The present invention relates to a jack stand. The jack stand includes a base. A post, including composite material, extends from the base. The jack stand also includes a top for topping the post and for engaging with a load. Advantageously, the post may be lightweight (typically less than 12 kg) enabling the jack stand to be conveniently moved by a single person without exposing the person to significant risk of injury. The jack stand may be moved as a whole, or in parts.

A refuse bin includes a liner sealed to a container. An inflatable space is between the liner and the container, and an inlet to the inflatable space conducts a flow to inflate the inflatable space from a deflated state to an inflated state. In the deflated state, the liner lines a cavity for refuse in the container. In the inflated state, the liner extends above the open end of the container. The flow into the inlet pushes the inflatable space toward the inflated state causing the liner to lift the refuse. The refuse bin may further include a lid-lifting mechanism activation by inflation of the inflatable space or an insert that helps shape the liner in the inflated state.

A foldable rail assembly is coupled to a platform and includes vertical rails and a rectangular rail structure that is hingedly coupled to the vertical rails. The rectangular rail structure is rotatable about hinged couplings formed between the rectangular rail structure and the vertical rails, and movable between a first, deployed position and a second, folded position. The rectangular rail structure extends upwardly from the platform higher in the first position than in the second position.

A watercraft storage system for storing and concealing items on watercraft, which includes a suspendable shelf extending downwardly from and attaching to a select portion of the floorboard and connecting to a pair of end caps to form a containment enclosure for housing therewithin a scissor lift configured with an upper platform connecting to a base platform by a pair of moveable supports. A linear actuator connecting to the base platform and a lower forward shaft of the scissor lift operably sets in motion the moveable supports to lift and lower the upper platform relative to the base platform to respectively receive and store items temporarily below the floorboard so as to maintain continuity of the walkways associated with the watercraft.

An inverted telescoping mast configured to be mounted to a ceiling or other structure within a building for supporting a payload at a range of heights within the building. The mast can include cable management for routing of cables external the mast for supplying/exchanging power, control signals, data etc. to the payload. An internal spring retains the mast in the retracted position. A tension control system restricts extension and/or retraction of the mast when actuating cable tension is above or below respective tension thresholds.

An apparatus for lifting a load to a desired altitude using an evacuated hollow lift body is disclosed. Once evacuated, the apparatus is lighter than the surrounding atmosphere. The lift body can be formed as a hollow fluid tight structure with a tube wound and sealed in a helical pattern or a dual membrane structure with a pressurized intermediate volume sandwiched between inner and outer membranes. A load can be attached to the apparatus and lifted to an altitude where the effective density of the apparatus and load is equivalent to the density of the surrounding atmosphere.

A lifter is disclosed. The disclosed lifter comprises: a frame; a motor part coupled to the frame; a drum rotatably coupled to the motor part and including a plurality of winding parts formed at regular intervals along the rotary shaft direction; and a plurality of wires coupled to be wound on the plurality of winding parts, respectively. Ends of the plurality of wires at one side thereof may be connected to the plurality of winding parts, respectively, and other ends of the plurality of wires may be detachably fixed to a ceiling.

A control system may control multiple devices, such as jacks. The control system may adjust the speeds of the devices based on their distances from associated targets. The control system improves overall walking system performance by more efficiently directing more of the limited resources, such as hydraulic fluid, to the furthest back jacks.

Reduction of minimum turning radius of an aerial work platform. Drive motors are provided to driven wheels of the platform respectively, so that the driven wheels can be independently controlled in terms of rotational speed and rotation direction. When the steering angle of steered wheels is at most a first steering angle, constant velocity control is performed, driving both of the driven wheels in the same rotation direction and at the same rotational speed. When the steering angle exceeds the first steering angle and is at most a second steering angle, differential control is performed, reducing the rotational speed of the driven wheel on the inside in the turning direction relative to the driven wheel on the outside in the turning direction. When the steering angle exceeds the second steering angle, counter-rotation control is performed, counter-rotating the driven wheel that is on the inside in the turning direction.

Technologies are described for restraining systems. The systems may comprise a base, a stationary arm, a swing arm, a rod, first straps, and second straps. A bottom end of the stationary arm may be attached to a first end of the base. A bottom end of the swing arm may be attached at a second end of the base. The rod may be attached to top ends of the stationary arm and the swing arm. First straps may be attached to the stationary arm and configured to loop around and support an object. Second straps may be attached to the swing arm and configured to loop around and support the object. The rod may move and push the top of the swing arm away from the top of the stationary arm. A friction force between the first and second straps and the object may be effective to restrain the object.