Abstract: A rotationally and translationally pivotable balancing structure is disclosed, which may comprise a variety of functional elements, such as beverage container holders, lamps, racks, dispensers, and the like. The balancing structure comprises an elongate member on portions of which are mounted a functional element and a counter-weight, in spaced relationship to one another. Associated with the balancing member is a pivot structure comprising (i) an omnidirectional fulcrum having a base structure reposable on a support surface, such as a table-top or arm chair top surface, for areal contact therewith, and (ii) a support arm joined to the elongate member and mounted on the omnidirectional fulcrum, to permit rotational and translational pivotable movement of the elongate member relative to the support surface on which the omnidirectional fulcrum is disposed.

Abstract: Nuclear density gauges of the type having a gamma source which is positionable at several different source depth positions with respect to a detector are calibrated in an efficient and advantageous manner by a calibration procedure which reduces the number of experimental counts which must be taken. In accordance with the present invention, a single calibration block is employed and counts are taken at one or more source depth positions on the block. Through the use of historically derived relationships between the count rate obtained from the calibration block to the count rates obtained from at least two different calibration blocks of other known densities, the expected calibration counting rates for the other blocks can be obtained. These calculated counting rates are then used along with the experimentally determined counting rate to obtain the calibration constants for the gauge.