Abstract: A partition support assembly for a canister assembly generally includes at least one inner support ring configured to support one or more partitions for dividing the interior of the canister assembly for packaging contents to be received within the canister assembly, wherein the one or more partitions are configurable in a plurality of packaging orientations. A canister assembly and a method for containing packaging contents are also provided.

Abstract: A bias correction system for use in a neutrally-stable aircraft having a control column and a pitch control system is provided. The position of the control column is generally represented by a control column position signal. The bias correction system is for removing control column bias when the control column is in a neutral position. The bias correction system includes a first combining unit for combining the control column position signal and a correction signal, and a switch. The switch includes activated and deactivated states. The switch is set to the deactivated state when the control column is physically displaced from its neutral position. The deactivated state allows the correction signal to remain at its last value, the activated state allows the correction signal to equal approximately the control column position signal.

Abstract: An automatic container filler (20) having a frame (22) that supports a hopper (24). A dispensing unit (26) is located at the bottom of the hopper (24) that selectively feeds a fluent material, such as sand, into a plurality of discharge chutes (28). The automatic container filler (20) is designed such that fluent material, such as sand, is fed into the hopper (24). The dispensing unit (26) moves the fluent material from the hopper (24) through the discharge chutes (28) into containers such as sandbags. The dispensing unit (26) deposits a predetermined amount of the fluent material through each of the discharge chutes (28) and into containers in sequential order.

Abstract: A pipe bending machine includes a horizontal pipe support platform defining a horizontal pipe feed channel. A first pipe engaging member is positioned on a first side of the pipe feed channel. A second pipe engaging member and a third pipe engaging member are arranged in spaced relation on a second side of the pipe feed channel. Either the first pipe engaging member or the second pipe engaging member and third pipe engaging member are movable into the pipe feed channel, thereby exerting a bending force upon a pipe positioned in the pipe feed channel.

Abstract: A locking apparatus which is suitable for use with a manually operated control. The control is of a type which has a body and a handle. The handle is rotatable relative to the body and which is restricted to rotate between a first position defined by a first pair of abutment surfaces touching one another. In such a condition, a second pair of abutment surfaces are spaced apart to define a first gap between them. Rotation to a second limiting position is defined by the second pair of abutment surfaces touching one another and the first pair of abutment surfaces being spaced apart to define a second gap. The locking apparatus includes a first member which is attachable to the handle and a second member which is attached to the first member. The second member fits for use into either one of the first or second gap and provides further abutment surfaces each disposed to abut a respective adjacent abutment surface on the body of the control thereby to restrict rotation of the handle relative to the body.

Abstract: A variable pitch fan in which the pitch of the fan blades is varied under control of a controller according to the speed of the fan. The controller is programmed to respond to increased fan speed by decreasing pitch of the fan blades. The variable pitch fan has a piston extending axially from a main shaft, about which main shaft a fan blade hub rotates. A pitch shifter is mounted on a cylinder, which itself is mounted on the piston. The pitch shifter is actuated by hydraulic fluid supplied through the main shaft to the cylinder. The piston is preferably axially stationary in relation to the main shaft. The cylinder is secured against rotational movement by at least one guide pin passing into the main shaft. Grease for the pitch shifter is supplied through the guide pin. One guide pin may be used for grease supply, while another may be used for excess grease return.

Abstract: A side unloading dump vehicle includes a support having ground engaging wheels. A container is provided having a first side, a second side, and a bottom pivotally attached along the first side. The container is movable relative to the support from a travel position to a dumping position. In the travel position, the container is set upon the bottom in a substantially central position on the support. In the dumping position, the container is raised and moved off-center toward the second side such that the bottom pivots downwardly to dump the contents of the container.

Abstract: A platform-type wheelchair lift for mounting in the stairwell of a vehicle, such as a bus or train. The wheelchair lift includes a platform frame that is movable from a retracted position in which it is stowed underneath the vehicle to an extended position in which it extends out from the side or back of the vehicle. A wheelchair platform is movably coupled to the platform frame by a parallelogram linkage that allows the wheelchair platform to move between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair platform includes foldable outer, side, and inner wheelchair barriers that prevent a wheelchair from moving off of the wheelchair platform during operation of the wheelchair lift. The outer and inner wheelchair barriers are capable of absorbing part of the energy of an impact between a wheelchair and the barriers and in ways cause barriers to fold out.

Abstract: A skate (20) hingedly attached to an elongate ice blade (24) by a frame (22). The skate having an upper shoe portion (26) adapted to receive a foot, and a sole defining a heel end, a metatarsal portion having a metatarsal head area, and a toe end. The skate further includes a midskate hinge member (12) defined the metatarsal head portion to permit the upper shoe portion to flex in the metatarsal portion, allowing the heel end to lift away from the ice blade, while the toe end remains substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the ice blade. The skate also includes a binding plate (23) fastened to the sole of the skate and extends from the toe end to at least behind the metatarsal head area of the sole. A mid-boot support mount (70) extends upwardly from the frame and is adapted to support the plate at a predetermined location behind the metatarsal head area of the sole to maintain the plate in a stable position as the skater pushes down on the plate and applies thrust to the ice blade.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a playground carriage (10) is provided for moving people (100) from one play area to another. The playground carriage comprises a rotatable support pipe (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16). The support pipe extends between a first vertical column (18) and a second vertical column (20). A manually-operated crank extends between the first vertical column and a third vertical column (48). The first end of the crank is coupled to the first end of the support pipe so that manually turning the crank rotates the support pipe. A carriage (28) for carrying people is mounted to the support pipe. The carriage is advanced along the support pipe by a carrier assembly (102). The carrier assembly comprises a carrier (30) which propels the carriage and a brake (104) which is capable of bringing the carriage to a stop.

