Abstract: A wheelchair is provided which has a seat height adjustment comprised of a in-line turnbuckle that allows infinite adjustment of the length of a turnbuckle assembly. The assembly includes a handgrip with a longitudinal recess having a first end with smaller internal threads that mate with the external threads of a smaller diameter cylinder. This cylinder can telescope with a recess formed in a second hollow cylinder having oppositely threaded external threads that mates with a second larger diameter set of threads in a second end of the longitudinal recess of the handgrip. The smaller diameter cylinder includes a snap button on a spring, which catches an annular shoulder on the recess formed at the transition between the smaller and the larger diameter areas. This inhibits the turnbuckle from over-extension. Further, the assembly has a restraint, which inhibits the turnbuckle assembly from working out of its selected position during use. The restraint can be pop detent or jam nut.

Abstract: A block copolymer for hair styling compositions includes hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks which allow for optimization of desirable characteristics of the hair styling composition, such as flow onto the hair, prevention of curl droop, style retention at high humidity, tack, hardness, resistance to flaking, restylability, volumizing, and washability from the hair. The copolymer includes a polyacrylate backbone of hydrophobic blocks, with hydrophilic acrylate side chains. The copolymer is suitable for the formulation of a number personal care, household, hair care, skin care and other formulation. The copolymer is suited to incorporation into low VOC hydro-alcoholic hair styling compositions to meet reduced VOC, regulations.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical multiple circuit breaker with (N) first optical inputs (E1) (n)), whereby these inputs can be switched optionally to (N) first or (N) second optical outputs (A1(n)) and/or (A2(n)). Light rays (LS1(n)) and LS2(n)) are reflected or transmitted from two surfaces (27, 28), to which end the at most two recesses (25) of a transparent base body (1) that form these surfaces are filled optionally with an optically thinner or denser material (26). In accordance with a first embodiment, both surfaces (27, 28) are so arranged that, in the reflecting switching state, the first inputs (E1(n)) are optically connected to the first outputs (A1(n)), and the second inputs (E2(n)) are connected to the second outputs (A2(n)), and that in the transmission switching state, the first input (E1(n)) are optically connected to the second outputs (A2(n)).

Abstract: A high elongation, low 100% modulus composition comprises a copolymer dispersed in a continuous phase polysiloxane. The copolymer is made from high amounts of at least a monomer which is capable of forming a low Tg polymer and relatively low amounts of at least a monomer which is capable of forming a high Tg polymer. The monomer forming the low Tg polymer can be an alkyl acrylate whereas the monomers forming the high Tg polymer can be a vinyl ester, an acrylonitrile or derivatives thereof, a vinyl substituted aromatic such as styrene, an alkyl methacrylate, and the like. The composition has good adhesion to substrates as well as good viscosity aging, and can be utilized in caulks or sealants.

Abstract: The invention pertains to wheelchairs, and more particularly, to a wheelchair seat having a seat back member which substantially maintains a constant vertical angle when the seat bottom or rail is pivotably raised and lowered. Accordingly, the angle between a seat back and seat rail is changed during adjustment of the seat rail.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to electrolytic diaphragm cells, particularly for the electrolysis of brine to produce chlorine and caustic. The innovation resides generally in the discovery that electrolytic cell operation can be desirably enhanced by compressing the diaphragm between anode and cathode. This compression of the diaphragm reduces the diaphragm thickness from an original thickness, e.g., from an original thickness of a diaphragm freshly deposited on a cathode. The reduced thickness of the diaphragm provides for cell operation that is less than zero gap operation. By maintaining the diaphragm under compression and in a reduced thickness, the cell operates with a narrower interelectrode gap and consequently at a desirably reduced cell voltage.

Abstract: A porous product, typically a foam sheet, can be produced by peeling of a foam supply. By peeling the foam supply along its z axis, a product is produced having pores with a uniform pore aspect ratio in the longitudinal direction. Such a porous product, when containing an active filler, can be used as a battery electrode. The electrode can have enhanced electrical and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A grafted poly(vinyl chloride) having at least one pendant chain which comprises poly(&agr;-methylstyrene). The graft copolymer has only a single glass transition temperature of from about 100° C. to about 130° C. The poly(vinyl chloride)-g-poly(&agr;-methylstyrene) can be utilized as a high heat distortion poly(vinyl chloride) material, as the single glass transition temperature is considerably higher than that of homopolymer poly(vinyl chloride). The molecular weight of the pendant poly(&agr;-methylstyrene) chain is less than about 10,500 g/mol number average.

Abstract: Fifth wheels are used to establish an articulated connection between a truck tractor and a semi-trailer. They consist of a plate (1) which is attached to the truck tractor and generally has at least one arched slideway lining (4a,4b) acting as a bearing surface and fitting into corresponding recesses of the fifth wheel plate (1) where it is fastened. According to the invention, fastening is provided in the form of a positive fit connection, whereby the lower part of the slideway lining (4a,b) and the upper part of the plate (1) have joining elements (6,8) to ensure a rotationally locked positive fit, thus enabling thermal dilation to occur in the fifth wheel plate (1). Preferably, the positive fitting joining elements for the lower side of the slideway lining (4a,b) are configured as ribs (6) extending radially outwards from a virtual center point (7) and the positive fitting joining elements for the upper side of the fifth wheel plate (1) are configured as complementary grooves (6).

