Abstract: A plantar fascitis foot support apparatus, including a support strap for being positioned in a generally U-shaped configuration along the medial and lateral aspects of the ankle and extending under and supporting the plantar fascia region of the foot. An ankle-encircling retention strap is attached by its opposite ends to the support strap at a substantially right angle thereto for retaining the support strap in a supporting position against the plantar fascia region. The support strap includes an inelastic segment and at least one attached elastic segment for providing controlled stretch of the support strap during placement on the foot and during subsequent movement of the foot while the support is in place. Complementary and releasably-adjustable fastener elements are carried by the retention strap and the support strap for permitting lengthwise adjustment of the support strap relative to the plantar fascia region of the foot.

Abstract: A test cock apparatus with freeze protection capability for controlling fluid pressure and flow in a backflow preventer valve, including a valve housing having interior walls defining a chamber therein and including an inlet port and a discharge port communicating with said chamber for permitting fluid flow therethrough. A temperature-responsive freeze protection element is positioned within the chamber and is axially moveable between a closed position in sealing engagement with the interior walls of the valve housing for preventing fluid flow through said discharge port, and an open position out of sealing engagement with the walls of the valve housing for permitting passage of fluid through the discharge port. The test cock apparatus also includes a test cock communicating with the chamber of the valve housing for monitoring fluid pressure therein.

Abstract: A folding rigid-inflatable boat for routine and emergency use by occupants as an auxiliary watercraft. The floating rigid-inflatable boat includes a hull having complementary rigid bow and rigid stern sections joined together along common, centrally disposed joint edges, a hinge element extending laterally from port to starboard along the centrally disposed joint edges and pivotally connecting the bow and stern sections together for permitting the bow and stern sections to be folded onto themselves into a storage configuration and into an unfolded use configuration; and inflatable topsides secured to the hull and extending around the periphery of the hull for providing an upwardly extending freeboard and for further providing rigidity to the hull when the boat is in the unfolded use configuration.

Abstract: A drying and mixing plant is provided comprising a tapered inner drum (1) and an oppositely tapered outer drum (4) attached together concentrically and rotated as a unit. A burner (37) directs a hot air stream into the small end (2) of the inner drum (1). Material is fed into the small end of the inner drum, where impellers (40) lift it and drop it into the hot air stream and move the material through the inner drum (1) aided by the downward taper of the inner drum. The material exits the inner drum and enters the outer drum (4) where an additive material is introduced and mixed with the material (42) as both move through the chamber (28) between the inner and outer drums to a material outlet. The receiving end (5) of the outer drum (4) is enclosed in a shroud (12), therefore the air stream is directed through the chamber (28) between the drums, the chamber having an expanding cross section which slows the air down allowing fines to precipitate out.

Abstract: A temperature-actuated mixing valve for controlling outlet temperature in a fluid flow system including a valve housing having first and second inlets for introducing first and second respective supply fluids and an outlet. A shuttle assembly is positioned in the housing. A valve member is mounted within the housing and responds to the temperature of the supply fluids to vary their mixture ratio to dispense fluid at an outflow temperature. A shuttle member is positioned within the valve member, is moveable responsive to supply fluid temperature variation, and includes an elongate grip pad for manual removal of the shuttle member from the housing. A thermal actuator converts thermal energy into mechanical movement using a piston. A spring maintains the valve and shuttle members in a stationary condition relative to each other and permits movement of the shuttle member relative to the valve member for accommodating movement of the piston when the valve member has reached its limit of travel.

Abstract: A ring for a ring spinning or a ring twisting machine, comprising an annular polished core and a hard chrome layer, wherein the core is coated with a copper layer, and wherein the hard chrome layer is applied to the copper layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt grinder of which the supporting tables (13, 14) are arranged in relation to the grinding unit (11) and hence the grinding belt (12) in such a way that tables need not be adjusted at the same time as the grinding unit is pivoted, while nevertheless the gap (z) between the grinding unit and the edges of the tables remains minimal. Such an arrangement is obtained if the value one minus the cosine of half the maximum pivoting angle (y) multiplied by the direct distance (d) between the tables edges is divided by two and the cosine of half the maximum pivoting angle (y) and gives a result acceptable for practical use and compliance with the standards and safety specifications for the gap (z) between the table edges and the grinding unit.

Abstract: A seamless floor-to-wall baseboard for providing a sanitary, easy-to-clean transition from a resilient thermoplastic floor residing on a subfloor to a spaced-apart wall. The baseboard is fabricated from resilient thermoplastic flooring material having the same thickness as the floor. A plurality of longitudinally-extending parallel spaced-apart grooves are formed in one side of the baseboard for permitting the baseboard to be folded along its length to define a transition zone between a subfloor-engaging portion and a wall-engaging portion of the baseboard. The subfloor-engaging portion includes a distal side edge adapted for being abutted against and joined to a proximal edge of the floor to form a smooth, easy-to-clean joinder line. The wall-engaging portion is adapted to engage the wall at substantially right angles to the subfloor-engaging portion and at an angle relative to the transition zone of greater than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A resin system comprising at least water curable isocyanate functionalized prepolymer and a first catalyst which is chemically bound-in and a second catalyst which is not chemically bound-in. The two catalysts together show a synergistic effect, and the resin system is particularly suitable for orthopaedic splinting applications.

