Abstract: A foot-pad monitor to detect the amount of force translated though a patient's heel in each gait cycle is described. The foot-pad has a tactile force sensor, means to translate a force applied to the sensor to a voltage, a comparator circuit and an annunciator. The comparator, which can be analog or micro-processor controlled, has a set point and an amplifier that is activated when the voltage from the sensor exceeds the set point. The piezo-electric annunciator is driven by the amplifier to warn the patient that excessive force is being translated through the heel. In the analog embodiment the reference voltage can be varied by adjusting linearly variable pots. Also described is a remote unit to set the set point limit in the micro-processor controlled embodiment.

Abstract: A power lawn mower has a cutter blade mounted on a vertical output shaft driven by an engine and extending substantially horizontally, and a housing covering the cutter blade. The power lawn mower has a throw-out plate for throwing out the grass cut by the cutter blade, the throw-out plate being mounted on the output shaft above the cutter blade within the housing and extending substantially horizontally. The throw-out plate is angularly spaced from the cutter blade and positioned therebehind in the direction of rotation of the throw-out plate. The throw-out plate is shorter than the cutter blade and substantially flat. The throw-out plate includes a throw-out arm having a leading edge in the direction of rotation thereof and curved progresively rearwardly in the same direction from a proximal end of the throw-out arm to a radially outward end thereof.