Abstract: A fastener actuation system for driving fasteners into a work surface separated a significant distance from a user, the system comprising a fastener actuation tool coupled to a pole assembly, the assembly including a lockout mechanism. The tool may have a firing pin assembly configured such that depression of the barrel assembly against the work surface loads a firing pin into a ready-to-fire position. In addition, the tool may have a trigger sleeve slidable within the tool housing and having a ramp surface such that forward motion of the trigger sleeve may cause a trigger sear to move along the ramp surface until a point where the sear disengages and the firing pin fires. Moreover, the trigger sleeve may operationally engage an advance lever for automatically engaging cartridges. Additionally, the tool system may comprise a pole assembly having a secondary mechanism such as an external sleeve for firing the tool.

Abstract: A self-drilling fastener from which objects may be hung, for use in a friable material with or without an underlying member at the point of use or in a semi-rigid material such as a hollow core door comprises an elongated body having a threaded exterior with separate threads for drilling into the member, gripping the member, gripping the friable material and/or gripping the semi-rigid material. The fastener may further have a thread having a relatively small-diametered solid portion from which objects hang and an axially expanding angled portion for biasing the object toward the solid portion to stabilize and prevent the object from dislodging from the fastener.

Abstract: Molded concrete building blocks consisting of three block walls and block webs so located as to provide an increased path through the width of the block to reduce transmission of thermal and acoustic energy. The blocks may incorporate features, e.g., male projections and female recesses or an offset inner wall, so that mortar may not be required for assembly. The blocks may be configured so that interior apertures may be vertically aligned when the blocks are assembled in courses, providing adaptability to structure enhancing reinforcement and insulation materials, and to interior wall installation of wiring and plumbing.

Abstract: A vehicle (1) is provided with an exhaust pipe (2) extending from an engine mounted in the front part of the vehicle to a branch part (24) in the rear part of the vehicle, and right and left branch pipes (25, 26) extending from the branch part to mufflers (5, 6) on both right and left sides. The branch part (24) is arranged so as to be offset to the side of either one muffler (5) of the right and left mufflers with respect to the center in the vehicle width direction; the exhaust pipe has an upstream part (2, 21) laid linearly to a bend part (22) positioned in the center in the vehicle width direction near the rear end of a fuel tank, and an oblique part (23) laid slantwise from the bend part toward the branch part; and the length of the branch pipe (25) having a longer distance to the muffler is approximately equal to the length of the oblique part (23).

Abstract: A game playing apparatus configured to facilitate playing a game is provided. The apparatus includes a body having a plurality of sides. The body includes a plurality of receptacles, wherein each receptacle has an ingress with an inclined surface extending downward from the ingress to facilitate return of a game playing member, and a plurality of indentations in at least one side. The apparatus further includes a game surface coupled to the body. The game surface includes a return surface beneath the plurality of receptacles to further facilitate return of the game playing member, and a plurality of holders. The plurality of holders and the plurality of receptacles are configured to receive a plurality of cups therein.

Abstract: A closure rail may be secured along a ridge, hip, or eave of a roof to receive and secure panels in a roofing system. A closure rail may be made from a sheet of metal, folded or creased to create a cover, expanse, extension, flange, and hinge. The hinge may connect adjoining sides of the cover and expanse to allow the cover to close down on and secure an end of a panel. The extension may elevate the flange above the height of a rib on the panel to facilitate attachment of a ridge or hip cap or flashing. Multiple covers, separated by notches, may attach to an expanse, thereby allowing one closure rail to secure multiple panels. A closure rail may be used instead of “Z” closures. Such a method may allow for securing the closure rail to the roof before the panels.

Abstract: A bicycle storage rack has at least one bicycle tire receiving channel member which is an elongated channel having a width and a depth, and a channel mounting frame adapted to accommodate a plurality of channel members. A holding arrangement is provided for holding a wheel of a bicycle to a channel at any of a plurality of positions along the length of the channel.

