Abstract: A foot support and abduction assembly includes an abductor-mounted foot support configured for pivotal attachment proximate a foot end of a maternity bed. A calf support assembly, for mounting to the foot support, includes a housing for removably attaching the calf support to the foot support. The housing includes a spring-biased pin for releasably securing the housing to the foot support and at least one mounting stud configured for insertion into a keyhole aperture on the foot support. A calf support portion is adjustably mounted to the housing by a ball-type pivot mount. An adjustment mechanism is provided for selectively fixing the position of the calf support portion relative to the housing. The adjustment mechanism includes a slidable sleeve for locking the ball-type pivot, and a threaded rod or a cam shaft arranged to shift the slidable sleeve.

Abstract: A foot support and abduction assembly includes an abductor configured for pivotal attachment proximate a foot end of a maternity bed. The foot support is configured for locating in a stowed position below the abductor, and a calf support is attached to an undersurface of the foot support. An upright assembly has a first end that is secured to the abductor for longitudinal movement along a length of the abductor, a second end to which the foot support is movably mounted, and a locking mechanism for selectively securing the upright assembly in one of a plurality of positions along the length of the abductor. The upright assembly is further configured for movement from a deployed position to a stowed position, and the locking mechanism is unlocked when the upright assembly is in the stowed position.

Abstract: A combined ladder hook and bracket assembly including a bracket section with a first face angled with respect to a second face, a pair of opposing rung engaging gaffs on the distal ends of the bracket section and an arm interconnected with the bracket section. The arm includes a hook for attaching an article to the arm. The combined ladder hook and bracket assembly attaches to a ladder and a paint can or a tool attaches to the hook.

Abstract: An improved cutting device including: first and second handles and a movable jaw having forward and rearward portions; a stationary jaw fixed to the first handle, the second handle including first pivot means for connecting the second handle to the stationary jaw and second pivot means for connecting the second handle to the movable jaw for providing slicing action between the jaws; and means, spaced from the first and second pivot means, for constraining motion of the rearward portion of the movable jaw and amplifying the leverage applied to the jaws by the handles through the first and second pivot means.

Abstract: Messages are collected by a central polling station from a plurality of remote terminal stations on a multiparty line. The central polling station is arranged to initially query stations in groups, probing successively smaller size subgroups of each group if a station in the group returns an acknowledgement that it has a message and eventually addressing individual stations to collect the messages. In heavily loaded periods, when a large quantity of messages are available at the terminals, the polling station initially queries a smaller size subgroup (or in the extreme, initially addresses individual stations) while in lightly loaded periods, when few or no messages are available, the polling station initially queries a larger size group (or in the extreme, initially broadcasts a query to all of the terminals). Loading of the system is determined by measuring the duration of time required for polling and collecting all the available messages.