Abstract: A foldable member including a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration and a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration. The second section is longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration. A hinged connection between the first and second structural sections allows the first structural section to be folded against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming non-wine affected oak wood from a stave removed from a wine barrel or cask. The wine affected wood is removed as by sawing, the remaining non-wine affected wood is sawn into battens, dressed, straightened and toasted. The reclaimed oak battens can then be immersed in wine.

Abstract: A flexible hinge including a first set of plies and a second set of plies, and a hinge area where the first set of plies and the second set of plies bend. A damping material is disposed between plies of the first set and the second set at least at the hinge area thereof to control the deployment of the hinge.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the controlled heating and firing of oak wood in the form of flat staves. The staves are assembled in a panel and heated by far infra red heaters passed in a controlled manner across the panel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the controlled heating and firing of oak wood in the form of flat staves. The staves are assembled in a panel and heated by far infra red heaters passed in a controlled manner across the panel.

Abstract: A flexure including a plurality of plies of composite material consolidated everywhere except at at least one predefined region where preselected adjacent plies are purposefully delaminated so they can move relative to each other when the flexure is bent.

Abstract: An open lattice mirror structure with an optical face sheet, a supporting isogrid framework supporting the optical face sheet, an isogrid back plane, and a truss core interconnecting the supporting isogrid framework and the isogrid back plane for transferring shear loads evenly between the face sheet and the isogrid back plane. Also disclosed are methods of making such a structure and a method of polishing the optical face sheet to prevent quilting.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a wine vat having a metal hoop forming the top, end walls and bottom, and with wooden side walls pressed in sealing engagement with the side edges of the metal hoop. The seal is a compressible seal attached to the side edges of metal hoop, the wooden side walls being clamped to the metal hoop.

Abstract: A method for displaying multi-level help for an element of a computer system through creating a hierarchically organized plurality of help levels for the element in which each help level includes an associated help item. The computer system then receives a help activation command for that element from the user and responds by displaying a help item for the element of an initial help level. A user may also edit the help item or create a new help item for one of the plurality of help levels or a new help level. Additionally, each user of the system may edit and create user specific help items, and these help items may be created, edited and implemented “on the fly.

Abstract: A method for receiving database entries through a user interface including a structured form displaying a text box with a pre-configured label displayed adjacent to the text box. To customize the structured form, multiple users may each define, save and access multiple views of the structured form in which the label is customized to display user-defined labels. Data entries received through the structured form are then stored in the database in association with their corresponding user-defined labels. A view selection utility allows each user to select which view of the structured form to display when activating the structured form so that the user may select among a variety of views containing different user-defined labels. The user may also select a default view including the pre-configured label installed with the software.

Abstract: A method for receiving data through a user interface displaying a text box with a type-over prompt displayed inside the text box. To customize the user interface, multiple users may each define, save and access multiple views of the interface in which the text box is customized to display user-defined prompts as the type-over prompt. A view selection utility allows each user to select which view to display when activating the user interface so that the user may select among a variety of views containing different user-defined type-over text prompts. The user may also select a default view including the pre-configured type-over text prompt installed with the software.

Abstract: A dynamic item data viewer that allows multiple users to create, define, store and access multiple views of any type of data item incorporated directly or indirectly into a database. The viewer empowers its users to create customized software platforms for a virtually unlimited range of purposes, such as implementing language translation, displaying helpful items in a user's own words, creating training platforms, customizing data views for special purposes, customizing data views for other persons, and so forth. The customizable features of a view include a border, shape, and background, as well as a wide variety of administrative items and other effects that may be displayed or played in connection with the data item. For example, any data item may have associated text in any font, size, color and style selected by the user, and may also have associated multi-media effects, such as an image, sound, animation, or executable activity.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a wine vat having a metal hoop forming the top, end walls and bottom, and with wooden side walls pressed in sealing engagement with the side edges of the metal hoop. The seal is a compressible seal attached to the side edges of metal hoop, the wooden side walls being clamped to the metal hoop.

Abstract: A flat folding tube including a first thin walled structure having a bottom end, a second thin walled structure having a top end, and hinge flexibly securing the bottom end of the first thin walled structure to the top end of the second thin walled structure. The first thin walled structure and the second thin walled structure both have at least two states: a first state wherein both thin walled structures are flat or substantially flat, and a second state wherein the bottom end of the first thin walled structure is curved inwardly and the top end of the second thin walled structure is also curved inwardly to lock the flexible hinge thereby producing a rigid tube in the second state, the rigid tube foldable flat in the first state.

Abstract: A meaning processor software system and method for use in conjunction with an any-to-any component computing system for simulation of human-type information processing and enabling natural language communication with the computing system. The invention comprises a method and system for designating distinguishable symbols to individual meanings of individual words as well as to individual component meanings of individual words integrated with a data base comprising records of said symbols for said individual meanings configured into different programmable fields such that one or more software applications from said any-to-any component computing system can process said symbols to execute commands created from combinations of said symbols to produce results that simulate the expected responses that humans would have to commands given to humans using natural language terms.

Abstract: A foldable member including a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration and a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration. The second section is longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration. A hinged connection between the first and second structural sections allows the first structural section to be folded against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat.

Abstract: A flexure including a plurality of plies of composite material consolidated everywhere except at at least one predefined region where preselected adjacent plies are purposefully delaminated so they can move relative to each other when the flexure is bent.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing effects through database records. During an uninterrupted user session, the host system provides a database for maintaining records and a utility for receiving user commands defining views and effects associated with data items. The host system then receives user commands creating a record incorporating a data item into a field of the record, and defining a view for displaying the data item. The host system also receives user commands creating records defining an effect for implementation in association with the view. The host system stores the records in the database in a manner that reference the records defining the view and the records defining the effect with the record incorporating the data item. The host system then processes the database records to display the view and implement the effect in association with the view.

Abstract: A system for implementing administrative control functions in association with views for data items in which the host computer stores the definition of the administrative control function with reference to a view for a data item. Then, in response to a subsequent user command selecting the view, the host computer implements the administrative control function in association with the view. The view, including the administrative control function, may be created and implemented during an uninterrupted user session, and may be transmitted to a compatible computer system where is received, stored and implemented during an uninterrupted user session. The administrative control functions may be defined in database records referenced to one or more views, and may be implemented by processing those records during an uninterrupted user session.

Abstract: A method for implementing software by providing a data structure, providing a set of executable code components, incorporating a combination of the executable code components into the data structure by reference, and processing the data structure to implement a function defined by the incorporated combination of software components. For example, the invention may be implemented through a database for maintaining records and a set of executable code components that are located inside or outside the database. In addition, the data components may be expressed in a form in which each data component has an unambiguous meaning and cannot be subdivided without losing the entirety of the meaning of the original data. Similarly, the executable code components may be expressed in a form in which each executable code component cannot be subdivided without losing the entirety of the useful functionality of the original code.