Abstract: An asymmetrical data communications system (ADCS) provides point-to-multipoint television programming including conventional television programming, near video-on-demand (NVoD) or video-on-demand (VoD), and the full variety of available programming, via a compressed, digitized UHF transmission. A program subsystem of the ADCS receives programming from content providers and processes the received signals for channel and VoD or NVoD service, then sends the aggregated signal to a transmission subsystem that modulates, channelizes, amplifies, filters and broadcasts the digital UHF signals over the air. Subscribing viewers are equipped with an intelligent control box (ICB) suitably configured to receive, demodulate, and decode the digital UHF broadcast and to transmit the resulting signal to one or more display or other terminal devices. The ICB further provides a matrix switch or gateway for receiving signals over any available transmission path.

Abstract: A direct response mailing includes a response card and a set of stamps. The response card has a pressure sensitive adhesive patterned and applied to certain fields of the response card and has removable members placed on top of the pressure sensitive adhesive. The sheet of stamps is perforated into the individual stamps and are entirely unsupported with no adhesive applied to them. To formulate a response, a resident removes a desired set of stamps from the sheet and also detaches the removable members from the response card. The resident then places each stamp into a preferred one of the fields on the response card. Although the stamps have no adhesive, the pressure sensitive adhesive on the response card secures the stamps to the card. The direct response mailing does not have a remoistenable gummed sheet of stamps and thus benefits from not requiring the resident to lick the stamps and also has the benefit of being less prone to water damage during delivery in the mail.

Abstract: Booklets produced from a web of material which is cut, folded and joined in a manner that allows presentation of multiple pages of material. Tabs, which are cut from the web of material, are folded and joined to each other in to create a ribbon which winds through the "pages" of the booklet to allow the pages to be unfolded without expanding the booklet.

Abstract: A method of harvesting sod using a sod harvester involves the formation of a series of discrete slabs of sod that are positioned end-to-end, and conveyed up a conveyor that is driven at ground speed so that the slabs stay together. Netting is introduced continuously below the series of slabs as they enter a roll-forming enclosure of the harvester. The netting keeps the slabs together and allows them to be formed into a roll in essentially the same fashion as a continuous strip of sod. Roll formation is continued until a large diameter roll has been formed comprising multiple layers of sod slabs. The large roll forms a unitary structure wrapped in netting that can be manipulated and transported to a laying site in the same manner as a large single strip roll. At the site, the roll can be tipped onto its side, exposing the netting for removal and permitting individual slabs of sod to be pulled away from the roll and carried off for laying.

Abstract: A sleever apparatus includes an inner member with a central passage through which an item to be sleeved is passed. An outer member surrounds the inner member and defines a space between the members for holding a supply of containment material, which is preferably plastic sleeving. The apparatus has a handle which allows a user to hold the apparatus and walk the apparatus along the length of the item to be sleeved. As the user passes the item through the sleever apparatus, the containment material exits through a slit at one end of the apparatus in order to contain the item. The sleever apparatus may be formed of disposable materials, such as cardboard, and may be intended for a single use application. Alternatively, the sleever apparatus may be comprised of more permanent materials such as PVC or fiberglass.

Abstract: A holographic image produced by the impression of a shim onto a metallic ink coating comprising a plurality of metallic particles suspended in a resinous ink binder. A resinous or substantially tactile and nonresilient undercoat can be applied to the substrate also to receive the impression of the shim and to create more distinct holographic imagery. A substantially clear overcoat can also be applied over the metallic ink coating to enhance the reflectivity of the image.

Abstract: A line isolation device (LID) for use in an ADSL system provides a single low pass filter that filters out the higher band ADSL signals for all of the Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS) terminal devices within a customer's premises. The LID may be easily added to an existing ADSL system by routing signals from a customer bridge through the LID. The LID has a low pass filter for removing the ADSL signals and also has a bypass path for carrying unfiltered ADSL and POTS signals to an ADSL transceiver unit. The filtered POTS signals are supplied back to the customer bridge and to binding posts on the customer bridge where all POTS terminal devices receive their POTS signals. The re-routing of the signals within the NID through the LID can be easily accomplished by disconnecting a testing jack on the customer bridge and routing the signals through the LID. Alternatively, the customer bridge may be completely removed from the NID and replaced with a customer bridge having an integral low pass filter.

Abstract: A multi-ply promotional label having a detachable game piece according to the present invention includes peripheral and perforation geometry that reduces the likelihood of intentional or inadvertent premature viewing of game indicia on the detachable piece. The label, moreover, may include multiple detachable game pieces. Deleterious effects of increased tensile stress along perforations due to the presence of multiple detachable game pieces or other factors are overcome by applying an adhesive to removably couple a preselected region of a downwardly facing aspect of a detachable game piece to an underlying base ply. The upward face of the same base ply may be printed to increase the available printable area in order, for example, to further instruct players on game procedures.

