Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for selecting a vendor based on a list of user-selected products. A plurality of product identifiers are received from a user. Each product identifier is associated with a particular product. A list of the products is generated. A search is made for vendors of the products on the list. A vendor of the products is selected based on predetermined criteria. Information about the selected vendor is output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating management agents and EM frameworks is provided. For a representative embodiment, the present invention includes an open enterprise management gateway or OEM gateway. The OEM gateway is a software process that functions as an intermediary between one or more management agents and one or more EM frameworks. The OEM gateway includes a set of APIs that allow management agents to export object hierarchies to EM frameworks. The EM frameworks create interactive displays using the exported object hierarchies. The interactive displays allow users to invoke command interfaces for the displayed objects. When command interfaces are invoked, the EM frameworks invoke a callback request API within the OEM server. The OEM server then directs callback processing to an API exported by the appropriate management agent.

Abstract: An attachment mechanism for a hole form that is used to secure the hole form to a form wall during a casting process. The attachment mechanism includes a hole form having an opening formed in the face thereof and a magnet assembly which is received in the opening of the hole form. The magnet assembly can include a flange portion which can be received in a corresponding stepped portion of the opening. The magnet assembly is removable and can be used in other hole forms.

Abstract: Interlocking end members for expandable compression rings. Compression rings are formed by attaching the interlocking members to the ends of a flexible strip and coupling the interlocking members together. The interlocking members include a recess for receiving the ends of a flexible strip and a jaw structure for engagement with one another. The jaw structure includes two or more offset opposed jaw members which include angled teeth. The teeth of opposed jaw members of coupled interlocking members engage one another in a locking relationship, whereby the resulting compression ring can be expanded and locked into a range of positions.

Abstract: An external bus master (205) accesses a DRAM (207) using a memory controller (804) internal to a data processor (3) without the use of external multiplexers or any other external circuitry. The need for external multiplexers and even a dedicated integrated circuit pin for providing external control during external master initiated DRAM accesses is removed by the implementation of a circuit and technique for multiplexing row and column addresses of the DRAM internally within the data processor.

Abstract: A folded annular gasket is cast into an opening in the wall of a manhole and held in a compressed state by an annular support. The annular support includes a helical strip which can be stripped apart to remove the annular support from within the annular folded gasket. A pipe to be connected to the manhole is inserted into the annular support. After the pipe is inserted in the annular support, the annular support is stripped out from between the folded annular gasket and the pipe. Removal of the annular support causes the folded annular gasket to press against the pipe and thereby form a seal. Removal of the annular support can also cause the folded annular gasket to invert. The inverted part of the annular gasket can be clamped to the pipe and function as a boot or sleeve.

Abstract: A user may program a data processor (3) such that external master chip select accesses can be either the same or different length of time than an internal master access through the use of a control register (810). Additionally, the user can turn off the internal transfer acknowledge logic and add external transfer acknowledge logic while still using the internal chip select and write enable generation logic (8) of the data processor. This feature is user programmable on a chip select basis and provides a flexible solution which allows the user to compensate for different external master accesses without requiring external chip select and write enable logic. Therefore, overhead is conserved and efficiency is increased.

Abstract: An integrally molded compression ring for exerting an outwardly, radially directed force on an inner surface of a gasket to compress the gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening. The compression ring is made from a one-piece body or strip of resiliently flexible material that has a substantially continuous and uninterrupted exterior circumferential surface. Lugs formed on an interior portion of the strip cooperate with a force expansion unit to move the ring into an expanded position. A recess may also be provided in one end of the strip for cooperating with the force expansion unit. Projections integrally molded on an interior portion of the strip and on an exterior portion adjacent an end of the strip engage one another to lock the ring in an expanded position. Guiding structure may be formed on the strip that prevent lateral movement of the ends of the strip relative to one another when the strip is formed into a ring.

Abstract: A coupling member includes a ring is formed with a predetermined draft angle. A gasket is provided for creating a seal between the ring and the end grooves of the conduit. The gasket comprises first and second walls which define an interior cavity for receiving the ring. The first and second walls have differential thicknesses so as to accommodate the draft angle of the ring. A plurality of fins are formed integrally on the exterior of the gasket for creating an interference fit with the end grooves.In the preferred embodiment, the first wall is substantially thicker than the second wall and the fins exterior to the first wall are thicker than the fins on the second wall. Also, the thicknesses of the first and second walls are preferably tapered so as to define an interior cavity having a draft angle equal to that of the ring.

Abstract: A quick connect coupling for tubing. The coupling includes a tubular male connector member adapted to be telescopically received within a tubular female connector member assembly. The female assembly includes a first member defining a seal bore and a cylindrical socket portion forwardly of the seal bore. A second female member includes a cylindrical portion which plugs into the socket of the first member and is held in position relative to the first member by sonic welding. A plurality of circumferentially spaced feet on the inner end of the second member are positioned proximate the seal to hold the seal in the seal bore and further engage the outer periphery of the pilot portion of the male member to minimize cocking of the male member relative to the female assembly.

Abstract: An integrally molded compression ring for exerting an outwardly, radially directed force on an inner surface of a gasket to compress the gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening. The compression ring is made from a one-piece body or strip of resiliently flexible material that has a substantially continuous and uninterrupted exterior circumferential surface. Lugs formed on an interior portion of the strip cooperate with a force expansion unit to move the ring into an expanded position. A recess may also be provided in one end of the strip for cooperating with the force expansion unit. Projections integrally molded on an interior portion of the strip and on an exterior portion adjacent an end of the strip engage one another to lock the ring in an expanded position. Guiding structure may be formed on the strip that prevent lateral movement of the ends of the strip relative to one another when the strip is formed into a ring.

