Abstract: A holder for use with a support member and an oral suction device having a distal end for suctioning a patient's oral cavity. The holder includes a sleeve having an interior and an entrance opening communicating with the interior; and a mount for mounting the sleeve to the support member so that the distal end of the oral suction device can be inserted into the sleeve after the sleeve is mounted to the support member.

Abstract: A method of and instrumentation for implanting a spherical prosthesis in a joint between a first bone and a second bone. The method includes the steps of exposing a joint between a first bone and a second bone; forming a semispherical cavity in the proximal surface of the first bone; forming a semispherical cavity in the distal surface of the second bone; and inserting a spherical prosthesis into the semispherical cavities in the proximal surface of the first bone and in the distal surface of the second bone.

Abstract: In combination, a self-supporting module of fibrous material and a cover.

Abstract: An external Colles' type fracture fixator which provides pivotal adjustment about three axes independently of one another and of any other movement thereof, and translational adjustment along two axes independently of one another and of any other movement thereof.An external alignment table which allows translational adjustment along a three axes independently of one another and of any other movement thereof, and pivotal adjustment about two axes independently of one another and of any other movement thereof.A method of externally manipulating, reducing, and stabilizing a fracture using such an external fixation alignment table and external fixator.

Abstract: A multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus comprising a base and a camera mechanism having a first camera and a second camera, with the second camera including a zoom mechanism for varying the zoom magnification of the second camera. The apparatus further has a pan-and-tilt mechanism for moving the cameras with respect to the base, and a video switch receiving the video outputs of the cameras and selecting one for view. The first camera is viewed while the camera mechanism is moved from one scene to another and the second camera is viewed while the camera mechanism is not moving and is paused for observation of a scene. A programmable controller controls the camera mechanism and the pan-and-tilt mechanism, and, while the camera mechanism is moving from one scene to another and the output of the first camera is being viewed, causes the zoom magnification and focus of the second camera to become set to the desired zoom magnification and focus for the next scene position.

Abstract: An article of footwear for being worn on a wearer's foot as the wearer steps on a support surface. The article of footwear comprises a sole member having an upper surface for supporting the sole of the wearer's foot, a lower surface, a heel end, and a toe end; and a heel mechanism attached to the heel end of the sole member; the heel mechanism including a first plate for attachment to the lower surface of the sole member adjacent the heel end thereof, the first plate having a first end and a second end; the heel mechanism including a second plate having a first end attached to the first end of the first plate and a second end normally urged away from the second end of the first plate; the heel mechanism including lever structure associated with the second plate for urging the second end of the second plate toward the second end of the first plate when the wearer of the article of footwear takes a step.

Abstract: A golf club support for raising a golf club grip above a golf green or fairway. The golf club support comprises an elongated support member having a distal end. The support member is hingedly attached to the golf club shaft intermediate the golf club head and the golf club grip. The support member is moveable between a first position, in which the distal end of the support member is remote from the golf club shaft so that the golf club grip is supported above the golf green or fairway, and a second position in which the distal end of the support member is proximate the golf club shaft. The golf club support includes a coiled spring for biasingly urging the support member to the second position when the golf club grip is not being supported above the golf green or fairway.

Abstract: A multipurpose pregnancy and labor timing device for use by expectant parents during the gestation, labor, and birth of their child. The timing device includes an output device for conveying a plurality of datum to a human ovserver. The datum conveyed may represent a current time, day and date, an expected date of birth of the child, an estimated elapsed time period since the conception date of the child, an estimated time period until the birth of the child, the count of contractions experienced by a woman undergoing the process of labor, the time interval between contractions, the duration of a contraction, and the actual time and date of the birth of the child. The timing device also includes a nonvolatile memory for storing at least some of the plurality of datum, a data selection device for selecting at least some of the plurality of datum for conveyance by the output device, and a data initialization device for initializing the first datum and the second datum.

