Abstract: A container for packaging and displaying cutlery and the like having a display area for displaying one of the items contained therein. The container allows a consumer to touch and feel the handle of the item on display while preventing easy removal of the item from the container. The container comprises an outer box and an integrated inner tray holder formed from a single blank of flexible material. The outer box comprises a rear panel, top and bottom flaps hingedly connected to the rear panel, a front panel having a window, top and bottom flaps hingedly connected to the front panel, an outer right side panel and a left side panel. The integrated inner tray holder is hingedly connected to the rear panel along a foldline and comprises an inner right side panel, a tray holder bottom panel, a tray holder side panel and a joiner panel. Where the item on display is a knife, the knife is affixed to a tray by a plastic sheath and a tie.

Abstract: Packaging for retaining a component together with an instrument package is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a foldable package made from a sheet of cut and folded paperboard material is used to retain an endoscope introducer and attach the introducer to an instrument package containing an instrument that is used with the introducer. The disclosed foldable package comprises openings and flaps that retain both the proximal and distal ends of the introducer, and a proximal flap overlies the introducer. The proximal flap is used to release the package and expose the introducer, permitting it to be removed in one smooth motion. Methods of providing prepackaged surgical instruments for a procedure are also disclosed.

Abstract: An orthotic device for insertion into a high-heeled shoe is provided. An orthotic device made in accordance with the instant invention virtually eliminates the problems associated with the wearing of high-heeled shoes, particularly pronation effects, general foot discomfort, posture problems, toe pain, and arch pain. The orthotic device comprises a right or semi-rigid shell for positioning beneath the heel of the foot and extending forwardly towards the toes of the foot. The shell terminates behind the five metatarsal heads of the foot, and is shaped whereby to permit the first metatarsal head freely to evert and plantarflex under load, and is shaped such that the heel of the foot is carried substantially parallel to or slightly backwardly inclined relative to the ground plane.

Abstract: This invention permits a wearer of this footwear to measure the number and the force of steps that have been taken by the user during a predetermined interval. The wearer can subsequently transfer the step information into a computer for further analysis. In a particular embodiment, the information transfer is accomplished using an inductively coupled data link between the footwear and the computer.

Abstract: A shower sandal having an interior lined with a multiplicity of flexible protrusions and having suction cups on the underside to secure the sandal to the shower, the sandal being sufficiently large that the foot of the user can be moved about within the sandal against the flexible protrusions to clean and massage the various areas of the foot.

Abstract: Cross-country ski boot, in particular for performance of the skating step and produced from an outer sole, on a front part of which the ski is attached, and comprising a lower upper fitted with a heel counter on which is jointed a rigid collar designed to enclose the lower part of the leg and which extends from the joint to the top of the upper beyond its upper end. The boot comprises an elastic device for the longitudinal angular control of the ski in the air in relation to the sole of the boot, during the return phase of the ski. The device may be a strap made of an elastic fabric, which connects the collar to the upper so as to cause an automatic return movement of the upper toward the collar, and, in consequence, the automatic lifting of the front part of the ski when the ski is not in a forward-propulsion phase.

Abstract: The invention is a replaceable golf shoe cleat or spike 10 for use in place of a standard metal spike 4. Winter golf shoe spike 10 preferably has a main cleat body 11 molded from a durable plastic type material in single unitary fashion. A threaded stud 13 is formed on the upper surface of generally concavo-convex flange 12 and protrudes axially therefrom. A plurality of traction ribs 15 are formed on the bottom traction surface of concavo-convex flange 12. While the ribs 15 may be present in a variety of configurations, they are preferably triangular ridges arranged in a radial fashion emanating from the center of concavo-convex flange 12.

Abstract: A shoe sole insert has foam-filled independently compressible regions that extend through a midsole and beyond an outsole bottom surface so a particular region, when it strikes a traversed surface, is compressed vertically and expands horizontally against the midsole. In one embodiment, five groups of such regions are beneath the metatarsal bones and proximal phalanges. In a second embodiment, two transversely extending regions are beneath forward and rearward portions of the metatarsals. The rearward transverse region has a ridge that is farther from the outsole bottom face than a ridge of the forward transverse region. In another aspect, an array of regions below the tarsal and calcaneus bones is arranged so a region at the very rear of the heel compresses vertically to a greater extent than a lateral side region in response to the same striking force, so pronation tends to be corrected.

Abstract: The container has an enclosure member and a body member which together enclose a volume to accept wafers for storage, for handling, or for transportation. The body member has a base, and a plurality of spaced upright arcuate members supported on the base that are adapted to encircle wafers stacked on the base. An enclosure member has a circular top wall and a cylindrically shaped wall that is adapted to encompass and enclose the arcuate members. The retainer element has a flat central portion, and a plurality of flexible outwardly extending flaps depending from the central portion. The retainer element fits within the arcuate members of the body member with the end portions of the flaps positioned in the slots between the arcuate members.

