Abstract: A bracket assembly is disclosed for facilitating the installation of a concrete wall on a concrete footing, as well as a method of forming the concrete wall. The bracket assembly includes a base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, and first and second upwardly extending flanges. A first aperture is formed through the base member and a sealant is positioned in the cavity. A retainer and shock absorber assembly is secured to the upper surface and an aperture is formed therethrough which is coaxially aligned with the first aperture. A fastener having a shank with a pointed end is inserted through the aperture such that the pointed end is initially encased in the sealant. The fastener is inseparable from the bracket assembly and is capable of being driven into the concrete footing.

Abstract: Interfaces between nosings on respective frames and frame combinations to be joined. Each nosing has an elongate receptacle extending along the nosing length. A remote wall of the receptacle is displaced from the remainder of the nosing. The remote wall on the nosings to be joined can be generally aligned with and proximate the receptacle opening on the other nosing. With the remote walls and respective receptacles aligned, the frames are moved toward each other with the remote walls on the respective nosings entering the receptacles, with the remote walls in generally facing relationship with each other. Spacings and tolerances of the remote walls, and corresponding receptacles, can optionally provide frictionally-restrained engagements of the remote walls in the receptacles, whereby the frames can be re-oriented with limited assembly support to such assembly without disengagement of the nosings from each other by the action of gravity.

Abstract: A fiberglass-binder insert is made by fabricating a shape-constant, cured fiberglass-binder mixture, into a shape-constant insert core, and shrink-wrapping the core while leaving exposed any bore which extends into the core. The core is fabricated by mixing fiberglass and uncured binder in a mixer, dropping the mixture into a conforming guide such as a funnel, and moving the mixture through the conforming guide and into a mold. A tamper can tamp the mixture to move the mixture from the conforming guide into the mold, and to distribute portions of the mixture vertically in the mold. Rotation of the mold effects circumferential distribution of the mixture in the mold. The mixture in the mold is heated to cure the binder, thus to establish a fixed shape of the resultant core product. A shrink film is shrunk about the core, providing apertures in the shrunk film at bore openings in the core.

Abstract: A method of constructing a building or building appurtenance, optionally without structural use of concrete except for floor slabs. The method contemplates excavating a hole to establish a natural base on which the structure is to be constructed, establishing layout locations where upright walls or other supports of the structure are to be erected, establishing a fabricated footer, optionally a fiber-reinforced polymeric footer, along the laid-out locations of the supports, placing pre-fabricated load-bearing fiber-reinforced polymeric building panels or other supports on the fabricated footer, and connecting the pre-fabricated wall panels or other supports to each other according to the structure plan thereby developing load-bearing walls or other supports, and erecting overlying structure on the load-bearing walls or other supports.

Abstract: A tough, water-proof building system provides wall, ceiling, and floor structures, as well as accessories. The walls can be designed to have vertical and horizontal strengths sufficient to be used in place of concrete, as an engineered solution, both above grade and below-grade, including in severe weather conditions. Walls have inner and outer layers, and structurally reinforcing members extending, typically as a layer and/or stud, the full height of the wall, at spaced locations along the length of the wall. The spaces between the structurally reinforcing members are optionally filled with insulating foam. An optional reinforcing stud is attached to, or overlaid by, the inner layer, and extends inwardly into the building from what is otherwise the inner surface of the building panel/wall panel. A building floor can be supported from the load-bearing wall, at locations on the floor support members which are below the top of the load-bearing wall.

