Abstract: A platform for climbing and/or standing on a vehicle-mounted box by a person having a greater than average girth is provided. In one embodiment, the platform includes a tread, an arm, and a bracket. The tread has a surface area sufficiently sized so that a person of greater than average girth has room to place his feet on the tread while climbing and/or standing on a vehicle-mounted box. The arm is attached to the tread. The bracket pivotally secures the arm such that the attached tread pivots about the bracket. The bracket tightly holds the tread to provide stability during transportation in a storage position and during use in a use position. In another embodiment, the platform also includes a tube. The tube includes holes spaced apart along its length. The location of the bracket is vertically adjustable along the tube.

Abstract: A means for releasable sealing a flexible conduit is disclosed, having particular use in a conduit connecting multiple blood bags. The conduit contains within a portion of itself a flexible strip or tubular insert. This portion of the conduit is positively closed by folding it back on itself and the closed portion is maintained by a clamping or restraining member. Upon release of the clamping member following a heat sterilization procedure, the conduit is readily opened for fluid flow therethrough. The conduit, which without the insert would normally be fused together as a consequence of the heat sterilization, is open by virtue of the insert being made of a material which does not fuse together under these conditions.