Abstract: A device for drying the feet of invalids and physically challenged persons includes a foot support surface upon which a person may step without significant vertical transition from the surrounding floor surface. A plenum chamber is disposed adjacent to a distal and two lateral side edges of the foot support surface. Airflow means provides a flow of heated air to the plenum chamber. The airflow is directed through openings in corresponding distal and lateral walls of the plenum chamber toward the user's foot or feet in a path along and substantially parallel to the foot support surface. Foot operated control means allow the user to control the airflow to the distal, proximal, lateral and medial regions of the foot to dry the same.

Abstract: A joystick controller is characterized by a control shaft that has toward its lower end a hemispherical-shaped member having a spherical surface. The control shaft extends upwardly through an opening in a top wall of a housing, and a circumference of the opening defines a beating for the spherical surface of the control shaft hemispherical member while a bottom of the control shaft is pivotally supported on a fulcrum within the housing. An upper end of the control shaft is manually movable to pivot the control shaft, with the spherical surface then moving in the bearing. The control shaft is coupled to x-y movement indicators comprising linearly movable variable impedance devices, which generate signals in accordance with the amount and direction of pivotal movement of the control shaft.

Abstract: A heat shrinkable nonwoven fabric includes outer layers of thermoplastic staple fibers and an inner layer containing heat shrinkable fibers the layers are point bonded together at spaced locations without causing shrinkage of the heat shrinkable fibers. The web may then be uniformly heated in a relaxed state to cause a substantial increase in bulk.

Abstract: A dialysis machine assembly having an internal flushing and filling facility for a blood flow circuit of the assembly is disclosed. The dialysis machine assembly includes dialyzer having a membrane and an inlet and an outlet for blood side with corresponding blood tubes and an inlet and an outlet for dialysate side with a valve located downstream of the outlet for dialysate side. A dialysis liquid supply is connected to the inlet for the dialysate side and the valve is partially closed to force dialysis liquid to flow through the membrane from the dialysate side to the blood side through the blood tubes to flush and fill a blood flow circuit prior to performing a dialysis treatment with the dialysis machine.

Abstract: A bearing block has a sheave rotatably mounted between a pair of side plates. A plurality of exposed ball bearings are mounted in the side plates for bearing engagement with the sides of the sheave. The ball bearings can circulate and are either provided in a circular groove or in arcs having a ball return channel connected between the ends of each arc. Location of thrust bearings in the side plates allows for reduction in mass of the sheave and increased space for main bearing capacity.

Abstract: A resilient stand up device for a pulley or block includes a hollow rigid fitting between the block and a support. The fitting has open jaws at each end, with one set of jaws disposed at right angles to the other, with attachment pins extending between the jaws. A compressible elastomer member is disposed in the fitting under compression. The fitting enables the block to be tilted in two directions, with the elastomer member providing a restoring force.

Abstract: A disposable urinary and fecal waste containment product comprising a separate front urinary pad and a separate rear fecal pad detachably joined together is disclosed. Each of the front and rear pads comprise a liquid impermeable backing, an absorbent core and a liquid permeable facing. The rear fecal pad is preferably substantially square or rectangular and has elastic means along its lateral sides and top (waistband) edge to cause it to be gathered and to assume a bowl-like configuration.

Abstract: The optically variable image in optically variable imaging devices, such as holograms, kinegrams, pixelgrams and interference gratings, is enhanced by coating the image relief or interference pattern with a thin film of a synthesized high oxygen content oxide of bismuth wherein the atomic ratio of oxygen to bismuth is 1.7 or greater, i.e., BiO.sub.x (x=>1.7).A process for applying a thin film of the synthesized high oxygen content BiO.sub.x to the relief or interference pattern comprises reactive deposition of bismuth in an oxygen partial pressure atmosphere wherein the oxygen partial pressure and the dynamic deposition rate are correlated to achieve the desired degree of oxidation of the bismuth.The process also lends itself to dynamic deposition of other image enhancing materials, as well as protective coatings for the image enhancing materials.

Abstract: A furling foil rotatably mounted on a stay of a sailing vessel carries the forward edge of the sail, and the foil is rotated to furl the sail. The foil is of composite construction and has an inner reinforcing braided layer of high tensile filaments extending helically in both directions to substantially increase the torsion resistance of the foil while allowing the foil to be bent or coiled along its length for easy transportation and storage.

Abstract: A bearing block has a central hub with a pair of circular grooves near the sides of the hub. The grooves define an inner ball race and also define an outer ball bearing retaining lip. A ring-shaped sheave is disposed around the hub and has a pair of recesses in the sides, which define an outer bearing race and a thrust bearing race. Ball bearings are snap fitted into the races over the lips, such as that the bearings are self-contained in the assembly.

