Abstract: An interconnection is provided for a human body implant having a polymeric articular surface member supported by a substantially rigid, metallic base plate. Reversely tapered apertures in the supporting base plate enclose portions of the unitary polymeric surface member, which portions protrude past the general interface of the surface member and base plate.

Abstract: A binary interpolator circuit is embodied in an electronic musical instrument for producing a relatively smooth, inaudible transition between steps of different amplitude in a stepwise advancing or decreasing waveform, such as an envelope signal for a note from a percussive type instrument or voice such as a piano. The binary interpolator circuit includes a counter circuit for producing a sequence of stepwise changing binary coded signals and a combining circuit for combining the interpolating signals, in the sequence produced, with a binary coded scaling signal corresponding to the amplitude difference between the two points in the stepwise changing waveform between which interpolation is desired. A comparator circuit compares the interpolating signals, in the sequence produced, with the scaling signal and produces an output control signal for indicating whether the binary coded numbers corresponding to the respective interpolating and scaling signal are equal.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument develops digital pulses corresponding to electronic waves that are subsequently converted to audio sound such as by means of a loudspeaker. The musical instrument is provided a source of master frequency generated binary related numbers which act in conjunction with a read only memory, an adder, and a comparator, and also a counter, to control a J/K flip-flop to produce a pulse train output in which for any given cycle the starting time and duration of each pulse is controlled, thereby to determine the harmonic content of the electronic waves that are converted to audio sound.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fastener assembly comprised of a screw fastener member having a driver head, a threaded shank portion and an unthreaded shank portion intermediate the threaded shank portion and the driver head. The unthreaded shank portion also includes a protruding portion defining an effective diameter greater than the major diameter of the threaded portion. This portion is formed by rolling a groove into the unthreaded shank portion in such a manner as to provide an annular projection having a tapered surface portion. There is further included a helical compression spring member having at least one end portion formed to an inner diameter larger than the major thread diameter, but smaller than the diameter of the protruding portion of the unthreaded shank portion.

Abstract: A rotary card index system including a card carrying drum rotatably mounted on a support frame and a pivotal plate member mounted on said frame for movement to and from a retracted inoperative position and an operable position between adjacent cards for maintaining the adjacent cards in spaced relationship.

Abstract: A disposable urethral catheter assembly includes a flexible bag in which are defined a number of chambers. In an upper chamber, a catheter is contained in a sterile environment. When the catheter is inserted into the urethra, the fluid flows into the bag and into a lower sample chamber, excess fluid being collected in the upper chamber. After catheter use, a cannula plug seals a first barrier between the upper and lower chamber and thus isolates the sample in the lower chamber. The upper chamber, its contents and the catheter are discarded, and the lower sample chamber and its contents are sent to a laboratory for analysis and culture.

Abstract: In a modular, expandable organ system comprising a plurality of large scale integrated circuit (LSI) chips an LSI chip is provided which produces frequencies corresponding to notes played on an organ keyboard. Outputs of different duty cycles of rectangular waves are provided for best simulating desired sounds. Other outputs are provided in which the notes are in octave groups facilitating filtering thereof. Each group of outputs has different attack and decay characteristics respectively under the control of the organist so that similar or different types of attack and decay may be provided on different outputs.The present LSI chip provides three generators on one chip. The chips are capable of being interconnected such that any multiple of three generators may be provided.

Abstract: A ball valve unit for providing a fluid tight seal between a rotary valve member and its sealing components when in an open or closed position and which is adapted to permit a decrease in the sealing force to allow operation of the valve between the open and closed position. Said unit includes a body which defines a valve chamber and a pair of passages having openings communicating with the valve chamber on opposite sides thereof. An annular seal support is disposed about each opening and includes a substantially flat annular seal support surface. The seal support surfaces converge along a line equidistant from the surfaces in a first direction. A rotary ball valve member having a through bore for connecting the passages when in an open position is contained within the valve chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus utilized in conjunction with a wire galvanizing apparatus assures a bright finish on the coated wire. This method and apparatus includes passing the wire through a water quenching bath immediately following the emergence of wire from the molten zinc galvanizing bath of a conventional galvanizing apparatus. A pair of pressure pads grips the wire at its entrance to the water quenching bath for substantially sealing the water quenching bath against water leakage into the adjacent molten zinc galvanizing bath. A heating apparatus is directed at the wire prior to its entrance to the pressure pads to assure that the zinc coating is still in a molten condition as the wire enters the water quenching bath.

