Abstract: This invention provides an improved surgical instrument, namely sponger-dissector forceps particularly adapted for laparoscopic intra-abdominal surgery such as gall bladder removal. Thus, sponges are retained locked in place without manual force upon the distal end of a substantially cylindrical hand held assembly by means of an internally mounted ratchet mechanism. In one embodiment sponges are retained by a 7 shaped distal end on a reciprocating 2 mm diameter rod disposed in a 10 mm diameter cylindrical housing member. The ratchet locks the reciprocating rod in place against movement in the distal direction, and thus holds sponges clamped in place at the distal end. The ratchet lock is releasable by a catch release button. The rod is manually reciprocated to engage and clamp a sponge by a finger operated slide member. The sponge is thus firmly held in position for blunt manipulation including direct hemostasis pressure on small blood vessels or for sponging to keep the surgical region dry.

Abstract: An assembly which includes supporting structure for a gripping device such as a pair of tweezers. The support structure includes a cylindrical member for rotational support of the tweezer legs relative to a cross-piece which carries a support leg. The support leg extends substantially in parallel with the tweezer legs, and is provided with a support foot for contact with the work piece. At its rear end, the support leg is adjustably connected to the cross-piece. A retention device maintained the tweezer legs at a specific location along the axial axis during operation. A maneuver sleeve surrounds and is displaceably guided along the tweezer gripping legs for accomplishing compression and opening, respectively, of the tweezer legs upon longitudinal movement. Preferably, a maneuver rod extends along the central axis through a hollow cylindrical portion defining the base or stem of the tweezer legs. The maneuver rod is connected to the maneuver sleeve by, for example, a pin extending between the tweezer legs.

Abstract: A combination picture frame tool comprises a handle with a flat bottom face, a crowbar-like tool extending from the handle, and small gripping jaws at the lower front end of the handle for pulling fasteners out of picture frames. The handle is a rectangular slab with a flat bottom face and a rounded oblong opening through the middle to admit the fingers for grasping. The flat bottom face can rest upon a surface such as the backing of a picture frame. The front end of the lower face is beveled. Just above the beveled section, on the front end of the handle, are the gripper jaws. The jaws are worked through a mechanism by pushing on a thumb lever. The bevel allows the jaws to be positioned by tilting the handle, so the jaws can easily grasp wedges close to the generally plane surface of the backing. The crowbar tool, for prying staples out and cutting paper, extends from the rear end of the handle. It has a straight shank with a sharp chisel edge at the end for cutting paper.

Abstract: An apparatus for the gripping of plants located in a container is disclosed. This apparatus comprises a pushing element, which pushes the ball of the plant upwardly from underneath, until the ball is released for a substantial part above the container. Then the ball is gripped by a number of gripping arms, movable in a horizontal direction, which transports the ball including the plant to its destination. To be able to push the ball upwards the container comprises at location of each of the cavities for the balls a guiding channel for the pushing element. This channel has a cross-section of a star-like configuration, the number of points thereof coinciding with the number of points of the pushing element.

Abstract: A submersible grappling system is designed for retrieving objects, such as, golf balls from the bottom or floor of a body of water and is made up of a tubular housing, a bladder at one end of the housing, finger-like retrieval elements at the opposite end of the housing and a gear column which serves to interconnect the bladder and retrieval elements so that when the gear column is driven in one direction, it will cause the bladder to be compressed within the upper end of the housing while forcing the retrieval elements downwardly and outwardly into surrounding relation to an object to be retrieved, and when the gear column is driven in the opposite direction will cause the bladder to be expanded upwardly away from the housing to increase the effective buoyancy while causing the retrieval elements to be retracted around the object and drawn upwardly into the housing.

Abstract: A spark plug starter tool is provided and consists of a spark plug engaging member attached to distal end of an elongated flexible shaft affixed onto a dowel pin extending from a handle whereby turning of the handle will install and remove a spark plug with respect to a cylinder head of an engine thus eliminating cross-threading. In a modification an adjustable chuck head is on distal end of a rigid shaft so that the chuck head can grasp and release the spark plug.

