Abstract: A two-piece, single-use, disposable lancet assembly includes a housing containing a lancet formed from a spring wire integrally formed with a sharpened, skin-piercing probe end section. The spring lancet is mounted within the housing and is secured in a retracted, pre-tensioned or cocked position. A lever-like bar hingedly secured to the housing serves both as a closure for the access opening in the housing and as a lever for dislodging and for releasing the tensioned spring wire to actuate the skin-piercing probe to pulse functionally through a base port in the housing and then automatically to retract irretrievably into the housing.

Abstract: A contact lens cleaning appliance which permits convenient removal of contact lenses disposed within the appliance by mounting the lens supporting surfaces on a hingedly attached lens retaining cover mounted to the appliance base. Mounting the lens supporting surfaces on the lens retaining covers provides the maximum clearance for accessing contact lenses when removing them from the lens cleaning appliance. The hinge arrangement includes an over-center hinge which retains the covers in an open position without assistance and retains the covers in a closed position without a latching device.

Abstract: An appliance for electrically heated disinfection of contact lenses or similar ojects is provided with a molded plastic housing having a recessed cavity for insertion of a conventional side-by-side horizontal lens storage case containing the lenses immersed in disinfecting liquid, typically saline solution. The cavity has horizontally aligned opposite end openings through the sides of the housing and the openings are located and dimensioned to allow unobstructed sliding passage of the lens case from the cavity so that the lens case will fall by gravitation from the cavity through one of the openings when the housing is rotated 90.degree. to vertically align the openings. The cavity openings thus ensure that the lens case cannot be heated in the appliance in a vertical orientation which could damage the lenses by heated exposure above the level of the disinfecting liquid.

Abstract: A fixture for facilitating the tying of a given knot in a fishing line comprises a platform member providing a flat surface for mounting a plurality of assemblies. These assemblies include a spool assembly having a spool for respectively taking up or letting out line, a spool crank for rotating the spool in at least one direction, a spool frame for mounting the spool for rotation about a first axis of rotation, and a spool frame base for mounting the spool frame to the platform. A spinner assembly comprises a spinner base mounted to the platform and a spinner bidirectionally freely rotatably mounted to the spinner base for rotation about a second axis of rotation.

Abstract: A multiple station disinfector apparatus simultaneously heats a plurality of devices such as contact lenses. Each of these devices is disposed in a quantity of liquid within a closed container. The apparatus comprises a housing having a base portion and a recloseable cover portion and a plurality of similar recessed receptacles in the base for receiving the containers. Each receptacle has a bottom wall and sidewall of complementary shape for surroundingly engaging a bottom wall part and a substantial portion of a sidewall part of one of the containers. Heating elements are disposed for heating the receptacles.

Abstract: An improved fishing lure attains a combined jumping and weaving motion to closely simulate the movement of a feeding fish. The lure can be molded of plastic and includes a central body having a generally vertically planar configuration, and a profile generally resembling a fish. The lure has a pair of pectoral fin members, preferably integrally molded with the body, which extend laterally from the respective opposite sides of the body. The pectoral fin members cause deflection of water during trolling advancement of the lure which deflection produces elevating propulsion of the lure in relation to the water level and the direction of the lure advancement through the water. The lure also includes a pivotal free moving rudder which is mounted below the body and pivots laterally with respect to the body in order to deflect water and produces random lateral motion of the lure in relation to the trolling direction of advancement.

Abstract: A molded receptacle for containment of a contact lens or the like, comprises: an open mouth, cup-shaped body having a generally annular, upstanding body wall and a curved rim formed on an upper end of the body wall to define the open mouth, and wherein the radially outer surface of the body wall includes a remnant flash material formation which is located below the rim.

Abstract: A fishing lure for use with dead bait fish includes a cover having a cavity for insertion of the head portion of the bait fish and an anchor means for securing the cover on the bait fish. Also connected to the cover is a foil or diving plane which deflects water to create lateral motion of the lure and bait fish in relation to the direction of the trolling advancement of the lure through the water, so that the lure produces simulated swimming animation of the dead bait fish and promotes attraction of the target fish. Two hooks are linked to extend rearwardly from the cover by respective, opposing branches of a Y-shaped lead extension which is secured within the cover. The Y-shaped lead extension guides alignment of the hooks into positions flanking the opposite sides of the bait fish.

Abstract: An improved nut is secured to an unthreaded stud which is inserted through a central bore in the nut. The bore includes a guide means which provides alignment guidance during sliding insertion of the stud into the bore. The guide means preferably has an annular configuration with an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the stud so that the initial insertion of the stud does not produce significant frictional resistance. The bore of the nut further includes a helical thread, preferably a single thread turn, which is disposed in the bore axially distinct from the guide means and terminates within the bore adjacent the guide means. The helical thread has a minor diameter smaller than the stud diameter and also projects radially inwardly into the bore further than the guide means. The cold-forms a mating thread impression into the periphery of the stud and the resulting thread impression obstructs any vibrational retraction of the guide means to promote retention of the nut on the stud.

Abstract: A carrying case for a contact lens case having a predetermined peripheral configuration comprises a base member defining a predetermined peripheral configuration, a cover member defining a predetermined peripheral configuration similar to that of the base member, and a hinge joining the cover member to the base member generally along respective facing edges thereof or as to define an open condition and a closed condition of the carrying case, these similarly configured peripheries being substantially abutting and aligned in the closed condition. An insert member is mounted to the base member and comprises a frame-like member defining a recess in the base member of complementary configuration for receiving the contact lens case therewithin. A latch on the insert member engages the contact lens case for releasably holding the same received in the recess.

