Abstract: A call list update processing system including a call list controller, responsive to a source of call records, a predictive dialer, and a call list update processing system. The call list update processing system including a call list update processor, said processor including a call list update file. The call record update data including an updated call record that corresponds to a call record in the call list and a comparator. The source of call records includes a host processor and the call list update processor includes a host update file, for storing call records update data received by an agent during a telephone call with a third party until said call record update data is transmitted to said host processor by said call list update processor.

Abstract: A plastic encapsulated bolt includes a metallic insert having a head (e.g., a hex head, square head, or other type of deformed head) and a shank. An outer plastic layer encapsulates the metallic insert and forms a plastic encapsulated head and a plastic encapsulated shank. The plastic encapsulated shank can be totally or partially threaded. In one application, the plastic encapsulated bolt is used in combination with a plastic female anchor having an internally threaded portion. The plastic female anchor preferably includes multiple sections. The plastic encapsulated bolt includes a tapered threaded nose that engages the internally threaded portion such that the sections of the plastic female anchor expand outwardly as the plastic encapsulated bolt is threaded therein, causing the anchor to engage in an interference fit with a hole, for example, in concrete.

Abstract: A lubrication cover, for a joint such as a hinge or other similar device, includes a body defining a cavity and at least one aperture. The body is made from a stretchable material and is sized to allow the cavity to fit snuggly around the hinge. The body preferably includes at least one tab to facilitate the placement of the cover around the hinge. In practice, a user places the cover around the hinge. Next, the user introduces a lubricant into the cavity through the aperture. The cover prevents the lubricant from being applied to an area other than on the joint itself, thereby eliminating the creation of a mess and damaging other objects. If left in place, the cover also ensures that the lubricant will be in close proximity with the hinge, and protects the hinge from foreign material such as dirt, water, and the like.

Abstract: A machine tool with a driven tool spindle that is rotatable about a spindle axis that includes a tool exchanger including grippers to displace tool-holders or tools between a receiver position in the tool spindle and a storage position, or vice versa. The tool-holders or tools in these two positions are identically oriented, and the storage position and the receiver position are displaced with respect to each other along the spindle axis direction of the tool spindle. The tool exchanger possesses a transport mechanism that includes a carrier element pivotable about a pivot axis inclined with respect to the spindle axis, to which grippers pivotable about axes perpendicular to each other are connected. Guide elements are mounted so they may be driven and rotate about the first axis parallel to the pivot axis in the opposite direction to the pivot direction of the carrier element are included on the carrier element.

Abstract: A locking and pivoting mechanism for a rear seat includes a first, approximately horizontal use position; a second, approximately vertical position; and a third lowered position. The seat includes a front and a rear link. A lower end of the front link is attached to the chassis and an upper end is attached to the seat body so that it may be displaced longitudinally, and may be affixed to the seat body by means of a first locking pawl. An upper end of the rear link is attached to the seat body and a lower end is releasably connected to the chassis by means of a second locking pawl. At least one of locking pawl locks the seat in and releases the seat from the first, second, and third positions.

Abstract: A task processing system such as a telephony call center and telephony call center management system downloads and processes unscheduled events such as inbound and outbound call records, in real time. A real time event server such as a real time call record server receives unscheduled events such as call records from an external record source, and places them in a real time call record table. The outbound campaign manager requests call records, and processes the real time call records in the same manner as other call records. A method for processing such real time events includes scheduling an ordered list of tasks, and commencing processing. When an unexpected event occurs, a predetermined task is selected in response to the event. The predetermined task is then integrated into the ordered list of scheduled tasks and processed.

Abstract: A particulate absorbent, for the absorption of liquids, comprising particles selected from the group consisting of particles of glass-like polysaccharides and of particles of glass-like polysaccharides occluding, in their internal structure, at least one surfactant, said particles: having a size of up to 620 &mgr;m; being at least 70% of a glass-like type structure; and being: 30 to 45% of a size comprised between 620 and 420 &mgr;m; 35 to 55% of a size comprised between 420 and 210 &mgr;m; and 5 to 25% of a size up to 210 &mgr;m. These particulate absorbent is non-hygroscopic, hypoallergenic and biodegradable and useful particularly in biodegradable diapers.

Abstract: A system and method of integrating outbound text messaging capabilities to a telephone call center management system, wherein outbound text messages are a secondary means by which a customer can be contacted, the primary means being voice communications between a call center agent and the customer. The system includes a telephone call management system including a dialer for dialing a plurality of contact telephone numbers included in said at least one call record in a call list. Each call record includes a primary customer contact identifier, such as a voice line telephone number and at least one text message destination identifier, which is included as a secondary customer contact identifier. The system also includes a text message processing system, including text message memory for accepting and storing at least one text message for transmission to a text message receiving device and for transmitting the text message upon connection to the text message receiving device.

