Abstract: A container including a sidewall having a top and bottom ends, a base attached to or proximate the bottom end defining a cavity bounded by the sidewall and by the base, and the base including at least a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, such that the second thickness is less than the first thickness. A method for controlling deformation in a container including the steps of manufacturing the container as described above, filling the container with a substance, sealing the container at a top end thereof, inverting the container such that the container rests on its top end, allowing the substance to undergo a volume reduction resulting in a vacuum pressure within the container, wherein when subjected to the vacuum pressure, the base deforms at the second portion due to the second thickness being less than the first thickness.

Abstract: A machine for packaging solid pharmaceuticals includes a plurality of storage locations for storing a variety of pharmaceutical dispensing canisters and a robotic arm for retrieving said dispensing canisters and providing the canister at a location proximate the package to be filled thus minimizing the distance which the pharmaceutical travels from the dispensing canister and the package cavity.

Abstract: A communications system includes at least one telecommunications access module coupled to a plurality of communications subscriber line pairs and comprising at least one bonding engine. A module is configured to receive a provisioning request and determine the total number of communications subscriber line pairs available to form a bonding group and select at least one bonding engine for the bonding group. A data processor is configured to determine a maximum packet fragment size for the data packets based on the total number of available subscriber line pairs forming the bonding group. A maximum packet fragment size is adapted to the number of communications line pairs within the bonding group and the bonding engine fragments the data packets into the packet fragments. A transmitter receives the packet fragments and transmits the packet fragments over the communications subscriber line pairs forming the bonding group.

Abstract: A container including a sidewall having a top and bottom ends, a base attached to or proximate the bottom end defining a cavity bounded by the sidewall and by the base, and the base including at least a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, such that the second thickness is less than the first thickness. A method for controlling deformation in a container including the steps of manufacturing the container as described above, filling the container with a substance, sealing the container at a top end thereof, inverting the container such that the container rests on its top end, allowing the substance to undergo a volume reduction resulting in a vacuum pressure within the container, wherein when subjected to the vacuum pressure, the base deforms at the second portion due to the second thickness being less than the first thickness.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for identifying subscriber lines coupled to transceivers of interest. In one exemplary embodiment, an end of a subscriber line is coupled to and terminated by a transceiver of interest. The other end of the subscriber line is coupled to a speaker. The transceiver is then selectively activated and deactivated causing it to transmit its normal frequency spectrum in a predefined pattern. The frequency spectrum includes frequencies audible to humans. Thus, the speaker produces sound capable of being heard by a human, and the sound exhibits periods of noise followed by periods of silence. Indeed, the periods of noise and silence are in a pattern according to the activation/deactivation pattern of the transceiver. Thus, a user can identify the subscriber line that is coupled to the transceiver by identifying which of the lines is coupled to the speaker when the speaker emits noise and silence according to the predefined pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to safety razors having blade units carried on a handle, an electrical arrangement including an electrically operated vibration device, and a control device for actuating the vibration device when the blade unit is moved into contact with or into close proximity to the skin of a person holding the razor, a battery accommodated in the handle, a switch for connecting the electrical arrangement to the battery, and optionally, a light emitting diode for illuminating a section of handle neck to indicate that the electrical arrangement is connected to the battery and ready to actuate the vibration device.

Abstract: The invention relates to safety razors that include a blade unit carried on a handle, a vibration device powered by a battery under control of a control device, and a switch, e.g., included in the handle, to switch on and off an electrical connection between the battery and the control device; a storage tray on which the razor is stored when not in use including a magnet so that the switch closes a connection between the battery and the control device when the razor is separated from the storage tray; and a timing device to interrupt the supply of power to the electrical arrangement if the razor is not returned to the razor holder within a predetermined time period after being removed from the razor holder.

Abstract: A machine for packaging solid pharmaceuticals includes a plurality of storage locations for storing a variety of pharmaceutical dispensing canisters and a robotic arm for retrieving said dispensing canisters and providing the canister at a location proximate the package to be filled thus minimizing the distance which the pharmaceutical travels from the dispensing canister and the package cavity.

Abstract: A printer includes an input tray, a printer body, an output tray, and a point of sale display. Paper is fed through an input tray into the printer, the printer body disperses ink to form colors, text, or images, and the output tray of the printer receives the paper after ink has been dispersed on the paper. The point of sale display is attached to the input tray of the printer. A front panel, a pair of side panels, and a back panel of the point of sale display form an enclosure, where the enclosure has an opening therein, which is adapted to be placed over the input tray of the printer. The point of sale display has an image of a photograph or a recordable disk adhered to a front surface of the point of sale display.

Abstract: A subsurface support is provided in the form of a soil nail. The soil nail has asperities formed on the outer surface thereof to improve the pullout capacity of the soil nail. The asperities can take a number of forms to include indentations, deformations and threads formed on the outer surface of the soil nail. Optionally, a stinger may be attached to a distal end of the soil nail to further enhance the pullout capacity of the soil nail.

Abstract: A machine for packaging solid pharmaceuticals includes a plurality of storage locations for storing a variety of pharmaceutical dispensing canisters and a robotic arm for retrieving said dispensing canisters and providing the canister at a location proximate the package to be filled thus minimizing the distance which the pharmaceutical travels from the dispensing canister and the package cavity.

Abstract: A filter screen to be used in conjunction with a shale shaker in removing solid matter from drilling fluids includes a filter plate having a plurality of perforations, a plurality of hold-down apertures, and a pair of end caps attached to the filter plate, wherein each end cap is configured to isolate the hold down apertures from the plurality of perforations.

Abstract: A data communication system comprises a forward error correction (FEC) module, a first transceiver, a second transceiver, and logic. The FEC module is configured to receive data and to define FEC code words based on the received data. The first transceiver is coupled to a first communication line, and the second transceiver is coupled to a second communication line. The logic is configured to selectively enable the FEC module to implement a desired FEC scheme based on an estimated error rate associated with the first communication line and an estimated error rate associated with the second communication line.

Abstract: A subsurface support includes a soil nail of two-piece construction. The body of the soil nail is constructed of fiberglass. The tip of the soil nail is constructed of a machined metal piece that is secured to the distal end of the fiberglass body. The soil nail is preferably installed by a launching device.

Abstract: A test circuit employs use of first and second switches to operably charge a capacitor to over 500 volts and, thereafter, discharge energy stored in the capacitor to test an over-voltage protection circuit associated with a pin of a semiconductor device. When switched by a controller, the first switch couples a high voltage source to charge a capacitor. After completing this charge phase, the controller opens the first switch, decoupling the high voltage source from the capacitor. The controller then activates the second switch to couple the capacitor to the pin of the semiconductor device. During this discharge phase, energy in the capacitor discharges through the protection circuit of the semiconductor device. Use of a high-voltage dry reed vacuum relay as the first switch provides better isolation of the high voltage source from the capacitor, avoiding a presence of an unwanted residual voltage component in a simulated ESD test pulse.