Abstract: A wall structure (10) comprising concrete composite masonry blocks (12) supported and interconnected by elongate support beams (16) is disclosed. The blocks (12) are shaped to be stacked in vertically independent columns (14) and are held in place by the specially shaped, lightweight support beams (16) placed between the adjacent columns (14). The wall structure (10) may be adapted for use as a bearing or non-bearing wall.

Abstract: An electronic commerce system managing sale and distribution of products over the Internet or other type of network. In order to prevent attempts by users to fraudulently obtain the products, system analyzes the information submitted by the users in connection with stored and associated information in an order to determine that likelihood that the order is an attempt at fraud. Based upon the determination, system accepts or declines the order. The system also saves the user-entered information for use in determining whether to accept to decline future orders.

Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus including a strap assembly. The apparatus preferably including a flexible cover and a support frame for attachment to a cargo box of a pick-up truck; the support frame having a front bar to the first end of the flexible cover is secured. The strap assembly including a strap bracket; a buckle insertion member and a strap to secure the flexible cover in a rolled up configuration proximate the front bar. The buckle insertion member is secured to a first end of the strap and the strap bracket is attached to the front bar. The strap bracket including a buckle insertion receiving member and a strap receiving opening. The buckle insertion receiving member resists movement forward of the front bar of a rolled-up segment of the flexible cover, when the rolled-up segment is secured to the front bar by the strap.

Abstract: A method of determining an average length of reinforcing fiber in a sample of reinforcing fibers is disclosed. A sample of reinforcing fibers is weighed to obtain a total sample weight. The sample of reinforcing fibers is placed in a fiber separating mechanism and suspended in water. The water is stirred after which the water is allowed to settle such that the sample of reinforcing fiber divides into a plurality of fractions in separate sections of the fiber separating mechanism. Each fraction has reinforcing fibers of substantially similar lengths and is separately weighed. An average fiber length is calculated from the relative weights of each of the plurality of fractions and the total sample weight. In addition, a method of determining an average length of a reinforcing fiber in a composite material having a resin and a plurality of reinforcing fibers is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety hook (12, 12?) having a wire spring latch (26, 26?). The wire spring latch (26, 26?) is a wire loop pawl. The safety hook (12, 12?) is made of a heavy gauge wire form material, which is preferably bent only to form first and second ends (14, 14?, 16, 16?), a chain link securing end (14, 14?) and a hook opening end (16, 16?), respectively. The wire loop pawl (26, 26?) is preferably a rod of elastically deformable material, bent to form an open loop (28, 28?) and bent-over ends (32, 32?, 34, 34?) about which the pawl (26, 26?) pivots with respect to the body (12, 12?) of the safety hook (10, 10?) when the latch (26, 26?) is deformed and forced away from a distal end (38, 38?) of the hook opening end (16, 16?) of the safety hook (10, 10?). The bent over ends (32, 32?, 34, 34?) of the wire loop pawl (26, 26?) are not coaxial.

Abstract: A cylindrical magnetron target and spindle attachment apparatus for affixing a cylindrical magnetron target to a rotatable support spindle. The attachment apparatus includes a target and a spindle. The target defines a receiving portion. The spindle has a spindle plug. The spindle plug is disposed within the receiving portion of the target. The attachment apparatus increases the speed and ease of removing and installing cylindrical rotating targets onto a support spindle.

Abstract: Molding material consisting of resin coated reinforcing fiber strands in a molten mass of resin is prepared at a molding site for controlled supply to a molding machine. Continuous strands of fiber from supply spools are entrained with pressurized, molten resin flowing through a coating device and coated with the resin. The movement of the fiber and resin through the coating die may be controlled so as to accurately and predictably produce any desired quantity the molding material, i.e. the coating apparatus may be operated in a discontinuous manner to provide any predetermined quantity of molding material to a receiving device. The receiving device may be the feed screw for an injection molding machine or simply a plate movable to and from a compression molding machine. The fiber strands may be cut into predetermined lengths by a cutting device positioned downstream of the aforesaid coating device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a septic heater system and method for preventing a freeze-up in a septic system. The heater system typically is used with a previously-installed septic system that includes a septic tank, drop boxes, connecting sewer pipe, a drainfield, and one or more vertical access/cleanout pipes which rise from one or more portions of the septic system to corresponding access ports at ground level. The heater system, which is adapted for connection to the access ports of one or more of the vertical access cleanout pipes, comprises a heater and fan system defining an output port for providing a flow of heated air at the heater output port. The heater output port is defined by a structure configured for coupling the output port to one or more of the access/cleanout pipes. The heater and fan system, when activated to provide the flow of heated air and when coupled to an access/cleanout pipe, prevents septic-system freeze-up by delivering the heated air down the access/cleanout pipe to the septic system.

Abstract: A structure and arrangement for improving the accuracy and efficiency of an angular rate sensing gyroscope is herein disclosed. Voltage pick-off conductors are applied to an area of the surface of a resonating element of an angular rate sensing gyroscope that is subject to substantially zero stress when the gyroscope is rotationally stationary. Actuator conductors are similarly applied to a resonating element at a location bounded by areas of the resonating element subject to substantially uniform levels of stress when the gyroscope is rotationally stationary. A method for improving the voltage response of a piezoelectric resonating element is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-adjusting snow plow for use with pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles is disclosed. The snow plow includes a mounting apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and a plow blade having first and second ends, a top, a bottom, a plurality of retention members and a rubber scraper. The mounting apparatus includes a pair of mounting uprights and a hitch tongue which is easily mounted in a hitch receiver which is secured to the front of a vehicle. The retention members are constructed and arranged to at least partially encircle and slidably engage one of the respective mounting uprights and the retention members allow the respective ends of the plow blade to slide upward relative to the mounting upright most proximate to that end of the plow while the other end of the plow remains generally in the same position relative to the mounting upright proximate that end of the plow blade.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety hook (12, 12′) having a wire spring latch (26, 26′). The wire spring latch (26, 26′) is a wire loop pawl. The safety hook (12, 12′) is made of a heavy gauge wire form material, which is preferably bent only to form first and second ends (14, 14′, 16, 16′), a chain link securing end (14, 14′) and a hook opening end (16, 16′), respectively. The wire loop pawl (26, 26′) is preferably a rod of elastically deformable material, bent to form an open loop (28, 28′) and bent-over ends (32, 32′, 34, 34′) about which the pawl (26, 26′) pivots with respect to the body (12, 12″) of the safety hook (10, 10′) when the latch (26, 26′) is deformed and forced away from a distal end (38, 38′) of the hook opening end (16, 16′) of the safety hook (10,10′). The bent over ends (32, 32′, 34, 34′) of the wire loop pawl (26, 26′) are not coaxial.