Abstract: The member may for instance be a sail having at least one opening to create an air flow from the pressure face to the suction face, and guides to guide the air emerging from the opening on the suction face side and direct it tangentially in relation to the member. The opening and the guides are formed temporarily and adjusted by varying the position and/or geometry of at least one portion and/or region of the device. The device further includes devices for adjusting the member's geometry, including the shape and concavity of its camber.

Abstract: An apparatus for aiding in welding a pipe structure is provided. The apparatus includes first and second expandable spaced apart seals adapted to be positioned in the pipe structure and on opposed sides of a region subjected to a welding process. Each of the spaced apart seals has a circular exterior surface selectively expandable to contact and form a seal with an interior surface of the piping structure, and a circular inner surface. A light-transmitting tubular shield support extends between the first and second seals and mates with the circular inner surfaces to position the first and second seals in spaced relationship with each other. An optical device has a selectable field of view supported within the interior of the tubular support, and is rotatable about the major axis of the tubular support for producing an image of the portion of the inner surface of the piping structure that is within the field of view of the optical device.

Abstract: A method of producing a hardwood flooring product, including the steps of processing a strip of raw wood into a blank having a predetermined thickness and width, and top and bottom surfaces defining parallel planes relative to each other, and splitting the blank along the width of the blank from one side to the other to form two low profile flooring strips having the same width as the blank and a thickness less than one-half the thickness of the blank. The splitting step includes the steps of providing first and second circular saw blades mounted on spaced-apart vertical axes for rotation in a single plane intermediate and parallel to the planes of the top and bottom surfaces of the blank and positioning the blank on conveying means upstream from the saw blades with the plane of rotation of the saw blades intermediate and parallel to the planes of the top and bottom surfaces of the blank for movement of the blank from an upstream position to a downstream position relative to the saw blades.

Abstract: A passenger seat assembly convertible between a two-seat configuration and a three-seat configuration, including a seat assembly base and first, second and third seats for carrying respective seat bottom and seat back cushions. The first and third seats defining outboard seats are moveable on the seat assembly base and the second seat defines a center seat carried in a fixed position on the seat assembly base. A gear drive is carried by the seat assembly base and interconnects the first and third seats for simultaneous movement relative to each other and to the second seat. The first and third seats move towards each other into the two-seat configuration wherein the first and third seats encroach upon the second seat and define a dead zone between the first and third seat. The first and third seats are moveable away from each other into the three-seat configuration wherein the second seat defines a center seat having the same seating width as the first and third seats.

Abstract: A gutter protector for mounting in the open top of a gutter attached to the edge of a roof. The gutter protector includes an elongate sheet of flexible material for being flexed into a curved shape under tension and placed into the open top of the gutter while in the flexed condition. The shape and dimensions of the gutter retains the gutter protector in the flexed position in the gutter. The gutter protector has a curved outer surface extending upwardly above the opening of the gutter to define a debris-diverting surface. Two embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment uses a flange and the tension of the protector when bent into the gutter to hold it in place. In another embodiment, retainers clip onto the lips of the gutter to hold the protector in place. Holes in the sheet of flexible material permit water to pass through the protector into the gutter.

Abstract: A bag including first and second walls having joined first and second opposed side edges, and an end edge and at least one seal line spaced from the end edge and extending laterally from one side to the other for sealing closed the end of the bag. In combination with the bag is the improvement comprising an easy-open corner portion of the bag. The corner includes a cut formed in both side walls closer to one side edge than the other and communicating with the end edge of the bag and extending towards the spaced-apart seal line, and a plurality of closely spaced-apart perforations in both side walls extending in a line from within close proximity of the cut to the closer side edge and forming a tear line for permitting a portion of the side walls, including a portion of the end edge of the bag, to be torn away from the bag in a progressive tearing motion to form a hole in the bag from which the contents can be poured without interference from a remaining portion of the end edge of the bag.

Abstract: A shoulder holster, and method of carrying a telephone near the body of a user for storage of and ready access to the telephone by the user are provided. The holster includes a supporting shoulder strap extending generally over the shoulder and under the arm of the user during wear. A telephone mounting panel is attached to respective ends of the shoulder strap, and resides near the chest of the user during wear. Complementary fasteners located on the telephone and on the mounting panel serve to removably attach the telephone to the mounting panel.

Abstract: Article transport apparatus (10) comprises first and second transports (12,14) for transporting a plurality of articles, in the form of biscuits (100). The second transport is arranged to receive biscuits from the first transport, and the second transport comprises a plurality of lanes (18) extending lengthwise of the second transport, along which articles can be transported. The first transport comprises a guide (20,22,28) to guide the article towards at least a selected one of the lanes. The guide may be in the form of laterally movable walls (20,22) or rotatable members (28).

