Abstract: A lift bracket system for lifting a building structure such as a foundation and the like comprising a lift plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface for insertion under the building structure; a generally cylindrical housing affixed to the lift plate and extending perpendicularly from the top surface and the bottom surface of the lift plate, the housing defining a generally circular opening through the lift plate, the opening being disposed away from the center of the lift plate; and at least one gusset for supporting the lift plate, the gusset having a first end and a second end, the gusset disposed beneath the lift plate, wherein the first end of the gusset is attached to the bottom surface of the lift plate and the second end of the gusset is attached to the housing.

Abstract: An adjustment device is provided for adjusting the height of a side cheek (1) of a seat, whereby the side cheek (1) has a compressible section. The adjustment device comprises pressure means (3) allocated to the compressible section, which are designed in such a way that in a first state they exert a compression pressure on the compressible section, and that in a second state they do not exert any compression pressure on the compressible section. With a device of this kind, a simple height adjustment of the side cheek can be achieved, for example for the purpose of facilitating entry into a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A dual drive actuation system includes a driver gear, a pair of actuators with driven gears, and a transmission for switching the driver gear between the pair of actuators. The transmission is controlled by a solenoid, and the driver gear is powered by a motor. The dual drive actuation system can be used with different actuators that are changed based on their required usage, sizing and range of motion.

Abstract: A belt lumbar for a vehicle seat has a pair of brackets that are respectively located at opposite ends of the belt, a platform that extends between the brackets, and hinges that connect the platform to the brackets. A bowden cable extends between and pulls the brackets toward each other from a first position to a second position. The hinges are living hinges which have more flexibility than the pair of brackets and the platform. In response to the brackets moving toward each other, the hinges rotate relative to the platform and the brackets and extend the platform away from the brackets. Springs connect the ends of the belt to the sides of the seat frame.

Abstract: An actuator having an electric motor with a rotor shaft engaged with a gear set within a housing is provided. As an example, the gear set may be a planetary gear set. The planetary gears are engaged with a disk. The disk is fixed to a shaft rod or other force transmitting component such as lead screw. The lead screw is engaged with a traveling block. When the load screw rotates, the traveling block moves along the lead screw. The lateral movement of the traveling block may be linked to further force application devices, such as a pin or a cable. In one embodiment, the rotor shaft is a hollow tube, and the lead screw is a spindle or rod disposed to slide in and out of the rotor shaft tube.

Abstract: A powered lumbar support mechanism includes a lumbar plate having a power mechanism having connecting links connected to opposite ends of the plate. One of the connecting links is longitudinally movable to change the convexity of the outer surface of the plate to adjust the lumbar support. The power mechanism includes a housing which retains a threaded rod threaded into a worm gear mechanism held within the housing. The housing also retains a motor having a worm which drives the threaded worm gear. The housing can also incorporate a second threaded rod, threaded to a second threaded worm gear also fixed within the housing such that the end of the second threaded rod is connected to a seat support so as to allow for the adjustability of the vertical position of the lumbar mechanism.

Abstract: A training device for breast examination comprises a resilient body composed of a fleshlike material. A plurality of nodules are embedded within the resilient body. A base is attached to a bottom surface of the resilient body. The base is provided with breast self-examination instructions.

Abstract: A lumbar support device has a seat frame, a pair of brackets connected to opposite sided of the seat frame, a pair of flexible members connected to the pair of brackets in such a manner as to respectively form a pair of center sections across the seat frame, and an actuator assembly operatively connected to each one of the flexible members. Each one of the flexible members preferably has a pair of levers on opposite sides of the center sections that rotate about the brackets. In operation, the actuator assembly selectively bows the center portions of the flexible members. The actuator assembly preferably includes a reversible gear and a pair of bowden cables that move one pair of levers when the reversible gear is rotated clockwise and move the other pair of levers when the reversible gear is rotated counter-clockwise.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a massage especially to the back areas of persons who have to sit for a relatively long time on seats, especially motor vehicle seats. The massage is achieved in accordance with the invention by a periodic or a continuous motion of massage elements placed in the seat surface and/or in the back rest. The massage elements are able to move in a forward and backward direction and an up and down direction with respect to the seat. The apparatus includes a supporting element formed of a flexible material that is positioned on a frame of the seat, a drive mechanism, a mechanism operatively connected to the drive mechanism to cause at least a portion of the supporting element to be bowed to provide movement of the supporting element in a direction toward and away from a person seated on the seat for the purpose of supporting body surfaces of the person on the seat.

