Abstract: A suture display rack and procedure kit is provided which, upon folding, presents a plurality of stacked suture packages for seriatim review. The suture display rack is a substantially U-shaped structure with a floor portion and two opposing sidewall portions. A longitudinal fold line is provided in the floor portion parallel to the planes formed by the side walls such that, upon folding, the side wall portions may be brought into the same horizontal plane to form the base for the suture display rack. The suture packages may be loosely held in the rack or alternatively hinged to a side wall or contained in sheaths for ease of review and removal. The sheaths and suture packages can be sterilized separately from the display rack. The suture display rack may be securely adhered to a desired surface or may be set up in a portable manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoe having an improved unitary dual hardness dowel-lift with superior wear and non-slip characteristics. The dual hardness dowel-lift includes a hard polyurethane top portion and a soft polyurethane bottom portion. The bottom portion is cast onto the top portion. The bottom portion is a softer material which possesses a hardness lower than the top portion as measured by the Shore A Hardness test, and preferably is a thermoset polyurethane elastomer.

Abstract: An infectious waste disposal system comprising an outer container assembly comprising a housing unit which comprises a front side wall, a rear side wall and a means for mounting the outer container assembly on a wall or any other such surface, an outer aperture disposed about the top of the housing unit, an access door disposed about the base of the housing unit and a means for locking the access door to the housing unit; and a removable inner container assembly disposed within the outer container assembly, the inner container assembly comprising a receptacle housing, an inner aperture with an inner elongated neck portion and an aperture closure means, the inner aperture being capable of providing access to the interior of the receptacle housing and the aperture closure means having a shape such that it can be removed from the inner container assembly, inverted and inserted into the inner elongated neck portion via the inner aperture such that infectious waste contained within the receptacle housing cannot es

Abstract: In an inner lining shoe (10) for ski-boots an integral or one piece tongue assembly (12) consists of a tongue (14) connected to a fore part of upper (16), said fore part of upper (16) being joined to a rear portion of upper (20) by means like sewings (34,36) and to a sole (24) by joining its lower peripheral edge (38) to a peripheral edge (40) of said sole.

Abstract: A sole member for an article of footwear, comprises a sheet of resilient material displaying cushioning and memory properties. The sheet has a generally longitudinal cavity with outwardly flared sidewalls that deflect horizontally in the presence of a downward force. The cavity is wider in the heel region and curves outwardly toward the lateral forefoot to create a path of least resistance that causes the center of mass of the human body to migrate laterally and thereby reduce predisposition to excessive pronation.

Abstract: A sharps disposal system (2) includes a fiberboard container (6) mounted to a wall (8) by a lockable cage (4). The container has an entrance opening (70) formed through the top (20), sized for the deposit of sharps into its interior. A baffle (60) extends within the interior from the back downwardly and forwardly and is sized and positioned to discourage manual access to the interior while directing sharps into the interior. The container also includes a lid (84) hinged to the top for movement between stable opened and closed positions to permit one hand operation when opened. For disposal the lid is secured to the top using a foam adhesive strip (104) to provide a secure, substantially leakproof seal. The container is coated on the inside surface with a hydrophobic material and has the seams and corners sealed to make the interior of the container substantially leakproof. A view port (50) can be provided to permit the user to determine when the container is full.

Abstract: A protective shoe for use in contact sports of the martial arts comprising a unitary upper member constructed of a foam base defining an opening and side slits into which a foot can be inserted. An elastic strap provided with fasteners is secured to the upper member allowing the upper member to be attached around the ankle of the wearer. A sole is mounted to the bottom of the upper member to provide an enclosed toe area and an arch area with cutouts in the sole defining an open heel area and open ball of foot area. A protective instep pad and achilles tendon pad are secured to said upper member to give additional foot protection to the user.

Abstract: A high-heeled shoe has a resilient U-shaped blade which forms the heel of the shoe, one limb of the blade being fixed to a rear portion of the sole of the shoe, and the other limb of the blade resting on the ground. Between said one and said other limbs, the blade is gently curved.

Abstract: A shoe sole or insole incorporates an inflatable cell structure therein. The cells are sized and positioned to alter the angular orientation of a wearer's foot relative to a supporting surface upon inflation. A variable position valve causes the cells to inflate and deflate in a random or pseudo-random sequence. Such a sole when worn while standing on or traversing a flat, even, and unvarying terrain enhances the wearer's comfort, reduces fatigue and promotes control of veinous blood pressure in the legs.

Abstract: A composite tubular member having an outer cylindrical member containing fibers oriented to resist internal pressure and provide low bending stiffness, and two inner smaller core members located near the neutral axis of the composite tubular members containing fibers oriented to provide high axial stiffness, high tensile strength and low bending stiffness and fibers oriented to resist shear stress, positioned opposite each other and adjacent to the inner walls of the outer cylindrical member.

