Abstract: A flexible chain implant for insertion into an interior volume of a vertebral body. The implant may be implanted in an insertion position for sliding through a cannula and is flexible for packing into the interior volume in an implanted configuration. The implant randomly separates in the implanted configuration. The implant includes a top member and a bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are coupled to one another at a coupled portion. The top and bottom members preferably each include an inner surface such that the inner surfaces include a plurality of alternating projections and recesses so that the projections are received within the recesses in an insertion position. Alternatively, the implant may include a plurality of substantially non-flexible bodies and a plurality of substantially flexible links interconnecting the bodies. The non-flexible bodies include a plurality of facets and/or abutment surfaces.

Abstract: A corkscrew includes a main body, a grip moveably connected with the main body, a lever moveably connected with the main body, a worm operably connected with the lever, and a wrapper cutter detachably connected with the main body. The grip and the main body define a space configured to receive a neck of an associated bottle, such as a wine bottle. The worm connects with the lever such that movement of the lever results in movement of the worm. The wrapper cutter includes a cutting element for cutting a wrapper surrounding the neck of the associated bottle.

Abstract: A mounting mechanism includes a base, a pin movably mounted on the base, a first driving member, and a second driving member. The first driving member is connected to the pin and can drive the pin to move axially. The second driving member is connected to the pin, and can rotate the pin around its own axis, such that a plastic plug positioned on a free end of the pin can always be reliably inserted in a hole of a housing notwithstanding minor misalignments with the hole.

Abstract: A centrifuge opening tool has a frame that securely holds a centrifuge drum therein. An upright tube is mounted to the frame and a brake band is rotatably secured to the upright tube. When the brake band is tightened, the centrifuge drum is securely held in place. A ring gear is secured to a lock ring. The lock ring is part of the centrifuge drum and is removable to allow access to the interior therein. A drive gear meshes with the ring gear and increases the mechanical advantage allowing a user to apply the force needed to open the lock ring even when it has been extremely compressed. A spanner wrench is placed on a drive shaft that is connected to the drive gear. Engagement pins are used to mechanically couple the gear ring and lock ring together.

Abstract: A movable outer cylindrical member and a movable inner cylindrical member are arranged vertically movably in a lower half of a cylindrical main body. By placing the movable inner cylindrical member on a bottle mouth and pushing down the cylindrical main body, a lower end of a hooking member is engaged with a lower end of the crown cap to pry the crown cap away. At the same time, the movable outer cylindrical member is moved up and a piston inside a cylinder arranged in an upper half of the cylindrical main body is moved up with the movable outer cylindrical member, so that the air in the cylinder is compressed, and a cover member is brought out in by the compressed air.

Abstract: A tool for loosening and/or unscrewing a screw in an object. The tool includes a frame dimensioned and configured to receive (or be mounted on) an object having at least one screw removably embedded therein.

Abstract: A mountable cork puller including a tray open on one major side thereof adapted to be mounted in a recess in a wall, a hinge pin associated with the tray, and a hinge pivotally carried on the hinge pin, the hinge attached at its free end to a cork puller such that the hinge swings the cork puller between a stowed position in the tray and a deployed use position removed from the tray.

Abstract: An auger-type corkscrew is housed in a body with an opening for communicating with the cork in a wine bottle or the like. An auger tip is carried in the body and is adapted to be rotated and extended into and rotated and withdrawn out of contact with the cork. The drive mechanism is mounted in the body for rotating and extending and withdrawing the auger tip. A winch-type handle is mounted outside the body and in driving communication with the drive mechanism, whereby rotation of the winch-type handle activates the drive mechanism for rotating and extending and withdrawing the auger tip.

Abstract: A closure for a container includes: (a) an inner cylindrical wall having first and second ends and defining a space; (b) an outer cylindrical wall opposite the inner cylindrical wall and having the first and second ends to form an outer surface of the closure; (c) a first end wall extending across said first end, wherein the first end wall comprises a recess extending a least partially into the space, and a first set of threads disposed on the recess. An apparatus usable on a diagnostic analyzer container and includes: a threaded rotatable spindle adapted for threading into a closure having a threaded depression and for applying a rotational force to remove the closure; and a clutch having an element adapted to engage the closure and apply a rotational to the closure.

Abstract: The invention is a corkscrew (1) for caps made of cork or plastics equipped with two levers (7) and (8) each having two shaped or cam outlines (11, 12) that subject corresponding teeth (41) and (51), carried by concentric barrels (4) and (5), to different movements such as to allow the complete extraction of the cap from the bottle and its ejection. The corkscrew (1) takes care of blocking the bottle neck during the worm screwing through a garter-spring tightening arrangement (6). The levers (7,8) are synchronously moved through teeth (13) that engage a toothed wheel (14).

Abstract: A cork extractor significantly reduces the countervailing forces that must be applied to a bottle during extraction of a cork by providing a handle having a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the vertical, longitudinal axis of a cork as it is removed from a bottle. A handle rotates about an axis and comprises gripping portions on opposite sides of the rotational axis. The corkscrew is prevented from spiraling out of the cork during the application of upwardly directed forces independently of the screw carrier.

Abstract: An automatic bottle opener using a mechanical system that automatically stops rotation of the worm screw only in anti-clockwise direction during the extraction stage. A rotation stopper having a one-way bearing for coupling the stopper to the worm screw allows the screw to rotate when displaced axially in one direction, but prevents such rotation when axially displaced in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a container having a slidable shutter closure moving past the apparatus includes: a rotatable shaft having an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the slidable shutter, the shaft being biased against rotation in either direction; a driver for bidirectionally moving the shaft from a position away from the container to a position in the vicinity of the container for opening and closing; and an extension extending outwardly from the rotatable shaft along at least a portion of the shaft into a line of travel, whereby the extension is adapted to engage the shutter closure of the container and move the shutter closure from an open position to a closed position or from a closed position to an open position. A reagent source for an automated analyzer includes: a reagent source which includes a container having a shutter closure which slides between an open and closed position; an apparatus for opening and closing the container.

