Abstract: A commercial ladder and rack release system for use with utility vehicles such as vans, includes a fixed frame portion which is secured upon the roof of the utility vehicle and a slidable telescopic frame portion to carry a ladder or the like, in which the telescopic frame portion is pivotally connected to the fixed frame portion. Through the use of a double-acting piston, a pair of double-radius defining arms, an eccentric coupling between the fixed and telescoping portions, and a hand lever for providing a mechanical advantage to the user in releasing and deploying the supported load, a ladder rack and release of improved convenience and reliability is provided.

Abstract: An emergency escape system for use within a multi-story building includes a vertical horizontal balconies each having an open area defining resulting open areas which, in turn, define a vertical column through the balconies. The system further includes a rigid vertical channel structure within each of the vertical columns, each of the channel structures having vertical guides. The system also includes an escape module having a rigid platform proportioned to substantially fill each of the open areas of each balcony, the module including an assembly for slidable engagement with the vertical guides of each vertical channel. The system also includes springs secured within the vertical guides which are in compressible abutment with the slidable engagement assemblies of the escape module. The system also includes an assembly for selectable release of the slidable engagement assembly of the escape module from each of the balconies and into compressive contact with the springs.

Abstract: A pacification system for use by an infant constitutes a bracelet including, on at least one tangential surface, a planer surface including a first fabric engagement element. The system also includes a pacifier which includes, on a planer base thereof, a second fabric engagement element, complemental in surface characteristic to the first fabric engagement element. The first and second engagement elements are detachably attachable through the respective application by the infant of pulling and pressing forces. The instant system may be employed either with or without the bracelet portion.

Abstract: A coupling system for joining articulated fence segments at a desired relative angle.

Abstract: A roasting oven includes a housing having upper, lower, front, rear, right and left walls defining a cylindrical oven interior. The oven also includes a spit assembly rotatably disposed in the interior, at least one infrared radiation element in the upper wall facing the interior, a water cavity in the lower wall for holding water and drippings, a rotating shaft disposed between the end walls for rotabably supporting the spit assembly, and drive elements coupled to the rotating shaft for turning the shaft during roasting, in which an opening in the front cylinder is provided for inserting and removing meats to be roasted. The infrared element faces the oven interior and enables infrared radiation to be reflected from meat at the interior while curvature of the upper wall of the interior returns heated air which, together with direct radiated heat from the radiation element and the reflected radiation, creates oven temperature in excess of 800.degree. F.

Abstract: An earth retaining wall system is defined by a rectilinear three-dimensional matrix of tie elements, each substantially uniplanar in a horizontal plane and longitudinally elongated in a direction transverse to the retaining wall. Such tie elements are each rigidly coupled along one horizontal axis edge of an earth supporting side of the retaining wall. The tie element thusly defines a matrix or grid in a vertical plane. The system also includes passive pressure resistive members that are substantially uniplanar in a vertical plane which is also co-planar with the retaining wall. Such pressure resistive members are longitudinally elongated along a horizontal axis which is co-parallel with the retaining wall. Each of the pressure resistive members are rigidly secured to a surface of each tie element to define, in cross-section, a matrix in a vertical plane which is also normal to the retaining wall.

Abstract: Medical athermapeutic apparatus employing pulsed electromagnetic fields includes solid state regulator and power amplifier circuits and simplified applicator which result in reduced size, cost and power consumption for the device.

Abstract: A glove for the protection of the hand of a welder from heat and burning during welding operations, includes a leather outer shell having a thickness in the range of about 0.8 to about 1.9 millimeters. The glove, within the outer shell, further includes an open-cell compressible flame retardant intermediate foam-like layer having a thickness in the range of about 2.3 to about 4.5 millimeters, a density in the range of about 1.5 to about 25 kilograms per cubic meter, and a porosity and compressibility in the range of about 25 to about 75 percent. The innermost layer of the glove, opposing the hand of the user, constitutes a felt-like cotton layer having a multiplicity of convection passages, said layer having a thread strand density characteristic in the range of about 5 to about 30 strands per lineal inch, a thickness in the range of about 1 to about 3 millimeters, and a density in the range of about 100 to about 200 kilograms per cubic meter.

Abstract: A protective work glove defines a first enclosure integrally extending from a palm portion of the glove and defining pathways therein the middle and index fingers. Between such fingers is secured a rigid body proportioned in height to at least the height of the finger pathways and extending in length from the knuckle to beyond the tips of the finger of the user. The protective work glove also includes a second enclosure integrally extending from the palm portion in which there are defined therein pathways for the ring and pinkie fingers. Between said pathways is provided a rigid body portioned in height to at least the height of the finger pathways and extending from the knuckle to beyond the fingertips of the user.

Abstract: A medical waste disposal system includes an assembly for superheating a quantity of untreated medical waste which is partially saturated with water to an internal temperature of at least 275 degrees Fahrenheit for at least thirty minutes. After such superheating the vessel is rotated to cool the same to under 100 degrees Fahrenheit after which the contents are deposited into a matrix of grinding elements having surfaces of different grinding dimensions and capabilities such that the output thereof is unrecognizable as medical waste. Such output is then deposited into a microwave assembly to further disinfect and decontaminate the medical waste. After such treatment the output of the system may be treated in the same fashion as conventional household refuse.

Abstract: A self-guiding, self-centering endoscope system provides for the advance of a head of the endoscope through the lumen of an internal organ with minimal discomfort to the patient in which use of anesthesia is substantially eliminated. The guiding system is implemented through an algorithm controlled computer processing of 136 coordinate sectors of an electronic mask applied to a video output of the endoscope camera. This output is digitized by a video processing unit and fed into a computer module in which the algorithm compares derived gray scale values of the sectors with a pre-set gray scale parameter to differentiate between levels of varying reflectivity within and upon the walls of the lumen to, thereby, ascertain the best path for the head of the endoscope. Through the use of X- and Y-axis servo-amplifiers and motors, a real time correction of the position of the endoscope head is obtained relative to the center of the lumen.

Abstract: A sofa system includes a unitary perimetric baseframe including a front panel, a rear panel and opposing side panels. The system also includes a hollow back portion having front and rear edges and an integral internal rigid frame, the back portion rotationally mounted between the side panels and to the rear panel by rear longitudinal hinge elements secured between said rear edge of a top portion and the rear panel. The system also includes a unitary seat portion having a front and rear edge and a rigid base, in which the seat portion is rotationally mounted between the side panels and to the front panel by a front longitudinal hinge element that is secured between the front edge of the rigid base of the seat portion and the front panel. Arms may, if desired, be rotationally mounted to the sides of the baseframe.

Abstract: The method of tissue-specific delivery of therapeutic agents via a bio-oncotic pump which includes the steps of furnishing an implantable element which is biodegradable in situ within human tissue. Such an element defines a series of respective concentric shells having different therapeutic agents disposed upon each of the shells such that the outermost shell and associated agents will be delivered earliest, while the innermost shell and its agents will be delivered last. The material of the biodegradable element is selected from the group of materials including processed sheep dermal collagen, Hench's bioglass, fibrinogen, polyimino-carbonate, and polylactic acid. A vaso-inductive agent is integrated into the surface of the element. Selected groups of therapeutic agents are incorporated into the element, which is followed by the subcutaneous implantation and securing of said element into the human tissue at the site of interest.