Abstract: A tactile micro-gripper is disclosed having a combined lever and spring linkage. The lever flexes at predetermined points and is coupled to the spring and to an actuator. The spring is of a parallelogram type, so that the ends remain parallel to one another when the spring is bent. When the actuator causes the lever to move transversely, the end of the spring is caused to move laterally in a parallel manner. A pair of lever and spring linkages are arranged together so that they cooperatively act together to manipulate a pair of fingers, which are attached to the ends of the springs, to grip and release objects. Tactile sensing is accomplished by means of a cantilever beam and an optical detection system disposed in the tip of the fingers.

Abstract: A grab for picking up a bottle by its neck has a hollow housing sleeve having a mouth engageable down over the neck of the bottle, an upwardly directed annular abutment in the sleeve adjacent the mouth thereof, and an elastically deformable cuff in the sleeve having a lower end resting on the abutment and an upper end. A piston vertically displaceable in the sleeve has a lower face bearing on the upper end of the cuff and an upper face defining with the sleeve a pressurizable compartment. This compartment can be pressurized to vertically compress the cuff and deflect same inward between its ends against the neck of a bottle engaged in the housing within the cuff.

Abstract: A tweezer for removal of ticks has two legs (10, 12), connected at one end (11) by a loop formed spring, pinched together partly within a movable cylinder (26), which through the action of a coil spring (24) is pushed against the bent portions of the legs' (10, 12) end parts in order to exert a preset squeezing force between the end parts and their sharp edged gripping points (19). By retracting the cylinder (26) the gripping points (19) are opened and when the cylinder (26) is released, the legs' (10, 12) end portions and their gripping points (19) can grasp the tick (40) and its head (38) with such a predetermined force that the tweezer will lose its grip if the tick's head (38) has not first been loosened by turning. The turning is brought about by turning the cylinder (26), which maintains the predetermined pinching force by the help of the coil spring (24).

Abstract: A feces retriever is shown as including a set of several flexible stays arranged in a cone-shaped manner to trap a feces within a plastic bag held within the stays when pulled together by a ribbon connecting the stays at the bottom. The stays extend down from a collar slideably attached on a hollow shaft which is pulled up from a retracted position within the stays by pulling a handle on a second hollow shaft within the first shaft. The first shaft becomes locked in extended position by a holding mechanism on the top of the stay collar. The second shaft pulls the ribbon strands, which run up the inside of the shaft from a gathering ring attached to a spring lock at the bottom of the shaft, to a crossbar in the shaft and back down to fasten to the outside of the stay collar. The spring lock holds the second shaft in extended position above the first shaft which holds the bottom of the stays by means of the ribbon in a tight, closed position while the bag is tied before removal.

Abstract: A tool or implement for cleaning or treating surfaces or for applying media to surfaces has a holder and a deformable disposable working part interchangeably gripped by it, the holder exclusively comprising a sleeve constructed as a stick or grip and a sliding part guided thereon with a handle on its end projecting over the sleeve and with grippers arranged at its other end, which are displaceable from an open position projecting over the sleeve, exclusively by mounting on the working part and pressing by means of the sleeve so as to grip the working part into a use position fixing the latter and by means of the handle are displaceable in the reverse direction for releasing the working part.

Abstract: In a single hand-actuated pick-up tool of the type comprising an elongated shaft terminating at spaced-apart upper and lower ends, a pair of spaced-apart, pick-up fingers extending from the lower end of the shaft including a pair of springs for biasing them apart, and a pair of ribbons including a handle with a finger-actuable trigger at the upper end, biased apart from the handle, for drawing the fingers together as the trigger is squeezed against the handle, the improvement of providing for the fingers to be able to close together and form locked configurations less than the fully-opened configuration including an arm extending from the trigger for reciprocal motion as a function of movement of the trigger, at least one notch formed in the arm adapted for engagement with a stop in the handle, a spring urging the arm into sliding contact with the stop as the trigger is moved and, a lever pivotally mounted at the upper shaft end for movement between a first unlocked position that permits the spring to retain

Abstract: A gripping device for nappy workpieces which is capable of handling both small and large pieces of textile materials. A gripping device is provided having a base part and a slidable part, between which is provided a substantially closed hollow to which pressurized gas is supplied through a series of slots. The slidable part is moved in such a manner that the slots are squeezed together and the gripping device grips the nap of the upper piece of textile material. Pressurized gas is led through the upper piece to the piece lying immediately below to ensure efficient separation of the upper piece from the piece below, and avoiding the inadvertant lifting of more than one piece at a time.