Abstract: A large scale integrated circuit chip is provided with internal tone generators and digital attack and decay features interconnected with external capacitors for controlling the attack and decay of tones. External diodes are wired to the chip and to the external capacitors and have a circuit completed by a damper switch. According to the position of the switch the capacitors will discharge slowly for long sustain of tones, or will discharge very rapidly through an additional discharge path on the chip upon key release to produce very rapid decay.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a lens case for supporting a pair of contact lenses in a liquid solution to be heated to an elevated temperature for effecting sterilization or disinfecting of the lenses. The lens case includes a generally cylindrical open ended container for housing the liquid, a cap for closing the open end of the container, and a lens holder arrangement for supporting the lenses to be sterilized. The cap includes means for supporting the lens holder and the lenses confined therein emersed within the liquid. Further, said cap includes a circumferential downturned annular flange that forms a recess within the cap to provide an air pocket and an area which provides an expansion chamber for the liquid. More specifically, upon assembly of the cap to a filled container, the air pocket will displace excess liquid from the container as the cap is assembled in place.

Abstract: An ammonium nitrate particle removal apparatus is joined with an exhaust gas flow of a nitrogen oxides abatement system as utilized in a nitric acid producing plant for removing ammonium nitrate particles carried in the gas flow. The apparatus includes a filter element for receiving the gas flow and substantially trapping the ammonium nitrate particles. Injection nozzles inhabit a conduit which delivers the exhaust gas flow to an inlet of the filter and inject a water mist into the gas flow which mist acts to irrigate the filter. As a result of this irrigation, the trapped ammonium nitrate particles go into solution and drop by the action of gravity to a tank or reservoir below the filter element, where the solution may be recovered for other uses as desired.

Abstract: A feeder for livestock and the like is disclosed. The feeder has a feed receiver body for receiving and storing a flow of feed from a conveyor. A drop tube means extends from the feed conveyor into the feed receiver body, and includes at least one wall mounted for vertical motion relative to a fixed wall. When the moveable wall is in a raised position, that moveable wall and the fixed wall define a vertically oriented opening through which feed can pass from the drop tube into the receiver body. By adjusting the position of the moveable wall, the amount of feed collected in the receiver can be correspondingly changed. When a stopper valve member is drawn away from a discharge opening, the feed pile collected in the receiver body is discharged from the receiver for livestock consumption. A stopper actuator includes a flexible member connected to the stopper valve, and a rotatable windup device connected to the flexible member.

Abstract: A brace is provided for treatment of acromioclavicular dislocations. The brace includes a bandage member or body swathe which encircles the thorax and the involved upper arm, a resilient force focusing member or shoulder pad located atop the distal end of the clavicle, and reduction straps disposed between said members which operate through semblant pulleys to afford immobilization of the acromion and a multiplied reductive force on the dislocated clavicle whereby to hold the acromioclavicular joint in location.

Abstract: A brake unit and a brake unit mounting and leveling device are disclosed. The brake unit includes a U-shaped brake housing and a first friction element affixed to one housing leg. A stator is carried at least partially within the housing and slides on brake mounting bolts which extend through the housing legs. The bolts also extend through a mounting bracket fixed to a vehicle axle housing. A leveler bracket is affixed to the mounting bracket and bears against one housing leg so as to tip the brake unit from a canted position to a position in which the brake friction elements are carried substantially parallel with the brake discs.

Abstract: A support rack adapted for suspending a flexible plastic bag having diametrically opposed handles in an open condition while simultaneously buttressing the bag to facilitate the loading of articles therein comprises a skeletal, open frame including back support means and confronting side support means for receiving a bag to be supported. The back and side support means are arranged to define a confinement boundary for the back and side panels of the bag and have dimensions generally corresponding to the height and width dimensions of the bag when opened. The rack further comprises bag suspending means carried by each side support means arranged to receive the bag handles for maintaining the bag in a suspended, opened condition. A rack mounting means projects rearwardly from the back support means and has pendant coupling means for mounting the rack along the top edge of a horizontally disposed support member.

Abstract: An automatic chord control system is readily incorporated in an electronic organ by means of large scale integrated circuit chips. The automatic chord control causes a chord or group of notes within an octave played on the lower manual keyboard to play through the upper manual voice in the octave below the lowest melody note being played on the upper manual keyboard. The proposed automatic chord control system has two operating modes. In the first mode, the notes transferred to the upper manual are generated in direct correspondence to the keys activated on the lower manual. In the second mode, the notes transferred to the upper manual are generated by a set of preset chords activated by single lower manual keys.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for inducing pitch stability in musical strings. A tensioned string is placed in a frictioning channel provided in the apparatus; and the apparatus is then caused to traverse the length of the string repeatedly to maximize the string elongation and tensional stability.