Abstract: A new and improved connector is provided for footwear and associated specific footwear step-on devices and surfaces. The invention utilizes complementing members of a type of separable, coacting, flexible gripping means, such as hook and loop "Velcro" type or knob-knob type or other similar flexible type fastening members. These members are arranged to form an integral firmly attached part of the invention specific sole of footwear worn by individuals and associated interfacing invention tailored step-on device surfaces and permit proper positioning mating and omnidirectional on-demand break-away disengagement between footwear sole and interfacing step-on device surfaces.

Abstract: A hunter's shoe for concealing the presence of a hunter by absorbing airborne noises caused by the contact of the shoes with ground objects such as fallen branches, twigs and leaves. In the first aspect of the invention, a detachable sound absorber is combined with a conventional hunter's shoe. The sound absorber is comprised of a heel absorber, a sole absorber joined to the heel absorber, a flexible heel pad joined to the lower surface of the heel absorber and extending around the perimeter of the heel absorber, a flexible sole pad joined to the lower surface of the sole absorber and extending around the perimeter of the sole absorber; an ankle strap attached to the heel absorber and a toe strap attached to the sole absorber. The heel and sound absorber is comprised of rigid housings joined together by a flexible member and filled with a sound absorbing material. In the second aspect of the invention, a sound absorber is made integral with a hunter's shoe.

Abstract: A tape-cartridge case comprises a lower plate, an upper plate and side walls projecting from the respective lower and upper plates, and when a tape cartridge is accommodated in the case, side surfaces of the tape cartridge are surrounded by the two side walls. However, only one of the two side walls opposes to a bar code that is provided on the side surface of the tape cartridge, so that the bar code can quickly and accurately be read by a bar-code reader through the single side wall.

Abstract: A universal shoe holder having a detachable mounting member for securing the holder to a work surface, and a supporting member which supports the shoe holding mechanism perpendicular to the mounting member. The shoe holding mechanism consists of a holding member fastened to the support member, and a heel support member which is pivotally attached thereto. A tightening mechanism is provided which exerts pressure on the heel support member and the holding member, allowing the shoe holder to securely hold various styles and sizes of shoes during repair and polishing procedures. An adjusting mechanism is included to allow the shoe holder to be adjusted to fit different sizes of shoes.

Abstract: A multi-embroidered lace comprising a first design made of metallic or lustrous type of yarn embroidered onto a ground fabric using an insoluble back thread. A second and different design made of a different yarn from the first is embroidered over the first design utilizing an insoluble back thread. The ground fabric may or may not be soluble as desired.

Abstract: A convertible shoe having a low-top and a high-top configuration is provided which is comprised of a lower shoe portion with a foot opening, an upper adapter portion having a leg opening and a lower shoe opening and a first fastener portion disposed on the lower shoe portion partially surrounding the foot opening thereof. A second fastener portion is disposed on the upper shoe portion partially surrounding the lower shoe opening thereof which engages the first fastener portion to secure the upper adapter portion to the lower shoe portion to place the shoe in the high-top configuration. A foldable strip is carried by the lower shoe portion for concealing the first fastener portion when the upper adapter portion is not secured to the lower shoe portion during use in the low-top configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ski boot with improved fit, comprising a shell to which at least one quarter is articulated. The peculiarity of the invention resides in that it comprises a movable flap which is arranged at a preset opening provided on the at least one quarter and rearwardly embraces the skier's leg. Means for selecting the inclination of the flap with respect to the at least one quarter are associated with the flap itself and can be actuated by the skier.

Abstract: A cross-countery ski boot comprising, at least in the area of the instep, an internal tightening device (17,18) for clamping the foot of the user, and a covering and closing upper (10) which envelops the entire foot and covers the internal tightening device. The internal tightening device (17, 18) is so conceived that is presses the uer's foot against the inner side (10a) of the boot, this inner side (10a) being preferably fitted with a reinforcing piece (11) at least in the area of the internal tightening device (17, 18) against which the foot is pressed.

Abstract: A shoe and shoe sole for accommodating forefoot strike activities such as aerobics, and forefoot strike tendencies of runners and the like, to forestall stress features, tendonitis and muscle tears, by incorporating a special forefoot pad in the midsole. The pad has a forward chamber and a rearward chamber, separated by an internal wall with restricted orifices therein, the forward chamber being larger and extending curvilinearly beneath the five metatarsal heads of the foot, and the rearward chamber being smaller and extending behind the second, third and fourth metatarsal heads in the arch region of the foot. Impact compression by the metatarsal heads on the forward chamber causes controlled viscous liquid flow into the rearward chamber to absorb impact force, and such that the amount of liquid in the rearward chamber is temporarily greater than its at rest volume, causing the walls of that chamber to bulge and form a temporary arch support.

Abstract: An item of wearing apparel for receiving an extremity, such as a ski shoe or boot for receiving a foot, provided with an energy source supplying an energy consuming device, such as a heating device, and a device controlling a supply element of the energy consuming device connected between the energy source and the consumer device. The shoe or boot includes a device for detecting the presence of a foot within the boot so as to allow the opening of the energy supplying element alone when the boot is put on and to automatically cause the closing of this supply element as soon as the boot is removed.