Abstract: Safety stanchions for supporting a safety cable and the like are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment includes a tapered tubular post having a lower end for attachment to a support base at an oblique angle and an upper end for supporting the safety cable. A unique base or base assembly for mounting a stanchion upon a structural member such as an I beam is also disclosed. Various unique safety stanchion apparatus and methods for mounting safety stanchions to concrete floors, beams and girders and other concrete structures are also shown.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for protecting and supporting a fragile thermometer having a column and an integral flange base. The assembly includes a support base defining a threaded bore for receiving the integral flange base of the thermometer. A bottom cushioning pad is also provided for placement in the bottom of the bore. In addition, a ring-shaped upper cushioning pad is provided for being fitted over the column of the thermometer and against the top surface of the thermometer's flange base. The thermometer is secured to the protective support base with a threaded collar member which receives the thermometer column and is threaded into the threaded bore of the support base which secures the thermometer to the base. An adapter bushing may also be used to attach thermometers having smaller diameter columns to the base.

Abstract: A computer keyboard/mouse support apparatus including a keyboard support having three layers which are rigidly sandwiched together is disclosed. The top layer is for supporting a keyboard while the bottom layer is for attachment to a keyboard arm. The center layer has a surface area which is substantially less than that of the top and bottom layers so that it defines a gap in which left and right mouse extensions pivot between extended usable positions and retracted stored positions. In their extended usable positions, the front edges of the keyboard support and the mouse extensions are flush with each other and define an ergonomic curve. The top surface of each mouse extension also preferably frictionally engages the underside surface of the keyboard support so that the extensions are not easily moved by the user when moving a mouse supported on the surface of the extension.

Abstract: A synthetic aggregate having a multiplicity of uses such as for mixing with a cementing material to form concrete, mortar or plaster is disclosed. The aggregate includes crushed fragments of a size which are capable of passing through mesh screen having sieve openings ranging from between about 19 mm and 75 microns. The aggregate fragments are made by curing and then crushing a compressed product. The compressed product is made by compressing an aqueous cementitious mixture comprising cement and at least one member selected from the group consisting of bottom ash and non-cementitious fly ash. The compressed product is cured so that it has a compressive strength of at least 600 psi.

Abstract: A water draining exterior wall structure for a building having a building framework is disclosed. The wall structure includes a plurality of prefabricated panel sections secured to a building framework to form a wall surface. Each panel section includes a support structure for attachment to the building framework which has a water barrier deck substantially co-extensive with the support structure. In addition, a plurality of fascia panels overly the water barrier deck and are attached thereto by beads of silicone adhesive so that a gap is provided between the deck and each fascia panel. A gutter is also provided in each panel which extends along the bottom of each panel section for collecting water entering the gap and carrying the collected water to a drainage end of said gutter so that water can drain out of said panel section. Water drainage dams are also provided, each of which is located in a joint between adjacent panel sections below the drainage end of a gutter of each panel section.

Abstract: A heated platform is formed by one or more elongated boards or planks, each having an elongated lower surface with a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending channels defined therein. An elongated heat conducting metal beam is operatively mounted in heat conducting relation in each channel. The beam defines a central, wide, inner channel opening in one direction and a pair of narrower side cable channels one on each side of the central channel and opening in a direction opposite to the direction of opening of the inner channel. An electric heating cable is operatively mounted in heat conducting relation in the beam cable channels for supplying heat to the beam for transfer to the board or plank. The heated planks or boards are useful particularly for forming decks and seating for hot tubs, as well as for walkways and stairs.

Abstract: A synthetic aggregate having a multiplicity of uses such as for mixing with a cementing material to form concrete, mortar or plaster is disclosed. The aggregate includes crushed fragments of a size which are capable of passing through mesh screen having sieve openings ranging from between about 19 mm and 75 microns. The aggregate fragments are made by curing and then crushing a compressed product. The compressed product is made by compressing an aqueous cementitious mixture comprising cement and at least one member selected from the group consisting of bottom ash and non-cementitious fly ash. The compressed product is cured so that it has a compressive strength of at least 600 psi.

