The decorative panel includes a molded plastic frame having a plurality of closed loops of different configurations. Decorative glass panels are snap-fitted into the closed loops and have a configuration corresponding to the shape of the closed loop. The glass panels may be ribbed, dimpled, and are of different colors whereby the panel simulates leaded stained glass or Tiffany glass objects.

A toy gun for discharging a shaped stream of liquid under pressure is provided. The toy gun includes an expandable bladder located in a housing, and the expandable bladder is adapted to provide a generally constant pressure discharge of liquid contained therein. A release valve is connected to a trigger for regulating a discharge of liquid from the expandable bladder to a discharge outlet. A turret mounted rotatable nozzle assembly having a plurality of nozzles is connected to the housing. Each ...

Method and apparatus for measuring the following lens characteristics: (a) curvature of the front and back surfaces of the lens; (b) physical thickness; and (c) index of refraction of the lens to determine the front vertex power, back vertex power; and the lens material. In particular, an embodiment of one aspect of the present invention for measuring the index of refraction of the glass includes: (a) a source of a substantially spatially coherent beam of radiation and having a short temporal co...

A xenotime phosphate protective overlayer (22) for protecting a ceramic material (24) from a high temperature, moisture-containing environment. Yttrium phosphate may be used as a protective overlayer to protect an underlying mullite layer to temperatures in excess of 1,500.degree. C. The coating may have porosity of greater than 15% for improved thermal shock protection. To prevent the ingress of oxygen to an underlying ceramic non-oxide material, such as silicon carbide or silicon nitride, an o...

The present invention device for securing shoelaces includes a base, a cover and an attachment mechanism for hingedly connecting the base and cover. The base has at least a bottom, a front and a back. The bottom has side cutouts adapted to allow a shoelace to pass therethrough. A pair of opposing slits extend from the side cutouts towards the center, but do not overlap. The opposing slits are formed so that the shoelace may pass easily from the side cutouts to the opposing slits. Each slit is si...

A composite (20) has a matrix (10), preferably of ceramic, interspersed with reinforcement structures (12), preferably ceramic fibers, coated with a material (14) selected from ZrGeO.sub.4, HfGeO.sub.4 and CeGeO.sub.4, where the composite can be used as a component in high temperature turbines.

A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The instrument has a handle, a trigger, means for carrying a staple, the carrying means comprising a track for containing at least one staple, and means for closing the staple. The improvement to the track comprises a leaf spring. The track and the leaf spring are a unitary element. The leaf spring is at the end of the track adjacent to the closing means. In one embodiment, the closing means is an anvil surface terminating in a flange.

A surgical stapling control means has been invented. The control means are contained in a surgical instrument comprising a handle; a trigger pivotally attached and on compression internal to said handle; and staple forming means contained in the forward portion of the handle. The control means comprise a mult-toothed ratchet on the rearward portion of the trigger; at least one guide pin attached to the initial end of the ratchet; a nonpivoting pawl attached to the rearward portion of the handle ...

A surgical stapling instrument comprising a handle and a trigger pivotally attached and on compression internal to the handle has been invented. The forward portion of the handle contains: a track; a plurality of staples loaded and staple advancing means carried on the track; a track cover mounted onto the track; and an anvil surface mounted and a first bias means movably mounted on the cover. The anvil surface terminates in a perpendicular flange. The forwardmost staple is adjacent the anvil su...

A surgical stapling control means has been invented. The control means comprises a handle; a trigger pivotally attached and on compression internal to said handle; a staple forming means contained in the forward portion of said handle; a pad contained on the rearward portion of said handle; a retainer attached to the rearward portion of said trigger to coordinate with said pad; at least one guide pin attached to the initial end of said retainer; and guide means adjacent the rearward portion of s...