Abstract: Collapsible and portable cot type bed for pets and children. A spring biased horizontal connector pin can slidably attach bottom edges of vertical support legs to horizontal cross braces to maintain the cot in an assembled position that can support extreme amounts of weight. The horizontal pin can be connected to a bottom portion of a metal strip having an upper edge attached by rivets, solder or welding to the vertical support legs. Side wall panels along the planar support surface of the cot allow for keeping objects from sliding off the cot. A removable canopy for deflecting sun and providing shade when the cot is used outdoors can be mounted to the vertical legs above the planar support surface. The cot can be easily folded like an accordion and placed in a carrying bag and have a weight of less than approximately 15 pounds.

Abstract: A crib device is provided for raising and lowering the dropside of a slatted crib. The dropsides are fitted with side rails attached to the outer slats. The side rails are channeled to receive a rod. The side rails fit within corner legs which are slotted to receive the side rails. The corner legs are also channeled to receive a rod. When the side rails are fitted within the corner legs, a slide rod is positioned through the respective channels. A latching mechanism is used to lock the dropside in place via a latching rod and latch rod recesses, which are located on the corner legs. When the latching mechanism is activated the dropside moves vertically along the slide rod with reduced risk of injury to both the user of the crib and the occupant of the crib as the outer slats block unwanted access to the slotted region of the corner legs.

Abstract: An improvement in an installation having a continuous water-impervious liner forming a barrier against the entry of water vapor and insects such as termites from the sub-soil into a crawlspace. According to the present invention, the water-impervious liner is provided with one or more access openings to the sub-soil, each covered with a flap, patch or cover which is openable to provide access to the sub-soil, and which is resealable to restore the water-barrier and/or water vapor-barrier properties of the liner in simple fashion as often as necessary.

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises a control mechanism for lowering or raising the at least one supporting element, wherein the control mechanism includes a force load switch for activating the lowering or raising of the at least one supporting element, wherein the force load switch activates the lowering or raising of the at least one supporting element upon detecting compressive and/or tensile forces or motions acting via the at least one supporting element on the force load switch.

Abstract: The invention modulates the air volume in foam cores of cushioning support devices and any other support apparatus using foam or similar materials. The foam core can be incrementally modulated to realize an infinite number of comfort levels as to softness and support firmness. The core consists of self-inflating open-cell flexible polyurethane foam and is completely sealed within an enclosure fitted over it, with one or more valves installed in the side walls which communicate with the outside air. Through the valves air is selectively withdrawn from the foam core, allowing the foam's density to increase. The invention uses relatively inexpensive foam, but through air volume modulation achieves a tactile feel of supreme softness for the user, without giving up the necessary firmness to support the body, as happens with very soft foam (bottoming-out or hammock-effect). When air is extracted from a self-inflating foam core, the surface of the core will soften uniformly while maintaining its support firmness.

Abstract: A multi-purpose mat has open and folded configurations. The mat includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls disposed about a periphery of the base. A first resilient flexible slat is disposed within one of the sidewalls and a second resilient flexible slat is disposed within the remaining sidewalls. The slats provide means for reinforcing the sidewalls and also provide a spring-like effect that allows the mat to automatically rollout into the open configuration from the folded configuration. The sidewalls fold about the periphery of the base; the sidewalls moving from a position generally adjacent to the base to a position generally perpendicular to and extending generally upwardly from the base when the mat is moved from the folded configuration to the open configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a seat which can be converted into a bed wherein the back of the seat (4) can be pivoted onto the same level as the seating surface (2) by means of arms (3), said arms (3) being connected on one end to the seat frame (1) and on the other end to the back of the seat (4). Said seating surface (2) is covered with a removable upholstery fabric (15) when the furniture item is in a seating position. The upholstery fabric is joined to the front under surface of the seat frame (1) on one side and is joined on the other side to the underside of the back of the seat (4). A double positioning drill (17) is arranged underneath the upholstery fabric (15), extending exclusively along the seating surface which is preferably joined to padding, and is connected thereto on the front end of the seating surface (2). As a result, a simple way of placing the drill is obtained.

Abstract: An inclination adjusting means for the backrest of a bassinet is provided, which comprises a bedplate, a backrest, a supporting rod and a band. The bedplate and the backrest are integrally formed in one component and are connected together via plastic hinges. The supporting rod is pivotally connected to the bedplate with a centrally-protruding portion passing through the sliding slot of the backrest. The band is tied in the middle of the centrally-protruding portion of the supporting rod and the free end of the band is suspended and drooped out of the backrest so that a user can easily draw out the band from the rear of the backrest. When a user intends to raise the backrest, he/she can lift the backrest with his finger passing through a semicircular hole provided on the rear portion of the backrest so that the protruding portion of the supporting rod 3 can slide to the lowest point along a slopping slot.

Abstract: A sealing device for a shaft (2) or rod which is movably disposed in a guide arranged between a high-pressure space (10) and a low-pressure area (11) of a pressure-resistant housing (1) bounding the high-pressure space (10), and which is surrounded by a sealing ring (3), is further developed such that the sealing ring (3) is partially deformed by means of a deformable pressure ring (4) supported under pressure at the outer circumference and circumferentially rests against the shaft (2) or the rod or almost rests against the shaft (2) or the rod.

