Abstract: An apparatus for allowing a user to hold a device, such as a gun, steady while pointing that device at a target. The apparatus includes a base; attachment structure for attaching the base firmly against a portion of the user's body; and a rod attached to the base for being held by the user against or relative to the device.

Abstract: An adjustable depth patella recessing guide and method for guiding a cutting tool to recess the posterior surface of a patella. The guide includes a body having a first end for engaging the posterior surface of the patella, having a second end, and having a bore extending between the first and second ends for allowing the cutting tool to pass therethrough. A depth gauge is mounted within the bore of the body for movement in a direction between the first and second ends of the body. The depth gauge includes a stop for stopping the cutting tool. A lock mechanism is provided for locking the depth gauge to the body.

Abstract: An anchor for anchoring the post of a basketball goal to a container. The anchor includes a portion of a vehicle tire that has been modified so that the tire has been severed transversely to provide a pair of ends and a major portion of the sidewalls of the tire have been removed to provide partial sidewalls respectively having holes therethrough adapted to receive the post of a basketball goal. A tightener extends between the pair of ends for selectively drawing the ends together to tighten the anchor around a container. A modified embodiment includes a tire of a right size to snugly fit around a container or a portion thereof and the tire is complete except for aligned holes respectively in the opposite sidewalls of the tire and adapted to receive the post of a basketball goal. A specially designed container is disclosed that is adapted to be used with the modified embodiment.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for driving and rotating a prosthesis of the type having a stem for implanting into a bone, and a neck extending from the stem. The surgical instrument includes a shaft having a first end for engaging the prosthesis, having a second end, and having an axis between the first and second ends; and a bracket adjustably attached to the shaft so that the relative position between the shaft and the bracket can be adjusted, and for gripping the neck of the prosthesis so that force applied along the axis of the shaft toward the first end of the shaft will drive the prosthesis into the bone and so that rotational force applied to the axis of the shaft will rotate the prosthesis.

Abstract: A cover for protecting at least a portion of a compressed module of fibrous material from wind, rain, etc. The cover includes a cap; a first hanger member secured to a first side wall member of the cap at a point slightly below a top member of the cap; a second hanger member secured to the first side wall member of the cap at a point slightly below the top member of the cap and spaced from the first hanger member; a third hanger member secured to a second side wall member of the cap at a point slightly below the top member of the cap; a fourth hanger member secured to the second side wall member of the cap at a point slightly below the top member of the cap and spaced from the third hanger member; and strap means extending through the first and second hanger members parallel to the top of the module, through the third and fourth hanger members parallel to the top of the module, and around first and second end walls of the module at a spaced distance below the hanger members.

Abstract: An intramedullary implant including an elongated body, a first groove in the body for varying the geometric stiffness of the body; and a second groove in the body for varying the geometric stiffness of the body. The first and second groove have varying cross-sectional shapes whereby the geometric stiffness of the body can be optimized.

Abstract: A fishing reel cover for covering a fishing reel including a first side member, a second side member, and a rotatable spool extending between the first and second side members with each of the first and second side members having an outer perimeter wall. The fishing reel cover includes a flexible body member for extending around the outer perimeter walls of the first and second side members of the fishing reel and for covering the rotatable spool of the fishing reel.

Abstract: A garden seeder having a seed hopper atop an elongated barrel, a seed dispenser for dispensing a metered volume of seeds from the hopper into the barrel, a resting plate secured transversely to the bottom of the barrel for resting placement upon the ground, and a seed dispensing foot below the resting plate. The resting plate includes a hoe blade portion extending outwardly from the barrel. Seeds pass down the barrel from the seed dispenser, out the dispensing foot, and into the ground. A measurement arm may extend outwardly from the lower end of the barrel to space newly-planted seeds from previously-planted hills. The seed dispenser includes a sliding plate having interchangeable metering insert plugs that are removably inserted into a seed metering hole in the sliding plate, so as to define a selectable metered volume of seeds to be dispensed with each operation of the seed dispenser.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an instrument for surgically implanting a grommet for a flexible small bone joint replacement prostheses, such as a finger joint, is provided. The instrument includes a handle having a central axis with opposed proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end of the handle is configured with a first connection portion. A head having opposed proximal and distal portions includes a base extending axially from the distal portion, the proximal portion of the head being configured with a second connection portion for releasable engagement with the first connection portion of the handle. A post protrudes distally from the base and includes a cross section which is tapered in a distal direction from a thicker portion at the intersection of the post with the base toward the tip of the post. The taper of the stem portion is adapted for mating with the grommet to be implanted into the medullary canal of bone.

Abstract: An agricultural sweep for being attached to a tractor for pulling the agricultural sweep across the ground. The agricultural sweep incudes a ground engaging portion having a cutting edge for cutting through the ground as the sweep is pulled across the ground; a stem portion for attaching the ground engaging portion to a tractor; and an extended wear portion applied to the stem portion for rendering the stem portion resistant to abrasion.

Abstract: An anti-carjacking circuit for disabling a motor vehicle after the driver of the vehicle has been unwillingly forced to exit the vehicle. The circuit includes: a sensor for sensing the exit of the driver, as by detecting the opening of the seat belt or, alternatively, the opening of the seat belt together with the driver's door; a latching memory such as a relay, responsive to the sensor, for recording the exit of the driver from the vehicle while the motor of the vehicle is powered; a delay circuit such as a comparator sensing the voltage across a capacitor charged by a resistor, responsive to the latching memory and startable thereby, for indicating the passage of a predetermined period of time after the starting thereof; and a disabling circuit, such as a relay, responsive to the indication by the delay circuit of the passage of the predetermined delay period, for disabling the motor of the motor vehicle as by breaking the ignition coil's circuit and possibly sounding an alarm.

Abstract: In combination, a flow control bypass basin for receiving rainfall runoff water from a surface, an immiscible liquids separator downstream of the bypass basin, and a drain. The bypass basin passes the initial, dirty and oily, portion of the rainfall runoff to the separator and bypasses subsequent runoff water instead to the drain. The bypass basin includes a tank, an inlet in communication with the tank's interior, a primary outlet from the bypass basin to the separator, and a bypass outlet from the bypass basin to the drain, with the bypass outlet being located a substantial height above the primary outlet. Interposed between the bypass outlet and the interior of the tank is a riser tube having a mouth disposed in the lower portion of the tank and an upper end closed to the interior of the tank but open to the bypass outlet.

Abstract: Instrumentation for positioning a cut guide to cut a posterior slope in the tibial plateau surface of a tibia. The instrumentation includes an intramedullary alignment guide for engaging the tibia, and a rotational alignment guide for providing a guide for the insertion of a rod portion of the intramedullary alignment guide into an intramedullary bore in the tibia with the intramedullary alignment guide rotationally aligned with the intramedullary bore so that the longitudinal axis of a handle portion of the intramedullary alignment guide is angled posteriorly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rod portion and the longitudinal axis of the intramedullary bore as the rod portion of the intramedullary alignment guide is inserted into the intramedullary bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in combination with a gurney, an X-ray transparent backboard and an X-ray cassette for allowing the backboard to be coupled to the gurney and for allowing the X-ray cassette to be coupled to the backboard. The apparatus includes an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a lower side for engaging the gurney, and an upper side for supporting the backboard; and slide structure coupled to the body for holding the X-ray cassette and for allowing the X-ray cassette to be moved back and forth along the body so that X-rays can be taken of a patient supported by the backboard without requiring the patient to be moved relative to the backboard.