Abstract: A media storage container, particularly suitable for storing CD's and the like, comprises a generally flat, rectangular outer casing having an open front and enclosed top, bottom, sides and rear. The sides of the front casing are provided with mating dovetail edges for interconnecting various ones of the outer casings in a side-by-side relationship. Spaced pin extensions rise from predetermined locations on the top of the outer casing for receipt by correspondingly spaced recesses in the bottoms of the casings; so that the several casings may be stacked one upon the other. The locations of these pins and recesses is such that offset stacking of the outer casings also may be effected. A media record storage tray, having an open top, is slidably mounted through the open front of the outer casing, and is releaseably secured into place by a finger operated release lever.

Abstract: A bottom plate has its top surface formed with a recess with a plurality of slanted blades formed therein. A cover has a recess and an increased thickness portion formed around the recess and extending toward a marginal portion. A fluid is sealed in both the recesses. In the recess of the cover, fluid shock buffer blades are formed on at least a portion, which is urged by foot fingers and swelling foot finger roots, the blades being slanted in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cover. The marginal portion of the cover is fused to the marginal portion of the bottom plate.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a shoe sole containing a cushioning fluid filled bladder and a clip holding the bladder in a set position in the shoe sole and providing enhanced lateral and medial stability to the sole.

Abstract: A packaging cover for bristles of a cleaning apparatus having a base with a neck portion, wherein the bristles are attached to the base. The packaging cover has two webs of flexible sheet material. The packaging cover has a base end and an opposite top end. Both webs are joined at the top end and/or the base end. At least one of the webs has at least one opening near the base end wherein each opening is large enough to accommodate the neck portion of the cleaning apparatus. Both webs have opposing sides which extend between the base end and top end. Both webs are separated from each other along at least a portion of each of the opposing sides.

Abstract: A therapeutic pad is used in footwear which has a liquid absorbent to prevent liquid leakage in the event the sealed envelope of the pad is ruptured. The footwear includes a pair of compartments which substantially surround the foot cavity for receiving the therapeutic pad.

Abstract: A shoe buckle, especially for use on a roller skate boot, includes: a buckle body suspended and positioned on a central tongue of a shoe; two straps respectively secured to two upper side portions of a shoe upper and protruding inwardly to the buckle body of the shoe; a reel pivotally secured in the buckle body engageable with the two straps for fastening the two straps; a fastening device provided on a front or first end portion for driving the reel for fastening the straps for wearing the shoe on a wearer's foot; and a releasing device provided on a rear or second end portion for releasing the two straps for removing the shoe, thereby enabling a stable and convenient fastening of a shoe.

Abstract: A shoe, especially a sport, leisure or rehabilitation shoe, with an upper that is at least partially formed of an elastically flexible material, a central closure attached on an instep cover in an area of the wearer's instep, and with a wire-like tightening element that is coupled with the central closure and runs from the central closure down toward a toe end of the upper and then back up to the central closure, the tightening element passing back and forth between guide elements on the instep cover and on side parts of the upper at each of opposite sides of the throat area. In accordance with preferred embodiments, a projecting sheet-shaped tab is molded to the instep cover, the tab being securely connected at an instep area of the shoe, and the instep cover being folded around a hinge-like connection of the tab on the instep area to be covered. As a result, the instep cover is movably attached to the shoe upper in a simple way.

Abstract: A collapsible or folding storage container adapted to be mounted on a wall or other vertical support and includes a frame having a closed net dependent therefrom, and tangentially interconnected by a hinge to a first mounting plate to be secured to the wall or upright support. The frame is supported in a first position by a pair of support arms, each having a first end interconnected by a hinge to a second mounting plate attached to the wall or upright support, and a second end detachably coupled to the frame. When not in use, the frame may be detached from the support arm and be suspended from the mounting plate by the hinge. The support arms may be moved upward and stored adjacent the mounting plates. The folding storage container is preferably molded from a polymeric material in no more than three individual components. The polymeric material provides the living hinges interconnecting the mounting plates and the respective structures.

Abstract: A method and device for preparing one or more pads of checks to be delivered to an individual is disclosed. The method includes stitching a mailing label on top of an uppermost pad of one or more pads of checks. The one or more pads of checks are placed into a check container, wherein the check container includes a box bottom, a box top having a first aperture, and a transparent material immediately surrounding the first aperture. The check container is placed into a shipping carton, wherein the shipping carton has a second aperture. The mailing label is visible through the first aperture of the box top and through the second aperture of the shipping carton.

Abstract: A cassette box holder for a conventional type cassette box has a unitary body and a closure plate. The unitary body has a chamber with a planar top for the cassette box and an attached tab. The tab has a ridge which rises out of the plane of the tab and is angled towards the planar top of the cassette box. The ridged tab renders the cassette box holder resistant to folding and facilitates proper placement of the cassette box holder in display box.

Abstract: A low profile carrier for holding a plurality of memory disks during processing of the disks is described. The carrier is capable of securely holding disks of different thicknesses and is designed so that the disks are not damaged during insertion or removal of the disks from the carrier.