and in front of the other mounting plate portion, with the inner surface of the abutting wall essentially flush with the corresponding outer surface of the one mounting plate portion for unrestricted access to the receptacle and for an integrated, aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Abstract: A shoulder guard for a wire hanger is erected from a flat blank of card stock and includes a contour configuration complementary to a jacket to be hung on the hanger so that the jacket is draped appropriately over the shoulder guard, and an ornamental device in the form of a simulated bow-tie is placed on the shoulder guard so as to be located between the lapels of the jacket, when the jacket is hung on the hanger and draped over the shoulder guard, to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance, the relative contour configurations of the simulated bow-tie and the shoulder guard being such that the simulated bow-tie stands out in visible relief from the shoulder guard in response to erection of the shoulder guard.

Abstract: An enclosure for a personal computer card is constructed of a single sheet of material folded into confronting upper and lower enclosure members 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: An ultrasonic cleaning and drying machine and method in which batches of articles to be cleaned and dried are indexed along a path of travel which follows a compact loop through an ultrasonic cleaning and rinsing station, where the articles are cleaned and rinsed at a first location for a first predetermined timed interval, and a drying station, where the articles are subjected to drying at further locations for a second predetermined timed interval which is a multiple of the first predetermined timed interval, the further locations being equal in number to the multiple such that each batch of articles is cleaned and rinsed at the first location, and then is dried at each further location to complete the cleaning and drying along the compact loop and deliver a batch of clean and dry articles at the expiration of each first predetermined timed interval.

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 a first selected direction and to restrain movement in a second selected direction. 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: An articulated gravity feed module includes a curved chute for holding items for sale, the chute having a curved bottom wall with a radius of curvature decreasing from a rear portion to a front portion, and side walls connected with the bottom wall; a mounting assembly mounting the chute to a wall; a hopper for supplying items to the chute, the hopper including an elongated enclosure having an open upper end for restocking the items and an open lower end which is always open to the chute for depositing items on the chute, the elongated enclosure being formed by a rear wall, a front wall and interconnecting side walls, the rear wall having a lower portion with a radius of curvature similar to that of the rear portion of the bottom wall of the chute so that the lower portion of the rear wall rides along the rear portion of the bottom wall of the chute; pivot pins pivotally securing the hopper to the chute at a position above the chute, such that the hopper is pivotable between an upright dispensing position adj

Abstract: A batting training device includes a handle and a weighted member movable relative to the handle along a longitudinally extending rod in response to acceleration of the batting training device along a portion of a contact hitting swing so as to provide a visual indication to the batter, and to the batter's trainer, as to when the acceleration is made to occur along the portion of the swing appropriate to contact hitting.

Abstract: An improvement in a rheometer and the method for measuring rheological properties of a viscoelastic test specimen at different temperatures, at which different temperatures the viscoelastic properties exhibit a relatively wide difference, wherein the test specimen is placed between and is coupled with opposed plates, one of the opposed plates is oscillated angularly relative the other of the opposed plates, and the angular displacement of one of the plates relative to the other of the plates and the torque associated with the relative angular displacement are measured within an optimum range of torque and angular displacement for determining the rheological properties, couples a first contact area on one of the opposed plates with the test specimen when the test specimen is at one of the different temperatures, and couples a second contact area on the one of the opposed plates with the test specimen when the test specimen is at another of the different temperatures, the first contact area being different from

Abstract: A tibial component of a prosthetic knee implant has a tibial tray, a post extending axially downwardly from a generally laterally central location beneath the tibial tray, and a keel including flanges extending laterally outwardly from the post and making an angle with one another so as to be directed toward relatively denser portions of the bone of the proximal tibia, and a plurality of ribs extending axially along each flange and spaced laterally from one another along the flange for enhancing the affixation and stability of the tibial component when implanted in the proximal tibia.

Abstract: On-line rheological measurements are made utilizing a rheometer of the type in which a first metering pump delivers diverted melt from a process main stream to a capillary passage and a second metering pump returns the diverted melt from the capillary passage to the process main stream and the viscosity of the diverted melt is measured by controlling the rate of flow of the melt through the capillary passage to maintain constant the pressure drop between spaced apart locations along the capillary passage and measuring the temperature of the melt in the capillary passage. The measurements may be made while controlling the speed of the second metering pump independent of the speed of the first metering pump to maintain the pressure at the exit of the capillary passage essentially constant.

Abstract: An improvement in a lubrication adaptor for a marine steering system in which the lubrication adaptor is threaded onto a control cable housing and provides for the lubricated telescopic movement of a tubular member relative to the control cable housing, the lubrication adaptor having a chamber extending between a seal and a clearance between the tubular member and the control cable housing for containing lubricant, the improvement including a tapered, frusto-conical surface contour configuration along the inner surface of the chamber, the frusto-conical configuration being oriented with a smaller diameter adjacent the seal and a larger diameter adjacent the clearance for urging the lubricant in the direction away from the seal and into the clearance.

Abstract: A vertical blind structure includes a plurality of slats, each slat including an elongated, substantially rectangular, center panel having opposite longitudinal edges, a small thickness and a center longitudinal axis, each center panel being formed of a fabric structure including a plurality of weft yarns extending in the widthwise direction of the slat and a plurality of warp yarns which secure the weft yarns together and which extend in the lengthwise direction of the slat, first and second fringes formed at opposite longitudinal edges of each center panel, each fringe including a plurality of loose fibers which are formed as extensions of the weft yarns and which extend outwardly in the widthwise direction, past the outermost runs of the warp yarns, and which fan out from the longitudinal edges of the center panel such that the fringes have an outer longitudinal edge with a thickness greater than the thickness of the center panel, and a stiffening coating applied to only one side of each center panel; and

Abstract: An overhead pack dispensing apparatus includes a plurality of trays holding an extensive inventory of packs in an array of altitudinal stacks of packs with the lowermost pack of each stack in a field of lateral rows and longitudinal columns, the apparatus including a control system responsive to the selection of at least one pack, and a carriage carrying pickers for actuation by the control system to traverse the field and carry a picker for location beneath the selected pack such that a picker is located beneath at least one selected pack, enabling the selected pack to be picked from a stack and delivered by the carriage to a dispensing location.