Abstract: A board stacking system for stacking board layers into a stack, and associated method are provided. The board stacking system includes a board stacking apparatus adapted to arrange board layers into the stack. The board stacking apparatus having a stack holder comprising an adjustable stacking area for supporting the stack, the stacking area having a length defined between a front edge and a back edge. The board stacking apparatus further having one or more stacking arms operable to receive board layers from a board dispensing mechanism and sequentially arrange the board layers onto the forming stack. The board stacking system further includes a scanner positioned and configured for measuring a width of the board layers and transfer the information to the stack holder to allow adjustment of the length of the stacking area to substantially correspond to the width of the previously measured board layer.

Abstract: The device includes two opposing lateral wings forming the right and left sides of the scraping device. Each wing includes an upper section through which the wing is attached to the central support about a vertical pivot axis, and a bottom section that is pivotable with respect to the upper section about a first horizontal pivot axis. Each wing can follow the unevenness of the roadway surface and may also include parts that can pivot backwards in case of a frontal impact with an obstacle. The scraping device offers a very high degree of versatility and can clean various kinds of roadway surfaces with an unprecedented level of efficiency.

Abstract: Plumbing fittings and methods of manufacturing plumbing fittings for use in drain-waste-vent systems are described herein. The plumbing fittings include a housing having at least one receiving member defining a cylindrical bore for receiving a piping member therein, at least one annular seal fittingly inserted in a receiving member, and an annular locking member dimensioned for receiving the piping member therethrough. The annular locking member includes teeth extending inwardly for locking the piping member within the receiving member. The plumbing fittings also include an annular releasing member inserted within the receiving member and movable between a locking position and a releasing position whereat the beveled portion of the annular releasing member presses against the teeth for releasing the piping member.

Abstract: A shoulder orthosis is provided for maintenance of a patients arm in a postoperative shoulder immobilization posture in the context of tearing of rotator cuff muscles. The orthosis comprises a belt, an arm splint, and a column member with axial mechanical spring continuously adjustable by a manual adjustment handle and interconnecting the belt to the splint and biasing the splint to an abduction upper limit position. The orthosis provides stable support for the patients forearm around a horizontal plane, while allowing pivoting movement of the patients injured arm about a vertical axis intersecting the patients elbow and approaching the patients torso in a transverse plane. This orthosis also allows a cyclical back and forth movement of the splint, the free downward movement of the patients arm by his healthy muscles, assisted by the adductor muscles against the bias of the adjustable spring without active movement of the rotator cuff.

Abstract: A handrail wall mount adapter for mounting a handrail wall mounting bracket of a handrail assembly to a wall, the bracket including a mounting plate having a plurality of mounting openings, the adapter comprising: a body having at least one unthreaded opening for receiving a wall mounting fastener and a plurality of bracket mounting openings for receiving at least one bracket mounting fastener, the body being selectively positionable relative to the mounting plate in a first orientation in which the at least one unthreaded opening is aligned with the mounting openings to allow the mounting fasteners to extend through the mounting openings and through the unthreaded openings and securely engage the wall, and in a second orientation in which the bracket mounting openings are aligned with the mounting openings of the mounting plate to secure the mounting bracket to the adapter using the bracket mounting fasteners.

Abstract: An optical probe and method for analysing a soil located in an underground area are provided. The optical probe includes a probe head insertable into the underground area, the probe head including a transparent wall defining a hollow chamber within the probe head; a light source mounted in the hollow chamber, configured to generate an illumination beam towards the soil, the illumination beam passing through the transparent wall to irradiate the soil, thereby producing a resulting light emanating from the soil, a portion of the resulting light returning towards the probe head and being guided in the transparent wall by total internal reflection along the optical path; a detector configured to receive the portion of the resulting light and outputting an output signal representative of characteristic(s) of the soil; and an optical element guiding the portion of the resulting light from the transparent wall to the detector.

Abstract: There is provided a shock-absorbing assembly engageable with a human body part, such as a human head, to protect same. The shock-absorbing assembly comprises a shock-absorbing core including an inner surface configured to face at least a portion of the human body part; and a body contact seat assembly comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart resilient posts mounted to the shock-absorbing core, each one of the resilient posts having a portion protruding from the inner surface of the shock-absorbing core; and a body contact seat mounted to the shock-absorbing core via the protruding portions of the plurality of resilient posts, so that the body contact seat is in spaced relationship with the inner surface of the shock-absorbing core and at least one of slidable, displaceable, shearable and twistable with respect to the inner surface thereof. There is also provided a helmet including such a shock-absorbing assembly and a shock-absorbing kit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides systems and methods for sending an electronic communication over an electronic communication network, the method including the steps of receiving an electronic communication from a first user device, the electronic communication including an at least one predetermined delivery criterion and associated with at least a second user device, the at least a second user device associated with a respective at least a second user, the electronic communication sent from a first user device to a central database over the electronic communication network, storing the electronic communication in a first user account associated with the first user and stored on the central database and automatically sending the electronic communication to the at least a second user device over the electronic communication network upon satisfaction of the at least one predetermined delivery criterion.

