Abstract: An inflatable curtain is provided that may be mounted on or proximate to a vehicle's side roof rail. The inflatable curtain includes a first panel and a second panel that is attached to the first panel. The first panel and the second panel are generally made of fabric materials such as nylon and the like. At least one first pleat is added to the first panel. The first pleat is constructed such that when the inflatable curtain is inflated with inflation gas, the first pleat opens into at least one first bulge that changes the deployment trajectory of the inflatable curtain. At least one second pleat may additionally be added to the curtain. The second pleat is added to the second panel and is designed such that during inflation, the second pleat will open into a second bulge that further changes the deployment trajectory of the inflatable curtain.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for associating pre-printed machine-readable graphical codes with electronically-accessible data. An arbitrary sequence of reference identifiers is generated. Machine-readable graphical codes for the reference identifiers are generated. Labels are then printed that include the machine-readable graphical codes to provide pre-printed machine-readable graphical-code labels. In using the labels, the user places one of the pre-printed machine-readable graphical-code labels on an object and scans the label using a graphical code reading device in electronic communication with a computing device. The computing device receives graphical code data and determines a reference identifier of the graphical code data. A database is then accessed for the reference identifier. If the reference identifier did not already have an associated data specifier in the database, then electronically-accessible data is associated with the reference identifier.

Abstract: An air bag formed from two layers of fabric using a one-piece weaving technique has a peripheral seam at the edge of a region adapted to be inflated. Beyond the seam there are a plurality of chambers and gas escaping from the inflated region through the seam must inflate these chambers thus creating a back pressure to reduce the flow of escaping gas.

Abstract: The motion damper includes a damper wall, damper stages, and a damper head. The damper wall and damper stages are successively smaller in size and have a nested relationship. The damper wall and damper stages are each flexibly attached to an adjacent damper stage or the damper wall such that the damper stages may deploy in a telescopic fashion away from the damper wall. The damper head is attached to a smallest damper stage. As a result, the damper stages change in position relative to the damper wall and relative to each other to absorb the kinetic energy of objects attached to the damper head and damper wall.

Abstract: Belts and methods of their manufacturing are provided. In one aspect, belts are manufactured by the steps of weaving the belt from a plurality of warp yarns and at least one weft yarn, the belt having a central region and two opposed edges. The warp yarns in the central region have a predetermined shrinkage characteristic. The belts also have at least one edge region between the central region and an edge of the belt has a predetermined number of warp yarns, each having a lesser shrinkage characteristic than the warp yarns of the central region. The method further includes the steps of passing the weft yarn across the warp yarns to effect a weaving in the central region of the belt. Further in the edge region, looping the weft yarn, on each pass, around a selected warp yarn, so that on a plurality of successive passes the weft yarn is looped around each of the warp yarns in the edge region. Subsequently, the yarns in the belt are shrunk.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is disclosed that is reprogrammable through a pager network. The device includes a communications port. The device also includes a data transceiver for transmitting send data and receiving receive data from a pager network. In addition, the device has a processor. The processor is in electronic communication with the communications port for communicating through the communications port. The processor is also in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the pager network. The device also includes reprogrammable memory programmed with instructions to cause the device to receive new program code from the pager network and to reprogram the reprogrammable memory with the new program code.

Abstract: A device for preventing removal of a lid from a container. The device has a cover with a top which is adapted to fit over a lid of a container and an engagement means consisting of an upper continuous cylindrical wall and a lower section of integral and flexible leg segments. Each leg segment has a lateral portion or rib for engaging a neck part of the container to prevent removal of the cover from the container. Retaining means in the form of three independently rotatable locking rings prevent disengagement of the engagement means from the container. The deice is used on a typical drinking bottle with a screw on cap to prevent removal of the cap thereby maintaining hygiene and safety aspects of the liquid contents.

Abstract: A method for adjusting colors in a color reproduction device. A user input is received indicating a color adjustment for a color original. This is then used to select a transform. The transform is applied to color values to produce adjusted color values. The adjusted color values are then used in further processing and eventually converted into the printer color space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an induction heating pan comprising a pan body having an inner pan and an outer pan, a lid and a hinge member to connect the lid to the pan body, wherein the hinge member comprises a hollow cylindrical part which contains various connecting elements therein to control the opening angles of the lid, so that the loss of the connecting elements can be prevented in separating the lid from the pan body and it becomes more convenient to clean the lid and the hinge member, and the lid can be lifted smoothly at predetermined angles and easily separated from the body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for automatic processing of electronic communications in a networked computer environment. The invention facilitates the appropriate form of translation of the communication to suit the circumstance. The communication is identified as a foreign language communication, a quotation program is optionally applied to calculate the cost of a human translation and a machine translation program is optionally applied to the foreign language communication. The communication, optional quotation and optional machine translation are forwarded to a recipient. The method is transparent to the sender and receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform customized error handling is described. For example, this method makes it possible to intercept and replace an error code generated by an application. Error messages, such as third party error messages, can be replaced. The application which generates the error message may or may not be updated. The files used by that application may or may not be updated.