Abstract: A vehicle perfume dispenser for mounting on the dashboard of a vehicle. The dispenser is operative to release perfume during the acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. The vehicle perfume dispenser includes a lower case member provided with a perfume cartridge receptacle disposed at the front of the lower case member. The dispenser also includes a rear upper hollow case member mounted at the upper rear portion of the lower hollow case member and having at least a pair of longitudinally disposed slots. The dispenser also includes a see-sawing rectangular member adapted to be pivotably mounted on the lower casing and further having a counterweight. The rectangular member has a rotatively secured equilibrium adjusting apparatus for adjusting the rotation of the rectangular member relative to the lower casing.

Abstract: A heel support apparatus (10) has a substantially flat base portion (12) for resting on a bed surface. An inclined top region (14) of the support apparatus (10) slopes in the upward direction toward the distal region (15) of the support apparatus. The heel support apparatus (10) further includes a central downwardly extending well area (16) for receiving the heel of a patient's foot. A downwardly concaving trough (18) extends from the proximal portion (20) of the support apparatus (10) to intersect the well (16) for receiving the back of the patient's lower leg up to the Achilles tendon region, just above the heel. Substantially the entire length of the patient's lower leg is supported by the downwardly concaving trough (18) while the patient's heel is suspended above the bottom of the well (16), preventing the heel from having to bear the weight of the lower leg.

Abstract: A skate (10) including a plurality of quick release axle assemblies (26) for securing in-line skate wheels (44) to a skate boot (16). The skate includes a frame (12) having right and left side walls (18) and (20) that extend downwardly from a boot mounting platform (14), and having substantially aligned apertures 22 for receiving the quick release axle assemblies, which in turn secure the skate wheels. Each axle assembly contains a single spring-loaded plunger member (28), an axle housing (30) for receiving the plunger member, and at least one detent ball (32) which is held in a detent aperture (34) of the axle housing. When the axle is in the closed position for use, the detent ball projects from the aperture of the axle housing. The detent extends beyond the axle outer surface (38) and locates into a detent ball receiving groove (48) defined in the detent spacer (46) of the wheel to secure the axle.

Abstract: A tape measure (10) including an electronic keypad (20) and display (24) for recording and viewing measurements is disclosed. The keypad includes up (44) and down (46) buttons, save (48) and recall (50) buttons, a set button (46) and a clear/on button (40). The up and down buttons are used to selectively increment and decrement numeric values representing units of measurements, which are displayed on the display. Measurements are entered and displayed in feet, inches, and sixteenths of an inch in the English system, or in metric units. After manually measuring a distance using a coiled measuring tape, a user presses the up and down buttons to specify the distance measured, then presses the save button to store the measurements. The recall button is used to recall previously stored measurements.

Abstract: A brake assembly (30) has a plurality of brake fluid actuated pistons. The brake assembly includes a brake inlet port (46) for receiving brake fluid from a fluid reservoir. The brake assembly includes a plurality of cylinders (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44) for actuating a corresponding plurality of pistons. The plurality of cylinders includes at least a first cylinder (32), a second cylinder (44), and a third cylinder (38) for actuating corresponding pistons. The first, second, and third pistons actuate at first, second, and third time intervals. A fluid distribution manifold (48) is connected in fluid communication with the brake inlet port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for curing large composite parts. The method utilizes a fiber metal mesh sheet (40) situated against a composite material(34) during a curing process. The fiber metal mesh sheet (40) provides a porous network for flow of the reaction by-products during a curing and vacuuming process, yet gives adequate structure to prevent both mark-off by vacuum ports (52, 70) and crushing of the porous network as a result of autoclave and vacuum pressure. External vacuum ports (52) are located in a bagging film (50) surrounding the composite material (34). Alternatively, vacuum ports (70) are located below the composite material (34). The use of the external vacuum ports (52), vacuum ports (70) located beneath the composite material (34), or both, shortens by-product flow path and provides adequate vacuum pressure over all areas of the composite material (34) to remove reaction by-products.

Abstract: A sleeping bag extension panel (10) attaches to a sleeping bag (12) that contains a head end (20), a foot end (22), and a longitudinally disposed opening (24) that extends a portion of the longitudinal length of the sleeping bag, from the head end to a transitional connection point. The longitudinal opening of the sleeping bag has first and second opening edges (28) and (30) to which first and second edge fasteners (32) and (34) are attached. The extension panel consists of a head end (40) and a transitional narrow end (42) that are joined by first and second longitudinal edges (44) and (46). The head end of the extension panel is bounded by a top edge (48) that is wider than the transitional narrow end.

Abstract: A height adjustment system for a desk or workstation comprises plurality of height adjustable legs each having a first part in the form of a hollow column and a second part movable relative to the first part in a vertical direction. The second part of each leg includes a gearbox housing containing a crown gear provided on a vertically extending rotatable shaft and at least one pinion gear engageable with said crown gear. The gearbox housing includes ball bearing race assemblies for the crown and pinion gears which enable the height of two or more legs to be adjusted simultaneously by a single winding mechanism. The leg also includes a self-adjusting linear bearing between telescopically movable parts of the leg. The height adjustment system may also include a duct for cabling, a cable tray and a hinged duct cover pivotally attached to the top member.

Abstract: A heated screed assembly (10) for use with a paving machine (12) includes a screed (16). An elastomeric, electrically-powered heating element (36) is carried on the upper surface (28) of the screed. A retaining member (48) is disposed to overly the heating element, whereby the heating element is retained in contact with the upper surface of the screed during operation of the paving machine. Electric power is supplied to the elastomeric heating element by a generator (44).