Abstract: A securing device that secures an animal chew to prevent animal choking. A chew with one or more boreholes may be inserted into the cavity. A pin is inserted, through the body until it passes through the borehole. A latch obstructs the head of the pin so that the animal cannot work the pin free while enjoying the chew. To remove the pin, the animal's caretaker can apply force to the end of the pin to push it free past the latch.

Abstract: A composite structure includes a thermoplastic material and axial fibers and radial fibers arranged within the thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material can define a substructure of the composite structure. The fibers can be continuous and/or discontinuous fibers. The substructure can be a first substructure and the composite structure can further include a second substructure. Opposing ends of the first substructure and the second substructure are bonded with one another to form a tubular structure. The composite structure can exhibit enhanced damping characteristics such as having a damping coefficient greater than 0.5 lbf s/in. In some cases, this can limit vibrations of the tubular structure to less than 5.0 m/s2.

Abstract: A system for facilitating the creation, dissemination and fulfillment of supply lists includes a central controller that receives native supply lists from supply requestors. The controller uses intelligent matching to classify and translate individual items from each native supply list into an electronic supply list on a standardized platform, the electronic supply list including a UPC for each requested item as well as any personalized content. The electronic supply list is then rendered accessible not only to purchasers responsible for ordering the supplies but also retailers designated to sell the supply items. The use of UPCs allows for direct list fulfillment by a purchaser in communication with the central controller. Through a one-click initiation process, the purchasing party is redirected to the e-commerce site for the retailer, with the UPCs for the items in the electronic class list automatically extracted by the controller and loaded into a virtual shopping cart.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a securing device that secures an animal chew to prevent animal choking. The body of the device surrounds a cavity and possesses two boreholes along an axis. A chew with one or more boreholes may be inserted into the cavity so that a borehole aligns along the axis. A pin is then inserted in the first passageway along the axis, until it passes through the borehole and into the second passageway. A latch obstructs the head of the pin so that the animal cannot work the pin free while enjoying the chew. To remove the pin, the animal's caretaker can apply force to the end of the pin to push it free past the latch. Optionally, the user may need to push aside the latch while pushing the pin free.

Abstract: A positive feed tool includes a motor, a power supply coupled to the motor to power the motor, a gear head and a spindle. The gear head is coupled to the motor and operated responsive to powering of the motor. The gear head includes a drive assembly and a feed assembly. The spindle is coupled to the gear head to enable the spindle to be selectively driven rotationally and fed axially based on operation of the drive assembly and the feed assembly, respectively. The feed assembly includes a feed rate oscillator having a spindle feed gear coupled to a differential feed gear. The spindle feed gear is coupled to rotate the spindle to selectively axially feed the spindle. The differential feed gear is selectively coupled to an input shaft turned by the motor. The spindle feed gear or the differential feed gear has a variable pitch diameter.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments of portable devices that, when used with a digital camera device, e.g., mobile phone camera, can capture a high quality photograph of a printed photograph or a document, thereby reducing or eliminating reliance on expensive, bulky electrical equipment for post-processing or editing to correct lighting, reflection, and cropping. The device can include a box that can be made of cardboard; can be collapsed flat; can easily fit in a book bag, a brief case, or similar carrier; and is easy to ship. The device also could be fully assembled or molded of plastic, while still maintaining the function as a mobile studio.

Abstract: A swab canister (101) is provided which includes a container (103) equipped with a first opening (105) and having a removable sample collector (117) disposed therein. A membrane (111) which is permeable to both moisture and a sanitizing agent such as ethylene oxide is disposed between the sample collector and the first opening. A desiccant (113) disposed between the membrane and the first opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new closure for a container, the manufacturing precursor that is converted into the closure, and the method of closure manufacture. The closure is comprised of a cap (usually threaded), a retention ring (that keeps the closure assembly connected to the container), and a hinge and articulating band that connects the cap to the retention ring. The closure is made by three major steps in the method: (1) polymer molding the closure, (2) scoring/cutting the closure, and (3) stamping the hinge which reorients the polymer. The hinge and articulating band elements are manufactured so that the band articulates and changes shape as the closure is opened. By necessity, the cap and the retention ring must separate as the cap is lifted or unthreaded; the articulating nature of the hinge and band feature allows it to keep the cap and retention ring connected as they separate.

Abstract: A device (201) is provided for collecting a substance from an ambient fluid. The device includes a housing (205) equipped with an (207) inlet and an outlet (209) which are in fluidic communication with each other, and a collector (203) which has a plurality of spaced-apart layers (213). The collector is disposed in a fluidic flow path between the inlet and the outlet such that a flow of fluid passes through adjacent layers of the collector. Each of the layers includes a substrate (217) having a sorbent or adherent (219) disposed thereon, and a plurality of embossments (215) which maintains the layers in the spaced-apart configuration.

