Author: claimsbot

1. An apparatus for supporting the feet of an occupant of a chair with the feet above a floor level, said apparatus comprising:
a base having a front, a rear, and two sides, said base having a top surface;
a toe pocket attached to said front of said base, said toe pocket extending upwards from said top surface, said toe pocket having an opening facing said rear of said base;
a heel stop extending substantially perpendicular from said top surface at said rear of said base; and
a pair of straps each extending from each one of said two sides of said base, said pair of straps configured to attach to the chair such that said base is suspended above the floor;
whereby said base accommodates the feet of the occupant while the occupant is seated in the chair; and
wherein said pair of straps are attached to said base with a pair of strap supports, each one of said strap supports having a first support side and a second support side opposite said first support side, each one of said first support sides attached to one of said two sides of said base, said first support side having a length at least one-half a distance between said front and rear of said base, and said second support side being substantially centered between said front and rear of said base.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each one of said pair of straps have a buckle with each one of said pair of straps having a loop formed with said buckle.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pair of straps each have a buckle separating said each one of said pair of straps into two sections, and each said buckle releasably connecting said two sections.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each one of said pair of straps include a loop at an end distal to said two sides of said base, each said loop configured to attach to the chair.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a stiffener positioned proximate said opening of said toe pocket, and said stiffener configured to keep an upper wall of said toe pocket above said top surface of said base.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base includes a stiffener that maintains said base in a substantially planar configuration with said apparatus in a deployed position wherein said base is suspended from the chair.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a pair of extensions configured to attach to the chair, each one of said pair of extensions receiving a distal end of a corresponding one of said pair of straps.
8. An apparatus for supporting the feet of an occupant of a chair with the feet above a floor level, said apparatus comprising:
a platform having a base and a back rest, said base having a pair of sides in opposing relationship;
a pair of straps of a flexible material, each one of said straps having a proximal end attached to one of two sides of said base;
a pair of attachment members each configured to attach to a member of the chair; and
a distal end of each one of said pair of straps attached to a corresponding one of said pair of attachment members, such that said platform is operable to transition between a stored position and an open position when said pair of attachment members are attached to the chair; and
a pair of strap supports in which each one of said strap supports is attached to a corresponding one of said pair of sides, said pair of straps attached to a corresponding one of said pair of strap supports, each one of said strap supports having a first support side and a second support side opposite said first support side, said first support side having a length at least one-half a distance between said front and rear of said base, and said second support side being substantially centered between said front and rear of said base.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said platform has a magnetic attraction for a clip configured to be attached to the chair, and when said clip is attached to said chair said platform is suspended from said clip when said platform is in said stored position.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said clip attaches to a bottom of a seat of the chair.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a toe pocket on said base, said toe pocket proximate a front of said base.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said toe pocket has an opening that is supported above said base by a stiffener.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said platform includes a stiffener that maintains said base in a substantially planar configuration with said platform in said deployed position.
