Abstract: The invention provides a barrel for a gun having a portion comprising a substantially transparent material. The barrel can be made of any substantially transparent material including a polycarbonate or glass, such as tempered glass. The barrel is coated with a substantially transparent material to add hardness, which provides scratch resistance, and prevent deterioration of the substantially transparent material. A barrel assembly is constructed by attaching the barrel to a gun housing, also called a barrel cage, comprised of a stiff material, for example metal such as aluminum. In another aspect of the invention, an expansion chamber is provided having a housing with a portion comprising a substantially transparent material, such as a polycarbonate or glass, such as, tempered glass. The housing is coated with a substantially transparent material to reduce scratching and absorption of pressurized gas into the transparent material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adding at least one and preferably two new data entry functions to otherwise conventional flip-type cell phones. One such data entry function is handwritten alpha-numeric entry using the fingertip as the entry device. The other such data entry function is use of the fingertip for point and click. Thus, the apparatus does not require a special tool for data entry. A button or switch added on the side of the phone, permits switching between the two data entry functions. By depressing a button on the side, the user can use the touch pad as a point and click device. This will allow service providers to offer user friendly web pages that look and feel like surfing the web at home or office. The invention also offers the ability to operate both the numeric phone keypad and the touch pad simultaneously.

Abstract: A transmission mounted in a housing and including a hydrostatic pump and motor mounted on a center section, having a motor shaft engaged to and driven by the hydraulic motor. An axle may also be mounted in the housing. The center section is secured to the housing using a plurality of bolts or other fasteners having a longitudinal axis parallel to the motor shaft and for the axle.

Abstract: In a method for providing proxy-based online Dutch auction services, an auction server or manager receives bid messages from a set of auction participants during the course of an auction. Each bid message may include a participant ID, a quantity requested value, a current proxy value indicating a maximum amount that the participant corresponding to the participant ID is willing to pay, and a partial quantity acceptance flag. The auction manager ranks or prioritizes bids in accordance with participants' current proxy values; determines current auction winners and losers and allocates offered items accordingly; determines a new current bid amount; and automatically adjusts participant bid values in accordance with participants the new current bid amount as well as the participants' current proxy values and status as winners or losers.

Abstract: A method for providing a bypass for a hydraulic circuit in a hydrostatic transmission enables the user to open or close a bypass between the hydraulic circuit of the transmission and a hydraulic fluid sump. The method uses an electromechanical valve mechanism, and provides an electrical signal thereto to open the bypass and divert the hydraulic fluid from the circuit to the sump.

Abstract: An integrated hydrostatic transaxle including a housing in which a center section is supported. The center section supports a hydraulic pump unit and a hydraulic motor unit having a motor shaft drivingly connected thereto. A gear differential assembly is drivingly linked to the motor shaft and is used to drive a pair of axle shafts, which are supported by the housing. The differential assembly includes a mechanism to prevent relative motion of the axle shafts with respect to each other, known as a differential lock mechanism.

Abstract: A housing for a hydrostatic transaxle is provided wherein the housing has a chamber in which is disposed a hydrostatic transmission and a chamber in which is disposed an axle shaft that is engaged to the hydrostatic transmission. The housing is also provided with a plurality of caps to cover the chambers.

Abstract: An improved compact design for a hydrostatic transmission having a hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor mounted on a center section in a housing, wherein the pump and motor are mounted at generally right angles to one another, and the longitudinal axis of the input shaft is located between a first and second parallel planes located at respective ends of the motor shaft and the longitudinal axis of the motor shaft is located between a third and fourth parallel planes located at respective ends of the pump shaft.

Abstract: A mechanism for bypassing the flow of hydraulic fluid in a hydrostatic transmission comprised of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor in fluid communication through a center section. The mechanism includes a bypass actuator rod that is moved from a first position to a second position to thereby move a plate into the hydraulic motor to lift the hydraulic motor off of the center section. The bypass actuator rod may has a generally flat surface and an opposite arcuate surface wherein the generally flat surface of the bypass actuator is positioned adjacent to the plate in the first position and the arcuate surface of the bypass actuator engages the plate in the second position. When the bypass actuator rod is in the first position the hydraulic motor is in substantial sealed engagement with the center section.

Abstract: A juicer includes a reservoir with a spout and an annular rim having an extended portion with at least two holes. An extractor having an upright convex extracting dome is surrounded by an annular trough having openings therethrough. The extractor has a strainer element and is removably seated on the annular rim of the reservoir. The extractor has at least one peg that can mate with the at least two holes in at least two positions. The strainer element covers the spout when the peg is mated with one of the holes in a first position. The strainer element does not cover the spout when the peg is mated with another of the holes in a second position. When mated, the extractor cannot rotated relative to the reservoir. A resilient, elastomeric foot on the reservoir prevents rotation of the reservoir relative to a supporting surface.

Abstract: A headset docking device is connected to an audio device by a cord. When the headset is placed in a headset dock, a reel activation button is depressed which instantaneously retracts the cord. Examples of audio devices include a cradle, a cellular phone and a computer, all using the headset docking device.

Abstract: A barbecue tongs is provided wherein the arms are yieldingly outwardly biased. The tongs incorporate an arm pivot limiter for each of outward pivotal movement and inward pivotal movement as well as an arm lock that holds the arms in an almost fully jaws closed configuration for convenient storage. The tongs utilize a slidable U-shaped sleeve at the rear end which can have either one of two positions selected by a user. In one position, the arm lock is operational while in the second position the outward pivot limiter is operational.

Abstract: An improved compact design for a hydrostatic transmission having a hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor mounted on a center section in a housing, wherein the pump and motor are mounted at generally right angles to one another, and the longitudinal axis of the output motor shaft is located between the longitudinal axis of the pump input shaft and the longitudinal axis of the output axles.

Abstract: A device for controlling a hydraulic pump having a swash plate controlled by a trunnion arm, including a control arm attached to the trunnion arm. The pump is mounted in a housing that may include a symmetric end cap. A stud is mounted in the pump housing and extends parallel to the trunnion arm. A control structure is attached to the stud engages and controls the control arm.