Abstract: An access ladder for an access hole in a building includes a plurality of sections which telescope relative to each other between an extended position, where the sections define a plane and a user can climb the sections, and a retracted position where the sections are folded on each other. Several of the sections have a least one step which preferably moves between an unfolded position where the user can stand on the step when the sections are in the extended position, and a folded position when the sections are in the retracted position. Each section slides relative to another section of the plurality of sections which it is in contact in order for the sections to telescope. A method for using an access ladder attached to an end of an access hole of a building.

Abstract: A step stool includes a first section having at least a first step. The step stool includes a hinge bracket connected to the first section. The step stool includes a second section connected to the hinge bracket having a crossbar; and a platform having a latch that moves only in translation to lock the platform to the cross bar when the platform is in a horizontal position and prevents the first section and second section from folding when the first and second sections are in an open state. A method for establishing a step stool includes the steps of moving a latch of a platform only in translation away from a crossbar of a second section that the platform rests on in a horizontal position. There is the step of placing the second section and a first section having at least one step together into a closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and measuring gas voids in a pipe with a fluid includes a first ultrasonic transducer externally disposed on the pipe. The apparatus includes a second ultrasonic transducer externally disposed on the pipe. The apparatus includes a multiplexer, transmitter, receiver, controller and processor in communication with the first transducer and the second transducer which in combination identify a void in the pipe from ultrasonic measurements of properties of the fluid in the pipe. A method for detecting and measuring gas voids in a pipe with a fluid includes the steps of measuring properties of the fluid internal to the pipe with transmissions of ultrasonic energy from transducers externally disposed on the pipe. There is the step of identifying a void in the pipe from the properties of the fluid internal to the pipe using signals processed by processor.

Abstract: A method for creating an appearance of texture in a computer image having the steps of introducing information into a computer from which the image is produced for each point of the image in 3D geometric space. There is the step of computing a pseudo-random hash value at each vertex of a unit cube surrounding the point of the image using six + modules and seven L modules where the L module is implement as a look-up table having 64 6 bits entries. There is the step of mapping the lower six bits from last stage L modules of a plurality of stages of modules to a fixed set of 64 gradient vectors where the set is chosen such that a length of each component of every vector of the 64 vectors is a power of two. There is the step of based on the gradient vectors, combining with the computer the contribution from each vertex into a single interpolated result to produce the point of the image with noise interpolated texture that do not have visible grid artifacts.

Abstract: A ladder includes a first section having at least one step. The ladder includes a second section having a least one step. The ladder includes a platform attached to the first and second sections. The ladder includes a hinge mechanism connected to the first section and second section, about which the first section and second section move between an open state, where the first and second sections are in an angular relationship for use, and a folded state where the first and second sections and the platform are essentially in parallel, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The ladder includes a foldable tray mechanism attached to the hinge mechanism about which the foldable tray mechanism moves between the open state independently of the first and second sections, where the foldable tray is in an angular relationship with the first and second sections for use, and a folded state where the foldable tray essentially forms a plane with the first section. A hinge for a stepladder. A step to a ladder.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining reflectance data of an object includes a diffuser having a surface. The apparatus includes a mapping portion that affects a mapping between a light field at the object's surface and a light field at the diffuser surface for BRDF capture of the object. A method for obtaining reflectance data usable to determine a plurality of values of the BRDF of an object. The method includes the steps of illuminating the object. There is the step of affecting a mapping between a light field at the object's surface and a light field at a diffuser surface for BRDF capture of the object with a mapping portion. An apparatus and a method for measuring an 8D reflectance field of an object or a 3D object.

Abstract: A method for producing a turbulence conditioner for use with an ultrasonic flow meter in a pipe having the steps of identifying an effective diameter of an aperture of the flow meter to be disposed in an opening in the pipe through which the flow meter communicates pulses of ultrasonic energy with the interior of the pipe. There is the step of building a conditioner with a pitch between openings in the conditioner which is less than the effective diameter.

Abstract: An adjustable work platform includes a first ladder section and a second ladder section, each of which is adjustable in height. The platform includes a deck assembly adjustable in length supported by the first and second ladder sections. The deck assembly includes a first deck half and a second deck half that slide relative to each other and fit together. A method for using an adjustable work platform including the steps of extending the height of a first ladder section and a second ladder section. There is the step of sliding a first deck half relative to a second-half that fit together of a deck assembly to a desired length. The deck assembly supported by the first and second ladder sections.

Abstract: A brace rail shield combination for a rail of a ladder having at least one rung having a first portion that has a shape that conforms with an interior cross sectional surface of the rail. The brace rail shield combination includes a second portion that extends from the first portion at a first location to the rung to provide structural support to the rung. The second portion having an attachment portion at a second location spaced apart from the first location that is fixed to the rung. The first portion and the second portion being one continuous piece. A method for using an extension ladder. A method for producing a knee brace rail shield combination.

