Abstract: A steering shaft assembly includes a male shaft having a plurality of splines formed thereon, each of the splines terminating at a spline end, wherein each of the spline ends form an angle of about 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal direction of the splines. The steering shaft assembly also includes a female shaft including a plurality of stakes located proximate an end of the female shaft, the stakes retaining the male shaft at an interface between the stakes and the spline ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enclosing a user is provided. The user is shielded from the ambient conditions existing outside a portable enclosure. The enclosure includes an insulation system. The insulation system includes a radiant barrier.

Abstract: A polymeric medical device is constructed from bioabsorbable polymers. The device is constructed from a tube comprised of at least one polymer. The polymer is treated at pre-determined heating and cooling temperatures to obtain a desired morphology. The morphology or arrangement of the polymeric structure ensures that the device maintains its shape characteristics to ensure proper modeling of the vessel. In particular, the crystallinity of the polymeric structure is adjusted so as to resist recoil. The device can also contain a therapeutic agent dispersed throughout the structure or coated on the structure in such a manner as to elute the therapeutic agent when implanted in an anatomical conduit. The device can also be constructed from a blend of polymers and other agents such as plasticizers.

Abstract: An apparatus prepares a medical device from a polymeric composition having properties such as increased visibility of the device and the ability to deliver therapeutic and other agents. The device is constructed with additives incorporated into the polymeric structure, such as a material that increases visibility of the device, while still maintaining desired mechanical characteristics such as high radial stiffness, minimized recoil values, and improved flexibility. The device can assume a wide range of geometries that are adaptable to various loading conditions In order to include performance-enhancing additives to the medical device without affecting mechanical performance, the additives are localized in discrete regions of a polymer structure from which a medical device will be formed. For example, a medical device can be prepared from a polymer form such as a tube containing radiopaque agent localized at its ends or in a desired pattern along the device.

Abstract: A composition for a pencil casing comprising 45-55% by weight polystyrene polymer or copolymer, 35-45% by weight wood fiber, 0-6% by weight lubricant, and 4-6% by weight compatibilizing agent. A preferred compatibilizing agent is polystyrene maleic anhydride. The preferred polystyrene is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The preferred lubricants are selected from aluminum stearate, calcium stearate, and zinc stearate, with zinc stearate the most preferred. The invention may optionally include 0-5% by weight polyethylene terephthalate and 0-5% by weight polyethylene. Also included are a pencil casing made from the composition and a pencil made from the composition.

Abstract: An eraser composition comprising 22-41 wt % styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer, 5-15 wt % ethylene/propylene copolymer, 30-50 wt % calcium carbonate, 10-25 wt % factice; and 0.1-7 wt % pumice is provided. The eraser composition optionally contains up to 1 wt % titanium dioxide. The eraser composition preferably has a hardness of from 70 to 85 Shore A.

Abstract: Filament-reinforced biomedical devices, and methods of making them.

Abstract: A lightweight, collapsible chair with four legs supporting the corners of a square seat and a back cantilevered from a single leg, placed diagonally over and across the square seat, and positioned between the diagonal and the single leg so that the user straddles the front leg and places his body weight in the center of the seat, thereby contributing to chair comfort and stability.

Abstract: A light weight, collapsible, full-size cot with telescoping side rails permanently attached within sleeves at each side of the fabric top, and transverse leg assemblies which support and push apart the side rails by a finely controlled pivoting action to stretch the fabric top to the particular degree of tautness suitable to each cot user.