1. A computer-implemented system for preparing to register a sales participation based financial product offering, the system comprising:
a computer-readable storage device for storing instructions; and
a processor in communication with the computer-readable storage device, the processor operative to utilize the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage device for:
receiving information regarding the amount of an issue desired by a potential issuer;
receiving sales information related to current sales and to sales growth rate for one or more organizations;
receiving discount rate information for the issue;
setting a function of future reported sales of the one or more organizations using the desired issue amount information and a present value of estimated future sales of the one or more organizations in setting the function, the present value being based on the sales information and the discount rate information, the function being configured to later determine an amount to be paid to investors based on the future reported sales of the one or more organizations; and
determining a number of tradable instruments representing investment in the financial product, the act of determining comprising:
receiving a fixed denomination for the tradable instruments; and
dividing the issue amount by the fixed denomination to determine the number of tradable instruments.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more organizations comprise a combination of organizations that have combined to sell claims on their joint future reported sales.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein setting the function of future reported sales comprises using historical growth rates for sales.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the discount rate information comprises a discount rate that is mutually agreed upon by the issuer and the investors in light of prevailing market conditions.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the function of future reported sales is a linear function.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial product expires worthless at maturity.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein setting a function of future reported sales comprises setting a function of future reported sales over a specified period of time.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the future reported sales comprise at least one of: the future reported sales of the one or more organizations; the future reported sales of a subsidiary of the one or more organizations; and the future reported sales of a division of the one or more organizations.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein setting a function of future reported sales comprises setting a function that is a function solely of future sales.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein setting a function of future reported sales comprises setting a function that is a function of future sales and already completed sales.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the future reported sales of one or more organizations are defined by sales as reported on an income statement of each of the one or more organizations.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more organizations comprise the issuer.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to utilize the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage device for calculating a present value of estimated future sales using an iterative calculation.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
I claim:
1. A cranial bone and bone flap fixation device, comprising
a) first and second caps between which portions of the cranial bone and bone flap are to be gripped,
b) a mounting post located to allow relative cap movement lengthwise of an axis defined by the post,
c) at least the first cap forming peripheral petals that are spaced apart about said axis and radially outwardly of a central body portion of the cap, whereby the petals are individually and resiliently movable relative to said central body portion in directions generally parallel to said axis, and in response to said gripping, said first cap being movable lengthwise of the post.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said petals have widths which decrease in directions toward said axis to define flexure zones spaced between said axis and portions of the petals furthest from said axis.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said petals have flexure zones spaced between said axis and portions of the petals furthest from said axis.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said petals are one of the following:
i) metallic
ii) non-metallic.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said petals consist essentially of titanium, titanium alloy, or other bio-compatible material.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second caps has peripheral petals as defined in sub-paragraph c) of claim 1.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein one of the caps is attached to an end of the post, and the other cap is adjustably movable along said post toward said one cap, the petals of each cap having peripheral portions angled toward the other cap.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the post has axially spaced retention shoulders, and the other cap has tabs spaced about and projecting toward said axis, and which have ratcheting engagement with said shoulders as said other cap is moved toward said one cap, said retention shoulders angled to unidirectionally lock to the tabs.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein said tabs are spaced about said axis, and are individually resiliently flexible in directions generally parallel to said axis.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein said tabs have widths less than their lengths, and define tips that have said ratcheting engagement with said shoulders.
11. The device of claim 8 wherein the number of said tabs is less than the number of said petals.
12. A cranial bone and bone flap fixation device, comprising
a) first and second caps between which portions of the cranial bone and bone flap are to be gripped,
b) a mounting post located to allow relative cap movement lengthwise of an axis defined by the post,
c) one of the caps being attached to an end of the post, the other cap being movable along the post toward said one cap,
d) the post having axially spaced retention shoulders, and the other cap has spaced tabs projecting toward said axis, and which have ratcheting engagement with said shoulders as said other cap is moved toward said one cap, said shoulders configured for blocking retraction of said other cap lengthwise of the post.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein said tabs are spaced about said axis, and are individually resiliently flexible in directions generally parallel to said axis.