Abstract: A sailboat includes a canting ballast system configured to rotate with respect to a hull. The sailboat includes the hull having a port side and a starboard side, and an external surface. An arcuate member is coupled to the starboard and port sides extending above the hull. The canting ballast system includes at least one rotatable member coupled to the external surface and to the arcuate member. The system further includes a first strut having a first end and a second end, and a second strut having a first end and a second end wherein the first ends are coupled to the rotatable member. The system also includes at least one ballast. The second ends are coupled to the ballast such that an angle is defined between the first and second struts. The sailboat also includes a drive system coupled to the canting ballast system wherein the at least one drive system is configured to rotate the canting ballast system with respect to the hull.

Abstract: A game playing apparatus is provided. The apparatus is configured to facilitate playing a game. The apparatus includes a body including at least one first column including at least one receptacle and a second column coupled to the at least one first column. The second column has an upper surface having a plurality of openings such that a member may be tossed into at least one of the openings. The apparatus also includes a game surface coupled to the body, and a backboard coupled substantially perpendicular to the game surface.

Abstract: A self-drilling anchor for use in a friable material comprises a body having an axis, a flanged rear end, a drilling front end and a generally cylindrical portion therebetween having an outer surface with a thread disposed thereon, wherein the body forks, beginning at a predetermined distance from the flanged rear end, into a first leg and a second leg, the first leg extending forwardly into a drilling tip, wherein the first leg may have a generally rearward facing shoulder angled obtusely outwardly with respect to the axis, wherein the body has an axial bore for receiving an elongate fastener, the axial bore extending substantially through the flanged end and leading to the generally rearward facing shoulder, wherein the anchor is adapted so that the first leg pivots apart from the second leg when the elongate fastener deflects the generally rearward facing shoulder and the predetermined distance is selected to increase pullout strength when the first leg is pivoted apart from the second leg and the anchor i

Abstract: An apparatus for the display of images comprises one or more graphical images, a rigid image support, at least one stand off, and a rigid display structure. A graphical image is affixed to the rigid image support typically through the use of adhesive. One end of the stand off is attached to the image support while the other end of the stand off is attached to the display structure. The attachment on at least one end of the stand off is releasable. The releasable attachment may be achieved with one or more magnets. The display structure contains features that allow attachment to a mounting surface and may contain features that enhance the display of the graphic image.

Abstract: An adhesive pad kit for footwear has a schematic having an indication of footwear. The adhesive pad kit has at least two pairs of thin adhesive backed pads. Each pad in the first pair has a predetermined shape having a length and a width. The length is at least four times the width. The indication depicts an operative location for at least one of the pads on the footwear.

Abstract: A computer implemented problem solving system utilizing an information storage infrastructure and a flexible development environment for data storage, includes a stored, user modifiable program including a problem solving rule set relevant to a problem to be solved, a stored, user modifiable set of vocabularies related to a problem to be solved, at least one stored, user modifiable knowledge set relevant to a problem to be solved, and stored, user modifiable individual user preferences relevant to a problem to be solved. A computer implemented problem solving method utilizing an information storage infrastructure and a flexible development environment for data storage, includes generating screen displays on a display screen, and entering a problem identified by an initial assessment to the computer at a designated place in one of the screen displays.

Abstract: A method for managing a back-end information storage infrastructure and a flexible development environment for data storage using a computer system. The method includes managing system resources including a relational database. Meta data models are created to model processes and to define meta data elements and their relationships by using trees and graphs. The method manages access to the data by authenticating users through several levels of authentication describing user rights, while providing management of multi-user access and concurrency. The method includes running the processes that generate instance data, storing the instance data following the meta data model, and transforming the instance data into physical views.

Abstract: In one aspect, a holder mountable to a friable substrate may include a self-drilling drywall fastener, a wall engaging base plate having an opening for receiving a fastener, and at least one leg extending from the base plate for holding an object. In another aspect, a holder may include a self-drilling drywall fastener having a drilling portion longer than a drywall thickness followed by a high-threaded portion, a wall engaging base plate, and at least one leg for holding an object. In still another aspect, a holder may include a self-drilling drywall fastener having a screw-like drilling portion longer than a drywall thickness followed by a high-threaded portion, a drywall engaging base plate having a recess for receiving a rotary driver and a pair of openings each capable of receiving a threaded drywall fastener and engaging threads thereof.