Abstract: Methods and systems of repairing and/or extending wood piles and columns are disclosed. In these methods and systems a portion of the wood pile is removed and replaced by a preferable timber section. To strengthen the pile after addition of the new section, strips or sheets of reinforcing material is attached along the length of the new section of the pile such that the reinforcing material extends over the old part(s) of the pile and crosses over the joint or interface of the old and new parts of the pile. Subsequently a shell is provided around the new section of the pile and its attached reinforcing material and the annular space between the shell and the pile is filled with resin or similar materials.

Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for reinforcing various structures with only partially accessible circumference, such as columns closely adjacent to or protruding out of a wall or beams holding a ceiling. Some of these structures may be partly or completely submerged in water, such as retaining walls on the sides of rivers and water-ways. In some embodiments a prefabricated shell will fully or partly cover the exposed and reachable part of the structure and will be secured in place by various means. The shell may hug the structure tightly or loosely and the space between the shell and the structure may be filled with such curable materials as glue, epoxy, grout, concrete and the like. In various embodiments additional reinforcement such as rebar may be placed in the space between the shell and the structure.

Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for externally reinforcing various solid structures, such as columns, poles, piles, beams, pipes and the like, constructed from various materials. Multiple sheets laminated together with resin and grout constitutes a structure reinforcement wrap (SRW) for the formation of an external reinforcement shell. The multiple layers include a spacer sheet, a reinforcement sheet, such as Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) saturated with resin. The spacer sheet creates a small, substantially planar space between the spacer sheet and the solid structure, which space may be filled with concrete, grout, epoxy, or other similar reinforcing material. In various embodiments, a surface groove is created in the solid structure and a reinforcing bar (rebar) is embedded in the groove to further structurally bond the solid structure to the reinforcing material poured in the planar space created by the spacer sheet.

Abstract: Method and article of manufacture are disclosed for onsite-manufacturing of any length, any shape, size, and any thickness pipe. Sheets of fabrics saturated with resin may be wrapped around desired shape mandrels, cured, and removed to form such pipes onsite. Cured laminated sheets of resin-saturated fabrics may be wrapped around to also form onsite manufactured pipes. Disclosed pipes eliminate almost all weaknesses of plastic, metal and concrete pipes and noticeably reduce costs of transportation as well as manufacturing. One of the advantages of the disclosed pipes is that they have few joints, limiting the leakage and other problems associated with joints in ordinary pipes.

Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for externally reinforcing various solid structures, such as columns, poles, piles, beams, pipes and the like, constructed from various materials. Pre-preg and pre-cured reinforcement sheets with high tensile strength fabric core and with desired rigidity and elasticity are wrapped around structural elements, forming an external reinforcement shell with a space between the structural element and the shell, where the space will be filled with materials such as concrete, grout, epoxy, or other similar reinforcing material. In various embodiments, a surface groove is created in the solid structure and a reinforcing bar (rebar) is embedded in the groove to further structurally bond the solid structure to the reinforcing material poured in the space created between the structural element and the shell.

Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for externally reinforcing various solid structures, such as columns, poles, piles, beams, pipes and the like, constructed from various materials. Multiple sheets laminated together with resin and grout constitutes a structure reinforcement wrap (SRW) for the formation of an external reinforcement shell. The multiple layers include a spacer sheet, a reinforcement sheet, such as Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) saturated with resin. The spacer sheet creates a small, substantially planar space between the spacer sheet and the solid structure, which space may be filled with concrete, grout, epoxy, or other similar reinforcing material. In various embodiments, a surface groove is created in the solid structure and a reinforcing bar (rebar) is embedded in the groove to further structurally bond the solid structure to the reinforcing material poured in the planar space created by the spacer sheet.

Abstract: A method of strengthening a roof is disclosed. Preferably, the roof is first cleaned of at least some of any existing roofing materials to expose at least a portion of a roof deck, which is also preferably cleaned. A layer of high viscosity resin may then be rolled or brushed onto the roof deck. Once the roof has been adequately prepared, a plurality of strips of composite material may be provided and saturated with a low-viscosity saturating resin. Each such saturated strip is preferably long enough to fit along an entire first side of the roof, the first such strip hanging partially over the first side of the roof. Each end of the first strip also overhangs the roof. A second saturated strip is then placed generally parallel to and overlapping the first strip. The ends of this second strip likewise overhang two sides of the roof.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for repairing or strengthening a damaged portion of a pipe. A patch of required dimensions is prepared from a composite laminate having a fabric layer with a plurality of fibers embedded into a cured resin. The pipe is then prepared to receive the patch and the epoxy resin is applied to an outside surface of the patch. The patch is then coiled and secured around a mandrel and transported thereby to the damaged portion of the pipe through an open end thereof, such that during transport through the pipe the patch does not contact the inside surface of the pipe. A bladder inside the coiled patch is pressurized to force the unrolling of the patch to contact the inside surface of the patch. The pressure is maintained against the patch until the epoxy resin is substantially cured, whereupon the bladder is deflated and removed with the mandrel from the pipe. A method of repairing such a pipe while fluid flows therethrough, and a method of repairing a corrugated steel pipe, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A web for reinforcing the wall of a vessel or conduit, and methods of installation therein, is disclosed. The vessel or conduit is any structure that has a concave or arched inner surface. The web is comprised of an elongated composite laminate that has a fabric layer with a plurality of fibers embedded into a cured resin matrix. When cured on a curing surface, the composite laminate retains an elastic memory of the curing surface such that the composite laminate is substantially self-supporting against the inside surface of the wall due to its elastic memory. In use, a tack coat of epoxy with viscosities ranging from low to high, or gel epoxy, is applied to at least a portion of the bottom side of the laminate, which is then applied to the inside surface of the wall so as to reinforce the wall.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of selling expiring commodities to customers via a wide-area computer network such as the Internet, wireless phone networks, or the like. A computer system implements the steps of the method of the present invention, and provides for establishing in a database a commodity record representing a commodity for sale. Such a commodity record includes at least an expiration time, a price, information about the seller, and a quantity of such commodities that are available for sale. Once the database is loaded with commodities that are available for sale, customers may link to the system through the communications network to search for suitable commodities. Upon adequate search query information being submitted to the system, the database is searched for commodities that match. The system may then check all commodities in the database, or check just those commodities that match the customer's search query, to be sure such commodities have not expired.

Abstract: A method of strengthening a wall includes the steps of preparing a portion of a surface of a wall to be strengthened by cleaning the surface, providing a plurality of straps of flexible nonmetallic fiber composite material, and fixedly attaching the straps of nonmetallic fiber composite material to the wall portion along at least lengthwise portions of the straps and opposite end portions thereof by epoxy bonding the straps onto the surface. Also, the straps are impregnated with the epoxy in preparation for bonding the strap to the wall surface. Also, edge portions of the straps are fastened to an adjacent structure which supports the wall being strengthened so as to facilitate transfer of loads from the wall to the adjacent structure. Another method of strengthening a wall includes the steps of providing a mixture of randomly-oriented short fibers and liquid resin or adhesive matrix and applying the mixture to the surface of the wall.

Abstract: A glove having a wrist portion that contains a removable protective cover over a gripping means. The cover is impermeable to contamination and protects the gripping means from exposure to any infectious substance that may come into contact with the glove during use. After use, the glove is taken off by first removing the protective cover and then using the clean gripping means to pull the glove off. If at least one glove in a pair is equipped with the protective cover of the invention and both gloves comprise gripping means, both gloves can be removed without contact by unprotected fingers with contaminated portions of either glove.