Abstract: A gel construct includes a viscoelastic gel pad with migratory oils or also synthetic or triglyceride fluids, emollients, waxes, vitamins, humectants, pharmaceutical actives, and other hair or skin conditioning or treatment agents. The gel construct also includes a body, hair or skin-side layer on one major side surface of the gel pad which is permeable to the migratory agents of the gel. The gel construct optionally includes a barrier layer on the opposite major side surface of the gel pad to prevent the migratory agents of the gel from penetrating that layer. The gel construct may find use as, for example, an insole.

Abstract: An improved liner (i.e., prosthetic liner) for covering a residual limb of an amputee is provided. According to one exemplary embodiment, the liner includes a fabric liner body that is formed of at least two fabric pieces and a stretch limiting element that is incorporated into an exterior surface of the distal end of the fabric liner body for reinforcement of the liner's distal end and for limiting stresses associated with distal end elongation. For example, the stretch limiting element can be in the form of a coating of a material that has limited flexibility and is integrally adhered to the outer surface of the fabric liner body such that the material seeps into the interior of the fabric liner body and optionally into any seams.

Abstract: An improved cushioned liner (i.e., prosthetic liner) for covering a residual limb of an amputee is provided. According to one embodiment, the cushioned liner includes a sock-shaped fabric body member formed of at least two fabric pieces. One of the fabric pieces is a distal end piece that is attached to at least one other fabric piece along a circumferential edge of the distal end piece. The distal end piece is free of a transverse seam that extends across the distal end piece. The cushioned liner also includes a cushion layer disposed on at least one side of the sock-shaped fabric member. In another embodiment, a liner body having the above construction is provided and is adapted to receive cushioning material to form the cushioned liner.

Abstract: A water craft which comprises a motor propelled floating portion which has two spaced-apart hulls which are connected by an elevated bridge. The water craft further comprises a submersible cabin which is arranged to be raised and lowered with respect to the floating portion of the craft, the cabin providing accommodation for underwater observers. The cabin is connected to each hull by fore and aft pivotable arms and is movable between a first position above the waterline of the floating portion of the craft to a second, submerged, position. The cabin is accessed from the floating portion of the craft when the cabin is in the first position and, in order to provide for fail-safe operation, the cabin is ballasted for positive buoyancy when it is submerged. The cabin incorporates a tower which is dimensioned to project above the waterline at all times, including when the cabin is sumberged to the maximum extent permitted by the pivotable arms.

Abstract: In a machine which cleans or buffs a floor by rotating a cleaning or buffing pad against the floor at high speed, simplified means are disclosed for supplying a controlled amount of cleaning fluid to the floor at the center of the cleaning pad. Vacuum which is created within the pad housing by the centrifugal action of the cleaning pad draws cleaning fluid out of a reservoir and into the central region of the pad. Flow is controlled and flow rate is set by limiting atmospheric vents. There is precisely controlled flow to the center of the pad, which may be continuous or on demand, no pump or moving parts of any kind are required, and the system is self-cleaning.

Abstract: A battery powered walk behind floor burnishing unit (10). The unit includes a main frame (12) supported by wheel means (18, 20, 36), the main frame being capable of supporting a plurality of batteries (14). At least one of the wheels (18) may be driven. A burnisher subassembly (22) is mounted on the rear of the frame by a mounting assembly for movement through an from a raised inoperative position through an intermediate ready position to a lowered operative position. The burnisher subassembly includes a drive head (80) and a rotatable drive block (94), the drive block being capable of being rotated by a motor (24) mounted on the drive head. The mounting assembly includes two pairs of parallel links (126, 128) and biasing means (140, 142) which normally biases the subassembly (22) to the raised inoperative position. A vacuum apparatus includes an open cell burnishing pad (114) carried by the burnisher subassembly.