Abstract: An anti-thrust seating system and low profile, adjustable back system primarily intended for use in a wheelchair. The anti-thrust seating system includes a base seating member with a forward section to support the user's thighs and a rearward section to support the user's buttocks including the ischial tuberosities. The upper surfaces of the forward and rearward sections meet to form an edge extending across the base seating member. The upper surface of the rearward section has two portions which form a first step face or anti-thrust barrier to the user's ischial tuberosities. The seating system further includes at least one separate step means that can be removably positioned adjacent and rearwardly of the first step face wherein the separate step means has a second step face. The separate step means also has an upper surface which serves to effectively extend the thigh supporting surface or shelf rearwardly.

Abstract: An adjustable cover and seating system for a wheelchair. The cover has a first or enclosing portion surrounding the inner seat members and a second or skirt portion extending about the sides of the first or enclosure portion and downwardly under the lower section of the enclosure portion. The first or enclosure portion of the cover can be placed over the seating members and secured in place by a zipper to encase the seating member. The skirt section can then be pulled to draw the skirt section downwardly which, in turn, draws the upper section of the enclosure portion snugly across the top of the seating members. In doing so, the peripheral side section of the enclosure portion is also drawn downwardly on itself into gathers or bunches which are held firmly in place against the seating members by the skirt section. This serves to present a neat outer appearance to the user and to prevent excess material from catching in the spokes of the wheelchair.

Abstract: A mattress pad primarily intended for use with a standard hospital bed frame to reduce the development of decubitus ulcers or bed sores in patients using the pad. The pad is multi-layered and includes a cover or casing containing interior strata of a plastic film layer atop a fluid bladder layer supported on an underlying layer of foam. The pad is specially designed to reduce lateral and normal pressures and forces on the patient which can lead to the development of such ulcers. The reduction of the lateral shearing forces is accomplished in a number of ways including by oversizing the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer on the underlying layer of foam and by positioning microbeads between the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer to dramatically reduce the frictional drag or lateral shearing forces between the layers.

Abstract: A valving arrangement primarily designed and intended for use in a negative pressure ventilator system. The valve arrangement has a uniquely designed valve that enables the ventilator to perform a number of operations simply by manipulation of a single, one-piece valve member within a valve housing. The valve housing has multiple inlets and outlets and the valve member can be rotated within it to present a variety of pressure cycles to the patient. In the preferred manner of operation, the present invention selectively applies negative and positive pressures to the patient during different portions of the cycle. In this regard, the valve member is structured so that negative and positive pressures are never at the same time delivered to the patient. The valve arrangement is compact and lightweight. It is also functionally superior to prior designs that can only supply whatever pressure is being created by the blower.

Abstract: A surface treating tool such as a floor polisher and method and apparatus for detecting the absence of a pad or other surface treating member on the tool. In the preferred manner of operation, the invention monitors the amperes being drawn by an electric motor rotating the pad support. If the amperage draw during initial start up of the tool is less than a predetermined amount (representing the absence of a pad on the support, the tool is prevented from lowering the padless support into potentially damaging contact with the floor or other surface.

Abstract: A foldable and removable top for a passenger vehicle. The top includes an overhead cover member and side curtains. The overhead cover member has a support arrangement including front and rear headers, transverse bow members, and side rails. The flexible and foldable fabric of the cover member is secured at its end portions to the front and rear headers and the bow members are secured across the middle section of the fabric between the side rails. One end of each side rail is pivotally mounted to the rear header and the other, free end is releasably securable to an end of the front header. When assembled, the side rails extend between the front and rear headers to hold them in a spaced-apart, extended position with the fabric of the cover member being drawn taut therebetween. The side curtains of the top are releasably securable to the overhead cover member and are also releasably securable to the vehicle itself by a unique hook and catch arrangement.

Abstract: A double bed arrangement having a combination mattress including a liquid filled side and a non-liquid filled cushion side. A compressible foam tray holds the non-liquid cushion side in a first portion or half of the tray with the liquid-filled cushion being located in a second portion or half of the tray. Preferably, the liquid filled cushion comprises a plurality of water filled tubes. A first waterproof liner covers the foam tray and a second waterproof liner covers a bottom surface, side surface, and at least a peripheral portion of the top surface of the non-liquid filled cushion.

Abstract: A mattress pad primarily intended for use with a standard hospital bed frame to reduce the development of decubitus ulcers or bed sores in patients using the pad. The pad is multi-layered and includes a cover or casing containing interior strata of a plastic film layer atop a fluid bladder layer supported on an underlying layer of foam. The pad is specially designed to reduce lateral and normal pressures and forces on the patient which can lead to the development of such ulcers. The reduction of the lateral shearing forces is accomplished in a number of ways including by oversizing the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer on the underlying layer of foam and by positioning microbeads between the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer to dramatically reduce the frictional drag or lateral shearing forces between the layers.

Abstract: A mattress pad primarily intended for use with a standard hospital bed frame to reduce the development of decubitus ulcers or bed sores in patients using the pad. The pad is multi-layered and includes a cover or casing containing interior strata of a plastic film layer atop a fluid bladder layer supported on an underlying layer of foam. The pad is specially designed to reduce lateral and normal pressures and forces on the patient which can lead to the development of such ulcers. The reduction of the lateral shearing forces is accomplished in a number of ways including by oversizing the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer on the underlying layer of foam and by positioning microbeads between the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer to dramatically reduce the frictional drag or lateral shearing forces between the layers.

Abstract: A storage rack system for providing high density storage of data cartridges. The storage rack system includes high density center racks having storage capability on opposing sides of the racks. Movable racks having upper rollers recessed below the plane of the upper surface of the movable racks and lower rollers are mounted on the system on both sides of the center racks. The movable racks allow access to at least one column of tape cartridge holders supported on the center racks. Brake members are resiliently mounted on the lower surfaces of the outer movable racks enabling the movable members to come to a complete stop without excessive jarring of the racks or tape cartridge holders.

Abstract: A surface treating tool such as a floor polisher and method and apparatus for detecting the absence of a pad or other surface treating member on the tool. In the preferred manner of operation, the invention monitors the amperes being drawn by an electric motor rotating the pad support. If the amperage draw during initial start up of the tool is less than a predetermined amount (representing the absence of a pad on the support), the tool is prevented from lowering the padless support into potentially damaging contact with the floor or other surface.