14. An apparatus for supporting the feet of an occupant of a chair with the feet above a floor level, said apparatus comprising:
a platform having a base and a back rest, said base having a pair of sides in opposing relationship;
a pair of straps of a flexible material, each one of said straps having a proximal end attached to one of two sides of said base; and
a pair of attachment members each configured to attach to a member of the chair, a distal end of each one of said pair of straps attached to a corresponding one of said pair of attachment members wherein when said pair of attachment members are attached to the chair said platform is movable between a stored position and a deployed position;
a pair of strap supports in which each one of said strap supports is attached to a corresponding one of said pair of sides, said pair of straps attached to a corresponding one of said pair of strap supports, each one of said strap supports having a first support side and a second support side opposite said first support side, said first support side having a length at least one-half a distance between said front and rear of said base, and said second support side being substantially centered between said front and rear of said base;
a first magnetic member attached to said platform; and
a second magnetic member configured to attach to the chair, said first magnetic member and said second magnetic member having a magnetic attraction therebetween such that said second magnetic member supports said platform in said stored position when said first and second magnetic members are engaged.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second magnetic member includes a pin configured to engage a bottom of a seat of the chair.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 further including a toe pocket opposite said back rest on a front of said base, said toe pocket configured to receive the toes of the occupant of the chair when said platform is in a deployed position.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said platform is movable between said stored position and a deployed position, said platform suspended in front of the chair below a seat of the chair when said platform is in said deployed position.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A reinforced slab made in a mould, the reinforced slab comprising:
a mixture formed of a granulate of a predefined grain size and a cement binder formed of cement and water, the mixture formed into a layer comprising substantially no entrained air and having a flexural strength of at least 15 N1 mm2;
an upper and a lower main surface, the main surfaces being substantially flat and parallel to one another;
a reinforcing structure consisting of a sheet of a metal provided with a plurality of holes so as to allow the free passage of the mixture, the sheet being entirely embedded in the body of the reinforced slab and being arranged substantially parallel to the main surfaces thereof, the sheet comprising
a plurality of feet to space the sheet from the mould,
lateral projections for centering the sheet with respect to a peripheral edge of the mould;

wherein the sheet is arranged at a given distance from the neutral axis of the associated cross-section.
2. The reinforced slab according to claim 1 wherein said holes of the sheet form a checkered arrangement and have a peripheral edge which is folded so as to form a \u2018U\u2019 with the concavity directed towards the surface of the slab opposite to the surface intended to remain visible on the end product.
3. The reinforced slab according to claim 1, wherein said sheet is provided with two series of ribs which are perpendicular to each other and in the form of folds shaped as a \u201cU\u201d with the concavity directed towards one of the upper and lower surface of the slab opposite to the one of the upper and lower surface intended to remain visible on the end product, the said ribs performing the dual function of stiffening the sheet and favouring gripping the cement mixture to the sheet.
4. The reinforced slab according to claim 1 wherein said sheet comprises a perimetral edge, from which the said lateral projections are protruding, which is folded over so as to form a \u201cU\u201d with the concavity directed towards one of the upper and lower surface of the slab opposite to the one of the upper and lower surface intended to remain visible on the end product.
5. The reinforced slab according to claim 1 wherein said sheet is provided with means for securing the cement mixture, the said means comprising one of rough or roughened portions of its surfaces which come into contact with said mixture embossed areas of said surfaces.
6. The reinforced slab according to claim 1 wherein said sheet is made of stainless steel.
7. The reinforced slab according to claim 6, wherein said sheet has a thickness of between 0.5 and 2.0 mm.
8. A reinforced slab made in a mould, the reinforced slab comprising:
a layer made of a mixture formed of a granulate of a predefined grain size and a cement binder formed of cement and water, the layer comprising substantially no entrained air and having a specific weight of at least 2.45 kgdm3 achieved by vibrocompaction;
an upper and a lower main surface, the main surfaces being substantially flat and parallel to one another,
a reinforcing structure consisting of a sheet of a provided with a plurality of holes so as to allow the free passage of the mixture, the sheet being entirely embedded in the body of the reinforced slab and being arranged substantially parallel to the main surfaces thereof, the sheet comprising
a plurality of feet to space the sheet from the mould,
lateral projections for centering the sheet with respect to a peripheral edge of the mould;

wherein the sheet is arranged at a given distance from the neutral axis of the associated cross-section.

1. A developing roller comprising an elastic layer made of silicone rubber provided around a conductive shaft, and a plurality of resin layers further provided on the elastic layer,
wherein a surface layer among the resin layers comprises silicone copolymerization polyurethane as a principal component; and
a layer immediately below the surface layer comprises a polyurethane resin-silica hybrid as a principal component.
2. The developing roller of claim 1,
wherein a silane moiety content in the polyurethane resin-silica hybrid is 1.0-30.0% by weight.
3. The developing roller of claim 1,
wherein the polyurethane resin-silica hybrid comprises a urea bond.