Abstract: Safety arrangement comprising a unit to be located beneath a bonnet of a motor vehicle. The unit is adapted to become of increased length in response to a signal from a sensor and may comprise a bellows-sleeve and a gas generator. The unit has a catch arrangement adapted to engage part of the bonnet structure so that part of the bonnet structure is engaged and retained when the length of the unit is increased.

Abstract: A sprinkler has a housing with an inlet portion and an outlet portion in which a first outlet aperture is formed. The first outlet aperture may cooperate with other outlet apertures to define a spiral shape. A cam is disposed upstream of the first outlet aperture. The cam is rotatable about a cam axis to cover varying portions of the outlet apertures. After moving through the outlet apertures, water strikes a deflector and is sprayed outward from the head. The orientation of the cam establishes an arc angle through which water is sprayed, including a full-circle spray pattern. The deflector may be stationary or rotatable. In one alternative configuration, the outlet apertures and each leads to a different strip nozzle. The cam has an open portion that can be rotated into alignment with each of the outlet apertures to determine which of the strip nozzles are active.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of improving the speed of processing of a system and optimizing system performance in RTOS by searching for a task on which occupancy time is the longest in a system mode and transferring a stack from an armored memory to an embedded memory, and by reallocating the stack pointers. According to the present invention, since a microprocessor which has an expensive and large embedded memory does not have to be mounted, costs of manufacturing in mass production can be lowered.

Abstract: An interface unit is disclosed for facilitating the optimization of a watering system. The interface unit includes a first interface configured to receive optimization data over a network. A second interface is also included, the second interface being configured for electronic communications with a watering system controller that controls operation of a watering system according to watering instructions stored in the watering system controller. The interface unit also includes a processor, the processor being in electronic communication with the first interface and the second interface. Memory is also included. The memory is in electronic communication with the processor, and is programmed with instructions for using the optimization data to modify the watering instructions.

Abstract: A transformer structure is proposed herein which includes a primary winding coil, a secondary winding coil, a bobbin module, and a magnetic core assembly. The magnetic core assembly is mounted within the bobbin module. The bobbin module includes a first winding window portion and a second winding window portion in which the first winding window portion allows the primary winding coil to be wound thereupon and the second winding window portion allows the secondary winding coil to be wound thereupon. Both of first winding window portion and the second winding window portion include a first lateral plate, and each couples or separate with each other by the first lateral plate, such that the primary winding coil and the secondary winding coil are separated with each other and the leakage inductance, and the safe distance of electrical security for the transformer is increased accordingly.

Abstract: A triggering unit is disclosed for use in triggering a safety device in a motor vehicle to protect an occupant of the vehicle in an impact situation in which the vehicle impacts with an impacting object. The triggering unit is configured to actuate the safety device only for total stiffness between the vehicle and the impacting object exceeds a predetermined stiffness value. The unit incorporates a calculating arrangement to calculate stiffness from two or more sensed parameters.

Abstract: A safety-belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle has a safety-belt (5), one end of which is connected to a retractor (8), a sensor (11) generates a signal representative of the amount of safety-belt paid-out from the retractor. A force limiter (10) is associated with the retractor to permit safety-belt to be paid-out with a variable force limiting effect. A control arrangement (12) changes the level of force applied by the force limiter (10) in dependence upon the length of safety-belt paid-out from the retractor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling efficient electronic communication between individuals affiliated with an organization are provided. The present invention enables a user, such as an administrator, to prepare and deliver an electronic announcement to users without specifically identifying each user or creating a predefined group of users. These targeted electronic announcements are deliverable to such users based, in part, on descriptive attributes, such as academic attributes, that distinguish such users or users from other members of a community information system, such as a university. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention facilitate designating attributes that define the manner used to distribute the electronic announcement, such as to a user or recipient's personalized web page acting as an interface to the community information system.

Abstract: A safety-belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle has a safety-belt (5), one end of which is connected to a retractor (8), a sensor (11) generates a signal representative of the amount of safety-belt paid-out from the retractor. A force limiter (10) is associated with the retractor to permit safety-belt to be paid-out with a variable force limiting effect.