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 safety harness includes at least one of integrally formed electrical conductors or optical conductors. The conductors can be energized by a replaceable electrical supply. An electrical or an optical sensor can couple an associated signal to sensing circuitry. The sensing circuitry responds to variations in the signal as the condition of the harness changes. A fault indicating output device, such as an audible or visual indicating device, carried on the harness can alert a user to a potential harness failure. Harness condition can be transmitted wirelessly to a displaced monitoring site.

Abstract: A family of eye protectors for use with a variety of shapes and sizes of heads includes a plurality of different lenses with each lens having a selected curvature and selected height and profile parameters; and a manually adjustable nose engaging element carried on each lens. The nose engaging element can include a substantially U-shaped frame which has first and second deflectable, spaced apart members joined by a third member. A plurality of identical mounting elements can be proved wherein each mounting element holds one of said plurality of different lenses.

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 multi-level equipment configuration monitoring system can include a plurality of RFID tags associated with respective user protective elements such as respirators, eye protectors, gloves boots, helmets and hearing protectors. A user communication unit can activate the tags and determine which elements are present. The determined elements can be compared to a pre-stored, approved list of elements to establish the state of a user's complement of protective equipment. Missing equipment can be immediately identified and brought to the user's attention. Information can be collected as to duration of use of the elements as well as duration of exposure of those elements to one or more predetermined hazardous conditions to schedule maintenance and replacement.

Abstract: A safety harness includes at least one of integrally formed electrical conductors or optical conductors. The conductors can be energized by a replaceable electrical supply. An electrical or an optical sensor can couple an associated signal to sensing circuitry. The sensing circuitry responds to variations in the signal as the condition of the harness changes. A fault indicating output device, such as an audible or visual indicating device, carried on the harness can alert a user to a potential harness failure. Harness condition can be transmitted wirelessly to a displaced monitoring site.

Abstract: A family of eye protectors for use with a variety of shapes and sizes of heads includes a plurality of different lenses with each lens having a selected curvature and selected height and profile parameters; and a manually adjustable nose engaging element carried on each lens.

Abstract: A multi-level equipment configuration monitoring system can include a plurality of RFID tags associated with respective user protective elements such as respirators, eye protectors, gloves boots, helmets and hearing protectors. A user communication unit can activate the tags and determine which elements are present. The determined elements can be compared to a pre-stored, approved list of elements to establish the state of a user's complement of protective equipment. Missing equipment can be immediately identified and brought to the user's attention. Information can be collected as to duration of use of the elements as well as duration of exposure of those elements to one or more predetermined hazardous conditions to schedule maintenance and replacement.

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 length adjustment mechanism for a strap having a row of teeth. The mechanism comprises a pinion for meshing with the row of teeth and a finger operable actuator pivotable in a first direction and a second direction. The mechanism also comprises a pivoting link coupled with the pinion, the pivoting link being pivotable about a first pivot axis to impart pivotal movement to the pinion. The mechanism further comprises a rotating element coupled with the finger operable actuator and being pivotable about a second pivot axis. The rotating element engages the pivoting link in a driving relationship such that movement of the finger operable actuator is communicated to the pinion via the rotating element and the pivoting link to displace the strap. When a force is applied to the pinion for tending to pivot the pivoting link, the pivoting link and the rotating element interlock for resisting pivotal movement of the pinion.

Abstract: A length adjustment mechanism for a strap having a row of teeth. The mechanism comprises a pinion for meshing with the row of teeth and a finger operable actuator pivotable in a first direction and a second direction. The mechanism also comprises a pivoting link coupled with the pinion, the pivoting link being pivotable about a first pivot axis to impart pivotal movement to the pinion. The mechanism further comprises a rotating element coupled with the finger operable actuator and being pivotable about a second pivot axis. The rotating element engages the pivoting link in a driving relationship such that movement of the finger operable actuator is communicated to the pinion via the rotating element and the pivoting link to displace the strap. When a force is applied to the pinion for tending to pivot the pivoting link, the pivoting link and the rotating element interlock for resisting pivotal movement of the pinion.

Abstract: A multi-part oxy-fuel cutting tip has mixture outlet passages formed in the tip skirt to form grooves. The grooves then cooperate with the tip core to form the outlet passages when the skirt is placed over the tip core. Oppositely directed circumferential inlet passages for the preheat oxygen and fuel promote rapid mixing while producing a non-rotating mixture flow. In addition, the sectional areas of the outlet passages decrease in the flow direction. The tip core has an annular chamfer at its outlet end. These features promote the rapid creation of a laminar mixture flow.

Abstract: A multi-part oxy-fuel cutting tip has mixture outlet passages formed in the tip skirt to form grooves. The grooves then cooperate with the tip core to form the outlet passages when the skirt is placed over the tip core. Oppositely directed circumferential inlet passages for the preheat oxygen and fuel promote rapid mixing while producing a non-rotating mixture flow. In addition, the sectional areas of the outlet passages decrease in the flow direction. The tip core has an annular chamfer at its outlet end. These features promote the rapid creation of a laminar mixture flow.

Abstract: A multi-part oxy-fuel cutting tip has mixture outlet passages formed by swaging the tip skirt to form grooves. The grooves then cooperate with the tip core to form the outlet passages when the skirt is placed over the tip core. Oppositely directed circumferential inlet passages for the preheat oxygen and fuel promote rapid mixing while producing a non-rotating mixture flow. In addition, the sectional areas of the outlet passages decrease in the flow direction. These features promote the rapid creation of a laminar mixture flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and compositions for delaying the gelling of vinyl monomers in an aqueous medium in the presence of a polymerization initiator, by employing a polymerization inhibitor consisting of an N-nitrosophenylamine salt in combination with an aminocarboxylic acid. The composition is used for plugging circulation losses when drilling at great depth.