Abstract: A method of characterizing the structure of a void sensitized liquid energetic material, which method comprises defining the material in terms distribution function, the distribution function representing the fraction of liquid energetic material that occurs at a given point within the void sensitized liquid energetic material.

Abstract: An explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, wherein the sensitizing voids are present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution, wherein the liquid energetic material comprises (a) regions in which the sensitizing voids are sufficiently concentrated to render those regions detonable and (b) regions in which the sensitizing voids are not so concentrated and wherein the explosive composition does not contain ammonium nitrate prill.

Abstract: A device (201) is provided for collecting a substance from an ambient fluid. The device includes a housing (205) equipped with an (207) inlet and an outlet (209) which are in fluidic communication with each other, and a collector (203) which has a plurality of spaced-apart layers (213). The collector is disposed in a fluidic flow path between the inlet and the outlet such that a flow of fluid passes through adjacent layers of the collector. Each of the layers includes a substrate (217) having a sorbent or adherent (219) disposed thereon, and a plurality of embossments (215) which maintains the layers in the spaced-apart configuration.

Abstract: A method of producing an explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, the sensitizing voids being present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution, which method comprises: providing a flow of liquid energetic material; and delivering sensitizing voids into the flow of liquid energetic material in a series of pulses to provide regions in the liquid energetic material in which sensitizing voids are sufficiently concentrated to render those regions detonable and regions in the liquid energetic material in which the sensitizing voids are not so concentrated.

Abstract: A gasket for fluidly sealing two conduits having mating surfaces is described. The gasket includes an outer seal with a first thickness and an inner seal with a thickness greater than that of the outer seal. The inner seal can be compressed at least to the thickness of the outer seal. Methods of making the gaskets are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device (201) is provided for collecting signatures from an ambient fluid. The device includes a housing (205) equipped with an (207) inlet and an outlet (209) which are in fluidic communication with each other, and a signature collector (203) which has a plurality of spaced-apart layers (213). The signature collector is disposed in a fluidic flow path between the inlet and the outlet such that a flow of fluid passes through adjacent layers of the signature collector. Each of the layers includes a substrate (217) having a sorbent or adherent (219) disposed thereon, and a plurality of embossments (215) which maintains the layers in the spaced-apart configuration.

Abstract: A method for fluidly sealing two conduits having mating surfaces is described. The method includes positioning a gasket between the surfaces, securing the two conduits together with the gasket interposed between the mating surfaces wherein the gasket includes an outer seal with a first thickness and an inner seal with a thickness greater than that of the outer seal. The step of positioning and/or the step of securing includes compressing the thickness of the inner seal. Methods of making the gaskets are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile manufacturing and delivery platform that is adapted to provide in a blasthole an explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, the sensitizing voids being present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution. The platform comprises a storage tank for the liquid energetic material; at least two delivery lines for conveying respective streams of the liquid energetic material from the storage tank; a void delivery system for producing sensitizing voids in at least one of the streams of liquid energetic material; a mixer for mixing the streams of liquid energetic material to produce the explosive composition; and a blasthole loading hose. The mixer may be provided at the end of the loading hose. A blasting method employs the platform to manufacture and deliver the explosive composition into a blasthole, which composition is subsequently detonated.

Abstract: A system for facilitating the creation, dissemination and fulfillment of supply lists includes a central controller that receives native supply lists from supply requestors. The controller uses intelligent matching to classify and translate individual items from each native supply list into an electronic supply list on a standardized platform, the electronic supply list including a UPC for each requested item as well as any personalized content. The electronic supply list is then rendered accessible not only to purchasers responsible for ordering the supplies but also retailers designated to sell the supply items. The use of UPCs allows for direct list fulfillment by a purchaser in communication with the central controller. Through a one-click initiation process, the purchasing party is redirected to the e-commerce site for the retailer, with the UPCs for the items in the electronic class list automatically extracted by the controller and loaded into a virtual shopping cart.

Abstract: A swab canister (101) is provided which includes a container (103) equipped with a first opening (105) and having a removable sample collector (117) disposed therein. A membrane (111) which is permeable to both moisture and a sanitizing agent such as ethylene oxide is disposed between the sample collector and the first opening. A desiccant (113) disposed between the membrane and the first opening.

Abstract: A positive feed tool may include a motor, a power supply operably coupled to the motor to power the motor, a gear head and a spindle. The gear head may be operably coupled to the motor to be operated responsive to powering of the motor. The gear head may include a drive assembly and a feed assembly. The spindle may be operably coupled to the gear head to enable the spindle to be selectively driven rotationally and fed axially based on operation of the drive assembly and the feed assembly, respectively. The feed assembly may include a feed rate oscillator having a spindle feed gear operably coupled to a differential feed gear. The spindle feed gear is operably coupled to rotate the spindle to selectively axially feed the spindle. The differential feed gear is selectively operably coupled to an input shaft turned by the motor. At least one of the spindle feed gear or the differential feed gear has a variable pitch diameter.