Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for repositioning fallen loads. In particular, the device mounts on the fork lift and has a pair of crossbars mounted on the fork lift receiving tubes. The cross members have a height greater than the thickness of the crossbars on the rack system. The fork lift operator engages the bottom surface of the pallet load with the upper surface of the cross members and lifts the pallet load until it is clear of the crossbars whereupon the load is repositioned properly.

Abstract: A carrier for circuit boards and the like provides an adjustable, rigid, precision aligned structure having only three types of elements held together by a few screw fasteners. Rigidly straight glide plates have rows of partially punched out glide lugs which provide low friction, nonjamming insertion and removal of boards by automatic equipment.

Abstract: For operations in the prone sitting position, the novel kneeling attachment has a lower-leg platform from which one or a pair of posts project downwardly to rest against the floor to support the lower portion of the patient's body while his or her upper body is moved up or down relative to the buttocks by vertically moving the operating table. After thus adjusting the attitude of the patient's backbone, the lower-leg platform is locked, and the operating table can be moved to whatever height is most comfortable to the surgeon. The lower-leg platform of the kneeling attachment includes cushioning which is formed with two longitudinal channels that conform to the lower legs of a patient. A spacing between the lower-leg platform and the foot of the operating table leaves the kneecaps substantially unsupported, so that the patient's weight primarily rests on the tibial plateaus.

Abstract: A safety device is provided for removably fastening to a safety line a rope grab which contains both inertia and positive locking features. A roller is provided in angled guide tracks to provide an inertia locking effect while a pivot arm can bear against the roller to provide positive locking as well.

Abstract: A bone impactor consists of a single piece of lightweight metal which has a handle and a smooth shank, across the tip of which extends a working surface that forms a symmetrical cylindrical concavity that may be fitted against an excrescence, followed by striking the butt end of the handle to compress the excrescence into the bone to relieve pressure on a nerve. The edges of the working surface are radiused to minimize cutting. That bone impactor preferably is one of a set of four, the working surface of the second impactor being rectangular and that of the third being circular, while the handle and shank of the fourth impactor have a uniform, rectangular cross section.

Abstract: A fishing rod handle having a butt grip segment and a reel seat segment with both segments contoured to provide outwardly curved, laterally offset complimentary projections on one side of the handle in the area where the forwardly disposed reel seat joins the front end of the butt grip. The contoured projections merge to provide a continuous, smoothly contoured projection adapted to fit comfortably into the palm of the user's hand when palming the butt grip, reel, and reel seat. The curved palming grip projeciton, which may take the form of a partial helix, affords improved mechanical advantage towards resisting rod twisting. In combination with a rod blank extending through the reel seat segment and into the butt grip segment, strength, light weight construction, and sensitivity are achieved.

Abstract: An active human limb manipulation device utilizes a frame to which a carriage is slidably mounted for vertical movement. A sub-carriage is movably mounted to the carriage for horizontal movement and carries the limb of a patient along a predetermined path. Both carriage and sub-carriage are powered by a pair of rodless cylinders which are controlled by a computer control system which simulates normal walking movement so as to strengthen and stretch the limbs of a patient who otherwise lacks the strength and muscle tone associated with normal limb movement. The cylinders have yokes which are fixed to the carriage and sub-carriage and retained in position on the cylinders by a magnetic attraction. When the patient's resistance to movement reaches a predetermined level, the yoke will break the magnetic bonds with the cylinder piston so as to avoid overstressing the limbs of the patient. The yoke may be supplied with an electromagnet so that the magnetic attraction can be closely controlled.

Abstract: The invention shows a device for hanging bags to be filled. A fold-down arm with suction cups grabs the front bag of a vertically oriented stack of bags and folds the top portion of the bag down over a drum. The top edge of the bag is then registered at a predetermined position at which point a delivery and hanging arm removes the bag from the fold-down arm and hangs it on a spout which is movable between first and second positions. A Duplex system may be utilized wherein two sets of the above mentioned parts are located parallel to one another and which discharge filled bags concurrently into a sealing machine.

Abstract: A Taylor-type force-fulcrum retractor has a broad malleable band which is readily shaped by hand to fit any situation and yet holds that shape against forces that may be applied to pull the muscles away from the center of an incision. The force-fulcrum retractor is particularly useful in spinal surgery and may have a claw-like spike or spikes which penetrate the surface of a bone within the incision to establish an extraordinarily secure fulcrum.

Abstract: An overhead door including an upper door panel which is hingedly mounted to a horizontal header of a doorway and to a lower door panel. The door is moveable between a first, closed position wherein the door panels are vertically aligned and cooperate to close the doorway and a second, open position wherein the door panels are in a folded, generally horizontal, and parallel relation. Brace members are provided pivotally mounted to the upper door panel and adapted to engage the vertical door jambs when the door is in its second, open position to provide an angular support therebetween. The brace members are held by cables extending from the lower door panel allowing rollers located at the bottom edge of the lower door panel to engage and roll upon the vertical door jambs when the door is moved between its open position and adjacent to its closed position.