Abstract: An extractor instrument for removing a catalytic ring, or the like, normally held by friction at the bottom of a container cavity, enabling the container to be fabricated with an integrally closed bottom wall opposite the open upper end of the container. The instrument comprises an elongate gripping member and a cam structure secured to the gripping member adjacent one end. The cam structure includes a foot dimensioned for insertion through a passageway in the catalytic ring after which the foot is engaged in a camming manner against the bottom surface of the ring allowing withdrawal of the foot and the engaged ring from the open end of the container.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for selectively supporting a mattress at a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to a support surface, such as a box spring, or the like. The system comprises primarily an inflatable mattress support member which is connected to a selectively operable pneumatic pump via a combination check valve and release valve. In practice, the user or patient can inflate the mattress support member to provide the desired degree of inclination and when not in use the support member can be easily deflated to dispose the mattress in a relatively normal position. The mattress support member is provided by a plurality of adjacent interconnected inflatable cells, with the adjacent cells sharing a common wall portion having port means formed therein to pneumatically interconnect the respective cells.

Abstract: A lens storage container in combination with a lens support structure in which a pair of lens hold members carrying a lens cover for each lens is independently pivotal upon a support frame, and a latch structure is provided for each of the holder members. The location of the latch structure above the lens enclosure prevents gravity action from pulling the lens downwardly into the path of the latch structure and these events any lens damage therefrom.

Abstract: A reusable cap for assuring the sealed seating of a stopper against the open end of a vial neck is provided with a unitary body of rigid material having a base which overlies the head of the resilient stopper and the open end of the vial neck. The base is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending ribs which seat against the resilient stopper head. A pair of jaw portions project downwardly from the base and peripherally grip the underside of a bead at the open end of the vial neck, so that the stopper head and vial neck bead are sealed and clamped between the ribs and the jaws. The resilience of the stopper surface beneath the ribs is utilized to accommodate variation in the thicknesses of the vial neck bead and stopper head as well as allowing for expansion of the stopper vial neck during the heating and cooling conditions of repeated sterilization cycles.

Abstract: An insulated water container comprises an enlarged, open-topped receptacle member formed of a thermal insulating material and defining a substantial interior volume, a given depth and a given cross-sectional area at the open top thereof and a cover member formed of a thermal insulating material and of cross-sectional dimensions similar to the open top of the receptacle member for providing a closure for the same. The cover member defines an access opening therethrough, over a minor fractional portion of the area thereof.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus for providing selective fluid communication with physiological organs includes a nozzle structure for multiple conduits, a syringe having a fluid chamber for containing and discharging fluids in communication with the nozzle structure, two valve members having respective engaged surfaces relatively rotatable to provide valving action, and a clamp structure which forces the valve members together to establish fluid-tight seal between their engaged surfaces. The first valve member has a plurality of through apertures respectively communicating with separate fluid ports in the nozzle, and the second valve member has a through passageway communicating with the syringe chamber; the passageway is further selectively communicatable with at least one of the apertures in the first valve member to enable fluid flow between the respective nozzle port and the syringe chamber.

Abstract: An adjustment bracket assembly is provided for attachment between an automotive vehicle frame member or the like and a headlamp housing or the like to permit pivotal motion of the headlamp housing relative to the frame member and about generally vertical and horizontal axes so as to achieve corresponding vertical and horizontal aiming of an associated headlamp beam. The adjustment bracket assembly comprises a one-piece integrally formed vertically elongate housing and support member defining generally vertically oriented, elongate guide bores for receiving and supporting an elongate drive shaft member with a free end thereof projecting outwardly of the housing and support member for engagement with a driver for operatively engaging the same with the headlamp housing for selectively causing pivotal movement thereof about one of generally vertical and horizontal axes to achieve one of vertical and horizontal aiming of the associated headlamp beam.

Abstract: An assembly for adjustable mounting of a headlamp assembly relative to a frame permits both vertical and horizontal pivotal movement of the headlamp assembly relative to the frame to allow aiming of the headlamp beam. The frame has an elongate slot for receiving the mounting assembly and the headlamp assembly has a housing to be coupled to the mounting assembly so as to permit pivotal motion for adjustment thereof relative to the frame.

Abstract: A fastener-carrier system comprises at least one metallic threaded fastener member including a head portion, a tip portion and an externally threaded shank portion intermediate the head and tip portions and defining an axis. A carrier strip comprises a substantially flat, elongate member of a moldable material and the fastener head portion is moldably embedded into the carrier strip with the tip and threaded shank portions projecting outwardly of the carrier strip. The carrier strip includes a substantially flat workpiece-engaging surface, with the fastener extending outwardly thereof for extending into a receiving aperture in a facing workpiece surface. A raised, elastically deformable skirt portion is provided on the workpiece-engaging surface surrounding each fastener for positively engaging the workpiece surface and for deforming sufficiently thereagainst to form a seal completely around an otherwise exposed portion of the fastener at the workpiece-engaging surface.

Abstract: A photo-optic collector assembly for use with an automobile headlamp assembly or the like comprises a collector member for receiving and redirecting light outwardly of the automobile headlamp assembly, a mounting member for engaging the collector member and for removably mounting the collector member to extend through a mounting aperture in the headlamp assembly, and a gasket member engageable intermediate a portion of the mounting member and the headlamp assembly for forming a substantially watertight seal about the mounting aperture. The collector member and the mounting member include cooperating assembly portions for initially engaging the collector member and mounting member in a preassembled condition for shipping and handling thereof and for thereafter mounting the collector member to the mounting member and assembling the mounting member to the headlamp assembly, respectively, in a fully assembled condition.