Abstract: A visor vanity for use in a vehicle includes a vanity mirror, a light source for providing illumination to the user of the mirror or for other purposes, an energy source independent of the vehicle's electrical system for energizing the light source, a switch for causing light source to be energized by the independent power source or de-energized, and a timer for de-energizing the light source after a certain time period has passed so as to minimize depletion of the independent energy source. The light source may comprise one or more LEDs.

Abstract: A visor vanity for use in a vehicle includes a vanity mirror, a light source for providing illumination to the user of the mirror or for other purposes, an energy source independent of the vehicle's electrical system for energizing the light source, a switch for causing light source to be energized by the independent power source or de-energized, and a timer for de-energizing the light source after a certain time period has passed so as to minimize depletion of the independent energy source. The light source may comprise one or more LEDs.

Abstract: A seat track assembly for adjusting a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle comprising a lower track having a first plurality of apertures, an upper track slidably mounted to the lower track and having a second plurality of apertures. A latch assembly is fixedly mounted to the upper track. The latch assembly includes a plurality of locking fingers projecting through the apertures in the upper track and adapted to be received in at least one of the apertures in the lower track. An actuator moves the fingers between a locked condition engaged with at least one of the apertures in the lower track and an unlocked condition spaced from each of the apertures in the lower track and a biasing member biases the fingers to the locked condition regardless of a relative position between the upper and lower tracks.

Abstract: A seat track assembly for adjusting a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle comprising a lower track having a first plurality of apertures, an upper track slidably mounted to the lower track and having a second plurality of apertures. A latch assembly is fixedly mounted to the upper track. The latch assembly includes a plurality of locking fingers projecting through the apertures in the upper track and adapted to be received in at least one of the apertures in the lower track. An actuator moves the fingers between a locked condition engaged with at least one of the apertures in the lower track and an unlocked condition spaced from each of the apertures in the lower track and a biasing member biases the fingers to the locked condition regardless of a relative position between the upper and lower tracks.

Abstract: A fold and tumble seat support assembly (10) for removably securing a vehicle seat to a pair of front and rear strikers (12, 14) on the floor (16) of a vehicle. The seat support assembly includes a riser (20) having a pair of forward (32) and rearward (34) legs. A rear latch (36) is pivotally connected to each of the rearward legs (34) and operable by a first linkage mechanism (40) to latch and unlatch with the rear strikers (14). A front latch (64) is pivotally connected to each of the forward legs (32) and operable by a front latch handle (68) to latch and unlatch with the front strikers. A rear support leg (74) supports the rearward legs (34) of the riser above the vehicle floor (16). A foot bracket (56) is pivotally connected to each of the forward legs (32) for supporting the riser (20) above the vehicle floor (16) between both a generally horizontal use position and a forwardly pivoted tumbled position.

Abstract: A seat track assembly for adjusting a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle. The seat track assembly comprises a lower track and slidably coupled to an upper track. A locking mechanism includes a fixed lock plate secured to the lower track and having a first plurality of apertures. A moving lock plate is secured to the upper track and includes spaced apart and parallel upper and lower locking plates sandwiched on opposing sides of the fixed lock plate. Each of the upper and lower locking plates include a second plurality of apertures for aligning with the apertures in the fixed lock plate. A housing is mounted to the moving lock plate above the apertures. A pair of shear plates are slidably disposed within the housing and have opposing offset engagement fingers. The shear plates are biased to a locked position for selectively engaging the first and second apertures to lock and secure the upper track to the lower track.

Abstract: A lever action floor latch actuation mechanism for removably securing a seat to a pair of front and rear strikers on the floor of a vehicle. A riser having a forward leg and a rearward leg supports the seat above the vehicle floor. Front and rear latches are pivotally connected to the forward and rearward legs, respectively, for releasably securing the seat to the strikers. A longitudinal links pivotally interconnects the front and rear latches and an actuation member coupled to the link simultaneously moves the latches between a latched position engaging the strikers and an unlatched position disengaging the strikers. Each latch includes a cinch cam pivotally connecting the latch to the riser. The cinch cam has a cylindrical outer surface terminating at a flattened cam surface. A spacer plate is fixedly secured between the latch and the riser and includes a center aperture for rotatably receiving the cinch cam. The aperture forms a circular section and a tangential slot for seating a flexible plate.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: A linear surgical stapler having clamping and firing triggers pivotally mounted to the frame of the instrument for pivotal rotation toward a hand grip is disclosed. The clamping trigger is positioned between the firing trigger and the hand grip. Each of the triggers are pivotally mounted to pivot pins spaced from each other within the body portion of the frame. Pivotal rotation of the first trigger is independent of pivotal rotation of the second trigger. When the clamping trigger is pivotally rotated toward the hand grip, the clamping and firing transmission assemblies move distally in tandem. Before the first trigger is pivoted, the firing transmission assembly blocks pivotal rotation of the second trigger. When the first trigger is pivoted, the initial distal movement of the firing transmission assembly enables the firing trigger to be in a position to pivotally rotate, and therefore cause the firing of staples.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: An improved surgical stapling instrument is provided for applying surgical staples to human tissue. The instrument has an articulated stapling head assembly mounted by a rotatable and flexible support shaft on an actuator handle assembly with an improved actuator mechanism for closing and firing the stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly comprises a fixed jaw with a staple cartridge and a movable jaw with an anvil for clamping the tissue therebetween. The actuator mechanism comprises a jaw closure lever for closing the jaws and a staple firing lever for actuating a staple driver to drive the staples from the staple cartridge into the tissue and against the anvil. The actuator mechanism also includes a cam pulley mounted for rotation by the staple firing lever and secured to a firing cable for actuating the staple driver.

Abstract: A two-part surgical fastener comprises a staple and a receiver which are adapted to secure body tissue together. The staple is generally U-shaped and includes at least two prongs with barbed distal ends which penetrate the tissue and are latched by the receiver. Each prong of the staple is configured as an elongated prism of hexagonal cross-section and includes a barbed tip with an enlarged hexagonal cross-section at its free end. Each aperture of the receiver is hexagonal in configuration and includes a pair of opposed ledges for engaging the barbed tip. The tip of each prong has a pointed distal end formed by a first pair of sloped surfaces which form the sharp angle and a second pair of sloped surfaces which form a blunt angle. The staple includes longitudinal ridges or grooves on the prongs which are engaged and guided by longitudinal channels or ribs provided in a staple cartridge. The staple and receiver consist of bioabsorbable material.