Abstract: An implantable penile prosthesis for overcoming male erectile impotence in the form of an elongated cylindrical device of malleable construction. The device is adapted to be implanted within the corpora cavernosa of the penis. A malleable rod capable of holding any shape to which it is bent is encapsulated within a cylindrical insert member made of biocompatible, flexible material. A thin walled sleeve of predetermined wall thickness may be positioned over the outside of the cylindrical insert member in covering relation thereto for adjustment of the outside diameter of the implant device. The cylindrical insert member tapers along its distal end section towards the distal end extremity of the device.

Abstract: A portable drum set is provided by utilizing a pre-tuned head which is clamped to an arcuate member. The arcuate member has a pair of floor-engaging legs on either side which are releasably clamped to the arcuate member. Other percussion instruments such as drums or cymbals may be mounted to the top of the arcuate member or the legs to provide a full kit. Also, a resilient pad is placed on the bottom surface of the bass drum pedal to help isolate the set and vibrations from the supporting surface. The clamps may be formed either of a resilient material such as rubber or may be formed of metal to rigidly clamp the pre-tuned head rim to the arcuate member.

Abstract: An intravenous drip rate control device includes a trough in the rear face of the housing for receiving intravenous tubing. The intravenous tubing is placed within the trough between and in functional communication with a pair of resilient bands. A cam driven by a reversible DC motor moves a lever between a first and second position. In the first position, a blade extending upwardly from the lever is capable of contacting and engaging the tubing and restricting the tubing opening. A tubing door is pivotable about the rear face of the housing between an open and closed position. In the closed position, a plastic material layer extending downwardly from the tubing door contacts and engages the tubing to restrict the tube opening and also provides support for the tubing when the blade applies an upward force on the tubing. The resilient bands ensure minimal "plastic flow" of the tubing and constantly resist the tendency of the side walls of the tubing to extend out and thus the tubing to flatten out.

Abstract: An improved fishing rod handle construction which is shaped to conform to the grip of the user. The handle is offset from the axis of the fishing rod. In addition, in one embodiment the handle is at an angle to the axis of the fishing rod. In another embodiment the handle takes a left-handed or right-handed helical form. The rod shaft runs all the way through the handle for greater strength and sensitivity than conventional offset handles. The handle provides a mechanical advantage over a straight handle in addition to greater comfort and conformity to the shape of the grip of a user.

Abstract: A wood burning furnace, positionable exterior to a home or trailer utilizes an improved heat exchanger with a chimney stack extending downwardly into the heat exchanger chamber to prolong the time interval in which smoke stays in the heat exchanger. A creosote removal blade is slidably mounted within the chamber to scrape creosote deposits from the inner periphery of the chamber and to direct it downwardly into the fire box for subsequent burning.

Abstract: A golf car apparatus (10) is disclosed. The golf car apparatus (10) includes a frame (12) supported off the surface of the ground by at least three wheels (14, 18), two of the wheels (14) being positioned near the back end of the frame (12) and being interconnected by an axle (16). DC batteries (22) interconnected to an electrical motor (24) are utilized to power golf car apparatus (10). A drive mechanism is interconnected to the electrical motor (24) and a differential mechanism (32) positioned near the center of the axle (16) interconnecting the two rear wheels (14). Foot support means is defined by said frame (12) on either side of said differential mechanism (32) and extend under the axle (16) for positioning of a user's feet such that when the user is standing on the golf car apparatus (10) the user's feet extend at least partially under the axle (16) so as to provide the golf car apparatus (10) with a low center of gravity and a center of gravity distributed between the front and rear wheels (18, 14).

Abstract: An intravascular endocardial lead includes an electrically insulated flexible conductor having a lumen throughout the length thereof. A hollow connector element is connected to the proximal end of the conductor, and a hollow elongate electrode is connected to the distal end thereof. A helix assembly is positioned in the electrode and is longitudinally but non-rotatably movable from a retracted position to an extended position. A stylet is inserted through the lumen of the conductor to move the helix assembly to the extended position. Thereafter, when the conductor, electrode and helix assembly are rotated as a unit about the stylet, the helix assembly will penetrate and positively attach the lead to the body tissue and urge the electrode into engagement with the latter.

Abstract: A stand is designed for holding a computer printer and in particular mounts the printer at right angles to conventional practice so that the platen of the printer runs front to back on the stand rather than side to side. Such an arrangement allows easier access to the printer. The stand is provided with a shelf below the top surface for storage of paper which is to be printed, and provision is made for a slot in one or both side walls to feed the paper upwardly and outwardly into the printer. Each of the two side walls is generally planar and imperforate with the exception of the slots for the aforementioned paper feed. A basket may also be provided for reception of the paper after printing.