Abstract: A sheet-like mat capable of providing a comfortable resting environment by adsorbing sweat emitted from a body of a user or moisture in underwear, bedding or the like. This sheet-like mat can be obtained by dividing an inside of a mat cover into a plurality of bag-like spaces and arranging a bag-packed drying agent in each bag-like space, respectively. A drying agent sheet may be used in place of the bag packed drying agent.

Abstract: A restraint device is provided for securing and supporting an infant. The device includes a shell assembly formed to include a chamber sized to receive the infant. The shell assembly includes first and second spaced apart side walls and a generally rigid end wall defining a boundary of the chamber. In one embodiment, the rigid end wall includes a yieldable section movable between a fixed first position and a yielded second position in response to a force acting against the yieldable section. In another embodiment, the restraint device includes an upper shell portion coupled to a lower shell portion and a foldable seat situated inside the lower shell portion to provide means for supporting a lower portion of an infant.

Abstract: A cellular patient support for therapeutic air beds according to the present invention for comprises an air cell container forming a plurality of air cell receptacles disposed in side-by-side relation. A plurality of low air loss air cells are removably positioned within respect ones of the air cell receptacles. An elongate air supply manifold extends along the length of the air cell container and is connected in air supplying relation with each of the air cells. Each of the connectors for the air cells is provided with a pressure control orifice which controls the respective pressure of the air cells and the air supply manifold in relation to the air delivery pressure of the air supply manifold. The air cells are removable from the air cell container and thus the container structure is capable of being efficiently cleaned to enhance the therapeutic aspect of the air bed system.

Abstract: A variable height bed for use in hospitals, extended care facilities and the like. The bed incorporates a base or stationary frame and an elevating frame interconnected and nesting with the stationary frame. The elevating frame has an operative range of about twenty inches, from a minimum height of approximately ten inches above the floor to a maximum of approximately twenty nine inches above the floor. The bed structure provides for substantial clearance under its midsection and includes means for elevating without the use of a manual cranking operation. Guard rails located along the sides of the bed can be moved completely out of the way of the bed sides when required; and means are provided for immobilizing the bed at any location of the elevating frame.

Abstract: A wrinkle free pillowcase for use in conjunction with a pillow of specific length and width measurements. The pillowcase includes at least a first and second section of fabric joined along three sides, each section of fabric having a length and width measurements less than that of the pillow. Releasable fasteners are provided along a fourth side of the pillowcase so that the pillowcase is fastenable about the pillow. The fabric is smooth and radially elastic so that when the pillow is placed within the pillowcase and the fasteners fastened, the compressive strength of the pillow causes the radially elastic fabric to stretch across the surface of the pillow creating a surface tension in said fabric which removes creases from the fabric, thereby creating a crease free surface in the pillowcase.

Abstract: A dropside crib that can be set up and taken down without tools, the crib including a lengthwise stabilizer bar for the dropside side thereof, the stabilizer bar having a pair of vertically aligned spaced hooks at each end, the hooks extending toward the person operating the crib, and a pair of hook receiving slots on the corner posts of the crib in position to accept the hooks when the bar is manually correctly aligned, and having entered the hooks in the slots, the operator merely pushes down on the bar to removably secure the parts, the hooks being tapered.

Abstract: Described herein is a clip ring type ornamental clasp which can be used in various ways for securely gripping thin material like a handkerchief as well as relatively thick material like a belt. A clip ring is pivotally attached on a gripping surface of an ornament body through a ring support member. A rubber sheet with a bulged portion in its center portion is securely bonded on the gripping surface, while an anti-slip cover structure of rubber or other material of a large frictional coefficient is fitted on the clip ring. The anti-slip cover structure is provided with an opening of a larger diameter than a cloth threading hole in the clip ring, so that the marginal edges of the cloth threading hole are exposed at the inner periphery of the opening in the cover structure. The ornamental clasp grips cloth or other article securely between the anti-slip member and the anti-slip cover structure with high gripping force, and can be used in various ways without slip-off.

Abstract: An information display bracket is disclosed having a base portion for securing the information display bracket to the base of a product display bracket. An elongated arm extending over the product display bracket is pivotally secured to the base of the information display bracket at a proximal end by a living hinge and an information display plate is provided at a distal end extending past the end of the product display bracket.

Abstract: A book return is disclosed which has a book storage container which has a support structure. A collapsible container has an upper peripheral edge which is affixed to the upper edge of the support structure. An elastic cord provides support between a first attachment point located at the bottom of the collapsible container and a second attachment point located on the support structure and spaced from the first attachment point so that the collapsible container is held in a substantially collapsed condition when the container is empty and expands to substantially fill the volume defined by the support structure as additional books are added. The book return also has a casement which defines a door compartment having a frontal access opening and a rear discharge opening. A sector-shaped door has a book guide surface and is attached to the casing about a horizontally-pivoted axis. A gate is pivotally attached to the rear of the door.

