Abstract: A shoe horn attachment (8) for a shoe has guiding means (2, 2a) for guiding the heel of a user's foot as the user inserts the foot into the shoe. At least one fastener (13, 15) is provided for securing the attachment to the shoe. A user can press on the upper back edge (2b) of the attachment when taking the shoe off, and this makes it easier to take the shoe off. A person who becomes disabled or who otherwise has difficulty in bending down to put on and take off their shoes may fit their shoes with shoe horn attachments of the invention.

Abstract: A shoe horn attachment (8) for a shoe has guiding means (2, 2a) for guiding the heel of a user's foot as the user inserts the foot into the shoe. At least one fastener (13, 15) is provided for securing the attachment to the shoe.

Abstract: A sea wall able to diffuse sheets of wind borne water being blown over the sea wall by a strong wind. The sea wall has a vertically extending barrier, preferably topped by a cap, and wind diverting member mounted above the uppermost surface of the barrier, or cap, if the cap is provided and is disposed above the barrier. The wind diverting member has curved internal air passages gathering air from the water side of the sea wall and discharging air upwardly. The air passages optionally accelerate gathered air by causing the air outlets to be of smaller cross sectional area than that of the air inlets. The sea wall includes drains for disposing of water gathering on the sea wall and the wind diverting member.

Abstract: The invention features a multiple compartment drainage conduit with a plurality of diverter pipes connected thereto. The conduit is generally triangular in shape making leveling and burying less labor intensive, and resulting in less settling of fill material. The attached plurality of diverter pipes discharge a portion of the conduits' flow during periods of heavy rainfall or flooding, preventing a backup at the conduit inlet. The multiple compartment conduit includes a plurality of knock out plugs for the connection of diverter pipes at desired locations. Snap connections at opposite ends of the conduit are provided so that plural conduits can be interconnected.

Abstract: An auxiliary stake or stabilizer for reinforcing a rod turned into the ground and placed under tension from a guy wire. The stabilizer has a flattened body characterized by a partially circular groove extending longitudinally along the body. The groove engages the rod and prevents the stabilizer from being displaced from parallel orientation to the rod while the stabilizer is being driven into the ground. The groove is preferably partially circular, for cooperating with rods having circular cross section. The stabilizer has a broadened head for receiving impacts and driving forces, and a tapered distal end for readily penetrating the ground. A preferred material is recycled plastic, which is substantially impervious to natural deterioration.

Abstract: A sea wall able to diffuse sheets of wind borne water being blown over the sea wall by a strong wind. The sea wall has a vertically extending barrier, preferably topped by a cap, and wind diverting member mounted above the uppermost surface of the barrier, or cap, if the cap is provided and is disposed above the barrier. The wind diverting member has curved internal air passages gathering air from the water side of the sea wall and discharging air upwardly. The air passages optionally accelerate gathered air by causing the air outlets to be of smaller cross sectional area than that of the air inlets. The sea wall includes drains for disposing of water gathering on the sea wall and the wind diverting member.

Abstract: A method of repairing asphalt or concrete surfaces such as roads and parking lots which have developed pot holes therein. The hole is cleaned of loose debris, lined with a water barrier sheet, provided with a reinforcing mesh, and filled with hot asphalt mix. The asphalt mix is compacted by a roller which has been chilled by exposure to a cryogenic substance, such as liquid nitrogen. Alternatively, the cryogenic substance directly contacts the asphalt mix. Preferably, the reinforcing mesh is further reinforced by flattened rods woven through the mesh or alternatively, laid thereon, with the rods oriented at angles of approximately forty-five degrees to linear structural members of the mesh. The water barrier, reinforcing mesh, and reinforcing rods are preferably formed from recycled plastic materials.

Abstract: A construction for and method of building a tie-down type ground anchor for securing a structure to supporting ground. A cylindrical block formed from recycled plastic waste has a longitudinal bore and receives a tether through the bore. The tether is knotted at one end. The tether is pulled through the block until the knot lodges thereagainst, thus preventing the tether from being pulled free of the block from the unknotted end. The block is lowered into a hole dug beneath the structure being secured. The block is disposed with the free end of the tether facing away from the structure. The free end of the tether is then tied to the structure after being adequately tightened. The hole is then filled.

Abstract: A two part, weight bearing shim adjustable in height. The shim comprises two generally triangular or wedge shaped members. A base member has a flat bottom surface and a stepped upper surface. A smaller member is placed in inverted relationship on the base member. The smaller member has a stepped lower surface cooperating with the stepped upper surface of the base member. The upper surface of the smaller member is parallel to the bottom surface of the base member after assembly. The base and smaller members are mutually keyed to prevent improper interfit during assembly. The base member has vertical voids or bores formed in its body. This construction promotes ability of the bottom surface to engage a rough or irregular environmental surface, and minimizes the amount of constituent material required for fabrication. Recycled plastic is a preferred constituent material.

Abstract: A support structure for an operational telecommunications network deploys a set of individual technologies and provides a set of services to customers. The support structure is divided into a set of domains each of which provides a particular management function for the network. These domains include a domain for managing customer handling functions, a domain for managing the network, a domain for managing the individual technologies deployed in the network, a domain for managing instances of the individual services provided by the network, a domain for managing billing operations, a domain for managing the services provided by the network when grouped together to form a portfolio, and a domain for managing jobs performed by the human workforce for the network. Each domain has its own set of databases and systems for performing the required management operations and also interfaces to some of the other domains. Each domain is implemented by one or more tightly integrated computers.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for repairing pavement quickly, durably, and at low cost which may employ the use of recycled plastic material. The method includes the steps of: lining the hole to be repaired with a cross-laminated plastic vapor barrier, placing a plastic mesh and one or more plastic pencil rods in the hole, optionally supporting the pencil rods with plastic pencil rod supports, and filling the hole with patch material such as asphalt or concrete. The method is useful in the repair or repaving of pot holes, utility crossings and channels, sink holes, wash out damage, edge collapse, intersection grid repair, and similar conditions.

Abstract: Automatic frequency control (afc) particularly for single sideband (SSB) receiving systems.In a SSB receiving system, fine tuning is carried out using an afc loop. In one embodiment the loop includes a frequency discriminator for measuring the frequency of a composite i.f. signal (pilot carrier and modulating signal) and producing a waveform having an amplitude corresponding to the measured frequency. The amplitude waveform comprises the pilot carrier interspersed by the modulating signal. The frequency of the pilot carrier is measured using a peak detecting circuit and this measurement is used to automatically fine tune the receiver.