Abstract: A gas lift valve for use in a wellbore has a housing with an injection fluid inlet port and an injection fluid outlet connected to a production tubing. The gas lift valve has a sealing ball engaged with a valve seat, and the sealing ball is disengaged from the valve seat to open a pathway from the injection fluid inlet through the injection fluid outlet into the production tubing solely as a result of injection fluid pressure in an annulus between the housing and the wellbore.

Abstract: A diffuser includes a base, a fan mounted to the base, a receptacle provided over the fan and mounted to the base, a sleeve mounted on the upper surface of the base and enclosing the fan and receptacle, and a lid mounted over the sleeve. Each of the base and the lid comprises at least one opening formed about a periphery thereof. The receptacle comprises a bottom wall with a plurality of opening formed therethrough and a vertically extending sidewall to retain a fragrant medium therein. The fan forces airflow from an exterior of the diffuser, into the base through the at least one opening, through the plurality of openings formed in the bottom wall of the receptacle, through the receptacle and about any fragrant medium therein, into a volume of space above the receptacle enclosed by the lid, and out through the at least one opening in the lid.

Abstract: A diffuser includes a base, a fan mounted to the base, a receptacle provided over the fan and mounted to the base, a sleeve mounted on the upper surface of the base and enclosing the fan and receptacle, and a lid mounted over the sleeve. Each of the base and the lid comprises at least one opening formed about a periphery thereof. The receptacle comprises a bottom wall with a plurality of opening formed therethrough and a vertically extending sidewall to retain a fragrant medium therein. The fan forces airflow from an exterior of the diffuser, into the base through the at least one opening, through the plurality of openings formed in the bottom wall of the receptacle, through the receptacle and about any fragrant medium therein, into a volume of space above the receptacle enclosed by the lid, and out through the at least one opening in the lid.

Abstract: A valve device regulates the air pressure in the space between a residual limb, or liner-covered limb, and a hard socket of an external prosthesis. A manually-controlled air-outlet and -inlet valve may optionally include an automatic one-way valve (or “expulsion” valve). The manually-controlled valve is opened and closed by twisting a handle, to open a two-way air passageway by slightly separating the handle and base portions, or by aligning bores in the handle and base portions. At least one stop surface limits the amount of relative rotation of the handle and base portions of the valve, so that the user need only rotate the handle a small amount, for example, less than 90 degrees, to affect opening or closing the valve.

Abstract: A lever-actuated distal lock connects a limb liner to a prosthetic leg or arm hard socket. In some versions, air-sealing capability may limit/prevent air flow through the distal lock, even with vacuum inside the socket. To unlatch the lock, a lever is swung to pull a sliding shaft outward in the lock housing. Swung in the opposite direction, the lever releases the sliding shaft to be biased to a latched position wherein slanted surfaces of the shaft inner end and a liner pin cooperate to allow the pin to slide down into, but not up out of, the lock. In some versions, the shaft inner end slides relative to, but is biased away from, the shaft opposite end, so that the inner end moves out of the way of the downwardly-sliding pin, without moving the entire lock shaft and without disrupting the optional air seal.

Abstract: A valve device regulates the air pressure in the space between a residual limb, or liner-covered limb, and a hard socket of an external prosthesis. A manually-controlled air-outlet and -inlet valve may optionally include an automatic one-way valve (or “expulsion” valve). The manually-controlled valve is opened and closed by twisting a handle, to open a two-way air passageway by slightly separating the handle and base portions, or by aligning bores in the handle and base portions. At least one stop surface limits the amount of relative rotation of the handle and base portions of the valve, so that the user need only rotate the handle a small amount, for example, less than 90 degrees, to affect opening or closing the valve.

Abstract: A lever-actuated distal lock connects a limb liner to a prosthetic leg or arm hard socket. In some versions, air-sealing capability may limit/prevent air flow through the distal lock, even with vacuum inside the socket. To unlatch the lock, a lever is swung to pull a sliding shaft outward in the lock housing. Swung in the opposite direction, the lever releases the sliding shaft to be biased to a latched position wherein slanted surfaces of the shaft inner end and a liner pin cooperate to allow the pin to slide down into, but not up out of, the lock. In some versions, the shaft inner end slides relative to, but is biased away from, the shaft opposite end, so that the inner end moves out of the way of the downwardly-sliding pin, without moving the entire lock shaft and without disrupting the optional air seal.

Abstract: A lock connects the distal end of a liner to the distal end of the hard socket of a prosthetic leg, and limits or prevents air flow into the hard socket through the distal lock mechanism, even when vacuum is established inside the socket. The distal lock normally is latched, but can be conveniently unlatched by swinging a cammed latch handle. The liner pin may be inserted and locked into the distal lock, without the distal lock being unlatched and without losing the internal air seal preventing air flow through passages of the lock. A slidable, biased lock blade, and interaction between slanted surfaces of the blade and the liner pin, allow the pin to slide down, but not up, past the blade. The latch handle does protrude radially outward a significant distance, when the lock is unlatched, but, as soon as the lock is latched, the handle resides against and/or near the outer surface of the lock housing.

Abstract: A lock connects the distal end of a liner to the distal end of the hard socket of a prosthetic leg, and limits or prevents air flow into the hard socket through the distal lock mechanism, even when vacuum is established inside the socket. The distal lock normally is latched, but can be conveniently unlatched by swinging a cammed latch handle. The liner pin may be inserted and locked into the distal lock, without the distal lock being unlatched and without losing the internal air seal preventing air flow through passages of the lock. A slidable, biased lock blade, and interaction between slanted surfaces of the blade and the liner pin, allow the pin to slide down, but not up, past the blade. The latch handle does protrude radially outward a significant distance, when the lock is unlatched, but, as soon as the lock is latched, the handle resides against and/or near the outer surface of the lock housing.