Abstract: A suture for binding fractured bone parts together, when placed around a bone, to enhance regrowth and healing of the bone. The suture comprises a resilient monofilament material having continuously occurring contact areas uniformly separated from each other by non-contacting spaces to permit the continuity of blood vessels nerve channels, body fluids or other body parts from one side of the suture to its other side when the suture is under tension around a bone or cartilage.

Abstract: The invention is a container for storing and transporting a plurality of beverage containers and the like. The container includes a substantially frusto-pyramidal housing having four supporting walls and a top wall supported by the supporting walls. The container has at least one storage chamber extending downwardly from the top wall, and the supporting walls are arranged to telescopingly engage supporting walls of an identical container and each chamber nestles within a corresponding chamber of the identical container when the container is stacked upon the identical container and the identical container is empty of beverage containers. Means are provided for securing identical containers together in a stacked arrangement for easy transport.

Abstract: A surgical bone tie for securing separated sections of bone including a needle for penetrating the separated sections after they have been placed in juxtaposition, a cutting member at the trailing end of the needle for cutting a hole of rectangular cross section as the needle is pulled through the bone, a flexible metal band of rectangular cross section attached to the trailing end of the cutting member to fit into the hole formed by the cutting member, and a flat locking member at the trailing end of the band having a plurality of holes for receiving an intermediate portion of the band and securing this intermediate portion of the band to the locking member, with portions of the band lying above the flat locking member to hold it flat against the bone and with the free end of the band remaining after the needle was cut therefrom being concealed underneath a portion of the locking member so as not to provide an exposed sharp end.

Abstract: An energy conserving device for preventing loss of heat energy from a heater to a chimney by means of a fluid gas heat trap to choke off either chimney draft and/or heated convectional air currents lost to the chimney when the heater is OFF but allowing combustion gasses to vent freely to the chimney when such gasses are generated. The deivce also acts as a diverter for either up or down drafts from the chimney to direct them away from the heater. In another form when the device is used with a forced air type furnace, the device in addition provides heat interchange between room air and the hot gasses in the trap. This then heated air is drawn into the circulating system of the furnace adding to its temperature while lowering the temperature of the vented combustion gasses, to lessen the heat loss up the chimney.

Abstract: An energy conserving device for preventing loss of heat energy from a heater to a chimney by means of a fluid gas heat trap to choke off either chimney draft and/or heated convectional air currents lost to the chimney when the heater is OFF but allowing combustion gasses to vent freely to the chimney when such gasses are generated. The device also acts as a diverter for either up or down drafts from the chimney to direct them away from the heater. In another form when the device is used with a forced air type furnace, the device in addition provides heat interchange between room air and the hot gasses in the trap. This then heated air is drawn into the circulating system of the furnace adding to its temperature while lowering the temperature of the vented combustion gasses, to lessen the heat loss up the chimney.

Abstract: A soft non marring carpet type support for articles while being heated into a softened condition consisting of either an intermittent or a continuous line of fine fiberglass fibers to accommodate either a flat or uneven surface in contact with the flexible tips, the support being so gentle and so distributed so as not to leave any impression on the articles softened surface. The support transmits a minimum of heat or cold by conduction, is transparent to infrared radiation across its thickness and also at the same time transmits infrared radiation through the length of its opticle fibers.

Abstract: A carrier and motivator of passive fishing baits, having a convenient attachment means and attached or remote fish hooking means.

Abstract: A soft non-marring carpet type support for articles while being heated into a softened condition consisting of either an intermittent or a continuous line of fine fiberglass fibers to accommodate either a flat or uneven surface in contact with the flexible tips, the support being so gentle and so distributed so as not to leave any impression on the articles softened surface. The support transmits a minimum of heat or cold by conduction, is transparent to infrared radiation across its thickness and also at the same time transmits infrared radiation through the length of its optical fibers.

Abstract: A device for heating an article up to a selected controlled temperature by irradiation of infrared rays upon the article of both longer and shorter wave lengths simultaneously as well as by conventional hot air. The infrared radiation evolves from an electrical generator behind a foraminious or perforate sheet forming a second radiation source of infrared rays of longer wave length than that of the generator through its absorption of the shorter rays from the generator while its perforations allow direct rays from the generator to pass through. The second radiator or perforate sheet is also used to control electrical current to the generator by its expansion and contraction to limit the generator's highest temperature while motivated air flows through the generator and the openings in the perforate sheet and being heated thereby flows on, aiding the radiation to heat the article.

Abstract: A soft non marring carpet type support for articles while being heated into a softened condition consisting of either an intermittent or a continuous line of fine fiberglass fibers to accommodate either a flat or uneven surface in contact with the flexible tips, the support being so gentle and so distributed so as not to leave any impression on the articles softened surface. The support transmits a minimum of heat or cold by conduction, is transparent to infrared radiation across its thickness and also at the same time transmits infrared radiation through the length of its optical fibers.

Abstract: A device for heating a thermoplastic eyeglass frame having a rim and bridge portion and a temple portion, includes a housing having a pair of spaced infrared heat radiating surfaces mounted therein. The surfaces form an open-ended channel therebetween for receiving one of the eyeglass frame portions while permitting the other of said frame portions to remain out of range of the heat radiating surfaces. The heat radiating surfaces comprise spaced external surfaces on a heating block having a heating element embedded therein. The front radiating surface is larger than the rim and bridge portion of the frames while the rear radiating surface is smaller than the rim and bridge portion, for allowing the temple portions of the frames to extend beyond the rear radiating surface without exposure to that radiation.

Abstract: A device for electrically heating thermoplastic articles includes a housing having means for receiving the article in position to be heated. An infrared generator in the form of a tungsten halogen lamp is located in the housing and a split, out-of-phase parabolic reflector system is provided for directing the radiation from the lamp onto plural sides of the article. A blower in the housing provides a flow of cooling air over the lamp and reflector system. A thermal control means responsive to the combination of radiant heat absorbed from the lamp and the cooling effect of the flow of air is provided for cycling the lamp on and off to control the radiant energy emitted therefrom. The lamp may be surrounded by a foraminous thermal converter which allows some of the direct radiation from the lamp to filter through to be directed to the article and interrupts and absorbs the remainder of the radiation converting it to heat which is picked up by the air flow for delivery to the article being heated.

Abstract: A device for heating a thermoplastic eyeglass frame having a rim and bridge portion and a temple portion, includes a housing having a pair of spaced infrared heat radiating surfaces mounted therein. The surfaces form an open-ended channel therebetween for receiving one of the eyeglass frame portions while permitting the other of said frame portions to remain out of range of the heat radiating surfaces. The heat radiating surfaces comprise spaced external surfaces on a heating block having a heating element embedded therein. The front radiating surface is larger than the rim and bridge portion of the frames while the rear radiating surface is smaller than the rim and bridge portion, for allowing the temple portions of the frames to extend beyond the rear radiating surface without exposure to that radiation.

Abstract: A supplemental frame is used with a conventional carpet stretcher to transmit the rearward force from the carpet stretching operation to the tacking strip forwardly of the carpet stretcher as a pulling force. The supplemental frame has a blade which fits between the carpet engaging strip and the wall and a pressure member which is rearwardly of the carpet stretcher for the tailpiece of the carpet stretcher to abut.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for warming thermoplastic articles such as eyeglass frames quickly up to the softening temperature of the thermoplastic, but not exceeding the temperature at which degradation of the thermoplastic would take place by means of temperature controlled infrared radiators and also preferably using a body of heated air to blanket the thermoplastic article from ambient air.