Abstract: A heel piece of a safety binding for a ski boot, comprising a sole grip body (7) which is mounted on a stirrup piece (4, 5) articulated to a plate (3) which is in turn mounted so as to pivot on a base (2) mounted and immobilized on a rail (1) which is fixed to the ski. The heel piece is equipped with a ski brake (8) which is mounted on the base (2), in front of the pivoting plate (3) so that it moves with the base and remains at a fixed distance from the pivot axis.

Abstract: The heel piece of a safety binding for a ski boot, comprising a tubular binding body which is linked to a sole grip (1a) and is articulated about a transverse cam forming part of a stirrup piece linked to a pivoting plate mounted on a rail, along which rail this plate can be positioned by rear-operated positioning means. The body contains at least one spring which works in compression between a piston bearing on the cam and a stop linked to or consisting of a setting screw. The cam is formed in a cylindrical part which serves as a rotation pin for the body and has a flat extending parallel to the axis of said cylindrical part, with the piston bearing on this flat when the heel piece is closed. The cam has a second flat or a stop limiting the tilting of the binding body when the heel piece is being opened.

Abstract: An assembly for retaining a ski boot on a ski, snowboard, monoski, or the like includes a rear binding portion (1), such as a step-in rear binding. The rear binding portion (1) is supported on a body (2) having wings (10a, 10b) which are slidably received in a slide channel (7). The slide channel has slide surfaces (8a, 8b) which permit the binding body to slide longitudinally and overhanging edges (9a, 9b) which prevent the binding body from being lifted out of the channel. A rear piece (14) is removably mounted at the rear end of the channel such that a stop or abutment (11) limits rearward movement of the binding body (2). To facilitate cleaning and storage, a projection (17) on a resilient tongue (18) of the rear end piece (14) is depressed to disengage the rear end piece from an intermediate piece (13) to which the slide channel is mounted. Disengaging the rear end piece (14) permits it to be removed, which, in turn, permits the binding portion to be slid out of the end of the channel and removed.

Abstract: A transverse connector is provided that is useful for adding rigidity to a spinal fixation system employing a pair of generally parallel spine rods. The transverse connector includes a body portion with a longitudinal aperture for receiving a shaft of an adjusting arm such that the adjusting arm can slide into and out of the longitudinal aperture. The body and adjusting arm, while being in sliding engagement for adjustment of the length of the transverse connector, are secured to one another by a set screw threaded into a threaded aperture provided on the body portion. The threaded aperture is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal aperture so that the tip of the set screw will form an interference fit against the shaft of the adjusting arm. Each of the body and adjusting arm includes a clamping assembly consisting of a pair of clamp halves which cooperate to grip one of the spine rods. Each pair of clamp halves fastens to a different one of the spine rods.

Abstract: An alpine binding element equipped with a detachable ski brake (22) comprising a base (23) removably assembled with the binding element. The latter comprises a latch/spring assembly mounted in the base (3) of the binding element or in the rail carrying the body of the binding element, and the brake base (23) having a part (35, 36) interlocking with the latch/spring assembly in such a way that it is retained by the latch, which is itself held in the locked position by the spring.

Abstract: Jaw-type binding consisting of two arms (5, 6) which are mounted in order to pivot independently and forming a lever acting on the end of a rod (12), the other end of which is connected to a stop (14) which is secured to the rod and is retained by a spring (16) whose preload can be adjusted by moving the stop, on which there is an index (15) cooperating with a graduation (22) on a plate (20). The front end of this plate bears elastically (24, 25) against the body (3) of the binding, so as to follow movement of the rod when the boot is engaged, in such a way that the display of the preload of the spring is not modified by the engagement of the boot.

Abstract: A mounting for a ski binding including a runner (1) attached to the ski and a plate (2) slidably mounted on the runner and provided with a latch (3) that may be released by means of a lever (6) pivotably mounted under the plate (2) and extending through an aperture (10) therein. The lever and/or the plate are provided with an aperture sealing means for at least approximately sealing said aperture at least when the binding is in its operative position. The sealing means consists of, e.g., a rigid portion (11) and a flexible portion (13) of the lever.

Abstract: A bearing plate for a front binding, equipped with a member (8) for retaining the boot via a part of the sole (10) resting on the bearing plate (1), this bearing plate being compressible so as to adapt to the variations in thickness of the sole. The bearing plate forms a nonlinear system comprising an elastic body (12) which is precompressed on a rigid base (11) and opposes the deformation of the elastic body beyond a certain degree of deformation, so as to form a nonlinear system.

Abstract: The binding comprises a baseplate (1) intended to be fixed to the ski by screws (8). This is fitted with a detachable brake (6), mounted on the baseplate by a base (5) held on the baseplate by hooking (16, 17) and by a rotary assembly element. In the region of the brake base (5), the screws (8) for securing the baseplate (1) to the ski bear exclusively on the baseplate, and the base (5) has openings (12) making it possible to access the screws (8) using a screwdriver. The ski binding may be sold fully preequipped, and it can be mounted very quickly on a ski without it being necessary to remove the brake beforehand. When sharpening the edges, the brake can be removed without compromising the securing of the binding to the ski.

