Abstract: An integrated safety and communication system for attachment to a standard type of firefighter's face mask includes a command post tracking and accountability monitor, and a mask attachment having means for transmitting the amplified voice of the wearer to anybody within its audible range, and to enable communications with the command post including identification, location, vital signs such as pulse and respiratory rate, vicinity temperature, hydrocarbon monitoring and alarm signal if the wearer becomes motionless for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An integrated platform/clamping structure for use in combination with a frame straightening system; the structure including multiple clamp assemblies slidably attached to the platform of the system for lateral movement relative to the platform. The clamp assemblies can be moved independently of one another until they are located underneath the automobile pinchweld. The clamp assemblies also have a mechanism (in the preferred embodiment, a vertically aligned piston/cylinder system) which raise each clamp relative to the platform. Once the clamp touches the pinchweld, means (in the preferred embodiment, a second, horizontally aligned piston/cylinder system) are provided to automatically fix the jaws of the clamp over the pinchweld and lock. The system also has linear measurement gauges underneath the platform and made a part of the system, with means to raise the gauges into an operable location adjacent the undercarriage of the car.

Abstract: A firestop sleeve suitable for both concrete floor and gypsum wall-board assembly including a layer of intumescent composite forming a moldable putty with a restraining layer, for wrapping around a pipe extending through the concrete floor or through the wall-board, along with a plurality of bendable tabs for depression into the wrapped layer to hold the restraining layer in position during installation.

Abstract: An aspirator syringe is provided with an operator mechanism which allows two fingers and the thumb of one hand to be used in a fist-closing direction to operate a syringe with good, steady, continuous-motion control, while permitting the other hand to be kept free to assure that the needle is kept intact in the patient. A simple mechanism for installing and removing a conventional syringe provides stability of the syringe and mechanism during aspiration and permits aspirated fluid to be dispensed either with or without removal of the syringe from the mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for relieving symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome includes restraining the elbow of the patient from movement while applying pressure to the wrist to move the wrist in a direction away from the elbow. The method further includes rotating the wrist during movement of the wrist away from the elbow.

Abstract: A jamb liner is mounted in the side jamb tracks of a window frame to mount window units of double hung windows for slidable movement between opened and closed positions. The liner includes transversely spaced channel guides, each guide mounting a guide member that is attached to the adjacent window unit. Flanges are joined to the guides for forming a close fit with the adjacent window unit while, to each guide, there is joined a wing to form a seal with the web of the adjacent jamb to block fluid flow between the window units and the side jamb from one transverse side of the unit sash to the other. The wings of the liner are arcuately curved to transversely diverge from one another in a direction toward the jamb web. The wings are of a substantially greater resiliency than the rest of the liner, said rest of the liner being semi-rigid and made of extruded plastic.

Abstract: A materials carrying apparatus and method is provided. The apparatus includes a frame. A first carrier is supported within the frame for carrying materials thereon. The first carrier is located in an access position for access to and use of the materials by a user. A second carrier is supported within the frame and located in a storage position for carrying materials thereon. The storage position is vertically spaced apart from the access position. An elevator assembly vertically moves the second carrier from the storage position into the access position when the materials of the first carrier have been exhausted.

Abstract: An intrusion detector system employing a remote, 360.degree. infrared detector. The system includes a base unit with a receiver, controller, and phone jack, a remote sensor which is adjustable along a vertical axis and includes a 360.degree. infrared motion sensor, and a central monitoring station in communication with the base unit via a telephone network. The remote sensor may be selectively positioned to detect movement in a surrounding area definable by the user. The base unit may be programmed to contact the monitoring station when the sensor detects motion, and also to receive test signals from the monitoring station and verify that the system is operational.

Abstract: An intumescent firestop device having a layer of non-curing moldable two-stage intumescent composite and a restraining layer. When the firestop device is installed around a pipe near the wall opening through which the pipe runs, the intumescent composite exudes into the annular space between the pipe and the wall opening thereby forming a cold-gas seal. The composite is a two-stage intumescent composite that contains two different intumescent components that begin to intumesce at two different temperatures to form a hard char.

Abstract: A combination pressure-vacuum relief valve assembly is provided for mounting in a port of a container. A two-part, generally hollow valve housing defines a valve chamber and includes a housing body part adapted for mounting in the port and which has an inlet communicating with the container. A housing cap part is secured to the body part and defines an outlet therebetween. A pressure valve seat is formed on the housing body part surrounding the inlet. A two-part, generally hollow pressure valve is movably mounted within the valve chamber and includes a valve body part for engaging the pressure valve seat. The valve body part includes a first vacuum relief passage communicating with the container through the inlet. A valve cap part is secured to the valve body part and includes a second vacuum relief passage communicating with atmosphere through the outlet.

Abstract: An intrusion detector employing a remote, 360.degree. infrared detector. The detector includes a base unit with a receiver, controller, digital dialer and power supply plug, a remote sensor which is adjustable along a vertical axis and includes a 360.degree. infrared motion sensor, and a hand held remote control unit to arm and disarm the base unit. The remote sensor may be selectively positioned to detect movement in a surrounding area definable by the user.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing measured lengths of a sleeve material upon an armature, especially adapted for dispensing a plastic cover upon a toilet seat, includes a source of sleeve material fed onto the armature and collected upon a take-up reel. The cover is provided with a uniform series of marks along its length which are sensed and counted to control the operation of a motor drive which directs the sleeve material to and from the armature. Timer circuits are employed to cause motor cut-off if the required length of sleeve is not dispensed within a given length of time and to inhibit motor start for a fixed period after a dispensation. The sleeve-accepting end of the armature may include an angular horn to permit the sleeve to smoothly pass onto the seat.

Abstract: An axial flow blood pump for intracorporeal or extracorporeal use pumps blood axially through a cylindrical conduit disposed in the bloodstream of a patient. The pump further includes a pump stator mounted in the conduit and a motor stator located either externally or internally of the conduit which applies a magnetic flux in the conduit. A rotor located in the conduit carries permanent magnets which interact with the applied magnetic flux to rotate the rotor. The rotor also carries impeller blades which, during rotation, produces an axial flow of blood through the conduit. During rotor rotation, the rotor is radially suspended solely by one or more hydrodynamic bearings formed by blood flowing through the conduit, with the location of at least one hydrodynamic bearing defined by a radial gap between the inside surface of the conduit and the rotor.

Abstract: A motor/blood pump which axially pumps blood to a patient connected to a heart/lung machine includes a cylindrical pump housing, a rotor located in the housing, at least one impeller blade attached to the rotor, a pair of stator halves mechanically connectable to the outside of the housing and a motor controller electrically connected to the stator halves. The controller electrically actuates the interconnected stator halves to rotatably drive the rotor on a hydrodynamic bearing of the blood in the housing, and the impeller blade axially pumps blood through the housing. Mechanically and electrically interconnectable stator halves enable the reusable stator to be connected to and disconnected from the disposable pump housing without interrupting the blood flow path.

Abstract: An injection moldable biodegradable plastic formed of corn starch and low-density polyethylene. Ethylene acrylic acid co-polymer can be included in proportions ranging from 0-10%, by weight, and sodium hydroxide can be utilized to neutralize the acidic portions of the ethylene acrylic acid co-polymer. When no ethylene acrylic acid co-polymer is utilized, glycerol is added. To improve injection molding characteristics, the ethylene acrylic acid co-polymer and polyethylene are premixed before the addition of corn starch.