Abstract: A cable shield grounding clamp connector includes an outer plate for seating upon the insulating jacket of a shielded electrical cable and an inner plate for interposition between the inner core of insulated conductors of the cable and the shield of the cable, the outer plate being curved to conform to the outer diameter of the cable and the inner plate being resiliently deflectable relative to the outer plate so as to be urged toward conformance with the curvature of the outer plate upon clamping of the jacket and the shield between the outer plate and the inner plate, the inner plate having sharp-edged teeth arranged in longitudinal rows along laterally opposite edges of the inner plate for scraping away a corrosion-inhibiting coating on the shield in response to deflection of the inner plate to expose the shield for direct electrical contact between the inner plate and the shield.

Abstract: An elevator cab fire extinguishing system is carried by an elevator cab and is arranged to discharge a non-toxic fire extinguishing agent into the interior of the elevator cab in response to a fire in the elevator cab to extinguish the fire quickly and without harm to passengers and property present in the elevator cab, and includes controls responsive to the discharge of the fire extinguishing agent for automatically shutting down the ventilation fan of the elevator cab, sounding an audible alarm, and delivering the elevator cab to a designated egress level in the building within which the elevator cab travels.

Abstract: A cutting guide for guiding a saw blade during the preparation of a femur for the implant of the femoral component of a knee prothesis includes guide surfaces for enabling the cutting of all four of the anterior femoral cut, the posterior femoral cut, the anterior chamfer and the posterior chamfer, fully and completely, with certitude and accuracy, while the cutting guide remains located and secured to the femur in a single position on a transverse surface located along the distal femur.

Abstract: An acetabular cup has a shell component with an outer surface including a first spherical surface portion and a second spherical surface portion, and an acetabulum is prepared with an inner surface having a spherical configuration complementary to the second spherical surface portion of the shell component, the radius of the first spherical surface portion being slightly greater than the radius of the second spherical surface portion such that upon nesting of the second spherical surface portion of the shell component in contiguous relationship with the inner surface of the acetabulum, the first spherical surface portion engages the inner surface of the acetabulum in an interference fit to secure the shell component within the prepared acetabulum.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for decorating a surface of a tubular container with a decorating medium applied by a decorating device, at an area of transfer at the decorating surface of the decorating device, utilizing a single drive motor coupled with the container for registering the container for decoration and then effecting relative rotation and translation between the container and the decorating device, the drive motor being operated in a first mode of operation for accomplishing registration of the container relative to the decorating device, and then being operated in a second mode of operation in which the container is rotated at a rate related ratiometrically to the rate of translation to effect essentially rolling contact between the container and the decorating surface of the decorating device so that the relative velocity between the surface of the container and the decorating surface of the decorating device is maintained at zero at the area of transfer of the decorating medium.

Abstract: A stem-type femoral prosthesis has a distal tip with a fixation-resistant finish on the external peripheral surface of the distal tip so that the distal tip remains uncoupled from the femur upon implant of the prosthesis and during use. The distal tip is selectively removable and replaceable to enable a choice of size combinations in the joined stem and distal tip of the prosthesis for increased ease in the fitting of both the proximal and the distal portions of an appropriate prosthesis.

Abstract: A method and a wiper for reducing particulate contamination which otherwise might result from the use of the wiper in a controlled environment, such as that maintained in a cleanroom, the wiper being of the type constructed at least partially from a thermoplastic fabric material by severing the wiper along peripheral edges thereof from a sheet of such material having indeterminate dimensions, the method and the wiper providing a fused border in the material along the peripheral edges of the wiper and extending inwardly into the wiper a distance great enough to provide the fused border with sufficient area and sufficient tear-strength to maintain therein segments of the material of the wiper which otherwise might be released from the peripheral edges of the wiper during use of the wiper, yet small enough to maintain pliability and absorbency in the wiper for wiping procedures.

Abstract: A fluid motor actuator of the type in which an actuator member is moved in either one of two opposite directions from a rest position to an actuated position includes a fail-safe mechanism having compression springs coupled with the actuator member for compression of the compression springs in response to actuation of the actuator member in either of the two opposite directions for establishing a restoring force which, upon loss of motive power, will return the actuator member to the rest position and maintain the actuator member in the rest position pending restoration of motive power.

