Abstract: A bedpan assembly comprises a bedpan having a base wall and an enclosing wall extending upwardly from the base wall, the base wall and the enclosing wall defining a receiving volume, and an insert complementarily shaped with a portion of the enclosing wall and engageable with a complementarily-shaped portion of the enclosing wall in an inserted position. The insert comprises an upper wall which, when the insert is in the inserted position, overlies or overhangs the base wall. The separately-formed insert which is engageable with, and receivable in, the receiving volume of the bedpan immediately prior to use facilitates storage of the bedpans prior to use (e.g. they can be stacked together) and reduces the likelihood of spillage when the bedpan assembly is removed for disposal.

Abstract: A disposable urine bottle, having a front end for presentation to a user comprises a base wall, an enclosing wall extending upwardly from the base wall, a urine receiving volume defined by the base wall and the enclosing wall, and an aperture located above the base wall and which is upwardly and forwardly concave when viewed from the side. The lowermost portion of the aperture is also parallel to the base wall. The enclosing wall has a portion which overhangs the base wall at the front end of the bottle. The aperture is elongate in plan view and the enclosing wall extends outwardly from the sides and front end of the aperture. The maximum width of the aperture is at least half the maximum width of the base wall, and the enclosing wall is formed into a handle portion at one end of the bottle.

Abstract: A container, in particular a urine bottle formed from maceratable sheet material comprises an enclosing wall and an aperture. The container is expandable from a first, collapsed configuration into a second, expanded configuration. The sheet material has a plurality of fold lines which define one or more recesses in the enclosing wall of the container in the expanded configuration. In the collapsed condition, the container comprises a lower sheet and an upper sheet lying below a sheet, the upper and lower sheets being sealed together along their lateral edges and along a first, end edge between a first, lower end of the lateral edges. The lateral edges taper towards each other and the aperture extends between the second, opposite ends of the lateral edges.

Abstract: A container, in particular a urine bottle formed from maceratable sheet material comprises an enclosing wall and an aperture. The container is expandable from a first, collapsed configuration into a second, expanded configuration. The sheet material has a plurality of fold lines which define one or more recesses in the enclosing wall of the container in the expanded configuration. In the collapsed condition, the container comprises a lower sheet and an upper sheet lying below a sheet, the upper and lower sheets being sealed together along their lateral edges and along a first, end edge between a first, lower end of the lateral edges. The lateral edges taper towards each other and the aperture extends between the second, opposite ends of the lateral edges.

Abstract: A disposable urine bottle, having a front end for presentation to a user is formed from maceratable dried, moulded paper pulp and comprises a base wall, an enclosing wall extending upwardly from the base wall, a urine receiving volume defined by the base wall and the enclosing wall, and an aperture located above the base wall and which is upwardly and forwardly concave when viewed from the side. The lowermost portion of the aperture is also substantially parallel to the base wall. The enclosing wall has a portion which overhangs the base wall at the front end of the bottle, which makes the bottle easier and more comfortable to use and reduces the likelihood of spillage during use. The aperture is elongate in plan view and the enclosing wall extends outwardly from the sides and front end of the aperture, further reducing the likelihood of spillage.

Abstract: A heat exchanger modular unit (100) configured to be assembled with like units to form a heat exchanger. Each modular unit includes an elongate conduit (101) and connection means (102) configured to enable the modular units to be assembled together. Each elongate conduit (101) includes at least one internal bore through which a heat transfer fluid is capable of flowing. In particular, the connection means is formed non-integrally with the conduit enabling different materials to be used for both components. The conduit and connection means are bonded together using suitable bonding techniques.

Abstract: A telecommunications arrangement including a chassis, at least one power supply, and a plurality of conversion modules that provide an electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical signal conversion. The chassis includes a separate back plane made up of individual back panels. The back panels are attached to the chassis by a tab and swell latch. The conversion modules include a printed circuit board, an input/output arrangement of connectors, and a radius limiter mounted to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A disposable bedpan (10) is releasably mountable on a reusable or disposable annular support (12). The support has inner and outer walls (38, 40) and a plurality of support projections (50) between the inner and outer walls which engage with the under surface of a peripheral lip (28) of the disposable bedpan. The support (12) supports the disposable bedpan (10) in use and prevents collapsing and the soiled disposable bedpan can be disposed of to reduce the risk of cross-infection. When the support is disposable, e.g. made from paper pulp, this can also be disposed of in the macerator.

