Abstract: A protective helmet and liner therefor includes a sheet of sound deadening material which fits between impact force absorbing pad structures disposed on the interior of the protective helmet.

Abstract: A shoulder pad for a football player, includes a rib protector pad body disposed adjacent to the body arch members and releasably connected to the pad body disposed beneath the body arch members of the shoulder pad.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting vertical members in an offshore environment, utilize pivoting support members whcih are secured to the vertical member.

Abstract: A composite sheet material especially suited as a roofing material is disclosed. The sheet is a composite of extruded top and bottom layers. The top layer is formed by extrusion of a mixture of cured rubber particles dispersed in a matrix of polypropylene. The bottom layer is formed by coextrusion with the top layer of a mixture of calcium carbonate and cured rubber particles dispersed in a matrix of polypropylene. The method of fabricating the composite sheet material includes trimming longitudinal edges of the material with powered circular blades as it moves between chill rollers and a pull roller assembly. The material is spooled with minimum winding tension so as to prevent tension forces from being set in the material.

Abstract: A shock absorbing pad structure for athletic equipment, such as shoulder pads, has a foam member, having an undulated configuration formed by a plurality of elevations and dperessions, arranged in a staggered relationship with respect to one another, disposed within a flexible, substantially air impermeable enclosure. The flexible enclosure has at least one air permeable portion disposed therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for offshore support structures utilizes a hollow pile disposed within one leg of a three-legged structure to support an offshore platform, wherein the hollow pile is fixedly secured to the tubular leg within which it is disposed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing stereotactic surgery upon a target within a skull establishes a first, predetermined geometric relationship between a positioning fixture mounted on the skull and a scanning table surface upon which the skull is supported; and that geometric relationship is duplicated in a phantom fixture. An arc device permits entry into the skull by a medical instrument from a plurality of locations upon the skull.

Abstract: An athletic shock absorbing pad structure includes a flexible open-celled foam member disposed in a flexible enclosure and the flexible open-celled foam member comprises two layers of open-celled foam, the density of the layers of open-celled foam being different from one another.

Abstract: An adjustable bracket assembly for use with an arch wire includes a base member, an attachment member, and means for movably associating the base member with the attachment member, whereby the attachment member is slidably received within the base member, whereby a variable sized arch wire receiving channel may be formed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for offshore support structures utilize a central support having three legs interconnected with an outrigger support structure comprised of at least two legs and at least one hollow pile is disposed within at least one leg of the central support, the hollow pile being fixedly secured to the tubular leg within which it is disposed.

Abstract: A submersible production storage barge and method for transporting and installing a jack-up rig in a body of water has the submersible production storage barge releasably secured to a jack-up rig while the jack-up rig and submersible production storage barge are towed as a unit to the desired offshore location.

Abstract: A method and system for testing safety relief valves utilizes a reservoir of high pressure fluid which is metered into a smaller pressure vessel in communication with the safety relief valve to be tested. The method and system permits a safety relief valve to be tested with air as well as water.

Abstract: A needle disposal device and method comprising at least two planar members connected together along a side edge. Adhesive material on the surface of one of the planar members for contacting a needle and second securing means securing together the front surfaces of the planar members when moved together to fixedly sandwich the needle between the planar members.

Abstract: A cantilever strap for a shoulder pad for a football player has a central portion which overlies the acromioclavicular area of the shoulder of the football player, and has a width which is substantially greater than two inches.

Abstract: An eye protector, which includes a rigid shield for protecting the eye after an injury or surgery, utilize a flexible adhesion member to removably secure the rigid shield to the face of a wearer.

Abstract: A downhole tool for use with a ball and seat travelling valve associated with a moveable plunger includes a means for causing relative movement between the upper and lower housings forming the downhole tool, whereby a bumping force may be imparted to the plunger to unseat the ball during the downstroke of the downhole tool.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting vertical members in an offshore environment, utilize support members which are either clamped to the vertical member by use of a pipe clamp, or are clamped to the vertical member via a pipe clamp which is pivotably connected to the support leg.

Abstract: A flexible, radiolucent support arm for use with medical instruments in surgical procedures can have its geometric configuration and orientation readily altered by the surgeon, and the support arm for a medical instrument, such as a brain retractor blade, can also be used to provide application of a fluid suctioning force to the operative site.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting vertical members in an offshore environment, utilize support members which are either clamped to the vertical member by use of a pipe clamp, or are clamped to the vertical member via a pipe clamp which is pivotably connected to the support leg.

Abstract: A method for restoring the finished appearance of a damaged area on a painted surface is disclosed. An aerosol mixture of color-matched paint is sprayed onto the damaged area and onto the undamaged painted surface bordering the damaged area. The wet paint deposit is then contacted with a film of wax. The excess paint and wax are wiped away before the paint deposit becomes tacky. The cavity within the damaged area is substantially filled with a deposit of color-matched paint, without a noticeable transition from the restored surface to the original painted surface. Curing of the wet paint deposit is accelerated by contacting the paint deposit with a synthetic polishing wax which includes siloxane.