Abstract: A process is disclosed of forming cellulose fibers. The process includes extruding an aqueous solution of cellulose and a solvent through a first member to form filaments. The first member has multiple rows of first and second openings with a nozzle positioned in each of the first openings. At least one of the nozzles in one row is staggered from at least one of the nozzles in an adjacent row. At least a portion of each of the filaments is shrouded in a pressurized gas emitted through each of the first openings. Each of the filaments is contacted with a liquid to remove some of the solvent and transform each of the filaments into a continuous solid fiber. The continuous solid fibers are then collected on a moving surface to form a non-woven cellulose web.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating wall panels by generally continuously pultruding a wall panel profile comprising inner and outer layers, and spaced reinforcing webs and/or foam extending between the inner and outer layers, optionally studs extending inwardly from the inner layer, away from the outer layer. The so-continuously pultruded wall panel optionally has male and a female edges. The wall panel is periodically cut for wall panel height, thereby creating an ongoing stream of cut wall panels. The panels are advanced through a corner index station, and indexed at right angles while maintaining orientation of the panels. The wall panels leave the indexing station edge-to-edge. Resin is applied to facing edges of adjacent wall panels. Adjacent wall panels are joined to each other at the facing edges, to make a generally continuous wall panel. The so-joined wall panel is cut to desired lengths.

Abstract: A tough, water-proof building panel, made of fiber-reinforced polymer, is useful in making structural walls, ceilings, and floors of buildings. Upstanding such walls can have vertical and horizontal strengths sufficient to be used in place of concrete, as an engineered solution, both above grade and below-grade, including in severe weather conditions. Panels effectively have inner and outer layers, and structurally reinforcing members. Structurally-reinforcing members extend, typically as layer and/or stud, the full height of the wall panel, at spaced locations along the length of the panel. Spaces between the structurally reinforcing members are optionally filled with rigid thermally insulating foam. Optional reinforcing studs are attached to, or overlaid by, the inner layer, and extend inwardly into the building from what is otherwise the inner surface of the building panel. Panels can be made by e.g. assembling pre-fabricated blocks and/or webs, by evacuating a mold, and by pultrusion.

Abstract: A combination of a treatment device and an anterior support device is disclosed. The combination includes a treatment device having an edge and an attachment member movably secured thereto and an anterior support device having an elongated member which interacts with the attachment member. The anterior support device has first and second pivotable connectors, one being secured to the elongated member and the other to a padded rest. The anterior support device also includes first and second movable rods secured to the first and second pivotable connectors. A second end of the first movable rod is rotatably connected to a second end of the second movable rod and an actuating mechanism is connected to both of the second ends of the rods. The actuating mechanism enables the first and second rods to be locked in a set position to maintain the padded rest in a desired orientation relative to the treatment device.

Abstract: A magnetic storage device is disclosed which is capable of retaining a plurality of articles, each having a thickness and a magnetic affinity. The storage device includes a base having a cavity which houses a magnetic member and a tray which mates with the base to enclose the magnetic member. The tray has a plurality of cavities formed in an upper surface and each of the cavities is designed to retain one of the articles. Each of the cavities has an elongated, semi-circular configuration with opposite ends located adjacent to a pair of raised abutments. The pair of raised abutments extends to a height less than the thickness of each article. The storage device also includes a cover which can be secured to the tray to enclose the plurality of articles therein. A method of assembling the magnetic storage device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An in-line method is disclosed for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch. The method includes advancing a discrete pouch through a first station in a machine direction with the closed bottom of the pouch being the leading edge and a first major surface of the pouch faces upward. The first major surface is folded upon itself to form a lip having an exposed first surface while a second major surface of the pouch has an exposed inner surface. The method also includes routing the pouch to a second station where a closure system is transversely attached across the exposed inner surface. The closure system includes an opening/closing mechanism. The method further includes routing the pouch to a third station where the lip is unfolded and opposite ends of the lip are secured to the outer surface of the closure system.

Abstract: Spinal plate assembly, and methods of use, wherein a retaining element such as a retaining band, optionally a resiliently flexible band, mounted to a spinal plate, activates a blocking feature of the spinal plate assembly to thereby prevent the bone fastener from withdrawing out of the spinal plate assembly and past the blocking member. The apertures are typically, but not necessarily, elongate slots, elongate axes of all such slots being commonly oriented. The band can be fabricated from a variety of bio-stable, bio-compatible medical grade materials, including metals or implantable plastics. The retaining element or elements can be disposed in intermittently-located channel elements in the plate.