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for copper electrowinning and a modified lead electrode for use in such method. The modified electrode is suitable for use as an oxygen anode in low current density, oxygen-evolving applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bone plate having at least two and up to ten ringed eyelets for receiving anchoring bone screws in a modified ball-and-socket joint. The eyelets are longitudinally aligned and joined to neighboring eyelets by curvilinear, bendable ribs extending between pairs of eyelets. The ribs are of a longer length than the distance between the external surfaces of adjacent rings which allows the longitudinal spacing of the rings to be increased or decreased by bending the ribs.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus are disclosed for injection molding highly filled conductive resin compositions. These compositions include one or more of unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resin; a copolymer having a terminal ethylene group; and at least about 50 weight percent of an inorganic particulate conductive filler, an initiator, and a rheological modifier to prevent phase separation between said resin and said conductive filler during molding. The method of the present invention allows these compositions to be molded into highly intricate and thin electrically and thermally conductive specimens without significant post process machining. The method involves the use of an injection molding apparatus that has a hopper with an auger having a vertical component in its positioning to feed into the feed throat of an injection molding machine which has a phenolic screw that has been modified to have a constant inner diameter and a constant flight depth.

Abstract: Liquid organic phosphites of low volatility, based on pentaerythritol, alkyl alcohols and alkyl phenols, which are essentially phenol-free are disclosed. These phosphites are excellent stabilizers for polymers, especially PVC resins. The phenol-free phosphite stabilizers are compatible with mixed metal stabilizers and give excellent color and processing stability.

Abstract: A novel hydrophilic ampholytic polymer synthesized by reacting polymerizable amino and carboxy functional ethylenically unsaturated monomers, together with a non-ionic hydrophilic monomer, to provide a polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) above about 50° C., and optionally hydrophobic monomer(s), and cross-linking monomer(s). The copolymer is precipitated from a polymerization media which includes a suitable organic solvent. The resulting copolymer is in the form of a fine powder, with submicron particle size. As such it is suitable for use as a thickener or rheology modifier in personal care formulations, such as shampoo, conditioner, and the like, as a bioadhesive, and for other pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: A wheelchair has a constant center of gravity tilt assembly which can be connected to any type of frame structure. A chair is pivotally attached to the tilt assembly which includes a slidable guide member. The guide member is slidably attached to a guide rail which can be mounted on the frame. An actuator for moving the chair forward and backward is operatively connected at one end to the slidable guide member and at the other end to the wheelchair frame. A link arm has one end operatively connected to said frame and the other end pivotally connected to the seat of the integral chair. Upon actuation of the actuator, said guide member moves said chair forward or backwards and as a consequence thereof, said seat is tilted backward or forward by said link arm to substantially maintain the center of gravity of a person seated in the chair.

Abstract: A roll bar protection system for motor vehicles comprising an outer box profile forming a case for the components of the roll bar protection system, being mounted firmly on the vehicle, an inner box profile, able to move in the outer box profile via guide elements which is designed as a roll bar and accommodates a fast drive for its extension into the upper end protection position in event of danger, and a drive arrangement for a continuous movement of the inner box profile, consisting of an electric motor/gearing arrangement with a threaded spindle of predetermined length, as well as a tie-bar which can be moved in the outer box profile, having a nut for engagement with the threaded spindle, and which is detachably connected to the inner box profile.

Abstract: A wheelchair includes two side frames (1L and 1R) consisting of respective lower frame parts (1′L and 1′R) and respective upper frame parts (1″L and 1″R). Each side frame has transverse, horizontal, tilt pivot axis (3) between its upper and lower parts. Forwards of each axis (3) is a tilt adjustment device (4) acting between the lower frame part and the upper frame part. Each device (4) may take the form of a gas spring, an electric motor or a screw device. The lower frame parts (1′L and 1′R) are linked by a pair of shear braces (5L and 5R) with a vertical pivot axis (6) in the center. The upper frame parts (1″L and 1″R) are linked by one or more pairs of transverse braces (8L and 8R) with a pivot axis (9) in the center. Seat plates are fixedly mounted at the top surfaces of the respective braces (8L and 8R). The seat plates can form the whole or part of the seat, or can be the basis for other seating elements, such as cushions and seat shells.

Abstract: A radiation-curable composition in a liquid or solid form comprises at least one solid, non-crystalline radiation-transmissible material, dispersed in at least one cationic-curable or free-radical curable composition or mixture thereof. The solid, non-crystalline radiation-transmissible materials comprise glasses and other suitable materials that transmit (i.e., are transparent to) at least about 40% of radiation having a wavelength from about 180 to about 600 nanometers. The solid forms of the radiation-curable compositions of the invention are useful as powder coatings for coating decorative and functional objects and that would be cured by a thermal heating flow process followed by radiation exposure. The cured compositions of the invention are useful as coatings and inks for metal, paper, plastics, glass, ceramics, and wood, as adhesives, as sealants, and as composite materials and other articles and in biomedical and dental applications.

Abstract: A catalyst system and a process for the bulk addition polymerization or of polycyclic olefins, such as norbornene, methylnorbornene, ethylnorbornene, butylnorbornene or hexylnorbornene, 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanonapthalene, 5,5′-(1,2-ethanediyl)bisbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, and 1,4,4a,4b,5,8,8a,8b-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanobiphenylene are disclosed. The catalyst includes an organonickel or organopalladium transition metal procatalyst and an activator compound. Polymerization can be carried out in a reaction injection molding process to yield thermoplastic and thermoset molded polymeric articles possessing high glass transition temperatures.