Abstract: A swing flap (10) for the entry and exit of pets comprising a frame (11), which can be fixed to an opening (12) made in a door or a wall, equipped at the top with hinged means of constraint for a flap (20), and a first function selector (30), designed to control the opening and closing functions of the swing flap (10), this selector comprising a knob (29) integral with a first pair of elements (31, 32) being shaped in such a way to allow, respectively: the opening of the flap (20) in a first direction; the opening of the flap (20) in a second direction, opposite to the first direction; the opening of the flap (20) in both directions; blocking of the opening of the flap (20). The first selector (30) is kinematically connected to a second selector (36), not equipped with a knob but with a second pair of elements (31?, 32?) which control the opening and closing of the flap (20) depending on how the knob (29) is turned.

Abstract: A door for a telepresence display booth having improved acoustics comprises a projection screen frame and a projection screen. The projection screen is coupled to the projection screen frame and comprises a trapezoidal surface. A viewing surface of the projection screen is oriented such that a normal vector for the viewing surface comprises horizontal and vertical components. An accessible telepresence display booth having improved acoustics comprises a surround screen and a door assembly for accessing the display booth. The surround screen provides a viewing surface for rear projecting an immersion scene to a user. The surround screen is configured such that a normal vector for the surround screen comprises horizontal and vertical components. The door assembly is coupled to the surround screen and provides access to the display booth through a portion of the surround screen.

Abstract: A support member for roof scaffolding having a base plate that is designed to be secured to a roof deck. The base plate is operably connected to a hinged plate that carries on it a sleeve that is used to engage scaffolding. Because of the way the hinged plate is mounted onto the base plate, a wedged end plate is formed to allow the base plate to easily slip underneath a shingle on a roof. Furthermore, because of the hinged plate the scaffolding is able to be maintained at a right angle to the ground.

Abstract: A rotator, which is driven by an endless cord member to rotate, is used in a window blind for driving a roller of the window blind. The rotator includes a base having a shaft, a first clamping plate and a second clamping plate rotatably serially mounted on the shaft of the base for clamping the cord member therebetween, and an elastic biasing device provided between the base and one of the first and second clamping plates for urging the first and second clamping plates against each other.

Abstract: Locking balance shoes and balance systems to be incorporated in pivotable double hung windows include, in one embodiment, a pair of retractable tabs that partially extend through openings within an inverted window balance. In one embodiment of the method of installing such a system, an elongated end of the balance shoe is inserted into a window jamb and then rotated into position.

Abstract: An energy absorber comprises a housing (1), a store (15) of plastically deformable material (8) mounted in the housing and having an endstop (27), an attachment (3) for attaching the energy absorber to a structure, another attachment (10) for attaching the plastically deformable material (8) to a structure, and the housing mounting a pair of spaced pins (5, 6) around which the deformable material (8) from a coil is plastically deformed in different directions in a sequential manner to absorb energy. A pair of pins (7, 33) or a guide element (51) and a pin (33) are contacted by the endstop (27) to limit the plastic deformation.

Abstract: An evacuation system for high-rise buildings includes an evacuation tube that extends vertically from an entrance on an upper floor to ground level, and a carrier that descends freely through the tube to swiftly carry a person from the upper floor to the ground. A storage tube holds multiple carriers near the entrance to the evacuation tube. The evacuation tube is configured to control the rate of descent of the carrier via established radial clearances and resulting progressively increasing pneumatic pressured-air damping under the carrier, to achieve an initial rapid descent, then a slower descent as the carrier approaches ground lever. Exiting the evacuation tube in the carrier is controlled through large sequenced valves that establish an airlock between the inside of the tube and the outside environment.

Abstract: A retractable window covering for arched or palladian style windows. The covering has a pair of shade members that can be remotely operated by an activator such as a pull cord for opening and closing the shades. The shade members are suspended from a carriage that is movable within an arched track. The shade members can be drawn along the track in opposite directions independently from a horizontal retracted position to an expanded position such that the shade members meet at the apex of the arched window. The present invention includes an embodiment that includes a shield to cover a portion of the drive assembly resting on the window sill or other horizontal surface.

Abstract: A fabric blind slat for a window blind includes a base fabric made from an opaque knitted fabric, two coil units respectively coupled to and extended along two opposite edges of the base fabric, and two supporting sleeves respectively enclosed inside the two coil units. The coil unit is knitted from a thread looped on a thread at the edge of the basic fabric. The supporting sleeve is a tubular member having two open ends for insertion of a rigid supporting member therein. The supporting sleeve is enclosed inside the coil unit at the time while the coil unit is formed by knitting.

Abstract: A work piece support assembly having a primary section and two wing sections that can be arranged in a variety of modular configurations. The sections are hinged to collapse, stack and mount into a compact package for storage or transport. A portion of one set of collapsed legs project to provide a handhold for transport. Bi-axial leg hinge brackets secure the legs to primary and wing rail members. The legs fold between parallel and splayed, ?-shaped alignments relative to each other along a first axis. The legs independently fold along a second axis between orthogonal and parallel alignments to the adjoining rail member. Retainers at the primary leg brackets interlock and contain the wing sections. Fittings at the wing and primary support rail members interlock to provide different geometric support configurations that accommodate tool movement without the necessity of re-orienting a work piece or the primary or wing support sections.