Abstract: A quick connect coupling including a tubular male connector member and a female connector assembly. The male connector member is tubular and defines a front pilot portion and an external bead positioned rearwardly of the pilot portion. The female assembly comprises a tubular housing, a cap which is snap fit over the front end of the housing, a seal which seats in a seal bore defined by the housing, and a seal retainer which is positioned against the front end of the housing and acts to maintain the seal in position within the seal bore.

Abstract: An annular gasket is disclosed which may be used in concrete manhole structures and pipe structures. An embodiment of the invention includes an annular body positioned to lie in a joint between two surfaces such as a wall and an outer surface of a pipe or an inner surface of one pipe and the outer surface of another pipe, structure for anchoring the body within the wall or pipe so that the body lies adjacent the wall or pipe, a sleeve having first and second folds, structure for coupling the sleeve to the body so that the sleeve is movable between a folded position adjacent the body and an unfolded position around the outer surface of the pipe, and structure for the securing the sleeve in the folded position.

Abstract: An apparatus for outwardly radially compressing a gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening includes a continuous strip of resiliently flexible material having first and second ends and first and second members. The first and second members are made from a different material than the strip and are respectively attached to the first and second ends of the strip to thereby form a ring. The first and second members are configured to include locking structure that both fixes the ring in an expanded position adjacent to the gasket and secures against contraction of the ring by the gasket. The apparatus may be made from a plurality of continuous strips of resiliently flexible material and have structure for aligning and securing the first end of each one of the strips adjacent the second end of another of the strips to form a closed ring. The aligning and securing structure includes at least one set of the first and second members.

Abstract: A quick connect coupling for tubing. The coupling includes a tubular male connector member adapted to be telescopically received within a tubular female connector member. The female connector member includes a tubular housing and a tubular retainer cap which is permanently bonded to the housing utilizing a sonic welding technique and which defines prong portions for latching coaction with an annular bead on the male member. The coupling further includes a unitary elastomeric seal positioned in a bore of the female member housing and defining a series of axially spaced, radially inwardly extending seal ribs slidably and sealingly engaging the outer circumferential surface of the male connector member.

Abstract: An adjustable crosshair bow sight, comprised of a frame which forms an apperture or sighting window. The window is bisected by a vertical crosshair, and the horizontal crosshair pins are inserted into the frame through holes in one of the sides of the frame. These holes are arranged in rows which are out of vertical registration with each other to provide a fine adjustment of the pins. The ends of the pins are held in place by corresponding holes in the opposite side of the frame, and the entire pin is held within the frame by a retaining plate which attaches to the entrance wall. The use of holes to insert and hold the pins allows not only a fine adjustment, but an easy method for resetting the pins to a preferred sighting position. The holes eliminate the trial and error that would normally be necessary in setting a sight to duplicate a previously used pin position, should an archer choose to change the type of bow or arrow used, or should otherwise encounter a need to change the pin settings.

Abstract: A fuel contamination detection system for use in testing the contamination level of a fuel sample, wherein the system is selectively operable in a first mode as a particulate detector and in a second mode as a free water detector. A filter support slide includes two apertures and is adapted to support different sizes of filter elements over the apertures. In the particulate detector mode, the slide carries a pair of filter elements through which a fuel sample has been passed, wherein one filter element bears particulates from the sample. A particulate detection circuit includes an incandescent light and a photocell, between which the slide is moved to introduce one filter element and then the other, whereby a differential reading of their respective opacities is obtained and displayed. In the free water detector mode, only one aperture of the slide is used to carry a chemically treated water filter pad.

Abstract: A system for transmitting different categories of data in a single data stream generates program data, receiver control data, and program specific tag data for insertion into a single data stream. Program data is combined with receiver control data to form data groups. Headers are generated containing tag data. Each successive header is combined with a plurality of data groups to form a plurality of units. The data stream is constructed by joining successive units for transmission. A receiver for receiving the data stream detects the receiver control data and the tag data, and recovers the program data in response thereto. A program is reproduced from the recovered program data. The system runs off a master clock having a fixed frequency. Program data is sampled at a first rate that is a function of the master clock frequency. The receiver control data is sampled at a second rate that is a function of the first sampling rate.

Abstract: A cable television converter with remotely modifiable functionality receives firmware downloaded over a cable television network. The integrity of the firmware is verified, and if valid, the firmware is executed to provide one or more converter functions. If the firmware is invalid, default operation software contained in ROM is executed instead of the firmware to return the converter to baseline operation. In one embodiment, the converter includes a frequency agile data receiver to receive control instructions on a first data channel and firmware on a second data channel. The receiver is forced back to the first channel if a successful firmware download does not occur on the second channel within a predetermined time period. The firmware is continuously transmitted in short segments, and the converter can continue to receive segments until all the segments of a designated firmware package have been successfully downloaded, unless the predetermined time limit expires sooner.

Abstract: A fuel monitor assembly for use in testing the contamination level of a fuel sample is disclosed, including a housing having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, and a fuel filter capsule disposed within the housing. The filter capsule includes an inlet half and an outlet half, wherein the halves interfit to retain a membrane filter therebetween. The inlet half of the filter capsule is integrally formed with an inlet dispersion structure that radially disperses an incoming stream of fuel so as to equalize the pressure across the face of the membrane filter, thereby resulting in even distribution of contaminant particulates deposited on the membrane filter. The outlet half of the filter capsule is integrally formed with a recessed, radially symmetric grid configuration that channels fuel passing through the membrane filter to the fuel outlet, and also encourages equal pressure distribution across the face of the membrane filter.