Abstract: A medical boot includes a two piece boot body consisting of a lower flexible panel forming the sole portion of the boot body, and an annular flexible upper body joined to the peripheral edge of the lower panel so as to form a soft flexible protective wall around the toe and heel areas of the wearer's foot. Each panel includes a resilient foam core, an inner fabric covering on one face of the foam core, and an outer fabric covering on the other face of the foam core. The inner fabric covering has a relatively soft short nap surface having wicking properties for capturing perspiration that may accumulate on the wearer's foot. The outer fabric covering is a fibrous fastener material containing repeating contiguous miniature loops capable of interlocking connection with fastener patches carried by two strap formed integrally with the upper panel, such that the straps are enabled to hold the boot on the wearer's foot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting a pipe. A pipe is positioned on a plurality of support rollers for rotating the pipe. A cutting torch, mounted on a telescoping arm, is movable along the longitudinal axis of the pipe. The angle that the cutting torch makes with the surface of the pipe is varied by rotating the cutting torch along an arcuate path that is in a plane parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. The cutting torch is directed towards the radial center of the arcuate path that is on the surface of the pipe. Servo motors selectively vary the rotational angle of the pipe, the position of the cutting torch and the angle of the cutting torch. A computer automatically controls the operation of the servo motors with the aid of a pre-programmed mathematical function. The mathematical function uses characteristic data for the pipe and feedback data from the servo motors.