Abstract: A suture locking fastener for surgical procedures. The one piece plastic molded fastener features a plurality of triangular-shaped leaves that are attached to a base. At least one of the leaves is attached to the base using a flexible hinge section thus permitting that leaf to articulate with respect to the base. The leaves are positioned at a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal that is at least 30 degrees, and, preferably, 45 degrees which permits a suture, either a thread or a plastic filament, to be held securely without deforming or cutting into it.

Abstract: A spark plug with an insulating body held in a casing and containing an inner electrode is provided with a force-measuring element for measuring the pressure acting on the spark plug, the insulating body resting against the casing via the force-measuring element when pressure is applied in an axial direction. To prevent the entrance of noise signals an axially-elastic sealing element is provided on a side adjacent to the combustion space, the sealing element additionally lending radial support to the insulating body resting against the casing of the spark plug.

Abstract: A method and system of adaptive channel allocation in a frequency division multiplexed system is provided. In the method and system a subset of M subcarriers is chosen from a larger set of N subcarriers available for communications on a link. As communications take place on the link, signal quality (C/I) measurements on the subcarriers of the subset of M subcarriers and interference (I) measurements on the subcarriers of the group of N subcarriers are periodically performed. The C/I and I measurements are then used to reconfigure the subset of M subcarriers to reduce co-channel interference on the link.

Abstract: The invention concerns a transport and storage container for package freights, the aim of the invention being to permit such freight material to be removed from containers through an opening in the side even when the containers are stacked one on top of the other. Disposed in one of the side walls (4) or face walls (6, 7) is a flap (8) the height of which is less than the height (16) of the opening by an amount at least equal to the vertical width of a mounting slot (13) in which the flap is mounted. The flap (8) is mounted by means of bearing pins (9) which fit in mounting slots (12, 13) so that it can move vertically and pivot and so that it can be locked in place in the opening by means of locking pins (10, 11). The container proposed also meets the requirements for ease of recycling by virtue of the fact that only a single material is use in its construction.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for the oxidation of alkanes to alcohols and for decomposition of hydroperoxides to alcohols utilizing new compositions of matter, which are metal complexes of porphyrins. Preferred complexes have hydrogen, haloalkyl or haloaryl groups in meso positions, two of the opposed meso atoms or groups being hydrogen or haloaryl, and two of the opposed meso atoms or groups being hydrogen or haloalkyl, but not all four of the meso atoms or groups being hydrogen. Other preferred complexes are ones in which all four of the meso positions are substituted with haloalkyl groups and the beta positions are substituted with halogen atoms. A new method of synthesizing porphyrinogens is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a folding box with self-adhesive seal and a method for sealing the folding box. The folding box has a cover (6) which can be locked in the sealing position at one of its free edges by a mechanical locking (10, 11), flaps (14, 15) that can be folded in under the cover, and contact adhesive strips (17) with covering strips (19) able to be pulled off, for gluing the cover (6) together with the flaps (14, 15). The covering strips (19) have at their free end a tab (19a) that protrudes from the closed folding box. By pulling on the tab (19a), the covering strips (19) can be pulled out laterally under the cover (6) locked in sealing position, in order to glue the cover (6) together with the flaps (14, 15). On perforated tear lines (23), the middle section of the cover (6) can be opened again, without having to undo the adhesive connection in doing so.

Abstract: An air cooler including a housing having an air inlet zone and an air outlet zone, a heat exchanger mounted in the housing and defining a first plurality of dry channels extending from the air inlet zone to the air outlet zone. Air is passed through the dry channels from the inlet zone to the outlet zone to be cooled and the cooled air constitutes a total airflow. The heat exchanger also defines a second plurality of moist channels each having an inlet and an outlet and alternating with the dry channels. The moist channels are intended for passing the air to be humidified from their inlets to their outlets and in cross-flow direction to the direction of the total airflow. The air to be humidified constitutes an auxiliary airflow which is formed from a part of the total airflow at the air outlet zone and is extracted from such a section of the air outlet zone, which is situated closer to the outlets of the moist channels than to their inlets.

Abstract: In a wrapping machine that packages products by enveloping each one in a tubular wrapper with two edges united lengthwise and heat-sealed thus together, the integrity of the packaging is verified by a device comprising a feeler located at a given point along the wrapping line and offered in sliding contact to the advancing wrapper at an area coinciding with the junction between the edges and the tubular envelope. The feeler is loaded against a spring delivering a force of known intensity, and able consequently to hold a stable operating position as long as resistance is offered by the wrappers, but will find the gaps in any wrapper of which the edges have failed to unite successfully. The resulting movement of the feeler is sensed by a transducer.

