Abstract: Adjustable gas grill burners are disclosed. Methods of making and using adjustable gas grill burners are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions for treating hair are disclosed. Methods of making and using compositions for treating hair are also disclosed.

Abstract: Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.

Abstract: Protective coverings suitable for protecting and housing electronic devices such as a KINDLE™ ebook reader or an APPLE™ iPAD™ tablet are disclosed. Methods of making and using protective coverings are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaged bottled beverage has a base component of the beverage in a container under vacuum separate from an additive in a sealed compartment of an ingredient release closure. Upon opening the sealed compartment, suction is created forcing the additive to quickly and thoroughly exit the ingredient release closure, a region of relatively higher pressure, and flow into the base component in the container, a region of relatively lower pressure.

Abstract: A film stretcher utilizes a spring bias to clamp the film. The film stretcher may include a stretch head having one or more clamps positioned about the film in locations necessary to clamp the film for stretching in one or more axes. The clamp may utilize a spring to provide the clamping force. The stretch head may include structures that operate to counter the spring bias to move the clamp to one state and then to allow the spring bias to move the clamp to another state. Thus, the stretch head may effectively clamp and unclamp the film.

Abstract: Tie stay clips are disclosed. Methods of making and using tie stay clips are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of recycling carpet components are disclosed. Usable compositions containing recycled carpet components, and carpets and carpet components containing recycled carpet components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Containers suitable for use in food cooking, food serving and food storing are disclosed.

Abstract: Securing devices secure the position of protective pads on the arms of a user of the protective pads. A first strap and a second strap are placed over the head with the head of the user passing in between the first and second strap. The first and second straps connect to a third strap at a first connection point. At a second connection point opposite from the first connection point a fourth strap connects to the first and second straps. The third and fourth straps each connect to an attachment device. The attachment devices connect to the protective pads of the wearer. Each one of the straps can each be adjustable to accommodate wearers of varying dimensions. The attachment devices can be detachable from the protective pads so that the wearer can utilize the securing device in conjunction with protective pads that the wearer already has.

Abstract: Symmetrical differential capacitive sensors are disclosed. Methods of making and using symmetrical differential capacitive sensors are also disclosed.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices include headers having various features such as a modular design whereby the header is constructed from a series of stacked contact modules. Additional features include a feedthrough where pins exiting a housing of the implantable medical device extend into the header to make direct electrical connection to electrical contacts present within the header where those electrical contacts directly engage electrical connectors of leads inserted into the header. Other features include electrical contacts that are relatively thin conductors on the order of 0.040 inches or less and may include radial protrusions where the radial protrusions establish contact with the electrical connectors of the lead. Furthermore, electrical contacts may be mounted within the header in a floating manner so that radial movement of the electrical contact may occur during lead insertion.

Abstract: A speaker system utilizes input from a transducer that receives an acoustical signal produced by a speaker that is separate from the speaker system. The acoustical signal is amplified and drives a speaker of the speaker system. The speaker system is thereby provided with the necessary electrical audio signal without the speaker system being wired into any existing sound system wiring. In automobiles, the transducer is in proximity to a speaker wired into the automobile's audio system, and the transducer obtains the acoustical signal to produce the electrical audio signal used by the speaker of the speaker system so that no access to high or low level electrical audio signals of the audio system of the automobile is necessary. Additionally, the speaker system may employ a power socket plug that is electrically coupled to the power input of the amplifier and that may be plugged into a power socket such as those typical of most vehicles to provide electrical power to the amplifier of the speaker system.

Abstract: Woven fabrics suitable for use as a lightning strike material are disclosed. Methods of making woven fabrics are also disclosed. Methods of using woven fabrics are further disclosed.

Abstract: Audio systems are housed by an enclosure with a substantially waterproof seal such that the audio systems may be mounted in outdoor locations such as decks, boat docks, and the like. The enclosure may include a panel that opens relative to a tub portion, such as by a hinged connection, and a substantially waterproof seal located there between. The audio systems may include one or more various features such as external speaker connections so that speakers may be located distantly from the enclosure. Other features may include internal amplification that may be stand-alone or integrated into an audio signal source such as a radio or compact disc player or combinational device such as an automobile head unit. Additional features may include a power supply that provides power for the amplification and/or audio source, an external cover with a substantially waterproof seal relative to the enclosure, filtered ventilation via an electric fan, and other related features.

Abstract: A system and method of managing telephone network facilities. A telephone network facilities database, such as LEIS, is accessed and selected information, including wire center location, equipment and slot information stored therein, is extracted and re-stored in a relational database. Additional fields in the relational database are populated based on the information extracted from the telephone network facilities database. The additional fields represent working ADSL and T1 facilities, ADSL and T1 capacity, and ADSL and T1 availability. A graphical user interface is provided that displays several views of the data in the relational database. Color coding aspects of the graphical user interface indicates capacity levels.

Abstract: Containers provide for portability and ease of handling by being constructed of pliable materials such as various polymers and having additional features. The containers may have biasing members such as tension poles to hold the containers in an upright and open top position and/or may have sleeves that can be engaged by a forklift for dumping of the container by a conventional forklift equipped garbage truck. The containers may include additional features such as loops along a top edge to allow grasping of the loops by a lift and loops along a bottom edge to allow dragging of the container such as onto a flatbed hauler. Additional features may include a top cover that can be pulled over the open top and secured such as by a fastener.