Abstract: The invention provides a novel adjustable mattress and pillow system and related methods in which a sensing mat positioned on the top face of a mattress affects microprocessor-controlled optimization of the contour of the mattress and a pillow based on a user's position. In one embodiment, the novel adjustable mattress and pillow system of the invention provides real time contour optimization through use of a variety of sensing techniques that make the system particularly useful in environments such as hospital critical care facilities where proper positioning of a user on a mattress and a pillow may prove important to user's health.

Abstract: A facia border for covering the periphery of a structure between the roof and a soffit includes mounting clips attached at periodic peripheral locations for slidably attaching facia trim at detented positions.

Abstract: Presented is an underground cable laying apparatus that leaves virtually no visible scar in the turf under which cable, wire, line, hose, etc. is laid. The apparatus utilizes a pair of angularly displaced turf slicing wheels to slice and separate the turf forming a slit into which cable may be laid. A cable guide tube and roller properly place the cable within the slit. A pair of turf closure wheels close the slit in close proximity to the release point of the cable to ensure proper placement of the cable. The slit in the turf is gently and completely closed over the cable, leaving virtually no visible scar within the turf to upset the aesthetic beauty of a lawn. Further, the configuration and rolling action of the turf slicing wheels ensures that other underground cables will not be damaged if inadvertently encountered.

Abstract: A method for installation of an underground pipe includes an initial step of boring a pilot hole through the ground at a predetermined grade angle by extending a drill string having a steerable boring bit mounted thereon through the ground. Upon reaching an end location for the pilot hole, the bit is removed from the drill string, and an expander having a diameter greater than the pilot hole is attached to the drill string, which expander is backed by an impact device such as a pneumatic impactor including a striker that delivers repeated impacts to a rearwardly facing surface of the expander, and by a pipe drawn along behind the expander. The expander is pulled back through the pilot hole at the grade angle while the impactor is operated to aid progress of the expander through the ground and pull the pipe into place behind the expander.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus for a cabinet-crib combination. In one embodiment, a combination apparatus comprising a housing structure, a crib railing structure, and a mattress tray. The crib railing structure includes a front railing, a left railing, and a right railing. The left and right railings are coupled to the housing structure at a first end of the left and right railing via a swivel. The left and right railings are coupled to the front railing at a second end of the left and right railings via a swivel. The crib railing structure is capable of folding in and out of the housing structure via the swivels. The mattress tray is coupled to the left and right sidewalls of the housing structure via a swivel that allows the tray to fold in and out of the housing structure by pivoting at the left and right sidewalls. When the tray and the crib railing structure are folded out the housing structure, they form a crib.

Abstract: A gasket assembly includes a plurality of carriers. Each carrier has at least one non-sealing aperture and at least one sealing aperture. The sealing aperture has a seal which extends around a perimeter of the sealing aperture and is attached to the carrier. The plurality of carriers comprises a stack of carriers with each of the carriers in the stack being in touching contact with at least one other of the carriers. The non-sealing apertures of the carriers are aligned to and associated with the sealing apertures such that each seal extends through aligned and associated non-sealing apertures in the other carriers to provide a first sealing surface at a first outer surface of the stack and a second sealing surface at a second outer surface of the stack. The carriers in the stack may be joined together to form the gasket assembly. The seals may include various materials, including elastomers, such as those commonly used in automotive vehicle applications.

Abstract: An assembly for lifting a boat locatable adjacent a dock requires only two elongate vertically disposed pilings each having a lower end portion mounted into the floor of a body of water near the dock and an upper end portion extending upwardly adjacent the dock. A lift is connected to a boat cradle for moving the cradle substantially vertically and includes a piston/cylinder attached between the dock and cables, which are mounted to each piling and are connected between the piston and the cradle. The piston is movable between a first position for lifting and pulleys and guides are mounted to the pilings and the cradle.

Abstract: A drip edging or gutter mounting that includes a permanent member mounted to a structure and a dismountable member selectively connected to the permanent member. The dismountable member includes structure for connecting ornamental structures, such as light strings, to the dismountable member. Upon receipt of the ornamental structures by the connecting structure, the dismountable member is selectively connected to the permanent member to thereby decorate the structure. The dismountable member can be removed from the permanent member with the lights attached for storage thereby eliminating the need for mounting and dismounted light strings to a structure.

Abstract: A method and system for attaching a TLP to its tendons using pull-down lines to rapidly submerge the hull to installation draft while compensating for inherent hull instability during submergence and to provide motion arrest and aid in station keeping. The system includes tensioning devices mounted on the TLP, usually one for each tendon. Each tensioning device is equipped with a pull-down line which is connected to the corresponding tendon. The TLP hull is submerged to lock-off draft by applying tensions to the pull-down lines connected to the top of the tensions, or by a combination of applying tensions to the pull-down lines and ballasting the hull. As the tensioners take in pull-down line, the hull submerges, i.e. the draft increases.

Abstract: A pier assembly (2, 60) is provided that utilizes a rotatable shelf (12, 70) structure to place a screw jack assembly (15) under a footing (28) of a foundation.