Abstract: To produce defined isomer mixtures of compounds with spirocyclic beta-aminocarboxyl and/or beta-aminocarbonyl systems the invention supposes that they be dissolved in solvents which have good dissolving power for these compounds, whose relative permittivity is sufficient to stabilize the amphoteric intermediates occuring in isomerization, which as proton donors constitute hydrogen bridges, whose basicity is less than that of the compounds for isomerization and whose boiling point is so high that an adequate reaction speed can be attained by raising temperature. Further, the invention proposes that the isomerization be prevented, influenced, or terminated by altering at least one of these factors and or by altering the temperature.

Abstract: A headrest for motor vehicle seats therein two support rods projecting from a resilient body are slidably mounted through a pair of tubular guide elements rigidly secured to the structure of the backrest of the seat so as to allow height adjustment of the headrest. The lower ends of the support rods are rigidly connected to each other by a transverse member to which a remote control operating device is operatively connected to perform raising and lowering thereof.

Abstract: The presence of a base in the reaction mixture in a metal-ligand catalyzed partial oxidation of alkanes results in sustained catalyst activity, and in greater percent conversion as compared with oxidation in the absence of base, while maintaining satisfactory selectivity for the desired oxidation, for example the oxidation of isobutane to isobutanol.

Abstract: A latch mechanism is mounted on a pallet adjacent the peripheral rim thereof. The latch mechanism is selectively transitionable between an engaged position wherein the latch mechanism engages the lock slot thereby securing the side wall to the pallet and a disengaged position wherein the latch mechanism is not engaged with the lock slot thereby allowing the side wall to be removed from the pallet. A fixed bracket is mounted on the pallet adjacent the peripheral rim and spaced apart from the latch mechanism. The fixed bracket is arranged and configured to receive and engage the coupling structure from a first direction. When the fixed bracket and the coupling structure are engaged, the fixed bracket restricts movement of the side wall with respect to the pallet in a second direction.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a protective envelope (2) having one aperture (3), casings (4) for banknotes and valuables (5), support and movement members (6) engaging the casings (4) and adapted to impose a first movement along a selection path to said casings, and electronic control means (9), the casings (4) being movably in engagement with the support and movement members (6) in a direction transverse to the selection path, and translation members (10) being also arranged which are adapted to impose a second movement to the casings (4), which is transverse to the selection path and passes at least close to the aperture (3), to make the casings (4) accessible for deposit and drawing operations manually carried out through the aperture (3).

Abstract: A method for monitoring mammalian reproductive cycles by monitoring variations in the quantity of one or more low molecular weight volatile compound having a molecular weight of less than 50 grams per mole present in a body constituent sample is disclosed. Samples of a body constituent selected from the group of humoral fluid, breath and body cavity air are collected from a female mammal a multiple number of times during the reproductive cycle. The quantity of a low molecular weight volatile compound in each sample is measured. In the preferred embodiment, the low molecular weight volatile compound, acetaldehyde, will be measured and monitored. Variations in the quantity of the low molecular weight volatile compound appearing in each sample is monitored to determine the phase of the mammal's reproductive cycle and to predict the occurrence of ovulation.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the airways resistance of a person by short-time occlusion of inhalation, includes a face mask having an inlet channel and an outlet channel, the latter provided with an outlet valve, and a narrow passage close to a plenum in front of the face. A pneumotachograph is mounted in the narrow passage and is connected to indicating and recording instrumentation. An elastic balloon filled with a liquid is positioned in the inlet channel and is configured to be fully inflated until total occlosure of the inlet channel and to be completely deflated to allow free air passage therethrough. Inflation and deflation of the balloon is manually performed by means of a syringe which is connected to the balloon by flexible tubing, with both syringe and tubing filled with liquid.

Abstract: A safe locking mechanism has an engagement element movable from a disengaged position to an engageable position in response to a small amount of electrical power. When in its engageable position a mechanical linkage assembly is driven by the engagement element to unlock a lock-bolt. The mechanical linkage assembly includes a low inertia pivoting cam which interacts with a lock lever of the locking mechanism to move it to an unlocking state. Electrical power is generated solely while the user manually inputs a combination code, and a microprocessor controls storage and delivery of this power to put the engagement element into its engageable position. Once the desired engagement is obtained, the lock-bolt is moved from its locking to its unlocking position manually. Subsequent unlocking requires another entry of the code input.

Abstract: A photogrammetric camera, in particular for photogrammetric measurements of technical objects, has a primary lens system (10) designed as a focussable objective and a combination of at least one high-resolution sensor (12, 14, 16) and a lens unit (18, 20, 22) which acts as a secondary lens system for producing an enlarged section of the focal plane of the primary objective on the high-resolution sensor. The secondary objective and the high-resolution sensor are movable across the optical axis (26) of the primary objective. High-resolution distance measurement devices (28, 30) which detect the distance between the projection center of the secondary objective and a reference point of the high-resolution sensor on the one hand and the optical axis of the primary objective on the other hand are associated to the secondary objective and to the high-resolution sensor.