Abstract: An integrated, foldable shelter for protecting a worker engaged in installing fiber optic connections on the exterior of a house or other structure comprising two foldable sides that are joined directly to one another at one point of a triangular-shaped roof of the shelter at one end to form an inverted “V” shape cross-section and the sides being indirectly joined at opposite corners of the roof at the other end of the shelter to form a generally trapezoidal (e.g., rectangular) cross-section at that end. The end with the trapezoidal cross-section has a retractable, i.e., rollup, door that can be opened when placed against the wall of the structure adjacent the working area, thereby enabling the worker to access the working area on the exterior wall of the structure while providing protection against the elements.

Abstract: A foldable hoist, fall-arrest and recovery system to be used in connection with a rectangular manhole guard having vertical posts at four corners of the guard including an upper structure having four elongated support members forming a pyramid shaped structure with the base of each of the support members being securely mounted to the top of a post on the manhole guard and the other ends of the support members being pivotally connected to an apex so that the upper structure can be folded for storage and shipment when disconnected from the base and means connected at the apex for raising and lowering workers and/or cargo into and out of the manhole or for arresting the fall or recovering a worker.

Abstract: A confined space entry device has modularized components which allow the device to be readily reconfigured. In particular, the extension arm of the device is removably secured to one leg of an elbow, while a post or mast is removably secured to the other end of the elbow. The other end of the mast is removably secured to a base which supports the confined space entry device. In one version of the invention, the device includes tubular members made of a polymer composite material. In another version of the invention, the elbow is asymmetric about a central axis and is formed of cast aluminum. The device can include sets of different-length elongated members which can be interchanged with elongated members secured within the device. In yet another version of the invention, the device incorporates a safety line connected to a lower end of the davit assembly or member and extending to an upper end of the davit assembly or member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stable tent or shelter, particularly an open sided shelter, such as a hospitality test, comprising a roof and supporting legs. The roof has at least one frame for supporting a covering, the frame being provided with at least one hub and with stiff struts, the struts being hingably connected to the hub, in a plane perpendicular to the hub, and being hingable relative to the hub beyond a dead-center position, the struts being connected at their free ends with the perimeter of the covering. The shelter is characterized by a tensioning cord, for applying force to the free end of the struts in a direction perpendicular to the length of the strut and toward the center-line passing through the hub and for simultaneously connecting the free end of the roof strut, a leg associated with the strut and a roof skirt extending between adjacent struts, all of which cooperate to stabilize the shelter.

Abstract: A tenting structure with two angularly related sidewalls forming a roof and having at least one collapsible frame for externally supporting each of the sidewalls and where the frame includes a hub radially carrying a plurality of flexible struts whose distal ends are secured in external pockets positioned around the edges of each of the sidewalls and where the frame is sized and dimensioned in respect to the sidewalls that the frame members take on a compression induced dish shaped outward bow. The hub includes a plurality of pivotal strut mounting sockets which rotate about their pivotal axis to a discrete splayed position and to a definitive stowed position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a portable ventilating apparatus particularly well suited for use in purging underground installations characterized by a collar having a deflector atop thereof mountable within an entryway on the surface leading below ground, a duct hanging from the underside of the collar extendable well down into the area to be ventilated in spaced relation to the entryway so as to leave an annular exhaust passage therebetween, a tapered nozzle supported within the mouth of the collar cooperating with the deflector to define an annular air intake passage, and a blower mounted within the nozzle for directing a stream of air down the duct, said blower and nozzle cooperating to inspirate clean air into the duct through the air intake passage and using it to force any foul air out through the exhaust opening across the deflector which disperses it and thus prevents the latter from being returned underground.

Abstract: This invention relates to a heat-resistant air-distributing sheath foldable into encircling relation about a section of damaged cable or the like encased in a heat-shrinkable sleeve, said sheath being characterized by a tangentially-directed tubular inlet connectable to a source of forced hot air, cooperating pairs of arcuate rigid ribs housed within circumferential pockets adjacent opposite ends of said sheath movable from an open cable-receiving position into a closed cable-encircling one, means depending from said sheath for tying or otherwise hanging same from an overhead support, flexible tubular cuffs at opposite ends equipped with drawstrings for regulating the size of the openings through which the air exits the sheath, and a deflector at the point where the air enters the sheath effective to direct the airflow in a helical path towards the opposite open ends thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a skid-mounted portable heater blower unit for use on the surface to supply high temperature hot air to subsurface installations for the purpose of shrinking heat shrinkable sleeves around splices or other repairs made in underground cable, such heater being characterized by a serially-ducted preheater which draws ambient air in from the outside and warms it by passing it through the ducts back and forth four times in heat exchange relation to the hot products of combustion exiting the unit along the outside of an internal combination combustion chamber and final stage heat exchanger. The preheated air from the final pass through the preheater enters the secondary stage heat exchanger and follows a helical path around the outside of the combustion chamber while flowing in concurrent relation to the flame inside thereof and countercurrently to the products of combustion exiting around the outside.