Abstract: A method of inserting a guide pin into tissue including inserting into the tissue a device having a cannula disposed longitudinally therein, a shank, and a tip. A guide pin movably disposed in the cannula and having a shank end proximal to the shank of the drill bit and a tip proximal to the tip of the drill bit. A retaining means associated with at least one of the drill bit and the guide pin for permitting the releasable retention of the guide pin in the cannula by means of adjustable force exerted on the guide pin by the drill bit.

Abstract: An internally-mounted apparatus for high speed oil changes, pre-lubrication and engine cleansing/flushing is disclosed. The apparatus is specially designed to be easily configured as necessary to perform the above-mentioned operations. The apparatus includes a valve and a reversible pump coupled between the oil drain opening and a multi-way valve. The multi-way valve can be configured such that 1) old oil can be pump out of the engine and into an external storage container, 2) out of an internally-mounted new oil container and into the engine, and 3) from the oil drain opening to an oil fill opening for purposes of circulation. The pump and the valves can be electronically-controlled for operator convenience.

Abstract: A drill press is provided for use in conjunction with a three dimensional stereotaxic manipulator. The drill press includes a body carried by a movable member of the manipulator wherein the body has upper and lower segments and at least one guide shaft extending between the segments. A slide which carries a drill for forming skull openings is driven by a dial cord drive. The dial cord extends around a drive shaft so that rotation of the drive shaft by a handle causes the slide to move upwardly and downwardly to safely and quickly accomplish the formation of a skull opening in a small animal typically used in brain research.

Abstract: A bone block drill guide and a method for preparing a bone plug and tendon graft in which the bone block drill guide is used in drilling a hole through the bone plug. A harvested bone plug and tendon graft is inserted into a trough in a bone block drill guide. A drill bit is inserted through a hole in a drill guide member to accurately drill a hole in the bone plug supported in the trough below. The bone block drill guide may have a plurality of troughs of different widths. A drill guide member has a hole therethrough for guiding a drill bit. The drill guide member is aligned with a trough so that the hole in the guide member is aligned with the hole in the bottom surface of the trough.

Abstract: A jewelry rope chain having tightly interfitting links made of wire of a given cross-section, each link having a small gap formed therein, so as to enable one of said links to pass through the gap of a second link, said links being intertwined to fit tightly one against the other and form in-outward appearance a double helix, the improvement comprising each link having a wire cross-section including a major axis defining a longer dimension and a minor axis defining a shorter dimension, said longer dimension being in the plane of the link and the shorter dimension being perpendicular thereto, the ratio of said longer dimension to said shorter dimension being greater than 1.3:1 but less than 3:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fishing system in which one end of a fishing line is attached to a remotely controlled miniature boat powered by two propellers and controllable from a control point. The boat is connected to the control point by a fishing line as well as by a control link. At the rear end of the boat a rigidly mounted tail extends from the boat to provide a point for the attachment of the fishing line at or near the water's surface and clear of the propellers. A plurality of separate lines having hooks may be attached to the fishing line with hangers. A plurality of horizontally dispersed hooks may thus be set to catch fish over a wide area.

Abstract: A flats singulation apparatus includes a input buffer section having a substantially horizontal ramp which is adapted to support thereon a stack of flats mailpieces on edge. The buffer section includes a moving belt and ram plate for moving the stack of flat pieces toward the front end of the ramp. A transfer section is at the end of the ramp and is adapted to remove the flat pieces substantially one at a time from the ramp and drop them downwardly. The transfer section includes a plurality of edge rollers extending across the end of the ramp and adapted to move the flat pieces from the stack, and a ledge plate extending downwardly from the edge rollers and having a horizontal ledge onto which the flat pieces drop. A pusher shelf is movable across the ledge to push the flat pieces off of the shelf. A separation section extends substantially horizontally across the end of the transfer section and includes means for moving the flat pieces away from the transfer section and separating flat pieces.

