Abstract: The invention provides a uni-flex belt which can bend only in one direction and which has particular utility in treadmills. The uni-flex belt of the invention comprises a continuous loop having an outer portion and a non-stretchable inner portion attached to one another. The outer portion comprises a multiplicity of abutting transverse rigid tread segments which extend across the belt and which have sides substantially parallel to one another. The tread segments press together and are laterally compacted during operation of the belt to provide a substantially smooth outer surface and to cooperate with the inner portion to prevent the belt from sagging or bending in the other direction.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in a resilient leg brace which acts in parallel with a runner's legs to support his or her weight during foot impact, to store the kinetic energy of vertical motion, and to release said energy thrusting the runner back into the air during take-off. The running brace is energy efficient in that it stores and releases the maximum amount of vertical kinetic energy so that the leg muscles do not need to supply as much energy to lift the runner's weight during each step. The running brace also protects the legs and other parts of the body from impact damage. The leg brace is attached to a pelvic harness, and optional back and neck braces are attached to the shoulders and the chin to protect the back and neck from impact shock. The first improvement relates to an asymmetric travel structure which enables the running brace to deliver an upward thrust over a greater distance than that required to absorb the runner's downward impact.

Abstract: A portable leg exercising apparatus having a folded storage/travel-mode, a chair-mode for leg extension exercises, and a bench-mode for leg curl exercise. The exerciser does not use weights and includes a device for continuously adjusting the resistance to pivoting of the leg-engaging apparatus thereof while being operated by a user thereof.

Abstract: A removable cap attached to a writing instrument in an insertion manner for preventing ink from evaporating from the writing instrument, comprises: a hollow cylindrical cap main body; and a hollow cylindrical inner cap fixedly mounted in the cap main body. The cap having been detached from the writing instrument permits open air to axially flow through the interior space of the cap through: a front axial opening of the cap; a ventilating hole of the inner cap; a space defined between the inner cap and the cap main body; and a clearance defined between a rear-end opening of the cap main body and a rear-end projecting portion of the inner cap, which projecting portion is disposed in the rear-end opening of the cap main body while space apart therefrom, whereby there is no fear that the cap suffocates infant's bronchi even if the infant swallows the cap whole.

Abstract: A walker having wheels rotatably supported for orientation in any direction includes a flexible shaft for coupling rotation of the wheel to a tachogenerator in a supporting column that also carries an electronics cabinet including a relay that turns a tape recorder therein on when the wheel rotates, and off when the wheel is stationary. The electronics cabinet also includes a loudspeaker that reproduces the audible messages recorded on the tape recorder when the tape recorder is turned on.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser apparatus for use in cleaning surfaces of electrical printing apparata, among other surfaces, is provided for exchangable attachment to a fluid container. The apparatus includes a removable tube for extended and directed delivery and placement of the fluid, on the surface being cleaned. An applicator plate, supporting a densely formed, replaceable sponge, is located at the end of the tube to collect and help keep the fluid in a liquid state to facilitate application and scrubbing therewith. A pushbutton valve permits selective, variable control of the flow rate of the fluid. A vent may be alternatively provided to improve back pressure in the fluid dispenser apparatus and improve its dispensing characteristics. The apparatus is configured for facilitated assembly and disassembly for facilitated cleaning of the pushbutton valve.

Abstract: An isokinetic oscillating exercise apparatus which may be used to exercise different muscles by grasping by one hand or two hands centrally-located gripping portions attached to an elongated member and moving or shaking the member back and forth causing the opposite ends of the member to oscillate. The oscillation causes isokinetic exercising of a user's muscles. The gripping portions may be attached to the elongated member by adhesive or screws threaded into sleeves. Telescoping ends may be used to vary the length of the elongated member or the oscillating range of the member. The telescoping ends may be used to significantly reduce the overall length of the elongated member for ease in carrying the apparatus or for storage purposes. The telescoping ends may be small pipes which fit inside a large pipe, or flat elongated strips of metal that slideably engage brackets attached to a flat elongated member.

Abstract: A mechanical pencil is disclosed in which lead can be advanced in one of two ways; either automatically upon release of writing pressure on the pencil, or selectively manually by pressing inwardly against a side push button. The pencil includes an outer cylinder with a side pushing hole formed therein, and a side push button movably disposed in the side pushing hole. The side push button contacts a lever which is totally mounted within the outer cylinder and which contacts a lead advanced mechanism. Upon pressing in of the side push button, the lever is pivoted about its axis and caused to press downwardly against the lead advance mechanism to thereby cause advancement of a lead. Advancement of lead is also performed upon release of writing pressure of the pencil by way of a slider mechanism which is biased outwardly by way of a resilient member and which is forced outwardly by the resilient member upon release of writing pressure.

Abstract: A writing implement in combination with an arrangement for selecting numbers and a visual display for selected numbers, including an electronic random generator having a circuit and display volume adapted to a number of digits, a display arrangement for respectively displaying one number, a battery, and an electrical circuit for electrically connecting the display arrangement through the battery with the random generator.

Abstract: A method and device for producing an artificial retro-sternal tunnel or space at the conclusion of a sternotomy, for precluding cutting the heart when the sternum is severed during a subsequent or re-do sternotomy involving the same patient. During closure of the longitudinally severed sternum, an implantable elongate member having a length approximately the length of the sternum is disposed longitudinally along the severed sternum and opposing the sternum's posterior surface, and the disposed member is secured to the sternum during closure. In the event a subsequent sternotomy is required for the same patient, the surgeon positions a sternum cutting device at one end of the sternum overlying the implanted member, and longitudinally severs the sternum with the implanted member, which may include a hard elongated inner member, providing a pathway and/or shielding the patient's heart from being unintentionally cut by the cutting device.