Abstract: A tool for gripping and manipulating an article, the tool being particularly useful in removing and replacing a cap on a needle of a hypodermic syringe. The tool is held and manipulable in one hand and includes a clamp element, an actuator movable between locked and release positions and a lock mechanism for locking the actuator in its locked position. The lock mechanism is easily depressed by the thumb to release the actuator and close the clamp element on the cap.

Abstract: A bar puller is provided having adjustable jaws comprising fingers made of a resilient material. The fingers extend forward from a housing adapted to be mounted at a tool station of a computer numerically controlled lathe having a turret. Front and side guiding surfaces are provided on the ends of the fingers to cause the jaws to deflect outwardly and grip a bar when forcibly engaged therewith. The lathe chuck releases the bar allowing the bar puller to withdraw the end of the bar a desired distance out of the chuck. The chuck is closed while the turret continues moving away from the chuck causing the bar to be withdrawn from between the jaws of the bar puller, readying the machine for its next cycle.

Abstract: A tool for extracting one lead including a cable and its associated contact from a dense grouping of leads connected to a receptacle. In this instance, each contact is held in position in an associated bore of the receptacle by means of a locking tab integral with the receptacle and engaged with an annular shoulder on the contact to prevent its inadvertent removal. The tool is readily attachable to the cable, then said along the cable until extraction jaws are caused to engage the contact. They displace the locking tab and permit withdrawal of the lead from the receptacle. Subsequently, the jaws can be opened and removed from the cable. A reverse procedure can be utilized for returning the contact to its original position or inserting a new contact in its place.

Abstract: An apparatus for insertion into the urethra for attachment to and removal of an in-dwelling urinary continence device comprises generally a tubular body having a longitudinal bore with a slidable shaft therein. Slidable jaws are connected to a first end of the shaft and are normally retained in a closed position within the bore. The shaft may be longitudinally displaced within the bore to cause the jaws to protrude therefrom and assume an opened position. A magnet, slidable within the jaws, protrudes from the jaws when they are in their opened position to attract a ferrous ball for retraction into the jaws. The apparatus employs a method for removing an intraurethral device wherein anchoring members holding the device in place may be collapsed and the device removed with a single insertion of the tool. The device may also be used for retrieving objects from body passages other than the urethra, for example, arteries.

Abstract: Gripping device (1) comprising two blades (9) adapted to be moved downwards and upwards by a jack (6) and each guided by two guides (14, 15), one being an outer guide and the other an inner guide, and each blade having an outer boss (12) which brings the blades (9) close to one another at the end of the downward movement in order to pinch the block which is to be gripped and transferred.Application: particularly for potting or planting out seedlings in blocks of friable material, for example compost.

Abstract: A support member arrangement for tubes in a tube filling machinery, where each support member of the machine comprises a support member part attachable to the conveyor and has a tube receiving cavity arranged generally perpendicular to the transport direction and symmetrically relative said perpendicular extension. A tube breast receiving sleeve is displaceable along an internal guide surface which is supported in the cavity in the support member and arranged for expansion and contraction. The guide surface controls the sleeve for displacement in the direction of the symmetry axis. A grip portion of the sleeve at the end thereof, facing the conveyor, grips the breast portion of the tube. The contraction and the expansion, respectively, of the squeeze sleeve is controlled by curve portions of said guide surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in doffing and donning roving bobbins on the winding spindles of textile roving machines, wherein a drive nut associated with bobbin gripping components is constrained by an L-shaped guide slot to move axially with respect to the bobbin spindle for positioning the bobbin axially with respect thereto and to further move rotationally with respect to the spindle to orient mating drive components of the bobbin and spindle in proper driving connection.

Abstract: A gripper device which includes a piston and cylinder assembly wherein the piston rod extends through one end of the cylinder, and which cylinder end is defined with a concave slot. Connected to the end of the piston rod is a gripper formed as a resilient member defining a pair of opposed finger portions and an interconnecting flexible web portion. The flexible web portion extends transversely of the outer concave slot. The arrangement is such that the actuation of the piston draws flexible web portion toward the concave slot surface of the cylinder causing the finger portions to flex between a gripping and non-gripping position; and whereby the gripper maintains a spring bias on the piston.

