Abstract: A street identification sign assembly which is formed of a suitable synthetic resin for resisting the various damaging abuses to which such structures are subjected, and is of special configuration for deterring theft. The sign assembly includes a special post cap for attachment to the inside of a vertical sign post by mounting hardware that is completely hidden and inaccessible when the sign assembly is fully assembled on the sign post. At least one street identifying sign, and usually two, are mounted on the post cap by special interconnecting structures that are integrally formed on the post cap and on the signs so as to be hidden from view and resist disassembly of an installed street sign assembly.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket and palatal bar system for lingual placement in the maxillary dental arch. The bracket provides a generally vertical socket to receive a pin on the adjacent end of the palatal bar by upward movement of the bar within the mouth. The bar has an antirotation link which seats in a mating bracket slot, and the bracket includes a separate rectangular slot to receive an edgewise arch wire.

Abstract: An improved method of orthondontic electroosteogenesis comprises providing a biocompatible anode having a noble metal portion in engagement with an electrolytic gel portion comprising agarose and an electrolyte, where the anode gel portion is in engagement with epithelial gingiva at an area of osteoclastic or osteoblastic activity, and a biocompatible cathode having a noble metal portion in engagement with an electrolytic gel portion comprising agarose, an electrolyte, and a weak, biocompatible acid, where the cathode gel portion is in engagement with epithelial gingiva at an area of osteoblastic or osteoclastic activity. Electric current is then applied across the anode and cathode to stimulate osteogenesis. The invention also comprises biocompatible electrodes for electric stimulation of tissue.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for fabricating a precisely dimensioned orthodontic appliance. The apparatus includes a lingual tube/molar band assembly having a molar band attached to a patient's teeth and one or more lingual tubes. The apparatus also includes a transfer insert for use as a marking device and transfer lingual tubes, corresponding to the lingual tubes of the lingual tube/molar band assembly. In practicing the method, the transfer insert is seated in the lingual tubes of the lingual tube/molar band assembly. A negative impression is then taken with the transfer insert being absorbed into the impression material. The location of the lingual tubes are marked in the negative impression using the transfer insert. The transfer lingual tubes are then joined to the transfer insert. Stone is then poured into the negative impression to create the positive model of the patient's teeth.

Abstract: Animal handling apparatus in the form of a closed track around which a number of carriages may run. Each carriage has a cradle for supporting an animal on its back, the cradle portion being rotatable relative to the remainder of the carriage. A catching box turns a sheep on its side and down a ramp onto a cradle on its back and a hook connected to an air pump catches and decelerates a moving carriage to deposit a treated sheep back on its feet.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument in accordance with the present invention includes a substantially non-cutting pilot segment, a relatively short cutting segment, and a flexible shaft segment, which can have a handle at its distal end for manual manipulation, or an adapter for attachment to a mechanical handpiece. The non-cutting pilot, the short length of the cutting segment, and the flexibility of the shaft combine to allow the instrument to be used in curved root canals without causing undue change in the natural root canal contours.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for use by dentists in determining the actual length of a root canal based upon a single x-ray picture. The method involves inserting a probe a known distance partially into the root canal before taking the x-ray picture. The picture is then analyzed to compare the visually observed, apparent lengths of the root canal and probe with the known length of the probe. The actual length of the root canal is determined by direct arithmetic proportion based upon the observed apparent lengths. The apparatus facilitates measurement of said observed apparent lengths utilizing manipulating knobs and an illuminated scale resembling a thermometer scale.

Abstract: In a dental post and coping combination in which the coping is a tubular envelope open at one end, a shoulder around the base of the post which has an annular surface on the locus of a first curvilinear surface, and an annular meeting surface around the open end of the coping which is on the locus of a second shallower curvilinear surface cone, so that when the two parts are assembled the two surfaces meet on the locus of a circle that coincides with the larger periphery of at least one of the two surfaces.

Abstract: A perforated dental post system is provided for anchoring a crown to the root of a tooth. This post consists of a shank with a spiral thread running lengthwise thereof. Serrations are provided on the shank. Flanges are provided at the upper end of the post. A central bore runs lengthwise of the post, and spaced transverse or perpendicular cross bores are provided in the post. When the bores are filled with cement and the outer wall of the post is coated with cement, the post can be anchored to the tooth root and to the crown. In a second embodiment of the dental post, a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves are provided in the surface of the post together with a plurality of shallow longitudinally and radially extending bores. When the various bores and grooves are filled with cement, they can be used to anchor the post in a tooth.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is disclosed having a body, with the body having a face adapted to be secured to a tooth and a slot in the body for receiving an orthodontic arch wire. The bracket has a platen for biasing or forcing the arch wire into the slot and for holding the wire in the slot.