Abstract: The scraper blade device is provided for cleaning a roadway surface. The scraper blade device includes an upper blade portion and a bottom blade portion. The bottom blade portion has a plurality of widthwise-disposed and juxtaposed blade segments. The blade segments are provided in one or more blade segment sets where the blade segments within a same set are attached using a swivel interconnection. This scraper blade device has an improved cleaning efficiency over existing designs, thereby reducing the amounts of de-icing chemicals and increasing road safety when used for removing ice and snow from the roadway surface.

Abstract: The wheel chock handling unit includes a base, an articulated cantilever arm assembly, a main spring assembly and a force-compensation mechanism. The arm assembly has a first end pivotally mounted to the base for angular displacement of the arm assembly in a substantially vertical plane between a storage position and an extended position. It also has a second end receiving a wheel chock. The main spring assembly extends between the arm assembly and the base. The force-compensation mechanism includes a lever pivotally mounted to the base for angular displacement in a plane that is substantially parallel to that of the arm assembly.

Abstract: A rollator for mobility assistance to a user is provided. The rollator includes a chassis foldable in a compacted configuration, wheels rotatably mounted to the chassis, wheel braking assemblies engageable with the wheels, and a pair of handgrips mountable to the chassis and operatively connected to the chassis. Both handgrips have to be configured in a handgrip displacement configuration to configure the wheel braking assemblies into a displacement configuration of the wheels and wherein both wheel braking assemblies are simultaneously in the displacement configuration. The rollator can include a seat assembly which can be configured in a raised configuration and a seated configuration. In the seated configuration, a pressure equal to or greater than a seat pressure threshold has to be applied on the seat for the wheel braking assemblies to be configured in the displacement configuration.

Abstract: A method for mounting a surface-formation equipment to a mobile unit includes an equipment-engaging support and has a traction point in contact with the ground. The method includes configuring the equipment-engaging support of the mobile unit at a minimum height; configuring the surface-formation equipment with respect to the mobile unit in a configuration wherein a lower surface of the surface-formation equipment is in a same plane as the traction point on the ground of the mobile unit. The surface-formation equipment mounts to the equipment-engaging support of the mobile unit with the equipment-engaging support being maintained at the minimum height and with the lower surface of the surface-formation equipment being in the same plane as the traction point on the ground of the mobile unit.

Abstract: The present document describes a facial interface comprising a flexible face contact layer configured to cover a user's face; and a nasal layer configured to sealably cover an external nose region of said user. The flexible face contact layer and nasal layer provide fluid circulation of air through said user's nostrils.

Abstract: A method of retrieving multiple copies of an information element on a display is presented, the method comprising displaying a plurality of information elements along a first axis including a first axial direction thereof, displaying a second plurality of information elements along a second axis including a second axial direction thereof parallel with the second direction, the first axis displaying a first information element thereon, the second axis including the first information element thereon, the first information element on the second axis being not transversally aligned with the first information element displayed on the first axis and displacing at least one of the first axis of information elements and the second axis of information elements to display the first information element from the first axis of information elements adjacent to the first information element from the second axis of information elements.

Abstract: A connector to be used with a strap for wrapping an object. The strap is detached from the connector and has first and second extremities. The connector has a first passage adapted to insert and to lock the first extremity of the strap therein and a second passage having an entrance adapted to insert the second extremity of the strap therein and to prevent the strap from travelling toward the entrance upon insertion. It has a body having a first section with the first passage and a second section with the second passage, wherein the first section has a vertical wall and the second section has a vertical wall distinct from and facing the vertical wall of the first section, and a bridge joining the first and second sections of the body by extending between the vertical wall of the first section and the vertical wall of the second section.

Abstract: A shelving system for storing and displaying bottles within a cellar. The shelving system includes at least one rack for supporting and displaying bottles, the least one rack being mountable onto a given wall of the cellar and being displaceable with respect to said given wall so as to be displaced in and out of the cellar along an operative directional axis. The shelving system also includes at least one recess provided about the at least one rack, each recess being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving a corresponding bottle, and each recess being disposed about the at least one rack, at an angle with respect to the operative directional axis of the at least one rack, so as to allow peripheral side surfaces of bottles resting on the at least one rack to face a front portion of the cellar.

Abstract: The wheel chock is part of a wheel chock restraint system that also includes a base plate to prevent a parked vehicle from moving away in an unauthorized or accidental manner in a departure direction. The wheel chock includes a main body having a bottom base portion and a tire-engaging bulge. It also includes a tire deformation cavity, made within the main body on the tire-facing side. Teeth are provided underneath the bottom base portion of the wheel chock to engage at least one among corresponding teeth provided on the base plate in a latched engagement. The wheel chock has an improved resistance to rollover and tipping when the wheel is pressed forcefully against the wheel chock.