Abstract: A faucet that includes a base; a collar extending from the base, wherein the collar is rotatable relative to the base about a longitudinal axis; a control arm comprising a first end movably coupled to the collar and a second end opposite the first end; a sprayhead configured to emit water; a magnetic spheroidal joint comprising a ball and a socket, wherein at least one of the ball and the socket is magnetic and attracts the other of the ball and the socket through a magnetic force, one of the ball and the socket is coupled to the sprayhead, and the other of the ball and the socket is coupled to the second end of the control arm; and a flexible hose separate from the control arm and configured to fluidly connect the sprayhead and the base.

Abstract: A self-centering cable includes a restoring and energy-dissipation unit and a cable reinforcement connected to the restoring and energy-dissipation unit by a connecting unit. The restoring and energy-dissipation unit includes an outer trough, an axial tube provided in an opening at the upper end of the outer trough, two inverted U-shaped mild steel members provided side by side and fixedly mounted in the outer trough, an axial pallet sandwiched between and fixedly connected to the two inverted U-shaped mild steel members, and a disc spring set provided in the outer trough and sleeved onto the axial tube. The cable reinforcement includes a tensile reinforcement penetrating into a reinforcement bottom connector and a reinforcement top connector. The reinforcement bottom connector is connected to the axial tube, the top end connector, connected to the reinforcement top connector, and a bottom end connector are connected to a structure to be reinforced.

Abstract: A damping device for a wind turbine tower is disclosed having at least one upper mount extending from a tower structure, at least one lower mount extending from one of the tower structure or a tower foundation, at least one damping device extending only in a substantially vertical direction, the damping device having an upper connector coupled with the upper mount and a lower connector coupled with the lower mount, and at least one damper coupled between the upper connector and the lower connector.

Abstract: A building structure having one or more of stories and including at least two columns supporting a first of the stories; where at least one of the columns is supported by at least one brace having a first portion and a second portion. The at least one brace has a first configuration in which the first portion is freely moveable with respect to the second portion such that a gap is formed in the brace preventing the transmission of force axially along the brace, and a second configuration in which the gap is closed by the first portion and the second portion being in contact to permit the transmission of forces axially along the brace. The second configuration occurs when the at least one column undergoes a level of deformation sufficient to force the gap to be closed.

Abstract: A column includes a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly having an upper portion (2) pivotally attached to a lower portion (1) for movement about a first pivot axis (5), the upper portion of the hinge assembly being associated with an upper part (12) of the column and the lower portion of the hinge assembly being associated with a lower part (11) of the column. In use, movement of the upper and lower hinge assembly portions about the first pivot axis from a normal position, in which the upper part of the column is relatively upright, causes the upper part of the column to rotate towards the lower part of the column, thereby allowing the upper part the column to be moved to a maintenance position. An arm links (3), via second (6) and third (7) pivot axes, the upper and lower portions of the hinge assembly, and the arm is associated with a spring (9) that exerts a force via the arm, which urges the upper and lower hinge assembly portions towards the normal position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotational flagpole pivotally mounted to a rigidly affixed base with a tongue and slot combination that enables the flagpoles to rotate around the pivot. The flagpole can also be locked in place to prevent rotation. The rotational flagpole thereby permits rotation of the top end of the flagpole to within a few feet of the ground in order to provide improved access to the top end for maintenance.

Abstract: A deployable and retractable, telescoping style mast assembly and method employs a plurality of tubular sections of differing diameters. The tubular sections are nested one-in-another and are slidable with respect to each other, in a telescoping manner, to provide a deployable/retractable telescoping mast assembly. Retractable pins are provided to retractably extend from a collar coupled to at least one of the tube sections. In their extended state, the retractable pins are adapted to extend through apertures provided in an adjacent tube section. The retractable pins are provided with a head at one end thereof. The head of each pin is adapted to be engaged by a guide coupled to a third tube section upon the third tube section being in a collapsed state. Upon engagement with the pin head, the guide operates to pull the pin into a retracted state so as to retract the pin out of the pin receiving aperture.

Abstract: A pair of parallel slalom posts connected by a flag, which flag is connected by an elastic strip with one of the posts, and the other post is provided with a tilting joint. Thus, if a skier touches the post with the tilting joint, the post can bend without damage to the flag.

Abstract: A power beam converts a linear force into a torque. The beam is slideably positioned transverse to a structural member to be rotated and adjacent a hinged connection of the structural member to a frame. The beam is driven in a linear direction by a motive means such as a hydraulic cylinder, cable network or threaded shaft and actuation nut. A cable extends from its connection to the structural member at a set distance from the hinged connection, over the end of the slideable beam and then to a bias means, typically a spring. To rotate the structural member, the slideable beam is driven transverse to the structural member to impart a force along the cable the spring travels to its limit and thereafter a significant force is applied to the structural member to rotate the structural member.

Abstract: A slalom gate which has a lower support member adapted to be inserted into the snow. There is a retractable anchoring member mounted in the support member, in a manner that downward deflection of the post about a lower pivoting connecting portion pulls the anchor member upwardly to cause it to expand outwardly into the snow, thus resisting retraction of the support member from the snow. When the gate returns to its upright position, the anchoring member retracts so that the gate can more easily be removed from the snow.

Abstract: A structure capable of being expanded and retracted. The structure includes a pair of cells each including a plurality of leg elements which are pivotally joined at one end to form an apex point and which are pivotally joined at their opposite ends from the apex point connection to the corresponding leg element from the other cell to form a plurality of common base points. The structure also includes a plurality of hinged elements connected between adjacent common base points to thereby form a common base and the hinged elements each have a pair of sections that are connected at a hinge point approximately midway between the adjacent common base points to which the other end of each section is connected.

Abstract: A multi-stage extendable tower for controlled elevated support and positioning of workmen and equipment having a plurality of telescoping frame sections that may be raised from a collapsed nested position to a partially or fully extended position. Functionally positioned and interconnected between each adjacent frame section is at least one heavy-duty coiled spring whose potential energy stored in torsion provides sufficient lifting force to overcome the weight of the above frame members, workmen and equipment. Both manual and motorized means are disclosed and claimed for effecting compression and renesting of the frame members.