Abstract: Multiresolution (pyramid) filtering is useful in image processing. An IC for implementing a variety of multiresolution filters includes a programmable, symmetric, and separable two-dimensional filter. The input signal to the filter can be an input signal applied to the IC or a combination of two such signals. Circuitry in the IC may be programmed to imply pixel values around the edges of the two-dimensional image signals processed by the filter. The filter provides an output signal as well as each of the unfiltered signals from a tapped delay line of a filter that combines successive lines of the image. The IC also includes an arithmetic and logic unit in which the filtered output signal may be combined with an unfiltered input signal or one of the unfiltered tap signals. If the filter is programmed to produce a Gaussian low-pass filtered image, this image, combined with image data from a center one of the filter taps produces a Laplacian function of the original image.

Abstract: A crane claw tilt switch in addition to a cable tension switch is used to prevent a crane claw from becoming entangled in its suspending cable. When the claw lands on the floor or some other object, it either comes to rest or starts to tilt. If it comes to rest, further lowering creates cable slack, operating the tension switch. If it starts to tilt, the tilt switch operates before the claw tilts enough to allow an arm of the claw to catch on the cable. In response to the operation of either switch, a system processor commands the claw to automatically raise, ensuring that it does not become entangled in its cable.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence of a golf ball G in a ball-receiving cup comprising a flag pole 1 having a tubular lower portion 2 dimensioned to be received within a standard ball-receiving cup C and supporting four photointerruptors each comprising an infrared emitter 5 and a corresponding photodetector 5A, with the beams from the emitters 5 passing through opening 6 in the tubular portion 2 and being spaced at 90.degree. intervals around the periphery of the tubular portion 2 so that the four quadrants of the cup C are within the fields of the photointerruptors. When a golf ball G enters the cup C, the infrared beam from one of the emitters 5 is reflected from the surface of the golf ball G and i s received by the corresponding photodetector to cause a change in the state of the photodetector which in turn causes a display 3 to be illuminated to indicate that a golf ball G has ended the cup C.

Abstract: A plant support device for supporting plant stems and fencing which includes a support member having serrated rib structures extending the longitudinal length of the support member and hole slots located adjacent to the rib structures which provide a location to attach plant clips or fencing to the support member. An extension member is provided which telescopically inserts into the support member to easily lengthen the plant support device. Various plant clips are provided which attach to the plant support device to support plant stems and fencing.

Abstract: An athletic shoe which includes a timing device for measuring the amount of time the athletic shoe is off the ground and in air. The athletic shoe can also include a notification device which can be operatively coupled to the timing device for notifying a wearer of the athletic shoe of a message. The message can include information related to the amount of time the athletic shoe is off the ground and in the air.

Abstract: The invention is a protection circuit for an integrated circuit which includes an SCR switch, a zener diode in parallel with the SCR to trigger the SCR to its on-state, and a zener diode in series with the SCR controls the on-state or clamping voltage of the SCR. The protection circuit is formed in a semiconductor substrate of first conductivity type having a well region of second conductivity type, a first region of first conductivity type in the well and a second region of second conductivity type in the substrate spaced from the well region. The first region, well region, substrate and second region forming the SCR. A third region of second conductivity type is in the well region and contacts the first region to form a first zener diode. A fourth region of second conductivity type is in the substrate and electrically connected to the well region. A fifth region is in the substrate and contacts the fourth region to form a second zener diode.

Abstract: A braking system for a pair of in-line roller skates has a single hand-operated hydraulic actuator which is coupled through a Y coupling to a hydraulic brake assembly on each of the skates for applying braking force simultaneously to opposite sides of a roller on each of the skates. Each hydraulic brake assembly includes a rod extending longitudinally above the rollers to which is connected at least one resilient expander bow, each end of which contacts an engagement caliper. Two engagement calipers are hingedly mounted on the skate housing to apply frictional pressure simultaneously to generally opposite sides of each of the rollers on each of the skates.

Abstract: A shrub rose having full, double, bright yellow flowers; moderately strong, sweet fragrance; repeat flowering; and bushy growth.

Abstract: A shrub rose having full, double, orange/yellow flowers, repeat flowering, and bushy growth.

Abstract: A shrub rose having red-purple, old-fashioned-shaped flowers; spreading growth; and repeat flowering.

Abstract: A shrub rose having large, fully double rosette flowers that are repeat flowering, generally pale pink in color, the color of the petals varying on each flower.