Abstract: A telecommunications arrangement including a chassis, at least one power supply, and a plurality of conversion modules that provide an electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical signal conversion. The chassis includes a separate back plane made up of individual back panels. The back panels are attached to the chassis by a tab and swell latch. The conversion modules include a printed circuit board, an input/output arrangement of connectors, and a radius limiter mounted to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A receptacle (10) of moulded paper pulp has a flat circular base wall (12) and a side wall (14) of an inverted frustoconical shape extending upwardly from the base wall to define a receiving volume. The upper edge of the side wall defines the periphery of an opening located above the base wall and has an outwardly projecting peripheral lip (22, 24) having at least two recessed portions (26, 28). The two recessed portions (26, 28) form first and second spaced-apart outwardly projecting lip portions (22, 24) which form convenient handles for the receptacle. In addition, the side wall (48) is provided with a stiffening or reinforcing shoulder (18) adjacent to its upper edge.

Abstract: A telecommunications arrangement including a chassis, at least one power supply, and a plurality of conversion modules that provide an electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical signal conversion. The chassis includes a separate back plane made up of individual back panels. The back panels are attached to the chassis by a tab and swell latch. The conversion modules include a printed circuit board, an input/output arrangement of connectors, and a radius limiter mounted to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A receptacle (10), e.g. a jug, comprising a flat or substantially flat base wall (16), a sidewall (18) extending upwardly from the base wall (16) to define a liquid receiving volume (12), and a plurality of integrally-formed projections and/or indentations located on the sidewall (18) arranged to indicate, in use, the depth of liquid within the liquid receiving volume (12). The receptacle may be manufactured of moulded paper pulp, and may also comprise a grip portion (14).

Abstract: A macerator has a housing (10) having an opening which provides access to its interior and a releasably securable lid (18) for releasably closing the opening in the housing. A foot-operated contactless infra red switch (64) is provided at the base of the macerator which is adapted to release a solenoid-operated latch (50) upon completion of the maceration cycle. The macerator also has a rotatable blade mounted within the housing (10). The blade is rotated by means of a three-phase motor. The macerator also has means (52) for converting a single-phase electrical power supply to a three-phase power supply for the motor.

Abstract: A heat exchanger modular unit (100) configured to be assembled with like units to form a heat exchanger Each modular unit comprises an elongate conduit (101) and connection means (102) configured to enable the modular units to be assembled together Each elongate conduit (101) comprises at least one internal bore through which a heat transfer fluid is capable of flowing. In particular, the connection means is formed non-integrally with the conduit enabling different materials to be used for both components. The conduit and connection means are bonded together using suitable bonding techniques.

Abstract: A telecommunications arrangement including a chassis, at least one power supply, and a plurality of conversion modules that provide an electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical signal conversion. The chassis includes a separate back plane made up of individual back panels. The back panels are attached to the chassis by a tab and swell latch. The conversion modules include a printed circuit board, an input/output arrangement of connectors, and a radius limiter mounted to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A membrane switch circuit layout and method for producing a membrane switch circuit layout are disclosed. The membrane switch circuit layout may have two or more membrane layers. Each membrane has a top surface and a bottom surface. A conductive circuit trace is printed on the top surface of each membrane. The membrane layers are placed in a stack with each top membrane having thru-holes selectively cut there through. Thus, for example, in a layout having two membrane layers, the first membrane is positioned beneath the second membrane and the second membrane has thru-holes cut there through. Conductive ink may be pressed through the thru-holes to provide electrical connection between the circuit traces printed on the membrane layers. An adhesive may be placed between the membrane layers as either adhesive printed on one of the membrane layers or as an additional layer.

Abstract: A membrane switch circuit layout and method for producing a membrane switch circuit layout are disclosed. The membrane switch circuit layout may have two or more membrane layers. Each membrane has a top surface and a bottom surface. A conductive circuit trace is printed on the top surface of each membrane. The membrane layers are placed in a stack with each top membrane having thru-holes selectively cut there through. Thus, for example, in a layout having two membrane layers, the first membrane is positioned beneath the second membrane and the second membrane has thru-holes cut there through. Conductive ink may be pressed through the thru-holes to provide electrical connection between the circuit traces printed on the membrane layers. An adhesive may be placed between the membrane layers as either adhesive printed on one of the membrane layers or as an additional layer.

Abstract: A smoke detection unit has a detection chamber for sampling smoke from a surrounding environment. The detection chamber allows air circulation but is optically opaque. This configuration is typical of photoelectric smoke detectors, for example. A housing defines a window though which air from the environment circulates into and out of the detection chamber. The window's height is approximately the same as the chamber. A cage vane is positioned in the window and is configured as an inverted frustoconical member. An inner edge of the cage vane is spaced away from the chamber. The angled vane, along the other aspects of the unit's configuration, improves sensitivity by increasing smoke circulation through the chamber. This configuration guides the air currents typically created by fires at the ceiling so that the smoke flows easily into the detection chamber.