Abstract: An air conditioning system for a mine that operates in a mine environment. A condenser. A refuge system for protecting users from a toxic environment. The system comprises a refuge shelter. An evaporator. A method for cooling a refuge shelter. An inflatable chamber having an airlock, the airlock includes a tube that extends from the chamber's outer surface into the chamber's interior.

Abstract: An emergency egress system includes a controller that is located within a dwelling, adjacent to a window thereof, and has a user interface. The controller is coupled to an external power supply source, including solar and alternating current power supply sources. Light emitting objects are vertically and horizontally seated about a window perimeter, facing towards the dwelling's interior. A dedicated communications link transmits a distress signal to a monitoring system and is coupled to an alarm, including a smoke-, a fire-, a carbon monoxide- and a security system-alarm. A ladder assembly is positioned adjacent to the window. A mechanism is included for automatically opening the window and the ladder assembly, allowing the occupant to exit the dwelling through the window via the ladder assembly. The automatic window biasing mechanism and the light emitting objects are responsive to a distress signal emitted from the at least one alarm.

Abstract: An elastic band holder is comprised of a generally rectangular-shaped or generally cylindrical-shaped body member having one or more concave slotted portions encompassing the body. The slotted portions can be disposed in either parallel or perpendicular orientation to one another. All corners and edges of the device are rounded in order to prevent elastic band shearing. One or more receptacles are located on the body to receive and hold additional objects such as pens, pencils, rulers, paper clips and the like. Mushroom-shaped and apple-core-shaped embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: A framing system includes four corner engaging brackets held on a rigid picture assembly by a flexible binding cord. Each bracket is formed by bending a piece of rigid metal wire to form a loop at the rear face of the assembly and a pair of hooked arms that straddle adjacent edges of the assembly at each corner. The binding cord is applied to the brackets so that it pulls each bracket tightly onto the assembly whether or not the assembly is hung by the cord. The cord also assumes the form of an inverted "V", the apex of which provides a rigid, automatically centered point for hanging the assembly.