Abstract: An orthotic brace for an anatomic joint includes an upper brace portion for securement about an upper limb portion of the joint and a lower brace portion pivotally coupled to the upper brace portion for securement about a lower limb portion of the joint. A cable guide is pivotal relative to the lower brace portion and is operative between a working condition fixed for rotation with the upper brace portion relative to the lower brace portion and a released condition in which the upper brace portion pivots independently. A spring is coupled between the lower brace portion and a cable about the cable guide to bias towards an extended position in the working condition of the cable guide. Stops on the guide prescribe the range of biased motion in the working condition and independent stops on the brace portions prescribe the range of unbiased motion in the released condition.

Abstract: A vegetation barrier for use beneath a fence to inhibit the growth of vegetation beneath said fence includes two vegetation barrier members and an intermediate member. Each vegetation barrier member is joinable to a fence post at one end and engages an intermediate member at the opposite end through longitudinally slidable engagement, allowing the vegetation barrier to readily accommodate uneven spacing between fence posts and further allowing the vegetation barrier to expand and contract. The vegetation barrier member and/or the intermediate member may further comprise elongated openings that allow the vegetation barrier to be secured to an underlying surface by a securement member that passes through the elongated opening and into the underlying surface, while still allowing for expansion and contraction of the vegetation barrier. Further provided are methods of covering a surface beneath a fence using said vegetation barrier.

Abstract: An orthotic brace for an anatomic joint includes an upper brace portion for securement about an upper limb portion of the joint and a lower brace portion pivotally coupled to the upper brace portion for securement about a lower limb portion of the joint. A cable guide is pivotal relative to the lower brace portion and is operative between a working condition fixed for rotation with the upper brace portion relative to the lower brace portion and a released condition in which the upper brace portion pivots independently. A spring is coupled between the lower brace portion and a cable about the cable guide to bias towards an extended position in the working condition of the cable guide. Stops on the guide prescribe the range of biased motion in the working condition and independent stops on the brace portions prescribe the range of unbiased motion in the released condition.

Abstract: A means for decreasing or eliminating blind spots through the combination of a flexible electronic display and exterior cameras which allow the user to see if anything is occupying a traditional blind spot. Information received from the exterior cameras is combined through the use of photo-stitching allowing for presentation of a wider range of view than that presented by a single camera and providing the perception that the viewer is able to directly view spaces near the car that are in a blind spot such as cars in adjacent lanes near the rear quarter of the car and items that are too low to see.

Abstract: A precoat filtration element for a condensate polisher system that yields high weld strength in the form of a septa having a core with a plurality of perforations and wound filter elements, the wound filter elements wound around said core, and the septa including an extension flange at one end; and an end fitting having a solid base and a threaded post, the end fitting being slideably engaged within the extension flange such that an outside wall of the solid base is in mechanical contact with an inside wall of said extension flange, and upon insertion, the threaded post is coaxial with the septa center axis, and extends longitudinally outwards away from said septa. Spot welding the end fitting solid base to the extension flange provides high tensile strength over prior art designs.

Abstract: A vegetation barrier for use beneath a fence to inhibit the growth of vegetation beneath said fence, the vegetation barrier comprising two vegetation barrier members and an intermediate member. Each vegetation barrier member is joinable to a fence post at one end and engages an intermediate member at the opposite end through longitudinally slidable engagement, allowing the vegetation barrier to readily accommodate uneven spacing between fence posts and further allowing the vegetation barrier to expand and contract. The vegetation barrier member and/or the intermediate member may further comprise elongated openings that allow the vegetation barrier to be secured to an underlying surface by a securement member that passes through the elongated opening and into the underlying surface, while still allowing for expansion and contraction of the vegetation barrier. Further provided are methods of covering a surface beneath a fence using said vegetation barrier.

Abstract: An underdrain filter or strainer for use with power generation and ion exchange facilities, such as, but not limited to, deep bed demineralizers used in nuclear power plants deep bed ion exchangers. The filter is fabricated from a sintered, stainless steel mesh or wire-cloth filter media having a pore structure with pore size ranging approximately from one micron to two hundred microns. The filter media is composed of a plurality of filter media layers including a perforated inner core bonded to at least one drainage wire mesh, a filtration wire mesh, and a protective wire mesh forming an outer diameter, the layers being diffusion bonded to form a single monolithic laminate.