4. An image forming method comprising the steps of:
(a) conveying a developer comprising a toner to a developing region with a developing roller; and
(b) developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier for visualization,
wherein the developing roller comprises an elastic layer made of silicone rubber provided around a conductive shaft, and a plurality of resin layers further provided on the elastic layer; and
wherein a surface layer among the resin layers comprises silicone copolymerization polyurethane as a principal component, and a layer immediately below the surface layer comprises a polyurethane resin-silica hybrid as a principal component.
5. The image forming method of claim 4,
wherein a silane moiety content in the polyurethane resin-silica hybrid is 1.0-30.0% by weight.
6. The image forming method of claim 4,
wherein the polyurethane resin-silica hybrid comprises a urea bond.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A driver apparatus configurable for receiving and processing at least one input signal, the driver apparatus being coupleable to ground potential, the driver apparatus comprising:
a processing portion configurable for receiving and processing the at least one input signal in a manner so as to produce drive signals, the processing portion comprising a processing segment array and the processing segment array comprises a plurality of processing segments, each of which being configurable to produce a drive signal;
a ground potential coupler coupling at least a portion of the processing portion to the ground potential such that the processing portion is configurable to produce the drive signals based on an effective reference potential; and
a control portion coupled to the processing portion and the ground potential coupler, the control portion being configurable to receive and process at least a portion of the drive signals in a manner so as to control variance of the effective reference potential, the control portion comprising:
a detection portion; and
an output portion which is coupled to the detection portion and the ground potential coupler,
wherein the detection portion is coupled to the processing portion in a manner so as to receive and process at least a portion of the drive signals to produce a control signal, and
wherein the control signal is communicable to the output portion such that variance of the effective reference potential is controllable.
2. The driver apparatus as in claim 1,
wherein the plurality of processing segments comprises a first processing segment, a second processing segment, a third processing segment and a fourth processing segment,
wherein the first processing segment is coupled to the second processing segment, the second processing segment is coupled to the third processing segment and the third processing segment is coupled to the fourth processing segment, and
wherein the drive signals comprises a first drive signal, a second drive signal, a third drive signal and a fourth drive signal.
3. The driver apparatus as in claim 2,
wherein the first processing segment is configurable for receiving and processing at least one input signal to produce the first drive signal which is communicable from the first processing segment to the second processing segment,
wherein the second processing segment is configurable for producing the second drive signal based on the first drive signal, the second drive signal being communicable from the second processing segment to the third processing segment,
wherein the third processing segment is configurable for producing the third drive signal based on the second drive signal, the third drive signal being communicable from the third processing segment to the fourth processing segment, and
wherein the fourth processing segment is configurable for producing the fourth drive signal based on the third drive signal.
4. The driver apparatus as in claim 3,
wherein the processing segment array corresponds to a monostable multi-vibrator array, and
wherein each processing segment of the plurality of processing segments corresponds to a monostable multi-vibrator module which is edge triggered.
5. The driver apparatus as in claim 4 wherein each processing segment of the plurality of processing segments corresponds to a monostable multi-vibrator module which is negative edge triggered.
6. The driver apparatus as in claim 1, wherein variance of the effective reference potential is controllable such that the drive signals are capable of being synchronized with the at least one input signal.
7. The driver apparatus as in claim 1, the output portion being a switching arrangement operable in one of a saturation operating mode and a cut-off operating mode.
8. The driver apparatus as in claim 7, the output portion being switchable between the saturation operating mode and the cut-off operating mode based on the control signal.
9. The driver apparatus as in claim 8, the switching arrangement comprising an active element and a passive element which is coupled to the active element.
10. The driver apparatus as in claim 9, the ground potential coupler comprising:
a charge storage element; and
a resistive element,
wherein the charge and resistive elements are coupled in a parallel circuit arrangement.
11. The driver apparatus as in claim 10, wherein when the switching arrangement is operating in the saturation mode, the passive element is effectively coupled to the charge storage element and the resistive element in another parallel circuit arrangement.
12. The driver apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the active element is a transistor and the passive element is a resistive type element.