Abstract: A washing machine or other laundry appliance has a drum that rotates during washing cycles of the appliance. The appliance further incorporates a ballast system including a reservoir having means for permitting water to flow between said reservoir and the drum, an inlet for enabling said reservoir to be filled with water, and an outlet for enabling water to be drained from said reservoir. The appliance further incorporates means for filling said reservoir and maintaining said reservoir substantially full of water during the washing cycles. Weight of the reservoir when it is substantially full of water acts to counter balance vibrations generated by the rotation of the drum during the washing cycles of the appliance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing appliance and more specifically a laundry appliance. The present invention relates to a drum, (1) for a washing machine that allows increased capacity without the need to increase the size of the overall appliance. The drum comprises a receptacle having a solid outer wall with at least one aperture and means (19) for guiding liquid purged from laundry toward the aperture such that the liquid is expelled.

Abstract: A patient support structure including a unit having at least two defined shaped zones (30, 32) inflatable from a deflated condition in order to modify the topography of the support. One of the zones (30) is larger than the other (32) so that inflation of the larger zone lifts a patient to one side (towards the smaller zone 32) and the inflated smaller zone supports the patient and prevents the patient from slipping off the support structure. In a more preferred embodiment, the support structure comprises two units, each having at least two defined shaped inflatable zones (30, 32), the larger zone 30 of each unit being in opposed configuration and the units being inflatable independently of one another so that a patient can be lifted to one side or the other side according to which unit is inflated.

Abstract: A patient support structure including a unit having at least two defined shaped zones (30, 32) inflatable from a deflated condition in order to modify the topography of the support. One of the zones (30) is larger than the other (32) so that inflation of the larger zone lifts a patient to one side (towards the smaller zone 32) and the inflated smaller zone supports the patient and prevents the patient from slipping off the support structure. In a more preferred embodiment, the support structure comprises two units, each having at least two defined shaped inflatable zones (30, 32), the larger zone 30 of each unit being in opposed configuration and the units being inflatable independently of one another so that a patient can be lifted to one side or the other side according to which unit is inflated.