Abstract: An improvement in apparatus and method for measuring a prescribed volume of liquid by flowing the liquid into a reservoir and sensing the level of the liquid in the reservoir to determine when a known volume is reached places that level within a portion of the reservoir having a much-reduced cross-sectional area compared to the cross-sectional area of the remainder of the reservoir such that any inaccuracy in the sensing of the level to determine when the known volume is reached results in only a minimal deviation in the measured volume of liquid from the prescribed volume of liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for assisting in the removal of contents from an envelope by cutting an opening in the envelope along a first peripheral edge thereof, gripping the envelope along a second peripheral edge thereof opposite the first peripheral edge, penetrating the envelope with a picker to engage the contents, and moving the picker and the contents engaged by the picker in the direction transverse to the opening while the envelope is gripped and maintained stationary, the envelope being slit as a result of the lateral movement of the picker to permit the lateral movement of the picker and the corresponding movement of the contents engaged by the picker so as to move the contents partially out of the envelope, through the opening therein.

Abstract: Oral hygiene methods for reducing plaque and for the treatment of periodontal diseases of bacterial etiology by significantly reducing bacterial activity in the oral cavity through the inclusion of about 0.03% to at least about 10% by weight of a dried methanol extract of the perennial herb periwinkle in compositions and applying the compositions to the oral cavity.

Abstract: A support rail system for use in supporting individual components having different longitudinal lengths, such as audio and video home entertainment components, in a vertical stack of such components with the front panels of the components flush with one another, includes support rails for interposition between adjacent upper and lower components and having a longitudinal extent long enough to project beyond the rear of a longitudinally shorter component which supports a longitudinally longer component so that the longer component will be supported fully upon the support rail which, in turn, will be supported by the shorter component in a stable, aesthetically pleasing stack.

Abstract: A landfill compaction system and method reduces the volume of landfill at an existing landfill site by essentially sealing off at least a portion of the landfill and utilizing a source of vacuum to extract gases from the sealed-off portion of the landfill, the extraction taking place relatively rapidly so as to make use of the sudden impact of atmospheric pressure upon the sealed-off portion to assist in the compaction of the landfill.

Abstract: A wind shield for shielding an open-flame heater, such as an alcohol burner, used in connection with warm food serving apparatus, such as a chafing dish, includes first and second barrier walls joined together in a unitary L-shaped structure which is self-supporting along an edge thereof when placed adjacent the heater so as to provide a barrier against spurious drafts which otherwise might extinguish the flame of the heater.

Abstract: An amusement device includes a thin strip wound into a coiled configuration and selectively extendable axially into a tubular spiral configuration tapered from a larger end to a smaller end, the strip having a light-reflective arrangement for reflecting light radially inwardly such that upon viewing a patterned target through the tubular spiral configuration, from the larger end toward the smaller end, multiple reflected images of the pattern of the target on the inner periphery of the spiral configuration provide amusing novel optical effects.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing an investment casting from molten material by filling a cavity in a mold with the molten material utilizing at least one porous member in the inlet conduit system of the mold, the porous member enabling evacuation of the mold cavity, through the inlet conduit system and the porous member, and having a structure including pores small enough subsequently to support the molten material upon the porous member by surface tension, with the molten material closing off essentially all atmospheric communication between the inside and the outside of the mold cavity, to thereby prevent passage of the molten material into the mold cavity until the method and apparatus subsequently raises the pressure outside the mold to provide a higher pressure outside the mold cavity and create a differential pressure between the inside and the outside of the mold cavity sufficient to overcome the surface tension and urge the molten material to pass through the pores of the porous member and fill the

Abstract: A self-contained, portable dryer for use in drying articles of clothing includes a hanger bar with telescoping segments for selective collapse and extension, and a plurality of hangers stored within the telescoping segments and retrievable from within the hanger bar for erection and suspension from the hanger bar in one of two selectable configurations to accommodate the various articles of clothing ordinarily washed or rinsed out by travelers and hung out to dry at facilities available to such travelers.

Abstract: A flying toy includes first and second blade-like members which are packaged, shipped and stored unassembled in a flat, compact configuration and are erected readily into an assembled, bowed configuration suitable for flight in a return-flight pattern, the blade-like members being assembled by threading one member through slots in the other member, the slots being arranged so that the threading itself establishes forces in the members which secure the members together in the erected configuration and provide at least one of the members with the appropriate dihedral, when assembled, for stable flight of the flying toy through the return-flight pattern.