Abstract: Pre-connected analyte sensors are provided. A pre-connected analyte sensor includes a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor. The sensor carrier includes a substrate configured for mechanical coupling of the sensor to testing, calibration, or wearable equipment. The sensor carrier also includes conductive contacts for electrically coupling sensor electrodes to the testing, calibration, or wearable equipment.

Abstract: Laminate lanyards and methods for making the same are disclosed. The laminate lanyards may include a head formed from a reinforcing loop of yarn incorporated within a scrim. The head can be coupled to the head section of a body, which also includes a main section that forms the loop of the laminate lanyard. A gusset can be coupled to ends of the main section of the body to couple the two ends of the body together and facilitate opening and closing of the loop of the laminate lanyard. A slider may also be included in laminate lanyard for adjusting the size of the loop.

Abstract: A placard holder has a clamp member with an enlarged head and an elongated stem. The head defines a narrow slot such that a card containing visually perceptible or machine readable information can be mounted to the head by a friction fit of an edge of the card inserted into the slot. The clamp member attaches to a supporting article such as a display stand by extending the stem through a hole of a thin wall of the support and placing a lock washer over the stem opposite the head. The lock washer is forced along the stem end to compress the wall between it and the head. Compression is maintained by prongs of the lock washer that engage radially protruding teeth disposed along the elongated stem. Paper or plastic placards such as business cards, credit cards, place cards, gift cards can be placed in the placard holder for display.

Abstract: A placard holder has a clamp member with an enlarged head and an elongated stem. The head defines a narrow slot such that a card containing visually perceptible or machine readable information can be mounted to the head by a friction fit of an edge of the card inserted into the slot. The clamp member attaches to a supporting article such as a display stand by extending the stein through a hole of a thin wall of the support and placing a lock washer over the stem opposite the head. The lock washer is forced along the stem end to compress the wall between it and the head. Compression is maintained by prongs of the lock washer that engage radially protruding teeth disposed along the elongated stem. Paper or plastic placards such as business cards, credit cards, place cards, gift cards can be placed in the placard holder for display.

Abstract: Docking stations that can include a durable, movable plug connector are provided. For example, the plug connector can rotate and retract into or extend out of an opening of the docking station housing, thereby reducing the likelihood of breakage caused by misuse. A pivoting retraction mechanism can be rotatably coupled to the plug connector to allow the plug connector to be movable. The retraction mechanism can be a compliant mechanism that is formed from a single piece of material. The plug connector can be biased in a first position by a biasing element that also returns the plug connector to the first position after moving. The opening in the docking station that accommodates the plug connector's full range of motion may only be slightly larger than the plug connector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low carbohydrate bakery item that does not contain any traditional flour, such as white or wheat flour. Instead, the bakery product has other ingredients that allow the bakery product to have similar characteristics, including taste and texture, as a traditional bakery item. The dough created for the bakery products has a consistency that allows it to be processed using traditional commercial bakery equipment, which typically cannot be used with other low carbohydrate bakery products because of the toughness of the dough.

Abstract: Laminate lanyards and methods for making the same are disclosed. The laminate lanyards may include a head formed from a reinforcing loop of yarn incorporated within a scrim. The head can be coupled to the head section of a body, which also includes a main section that forms the loop of the laminate lanyard. A gusset can be coupled to ends of the main section of the body to couple the two ends of the body together and facilitate opening and closing of the loop of the laminate lanyard. A slider may also be included in laminate lanyard for adjusting the size of the loop.

Abstract: A self-countersinking fastener for engagement with wood or similar composite material, said fastener including a penetrating shaft, and a tool engaging head; wherein said tool engaging head is substantially frusto-conical in overall shape and provided with one or more indent regions into which said material may be pushed as the head is turned; wherein each of said indent regions include: a trench extending substantially vertically through the entirety of said head; and a tailing section extending through the entire height of the head and extending forward in the direction of turning from said trench such that the radius of the head in the corresponding section increases throughout said section.

Abstract: Docking stations that can include a durable, movable plug connector are provided. For example, the plug connector can rotate and retract into or extend out of an opening of the docking station housing, thereby reducing the likelihood of breakage caused by misuse. A pivoting retraction mechanism can be rotatably coupled to the plug connector to allow the plug connector to be movable. The retraction mechanism can be a compliant mechanism that is formed from a single piece of material. The plug connector can be biased in a first position by a biasing element that also returns the plug connector to the first position after moving. The opening in the docking station that accommodates the plug connector's full range of motion may only be slightly larger than the plug connector.

Abstract: Laminate lanyards and methods for making the same are disclosed. The laminate lanyards may include a head formed from a reinforcing loop of yarn incorporated within a scrim. The head can be coupled to the head section of a body, which also includes a main section that forms the loop of the laminate lanyard. A gusset can be coupled to ends of the main section of the body to couple the two ends of the body together and facilitate opening and closing of the loop of the laminate lanyard. A slider may also be included in laminate lanyard for adjusting the size of the loop.

