Abstract: A plug assembly for a lock includes a generally cylindrical plug body that defines a keyway and a generally cylindrical plug housing that rotatably receives the plug body, A plurality of blocking members are housed in the plug body and are movable into the keyway upon rotation of the plug body relative to the plug housing to obstruct the keyway. A key can be provided that is positionable into the keyway, and the blade of the key defines receptacles for receiving the blocking members when the plug body is rotated so that the lock can be unlocked. However, the blocking members prevent rotation of the plug body when a picking tool or unauthorized key is inserted in the keyway since either the blocking members cannot move into the keyway and remain engaged to the plug housing due to the object in the keyway, or obstruct the keyway and prevent insertion of the picking tool.

Abstract: A plug assembly including, a plug, a sidebar movably mounted on the plug, and a plurality of rack pins seated in the plug. The sidebar is biased to an outer position in which the sidebar extends beyond an outer surface of the plug. Each rack pin is a single-piece unitary structure including a key-following leg, and a sidebar-engaging leg. The sidebar-engaging leg includes at least one true gate and a plurality of false gates. When a true gate of each rack pin is aligned with the sidebar, the sidebar is free to move radially inward to an inner position.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including a mounting device, a manual actuator rotatably mounted on the mounting device, and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is disposed in a gap between the manual actuator and the mounting device, and is configured to cut a ligature inserted into the gap.

Abstract: A fishing lure and method for its use are described. The fishing lure includes a lure body made from a buoyant material having a spinner assembly attached to its back end, and an optional wobble plate attached to its front end. The spinner assembly includes a rigid blade, typically metallic, adapted to freely rotate 360 degrees in a conical pattern behind the lure body as the lure is pulled through the water. Typical lure bodies include, but are not limited to crank baits and shad baits.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating data redistribution in database sharding. A database is maintained that is horizontally partitioned into a set of first buckets using modulo-based assignments. A fixed number of the first buckets are stored in each of multiple physical data stores. The database is repartitioned into a set of second buckets using modulo-based assignments. The number of second buckets in the set is a multiple of the sum of a positive integer and the quantity of the physical data stores. The data in the database is unmoved between the physical data stores by repartitioning.

Abstract: A locking cartridge including a housing, first and second plates rotatably mounted in the housing, a blocking member, and a movable member. The cartridge also includes a cam interface which urges the first plate toward the second plate when the plates are rotated. The blocking member is configured to move among a blocking position and an unblocking position in response to engagement with a first cut on a key. When in the blocking position, the blocking member blocks the first plate from moving toward the second plate. With the second plate blocked from moving toward the first plate, the cam interface prevents rotation of the first plate. The movable member is configured to move among a first position and a second position in response to engagement with a second cut on the key. In certain embodiments, the movable member may be a control pin or a second blocking member.

Abstract: Techniques for a sequential message reader for message syncing are described. An apparatus may comprise a network component and an inbox management component. The network component may be operative to receiving an incoming update at a messaging endpoint from a recipient update queue, the incoming update comprising an incoming recipient sequence number. The inbox management component may be operative to add the incoming update to a message inbox on the messaging endpoint, the incoming update added to the message inbox in an order determined by the incoming recipient sequence number and determine based on the incoming recipient sequence number whether one or more additional updates are missing from the message inbox on the messaging endpoint. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for hot snapshotting for message syncing are described. An apparatus may comprise a network component and a snapshot component. The network component may be operative to receiving an incoming update. The snapshot component may be operative to retrieve a messaging snapshot for a user associated with the incoming update; identify a messaging thread corresponding to the incoming update; apply the incoming update to the messaging thread; determining that a number of messaging threads stored in the messaging snapshot is greater than a thread storage limit for the messaging snapshot; identify a least-recently-updated messaging thread currently stored in the messaging snapshot; and remove the least-recently updated messaging thread from the messaging snapshot.

Abstract: Techniques for a persistent queue for message syncing are described. A recipient inbound messaging component may receive an incoming update at a recipient update queue. A recipient queue management component may determine an incoming recipient sequence number for the recipient update queue. A recipient outbound messaging component may transmit the incoming update to the recipient messaging endpoint. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for intelligent messaging for message syncing are described. An apparatus may comprise a recipient inbound messaging component, a recipient queue management component, a recipient update customization component, and a recipient outbound messaging component. The recipient inbound messaging component may be operative to receive an incoming update at a recipient update queue, the recipient update queue associated with a recipient of the incoming update. The recipient queue management component may be operative to add the incoming update to the recipient update queue and determine a recipient messaging endpoint to receive the incoming update. The recipient update customization component may be operative to retrieve one or more recipient messaging endpoint parameters associated with the recipient messaging endpoint and generate a customized incoming update from the incoming update according to the one or more recipient messaging endpoint parameters.

Abstract: An exemplary locking cartridge includes a generally cylindrical housing, first and second plates, and a sliding member. The plates are rotatable with respect to the housing, and at least one of the plates is movable in the axial direction of the housing. The housing and the movable plate include cam surfaces that interact to cause the movable plate to move toward the other plate when the movable plate is rotated. The sliding member is slidingly coupled to one of the plates and operable in a blocked state in which the sliding member resists axial motion of the movable plate, and an unblocked state in which the sliding member does not resist axial motion of the movable plate.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a plug assembly includes a plug body, a sidebar, a cover plate, and a plurality of rack pins positioned in the plug assembly. A first portion of the sidebar is positioned in the plug and a second portion protrudes beyond the outer surface of the plug body. The rack pins are configured to selectably resist and permit radially inward motion of the sidebar. The cover plate is operable to selectably retain the rack pins within the plug body.

Abstract: A plug assembly including, a plug, a sidebar movably mounted on the plug, and a plurality of rack pins seated in the plug. The sidebar is biased to an outer position in which the sidebar extends beyond an outer surface of the plug. Each rack pin is a single-piece unitary structure including a key-following leg, and a sidebar-engaging leg. The sidebar-engaging leg includes at least one true gate and a plurality of false gates. When a true gate of each rack pin is aligned with the sidebar, the sidebar is free to move radially inward to an inner position.

Abstract: A lock cylinder generally including a shell, a plug positioned within the shell, a locking member, and a leaf spring. The plug includes an opening which is aligned with a recess formed in the shell. The locking member is configured to selectively prevent rotation of the plug with respect to the shell. The leaf spring is positioned in the opening and includes a first portion extending radially inward toward the keyway, and a second portion extending radially outward toward the recess. When a key is inserted, a tip of the second portion extends into the recess. When the plug is subsequently rotated, a tapered surface of the recess urges the tip radially inward and into contact with an inner surface of the shell.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for increasing distributed database capacity by adding new nodes while minimizing downtime. A database is partitioned among multiple nodes in a cluster. Each node stores a respective portion of the database. The portions of the database are replicated to corresponding physical standbys. For each portion, a first portion is mapped to an existing node, while a remaining portion is mapped to a physical standby. The cluster is updated to include the physical standbys as additional nodes among which the database is partitioned.

Abstract: An exemplary lock cylinder includes a shell, a plug positioned in the shell, and a locking assembly. The locking assembly is configured to prevent rotation of the plug when no key is inserted, and to permit rotation of the plug upon insertion of any of a plurality of keys having different bitting profiles. The locking assembly may further be configured to prevent key extraction when the plug is in a rotated position.

Abstract: A multi-layer material suitable for use as a covering for an article includes a polymeric cellular layer and nonwoven backing layer. The multi-layer material having a creasability angle of between about 20 and about 160 degrees.