Abstract: A method for rotational molding of articles, including the step of rotationally molding a mixture of particulate plastics material comprising at least one thermoplastics material having a first particle size and a second thermoplastics material having a larger particle size wherein, in use, said first thermoplastic material fuses to form an outer skin and subsequently said second thermoplastics material fuses to form an inner skin bonded to the outer skin of a resultant molded article. The method may also include the step of incorporating a quantity of rollable molded reinforcing elements in the mold with said first and second thermoplastics materials, wherein the reinforcing elements are located in a spaced array thereby forming bridges between opposed inner skin surfaces as they expand. Articles, such as a shipping pallet, rotationally molded using the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wheelchair suspension system comprises a suspension assembly disposed adjacent to each wheel of the wheelchair, and attached to and interconnecting the axle of the wheels to the wheelchair frame. Each of the suspension assemblies includes a front bracket and a rear bracket, wherein the front bracket is attached to the wheelchair frame and the rear bracket is attached to the axle. Top and bottom generally L-shaped arms each are pivotally attached to each of the brackets in a diametrically opposed fashion, and an elastomeric spring is disposed between and interconnects the arms. When one or more of the wheels encounters a bump in a travel surface of the wheelchair, the arms pivot about the brackets, remain parallel to each other, and move closer together to compress the spring which absorbs a significant amount of shock caused by the bump.

Abstract: Arylamines with electron donating groups such as alkyl and alkoxy groups in the meta position on the aromatic ring change the polymerization temperature of the benzoxazine prepared therefrom and offer an opportunity for an additional crosslinking site (the para position on the aromatic amine can couple to a Mannich base generated by the opening of the oxazine ring of the benzoxazine or a methylene bridge generated by a degradation reaction). Naphthenic amines with an alkyl or alkoxy substituent on the 5.sup.th through the 8.sup.th carbon atom on the naphthalene ring can function similarly. The polymers for benzoxazines prepared from at least 10% substituted aromatic or naphthenic amines are useful due to low polymerization temperatures and higher Tg (glass transition temperature).

Abstract: A portable oxygen conserving apparatus to deliver oxygen to a patient generally only during inhalation. The device includes an inlet connected to an oxygen source, an outlet which communicates oxygen to a patient, a mass-flow sensor connected to the outlet for detecting inhalation of a patient, and a valve disposed between the inlet, and outlet for controlling oxygen to the patient in response to inhalation detection and thereby providing a pulse of oxygen.

Abstract: In order to easily convert a lip rolling apparatus to different cup diameters, without involving a change of the phase relation of the roll feeds (1) relative to one another, two roll feed pairs are arranged oppositely, the roll feeds (1) of each pair being arranged at a fixed spacing (D1), individually, relative to one another, and the mutual spacing of the roll feed pairs is variable. The drive gears (10a,b, 11a,b) are adapted to be driven by a common drive belt (12) traveling over at least one deflection sheave (13a,b) arranged so as to be movable along the line of symmetry (40) between the drive gear pairs (10a,b, 11a,b). The drive gears (10a,b, 11a,b) have the same diameter as the deflection sheaves (13a, 13b) on a compensating knuckle (30a, 30b).

Abstract: A tilt seat of a wheelchair is operatively connected to a wheelchair frame through an archial support member and through a gear rack such that as the seat is tilted, the center of gravity of a person seated in the wheelchair is substantially maintained. A bracket which slides along the gear rack can be stopped at or released at any desired seat tilt inclination.

Abstract: A transfer bench facilitates assembly and allows for ease of reversibility. Particularly, a seat has a seat portion secured to a frame assembly. A seat back is removably connected to the seat and frame assembly depending on whether the bathtub is a right-hand or left-hand tub. A preferred arrangement is to use a pair of L-shaped members, one leg of which receives the seat back and the second leg of which extends through openings in the seat portion. Spring biased snap buttons snap fit in place and removably secure the seat back to the remainder of the transfer bench.

Abstract: Normally, repeated calibration measurements are necessary for the adjustment of the sample and ellipsometer. To achieve an automatic relative adjustment, a sample position detection system that can be adjusted in relation to the ellipsometer and locked in is assigned to the ellipsometer, and where the detection system is connected to an adjusting system that affects the sample table and/or the entire system detection system/ellipsometer. The method for automatic relative adjustment is provided for, that by initially using one sample, the system sample/ellipsometer is adjusted via the symmetry of the detector signal of the ellipsometer, and that the sample position detection system is adjusted and subsequently locked in with the ellipsometer. With all subsequent samples, a relative adjustment of sample and ellipsometer detection system is performed using the signals of the detection system.

Abstract: An integral snap button and anti-rattle member is provided for locking the length of and decreasing the play and rattle between inner and outer tubes of an adjustable-length telescoping tube assembly. The member fits into the inner and outer tubes and a button formed thereon passes through an opening in the inner tube and one of a plurality of openings in the outer tube to adjustably lock the length of the assembly. A collar formed on the member fits within the outer telescoping tube to decrease play and rattle between the tubes of the assembly. The member is easily manufactured as an integral or one-piece member and is easily installed in the assembly.