14. The device of claim 12 wherein said tabs have widths less than their lengths, and define tips that have said ratcheting engagement with said shoulders.
15. The method of affixing a bone flap to an adjacent cranial zone, that includes
a) providing first and second caps between which portions of the cranial bone and bone flap are to be gripped,
b) providing a mounting post located to allow relative cap movement lengthwise of an axis defined by the post,
c) providing at least the first cap with peripheral petals that are spaced apart about said axis and radially outwardly of a central body portion of the cap, whereby the petals are individually and resiliently movable relative to said central body portion in directions generally parallel to said axis, and in response to said gripping,
d) relatively displacing the caps toward one another to engage the petals of one cap with at least the bone flap or the adjacent cranial bone, and to conformingly retain the caps including said petals to opposite sides of the flap and the cranial bone,
e) tightening the caps relatively toward one another into positions wherein relative separation of the caps is blocked, petals are resiliently flexed, and post extent between the caps is tensioned, the lower cap pulled in an upward direction as the upper cap is tightened downwardly.
16. The device of claim 1 including a protruding guide on at least one of said caps and configured to extend into a gap formed between the cranial bone and bone flap, to laterally orient the one cap so that petal portions thereof will lap, to approximately equal lateral extents, adjacent cranial bone and bone flap surfaces.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein said guide has an axially tapering surface to project into the gap between edges of said cranial bone and bone flap.
18. The device of claim 17 including a cover extending over a cavity formed by said protruding guide, and attached to said one cap.
19. The device of claim 16 wherein said guide has cup-shape.
20. The device of claim 16 wherein said protruding guide comprises guide tabs that are bent to protrude into said gap, said tabs spaced about said axis.
21. The device of claim 12 including a protruding guide on at least one of said caps and configured to extend into a gap formed between the cranial bone and bone flap, to laterally orient the one cap so that petal portions thereof will lap to approximately equal lateral extents adjacent cranial bone and bone flap.
22. The device of claim 21 wherein said guide has an axially tapering surface or surfaces to project into the gap between edges of said cranial bone and bone flap.
23. The device of claim 22 including a cover extending over a cavity formed by said protruding guide, and attached to said one cap.
24. The device of claim 21 wherein said protruding guide has cup-shape.
25. The device of claim 21 wherein said protruding guide comprises guide tabs that are bent to protrude into said gap, said tabs spaced about said axis.
26. The method of claim 15 wherein at least one of the caps has a protruding guide thereon, and including the step of causing said guide to orient the cap transversely as the cap petals approach or engage bone flap and cranial bone surfaces.
27. A cranial bone and bone flap fixation device, comprising
a) first and second caps between which portions of the cranial bone and bone flap are to be gripped,
b) a mounting post located to allow relative cap movement lengthwise of an axis defined by the post,
c) and including a protruding guide on one of said caps and configured to extend into a gap formed between the cranial bone and bone flap, to laterally orient the one cap so that an outer portion thereof will lap, to approximately equal lateral extent, adjacent cranial bone and bone flap surfaces.
28. The device of claim 27 wherein said guide has an axially tapering surface to project into the gap between edges of said cranial bone and bone flap.
29. The device of claim 28 including a cover extending over a cavity formed by said protruding guide, and attached to said one cap.
30. The method of affixing a bone flap to an adjacent cranial zone, that includes
a) providing first and second caps between which portions of the cranial bone and bone flap are to be gripped,
b) providing a mounting post located to allow relative cap movement lengthwise of an axis defined by the post,
c) relatively displacing the caps toward one another to first engage one cap with the underside of at least the bone flap or the adjacent cranial bone,
d) and then tightening the caps relatively toward one another into positions wherein relative separation of the caps is blocked, the lower cap pulled upwardly as the upper cap is tightened downwardly.
31. The method of claim 30 including providing a protruding guide on at least one of said caps and configured to extend into a gap formed between the cranial bone and bone flap, to laterally orient the one cap to have approximately equal lateral extents thereof adjacent cranial bone and bone flap surfaces.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein said guide is provided with an axially tapering surface to project into the gap between edges of said cranial bone and bone flap.