Abstract: In one aspect, a guide assembly for seat belt webbing in a vehicle includes a support member and a locking member extending through the support member. The support member engages the locking member when a predetermined force is exerted by the seat belt webbing onto the support member. The locking member prevents the support member from pivoting relative to the vehicle when the support member engages the locking member. In another aspect, a guide assembly for seat belt webbing in a vehicle includes a support member having a first locking projection, a locking member having a second locking projection, and a bushing positioned radially between the locking member and the support member. The first locking projection penetrates into and/or through the bushing to engage the second locking projection when a predetermined force is exerted by the seat belt webbing onto the support member.

Abstract: A seatbelt arrangement for restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a seat. The seatbelt arrangement has a latch plate and a buckle to which the latch plate can be locked. The buckle includes a housing having a plurality of sidewalls, a biasing member anchor provided on one of the plurality of sidewalls, and a mounting anchor. A mounting member is connected to the mounting anchor. The mounting member secures the buckle to the vehicle. A biasing member is attached to the biasing member anchor. The biasing member biases the buckle to a stowed position when the seatbelt arrangement is unfastened.

Abstract: In one aspect, a guide assembly for seat belt webbing in a vehicle includes a support member and a locking member extending through the support member. The support member engages the locking member when a predetermined force is exerted by the seat belt webbing onto the support member. The locking member prevents the support member from pivoting relative to the vehicle when the support member engages the locking member. In another aspect, a guide assembly for seat belt webbing in a vehicle includes a support member having a first locking projection, a locking member having a second locking projection, and a bushing positioned radially between the locking member and the support member. The first locking projection penetrates into and/or through the bushing to engage the second locking projection when a predetermined force is exerted by the seat belt webbing onto the support member.

Abstract: A seatbelt arrangement for restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a seat. The seatbelt arrangement has a latch plate and a buckle to which the latch plate can be locked. The buckle includes a housing having a plurality of sidewalls, a biasing member anchor provided on one of the plurality of sidewalls, and a mounting anchor. A mounting member is connected to the mounting anchor. The mounting member secures the buckle to the vehicle. A biasing member is attached to the biasing member anchor.

Abstract: A system (110, 150) for targeting a landmark (114, 160) is disclosed. The system includes an instrumented medical implant (112, 152), a control circuit (118, 153), a power supply (120, 157), and a landmark identifier (122, 154). The instrumented medical implant (112, 152) has one or more landmarks (114, 160) and each landmark (114, 160) has a corresponding coil (116, 162). The control circuit (118, 153) is electrically connected to the corresponding coil (116, 162), and the power supply (120, 157) is electrically connected to the control circuit (118,153). The landmark identifier (122, 154) has a magnetic sensor (124, 155) for sensing the corresponding coil (116, 162).

Abstract: An instrumented orthopaedic implant, such as an intramedullary (IM) nail, is disclosed. The implant has the capacity to provide an accurate measurement of the applied mechanical load across the implant. The implant includes sensors and associated electronic components located in recesses on the outer surface of the implant. The implant houses the sensing apparatus, the interface circuitry, the data transmitter, and the power receiver. The hermetically sealed housing is adapted for implantation in the body of a patient. The implant is used with a controller which communicates with it by telemetry, and there is an acting unit connected to the electronic components which is adapted to carry out a function based upon a condition detected by the sensors.

Abstract: An instrumented orthopaedic implant, such as an intramedullary (IM) nail, is disclosed. The implant has the capacity to provide an accurate measurement of the applied mechanical load across the implant. The implant includes sensors and associated electronic components located in recesses on the outer surface of the implant. The implant houses the sensing apparatus, the interface circuitry, the data transmitter, and the power receiver. The hermetically sealed housing is adapted for implantation in the body of a patient. The implant is used with a controller which communicates with it by telemetry, and there is an acting unit connected to the electronic components which is adapted to carry out a function based upon a condition detected by the sensors.

Abstract: An instrumented orthopaedic implant, such as an intramedullary (IM) nail, is disclosed. The implant has the capacity to provide an accurate measurement of the applied mechanical load across the implant. The implant includes sensors and associated electronic components located in recesses on the outer surface of the implant. The implant houses the sensing apparatus, the interface circuitry, the data transmitter, and the power receiver. The hermetically sealed housing is adapted for implantation in the body of a patient. The implant is used with a controller which communicates with it by telemetry, and there is an acting unit connected to the electronic components which is adapted to carry out a function based upon a condition detected by the sensors.

Abstract: A system (110, 150) for targeting a landmark (114, 160) is disclosed. The system includes an instrumented medical implant (112, 152), a control circuit (118, 153), a power supply (120, 157), and a landmark identifier (122, 154). The instrumented medical implant (112, 152) has one or more landmarks (114, 160) and each landmark (114, 160) has a corresponding coil (116, 162). The control circuit (118, 153) is electrically connected to the corresponding coil (116, 162), and the power supply (120, 157) is electrically connected to the control circuit (118,153). The landmark identifier (122, 154) has a magnetic sensor (124, 155) for sensing the corresponding coil (116, 162).

Abstract: A system and method for identifying, locating, and managing inventory of sterilized medical devices located within a sealed sterilization case in preparation for a surgical procedure. Communication tags, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) and/or Global Positioning System (GPS) tags, are connected to the medical device and communicate information wirelessly. Information is obtained from the communication tags and sent to the database where it is compared with the information in the database. The results may be displayed on the interface thereby providing the user with information about the medical instruments contained in the sealed sterilization case without breaking the seal of the sealed sterilization case.

