Abstract: A cover for a duvet (D) comprises an underside panel and an upperside panel (16), the underside and upperside panels being joined together along their top edges and part-way along their side edges, and a further panel (14) joined to the bottom edge and part-way along the side edges of the underside panel: the upperside panel (16) is provided, adjacent its bottom edge and side edges, with fasteners (20) to engage complementary fasteners (22) along the edges of the further panel (14).

Abstract: A sleeping bag having a cinch mechanism that can be closed with a single hand. The cinch mechanism includes, for example, a loop and a cord attached at an end of the sleeping bag. When the sleeping bag has been rolled, the loop is pulled in one direction, while the cord is pulled in the other direction. The cord is then extended through the loop, and pulled back and attached to itself. For example, a clasp may be used to attach the cord to itself.

Abstract: A system for preventing seismic liquefaction of the ground in an urban area built on reclaimed land consisting of a loose fine grained layer vulnerable to liquefaction underlain with a soft cohesive layer liable to uneven settlement. The system includes a plurality of vertically-extending wells with submerged pumps which pump pore water out of the loose layer, creating pore voids therein. An air-tight tank pressurizes the pumped pore water and, using an air compressor, pushes the water into a deep layer below the cohesive layer. A regulating receptacle injects a tap water mixture to fill the pore voids in the loose layer, with the mixture reducing the degree of pore water saturation therein, preventing seismic liquefaction due to earthquake.

Abstract: A baffle apparatus and method for directing fluid flow to reduce damage to an energy dissipating basin that includes an inlet, an outlet, a floor, a sidewall that extends upward from an edge of the floor, and an opposing sidewall that extends upward from an opposing edge of the floor defining a basin interior with a basin span between the sidewall and the opposing sidewall. The baffle apparatus includes a deflector structure that is generally planar and is fixedly or adjustably positioned substantially transverse to a downstream direction flow in the basin, the deflector structure spanning between the sidewall and the opposing sidewall above the floor. Also included, is a retaining structure for fixedly or adjustably positioning and securing the deflector structure to the sidewall. The deflector structure directs flow in the basin to flow in a downstream direction from a reverse upstream direction adjacent to the basin floor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to produce in-situ pilings, controllably injecting binder and water into soil formation in which the piling is to be formed, the quantities of water and binder being respective to strength demands for the piling, and to demand for water to supplement existing water to react (hydrate) with the binder.

Abstract: An articulated furnishing system consisting of a reconfigurable mattress and a foundation composed of multiple separable components. The articulated furnishing system is adaptable between a bed configuration, a seating area configuration, and a work surface configuration through re-arrangement and re-orientation of the multiple separable components. A light box associated with the foundation is configured with one or more light sources to provide illumination, and to provide one or more surfaces adapted for article storage.

Abstract: A multistage oil seal (4) includes a plurality of lips (7a, 7b, 7c) in a plurality of stages disposed around a motor shaft (1) of a machine tool along the axis of the motor shaft to protect internal members of the motor from the cutting fluid. All or at least two of the lips (7a, 7b, 7c) in the plurality of stages are formed from different materials.

Abstract: A single ply flexible membrane roofing system secured to a roof deck has a first membrane secured to the roof deck by fasteners. The membrane system includes a second membrane with an edge portion overlapping the first membrane edge which can be “factory” weld-bonded to the first membrane along the edge of the second membrane to provide waterproofing such that the first membrane edge projects forwardly from the bond to define a fastening projection extending forwardly from the weld bond for the laterally spaced fasteners. An adhesive coating over the fastening projection and fasteners extends essentially from the weld bond forwardly to provide a continuous adhesive coating over the first membrane projection and the fasteners to provide a substantially monolithic water-sealed seaming bond of enhanced strength with enhanced resistance to uplift forces. The invention is concerned also with the labor reduced method of constructing the system.

Abstract: The disclosure generally describes a sofa convertible into a bed. In one embodiment, the sofa includes a support and guide structure, and a mattress that is movable relative to the support and guide structure. The sofa can be moved between a bed configuration and a sofa configuration. In the bed configuration, the mattress has a bearing surface which extends horizontally. In the sofa configuration, an upper portion of the mattress is folded upwards relative to a lower portion of the mattress. In addition, the bearing surface of the upper portion of the mattress forms the bearing surface of a backrest for supporting the back of a person in a seated position.

Abstract: A motorized hammock swinging assembly automatically swings a hammock back and forth. A housing has a motor operationally connected with a crankshaft assembly. A cable is attached to a crankshaft of the crankshaft assembly and to the hammock such that when the motor is operation, the crankshaft rotates causing the cable to be pulled back and forth. The reciprocating cable causes the hammock to be swayed back and forth. The housing can be frame mounted such that the frame is secured to the ground at its point of operation, or the housing can be mounted to a structure such as a tree. The motor can be run by a battery located within the housing or by a source of AC electrical power, which source can be used to charge the battery or by a solar cell.

Abstract: A gasket well/gasket combination (30) is provided, and may be particularly useful for use in a header/tank assembly (12) for a heat exchanger (10). The combination (30) includes a gasket well (32) defined by a base wall (36) and a side wall (38) extending upwardly from the base wall (36), with the side wall (38) including an upwardly opening slot (40) having a width (SW). The combination further includes an elastomeric gasket (34) shaped to be received in the gasket well (32) and compressed between the base wall (36) and a mating part to form a sealed connection. The gasket (34) includes a seal bead (50) and a locating feature (52) having a tab (62) extending outwardly from the seal bead (50) to a terminal end (64) of the tab (62), with the tab (62) having a transverse width that does not increase from the seal bead (50) to the terminal end (64). The transverse width is larger than the slot width (SW) with the tab (62) in an undeformed state.

