Abstract: A continuous sealing flat for a truck cargo box for a unibody motor vehicle includes a pair of parallel opposed top side rails and a cab back panel disposed between and orthogonally thereto. A central portion of the cab back panel has a central ledge having a substantially flat upper surface extending horizontally between each of the pair of parallel opposed top side rails. A pair of corner members is disposed over and proximate a forward end of each of the parallel opposed top side rails. A forward end of a horizontal portion of each of the pair of corner members comprises a flat upper surface proximate to and at substantially the same vertical height as a vertical height of the flat upper surface of the central ledge to form a substantially continuous corner flat upper surface.

Abstract: A continuous sealing flat for a truck cargo box for a unibody motor vehicle includes a pair of parallel opposed top side rails and a cab back panel disposed between and orthogonally thereto. A central portion of the cab back panel has a central ledge having a substantially flat upper surface extending horizontally between each of the pair of parallel opposed top side rails. A pair of corner members is disposed over and proximate a forward end of each of the parallel opposed top side rails. A forward end of a horizontal portion of each of the pair of corner members comprises a flat upper surface proximate to and at substantially the same vertical height as a vertical height of the flat upper surface of the central ledge to form a substantially continuous corner flat upper surface.

Abstract: Cylindrical ion traps (CITs) that can be used for molecular sample identification, as well as systems and methods using the same, are provided. A CIT can utilize a notched ring electrode having an inner diameter that increases as a first end of the CIT is approached from the center of the CIT or from a second end of the CIT. The first end can be the one positioned closer to the ion detector than is the second end, which can be positioned closer to the ion source than is the first end.

Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has an archwire slot, two outer tracks extending in an occlusal-gingival direction on the outer lateral surfaces of the bracket, and a vertical trough extending in an occlusal-gingival direction between the outer tracks. A clip has two parallel outer arms and a central tongue between the outer arms. The outer tracks of the bracket slidably engage the outer arms of the clip and the central tongue is slidably engaged by the vertical trough of the bracket, thereby allowing the clip to slidably move between an open position in which the outer arms of the clip are retracted from the archwire slot to allow an archwire to be placed into the archwire slot, and a closed position in which the outer arms of the clip extend across the archwire slot to retain the archwire in the archwire slot.

Abstract: An orthodontic assembly is adapted for attaching an archwire to a tooth. The assembly includes a body having a bracket and a base, wherein the bracket is adapted to be coupled to an archwire. The bracket and base are integrally formed as a single piece of material. An attachment portion is sized and shaped to be attached to a first region of the base, wherein the attachment portion includes an irregular contour adapted to couple to a bonding agent.

Abstract: A low-profile orthodontic assembly comprising a bracket having a base surface and a top surface, the base surface for mounting to a tooth; at least two pairs of spaced-apart wings, the pairs in mutual faced-apart arrangement, extending upward from the bracket, each wing terminated by a distal end spaced-above the top surface; the distal ends of each the pair of wings joined together by a cross-member to form a passageway thereunder, above the bracket top surface and between the pair of wings; each the pair of wings positioned on opposite sides of a slot formed in the bracket to receive therein an archwire passing along the bracket; and, a cap for assembly with the bracket to cover a portion of the slot including a pair of springy, flexible tongues extending from opposite ends thereof for insertion down into the passageways to spring upward against the cross-members and retain the cap over the archwire with minimal contact therebetween.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is provided to assist in aligning with the occlusal plane in the tooth long axis of a patient's tooth when mounting the bracket on the tooth. The orthodontic bracket has a tie wing recess having a rhomboidal configuration and an archwire slot recess also having a rhomboidal configuration. Vertical sight lines are used to assist in aligning with the tooth long axis and the horizontal sight lines are used to assist in aligning with the occlusal plane. The archwire slot recess also reduces friction between the archwire slot and the archwire.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for use in the mouth which includes an annealing process to provide a marking area. A laser is used to surface anneal an orthodontic appliance, such as an orthodontic bracket, for identification purposes and to withstand a number of recycling processes for sterilization purposes. The surface annealing process does not remelt the marking area and is an advantage over the prior art in that the marking area is not rough or weakened by remelting the structure.

Abstract: The machine comprises a thermoforming box (116) which receives the container (126) and which is itself fitted into a cutting box (100), a heating die (148) mounted in vertically slideable manner above the said boxes and capable of squeezing a thermoforming film (44) or a closing film on the upper edge of the thermoforming box and of thermoforming the film (44) inside the container.