Abstract: A portable tether anchor/ladder roof anchor assembly for attaching to and securing a ladder to the roof ridge of a building and providing a tether anchor for fall protection. One embodiment consists of an assembly attached to the rungs of a ladder to allow a ladder to be rolled up onto a roof, turned over and secured in position over the roof ridge to be used as a tether anchor and a ladder roof anchor.

Abstract: A method and a system for emergency evacuation of building occupants and to a method for modernization of an existing building with the evacuation system. The system is used in a multi-story building having a plurality of floors and with at least one elevator positionable at selected landings of the floors. A first device is provided for measuring the number of persons in the building and a second device is provided for detecting an emergency condition in the building. At least one control unit is provided for determining or for estimating a number of building occupants in the building. The control unit defines at least one evacuation zone in the building during the emergency condition. Based on this information, the control unit defines at least one designated floor in the building during the emergency condition. Then the system evacuates the building occupants with the elevator car and/or a stairway from the evacuation zone to the designated floor.

Abstract: A reeling unit for a blind has a base (30) and a roller (40). The base (30) has a bottom plate (31), two side brackets (34, 35), and a string hole (33) defined in the bottom plate (31). The roller (40) has two ends (44, 43) pivotally mounted on the two side brackets (34, 35) of the base (30) and has a tapered body (41) wound with a string (50). By sliding on the tapered body (41), the string (50) is automatically and orderly arranged on the roller (40) to avoid tangles and overlaps of the string (50). Additionally, because each reeling unit (20) individually collects a single string (50), even multiple reeling units (20) mounted on a window accessory will not interfere with each other so that tangling problem of the string (50) between elements of the window accessory is avoided.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment safety harness includes two straps operatively connected to a D-ring, which is operatively connected to a biasing mechanism urging the D-ring to an upright position. The safety harness may also include an impact indicator for providing indication when the D-ring has been subjected to a force and a wear pad for reducing wear on the straps of the safety harness.

Abstract: An automated shutter control for a shutter having a plurality of slats which are pivoted in unison, the automated shutter control comprises a motor, a slat interface having a body portion and a connector portion, the connector portion having a contour configured to register with and connect to at least a portion of an end of one of the slats of the shutter, and a moving assembly moved by the motor and connectable to the slat interface so as to move the slat interface between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A triple slide assembly for a three panel door system that mounts on a two track header and allows the panels to slide easily and sequentially with an interlocking function that provides a means to align the panels. The outer rails or panels each have an inward facing track to support rollers mounted to the middle rail or panel in an alternating configuration. The track and roller assembly interlocks the three panels and has stops, positioned in the ends of the inward facing tracks, keep the panels interlocked. The inward facing tracks and middle rail or panel remain aligned with the header when the outer panels are adjusted to align with adjacent door jambs to provide a smooth sliding operation. The triple slide assembly can be used for a six-door, center opening enclosure and for a five panel sliding assembly mounted on a three track header.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clamp unit for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) solid wood flooring having a first clamp, a second clamp and two spring clips. The first clamp includes a first protrusion, a T-shape protrusion disposed at the junction of two adjacent solid wood panels, and a tongue formed on the inner side of the first clamp and extended along a first clamp groove. The second clamp includes a second protrusion, a groove formed at the inner side of the second clamp and matching the tongue of the first clamp for engaging into each other, and a second clamp groove formed inside of the second clamp. The spring clips each include an opening mouth that fits tightly into the first and second grooves so that the first and second clamp are merged into one clamp unit. This allows the gap between the solid wood panels to automatically adjust and is suitable for irregular floor configurations.

Abstract: A portable sawhorse which comprises first and second beam sections which are pivotally connected together to form a storage housing, first and second leg assemblies at respective distal ends of said first and second beam sections, said first and second leg assemblies being pivotally connected so as to be storable within said beam sections, and reinforcing members extending between first and second leg assemblies to stabilize the same when in an opened condition.

Abstract: Interconnectable panels having tongue-and-groove connections are mechanically connected to each other by first moving two panels into an intermediate position and then pivoting one panel with respect to the other. The underside of the tongue of one panel has a depression, while the groove of another panel has a protruding lower lip. The lower lip has a projection that fits in the depression when the two panels are in the intermediate position.

Abstract: A crane mechanism for raising a hunting blind or similar large object up along the side of a tree trunk, the crane using the vertical tree trunk as its support tower. The crane is generally L-shaped in use, having a vertical trunk-securing arm adapted to be temporarily secured directly against the side of the tree trunk above the installation height of the object to be raised, a perpendicular boom extending away from the tree trunk, and a hoist mechanism on the boom spaced from the tree trunk. A separable hoist drive can be used, for example mounted to the base of the tree trunk in the same manner as the vertical trunk-securing arm.