Abstract: A wheelchair includes a rigid upholstered seat removably mounted on a crossbrace-type chassis. The seat includes a generally square-shaped frame having a clevis assembly depending from each of the four corners of the frame. Each one of a first pair of the clevis assemblies disposed at diagonally opposed front and rear corners of the seat frame is formed with aligned generally pear-shaped openings. Each one of a second pair of the clevis assemblies disposed at the other diagonally opposed front and rear corners of the seat frame is formed with aligned generally horizontal elliptical-shaped openings. An inverted generally U-shaped mounting bracket formed with aligned openings is disposed on each end of each one of a pair of chassis sideframes. Each clevis assembly is engageable with a respective one of the U-shaped brackets so that the respective openings of the engaged brackets are aligned. A quick release pin is passed through each set of aligned openings to secure the seat to the chassis.

Abstract: A method of fastener identification for traceability of manufacturing information of an individual fastener, is achieved by applying a code to the fastener. The fasteners to be identified typically are formed of hardened materials such as steel. A die cast, forged or pressed roll stamp or forge stamp is thus used to apply the code and is formed with a raised stencil of one or more characters or indicia. Multiple lots of a certain fastener typically are manufactured in a given time period, such as a year, thus requiring a different code to identify each fastener lot. Numbers of lots and sizes of individual lots for a given time period are difficult to predict for a fastener producer, thus risking waste if multiple customized stamps are used to identify the lots. A universal stamp having a single indicia stencil is utilized to identify all lots of a certain fastener in a given time period, by removing selected ones of the stencil characters from the universal stamp for each different lot.

Abstract: A wheelchair provides a seat mounted to a base preferably through use of a universal joint to provide for selective orientation of the seat. A pair of actuators are interposed between the seat and base so that selective extension and retraction of the actuators orients the seat as desired. A level sensing device(s) provides suitable output signals to control the extension and retraction of the actuators, and thus the final orientation of the seat. This allows a wheelchair occupant to remain level while the chair traverses uneven ground or to selectively reposition the seat to relieve pressure points without the assistance of an attendant.

Abstract: The power wheelchair includes an anti-tip assembly extending from the frame. The anti-tip assembly includes a plate secured to the frame via a dampening mechanism. A first arm extends from the plate and is mounted thereto for a limited amount of relative movement. A grounding engaging wheel disposed on a distal end of the arm is urged toward the ground surface by a biasing spring interposed between the arm and the plate. As the wheelchair begins to tip, anti-tip or resistive forces are generated initially by the biasing spring. This resisting force continues in a linear fashion until relative movement between the arm and the plate ceases. Thereafter, further resistive forces are provided by the dampener as movement of the plate toward the frame is resisted in a linear fashion by the dampener.

Abstract: The wheel lock assembly includes a housing that is either integrally formed on a frame, or provided as a separate component for adjustable mounting on the frame. The housing includes a circular opening that receives a disk that rotates relative to the housing. A handle is either integrally formed with the disk or, alternately, secured to the disk as a separate component, to selectively rotate the disk relative to the housing. An actuating shoe is pivotally mounted to the housing and includes a cam opening that cooperates with a pin secured to the disk at a position spaced from the central axis of rotation of the disk to convert the rotational movement of the handle and disk into translational movement of the shoe. This allows the shoe to be moved between locked and unlocked positions relative to the wheel of a wheeled apparatus such as a wheelchair, patient transport, stroller, or the like. The cam opening may also adopt alternative configurations to vary the travel of the shoe as desired.

Abstract: Described is a heating apparatus which in case of need guarantees nonproblematic access to the objects to be heated, without incurring heat losses. Used in conjunction with lip rolling apparatuses, the heating apparatus features at least two movably arranged heating boxes (1) and (2), which via parallelogram linkages connected in swingable fashion to a stationary support element (13), such that in their inoperative position they are away from the object to be heated and have assumed closed position as well.

Abstract: A micromembrane pump is described which is self-priming and self-filling. For this, the pump chamber (14) is so configured that in a drained condition of the pump chamber (14), the pump membrane (4) adjoins the pump chamber wall (22), which causes the volume of the pump chamber (14) to be minimized. For this, the pump chamber wall (22) can be flat, so that the pump membrane (4) adjoins the flat pump chamber wall (22) in its unshifted rest position. Preferably, the pump includes membrane valves which consist of a valve membrane (3) situated between two halves of the housing (1, 2), and valve seats (10, 16). It also includes a heteromorphic piezoactuator (5) attached to the pump membrane (4). The compact pump is suited to deliver gases and liquids, and can be manufactured in cost-effective fashion from only a few components.

Abstract: An input command controller provides logic function selection signals and proportional signals. The signals are generated by movement of a ball member and socket member relative to two orthogonal axes. When the joystick is implanted a transmitter transmits the signals to a patient carried unit. The patient carried unit includes an amplitude modulation algorithm such as a look-up table, a pulse width modulation algorithm, and an interpulse interval modulation algorithm. The algorithms derive corresponding stimulus pulse train parameters from the proportional signal which parameters are transmitted to an implanted unit. The implanted unit has a power supply that is powered by the carrier frequency of the transmitted signal and stimulation pulse train parameter decoders. An output unit assembles pulse trains with the decoded parameters for application to implanted electrodes.

Abstract: A bed-rise support device is provided which comprises a series of spaced, parallel hand grips in a rounded frame attached to a vertical pole stabilized by a bed frame. The device further includes a curved, horizontal leveraging handle portion which extends from the pole. The device allows the user the ability to build momentum by pushing off the hand grip and allows the user to control momentum by regaining balance as well as readjusting posture by grabbing the curved handle. This function is necessary for the safe completion of rising from a bed. Also the user can push off the hand grip with one hand while simultaneously reaching for the curved handle during the rising movement which enables the user to steady him/herself as he/she climbs out of bed.