Abstract: A system for responding to file system requests having file IDs comprising V, a volume identifier specifying the file system being accessed, and R, an integer, specifying the file within the file system being accessed. The system includes D disk elements in which files are stored, where D is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer. The system includes a switching fabric connected to the D disk elements to route requests to a corresponding disk element. The system includes N network elements connected to the switching fabric. Each network element has a mapping function that for every value of V, specifies one or more elements from the set D that store the data specified by volume V, where N is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer and N+D is greater than or equal to 3, which receives the requests and causes the switching fabric to route the requests by their file ID according to the mapping function.

Abstract: An access ladder for accessing a ceiling from a floor. The ladder comprises a plurality of sections which telescope open and closed, and from a bottom section each section telescopes open to positively lock to the section below it with plungers that lock and unlock each section in sequence as the sections open and close, respectively. A method for using an access ladder for accessing a ceiling from a floor.

Abstract: A stepladder having a front side, a rear side and a top. The stepladder can include a conduit holder attached to the front side for holding conduit. The stepladder can include a first wire spool holder attached to the front side and a second wire spool holder attached to the rear side though which a conduit having a wire spool extends. The stepladder can include a hacksaw hook attached to the front side. A method for cutting a conduit. A method for using a hacksaw. A method for obtaining wire.

Abstract: A climbing apparatus that rests on a surface includes a flip ladder that can move between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. The apparatus includes a tray having a plane attached to the flip ladder that moves with the flip ladder between the straight configuration where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the ladder in a stowed position and a stepladder configuration where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the surface in an open position. A method for climbing includes the steps of moving a flip ladder between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. There is the step of moving a tray having a plane attached to the flip ladder from a stowed position where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the ladder to an opened position where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the surface.

Abstract: A clip for maintaining a first side rail of a first ladder adjacent to a second side rail of a second ladder which is in series with the first side rail. The clip includes a first portion connected to a support element and a second portion connected to the support element. The first portion, second portion and support element are one continuous piece. The first portion defines a hooking engagement with the first side rail and the second portion defines a receiving engagement with the second side rail. The first and second portion opening from opposite sides of the support element, respectively, which conform to the portion of the respective side rail that it receives for removably and frictionally holding the respective side rails in a self-gripping and form-fitting manner such that the side rails are maintained adjacent and in series to each other so that no damage is possible to the ladders by relative movement of the side rails under dynamic conditions brought about by motion during transportation.

Abstract: A method for producing a product includes the steps of taking heated and cooled extrusion, preferably aluminum, and reheating a selected area of the extrusion. There is the step of requenching the extrusion. There is the step of forming the reheated area into a desired shape. A method for producing a ladder.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting wide spectrum white light having a plurality of plastic optical fibers. The apparatus includes a sheath housing the plurality of fibers. An apparatus for providing energy in an airplane. The apparatus includes a light source which produces wide spectrum white light. The apparatus includes a cable through which the eye-safe and fire-safe light from the light source is transmitted. The apparatus includes an avionics box to which the cable is connected that is powered by the light transmitted by the cable. An apparatus for providing energy in an airplane. The apparatus includes means for producing energy that is eye-safe and fire safe. The apparatus includes an avionics box to which the producing means is connected that is powered by the energy form the producing means. A method for providing energy in an airplane. The method includes the steps of producing wide spectrum white light from a light source.

Abstract: An access ladder includes a plurality of sections connected together to telescope between an extended position and a retracted position that has an increasing reactive force to counterbalance the weight of the sections as they extend. A method for accessing a room with a ladder connected to a ceiling including the steps of moving the ladder to a fully extended position subject to an increasingly active force to counterbalance the weight of the ladder as it extends. There is the step of retracting the ladder into a retracted position in the ceiling.

Abstract: A folding step stool includes a front rail assembly. The step stool includes a rear rail assembly, pivotally connected to the front rail assembly, having a crossbar. The step stool includes a step pivotally attached to the front rail assembly having notches which fit over the crossbar when the stool is in an open position. The step stool includes a linkage assembly pivotally and fixedly attached to the step and pivotally and fixedly attached to the crossbar. The linkage assembly compresses to allow the notches to fit over the crossbar and the linkage assembly exerting a force to maintain the crossbar in the notches when the stool is in the open position. A method for securing a step stool includes the steps of moving the notches of a step against a crossbar of a rear rail assembly pivotally connected to a front rail assembly of the step stool.

Abstract: A ladder includes a first section having at least one step. The ladder includes a second section having a least one step. The ladder includes a platform attached to the first and second sections. The ladder includes a hinge mechanism connected to the first section and second section, about which the first section and second section move between an open state, where the first and second sections are in an angular relationship for use, and a folded state where the first and second sections and the platform are essentially in parallel, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.The ladder includes a foldable tray mechanism attached to the hinge mechanism about which the foldable tray mechanism moves between the open state independently of the first and second sections, where the foldable tray is in an angular relationship with the first and second sections for use, and a folded state where the foldable tray essentially forms a plane with the first section. A hinge for a stepladder. A step to a ladder.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining cardiac performance in the patient involving a conductance catheter (12) for measuring conductance and blood volume in a heart chamber of the patient. The apparatus includes a processor (14) for determining instantaneous volume of the ventricle by applying a non-linear relationship between the measured conductance and the volume of blood in the heart chamber to identify mechanical strength of the chamber. The processor (14) is in communication with the conductance catheter (12).