Abstract: Cat litter is packaged and sold in a rectangular carton made of cardboard and having two opposing end flaps and two opposing side flaps. When opened, the flaps form upright side walls and enable the carton to be used as a litter tray. A reusable pastic collar is adapted to slip over the flaps to hold the flaps open and to rigidify the carton during use.

Abstract: The apparatus travels along a multi-tier arrangement of poultry cages, each tier comprising two rows of cages, the cages in these two rows adjoining back-to-back. The apparatus has transversely spaced, depending side units travelling along the cage-fronts and each including a feed container and a lift conveyor lifting feed from the container up to levels associated with the different tiers. At each such level a respective outflow chute on each side unit receives feed, continuously, from the lift conveyor and discharges the same into a feed trough that extends horizontally along the cage-fronts at the respective long side of the multi-tier cage arrangement, so that during dispensing-apparatus travel each longitudinally successive portion of the feed trough receives feed directly from the travelling outflow chute's discharge end. Each chute has an internal feed-flow passage formed by an inclined bottom wall, down along which the feed slides, as well as side walls and a top wall.

Abstract: A dental floss dispenser that includes a body having a cavity for holding a spool of the dental floss and a cover removably mounted on the body providing access to the cavity. There is an outlet hole in the body member for pulling therethrough the string of the dental floss. There are a series of side-by-side slots in walls of the body that extend across the top wall and a longitudinal cutting edge on a knife located within the body is exposed in respective ones of the slots.

Abstract: In a water supplying system for small animal cages, a main pipe connected to a water supply source, and branch pipes connected to the main pipe are made of a transparent, flexible material such as silicone resin. These main pipe and branch pipes are detachable to be disassembled for cleaning and sterilization whereby multiplication of bacteria in these pipes can be prevented.

Abstract: An enclosure for poultry is described which has a feeding floor with openings to allow the feeding of the poultry housed therein. The enclosure is provided with a partition which is used to change the effective size of the openings through which the birds gain entry to the feed trough. Smaller openings, suitable for small birds and large openings, suitable for larger birds, are thus provided. When not in use, the partition is pivoted to a vertical position, away from the cage floor so that it does not interfere with the movement of the birds.

Abstract: A method of setting hair or fur comprises applying to the hair or fur a composition for reducing keratin disulfide bonds, allowing the hair or fur to stand in a desired configuration, applying to the hair or fur a composition to set the hair or fur in a desired wave or straightened configuration, and washing or drying the hair or fur, where the composition to set the hair or fur is an ionic, water-soluble compound, which is substantially non-oxidizing to the products of keratin reduction and which reforms substantially all the keratin disulfide bonds, while substantially avoiding precipitation. The kit comprising and facilitating the same method is included.

Abstract: A submergible screw-type implant includes a longitudinal channel which directs bone chips towards the base of a bore in the patient's bone in which the implant is installed. These bone chips promote autogenous rapid regrowth of new bone to securely anchor the implant in place. In order to be able to position the implant at the most advantageous angle at the edentulous sight, angled abutments for supporting an artificial tooth structure or angularly adjustable abutments are provided. The angularly adjustable abutments may be in the form of a ball and socket joint in which the socket includes an inner casing having a peripheral extension that acts to lock the joint at the desired angle. Also, the support for an artificial tooth may include a shock-absorbing cushion to prevent some of the forces of mastication from disturbing the implant.

Abstract: An uprighting spring for use with an edgewise and/or ribbon arch type bracket wherein the spring includes, a coil or force-generating portion adapted to be disposed on the labial surface of the bracket, a tail to be anchored in a vertical opening or slot of the bracket or to a tie wing of an edgewise bracket, and means connected to the coil portion and adaptable to extend substantially along the archwire and be connected to the archwire when activating the spring.

Abstract: A dental measuring apparatus is provided for accurately measuring dentures, models, bite blocks and the like, and comprises a table, a support and a probe. On the table is marked a datum point and a scale indicating distances from the datum point. The probe is movable relative to the support axially of itself towards and away from the datum point. A scale is marked on the support to indicate the height of the probe above the datum point.

Abstract: A dowel-pin for a tooth-die has two longitudinally spaced bore holes into which are inserted corresponding pins of a U-shaped locking device to form an assembly which is embedded in the base stone during the fabrication of a dental model. After trimming of the stone, the locking device is removed to permit a corresponding tooth die to be removed from the model. When the tooth die is returned to the model, the locking device is reinserted through the stone and into the bore holes of the dowel-pin, thereby locking the tooth die and dowel-pin against movement in all directions.