Abstract: The present invention is a portable chair with caster wheels that is lightweight in construction and easily collapsed, carried, stored and transported by public or private means. The chair can be configured as an assistive mobility device to fill the unmet needs of aging healthy adults who wish to retain their independence and social interactions. It can also be configured as a collapsible office chair to meet the needs of employers with temporary working staff and for use by college students in crowded dorm rooms. Additional features such as an armrest, a foot rest, or a reclining back are easily added during manufacture and because of the chairs uncomplicated design and duplicity of parts, it is very economical to manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to collapsible self-supported structures. All of these structures have one or more of the following characteristics: adjustable length and/or, width and/or height, lightweight, easily collapsed, very compact when collapsed and easily carried, stored and transported.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system has a plurality of processing cells, each including a processor and memory, interconnected via a network. The memories respond to requests by the processors for accessing data and, absent fault, transmitting it in response packets to at least to the requesting processors. A fault containment element responds to at least certain faults during access or transmission of a datum for including within the respective response packet a fault signal that prevents the requestor from accessing the datum. If a fault is detected in a datum not previously detected as faulty, a marking element can include a "marked fault" signal in the response packet. Whereas, it can include an "unmarked fault" signal when it detects a fault associated with a requested datum, but not specifically isolated to that datum. When a request is made for a datum which had previously been detected as faulty, the marking element can include in the response packet a "descriptor fault" signal.

Abstract: An improved parallel processing apparatus and method executes an iterative sequence of instructions by arranging the sequence into subtasks and allocating those subtasks to processors. This division and allocation is conducted in such a manner as to minimize data contention among the processors and to maximize the locality of data to them. The improved apparatus and method have application to a variety of multiprocessor systems, including those which are massively parallel.

Abstract: An improved digital packet switching apparatus enabling enhanced packet transmission and high bandwidth packet transfer. The digital packet switching methods and apparatus permit selectively switching digital signal packet between a set of nodes. The invention includes multiple processing cells, each having a processor coupled to an associated content-addressable memory element. Packet processors, electrically coupled to the memory elements, selectively receive packets from the nodes and transmit the packets into at least one of the plural memory elements; or receive packets from the memory elements and transmit the packets to at least one of the nodes.

Abstract: A digital data processing system includes a plurality of central processor units which share and access a common memory through a memory management element. The memory management element permits, inter alia, data in the common memory to be accessed in at least two modes. In the first mode, all central processing units requesting access to a given datum residing in memory are signalled of the datum's existence. In the second mode, only selected central processing units requesting access to a resident datum are notified that it exists, while others requesting access to the datum are signalled that it does not exist. The common memory can include a plurality of independent memory elements, each coupled to and associated with, a respective one of the central processing units. A central processing unit can include a post-store element for effecting the transfer of copies of data stored in its associated memory element to a memory element associated with another central processing unit.

Abstract: A collapsible ashtray includes a pair of panels joined by a pleated sheet which defines an ash receptacle when the panels are pulled apart. The pleated sheet includes at least one step formed therein for holding lighted cigarettes. In one embodiment, the panels are joined to form a hinge, and the ashtray may be folded and unfolded along this hinge. In another embodiment, the panels are not joined so that the panels may be pulled apart in a parallel fashion.

Abstract: The ashtray of this invention comprises a folded member having a substantially V-shaped cross-section formed by two panels with a common side. The adjoining sides of the two panels contiguous to the common side are adapted for contact with a supporting surface to support the panels thereon in an upright position, the two sides defining the bottom side of the ashtray. The two panels then define an angular space there between, the angular space having an apical portion near the common side of the panels. The ashtray further comprises an upper member connected to the two panels for supporting cigarettes or cigars in substantially horizontal positions. The upper member is spaced apart from the common side of the panels to allow the lighted ends of cigarettes or cigars to protrude into the apical portion and to allow ashes from such lighted ends to fall through the apical portion towards the bottom side of the ashtray.

Abstract: This invention relates to the reduction of water demand in alkaline aqueous suspensions containing free cations, particularly in the wet process production of Portland cement and more specifically to the use of carbon dioxide and anionic polymer dispersants to realize such a water demand reduction. The combination of the carbon dioxide and anionic polymer dispersant is synergistic and the combination effectively reduces the water demand of the suspended solids at concentrations where neither additive alone is effective.