Abstract: A self-service apparatus is provided to be operated by a user for selectively serving foods or drinks. The self-service apparatus includes a support and a cover fixedly supported by the support for covering foods and drinks. A shaft is suspended from the support, and a rotary disk is rotatably mounted on the shaft to be rotated about the shaft upon actuation of a lever. Servers are carried by the rotary disk and hold a food portion or drink. A desired food portion or drink may be selectively served to the user by operating the lever at a desired position.

Abstract: This invention is an improved container carrying means in the form of a central housing containing a plurality of inner-connected linkages with gripping fingers outwardly extending from on one end and a handle means outwardly extending from the other end. When the gripping fingers are placed on opposite sides of the containers to be carried and the handle lifted upwardly, the heavier the container, the tighter the gripping finger will hold the same.

Abstract: A composite assembly includes a first catheter having a lead grasping mechanism extending through a channel thereof, a second catheter concentrically disposed over the first catheter and having a smooth, tapered end and a third catheter concentrically disposed over the second catheter and is used to remove an inoperative endocardial lead from a patient's heart through a venous path. A free end of the lead is grasped and held securely to the first catheter by a grasping mechanism. The second and third catheters then are slid as a unit through the venous path over the grasped end of the lead as opposing tensile force is maintained on the first catheter to prevent movement of the lead. The second catheter is rotated to cause its smooth, tapered, leading edge with outward sharp serrations to separate scar tissue from the lead and dilate a path through the scar tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for separating scar tissue through a venous path to allow passage of an endocardial lead extracting apparatus into a patient's heart. A metal cannula having a smooth leading edge is manipulated in conjunction with a lead grasping device to slip the metal cannula over the lead to be removed, controlling advancement of the cannula with a cannula control catheter until the leading edge of the cannula is advanced a predetermined distance into the scar tissue. A metal shearing cylinder having a plurality of sharp teeth disposed on its leading end and controlled by a cylinder control catheter is advanced over the surface of the cannula, depressing a locking element thereof and to lock the cannula to the lead. Further advancement of the cylinder causes its teeth to separate a thin layer of the scar tissue. The cylinder is retracted to unlock the cannula, which is advanced. The shearing cylinder is advanced, relocking the cannula and separate a further portion of the scar tissue.

Abstract: A wrench system provides for resiliently holding a nut periphery between opposed jaws and holding washer axially of the nut between arms at right angles to the jaws and with the jaws between the arms; adjustment of inter-jaw spacing is provided by a first sliding member carrying past an extended portion of each jaw at an inclined angle thereto respective provisions urging it inward toward the other jaw or outward away from it, depending on direction of sliding; convolutions in the extended portions of the jaws provided for step setting of jaw spacing; a second sliding member carries the washer holding arms into position for washer holding in alignment with a nut held by the wrench system, or away from that position to provide clear access for nut loading; a headed screw fixes the first and second sliding members in selected relation to the handle.

Abstract: A cut or split bushing having a set of holes or apertures along one or both sides of the bushing for receiving pinching finger elements of a tool. By this structure, one is capable of grasping the bushing at its apertures for axial insertion into or axial removal from a bushing sleeve or boss formed in a support housing for camshaft having the S-cam on one end and a torque arm on the other in a truck brake system. The tool has a resilient arcuate handle grasping portion that applies a spring or resilient action upon the pinching finger elements, the force thereof being such to bias the fingers apart so that one's hand normally forces the fingers together. The fingers may be retained together by a clamping band retaining the fingers in a pinching position so that the bushing may be withdrawn from the supporting housing or journal block which supports the shaft that extends through the bushing.

Abstract: A composite assembly includes a first catheter having a lead grasping mechanism extending through a channel thereof, a second catheter concentrically disposed over the first catheter and having a smooth, tapered end and a third catheter concentrically disposed over the second catheter and is used to remove an inoperative endocardial lead from a patient's heart through a venous path. A free end of the lead is grasped and held securely to the first catheter by a grasping mechanism. The second and third catheters then are slid as a unit through the venous path over the grasped end of the lead as opposing tensile force is maintained on the first catheter to prevent movement of the lead. The second catheter is rotated to cause its smooth, tapered, leading edge with outward sharp serrations to separate scar tissue from the lead and dilate a path through the scar tissue.