Abstract: A wheel chair cushion and the like is disclosed which includes a cushion formed of a deformable resilient material. The cushion includes a base having a front wall and a rear wall. A plurality of individual foam springs are carried by the base having support surfaces which lie in a plane that is inclined to the base surface of said base as extending from said front wall to said rear wall. A pressure relief cut-out is formed substantially in its entirety from a mid-line of said cushion rearwardly so as to be disposed underneath the buttocks of a person sitting on the cushion to relieve pressure in that area and provide increased compressibility of the foam springs in the pressure relief area to disperse pressure and provide a resilient depression in the cushion to enhance the patient retention capability of the cushion as used in a wheel chair.

Abstract: A support structure is provided which effects a pressure equalization. It mprises an enclosure filled with a large number of loose pieces. In a special embodiment the loose pieces are surrounded by a low friction material, such as nylon fabric, and are made of a deformable material, preferably foam-material. Another embodiment provides balloon-shaped pieces. Further an outer cover surrounding the enclosure may be provided.

Abstract: An invalid lifting device is disclosed. A mast is mounted to a frame to rotate about a vertical axis. A boom is mounted to the mast to swing with the mast and to pivot about a horizontal axis. A sling for supporting an invalid extends from the end of the boom. A first motor drives the mast to rotate and a second motor is mechanically linked with an extendible strut to raise and lower the boom. A control box is provided in the proximity of an invalid as he is seated in the sling to allow the user to select an elevational and rotational movement. A computer controls movement of the device based upon input at the control box.

Abstract: A bed with a built-in commode is provided which has a bed frame, a mattress having a through-hole formed almost at the central portion of the mattress and placed on the bed frame, a commode attached to the mattress at the through-hole, a pair of inflatable outer tubular pads laid along the opposed edge parts of the commode, a pair of inflatable inner tubular pads laid between the pair of outer tubular pads, a water inlet port disposed in the commode, a discharge passage communicated with the commode, an inflatable valve disposed in the discharge passage, and a controlling device to control the valve and the turbular pads. The controlling device is housed in an operating panel to control both the valve and the tubular pads so that the valve and the pair of outer tubular pads are inflated while the pair of inner tubular pads are deflated when a patient excretes, while both the pair of outer tubular pads and the pair of inner tubular pads are deflated when the valve is inflated for hip bathing.

Abstract: A vehicle steering column is decoupled in the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle to prevent frontal crash forces from reaching the upper steering column. A releasable coupling interconnects upper and lower portions of the steering column and includes a clamping arrangement normally to clamp the two portions together. The clamping arrangement is released upon forcible shifting of the lower portion towards the upper portion.

Abstract: A series of axial photographs of custom wheels are placed over the conventional steel wheels of a vehicle to display the custom wheels in association with the vehicle. A connector is used to hold the photograph in place. One embodiment of the connector attaches to the wheel by the use of adjustable clips and the photographs are secured to the connector. In another embodiment, the connector drapes over the tire and suspends the photograph in a position covering the wheel.

Abstract: The pressure relief support system contains longitudinal air cylinders having wood slats extending across the air cylinders along the length of the air cylinders forming the shape of a mattress. Foam strips may be included on each of these slats to provide an improved pressure relief mattress system for optimal patient comfort.

Abstract: A changeable letter sign system including a plurality of panels, each bearing a letter, character or other suitable indicia and combinable on an overhead readerboard to display a message thereon, each of the panels having magnetically attractive material carried on the normally front face thereof, in complete contiguous arrangement with the peripheral inner and outer edges of the indicia on the panel, and including a tool having a magnet presenting a pair of feet for engagement with said magnetically attractive material to permit holding of the panels for placement on or removal from suitable retaining means on the wall of the readerboard.

Abstract: Encased innerspring mattress and cover device is assembled by positioning mattress and cover component layers, one atop the other, in sequential order, (namely mattress cover bottom, bottom panel, filling material, insulator, innerspring, insulator, filling material, top panel, and mattress cover top, respectively). Continuous zipper at perimeter of mattress cover allows mattress cover to be completely assembled prior to its attachment to the innerspring mattress interior components. Entire mattress and cover assembly can be manufactured from the bottom up without overturning any interior components of the device during its assembly.

Abstract: Suspension wires of a bicycle brake are connected to the upper ends of a pair of brake arms (i.e., right and left brake arms) which are loosely pivotally mounted to a bicycle bodyo and are equipped with brake shoes, and the suspension wires are connected to a lower end of a Bowden cable for operating the brake via a hanger. The upper end of each suspension wire is connected to the hanger by means of a release lever. The lower end of this lever is pivotallyl mounted to the lower end of the hanger by means of a pin. Also, the upper end of the suspension wire is connected to an intermediate portion of the lever, and the pin is located outside the upper end of the suspension wire while the upper end of the lever lies against a respective side of a fastener when the brake is set.

Abstract: A fastener, comprising an expander part having a saucer-shaped head and a shank extending from the head and formed with a male thread thereon, and a fastener part having a flange and opposite stem portions branched from the back of the flange and connecting through hinge portions to guide portions which join each other at the other ends thereof, the expander part and fastener part each being made of a resin, the fastener part having a circular bore extending from the flange to the stem portions to permit the expander part to be inserted in and temporarily retained in the stem portions, the circular bore having therein opposite bulges positioned ahead of the hinge portions to spread the stem portions outward away from each other when the expander part is pushed.