Abstract: Hinges for orthopedic and rehabilitation braces allow intuitive, convenient and positive control and adjustment of the limits to which the braces may extend or flex. Such hinges also allow convenient locking of such braces. A flexion switch and an extension switch allow convenient repositioning of stops or limits which limit flexion and extension of the brace. Such switches may be repositioned, however, only with repositioning pressure for moving the switch to a new position combined with safety pressure for unlocking the switch. A brace locking switch may also be included. Such hinges promote more effective post-operative and rehabilitation results because they among other things allow users easily to change the flexion, extension and fixation limitations of their braces conveniently and in real time such as during post-operative and physical therapy sessions and workouts.

Abstract: A Message Storage and Deliver System (MSDS) is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and receives incoming calls with these calls being facsimile, voice, or data transmissions. The MSDS detects the type of call and stores the message signal in a database. The MSDS is also connected to the Internet and has a hyper-text transfer protocol deamon (HTTPD) for receiving requests from users. The HTTPD forwards requests for certain files or messages to a network server which transmits at least part of the message to the HTTPD and then to the user. In addition to requests for certain documents, the HTTPD may also receive a request in the form of a search query. The search query is forwarded from the HTTPD to an application program for conducting the search of the database. The results of the search are forwarded through the HTTPD to the user. The user may then select one or more files or messages from the search results and may save the search for later reference.

Abstract: A computer includes a base unit and an upper unit which encloses all electronic components of the computer, such as an LCD display, system board, various drives, sound card, speakers, and modem. The base unit has dimensions of only about 11 inches by 7 inches and can easily be placed in small areas. Unlike a typical desk-top computer which has external cords or cables connecting the display to a main casing, the computer only requires a single power cable and a telephone cord and has a light weight which permits the computer to be easily transported to different locations. The upper unit can pivot relative to the base unit by simply pulling or pushing the upper unit with one hand to the desired angle and then releasing the upper unit. The base unit frictionally engages the upper unit to maintain the upper unit at the desired angle. The computer has a unique configuration in which input/output connectors of a typical motherboard are placed on a separate riser board positioned perpendicular to the system board.

Abstract: Alternative benday patterns for cards and tickets and methods of producing such patterns are disclosed. The alternative patterns enhance the effectiveness of conventional devices by avoiding use of rotating print cylinders, with fixed repeats, in their creation. The attendant reduction in, or elimination of, benday repetition inhibits vertical ticket splitting and other manner of compromise. Desired images, including play indicia, promotional content, or both, can also be visibly encoded in the benday patterns, if desired.

Abstract: A label comprised of at least two coupled plies is disclosed that can incorporate a removable game on the inside face of the centerpiece region of an outer ply. An edge region on the outer ply, which circumscribes the centerpiece region, is adhered to an inner ply. A weakened region separates the edge region from the centerpiece region so that the centerpiece region is removable from the label by first decoupling a segment of the centerpiece region from the edge region of the outer ply, and then grasping and pulling the centerpiece region from the label to decouple it completely from the label.

Abstract: A Message Storage and Deliver System (MSDS) is connected to a plurality of DID phone lines and receives facsimile messages, voice messages, and data messages. The MSDS assigns a separate telephone number for each user of the system and can simultaneously receive more than one message for a single user. The messages are stored in memory and are also converted into appropriate hyper-text mark-up language (HTML) files. The MSDS is connected to the Internet and notifies the users with an E-mail message each time a message is received. The MSDS can also page the user so that the user receives almost instantaneous notice of the message. The users can then connect to the MSDS through the Internet and have the messages downloaded to their computers or the users can simply preview the messages stored in the MSDS. The users of the MSDS therefore have the advantage of being able to receive their messages at any time and at any location at a reasonable cost.

Abstract: An emissive liquid crystal display has a backlight and a liquid crystal cell for modulating the light. A phosphor layer receives the modulated light and converts the light into visible light. The phosphor layer may contain just red and green phosphors, with blue light being produced by the backlight, or may contain red, green, and blue phosphors based on near-ultraviolet light produced by the backlight. The use of the phosphor layer eliminates the need for a color filter within the liquid crystal cell and provides a greater transmittance efficiency. The liquid crystal display also provides an optimal viewing angle, correct chromacity for television, an increased contrast ratio, and a reduction in smear and flicker for a passive-matrix display. The liquid crystal display enables the use of redundant transistors in active-matrix displays and eliminates the need for retardation films or multiple domain architectures and, as a result, presents a lower manufacturing cost for the display.