Abstract: An improved disinfectant dispensing and fragrance diffusing apparatus for dispensing a liquid disinfectant. The disinfectant dispensing and fragrance diffusing apparatus has a first portion including a container and a delivery mechanism. The container is for holding the liquid disinfectant, and the delivery mechanism is for delivering the liquid disinfectant from the container into a toilet bowl or urinal. The improvement comprises a second portion including at least one object having a particular fragrance and an attachment mechanism for removably attaching the object to the first portion. The attachment mechanism can removably attach more than one object to the first portion so that the intensity of the particular fragrance can be varied. The particular fragrance is diffused into the air adjacent the toilet bowl or urinal.

Abstract: A lampshade assembly that includes only three parts, namely, a pleated lamp shade formed as a continuous resilient band having a plurality of notches in the pleat folds that extend inwardly towards the center of the band, a flexible member extending through apertures adjacent one end of the band, and a rigid support including a ring. The method of forming the lampshade assembly by the customer includes the one step procedure of moving the rigid support into the interior of the band and towards the flexible member until the ring of the support snaps into place in the notches. In the formed lampshade assembly, the ring pushes outwardly against the opposing inwardly directed force of the resilient band to hold the band, in conjunction with the flexible member, in a position in which the lampshade flares downwardly and outwardly.

Abstract: A combination of a die lubricant source, a feedtube, and a nozzle assembly, as well as a method of using the combination to cool and/or lubricate a die. The die lubricant source supplies a plurality of bursts of a metered amount of a die lubricant to a feedtube bore. The nozzle assembly includes a removable barrel having a barrel bore therethrough and a removable atomizing spray tip having a spray tip bore therethrough. A posterior end of the barrel bore communicates with the feedtube bore and an anterior end of the barrel bore communicates with the spray tip bore. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the barrel bore divided by the cross-sectional area of the spray tip bore is not less than 2.5, and the cross-sectional area of the barrel bore is preferably not greater than the cross-sectional area of the feedtube bore.

Abstract: An adjustable foundation for use with a bed frame. The foundation includes a base part and an adjustable head end part. One or preferably a pair of improved hinges hingeably attach the head end part to the base part. Each of the hinges includes a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate pivotally connected to the first mounting plate, a hinge latch, a trigger pivotally attached to the hinge latch, and a catch fixedly attached to the second mounting plate. During the raising of the head end part the catch enters a selected one of the notches in the lower edge of the hinge latch to hold the head end part at a selected fixed raised position. When it is desired to lower the head end part the head end part is raised beyond the highest fixed raised position, which causes the catch to engage a trigger notch wherein the trigger establishes a lowering position for lowering the head end part.

Abstract: A punctal occluder for blocking the flow of lacrimal fluid from the surface of an eye through a lacrimal punctum. The punctal occluder includes a shank having a distal end for insertion into the lacrimal punctum; and a distal flange attached to the distal end of the shank for insertion into the lacrimal punctum; the distal flange including a wing portion having a first position extending substantially along the shank for allowing easy insertion of the distal flange into the lacrimal punctum, and having a second position extending substantially outward from the shank for hindering unintentional removal of the distal flange from the lacrimal punctum.

Abstract: A linear motion to rotary motion converter. A moving cam carrier reciprocates with respect to a rotating turntable having a plurality of fingers, preferably roller bearings, secured to and extending from the turntable parallel to the axis of rotation of the turntable and radially spaced from the axis. The number of rollers extending from the turntable determine the number of indexed stop positions of the turntable. The cam carrier has two movable cams and also has two retaining members that are attached to the cam carrier and respectively spaced from the movable cams so as to define channels, between the respective pairs of movable cams and retaining members, through which the roller bearing fingers of the turntable are constrained to move. The curvature and shape of the channels determines the velocity profile of the turntable as the cam carrier reciprocates.

Abstract: A grill for using combustible material to cook food items. The grill includes a body member defining a compartment and having a primary opening; a hood member for selectively covering the primary opening of the body member; a grate member mounting within the compartment of the body member for supporting the food items; a fire box for holding the combustible material; an ash pan for holding ashes produced when the combustible material held by the fire box is burned; a framework for holding the fire box and for holding the ash pan a fixed distance below the fire box; and a lifting mechanism for selectively moving the framework toward and away from the grate member, and for moving the fire box and the ash pan toward and away from the grate member with the ash pan held a fixed distance below the fire box.