Abstract: A spinal fixation system utilizing grapple hooks comprising a lower hook attached to the lamina on the caudal-side of a vertebra and an upper hook attached to the lamina on the cranial-side of a vertebra. The hooks clamp the vertebra lamina in the center. Thus, the hooks clamp the lamina at the spinous process which is the strongest part of the lamina. Bolts are provided for attaching the lower hook to the upper hook to thereby attach the lower and upper hooks to the vertebra and clamps for attaching the lower and upper hooks to spine rods. A spinal fixation kit is provided with a plurality of uniquely configured fixation systems to assure satisfactory fit to any vertebra of any patient, and specially designed tools are preferably provided to aide in a method of implanting the systems thereby reducing the time required for implantation.

Abstract: A binding holds a ski boot in a releasable manner to a ski or the like. A jaw (3) is pivotally mounted on a body (2) around a transverse axle (4), such that it is rotatably movable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. The jaw (3) is held in a closed position by a biasing system. The binding also includes a loosening lever (11) pivotally movable around the transverse axle (4), such that it is movable from a position in which it extends towards the top, corresponding to the closed position of the jaw, and an open position in which it extends towards the rear, corresponding to the open position of the jaw. The biasing system includes a piston (6) which is longitudinally moved by action of a spring (7) pressing on a ramp (8,9) defined in the jaw (3). The piston is constrained at least toward the top by at least one restraining stub axle (14, 14a, 14b, 140, 140') jointed to the piston (16) at its upper end by an axle (12) and to the body (2) at its lower end by a transverse axle (15).

Abstract: A ski binding (1) is longitudinally positionable (PL) in relation to a runner (10) which is fixed to a ski (9). A lock (14) is moveable from a locked position (V1, FIG. 1) to an unlocked position (V2, FIG. 2) for selectively fixing and releasing the binding for longitudinal movement. A lever (26) cooperates with the lock to provide an upward thrust for unlocking the lock. The lever (26) extends rearwardly between side walls (320a, 320b) of a hollow housing (32).

Abstract: A toe piece for a ski safety binding includes a jaw having two lateral arms. The lateral arms pivot about a pin. The return and holding forces during the elastic travel are proportional to the triggering threshold. The useful elastic travel is independent of the triggering threshold. A lateral arm of a jaw exerts a moment on a lever which pivots. The lever is connected at one end to a spring. The triggering threshold is adjusted by altering the ratio of the distances between, on the one hand, the pivot of the lever and the point of contact between the spring and the lever and, on the other hand, the pivot of the lever and the point of contact between the jaw and the lever. The jaw acts on the lever through a movable part which is moved to adjust the triggering threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus for posting bills that includes a frame containing a window region. A transparent outer film is mounted in the window and coacts with a back film to establish a wallet that is open along one edge for receiving a bill therein. The window has apparatus associated therewith for securing and tensioning the wallet inside the window.

Abstract: Binding part comprising a fitted body (1) sliding along a support (2) fixed to the ski and pushing in the direction of the middle of the binding with the aid of a drive spring (11) supported against a bolt (19) and intended to keep the boot, through its compression, cramped between the front toe-piece and the heel binding. It comprises a visual check display of the compression of the drive spring, comprising an arm (24) connected kinematically to the mainstay (19) and a window (26) on the upper side or lateral side of said body in which said arm appears, preferably only in the event of the correct adjustment of the binding.

Abstract: A base intended to receive a ski binding thereon, said base comprising a slider (1) fixed to the ski, with a row of notches (4) parallel to the axis of the slider, and a fitted plate (5) sliding onto the slider, with a latch (6) engaged, by the action of a spring, in a notch of the slider, in such a way as to immobilize the plate on the slider, as well as a release lever (13). The latch (6) consists of a fitted part separate from the lever, sliding transversally to the plate, and the base also comprises a mobile element, like a shoe (16) which removes play between the plate and the slider, and may be moved to an active or inactive position by action on the release lever.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-profile screw-clamp assembly for use in spinal support fixation systems. The low-profile spinal fixation system comprises an anchor screw, a clamping assembly mounted on the anchor screw and a sleeve nut for attaching the clamping assembly to the anchor screw. The sleeve nut is substantially recessed into the clamping assembly, when the anchor screw and clamps are assembled. The present invention also relates to a locking mechanism, and method for making such a locking mechanism for locking the sleeve nut in place once assembled which comprises a crimp placed in a wall which forms the recess in the clamping assembly.

Abstract: A bone fusion mass constrainer is useful for promoting fusion between a pair of adjacent vertebrae. The bone fusion mass constrainer includes a generally cylindrical cage assembly having an internal cavity with open top and bottom surfaces. The cage portion is intended to be positioned in contact with the cancellous bone of the adjacent vertebrae. A pair of horizontal platforms extend out from the cage assembly and provide support for the vertebrae by contacting the harder cortical bone of the endplates of the vertebrae. Bone graft is inserted into the cavity where it contacts the cancellous bone of the adjacent vertebrae and promotes fusion between the two vertebrae. An end cap is provided over the proximal opening of the cage assembly to prevent migration of bone graft out from the cage.

Abstract: A cervical spine fixation system is described. The fixation system comprises a bone screw for implanting in the cervical vertebrae of the spine and for accommodating a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly comprises a rod receiving aperture which is angularly oriented a predetermined amount from perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of the bone screw.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spinal fixation system. The system comprises a screw for pivotally attaching a bolt to a vertebrae to be treated. A pivot block is threaded onto the bolt to move the pivot block up and down the bolt. A rod is secured at each of its ends to vertebrae on either side of the vertebrae to be treated and a clamp block is attached to the rod and the pivot block to thereby allow the pivot block to push, pull or rotate the vertebrae to be treated.