Abstract: A conventional circular friction disk having a metal backing plate and outer layer of friction material is replaced by a disk having a plurality of straight outer side edges joined by curved edges, in order to effect material savings in the manufacturing process, and without significant loss in performance.

Abstract: The outer race of a roller bearing sheave is omitted so that the bearings are in direct engagement with a line. A retainer for the ends of the bearings is provided to allow the bearings to rotate and recirculate around an inner race. The rollers deflect portions of the line equally to equalize the load and to prevent high stresses on individual rollers.

Abstract: This resonant power supply produces a varying magnetic field from a resonant inductor. Two active switches drive, but remain outside, a resonant circuit, also including resonant capacitor. A phase-splitting transformer provides, via a decoupling inductor, one connection for a power supply; the return is through the active switches, which are either off or are from time to time driven alternately by the controller so as to maintain the resonant current in the resonant circuit. Applications include induction heating and induction hobs for cooking, and also a power source for inductively powered vehicles (or other inductively powered devices) adjacent to an inductive pathway.

Abstract: The bottle-shaped container is made in a coextrusion blow molding process and has a dimensionally stable outer container and an easily deformable inner bag which consist of different thermoplastic materials that cannot be welded to each other. The preform has a diameter greater than that of the bottle neck so that, when the blow mold is closed, the blow mold halves squeeze off excess material not only on the bottom, but also in the shoulder and neck area. Unwelded seams of the outer container are thereby formed in the shoulder and neck area. In the bottom area the outer container is closed by a weld seam which has been formed by displacing material, the weld seam of the inner bag being fixed in said area. After negative pressure has been applied to the inner bag, holes are formed in the upper area of the outer container for the purpose of a permanent pressure compensation. All openings in the outer container are covered by the pump housing. The container operates reliably in the upside-down position.

Abstract: The outside mirror of a motor vehicle is provided with a wiper blade reciprocating on the mirror surface, as well as a liquid spraying means. An LED/photocell unit automatically senses the degree of soiling of the mirror and initiates a wiping cycle when a predetermined light limit is not reached. Irrespective of the degree of soiling, a cleaning operation is initiated after the engine has been started or stopped. The outside mirror is always in a perfect condition in which it offers good visibility to a driver. This considerably increases the road safety of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A billfold comprises an inner membrane and an outer membrane of leather or leather-like material juxtaposed one to the other, where the outer periphery of each of the membranes is defined by a top, bottom and two side edges. The bottom and side edges of each membrane are attached one to the other about their periphery through stitching to create an opening and a pocket adapted to receive paper currency. The opening to the pocket is defined between the open top edges of the members. Additional pockets for receiving therein credit cards, pieces of identification and the like can be provided. A strip of material is stitched to the inner membrane of the billfold so as to provide a row of coin pockets. Each coin pocket is sized and adapted to snugly receive therein a coin for storage and ready removal. The coin pockets each have a closed bottom edge, two closed side edges and an open top edge.

Abstract: A polycentric hinge for orthopaedic braces includes a pair of rigid support arms having cooperating, interlocking proximal ends, a pair of pivot pins and a hinge plate. The arms are rotatably coupled at their proximal ends to the hinge plate through the pivot pins and are rotatable between an adjustable extension position and an adjustable flexion position. The hinge plate has a plurality of adjustment apertures therein adapted for selective reception of an extension limit pin and a flexion limit pin to selectively restrain rotation of the arms beyond a final extension position and a final flexion position. The pins are secured to the hinge assembly by elastomeric tethers and are positionable between the apertures to selectively adjust the range of motion of the arms. A flip-top cap covers the pins to prevent inadvertent displacement of the pins from the selected apertures.

Abstract: A ladder guard, when in placed on the front section of a two-section extension ladder, prevents persons from climbing on the ladder, from either the front or back, and reduces the chances of theft by preventing the ladder from being retracted. The ladder guard comprises a unitary, semi-rigid shell having a central panel portion and two channel portions to each side of the panel. The panel is recessed relative to the channels so that the panel may be drawn closely to the rungs. The channels extend around the side rails of the ladder. The shell may have a multiplicity of openings to allow wind to blow through the shell. The ladder guard includes a hook for engaging a rung of the ladder to support the guard, and an adjustable locking means for securely locking the ladder guard to the ladder.

Abstract: Water containing scale forming materials is passed in a tortious path into contact with a series of alternating positively and negatively charged grids, causing scale to be selectively deposited on the grids. The grids are vibrated periodically to break up the scale into fine particles, which do not redissolve or form scale elsewhere.