Abstract: A total artificial expansile disc and a method for posterior insertion between a pair of vertebral endplates are disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc includes at least one pair of substantially parallel plates that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by the vertebral endplates. In another embodiment, each of substantially parallel plates includes a first plate and a second sliding plate. An expansion device or tool is used to move the substantially parallel pair of plates apart along the first axis. A core is disposed between the pair of plates, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. A ball limiter or ball extender prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates.

Abstract: A plug remover for extracting a plug from a marker bottle or the like slips laterally over and entraps the plug. The plug remover includes a handle making it easy to grasp, which in the preferred embodiment has a flat top surface and can be inverted and placed on a table top or other surface, with the plug still in the plug remover, while the bottle is refilled. In the preferred embodiment the plug remover includes a bottom cam which, after the plug has been entrapped by the remover, can be turned along the thread of the bottle neck and rides up the thread to provide additional leverage for overcoming the "stiction" between the plug and the neck of the bottle.

Abstract: A hand-mounted accessory for opening a twist-off cap bottle, the accessory being comprised of an elongated flexible web and flexible loops off the web near its opposite ends. The flexible loops are sized to fit over and be secured onto the user's thumb and index finger in the region between the first and second knuckles, the web ending near the second knuckles and between the loops then lying closely proximate and substantially aligned with the hand web portion between the thumb and index finger. The web is further sized to wrap more than half-way around and overlie the side edges of the twist-off cap even if the web is not exactly aligned parallel to the side edges. As hand-mounted, the accessory web automatically will be positioned against the cap side edges as the user's thumb and index finger close over the cap side edges during hand manipulation needed to twist the cap off the bottle.

Abstract: A device for opening sealed cans of the type using a pull-ring to initiate the opening of the lid. The device consists of a cylindrical hollow tube having a handle on one end. On the end of the device opposite the handle, there is a flattened portion of the tube which is made to slip under the pull-ring for initial raising of the pull-ring from the container lid. In the approximate transverse center of the hollow tube, there are two oblong openings that run longitudinally along the surface of the tube. Proximate to the oblong openings, there is an inwardly protruding rivet-like structure. In use, one of the oblong openings, depending upon the hand preference, is placed over the pull-ring until the cylindrical body of the tool comes to rest on the rim of the container. As the opener is then rotated along the rim of the container, the oblong opening begins to bind upon the pull-ring.

Abstract: System for the automatic operation of reactions using several vessels which can be closed by individual closures using a device for automatically opening the closures.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a safety cap from a safety container is provided for a prescription bottle or other safety container system. A tapered surface wedgingly engages the periphery of the safety cap when pressed into pressure engagement with the tapered surface. The tapered surface includes prongs for guiding the safety cap into pressure engagement with the tapered surface. A suction cup is disposed on the tapered surface for detaching the safety cap from the safety container.

Abstract: A cutting device for removing the upper part of capsules covering the cork in bottles of wine and the like, including a body made of rigid plastics that is substantially shaped externally like a parallelepiped and substantially has the profile of a stylized uppercase U, the internal opposite faces of the wings of said U having two opposite and identical step-like recesses, on each whereof two raised portions or teeth are provided which support, in a recessed position with respect to the inner edge of the wings, a sharp metal cutting blade that is substantially curved in a semicircular shape so as to allow the mutually opposite and co-planar blades to form, therebetween, the space for insertion on the capsule that is anchored to the bottle neck, thinner regions being furthermore provided on the wings that support the laminae and being adapted to make the wings flexible, so as to allow to clamp them on the capsule and cut the upper part of the capsule by a rotation of the wings through approximately 180.degree.

Abstract: A tool 15 for clamping and hand holding of a head 16 of a fish 17 while its body 19 is skinned. A pair of handles 21, 22 in tool 15 are manually manipulated to provide a pivotal action for prongs 31, 32 mounted on extensions members 25, 26, respectively, to the handles 21, 22, piercing the head 16. The single prong 32 and the prongs 31 grip the head 16 while skinning of the fish's body 17 proceeds after cutting a line 46 behind its head 16. Bosses 37, 38 are provided in the handles 21, 22, respectively, engaging one another in a full closure mode for the tool 15. A pocket 40 is provided in handle 22 for seating of a portion 39 of handle 21 adjacent a pivotal assembly 23 for handles, extensions, and prongs, the bosses 37, 38 in alignment with one another for cooperative engagement to limit pivotal action of the tool 15 to its closed mode.

Abstract: A system for recovering propellant from aerosol cans and other sources having a gaseous propellant therein, which system constitutes a separation tank in which the propellant is separated from the product it was to deliver, a compressor to both compress the propellant and introduce it into a heat exchanger which cools the propellant into a liquid which liquid can be collected in a collection chamber in communication therewith.

Abstract: An automated container closure opener for screw-type bottle or container caps, lids, caps, covers and the like comprising a housing having a base portion and a relatively vertically movable top portion operatively connected thereto by at least one telescoping shaft. First motorized drive means are provided for actuating the telescoping shaft so as to vertically move the top portion of the housing relative to the base portion, and second motorized drive means are provided for rotatably actuating a bottle cap engagement member which depends from the top portion of the opener housing. Circuit means serve to actuate the first motorized drive means to lower the bottle cap engagement member from an inoperative position adjacent the top portion of the housing into engaging contact with the cap of a bottle and to then deactuate the first motorized drive means and actuate the second motorized drive means to at least partially remove the cap from the bottle.