Abstract: A foundation member in the ground includes a soil working implement for loosening soil material in a soil area, a supply device for supplying a liquid to the loosened soil material and a mixing device for mixing the loosened soil material in the soil area with the liquid to form a settable suspension as well as a removal device for removing suspension from a first section of the soil area and a return device for returning at least part of the removed suspension to a second section of the soil area. A method for making a foundation member in the ground is also provided.

Abstract: The application is related to inflatable devices, and, more specifically, to an inflatable device with a recessed fluid controller and improved adjustment device. In one embodiment, the application is directed to an inflatable device comprising a substantially fluid impermeable bladder and a fluid controller comprising an electrically powered pump at least partly positioned within the bladder. In another embodiment, the application is directed to a combination of a fluid controller comprising an electrically powered pump and an inflatable device. The combination comprises the fluid controller connected to the inflatable device such that the exterior profile of the fluid controller and inflated inflatable device in combination is essentially the same as the exterior profile of the inflated inflatable device.

Abstract: A mobile barrier for use in wind control, reduction of blowing litter and suspension and transport of airborne contaminants with applications in areas of landfill maintenance, agriculture, erosion control, and snow control is described. The mobile barrier is a large mesh panel supported in an orientation that is at a slight angle to the vertical. The panel is supported using a pair of upright members that extend upward from a base which is freestanding. A vertically adjustable lifting boom is also supported by the upright members, and is used to secure the mobile barrier to lifting machinery for purposes of transport. Further, a system for controlling the spread of wind-borne contaminants will be described which includes a mobile barrier in combination with a misting device.

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: The present invention relates to ground drainage apparatus comprising a ground anchor (13) and a length of conduit (10) providing a drainage channel for water. The length of conduit (10) is secured to the ground anchor (13) in such a way that when the ground anchor (13) is driven into the ground then the length of conduit (10) is dragged through a passage in the ground formed by the ground anchor (130 with the result that when the ground anchor is installed at a desired depth then the length of conduit (10) provides a drainage channel in the ground.

Abstract: A method of lining a wall face comprises assembling a wall of concrete panels (16) close to the face to be lined, attaching the panels to the face to be lined by ground anchorages (12) pretensioned to provide the required resistance to hydrostatic pressure, the anchorages being grouted into the face at one end, and anchored to the respective panel at the other end, and filling the void between the wall and the face with free-draining material (14). The invention also relates to a system of lining a wall face using concrete panels and ground anchorages. Preferably the panels are cast in molds and have a synthetic low permeability sheet (29) incorporated into one or both sides of the panel during the casting process.

Abstract: A tandem rod or cable apparatus for bursting and replacing pipe, which includes a frame, two sets of oppositely-disposed hydraulic cylinders having piston rods, each of which pairs of piston rods are attached to a yoke, with a gripping element provided in each yoke for independently gripping a rod or cable extending through the aligned gripping elements. One end of the rod or cable is attached to a bursting and stored energy head and the other end extends through the gripping elements, typically to a reel (in the case of a cable) for taking up slack in the cable. Advancement of the bursting and stored energy head through a defective pipe to be burst and typical simultaneous replacement with an attached replacement pipe is effected by operation of the two sets of hydraulic cylinders and the corresponding gripping elements to push or pull the rod or pull the cable.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for a subterranean structure, having a continuous ribbon slab having a plurality of flights fabricated from concrete. The ribbon slab defines periodic openings therein which generally align between adjacent flights. Another embodiment provides for a method of fabricating a subterranean structure. The method includes excavating soil to form a downward sloping ramp, and forming a concrete slab on the downward sloping ramp. The method further includes continuing to excavate soil to extend the downward sloping ramp to a location under the concrete slab, and continuing to form the concrete slab on the downward sloping ramp so that a subterranean structure is formed having an essentially continuous concrete slab with a first portion which is above and spaced-apart from a second portion.

Abstract: A manufactured building system has a pair of pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floors. The pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floors are adapted to contact each other on one parallel side edge to form peripheral edges and a central joining edge. A part of a building is coupled to a pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floor. Also described is a Method of Transporting the pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floors with the partial building coupled there to, to a site. Also described is a Method of Manufacturing a pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floor.

Abstract: Soil binding and revegetation compositions useful for stabilizing soil and promoting vegetation or revegetation of soil comprise water, an endosperm, an iron compound, a strong base, and a fibrous material comprising at least two different types of fibers. The endosperm comprises the carbohydrate and protein portions of grains, seeds, or tubers. The strong base is reacted with the endosperm in the presence of water added in order to ionize the carbohydrate and protein of the endosperm and render them more soluble or dispersible in water. The iron compound promotes an electrochemical reaction that assists in the formation of a silicate crystal matrix when applied to soil. The fibrous material comprises at least two different types of fibers that promote adhesion to soil and soften and nourish the soil in order to promote the emergence of plant life and/or seed germination. Seeds may optionally be added to further promote vegetation or revegetation of denuded soils.