Abstract: An instrumented orthopaedic implant, such as an intramedullary (IM) nail, is disclosed. The implant has the capacity to provide an accurate measurement of the applied mechanical load across the implant. The implant includes sensors and associated electronic components located in recesses on the outer surface of the implant. The implant houses the sensing apparatus, the interface circuitry, the data transmitter, and the power receiver. The hermetically sealed housing is adapted for implantation in the body of a patient. The implant is used with a controller which communicates with it by telemetry, and there is an acting unit connected to the electronic components which is adapted to carry out a function based upon a condition detected by the sensors.

Abstract: The invention is a plastic essentially rectangular modular pallet assembly, the parts of which are also modular, comprising front and rear vertical transverse stringer members and top and bottom horizontal longitudinal deckboard members having alternating longitudinally-extending flat strip areas and longitudinally-extending channels or concavities on the surfaces thereof, wherein the longitudinal flat strip areas and channels or concavities of the top and bottom surfaces of deckboard members lie in vertically opposed relation to each other, the stringers comprising, on upper and lower deckboard-abutting surfaces, integral deckboard fastening studs, top and bottom deckboard members having apertures therein in flat surface strip areas thereof near the ends thereof which are adapted to receive the deckboard fastening studs, the deckboard fastening studs being received in the apertures and secured therein, the front and rear stringers of the pallet as well as sides of the pallet having openings adapted to receiv

Abstract: A knockdown pallet container formed of extruded pallet members, comprising a bottom-forming pallet member, a top pallet member, and side pallet members, a combination of the bottom, side, and top members providing a pallet container of preferably rectangular configuration, at least the bottom-forming member being honeycombed so as to provide entryways in the extruded member for insertion of the prongs of a lift truck thereinto, the rectangular pallet container being banded together by external strapping which holds dovetails at sides of the various members in mating engagement with each other where they meet to form corners of the container, is disclosed, as well as various internal support members having dovetails which interlock with complementary dovetails provided on interior surfaces of the various pallet members.

Abstract: An electronic device for compensating voltage fluctuations in an electrical power distribution circuit controls operation of a transformer of the type having a TCUL voltage regulator by automatically calculating the voltage bandwidth of the transformer based upon a stored value for peak current in the distribution circuit. The peak current value is automatically updated when the actual current in the circuit exceeds the stored peak current value for a predetermined sustained period of time indicating a change in overall loading patterns in the circuit but, regardless of increases in actual current in the distribution circuit, the apparatus prevents the output voltage from exceeding a preset absolute maximum.

Abstract: A knockdown pallet container formed of molded or extruded pallet members, comprising a bottom-forming pallet member, a top pallet member, and side pallet members, a combination of the bottom, side, and top pallet members providing a pallet container of rectangular configuration, at least the bottom-forming member having entryways for the prongs of a lift truck, the rectangular pallet container being banded together by external strapping which holds continuous female and male configurations at respective sides of the various pallet members in mating engagement with each other where they meet to form corners of the container, is disclosed, as well as various internal support members which matingly engage with interior surfaces of the various pallet members.

Abstract: A sealing closure for a container, such as bottles, jars and the like includes a threaded cap and a single-piece gasket of resilient material. The interior surface of the top of the threaded cap is provided with a plurality of radially extending ribs in the vicinity of its periphery. The peripheral portion of the single-piece gasket contacts the ribs, the cap being positionable over the rim of the neck of a container and in threaded engagement therewith to seal the container. The gasket may be of frusto-conical shape with a longitudinal sleeve thereon, the sleeve fitting over a central stud which is integral with the cap. The stud may be so dimensioned and shaped in cross-section, and the sleeve similarly shaped and dimensioned to prevent relative turning of the cap and gasket with respect to one another during opening and closing of a container with the closure.

Abstract: A furnace for heating and melting zinc comprising a reservoir, a movable upper section, pre-heaters supported on the upper section and immersion burners supported on the upper section and extending into the reservoir. The movable upper section can be raised and lowered relative to the level of molten zinc in the reservoir and thereby insure maximum heating efficiency of the zinc. In a preferred imbodiment the pre-heaters and immersion burners are gas fired.

Abstract: A digital speech processor operates in parallel with a programmable digital computer to generate sequences of variable-length speech phases and pauses at the request of the computer. A speech memory region within the speech processor contains digitally-encoded speech data segments of varying length. A separate command memory region, can be loaded with a plurality of commands. When sequentially executed by the speech processor, these commands cause the processor to generate an arbitrary sequence of spoken phases and pauses without intervention by the computer. When the programmable digital computer is not operating the speech processor to synthesize spoken words, the speech and command memory regions are used as auxiliary random access memory to increase the size of the memory space of the computer.

Abstract: A digital speech processor operates in parallel with a programmable digital computer to generate sequences of variable-length speech phrases and pauses at the request of the computer. A speech memory within the speech processor contains digitally-encoded speech data segments of varying length. A separate command memory region, accessible to and loadable by the computer, can be loaded with a plurality of commands. When sequentially executed by the speech processor, these commands cause the processor to generate an arbitrary sequence of spoken phrases and pauses without intervention by the computer. Each two-byte command causes the speech processor to retrieve from the speech memory a particular speech data segment and convert it into speech, or to pause for a time interval specified by a number within the command.

Abstract: A truck extension attachment for increasing the capacity of a truck bed to carry articles which project rearwardly out of the truck bed includes roller means mounted to the truck bed frame, a retractable frame passing through the roller means, a rear cross frame connected to the retractable frame and means for connecting the retractable frame to the rear cross frame. The roller means have one or more roller housings mounted to the truck bed frame with each roller housing having a pair of rollers vertically aligned within the roller housing. In a storage position, the retractable frame lies beneath the truck. By pulling the retractable frame rearwardly through the roller means, the retractable frame is placed in an operational position in which the retractable frame extends partially beyond the rear of the truck bed. The rear cross frame lies parallel to the rear of the truck to support articles projecting from the rear of the truck bed.