Abstract: A tool is arranged for grasping a projecting bung structure relative to conduits typically buried in a subterranean orientation, wherein the tool includes a telescoping handle mounted to a central body, with the central body including a base plate. The base plate including a plurality of extension handles mounted to the base plate for securement within a leg handle mounted to an upper terminal end of the extension leg. A modification of the invention includes penetrating fluid solvent structure arranged for directing in a surrounding relationship relative to a base plate socket bore to project the solvent relative to a bung to be loosened for subsequent removal.

Abstract: A tool for removing the pins that block the opposite ends of an electrical component storage tube, each pin including a shank and an enlarged head at one end of the shank. The tool includes a wedge having a relatively sharp edge and opposite surfaces which diverge from that edge. At least one slot is formed in the wedge which extends between those surfaces and is directed away from the edge to a location on the wedge between those opposite surfaces exceeds the length of the pin shank. Preferably, a pair of guide members are mounted to the wedge member on opposite sides of each slot for engaging and guiding a tube in the general direction of the slot, the spacing of the opposing walls of each member pair being somewhat greater than that of the tube walls. Preferably, the tool is adjustably mounted to a support so that its tool engaging surface can be oriented horizontally, vertically or any angle in between to suite the user of the tool.

Abstract: A ring-puller tool for quickly and effectively removing a prophylactyic shroud having a flexible ring attached thereto and positioned on a vial containing medicament.

Abstract: Screw (15) with differentiated sections for corkscrews (10) which consists of a pivotal (14) element (17) for connection to a lever body (11) of the corkscrew (10), a screw body (18) formed with a plurality of helices (19) and a point (20), the screw body (18) comprising at least two segments of a desired length (L1-L2), which contain a desired number (n1-n2) of helices (19) and consist of helics (19) having sections of a differentiated size (S1-S2), the section S2 being smaller than the section S1 by a desired value.

Abstract: A unit for providing easy manipulation of a compact disc case from a closed to open position and back, allowing simple access to the compact disc, requiring only one hand to operate. The unit clasps the compact disc case by means of four latches that engage four slots on the compact disc case cover. The four latches accept the compact disc case by a skewed face and engage the slots by a spring bias of the latches. The locked position allows easy opening of the compact disc case. The removal of the compact disc case from the unit is allowed by the beveled edge of the latches, forcing the latches to retract when the compact disc case is pulled in a direction lateral to the insertion of the compact disc case. By means of this structure, the compact disc case can be opened with one hand, allowing quick and easy acccess to the compact disc and the literature booklet. The advantages being a convenience in some circumstances and a neccessity in other circumstances (I.E.

Abstract: A hand-held cap opener fitting the palm of the hand is employed in removing a cap from the child resistant container. The container terminates in a cylindrical neck having threads thereon and a first indicia at a circumferential position providing unlocking of the cap with the cap rotated to a corresponding angular position. The cap includes a radially outward second indicia projection. With the cap radial projection and the first indicia in circumferential alignment, the cap may be pried off the threaded end of the container neck. The cap opener is preferably of molded plastic and unitary form including a palm-held flat plate having top and bottom surfaces. A ring integral with the plate projects from the bottom surface with the ring sized slightly larger than the diameter of the cap which is received therein. An opening in the ring at the longitudinal center line of the flat plate receives the second indicia projection on the cap.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pliers for contracting CV boot band clamps having crossed lever arms, with each lever arm having a jaw at one end, a grippable handle at the other, and a drive socket between the handle and jaw. The pliers also has a thrust plate with an anvil that moves toward the jaws as they are brought together by closing the pliers.

Abstract: A tool for removing broken corks from bottles has an elongate transverse handle with a smaller end for pushing a cork into a bottle and a larger knob end for gripping in the hand. Between the ends of the handle is a transverse stem to which is attached opposite ends of a band forming a cork removing loop. The opposite ends of the band have internal projections which fit in recesses in the stem and are covered by a sleeve which can slide on the outside of the stem. This provides a particularly convenient form of attachment as between the band and the stem allowing for ready replacement of broken bands.

Abstract: A hand seaming tool for use during original installation or re-roofing of roof panels of a building. A pair of main body elements, a pair of interconnected intermediate body elements, handle structure, limit structure, and an anvil head and forming bar all cooperate to permit an operator and user of the device to perform double seaming of the edge flanges of adjacent roof panels. Preferably, such operation occurs during initial starting of the double seaming and/or the final completion of such double seaming operation. A motorized roof seamer is normally used for the intermediate portion between the beginning and ending double seamed areas.

Abstract: An opening means for a vessel which has received powder therein. A handle is provided at one end of a hollow tubular body, and a substantially axially extending slit is provided on the opposite side of the body. Furthermore, a projection is formed on the outer wall of the body. This projection is located so that upon opening, it may pierce the cover means and penetrate it through immediately before peeling off of the cover means starts. This projection is provided with a through hole which has communication between the inside and outside portions of the body of the opening means.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique are provided to automatically align an insert for insertion into a hole of a predrilled board. The hole is located by a retractable centering pin on the apparatus to ensure an accurate alignment with the insert, and, once aligned, the insert is inserted into the hole with a force axially applied by the apparatus.