Abstract: A mechanical breathing aid for providing a regulated supply of a breathing gas has an expiratory pressure regulator for regulating gas pressure within an expiration gas flow path dependent on an input regulatory signal and an expiratory pressure sensor disposed to sense an actual gas pressure within the expiration gas flow path and to provide an output signal indicative thereof. A control unit is operably coupled to the expiratory pressure regulator and to the expiratory pressure sensor for calculating a target pressure as a function of time dependent on a value of compliance calculated from measurements of pressure and flow of provided breathing gas made during an inspiration phase, and for generating the regulatory signal dependent on a magnitude of the difference between the target pressure and the actual pressure.

Abstract: A combination spa and electronic entertainment system is disclosed. The spa includes a tub with an upper edge from which horizontal surfaces extend. The surfaces have apertures through which water-tight housings may be raised and lowered. The housings hold components of the entertainment system and have tops larger in size than the apertures to form sealing areas engageable with the horizontal surfaces surrounding the apertures for sealing the apertures and the water-tight housings. A moving mechanism is provided to raise and lower the housings. The mechanism has a platform supported on a carriage movable vertically along a support column. A motor raises and lowers the platforms through a cable and pulley system. A motion limiting device having a pivoting arm which engages sensors communicating with the motor through a control system shuts the motor off in response to predetermined upper and lower limits of cable tension.

Abstract: A sink support shell apparatus and method of making a sink support shell are provided. The sink support shell apparatus is a shell shaped to be compatible with the sink that is to be placed in the sink support shell. The sink support shell includes a rim for mounting the shell either above or below the countertop level. The shell further includes an overflow/vent channel and stand-off in the base for attaching the shell to the necessary plumbing fixtures to allow for drainage of the water from the sink. The overflow/vent channel is formed in the material of the shell and allows water to flow down the channel to be drained by the attached plumbing fixtures as well as air to be vented to reduce suction noise. The sink support shell is made of high-impact material, such as a metal or hard plastic material.

Abstract: A receptacle for a shower head capable of being mounted in different orientation and on surfaces inclined at different angles. The receptacle comprises a generally cylindrical body with an upper mounting flange and a lower wall with an opening for receiving the shower head. The cylindrical body has multiple openings to accommodate the shower head during different orientations of the receptacle. A receptacle cover is pivotally attached to the receptacle flange.

Abstract: A height adjustable toilet seat apparatus for disabled users includes a toilet seat having a hinged lid. The apparatus may be fixed to a toilet bowl or to a wheelchair and includes telescopic legs for supporting the toilet seat and lid at different heights. A lid opening mechanism is operated by a foot lever slidably connected to at least one of said legs. A catch is biased to a holding position for holding the lid in a rotated attitude and a foot peddle and handle are provided to release the catch.

Abstract: A switching assembly that can be used on a spa, pool, bathtub, or aquarium shell without the need to form a hole in the shell. The switching assembly includes an actuator that is mounted on an interior surface of the shell and is exposed at least in part to water held by the shell. The actuator may be mounted above or below the water line. The switching assembly also includes a switch that is responsive to the actuator and is mounted on the opposite, exterior surface of the shell. The switch responds to stimulus from the actuator without the need to form a hole in the shell between the switch and the actuator. The actuator may include a magnet that produces a magnetic field, and the switch may include a reed switch, which changes state in response to the absence or presence of the magnetic field generated by the actuator magnet. The magnet may be supported by a button attached to the shell, and the button protects the magnet from exposure to water and chemicals held in the shell.

Abstract: A breathing circuit component includes an inlet, an outlet and an enclosing wall. The enclosing wall defines a gases passageway between the inlet and the outlet. At least a region of the enclosing wall is formed from a breathable material that allows the passage of water vapor without allowing the passage of liquid water or respiratory gases. The breathing circuit component may be the expiratory limb of a breathing circuit.

Abstract: A coupling system for securing a sink to a drain pipe. The coupling system of the present invention can include a support member and a flange connector. The flange connector can be coupled to the support member about opposite surfaces of a sink. The support member can include both a shoulder and a support surface opposite to the shoulder. The shoulder can be configured to support a sink and a gasket can be positioned thereon or within a recess therein to provide enhanced communication between a sink and the shoulder. The support surface, by comparison, can be configured to rest upon a support surface able to support the sink when coupled to the support surface.

Abstract: A healthcare device intended for use by persons with either temporary or permanent limited mobility as a paraplegic or near paraplegic, who possess full use of the upper body and upper extremities. An intermediary device between the bedside commode where use of lower extremities permits walking, and the bedpan where a person is immobile or requires the help of an attendant or caregiver. This toilet or commode does not require the user to stand or sit independently, and there is no need to turn around for use. It is comprised of a wedged shaped, smooth surface, ventrally cantilevered bench with a toilet opening above a suspended waste collection bucket at the enlarged far end. Enclosed on three sides by a girdling fence rail, it is approached directly by a wheelchair user who, with chair brakes set, can slide forward onto the co-planer bench using the parallel side rails to aid in forward and backward movement.

Abstract: An automatic shutoff valve that can be easily installed in a swimming pool skimmer, that will prevent the flow of air through the suction outlet when the water level drops below the minimum level required to maintain buoyancy of the automatic shutoff valve's float. The valve is designed to automatically reset to normal when a sufficient level of liquid is restored in the pool and skimmer assembly, and any suction acting on the outflow portion of the valve is briefly interrupted to release the float from its position on the valve seat. During operation, the valve protects the pool's circulating pump from damage that could result from becoming air-bound ad losing its prime, as a result of sucking air through the skimmer's bottom outlet.