Abstract: Laminate lanyards and methods for making the same are disclosed. The laminate lanyards may include a head formed from a reinforcing loop of yarn incorporated within a scrim. The head can be coupled to the head section of a body, which also includes a main section that forms the loop of the laminate lanyard. A gusset can be coupled to ends of the main section of the body to couple the two ends of the body together and facilitate opening and closing of the loop of the laminate lanyard. A slider may also be included in laminate lanyard for adjusting the size of the loop.

Abstract: An optical connector having a body with an outer surface, a first cavity extending within the body from the outer surface and a second cavity spaced apart from the first cavity and extending within the body of the connector from the outer surface. An optical component is positioned within the first cavity and an ejector, which extents into the second cavity, is coupled to the optical component. A biasing mechanism is operatively coupled to apply a biasing force to the ejector to secure the optical component within the first cavity. When a force greater than the biasing force is applied to the ejector within the second cavity, the ejector ejects the optical component from the first cavity so that it extends beyond the outer surface.

Abstract: A self-countersinking fastener for engagement with wood or similar composite material, said fastener including a penetrating shaft, and a tool engaging head; wherein said tool engaging head is substantially frusto-conical in overall shape and provided with one or more indent regions into which said material may be pushed as the head is turned; wherein each of said indent regions include: a trench extending substantially vertically through the entirety of said head; and a tailing section extending through the entire height of the head and extending forward in the direction of turning from said trench such that the radius of the head in the corresponding section increases throughout said section.

Abstract: An optical connector having a body with an outer surface, a first cavity extending within the body from the outer surface and a second cavity spaced apart from the first cavity and extending within the body of the connector from the outer surface. An optical component is positioned within the first cavity and an ejector, which extents into the second cavity, is coupled to the optical component. A biasing mechanism is operatively coupled to apply a biasing force to the ejector to secure the optical component within the first cavity. When a force greater than the biasing force is applied to the ejector within the second cavity, the ejector ejects the optical component from the first cavity so that it extends beyond the outer surface.

Abstract: A headset can include a cable structure connecting non-cable components such as jacks and headphones. The cable structure can include several legs connected at a bifurcation such as, for example, a main leg splitting into left and right legs. To prevent tangling of the cable structure, one or more rods constructed from a super-elastic material can be embedded in each of the legs. For example, a first set of superelastic rods can extend from the main leg to the left leg, a second set of superelastic rods can extend from the main leg to the right leg, and a third set of superelastic rods can extend from the left leg to the right leg. In some cases, the super-elastic rods can be incorporated in a conductor bundle used to transfer signals through the cable structure.

Abstract: A grounding connector for an electronic device having a first housing element and a second housing element comprising a ground clip, a cam surface and a follower. The ground clip is electrically coupled to a first housing element, and selectably electrically coupled with the second housing element. A cam surface is positioned on the first housing element and in proximity to the ground clip. The follower is slidably positionable on the second housing element, and has a first end that engages the cam surface and a second end that engages the ground clip. The ground clip is electrically coupled to a second housing element while the electronic device is in each of the collapsed orientation and the articulated orientation. Upon movement between the collapsed orientation and the articulated orientation, the cam surface directs the follower to electrically decouple the ground clip from the second housing element.

Abstract: A grounding connector for an electronic device having a first housing element and a second housing element comprising a ground clip, a cam surface and a follower. The ground clip is electrically coupled to a first housing element, and selectably electrically coupled with the second housing element. A cam surface is positioned on the first housing element and in proximity to the ground clip. The follower is slidably positionable on the second housing element, and has a first end that engages the cam surface and a second end that engages the ground clip. The ground clip is electrically coupled to a second housing element while the electronic device is in each of the collapsed orientation and the articulated orientation. Upon movement between the collapsed orientation and the articulated orientation, the cam surface directs the follower to electrically decouple the ground clip from the second housing element.

Abstract: The invention includes methods for deriving a computer system processing capacity metric for characterizing a computer system comprising at least one computer processor having a known processor clock speed, comprising the step of performing a computational function wherein at least one term of the function is determined by a value X derived at least in part by raising said clock speed to a non-integral exponential power. Processing capacity may be thus calculated by mathematical analysis alone, based on a limited number of inputs regarding a real or theoretical computer system combination, in a fashion that replicates accurately, and can replace, actual physical testing or benchmarkings of systems.

Abstract: A stand-alone security system controlling access to secured information and self-service functionality for a sponsor organization, usable for Web-based and IVR-based self-service functions, having five primary facets: (1) control of access to secured information and self-service functionality for a sponsor organization, (2) enabling access to users having indirect relationships to the sponsor organization and to users having a direct relationship with the sponsor organization, (3) distribution of security administration from a central information technology resource to various users of the security system, (4) support for integration into different kinds of environments, and (5) support for system integrators.

Abstract: The invention includes methods for deriving a computer system processing capacity metric for characterizing a computer system comprising at least one computer processor having a known processor clock speed, comprising the step of performing a computational function wherein at least one term of the function is determined by a value X derived at least in part by raising said clock speed to a non-integral exponential power. Processing capacity may be thus calculated by mathematical analysis alone, based on a limited number of inputs regarding a real or theoretical computer system combination, in a fashion that replicates accurately, and can replace, actual physical testing or benchmarkings of systems.