Other

Americhem, Inc.

Charles W Pratt

Brian Guhde

Craig Dennis

One exemplary embodiment is directed to a thermoplastic-based building product having a front face with a length and a width, an opposing back face, opposing top and bottom edges each with a thickness. The building product comprises at least one thermoplastic-based support layer, and at least one reinforcing flexing layer having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of less than or equal to about 15 ppm/&#xb0; C. over the temperature range of &#x2212;20&#xb0; C. to 70&#xb0; C. The at least one reinforcing flexing layer is at least partially embedded in the at least one thermoplastic-based support layer along a longitudinal axis of the building product.

Thermoplastic-based building product and related methods

Windmill (10) having a plurality of hydrodynamic, folding blades (12, 14, 16 and 18) secured to a hub (64). The blades are propelled by wind current such that the windmill rotates about a central axis of a shaft (20) on which a hub (64) is journalled. Each folding blade extends radially from the hub and includes a lower blade portion (24) attached to the hub and an upper blade portion (22) pivotally attached to the lower blade portion. The lower blade portion includes a hydrodynamic surface extending from a first edge(43) and terminating at a trailing edge (42). The upper blade portion is hydrodynamically contoured so as to form a nose cone (44). An apex of the nose cone forms a leading edge (40) of the upper blade portion that is opposite a trailing edge (41). The nose cone is weighted such that the trailing edge of the upper blade portion balances in a position slightly separate from the trailing edge of the lower blade portion when the fluid current fails to flow at a speed that exceeds a minimum threshold. However, when the fluid current impinges the trailing edge of the upper blade portion and the fluid current flows at a speed that exceeds a minimum threshold, the weighted nose cone of the upper blade portion causes the upper blade portion to pivot away from the lower blade portion so that the trailing edge of the upper blade portion is separated from the trailing edge of the lower blade portion at an acute angle. Accordingly, when the fluid current ceases to impinge the trailing edge of the upper blade portion, the weighted nose cone of the upper blade portion causes the upper blade portion to pivot toward the lower blade portion such that the trailing edge of the upper blade portion approaches the trailing edge of the lower blade portion.

Horizontal windmill with folding blades

A detachable headrest (10) for removable installation on a seat back (12) includes a frame (16) having a base member (18) for contacting the seat back and a collapsible, resilient upper member (20) projecting upwardly from the base member above the seat back. A cushion (22) is mounted on and supported by the upper member of the frame. Channel brackets (25) are secured to the underside of the base member and grip the top of the seat back. A flap (46) of fabric extends downwardly from the anterior face of the cushion and covers a portion the seat back so that a person leaning against the flap secures the detachable headrest in position.

Growing community of inventors

Poulsbo, WA, United States of America

Charles W Pratt