Abstract: Woven structures must be made of materials that are sufficiently flexible that they can be woven together. This often results in a finished structure that is also flexible. Thus weaving has long been considered inadequate for the production of buildings and other objects requiring high levels of stiffness. The present invention relates to increasing the stiffness of triaxial-weave woven structural manifolds. The present invention provides for a new type of triaxial weave that allows for structural members of greater diameter and stiffness that are still flexible enough to accommodate the geometry of the weave. The result is structures having approximately eight times the structural stiffness of conventional triaxial-weave woven structures.

Abstract: A unitary plastic container, which is optionally used for waste collection comprises a base, a front wall, a back wall and two opposing side walls, each wall extending upwardly from the base to define an open container top and an interior container volume. Each side wall has an outwardly extending sidewall portion which is outwardly offset relative to the rest of the container side wall. In each outwardly extending sidewall portion, an elongated cutout, indentation or channel is present. The elongated channel has a forward opening, a rearward opening and an elongated side opening extending from the forward opening to the rearward opening. The elongated channel lies within the interior container volume and divides the outwardly extending sidewall portion into two areas: an upper outwardly extending sidewall portion and a lower outwardly extending portion. The outwardly open elongate channel may be fitted with a reinforcing sleeve.

Abstract: A unitary plastic container, which is optionally used for waste collection comprises a base, a front wall, a back wall and two opposing side walls, each wall extending upwardly from the base to define an open container top and an interior container volume. Each side wall has an outwardly extending sidewall portion which is outwardly offset relative to the rest of the container side wall. In each outwardly extending sidewall portion, an elongated cutout, indentation or channel is present. The elongated channel has a forward opening, a rearward opening and an elongated side opening extending from the forward opening to the rearward opening. The elongated channel lies within the interior container volume and divides the outwardly extending sidewall portion into two areas: an upper outwardly extending sidewall portion and a lower outwardly extending portion. The outwardly open elongate channel may be fitted with a reinforcing sleeve.

Abstract: A unitary plastic container, which is optionally used for waste collection comprises a base, a front wall, a back wall and two opposing side walls, each wall extending upwardly from the base to define an open container top and an interior container volume. Each side wall has an outwardly extending sidewall portion which is outwardly offset relative to the rest of the container side wall. In each outwardly extending sidewall portion, an elongated cutout, indentation or channel is present. The elongated channel has a forward opening, a rearward opening and an elongated side opening extending from the forward opening to the rearward opening. The elongated channel lies within the interior container volume and divides the outwardly extending sidewall portion into two areas: an upper outwardly extending sidewall portion and a lower outwardly extending portion. The outwardly open elongate channel may be fitted with a reinforcing sleeve.

Abstract: An inflatable solar energy collector. The device uses two elongated and pressure-stabilized air chambers with a trough-shaped reflecting surface in between. The curvature of the reflecting surface is adjusted by adjusting the differential pressure between the two air chambers. The device can be configured to provide a focal point outside the air chambers or inside the air chambers. For the version using the external focal point an external energy receiver is appropriately positioned. For the version using the internal focal point, the receiver is mounted inside one of the air chambers.

Abstract: A unitary plastic container, which is optionally used for waste collection comprises a base, a front wall, a back wall and two opposing side walls, each wall extending upwardly from the base to define an open container top and an interior container volume. Each side wall has an outwardly extending sidewall portion which is outwardly offset relative to the rest of the container side wall. In each outwardly extending sidewall portion, an elongated cutout, indentation or channel is present. The elongated channel has a forward opening, a rearward opening and an elongated side opening extending from the forward opening to the rearward opening. The elongated channel lies within the interior container volume and divides the outwardly extending sidewall portion into two areas: an upper outwardly extending sidewall portion and a lower outwardly extending portion. The outwardly open elongate channel may be fitted with a reinforcing sleeve.

Abstract: An inflatable solar energy collector. The device uses two elongated and pressure-stabilized air chambers with a trough-shaped reflecting surface in between. The curvature of the reflecting surface is adjusted by adjusting the differential pressure between the two air chambers. The device can be configured to provide a focal point outside the air chambers or inside the air chambers. For the version using the external focal point an external energy receiver is appropriately positioned. For the version using the internal focal point, the receiver is mounted inside one of the air chambers.

Abstract: A perpetual calendar wheel chart for determining the calendar for a particular year past, present, or future is comprised of two wheel members adapted to rotate about a common center. The first wheel member has in its center indicia representing the tens and ones digits of the year and has around its circumference indicia representing the day of the month. The second wheel member atop the first wheel member is generally transparent and has in its center indicia representing the hundreds and thousands digits of the year for aligning with the ones and tens digits of the year indicia of the first member and has around its circumference twelve transparent windows representing the months of the year that align with the day of the month indicia of the first member to indicate the calendar for a particular year.

Abstract: A moon phase wheel chart for determining the phase of the moon for a particular date, past, present, or future, has three wheel members adapted to rotate about a common center. The first wheel member has in its center indicia representing the phases of the moon and has around its circumference indicia representing the century. The second wheel member has in its center a first transparent window and has around its circumference indicia representing the year for aligning with the century indicia of the first member and indicia representing the month of the year. The third wheel member has in its center a second transparent window and has around its circumference an indicator for aligning with the month indicia of the second member and indicia for representing the day of the calendar month for aligning with the moon phase indicia of the first member.

Abstract: A sunset time device for determining the time of sunrise or sunset for a particular day of the year and at a particular location on the Earth has three disk members adapted to rotate about a common center. The first disk member has in its center a map of the celestial sphere with indicia thereon showing the locations of the sunrise and sunset terminators on particular days of the year and has around its circumference indicia representing the days of the year. The second disk member has in its center a transparent window containing several colored translucent areas designed to highlight some and obscure some of the sunrise and sunset terminator indicia of the first member and has around its circumference indicia representing the hours of the day and has at a point on its circumference an indicator for aligning with the day of the year indicia of the first member.