Abstract: An ergonomic weight support device for a seat has a weight distribution surface attached to a traction arching lumbar support. The weight distribution surface is only attached at the apex of the arch of the arching pressure surface. The upper and lower ends of the weight distribution surface are free to flex between a passenger's spine and the arch, distributing the passenger's weight for greater comfort.

Abstract: A flexible back support for use in seats such as automobile seats or office chairs, includes a central body portion with outwardly extending support fingers such that an arch having a variable apex is formed when the back support is subtended longitudinally. The longitudinal location of an apex and the shape of the arch formed on the back support changes responsively to a load imposed by a person's back. Noise, galling, wear and rough movement between moving parts of the flexible back support are reduced by the coefficient of friction reduction method of the present invention.

Abstract: An anatomically deformable support and, in particular, a lordosis support, is provided for use with seats, couches or the like. The anatomically deformable support includes a frame, and an anatomically deformable supporting part connected to the frame and that can be arched in the reversible manner. The supporting part is connected to the frame by a connection arrangement including elongates cylindrical members, for example, wires, secured to the frame and first and second mounting arrangements provided at first and second end portions of the supporting part for securing the elongate cylindrical members to the supporting part. At least one of the mounting arrangements includes a first common rigid web member, and a pair of elastically flexible web members arranged on opposing sides of the rigid web member to form first mountings in which the elongate cylindrical members are received.

Abstract: A screw rotor device has a housing with an inlet port and an outlet port, a male rotor, and a female rotor. The male rotor has a pair of helical threads with a phase-offset aspect, and the female rotor has a corresponding pair of helical grooves. The female rotor counter-rotates with respect to the male rotor and each of the helical grooves respectively intermeshes in phase with each of the helical threads. The phase-offset aspect of the helical threads is formed by a pair of teeth bounding a toothless sector. The arc angle of the toothless sector is a least twice the arc angle that subtends either one of the teeth. The helical grooves have a radially narrowing axial width at the periphery of the female rotor. The male and female rotors may include a buttress thread profile and may be limited in length to a single pitch.

Abstract: A screw rotor device has a housing with an inlet port and an outlet port and at least one pair of rotors. The rotors each have an identical number of threads (N), a buttress thread profile with a diagonal line, and a length that is either approximately equal to or less than a single pitch of the threads. The threads of the rotors intermesh as the rotors counter-rotate with respect to each other. The rotors can be twins or each one of the rotors can have different profiles.

Abstract: A bale binding machine utilizes controlled pins to guide the path of a wire (or strap) around a bale such that strength-reducing bending is not introduced to the wire. The bale binding machine binds bales of fibrous bulk materials such as cotton and nylon.

Abstract: A method of deactivating chemical contaminants and biological agents from a target surface by aerosol spraying the target surface with a electrostatically charged, photosensitizer solution, and then illuminating the surface with ultraviolet light.

Abstract: An ergonomic device actuator including a housing, a pulley rotating inside the housing, the pulley being adapted to draw a traction element, and a locking clutch encapsulated by the housing and disposed to control rotation of said pulley. A drive clutch drives the pulley through the locking clutch. A drive shaft that rotates in the housing drives the drive clutch. A traction cable fixed to said pulley communicates with an ergonomic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support with adjustable arch, especially a lumbar support for seats, in particular motor vehicle seats and chair back rests as well as for any type of bed, the structure of which comprises an arching element and an adjustment device for setting and readjusting the arching of the arching element.

Abstract: A collapsible cup with vented pocket comprises a base member for supporting the apparatus. A plurality of telescoping components form a fluid-tight seal by friction fitting the plurality of telescoping components together. An outermost telescoping component is attached to the base member to form an impervious junction between the base member and the outermost telescoping component. A vented pocket is attached to an innermost telescoping component. The innermost telescoping component is the final component of the plurality of telescoping components.

Abstract: A ratchet actuator for an ergonomic device has a thin profile due to the combination of multiple functions into single parts. A ratchet drive gear also has drive fingers for operating a clutch. A clutch stator has high and low steps for engaging and disengaging ratchet pawls.