Abstract: A system for providing accurate, quantifiable and reproducible assessments of an organization's performance based on predetermined criteria. The system includes a telecommunications infrastructure administered by a survey administrator. Employees or non-employees of a company or other organization to be evaluated log on to the system and answer a plurality of questions relating to various aspects of the business entity's operations. The information may be obtained through Internet communications, through touch-tone telephone systems, and in many other ways including the use of personal computers, diskettes and email, or even manually including the use of pencil and paper where penciled-in answers are read by a scanner. The data is stored in a database and subsequently analyzed by the survey administrator for evaluation and forecasting of the business entity's performance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hermetically sealing a casket in an enclosure to be entombed in a mausoleum crypt. The casket enclosure comprises a tray and a flexible cover. An adhesive material is used to affix the cover to the tray. The enclosure includes a check valve to vent any gases that may build up over time.

Abstract: A briefcase adapter for carrying a portable computer in a briefcase comprising a panel for partitioning the briefcase into an upper and a lower compartment and an adjustable frame including a front frame member and a rear frame member held in substantially parallel spaced relationship relative to each other by a pair of side frame members disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship to each other and disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship to the front frame member and the rear frame member, front and rear frame member adjustment assemblies to selectively and lockably adjust the length of the front and rear frame members for frictionally holding the adjustable frame in place within the briefcase, side frame member adjustment assemblies to selectively and lockably adjust the spacing between the front and rear frame members, and a frame adjustment assembly to selectively and lockably adjust the spacing between the side frame members to selectively adjust the substantially rectangular comp

Abstract: A shutter system for a portal opening such as a window or door including a flexible barrier made of a plurality of interlocking flexible barrier slats having stop elements attached to barrier slat ends, a mounting assembly having guide tracks disposed on each side of the portal opening and a retention assembly having retention surfaces fixedly attached to the mounting assembly facing away from each end of the barrier at an acute angle for engaging the stop elements such that when displacement forces cause the flexible barrier to flex, the stop elements are displaced to engage the retention surfaces at an initial angle to anchor the ends of the flexible barrier within the guide tracks such that the engagement angle decreases as the flexible barrier flexes further until the stop elements flushly engage the retention surface.

Abstract: A silicon capacitive microsensor which is sensitive to acceleration forces includes a silicon capacitive sensing element 10 comprising three silicon layers 12,16,26 having glass dielectric layers 14,24 between each pair of silicon layers with the middle silicon layer 16 consisting of a proof mass 18 suspended between the two glass dielectric layers 14,24 by a silicon hinge 20 which is connected to a slightly thicker silicon support layer 17 around the periphery (FIG. 3 ) between the glass layers 14,24 (FIG. 1 ). Three metallic bond pads 40,42,44 on the surface 45 of the silicon layers 26,16,12, respectively, are soldered to circuit trace pads 108 on a circuit board 100 which has a glass upper layer 104 and a silicon support layer 102. The thermal expansion coefficient between the glass layer 104 and the sensing element 10 are substantially the same, thereby minimizing thermally induced stresses on the sensing element 10 and minimizing inaccuracies associated therewith.