Abstract: A membrane press and method of elevating a three-dimensional workpiece are provided. The membrane press includes a work base having a supporting surface for carrying the workpiece. A foil-pressing frame is positioned above the workpiece for heating and applying a laminating foil to the workpiece. A plurality of fluid actuated pedestal assemblies are positioned for movement between a workpiece-loading position and a workpiece-lifting position above the supporting surface of the work base. Fluid passages communicate with the pedestal assemblies, and fluid pressure control means. The control means selectively directs a flow of fluid to the pedestal assemblies in response to the loading of the workpiece onto the supporting surface of the work base.

Abstract: A hand-held fluorescent light includes a handle to be gripped by the user for carring the light. An electronic ballast is contained in the handle for providing starting voltage and for limiting electric current through the circuit elements of the light. A replaceable, phosphor-coated, sealed bulb is connected to the handle and includes at least one electrode located in the bulb for receiving an electric current from the ballast. A shock absorbing bulb socket serves to electrically connect the electrode and the ballast together.

Abstract: A training attachment for a bicycle is provided. The training attachment is used by a trainer for assisting a trainee rider of the bicycle in maintaining balance. The bicycle includes a frame carrying a seat, front and rear wheels, and a handle bar for steering. The training attachment includes an elongate control bar and a mounting plate with a resilient spacer. The mounting plate serves to attach a proximal end of the control bar to the frame of the bicycle, and to support a free end of the control bar in an outwardly extending access position for use by the trainer.

Abstract: A seat having a seat frame mounting a seat bottom, a seat back extending upwardly from the back of the seat bottom and a leg rest extending downwardly in an area forward of a front side of the seat bottom. The seat includes the combination of a seat bottom extension for increasing or decreasing the length of the seat bottom between the seat back and the leg rest to fit the distance between the buttocks and the back of the knees of the occupant. The seat bottom extension has a seat bottom extension assembly on which the leg rest is mounted for movement therewith and an adjustment assembly for adjustably mounting the seat bottom extension assembly to the front side of the seat bottom.

Abstract: A replaceable seat back diaphragm for a vehicle passenger seat, comprising a fabric panel having opposing top and bottom edges and opposing first and second side edges with complementary fasteners carried by the first and second side edges and cooperating with each other in a fastened position to form the fabric panel into a tensioned, tubular seat back diaphragm around a seat back frame of the passenger seat.

Abstract: A bag with a corner tear-away pour spout opening is provided with a detachable reenforcing patch adhered to the area of a slit near the top of the bag which serves as a carry handle to provide enhanced strength to the handle area. The patch can be removed from its position over the handle slit and used to reseal the bag for storage after some of the contents have been dispensed through the pour spout opening.

Abstract: An exercise device is provided for strengthening the lower back of a user. The exercise device includes a base for being located on a supporting surface. An inclined surface is supported by the base for engaging the thighs of the user to support at an angle a portion of the body extending generally from the waist to the knees. The upper body of the user extends over a front edge of the inclined surface for exercising movement between a flexed position and an extended position. A stabilizer bar is connected to the exercise device for engaging and holding the legs of the user against the inclined surface when exercising.

Abstract: The invention is a fabric processing apparatus and method for treating a continuous length of tubular-knit fabric in tubular form. The apparatus includes a fabric feed station located at an upstream end of the apparatus for feeding the length of tubular-knit fabric into the apparatus. The fabric feed station includes spreader brackets for transversely spreading the tubular-knit fabric to define a flat, double thickness continuous-length fabric web of uniform width. A wash station is downstream of the feed station for washing the fabric web with water. A fabric press station is downstream of the wash station, and includes upper and lower compression rollers for engaging opposite surfaces of the fabric web for squeezing the wash water from the fabric web. The lower rollers drive the fabric through the apparatus from an upstream end to a downstream end thereof.

Abstract: A stowable seat tray table for use with a seat, such as a passenger seat, having a tray table stowage compartment on one side of the seat. The tray table includes a tray table having a long side and a perpendicular short side with the table connected to a seat for permitting the table to be moved into and out of the stowage compartment. The table pivots and translates. The pivot movement and the translating movement permit the table to be moved when out of the stowage compartment between a use position wherein the long side of the table extends across the seat from one side to an opposing side for use by the occupant and an ingress/egress position wherein the table is pivoted about a vertical axis and laterally translated towards the stowage compartment to provide sufficient room for the passenger to ingress or to egress from the seat.

Abstract: A ballistic laminate structure in sheet form, which includes a first array of high performance, unidirectionally-oriented fiber bundles and a second array of high performance, unidirectionally-oriented fiber bundles cross-plied at an angle with respect to the first array of fiber bundles, and laminated to the first array of fiber bundles in the absence of adhesives or bonding agents. First and second thermoplastic films are bonded to outer surfaces of the laminated first and second arrays of unidirectional fiber bundles without penetration of the films into fiber bundles or through the laminate from one side to the other.