Abstract: A spa includes a housing having a tub for holding water, and a retractable entertainment unit having a display. The housing includes an upper portion having a seal surface extending around the tub. The entertainment unit is releasably retractable through an opening in the upper surface and movable between a) a retracted position wherein the display is hidden from view and a top of the entertainment unit is disposed below and laterally outward from the seal surface, and b) an extended position wherein the top is raised above the seal surface and the display is visible.

Abstract: A toilet stool capable of using comfortably without cleaning is provided. The toilet stool comprises a main body 10, a seat 11, a cover 12, injection means 41 and 42, and a control means. The main body 10 can preserve stool temporarily therein. The seat 11 is formed on the main body 10. The cover 12 performs opening and closing operations by rotating about a horizontal axis with respect to the main body 10. The injection means 41 and 42 perform a cleaning operation by injecting pressure liquid for cleaning. The control means causes the injection means 41 and 42 to perform the cleaning operation on the condition that the cover is closed.

Abstract: A spa cover remover has a spa cover support including a pair of parallel side bars at opposite respective sides of a spa, the side bars having upper and lower ends, with a crossbar extending between the upper ends of the side bars, a pivot shaft extending between the lower ends of the side bars and rigid connections between the lower end of the side bars and the pivot shaft and between the upper ends of the side bars and the crossbar. The spa cover support is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft and a resilient connection between the spa cover support and the spa allows pivotation of the spa cover support about that axis to locate the crossbar, with a spa cover folded over the crossbar, in a supporting position offset from above the spa. The crossbar, the pivot shaft and the side arms are each made of telescopically interengaged and adjustable sections to enable the spa cover remover to be adapted to spas of different sizes.

Abstract: A prefabricated block for use in the construction of water containment areas, such as showers, tubs, pools and the like is provided. This block is designed to facilitate rapid, consistent construction while maintaining maximum water containment. In preferred embodiments, this block has a sloped surface for water-shedding as well as a slot for receiving the pan or liner.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing device generally comprising an improved nozzle that is adaptable, connectable, threadable or integrally formed with a standard trigger spray head. The improved nozzle is also swivelable or rotatable and directional to spray in any direction, up or down, left or right, straight ahead, or any variation thereof. It also has a cap that can be turned to produce a stream, a spray or a foam, or any variation thereof. The nozzle may be manufactured either as an attachment to an existing trigger spray unit or as a pre-manufactured integral assembly.

Abstract: A modular faucet assembly is configured for installation upon a conventional sink top having left and right hot and cold water control valve passages and a central faucet assembly passage. The present modular assembly includes a single, central faucet and mixer control valve, with all water lines extending through the central sink top passage and the left and right sink top passages remaining free of any water supply lines. The present assembly makes use of these otherwise unused passages by having left and right faucet base passages which align with the corresponding sink top passages, and serve to secure the faucet assembly to the sink top and accept various accessories removably installed therein. The accessories may comprise a liquid soap dispenser pump, a retractable spray nozzle, or other device(s) as desired. A cap(s) may be installed at the accessory passage(s) when no accessory or accessories are installed.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable spa cover assembly includes a cover movable above a spa between a raised position and a lowered position, the raised position being vertically above the lowered position. Lifts are used to raise and lower the cover. The cover assembly may also include a screen that surrounds the area between the cover and the spa. The lifts are threaded sections including rods and pipes which engage one another and move up and down as one or more of these threaded sections are rotated by a power source such as a motor or hand crank. The power source may engage the threaded sections through gears or sprockets, or less directly via a system of sprockets and a chain which drives the sprockets and the threaded sections in turn. Alternately, the lifts may be telescoping members pneumatically or hydraulically powered. The cover assembly may be built into a spa unit or added as a retrofit component.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a fluid product includes a reservoir configured to contain a fluid product and a spray orifice associated with the reservoir. The reservoir may include at least one actuating zone having a predetermined threshold resistance to deformation. The actuating zone may be configured to deform in response to pressure exerted on the actuating zone so as to cause the product to be sprayed out from the orifice. When pressure exerted on the actuating zone is less than a threshold pressure Ps sufficient to overcome the predetermined threshold resistance to deformation of the actuating zone, substantially no portion of the product is sprayed from the spray orifice. Actuating zone deformation resulting from exertion of at least the threshold pressure Ps on the actuating zone may persist when the pressure exerted ceases.

Abstract: A spreader assembly is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a tailgate and a bumper. The spreader includes a hopper having an upper section and a bottom section, the bottom section having a lower material discharge chamber terminating in a lower discharge opening; a broadcast spreader positioned beneath said discharge opening; and a spill plate to at least partially regulate the flow of particulate material through the discharge opening.

Abstract: A solvent container with dual purpose dispenser that includes a container body, a pencil head holder, a brush rod and a top cover combined together. The brush rod has a hollow brush rod head, which has an outer circumferential edge formed with a projecting rim. The pencil head holder has a hollow cavity with an engage groove for receiving the projecting rim of the hollow brush rod head, thus, the brush rod and the pencil head holder are engaged with each other directly. The pencil head holder has an upper solvent outlet tube. The pencil head holder and solvent outlet tube thereby preventing the solvent outlet tube from moving biasly to ensure safety during use.