Abstract: A fireplace construction made of solid masonry units having a rear wall with a symmetrical bulge formed by a lower angled portion, a central vertical portion, an upper angled portion, and an upper vertical portion. Each portion is slightly spaced apart from the adjacent portion to provide a space for air to flow into the firebox. One or more air ducts route air from the room to the space between both the lower vertical portion and the lower angled portion and the space between the lower angled portion and the central vertical portion.

Abstract: A device for repairing a chimney preferably includes a rod effective for positioning and manipulating a camera and a plunger blade in a chimney; a camera attached to the lower portion of the rod in a manner such that rotation of the rod results in a corresponding rotation of the camera; and a plunger blade attached to the rod above the camera. The plunger blade is adapted to apply mortar to the sides of a chimney when the device is pulled upward in the chimney. The device may further include a camera-direction indicator attached to the rod above the plunger blade in a manner such that the camera-direction indicator is effective for indicating the direction of view of said camera even when the camera is not visible to the operator.

Abstract: A method of controlling the morphology of silica or silica-like films formed by coating a precursor formulation of hydrolysable silicate oligomer onto a substrate and curing in a vapourous environment that comprises a base, water and a retarder that retards the hydrolysis of the oligomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing a website for home decorating content. The invention includes a method of attracting visitors interested in home decorating, including providing a website having (a) a gallery of rooms section having a plurality of room images, each having an associated caption, (b) a project section having a plurality of decorating project descriptions, (c) a member gallery section having a plurality of images of decorated rooms. The method can include providing a means for visitors to become members of the home decorating website, accepting images of decorated rooms from members, and posting the images of the decorated rooms in the member gallery section.

Abstract: An industrial-type compactor for a waste material container is disclosed. The compactor includes a supporting frame that receives the waste material container, with the supporting frame having a waste material channel that communicates with the waste material container. A waste compacting ram is pivotally supported at one end of the supporting frame for compacting waste materials. In order to keep the waste material within the waste material container during compacting, locking levers are operatively associated with the waste material container to maintain a pivotally mounted cover in a fixed and non-movable position atop the waste material container. The locking levers are activated when the waste material container is positioned relative to the supporting frame. In addition, a door is operatively associated to the supporting frame for closing off the waste material channel during compacting.

Abstract: A boat is disclosed having a hull with improved operating characteristics. The hull includes a central sponson and outer sponsons on each side of the keel. The sponsons include chines which extend from the transom to the peak of the bow. The chines have ski-like flat portions for providing lift. Between the chines and the keel are a pair of arched tunnels. The chines, the bottom edge of the keel and the gunwales all meet at the peak of the bow. The chines, the keel and the tunnels are all linear and parallel between a mid-section of the hull and the transom.

Abstract: A multi-functional personnel restraint, particularly suited for use by workers in a substantially zero gravity environment comprises a stationary track defined by two rails which are spring biased to a minimum spacing position. The rails respectively carry a pair of parallel, opposed grooves on their inner surfaces. The grooves are engagable by cleats attached to the bottoms of the shoes of the person requiring restraint. The cleats are engagable with the grooves by a pivotal movement in a vertical plane, thus substantially balancing vertical forces imparted on the shoe or shoes during the groove insertion movement.

Abstract: An improved signature delivery apparatus includes a mechanism for diverting signatures into a first series serially arranged dual conveyors or a second series of serially arranged conveyors. Each of the series of serially arranged conveyors are substantially identical in construction. The first series includes an assembly of opposed conveyor belts which engage the leading edge of each signature and reduces the speed of the signatures. Subsequently, the signature passes into an adjacent series of opposed conveyor belts where the signature is overlapped with the next succeeding signature and the speed of the signatures is reduced further. Two stage speed reduction of signature movement with stacking or overlapping of the signatures at the second stage permits significantly increased speed of press operation.

Abstract: There is provided a fencing panel having upper and lower transverse members each defining a channel opening toward the other. The fence includes a plurality of elongated upright members, the ends of each upright member being lodged in the channels, each upright member being of resiliently deformable material. The upright members have an unstressed cross-section which could not be received in the channels, but is such as to be capable of resilient deformation so that it can be received in the channels, whereby the resiliency of the upright member urges parts of the cross-section against the channels thus binding the upright members within the channels.

Abstract: A tie-back anchor and the method for use thereof in connection with shoring systems wherein support for upstanding shoring components is provided by a plurality of tension cables or tendons placed outwardly of an excavation into undisturbed earth structures. A hollow tubular element having outwardly extending discontinuous helix formed flight elements is augered into place. A plurality of load transfer pins or bolts extend inwardly within the tube structure to positions of potential interference with the tension cables and the longitudinally separated bushings locked on separate cables. After placement of the tube structure and loose cables, a high strength grout is introduced into the tube whereby subsequent tension loadings on the cables and bushings is transmitted by the grout to the interfering load transfer pins, the tube structure, the helix flights thereof and the supporting earth structure.

Abstract: A device for teaching includes a work sheet having a number of sets of response regions. Each response region is comprised of at least one answer area and at least one confirmation area. Invisibly printed answers are generally provided within the confirmation areas. By omitting the answers from selected confirmation areas, it is possible to determine whether a student is making his response in the answer area before seeking a confirmation of the correctness of this answer by making the answer in the confirmation area visible.

Abstract: A new variety of Hybrid Tea rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of white coloration.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant named ‘Coreopram’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and single inflorescences with dark red and yellow bi-colored ray florets.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of a hybrid tea rose plant named Burwindisary which is characterized by its upright growth habit with flowers borne singly on stems having an ivory cast on lower petals with a raspberry color on petal edges.