Abstract: An articulated bed convertible to a chair position is described. The bed comprises a mattress formed by a backrest section, a seat rest section and a leg rest section. The mattress backrest section and seat rest section are secured to a support frame. Articulating linkages are secured to the frame to articulate the sections. The support frame is elevated from a floor surface by a frame assembly having legs or casters to engage with a floor surface. The leg rest section of the mattress is secured to a retractable support frame. The mattress has at least a compressible section formed of compressible material. Compressible interconnecting members compress the compressible material to shorten the length of the compressible section. The compressible material is restrained as it is compressed and decompressed when the support frames are displaced from a horizontal position to an articulated chair position.

Abstract: An alternating pressure support surface for use by patients requiring bed rest. The air pressure control system used by the alternating pressure surface dynamically controls air pressure in multiple inflatable compartments and further controls the cross over pressure as sets of inflatable compartments are simultaneously being inflated and deflated. A pressure transducer provides feedback which is used to dynamically adjust the output pressure produced by a pump to prevent over inflation or under inflation and ensure that cross over air pressure is properly maintained to prevent under inflation which results in bottoming out.

Abstract: A multi-layered, composite, inflatable and deflatable article of manufacture is provided. The article includes at least two layers of a flexible, waterproof, air impermeable, optionally water-vapor-permeable material, the two layers forming at least one inflatable compartment therebetween. The two layers have at least one additional layer of a porous insulating material, e.g., batting, disposed between them within the compartment. The layers are all adhesively bonded together about the periphery of the compartment and, optionally, at discrete locations within the periphery of the compartment. The porous insulating layer is otherwise unattached to either of the waterproof layers, and preferably is not otherwise attached to either. The compartment has at least one sealable opening therein through which air may be injected into or removed from the compartment, as desired, to thereby inflate or deflate the compartment to a desired volume and to thereby control its insulative value.

Abstract: A retaining wall system for stabilizing an earthen wall comprising a plurality of face panels, a plurality of anchor mesh panels, and a plurality of connecting pins. The face panels each comprise first and second connecting portions and a wall portion. Each connecting portion comprises an upper surface and a bottom surface and defines a void system. The wall portion defines a face surface and a retaining surface. The face panels are stacked in a plurality of vertically spaced rows. The first vertically spaced row is arranged above the second vertically spaced row. A wall face is defined by the face surfaces of the wall portions and openings formed between vertically spaced wall portions and between horizontally spaced connecting portions. A portion of the anchor mesh panels is inserted into the void system. The connecting pins are inserted into the void system to secure the portion of the anchor mesh panel to the face panels. The earthen wall is accessible through the openings in the wall face.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to diminish the material's creep problem found in inflatable bladders. This is accomplished by positioning an anti-creep zone within a bladder. The anti-creep zone is separated from the remainder of the bladder by a fluid barrier. The fluid barrier can have various embodiments that prevent and/or allow predetermined amounts of fluid into the anti-creep zone.

Abstract: An elastic cushion has a cover and an elastic body received inside the cover. The elastic body is made of multiple elastic folded tubes and has multiple gaps inside. Because the gaps are formed inside the elastic body, air can easily pass through the elastic cushion, and the elastic cushion can provide a non-sticky sitting feeling to a user.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drag-type drill bit comprises a cutter body having a generally cylindrical base section adapted for snug-fitting engagement in a socket of a drill bit body. The cutter body is secured to the bit body by brazing or other conventional attachment techniques. The cutter body further has a generally cylindrical cutting section integral with the base section. The cutting section has at least one inclined surface extending from a top surface of the cutting section partially along the length of the generally cylindrical cutting section. The cutter body may comprise a sintered tungsten carbide and the top surface may comprise a layer of super hard material.

Abstract: An hydraulic control arrangement (66) in association with a pipe relining machine Includes fluid pressure supply and return lines (32, 33), a motor controller (80) to control a motor (67) and a radial position controller. The radial position controller supplies fluid under pressure to a radial positioning arrangement (46) to set diameter of a relined pipe. The radial position controller has a first normally closed valve (83) supplying fluid under pressure to the radial positioning arrangement (46) and a second normally open valve (84) allowing fluid to be withdrawn from the radial positioning arrangement (46). The arrangement (66) allows the pipe relining machine to be withdrawn in the event of a failure.

Abstract: A stick with shock-absorber including: an elongated member associated with a movable member with the interposition of a shock-absorbing member; a means for activating and deactivating the shock-absorbing member and adapted to determine a first shock-absorbing condition and a second condition in which shock-absorbing is disabled. The movable member includes a grip body which is adapted to be gripped by a user, and the shock-absorbing member and the activation and deactivation means are arranged substantially at the grip body.

Abstract: A seal for a hydraulic cylinder rod is provided. The seal includes a main body that defines an opening therein. The seal includes an inner surface and an outer surface. A first radial face having a generally planar surface extends from the inner surface to the outer surface. A second radial face having a groove disposed therein also extends from the inner surface to the outer surface. The groove defines an inner lip adjacent the inner surface and an outer lip adjacent the outer surface. The seal also includes a relief feature in the outer surface of the main body. The relief feature extends from the first radial face towards the second radial face.

Abstract: A gasket for sealing between a wall and a gasket support surface, such as between an oven housing and an oven door. The gasket includes a clip, the clip typically being made from a single strand of wire. The wire is bent into a head and a base, the base for engaging the gasket and head dimensioned for engagement with a wall for a support surface.