Abstract: A device for catching dog feces to prevent soiling of city streets and sidewalks includes a telescoping wand having a pair of spring arms at the working end, which arms have clips thereon for releasably holding a conventional plastic bag.

Abstract: A telescoping prod for divers and the like, including a remotely operable pickup. Inner and outer tubular members telescope with respect to each other, and a set screw holds the two members in the desired position. The pickup includes spring fingers projectable from the extending end of the prod, the fingers being carried by a tube within the inner tubular telescoping member. The tube is held in the inner member, and a rod can either pass through the tube, or be locked to one end of the tube for operating the spring fingers from a distance. The end of the inner telescoping tubular member is threaded to receive various tools, or a visible locator. When folded, the prod is no longer than a person's thigh, and can be fastened along the thigh to allow free movement.

Abstract: A pair of conically tapered rollers orients and positions a plurality of initially randomly oriented negative glow lamps. A component holder receives said oriented and positioned lamps sequentially one at a time and releasably holds said lamps in a fixed position relative thereto as the lamps are moved laterally away from the rollers.

Abstract: A spreader safety device is herein disclosed which has a ring like member having outwardly flared portions extending toward the axial ends thereof. The ring is sized so as to slidably fit over the spreader attachment element and the spreader cables. However, the ring is further sized to be sufficiently small so as to not slide over the gripping hooks attached to the free ends of the spreader. Accordingly, the ring slides into abutting contact with such hooks. The flared out portions of the ring generally describe two truncated cones very much resembling an hour glass. In operation, when the spreaders are separated for connection with the outside of an object to be hoisted, the safety device slides up the spreaders. When the hooks are then removed from the object and permitted to swing toward each other, the ring immediately falls into abutting engagement with the hooks so as to prevent excessive pendulum swinging of the spreaders and, hence, injury to any personnel standing in the vicinity of the spreaders.

Abstract: A tool for removing from a housing a tri-lead cable having an end terminal removably retained in the housing and having a portion covered by an encapsulating film which extends partially into the housing. The tool comprises a hollow elongated body member having a spring-biased plunger mounted therein. A spring hook blade is attached to the plunger and extends out an open end of the body member. The spring blade is adapted to be inserted in between the housing and the encapsulating film to hook onto an edge of the film. Grasping means are provided on the body member for compressing the spring-biased plunger to retract the spring hook blade and remove the hooked tri-lead cable from the housing.

Abstract: A tool for pulling a cable through a hole in a wall where the wall thickness is much greater than the diameter of the hole and where the wall may be filled with insulating materials, the tool having a long slender stem with a tapered shorter sleeve surrounding it, the sleeve having a bore which is a sliding fit on the stem and having a larger bore sized to snuggly receive the cable, and the tool having cable grasping fingers fixed to the end of the rod with hooked ends which are driven into the cable when the sleeve is pulled over the fingers and the end of the cable, the larger bore of the sleeve being longer than the fingers so as to completely cover them and cover a significant length of cable.

Abstract: Automated handling of fabrics and similar materials is accomplished by an apparatus which includes a first and second container. A pair of hollow and flexible needles are fixed within the first container and a pair of grooves for guiding movement of the needles are located within the second container. The second container is screwably attached to the first container. By screwing the two containers towards one another the points of the needles from the first container will be brought into the grooves or passageways of the second container and eventually will protrude outwardly from the bottom of the second container and extend into one or more layers of material to be separated or removed from a greater number of such layers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a selectively actuated candle lighting or igniting apparatus particularly for use with candles whose wicks are within an enclosure. Such wicks are used to float on oil within glass bowls and the like. These candles may also be within hurricane-type enclosures or chimneys. Wicks, as a part of candles, are found in many table settings for both indoor and outdoor use. Many candle lighting devices have been proposed but generally wick lighters have been less than satisfactory since the wick members of these lighters generally accummulate wax and the wax softens and has a tendency to adhere to a tubular member within which it is drawn for extinguishing. The heat sink construction of the instant igniter prevents this problem.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for ejecting a store from an aircraft stores rack. The device comprises a tubular member having an internal bore along its longitudinal axis. A plurality of resilient lug retainer fingers are attached at one end of the tubular member and extend about and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, movable from a first position, in engagement with a lug mounted on the store, to a second position, disengaged from the lug. A collar is mounted about the tubular member movable from a first position, wherein the collar holds the retaining fingers in engagement with the lug, to a second position, wherein the collar is disengaged from the retaining fingers. An ejector ram is mounted within the bore of the tubular member.

