Abstract: The wearing of required medical garments by caregivers and other persons is detected through the use of a digital imaging system and methods that employ digital imaging. The medical garments include colors, symbols or other features that allow them to be identified by the system. A moving object within an isolation room or other area requiring the wearing of medical garments is detected. Various stages of processing confirm that the moving object is indeed a person and that the person is wearing the required medical garments. In order to enhance the digital imaging procedure, the person may be instructed to move to a selected position.

Abstract: A hospital bed having a storable safety rail is provided. The bed includes a frame having a pair of laterally extending slide tubes mounted thereto. A pair of mounting shafts are positioned within the tubes and secure the safety rail to the frame. A stop member is positioned near the inner end of at least one of the tubes. The mounting shaft includes a projection which abuts the stop member when in a first rotational position, but is able to pass thereby when in a second rotational position. The stop member preferably includes an inclined surface opposing the inner end of the slide tube to urge the projection, and therefore the rail, outwardly as the mounting shafts rotate to move the rail to the raised position. A retraction spring is provided for urging the safety rail towards the bed frame while in the lowered position. The safety rail also includes a brake mechanism to resist the gravitational forces urging it downwardly from the raised position.

Abstract: A crib is provided including a drop side, a spring hanger, and stabilizing bars, all of which are mounted to common sets of tracks. The tracks are secured to the corner posts of the crib. The drop side includes an actuating mechanism including catch bars which are positioned within a groove in the upper rail thereof. The catch bars are maneuvered by an actuating member located near the center of the upper rail. Safety features are provided to prevent accidental lowering of the drop side.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor is provided which includes a base assembly and a dipstick assembly. The base assembly includes an electronic printed circuit board assembly, electrical connections to both the dipstick assembly and a wiring harness, and a mounting assembly for securing it to an engine dipstick tube. The dipstick assembly includes a cap, a tube, and a sensor element. The cap is designed to provide the necessary keying and locking features to mate with the base assembly. The tube provides protection for lead wires which connect the sensing element to the printed circuit board assembly.

Abstract: A cassette holder is provided for use with a wheeled stretcher or the like. The holder is slidably and pivotably mounted to a pair of support tubes positioned beneath the top board of the stretcher. It may accordingly be positioned beneath any portion of the top board which is desired. To replace an x-ray or other type of film cassette, the holder may be pivoted downwardly towards either side of the stretcher. A tray slides out from the holder to provide easy access to the cassette. The holder accepts cassettes from both sides of the stretcher depending upon which support tube is utilized as a pivot axis.

Abstract: A rail assembly for a wheeled stretcher or the like is provided. The assembly is pivotably mounted to the stretcher and may be locked in up, down or horizontal positions. Unlocking is accomplished by pushing a locking tab while moving the assembly towards the foot end of the stretcher.

Abstract: A fluid level sensor utilizes thick film thermistors in a four-thermistor bridge configuration. The bridge is heated by a heater to sense the presence or absence of fluid at a particular level with respect to the thermistors. Upon energizing the bridge with a power source, the middle leads thereof are monitored for voltage separation and polarity. An indicator circuit indicates when one or more of the thermistors is submerged in the fluid. The heater influences the temperature of the thermistors to a greater or lesser extent depending upon whether or not they are submerged. Detectable changes in voltages across the bridge are accordingly produced.

Abstract: An integral strut and groove protector assembly is provided for incorporation within a light metal piston. The assembly includes a ring groove protector, an expansion control strut, and a connecting member connecting the groove protector and strut. All are stamped as one piece from a sheet metal substrate. The piston is cast about two such assemblies arranged in opposing relation within a mold. Each ring groove protector traverses an arc of somewhat less than one hundred eighty degrees to facilitate the manufacturing process.

Abstract: An innerspring construction including adhered strings of pocketed coil springs is provided together with a method of manufacture. Each string is defined by a series of coil springs connected and encased by a fabric cover. The strings are connected to each other by an adhesive applied between the lines of tangency of adjacent coil springs. A method is provided for assembling such a construction. A hot melt adhesive applicator traverses a string of pocketed coil springs depositing a precise amount of adhesive on each coil jacket. A second string is positioned on the first and pressure applied thereto. The applicator then traverses the second string in the same manner as the first. For purposes of efficiency, it may traverse the second string in the opposite direction from which it originally moved with respect to the first. The sequence is repeated until an innerspring construction of desired size is created.

Abstract: A vacuum-packed assembly for the compact storage of compressible survival equipment is provided. The assembly includes a compressed article of survival equipment, such as a sleeping bag, life raft, or parachute within a flexible, evacuated, heat-sealed envelope of gas-impermeable material. An outer envelope of thicker, more durable material is preferably employed for protecting the inner envelope. The outer envelope is also evacuated. If a parachute is stored within the assembly, an actuation neck is provided for allowing the envelopes to be ruptured upon deployment of a drogue or pilot parachute. Both the drogue parachute and an aircrewman can be connected to the parachute externally of the vacuum envelopes without risking vacuum integrity.

Abstract: A three-dimensional vacuum envelope is provided for storing compressible articles and particularly survival equipment such as a parachute. It includes upper and lower walls of flexible, substantially gas-impermeable material. One of the upper and lower walls includes an integral loop defining a pouch in fluid communication with the remainder of the envelope. The pouch is pivotable with respect to the envelope and may be used for containing parts which must be independently maneuverable even after storage and evacuation.