Abstract: A sleeper seating unit for an aircraft, and including a primary seat having a seat frame for being stationarily-mounted to the aircraft deck, a seat back for being selectively moved by a seat occupant among fully upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions, a scat bottom for moving between retracted and extended positions in coordination with the seat back, and an ottoman for being positioned on the deck forward of the primary seat. The ottoman has a top cushion positioned on a top surface thereof and a leg rest cushion positioned on a side of the ottoman facing the primary seat. The leg rest cushion is movable between positions wherein when the primary seat is in an upright position, the leg rest cushion is positioned at an angle to engage and support the bottom of the feet, and when the primary seat is in a reclined position, the leg rest cushion is in a generally horizontal position adjacent to and forming an extension of the seat bottom.

Abstract: A stand for supporting an elongate upright structure, including a base having a substantially larger perimeter that the structure to be supported, a plurality of support cables attached to the base at spaced-apart intervals along the perimeter thereof for being extended upwardly and inwardly towards the structure being supported, each of the support cables carrying an attachment hook thereon. The stand also includes a collar for being releasably and adjustably secured along the perimeter of the structure, and an attachment means complementary with the hooks for receiving the hooks and thereby maintaining the support cables in a tensioned condition between the base and the collar, the attachment means being adjustable in relation to the collar for alignment with the cables.

Abstract: A pressure transmitter for use in the curing of composite components may take the form of a caul plate, pressure intensifier or vacuum bag and is formed from a curable elastomeric material which is partially cured, normally when supported on a mold, at a temperature not exceeding 100° C. It is subsequently further cured at, for example 175° C., while unsupported. It may incorporate a reinforcing layer formed from a curable resin pre-impregnated fibrous material.

Abstract: A method of increasing the probability that a woman will conceive either a male child or a female child, comprising the steps of determining an infrared body temperature of the father, determining an infrared body temperature of the mother, categorizing the determined infrared body temperatures of the mother and the father as either “high” or “low” according to a predetermined categorization criteria, and correlating the stress level of the mother and the father according to a correlation where in the case of high temperature for both the mother and the father, the probability of a male child is greater than the probability of a female child; in the case of high temperature for one of the mother or the father and low temperature for the other of the mother or the father, the probability of a male child is greater than the probability of a female child; and in the case of low temperature for both the mother and the father, the probability of a male child is less than the probability of

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting twist into a moving strand, including a first body including an orifice extending therethrough for permitting passage of a moving yarn. An air channel extends therethrough and communicates with the orifice. The air channel communicates with the orifice at a tangentially-offset angle to the path of the yarn through the orifice to create a cyclonic air circulation pattern in the orifice to insert a predetermined direction of twist into the yarn as the yarn passes through the orifice. The first body is adapted for being inverted relative to, and placed in overlying registration with, a second like body whereby the air channel of the first body inserts one predetermined direction of twist into the yarn and the air channel of the second body inserts another predetermined direction of twist into the yarn.

Abstract: A swing check valve for controlling fluid flow, including a valve housing having a port for fluid flow therethrough with a removable cover for accessing an interior of the valve housing. A valve assembly is positioned within the interior of the valve housing for controlling the fluid flow through the valve housing. The valve assembly includes a valve seat in fluid communication with the port and a clapper mounted in the valve housing on a pivotally-mounted rocker arm and moveable between an open position responsive to fluid flow in a flow direction and a closed position sealed against the valve seat responsive to fluid flow in an opposite, backflow direction. A spring is captured in the valve housing by the removable cover without attachment to either the cover or valve housing, and normally urges the clapper into the closed position sealed against the valve seat.

Abstract: A temperature-actuated mixing valve for controlling outlet temperature in a fluid flow system including a valve housing having first and second fluid supply inlets for introducing first and second respective supply fluids and a fluid outlet for dispensing a fluid at a predetermined outflow temperature. The mixing valve includes a shuttle assembly positioned in the housing. The shuttle assembly includes a valve member mounted for movement within the housing responsive to the temperature of the supply fluids to vary the mixture ratio of the first and second supply fluids as required to dispense fluid at the predetermined outflow temperature. A shuttle member is positioned within the valve member and is moveable as a unit therewith within a predetermined range of motion responsive to supply fluid temperature variation. A thermal actuator is provided of the type which converts thermal energy into mechanical movement by movement of a piston.