Abstract: A cavity former (10) for forming one or more cavities in a concrete slab, includes a hollow body about which, during use of the former, poured concrete flows and subsequently cures to form a concrete slab in which the hollow body defines a cavity. A plurality of flanges (20, 21) projects from at least two sides of the body to define floors for respective channels adjacent the sides of the body. A plurality of supports (50, 51, 52 and 53) is integrated with and outstanding from the hollow body and/or flanges to support reinforcement mesh above the body and elongated slab reinforcement in the channels. Respective co-operable formations are disposed on the flanges and respective further sides of the body whereby respective pairs of the cavity formers may be located and relatively positioned together by the formations with one cavity former resting on a flange of the other, whereby to define the channels, which channels receive the poured concrete.

Abstract: A cavity former for forming one or more cavities in a concrete slab, includes a hollow body (20) about which, during use of the former, poured concrete flows and subsequently cures to form a concrete slab in which the hollow body defines a cavity. The hollow body (20) has a first wall (27), a depending skirt wall (22) about the periphery of the first wall, and structure (24) defining, within the periphery, at least one depending hollow pillar formation (25) for in situ bracing the first wall to an underlying surface on which the skirt wall also rests.

Abstract: A device for connecting a source of electrical power to a coating or film incorporating carbon particles, an objective met by providing a coating of a nickel compound to the coating or film of carbon particles, and applying to the nickel coating a tin-copper tape coated with a silver-loaded conductive adhesive. What results is a uniform heating effect over a relatively wide area, substantially free from hot and cold spots or areas.

Abstract: A cavity former 10 for use in forming a cavity in a concrete slab is disclosed. The cavity former comprises a support member which supports the weight of a person standing on the cavity former or of wet concrete bearing down on the array until the concrete has cured sufficiently to support itself. The array is reconfigurable between a compact state for stacking with other similarly configured arrays to facilitate transport and an expanded state to define a volume about which the wet concrete is poured. The cavity former 10 has a cover 34 which is engageable with the array to distribute the weight onto the array elements and prevent wet concrete flowing into the volume defined by the elements in the expanded state.

Abstract: The invention relates to conductive heaters, and has its objective to provide a material that exhibits a uniform heating effect over the full area of the heater, relatively free from hot and cold spots, a further objective being to maintain the heater pliable. These objectives are met by a conductive material comprising finely divided carbon particles uniformly dispersed in an elastomeric carrier there being carbon particle levels of 20% to 75% by dry weight to carrier levels. Preferably, the carrier is an elastomeric polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to steering wheel covers, of themselves known. Even covered steering wheels can be uncomfortable to touch in periods of cold weather and in predominantly cold climates. The invention seeks to remedy this, an objective met by a heatable cover comprising an elongate flexible laminated strip (1) of a length to encircle a steering wheel of a predetermined diameter, the strip having a width to encompass substantially the full periphery of the steering wheel, the laminated strip incorporating a flexible sheet (3) of electrically conductive and heatable material, and a number of spaced substantially parallel electrically conductive strips (4) on one side of the said flexible sheet and extending across the width thereof, said strips being connectable by live and return (8, 9) leads to a source of electrical power.

Abstract: A FormLogic (FL) client/server system and method to access existing enterprise data sources on an occasional basis. The system includes a FL builder program to generate a communications agent that encapsulates a communication session. The session includes one or more related tasks. The system also includes a FL server which is connected to one or more enterprise data sources. The FL server provides the ability to link hardware devices running a FL engine as a client to access existing enterprise data sources on an occasional basis. It is optimized to communicate by exchanging a minimum amount of data, since the wireless transports do not move large amounts of data quickly and data is expensive to move. Each session encompasses connecting the remote host, performing a specific task or set of tasks, then disconnecting from the host. Because the connection times must be short, the client and server need to be able to perform the required tasks without user intervention.

Abstract: A FormLogic (FL) client/server system and method to access existing enterprise data sources on an occasional basis. The system includes a FL builder program to generate a communications agent that encapsulates a communication session. The session includes one or more related tasks. The system also includes a FL server which is connected to one or more enterprise data sources. The FL server provides the ability to link hardware devices running a FL engine as a client to access existing enterprise data sources on an occasional basis. It is optimized to communicate by exchanging a minimum amount of data, since the wireless transports do not move large amounts of data quickly and data is expensive to move. Each session encompasses connecting the remote host, performing a specific task or set of tasks, then disconnecting from the host. Because the connection times must be short, the client and server need to be able to perform the required tasks without user intervention.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a valve body contains a flexible valve sleeve between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and an annular chamber around the sleeve connects with the inlet so that fluid pressure in the chamber normally compresses the sleeve to a closed position. A manually operated pilot valve reduces pressure in the chamber so that the sleeve is expanded by fluid pressure from the inlet to open the valve.In another embodiment, a valve body contains a flexible diaphragm which normally closes an inlet valve port and defines a pressure chamber isolated from a fluid outlet. A manually operated pilot valve reduces pressure in the chamber so that the diaphragm is unseated from the inlet port by fluid pressure from the inlet to open the valve.