Abstract: Spinal plate assemblies, methods of fabrication, and methods of use. Such assemblies comprises blocking structures assembled to spinal plates. The blocking structure comprises an elongate band which can be against structure of the plate. The band is mounted into a continuous or intermittent channel in the plate, and extends into an aperture in the plate. The band responds to side forces applied by interfering elements of bone fasteners driven through an aperture, by moving away from the interfering element, and returning to a blocking position over the interfering element after the interfering element has passed the band. Methods of fabrication include inserting the blocking structure, optionally longitudinally, into the channel. Methods of use include advancing bone screws through an aperture and past the band. The bone screw deflects the band as the screw passes, and the band moves to the blocking position when the screw has moved past the band.

Abstract: A snap mobile is disclosed for advertising a product or event and includes a display card having a first printed surface and an oppositely aligned second surface. The display card has a width divided by at least five score lines into first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth panels, with the first and sixth panels having an equal width. The snap mobile contains no adhesive between the second, third, fourth and fifth panels. This lack of adhesive enables the snap mobile to be manipulated into three separate and distinct positions after the first panel is secured to the sixth panel.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an animal crossing warning zone wherein a motorist is alerted that he or she is entering, passing through, and then exiting a section of roadway where wild animals, such as whitetail deer, have a tendency to cross the road. A method of applying the animal crossing warning zone onto, into or out of an upper surface of a roadway is also disclosed.

Abstract: Decorative strip inlay products. Strip inlay products are used at the outer edges of stringed instruments, about the sound aperture and inwardly of the edges. Products of the invention are laser cut in the top surface of a workpiece. A bottom portion of the workpiece supports overlying cut portions. Where the strip must be flexed for insertion into curved channels, a substrate layer is resiliently flexible, and the overlying display layer is cut into segments, with spaces between the segments. The segments can move relative to each other, and/or flex, when the substrate flexes. Alternatively, the uncut bottom portion of the strip is rigid relative to an axis perpendicular to the top, and cavities in the display pattern are filled with filler and the resultant product, is sanded, resulting in display of both the filler material and the full pattern of the facing material as cut by the laser.

Abstract: Bone treatment plate assemblies, methods of fabrication, and methods of use. Such assemblies comprise spring structures assembled to bone treatment plates. The spring structure comprises elongate bands, and springs between the bands, urging the bands against structure of the plate. Spring width is less than spring height and/or one or more protuberances extending from the band or bands cooperate with one or more detents in the plate thereby to arrest longitudinal movement of the spring structure with respect to the plate.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch. The machine includes first, second and third stations. The first station is capable of advancing discrete pouches and lifting and folding a portion of a first major surface of each pouch upon itself to form a lip, and exposing an inner surface of a second major surface. The second station is capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across the exposed inner surface. The closure system includes a track having first and second legs each having an outer surface. The first and second legs are joined together by an opening/closing mechanism which includes a movable member capable of being moved back and forth. The third station is located downstream from the second station and is capable of unfolding the lip and securing opposite ends of the lip to the outer surface of the second leg.

Abstract: An in-line method is disclosed for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch. The method includes advancing a discrete pouch through a first station in a machine direction with the closed bottom of the pouch being the leading edge and a first major surface of the pouch faces upward. The first major surface is folded upon itself to form a lip having an exposed first surface while a second major surface of the pouch has an exposed inner surface. The method also includes routing the pouch to a second station where a closure system is transversely attached across the exposed inner surface. The closure system includes an opening/closing mechanism. The method further includes routing the pouch to a third station where the lip is unfolded and opposite ends of the lip are secured to the outer surface of the closure system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for dry forming a uniform non-woven fibrous web. The apparatus includes a transport duct, a spreading member and a discharge member connected in series. The discharge member has a flexible plate and a plurality of screws which act upon the flexible plate to deflect its inner surface and provide further control of the basis weight of the to be formed fibrous web. The apparatus also has a forming zone located below the discharge member. The method combines a plurality of individual fibers with a pressurized gaseous stream and routes this stream through the apparatus to form the uniform non-woven fibrous web.