Abstract: A rollator for mobility assistance to a user is provided. The rollator includes a chassis foldable in a compacted configuration, wheels rotatably mounted to the chassis, wheel braking assemblies engageable with the wheels, and a pair of handgrips mountable to the chassis and operatively connected to the chassis. Both handgrips have to be configured in a handgrip displacement configuration to configure the wheel braking assemblies into a displacement configuration of the wheels and wherein both wheel braking assemblies are simultaneously in the displacement configuration. The rollator can include a seat assembly which can be configured in a raised configuration and a seated configuration. In the seated configuration, a pressure equal to or greater than a seat pressure threshold has to be applied on the seat for the wheel braking assemblies to be configured in the displacement configuration.

Abstract: A wheelchair grip ring, its components, and a corresponding method for making a wheelchair grip ring are described herein. The grip ring can be mounted to, and removed from, one or more of the wheels of a wheelchair. The grip ring has a substantially rigid central ring, a polymer cover which is integral with the central ring and which covers some, or all, of the central ring. The grip ring can also have one or more mounting devices which connect either the polymer cover or the central ring to the wheel of the wheelchair. The method involves placing the central ring into a mold, and adding a polymer material into the mold. The mold can thus produce a central ring having a polymer cover which is integral with the central ring, and which covers some, or all, of the central ring.

Abstract: A wheelchair grip ring, its components, and a corresponding method for making a wheelchair grip ring are described herein. The grip ring can be mounted to, and removed from, one or more of the wheels of a wheelchair. The grip ring has a substantially rigid central ring, a polymer cover which is integral with the central ring and which covers some, or all, of the central ring. The grip ring can also have one or more mounting devices which connect either the polymer cover or the central ring to the wheel of the wheelchair. The method involves placing the central ring into a mold, and adding a polymer material into the mold. The mold can thus produce a central ring having a polymer cover which is integral with the central ring, and which covers some, or all, of the central ring.

Abstract: A foldable shelving unit, its components, and a method for deploying and compacting same are described herein. The shelving unit includes first and second supports which are typically panels, and which help to support against the loads generated by the objects being stored. The shelving unit also includes shelf(ves) which has(ve) one pivotally engaged end, and one free end. The shelving unit also includes connecting members (e.g. arms) which connect the shelf(ves) to the supports, and allow the shelf(ves) to pivot about the supports. The shelving unit operates between a deployed position, where the shelf(ves) extends between the supports so as to support objects, and a compacted position, where the shelf(ves) is(are) rotated so as to bring the supports close to one another, thereby compacting the shelving unit. A corresponding method for deploying and compacting such a shelving unit is also described.

Abstract: A foldable shelving unit, its components, and a method for deploying and compacting same are described herein. The shelving unit includes first and second supports which are typically panels, and which help to support against the loads generated by the objects being stored. The shelving unit also includes shelf(ves) which has(ve) one pivotally engaged end, and one free end. The shelving unit also includes connecting members (e.g. arms) which connect the shelf(ves) to the supports, and allow the shelf(ves) to pivot about the supports. The shelving unit operates between a deployed position, where the shelf(ves) extends between the supports so as to support objects, and a compacted position, where the shelf(ves) is(are) rotated so as to bring the supports close to one another, thereby compacting the shelving unit. A corresponding method for deploying and compacting such a shelving unit is also described.

Abstract: A wheelchair safety system for a wheelchair which has a seat and two main wheels, the safety system comprising a first member fixedly secured to one of the wheels and a second member movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the disengaged position being one wherein said one of said wheels is free to rotate, an activating assembly which is linked between the seat and the second member, the activating assembly being arranged such that when there is more than a predetermined weight in the seat, the second member is maintained in a disengaged position and when there is less than a predetermined weight in the seat, the second member moves to an engaged position to prevent movement of the wheelchair. The device is useful in preventing accidents when an occupant attempts to rise out of the wheelchair.

Abstract: A hot wire chemical vapor deposition apparatus for use in depositing thin films such as amorphous or epitaxial silicon upon a surface of a wafer or substrate by cracking a source or precursor gas such as silane. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber and a source of precursor gas operable to inject the precursor gas into the chamber. The HWCVD apparatus also includes a heater with a support surface exposed to the deposition chamber, and the heater is operable to heat a substrate positioned upon the support surface. The apparatus includes a catalytic decomposition assembly with a filament positioned between the heater and the precursor gas inlet for selectively passing a current through the filament to resistively heat material of the filament. The filament material may be carbide such as tantalum carbide, which may be coated on a graphite core.

Abstract: A wheelchair safety system for a wheelchair which has a seat and two main wheels, the safety system comprising a first member fixedly secured to one of the wheels and a second member movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the disengaged position being one wherein said one of said wheels is free to rotate, an activating assembly which is linked between the seat and the second member, the activating assembly being arranged such that when there is more than a predetermined weight in the seat, the second member is maintained in a disengaged position and when there is less than a predetermined weight in the seat, the second member moves to an engaged position to prevent movement of the wheelchair. The device is useful in preventing accidents when an occupant attempts to rise out of the wheelchair.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for mixing two fluids immediately following contact with each other is disclosed. The mixing apparatus includes a spring-loaded ball valve separating a first fluid from a second fluid. The ball valve closes as a result of at least spring force. The ball valve opens as a result of hydraulic pressure of one of the fluids operating against the spring force. Mixing is accomplished instantaneously by dispersing one fluid in a thin pattern around the open ball valve into a stream of the other fluid.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to brew coffee are described. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: releasing water from at least one water inlet onto ground coffee in a stationary coffee filter. The ground coffee is automatically agitated while the water is being released using an agitator that is connected to an agitator motor to aid flavor-enhancement during the brewing process by helping to assure that the coffee grounds are uniformly mixed, saturated and blended with hot water and to substantially maintain an evenness of depth of the ground coffee. The water, now containing extracted coffee chemicals, is collected in a coffee vessel.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that minimizes the effect of internal pressure upon weight-loss weighing systems. The system can include a flexible gas purge line that pressurizes the system as well as a pressure compensator that negates the adverse effects of internal pressure on weight sensing equipment during normal operation.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for mixing two fluids immediately following contact with each other is disclosed. The mixing apparatus includes a spring-loaded ball valve separating a first fluid from a second fluid. The ball valve closes as a result of at least spring force. The ball valve opens as a result of hydraulic pressure of one of the fluids operating against the spring force. Mixing is accomplished instantaneously by dispersing one fluid in a thin pattern around the open ball valve into a stream of the other fluid.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to brew coffee are described. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: releasing water from at least one water inlet onto ground coffee in a stationary coffee filter. The ground coffee is automatically agitated while the water is being released using an agitator that is connected to an agitator motor to aid flavor-enhancement during the brewing process by helping to assure that the coffee grounds are uniformly mixed, saturated and blended with hot water and to substantially maintain an evenness of depth of the ground coffee. The water, now containing extracted coffee chemicals, is collected in a coffee vessel.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner nozzle particularly adapted to clean carpets and characterized by its efficient combination of central brushing and downward and inward air flows on opposite sides and toward the central brush and also characterized by selective height setting in relation to the length of the hairs of a carpet. This vacuum cleaner nozzle includes a central body defining an air suction chamber, a rim engaging around the central body and cooperatively forming therewith a pair of downwardly extending slots laterally communicating with the central suction chamber under the nozzle, these slots extending against the laterally opposite sides of the central body, and the rim being settable relative to the latter in relation to the length of the hairs of any carpet.