Abstract: A medical personal-services suction handle includes a hand-graspable housing and a primary suction pathway disposed through the hand-graspable housing and having a suction line port at one end and an intake port at an opposing end thereof. An on/off valve disposed at least partially within the primary suction pathway has a user-manipulable interface by which the on/off valve selectively opens the primary suction pathway and occludes the primary suction pathway. A user-engageable pneumatic pathway serves, when selectively engaged, to pneumatically couple the primary suction pathway to a secondary external port in the hand-graspable housing such that suction is applied via the primary suction pathway to both the intake port and the secondary external port. By one approach the secondary external port comprises a thumb-control port.

Abstract: An accessory clamp for use with a rod includes an accessory interface and a corresponding rod clamp. The accessory interface includes at least one of at least one accessory hook and at least one accessory T-slot. By one approach, at least one of the accessory hooks comprises a pivoting accessory hook. By one approach the rod clamp can comprise a universal rod clamp. As one example in these regards, the universal rod clamp can include a selectively variable gripping surface to accommodate a variety of rod diameters. By one approach the accessory interface and the corresponding rod clamp can pivot with respect to one another.

Abstract: A quality-control device comprises a housing, a biasing member disposed within the housing, and a reciprocating puncturing member that is configured and oriented to selectively move inwardly of the housing in opposition to the biasing member. A maximum-compression indicator is configured to move inwardly of the housing in tandem with the puncturing member and a gauge serves to correlate a particular location of the maximum-compression indicator to a corresponding measure of compression as corresponds to a material being tested for quality. By one approach the indicator moves in response to inward movement of the puncturing member but is also configured to not move when the puncturing member moves outwardly of the housing. So configured the maximum-compression indicator will remain located at a point that corresponds to the furthest inward incursion of the puncturing member in opposition to the biasing member when the user presses the puncturing member against the material.

Abstract: A lockable swivelable caster provides for an interaction between a centering element and a locking element to pivotally urge the locking element into a locking notch of the centering element such that the locking element is captured by the locking notch to prevent swiveling of the caster wheel.

Abstract: A device includes a crutch (400) comprising at least two vertical crutch columns (404,405). A substantially flat panel (422) is attached to the crutch interior to the at least two vertical crutch columns. In one embodiment, the substantially flat panel comprising a marking receiving panel to accept a marking (530) from a marking instrument (531). The substantially flat panel can be at least partially coated with a marking receiving coating (302) in one embodiment.

Abstract: An autographable crutch (300) includes a crutch (322) and a marking receiving coating 302. The marking receiving coating at least partially covers the crutch and accepts a marking (330) from a marking instrument (331).

Abstract: Continuous motion apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles includes a plurality of removable and replaceable inker subassemblies each of which includes an inker section and a transmission section through which the inker section is mechanically connected to the main drive for the apparatus. Each inker subassembly applies a controlled film of ink to an individual associated printing cylinder that remains mounted to the main frame of the apparatus when its associated inker subassembly is dismounted from the main frame. The transmission section is a sealed unit that utilizes a liquid lubricant. Mounting stability is obtained by utilizing four mounting points where each inker unit engages the main frame. A readily releasable securing clamp is provided at each mounting point, and a sliding collar constitutes a readily disengageable coupling through which the input of the transmission section is driven by the main drive.

Abstract: A metering roll system for supplying ink to a printing plate, comprises a plurality of rotatable intermediate rolls for supplying ink to the printing plate; a rotatable metering roll for supplying ink to the plurality of intermediate rolls; a rotatable fountain roll for supplying ink to the metering roll; and two bearing rings for providing a constant gap between the fountain roll and the metering roll, the two bearing rings having a diameter greater than that of the metering roll and rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the metering roll and in rolling contact with opposite cylindrical ends of the fountain roll, whereby the gap between the fountain roll and metering roll is maintained constant along the entire length of the metering roll, regardless of eccentricities in rotation of the fountain roll and metering roll.