Abstract: A wind deflector for the tailgate of a pickup truck includes a generally rectangular sheet having an exterior and an interior surface which are interconnected by a periphery formed of a long horizontal top edge, a long horizontal bottom edge, and a pair of short side edges extending therebetween. The sheet may be either a flexible fabric material or a rigid material. Top and bottom sets of hook and loop fasteners are provided for attaching the deflector to the bed and tail gate of the pickup truck. The hook fasteners are affixed to the interior surface of the sheet along the sheet's top and bottom edges. The top loop fastener is affixed to the top edge of the tail gate of the pickup truck while the bottom loop fastener is affixed to the floor of the pickup truck bed. In addition, the loop fasteners are spaced from each other a distance which approximates the length of the short side edges of the sheet.

Abstract: A vacuum nozzle or suction head for efficiently and effectively removing standing liquid from fabric surfaces such as carpeting. The nozzle is formed by a nozzle body defining an internal enclosed vacuum chamber and an upper vacuum source port opening into the chamber. A sleeve adapted to receive a vacuum source tube is affixed to the nozzle body and opens into the port. The nozzle body has a bottom plate defining an outer bottom surface with a plurality of vacuum suction ports opening between the chamber and the bottom surface. Each port has a throat portion opening into the chamber and an outer enlarged portion opening into the surface. Moving the nozzle, when connected to a suction source, across a liquid saturated, typically water saturated surface effects removal of water therefrom.

Abstract: Safety stanchions for supporting a safety cable and the like include a tapered tubular post having a lower end for attachment to a support base at an oblique angle and an upper end for supporting the safety cable. A unique base or base assembly for mounting a stanchion upon a structural member such as an I beam is also provided. Various unique safety stanchion apparatus and methods for mounting safety stanchions to concrete floors, beams and girders and other concrete structures are also provided.

Abstract: A tie down device for sheet material such as tarpaulin and the like is disclosed. The device includes a bar and a sleeve. The sleeve has a slit extending from end to end thereof for receiving the bar as well as sheet material which extends around the bar and outwardly through the slit of the sleeve on opposite sides of the bar. In addition, a rope is secured to the bar which extends through the slit when the bar is received in the sleeve. The rope enables the device to be placed under tension so that the bar binds the sheet material extending around the bar against the sleeve. This binding action firmly secures the sheet material to the device and thereby prevents the sheet material from slipping out of the device between the bar and the sleeve. The device also includes means for preventing the bar from sliding out of the sleeve when the device is placed under tension. A tent pole having a tie down device attached at one end of the pole is also disclosed.

Abstract: A prefabricated foundation panel for being supported on a footing to support the perimeter floor sill of a mobile home is disclosed. The panel has a generally rectangularly shaped frame including generally elongate, parallel and spaced, metallic top and bottom members as well as a plurality of spaced metallic cross members which are rigidly affixed to the top and bottom members. The outermost cross members of the frame are positioned so that they are flush with the ends of the top and bottom members. The top, bottom and cross members collectively define a plurality of spaces extending through the frame from an outer side thereof to an inner side thereof. A decorative aggregate coated facing is also provided for the panel which is attached to the outer side of the frame and which covers the plurality of spaces. A method of installing the panels around the lower periphery of a mobile home to enclose the lower periphery is also disclosed.

Abstract: A safety stanchion for supporting a safety cable includes a tapered tubular post having a lower end for attachment to a support base at an oblique angle and an upper end for supporting the safety cable. The post preferably has a wall thickness of less than 0.125 inches, is frustoconically shaped and is made out of an energy absorbing, elastic-like steel such as A595 grade steel which in cooperation with the post's wall thickness and tapered, preferably frustoconical, shape is believed to render the post capable of in elastically deforming before it fails. A unique base or base assembly for mounting a stanchion upon a structural member such as an I beam, H beam or other structural beam having flange portions is also provided.