Abstract: Upright sidewall and end panels are bolted to a unitary base component having a treadmill so as to form a composite exercise tank. One end panel has a door of transparent sheet material with specialized hinges and locking mechanism to assure a leakproof fit. Water can be introduced into the tank to a desired level from a storage container, whereupon the treadmill is actuated for exercise or therapy. During use, water in the tank is recirculated through heating, cleaning and sanitizing equipment. After use, the water in the tank is emptied to the storage container and the user exits through the door.

Abstract: A modular knee joint prosthesis using variably sized components for joining a variably resected tibia bone and a femur bone, having a tibial platform defining peripheral edges on its bottom surface for engaging beveled edges of the plates or spacers. The platform has an upraised boss on a top surface for engaging a tibial insert which can be locked in place with a lock key. The tibial insert serves as an articulating surface for a femoral component. An implantable stem extends below the platform and may be complementarily joined to a second stem; the stems lock together using a Morse taper and a locking bolt. Full-sized or half-sized extension plates have beveled edges on a top surface to engage complementing edges on the bottom surface of the tibial base plate. The plates act as a spacer or cap to the resected tibia and act to distribute load or make up for bone deficits.

Abstract: A three-component knee joint prosthesis is disclosed including femoral, tibial and patellar components. During flexion of the prosthetic knee, the patellar component, which has a convex bearing surface, cooperates with and is guided by a patellar track defined by the anterior plate portion, lateral condylar bearing portion and medial condylar bearing portion of the femoral component and a web portion joining the two femoral condylar bearing portions. The inner regions of the two femoral condylar bearing portions are steeply sloped towards the web portion to permit the patellar component to "ride deeply" upon the femoral component at high degrees of flexion, thereby reducing quadriceps tension and expanding the permissible range of motion in flexion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aquatic exerciser or rehabilitation equipment and, particularly, to an exerciser mounted for positioning a user engaging component in a cantilevered configuration over the edge of a swimming pool or other water body. The exerciser suspends user engaging members over the water and allows the user to carry out various exercises within the pool. Typically, the exercises include body lifting exercises and in contrast to conventional body lifting exercises carried out outside the water, the force required by the user increases in proportion to the amount of his body that is above the water level. In other circumstances the difficulty may be increased by carrying out certain movements within the water at higher speeds with the water providing a drag force as an increasing function of the speed. Thus, the user can either increase or decrease the difficulty of the exercise easily.

Abstract: A universal tool for caulking windows with different types of glazing sealant.In order to achieve this aim the tool has as its main parts a handle and a caulking portion distally ending in a beak adjoining a channel on the side of the tool to be turned towards the window pane. In its part extending proximally from the beak the tool is formed with a hole to receive the glazing sealant. This hole extends from its proximal end in the part of the caulking portion adjacent to the handle to a position adjacent to the channel. The part of the tool including the beak, the channel and the distal end of the hole is made so as to have an elliptical outline when viewed in the proximal direction from the tip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a distal femoral surface shaping guide for mounting on an intramedullary alignment which references the central long axis of the femur in shaping the distal femoral surface and a method for shaping the distal femur using that shaping guide with particular applicability for shaping one condyle for attachment of a unicondylar prosthesis. The alignment guide of the present invention is adjustable relative to the surface of the condyle to insure that the distal femoral condyle is resected relative to that surface. The alignment guide of the present invention utilizes visual sighting studs and provides a main body which remains attached to the intramedullary alignment guide throughout the entire shaping of the distal femur.

Abstract: An applicator particularly useful in making dental impressions, includes a barrel for containing a dental impression material, an ejector nozzle fixed to the barrel at one end through which the dental impression material is to be ejected, a plunger movable through the opposite end of the barrel for ejecting the dental impression material through the ejector nozzle, and a retractor adjacent to the tip of the ejector nozzle for retracting the gingival tissue at the time the dental impression material is ejected.

Abstract: A bingo ink marker has an elongated handle connected to a cubical ink reservoir. The cubical ink reservoir has six faces with a threaded tubular sleeve extending from each face. A sponge applicator is removably received in each of the threaded sleeve and each is configured to produce a different design ink mark. A plurality of threaded caps are provided for selectively covering each of the applicators. One of the threaded caps includes an attached elongated handle portion. In use, the user may index the cubical ink reservoir to utilize any of the six differently designed applicators.

Abstract: A brush holder for unattended car wash bays which releases the brush for the period paid for by coin deposits and locks the brush upon termination of that period.

Abstract: A stream which advances along the underside of the elongated lower reach of an endless air-permeable belt conveyor carries a surplus of fibrous material and is relieved of the surplus by a trimming device which is mounted downstream of one or more nozzles serving to direct compressed air at a variable rate against successive increments of the stream and to thus loosen the stream to a greater or lesser extent, at least in a region immediately adjacent the underside of the lower reach of the conveyor. The upper side of the lower reach of the conveyor is adjacent a suction chamber which attracts the stream to the conveyor. The action of suction upon the stream in the region of the nozzle. or nozzles can be weakened or elminated by the nozzle or nozzles or by a discrete barrier.