Abstract: The device performs the function of opening and/or closing lids attached to containers, and more particularly child-proof lids in at least some embodiments. The device preferably includes a base, a post, a lever, a plate to engage the lid of a container, and a mechanism that coverts movement of the lever to rotational movement of the plate against a lid. The conversion mechanism in at least some embodiments includes a spring.

Abstract: The device performs the function of opening and/or closing lids attached to containers, and more particularly child-proof lids in at least some embodiments. The device preferably includes a base, a post, an arm, a mechanism that converts straight movement to rotation movement, and a plate to engage the lid of a container. The conversion mechanism in at least some embodiments includes a spring.

Abstract: A tube-plug extracting apparatus has a clamping mechanism, movable frame, chucking mechanism, rotation mechanism, and vertical motion mechanism. The clamping mechanism holds a test tube upright. The movable frame is located over a plug extracting position and slides in a vertical direction. The chucking mechanism chucks a plug attached to the test tube. The rotation mechanism rotates the chucking mechanism. The vertical motion mechanism moves the movable frame in a direction to extract the plug. The vertical motion mechanism has ball screws and a drive motor. The ball screws have a stroke long enough to move the movable frame in order to shift a lower-limit stop position for chucking the plug corresponding to the size of test tube.

Abstract: A corkscrew for easily removing a cork from a wine bottle in the manner wherein a holding screw fixedly inserted in the cork is raised, even by a weak force, by rotating a removal handle, which is spirally coupled to a conveying screw integrally extended in a line from the holding screw, and which is rotatably engaged with a cylindrical support body placed over a mouth of the bottle.

Abstract: A cap opening system which can handle various containers having caps and container bodies of different sizes is disclosed. In this system, when a cap of a container is to be opened, a container body of the container is gripped by a container body holding apparatus to raise the container body upward. A top surface of the cap is detected as a reference surface when the cap interrupts an optical beam. Based on the height of the reference surface, the cap is positioned with respect to the cap handling apparatus. Alternatively, a cap receiving member is provided underneath the cap handling apparatus to perform positioning of the cap with respect to the cap handling apparatus.

Abstract: A lever corkscrew has a body and a central spindle received inside the body. A transport assembly is slidably mounted inside the body, and two anchors securely are mounted on the one side of the transport assembly. Two arms with tooth-like protrusions are pivoted with the body and the protrusions are engaged with the central spindle. The central spindle is securely mounted on the transport assembly on the one side different with the side mounted with the anchors. When turning up the arms or turning down the arms, the central spindle will be driven up or down and also drive the transport assembly with the anchors to pull out the cork.

Abstract: A surface-micromachined rotatable member formed on a substrate and a method for manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The surface-micromachined rotatable member, which can be a gear or a rotary stage, has a central hub, and an annulus connected to the central hub by an overarching bridge. The hub includes a stationary axle support attached to the substrate and surrounding an axle. The axle is retained within the axle support with an air-gap spacing therebetween of generally 0.3 &mgr;m or less. The rotatable member can be formed by alternately depositing and patterning layers of a semiconductor (e.g. polysilicon or a silicon-germanium alloy) and a sacrificial material and then removing the sacrificial material, at least in part. The present invention has applications for forming micromechanical or microelectromechanical devices requiring lower actuation forces, and providing improved reliability.

Abstract: A cork remover for removing corks from bottles, particularly bottles having substantial internal gas pressure, such as champagne bottles, includes a tapered, generally tubular part, which is placed over the shoulder of the bottle. A hollow, threaded, tubular member is secured to the tapered part and is threaded to a tubular sleeve which has ports on opposite sides of its sidewall. Sharpened pins are movable through the ports to puncture and hold the cork. In one embodiment, the pins are threaded to the sleeve and are turned into the cork by means of handles secured to the pins. In another embodiment, the pins are replaced with C-shaped members having abrasive surfaces which are pressed into the sides of the cork, enabling it to be turned by use of the handles. Further embodiments utilize an L-shaped handle pivotally secured to the sleeve to force one or both pins into the corks. The handle can then be turned to break the cork loose and enable it to be removed.

Abstract: A surface-micromachined rotatable member formed on a substrate and a method for manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The surface-micromachined rotatable member, which can be a gear or a rotary stage, has a central hub, and an annulus connected to the central hub by an overarching bridge. The hub includes a stationary axle support attached to the substrate and surrounding an axle. The axle is retained within the axle support with an air-gap spacing therebetween of generally 0.3 &mgr;m or less. The rotatable member can be formed by alternately depositing and patterning layers of a semiconductor (e.g. polysilicon or a silicon-germanium alloy) and a sacrificial material and then removing the sacrificial material, at least in part. The present invention has applications for forming micromechanical or microelectromechanical devices requiring lower actuation forces, and providing improved reliability.

Abstract: An opener for a specimen container includes a first chuck mechanism placed in a specific position of a transfer lane for transferring the specimen container, for chucking and fixing the specimen container which is transferred to the specific position and whose opening is stopped with a stopper, a second chuck mechanism for chucking the stopper, which stops the opening of the specimen container chucked and fixed by the first chuck mechanism, from two directions perpendicular to an axis of the specimen container, a rotation driving mechanism for rotating the second chuck mechanism around the axis of the specimen container, and a pull-out mechanism for moving the second chuck mechanism away from the opening of the specimen container along the axis of the specimen container in synchronization with a rotating operation of the rotation driving mechanism.