Abstract: A stand is described for supporting a hammock, the stand comprising several tubular members which can be assembled into an arc shaped stand having a support hook on one end and two horizontally spaced support hooks on the opposite end.

Abstract: A pneumatic surgical prone head support (100) (100?) (100?) is provided that includes a support body (110) within which is disposed a pneumatic pressure distribution network (130) that is fluidly coupled to a plurality of inflatable cells (122, 142) disposed on a top surface (1102) of support body (110). The pneumatic pressure distribution network (130) may be fluidly coupled to a pressurization system (200, 200?) to provide fluid pressure pulses in a timed sequence in order to sequentially deflate a portion of the inflatable cells (122, 142).

Abstract: A column/beam interconnection employing angular connectors which wrap complementarily around an outside corner in a column. Each connector includes, on each of two, next-adjacent column faces, a cantilever-projecting deflectable tab which is nominally spaced from another, confronting tab that belongs to a next-adjacent connector. These confronting, spaced tabs freely receive between them the end of the central web in an I-beam, and when clamplingly secured to such a web, deflect under spring resistance to introduce useful compressive forces through the associated connectors into the associated column. The proposed connector arrangement allows, with respect to the placement of a beam for connection to and between a pair of next adjacent columns, for the vertical shifting of the beam into proper place for connection of its central web to and between pairs of spaced tabs, without any need for any lateral shifting of the columns to allow for insertion of the beam between the columns.

Abstract: A retaining wall structure for retaining soil, including a retaining wall including a plurality of non-molded blocks disposed side-by-side and adjacent each other, the retaining wall having a width and a height. The wall structure further includes a plurality of joints being defined by adjacent of the non-molded blocks, a cementitious compound disposed in the plurality of joints, the cementitious compound securing adjacent ones of the non-molded blocks to each other, and an anchor sheet including a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the anchor sheet is embedded in the cementitious compound, the anchor sheet extending outwardly from the retaining wall, and backfill is disposed about the anchor sheet such that the backfill retains the wall structure in a desired position.

Abstract: A structure and method for supporting stonelike objects on soil. The structure comprises a base, at least two sets of a plurality of tabs disposed on the base at respective opposing edges thereof and oriented substantially perpendicular thereto, and a plurality of struts disposed on the base between and attached to respective tabs of the two sets of a plurality of tabs so as to brace the tabs and receive stonelike objects for support thereof. The base has a substantially planar frame and intersecting crossmembers connecting the edges of the frame, is substantially rectangular, and has openings for water drainage. The tabs are separated by substantially V-shaped spaces. The struts are disposed substantially parallel to one another, are relatively tall in comparison with their width, and at least one of the struts spans the space between the two sets of a plurality of tabs.

Abstract: A marine barrier system comprising first and second barrier sections and a coupler system. The first and second barrier sections comprise first and second main flotation members, respectively, and each main flotation member contains buoyant material. The coupler system is arranged at the juncture of the first and second barrier sections. The coupler system is arranged such that the first and second main flotation members may be placed in a storage configuration and in a deployed configuration. In the storage configuration, the first and second main flotation members are arranged in a parallel, side by side arrangement. In the deployed configuration, the first and second main flotation members are arranged end to end to define a barrier line in a body of water across which movement is limited.

Abstract: A landscape edging form assembly for forming a concrete edging in place, includes first and second sidewalls and a series of flexible connectors extending between and interconnecting the sidewalls. The flexible connectors are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the length of the landscape edging form and enable the landscape edging form to be extended from a non-erected width where the flexible connectors are in a slack condition to an erected width where the flexible connectors are in a taut condition. Preferably, the sidewalls and the interconnecting flexible connectors of the landscape edging form assembly are a prefabricated component of the assembly. Another form assembly includes bendable sidewalls, spacers, and positioning brackets and is used to form a sinuous concrete landscape edging in place.

Abstract: An improved interior wall construction that provides both sound attenuating and fire resistant properties. The improved wall construction eliminates the need for conventional vertical studs by including at least one rigid interior structural panel comprised of compressed straw. A compressed straw panel is situated in a substantially layered configuration with conventional non-woven insulation, at least one air space and a gypsum board sheet on each face. Connection between the compressed straw panel and at least one gypsum board sheet is comprised semi-flexible substantially Z-shaped resilient channel members. The Z-shaped channel members and compressed straw panel each being capable of partially attenuating sound energy passed therethrough.

Abstract: A mattress device has an foam body formed of a closed cell foam material which has a torso support area defining a recess having a recess bottom. An inflatable mat is disposed in the recess and insulated from a ground surface by the recess bottom. The inflatable mat is inflatable to rise above the top surface of the foam body. The foam body is preferably formed of a top foam layer having an aperture defining the recess and a bottom foam layer which provides the recess bottom. The bottom foam layer is formed from material having a higher insulation to weight ratio than material of the top foam layer, and the material of the top foam layer has a higher volume to weight ratio than the material of the bottom foam layer. The inflatable mat is optionally self-inflatable.