Abstract: An apparatus employed with elements for transferring articles, such as open mouth containers like glass jars, is actuable to frictionally grip the interior surface of a container during handling. The apparatus includes a cup which forms a cylinder. A post member is mounted in the cylinder and depends downwardly to a point outside the interior of the cup. A piston is slidably mounted within the cup. A flexible element, such as four circumferentially spaced straps, is secured at one end to the piston and at the other end to the post member at a point outside the cup. A duct connects the cup to a controllable source of air pressure. An urging element, such as a coil spring disposed between the post means and the piston, normally urges the piston to the top of the cup. Upon application of air pressure to the cup, the piston is driven downwardly, and the straps flex radially outwardly so as to frictionally grip the interior surface of a container.

Abstract: A plurality of ice cube grappling members are equiangularly pivotally mounted via pivot pins at the bottom of a tubular member for movement to a closed position in which they come into close proximity with each other at an area beyond the tubular member and to an open position in which they spread apart from each other at the area to encompass and grapple an ice cube. A rod extends through the tubular member and is movable in axial directions therein. A disc is affixed to the rod at an end thereof outside the tubular member and the grappling members are coupled to the disc. A spring in the chamber urges the disc in a direction which maintains the grappling members in closed position. The rod is manually movable against the action of the spring to move the grappling members to open position.

Abstract: A picker-loader formed of a number of flexible wires, each secured at one end to a moveable plate, extend through and are guided by passages formed in a sleeve which is axially aligned with the plate, so that the free ends of the wires may be extended outwardly of or be retracted relative to their adjacent sleeve end. The sleeve, plate and wires are mounted within a casing which is fastened upon a support holding a number of such pickers for simultaneous actuation. Thus, the free ends of the wires, when extended outwardly, embed in the soft goods, as for example, baked goods, for temporarily fastening such goods to the picker so that the goods may then be moved with the picker. Retraction of the wires release the goods from the picker.

Abstract: An instrument is adapted to be inserted through an endoscope channel into the body cavity of the human being together with an endoscope and remove a foreign substance such as polyp and stone within the body cavity of the human being. The instrument has trap means separable from the elongated tubular instrument body and the trap means are left within the body cavity of the human being, while being supported from the forward end of the supporting wire introduced into the body cavity of the human being together with the tubular instrument body, after they trap the foreign substances. The trapped foreign substances are drawn out through a supporting wire from within the body cavity of the human being together with the trap means when the endoscope is withdrawn from within the body cavity of the human being.

Abstract: A grasping device having an elongated stem with manual operating means at one end. At the opposite end are a pair of jaws actuatable by a rod telescoped within the elongated stem. The manual operating means includes a lever that is manually grasped to be pulled towards a fixed handle, the operating lever having connections to a line which has engagement with the actuating rod for moving it to actuate the jaws for grasping.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toggle joint, specially to an angular positioning device for a gripping means for gripping tongs where the movements of the tong jaws of the gripping means are regulated by a control cable whose one end is fixed in the gripping means and whose other end is connected to an operating trigger in the handle of the gripping tongs. Said device is formed as a toggle joint having two cooperating joint surfaces designed with locking means which engage one another and forming clutch couplings.

Abstract: A knife having an easily removable blade has an elongated tubular housing having front and rear ends. An elongated stem is proportioned to fit slidably in the housing, the stem widening circumferentially in tapered fashion at the front end of the housing to define a blade-holding chuck having a blade-holding slot. The chuck is circumferentially proportioned to be compressed within the housing when the stem is slid rearwardly so as to contract the width of the slot to a blade-grasping width. A toggle lever is pivotally mounted on the stem at the rear end of the housing, the lever having a beveled edge opposing the rear edge of the housing and adapted, when the toggle lever is pivotally urged to a position essentially colinear with the housing, to contact said rear edge and forcibly slide the stem rearwardly in the housing so as to contract the blade-receiving slot.