Abstract: An integrated contact center capable of generating outbound calls in a plurality forms including at least one instant online communication form for instantly communicating with a customer when he is online. A priority scheme or communication forms is preset for each customer so that the contact center may try the outbound calls according to the scheme until one succeeds. The contact center detects whether the target customer is online or not before an online communication form is tried.

Abstract: One embodiment of a roughening device comprises a hub, a body having a wall defining a cavity, and an elastomeric material within the cavity. A plurality of cutting elements extend through holes in the wall of the body such that a base of each cutting element is positioned against the elastomeric material.

Abstract: In an inclination adjustment lock for partial areas of seats, such as seat backs, a first lock part is firmly attached to a first partial area and a second lock part is attached to a second partial area. Both partial areas are connected together so that they may pivot about a common pivot axis, and the second is mounted to the second partial area so that it may pivot about an axis parallel to the pivot axis, and so that it may be held via a locking pawl in a ratchet position. In the ratchet position, a toothed section of the second lock part engages with an opposing toothed section of the first lock part. The pressure angle of the tooth faces assuming increased loading conditions, such as during a crash, with the toothed section of the second lock part and their complementary opposing toothed section decreases as the separation from the axis 4a increases.

Abstract: A housing for an electronic component has a set of walls for surrounding the component. The component is snap-fitted into the housing to retain it in the housing through snap-fit features in the housing and snap-fit features on the component. The housing can incorporate springs which, in use, bias the component into contact with the snap-fit features. If the component is a transformer, the springs can act on the transformer laminations to press the stack of laminations together while biasing the component into contact with the snap-fit features.

Abstract: A tilt adjustment mechanism for a seat back such as an automobile seat back includes a mechanism upper part and a mechanism lower part that are mounted in opposition about a common horizontal swivel axis so as to be free to move relative to one another. One mechanism part includes an inner-toothed surface while the other mechanism includes several outer-toothed blocking elements. The outer-toothed surfaces of several blocking elements mounted in the other mechanism part free to be radially displaced and are evenly distributed about a swivel axis. The outer-toothed surfaces of the several blocking elements are held engaged with the inner toothed surface against the force of a spring by means of a control surface of a rotatable cam device. The blocking elements rest entirely on support surfaces of adjacent blocking elements as are slidable relative to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for communicating video frames from a source having a video input means to a destination having a visual display unit during the course of a telephone conversation. A first user can use a first computer communication means to make a first connection to a service provider. The service provider or first user then initiates a telephone call from the first to the second telephone via the service provider and the first and second communication paths. A second user can then use the second computer communication means to make a second connection to the service provider. Caller-id data is communicated between each of the first and second users and the service provider so that the service provider can correlate both the call and the first and second connections with each other. At least one video image is uploaded from the video input means to the service provider, and then downloaded to one of the computers.

Abstract: The support slat is in the form of an integrally-molded one-piece unit. It comprises a central section provided with a pair of spaced-apart and parallely-disposed side walls. The side walls are connected to each others by a plurality of spaced-apart transversal walls. The end sections are each having a beveled transversal edge, which defines an inclined surface contiguous with an upper load-supporting surface of the support slat. The support slat is particularly well adapted to be used with corresponding support beams, thereby allowing to solve the problem of direct contact between the belts and the upper surface of stacked articles. This is achieved without interfering with another stack placed above. Another advantage of using the support slat is that it allows to increase the sliding resistance of supporting beams.

Abstract: A wardrobe rod with two brackets includes a tensioning device for tensioning the wardrobe rod along its longitudinal direction. The tensioning device includes a tension member that longitudinally transfixes the wardrobe rod formed as a tube. Its centerline extends beyond its ends displaced with respect to the centerline of the wardrobe rod, and lies at least in the displaced area on contact surfaces of an insert that is supported by the inner wall area of the wardrobe rod opposite the tension member.

Abstract: A system and method of estimating wideband performance characteristics of a telecommunications subscriber loop by identifying and inventorying broadband inhibitors that are present in the subscriber loop. The method begins by inventorying a client computer and associated components. Then, a voice band modem call from a modem associated with the client computer is placed to a remote access server (RAS) under the control of a server computer. Next, once the connection is established between the client computer and the RAS, the RAS extracts modem training and line probing signals received from the client computer modem. In addition, the client computer transmits its inventory of components to the RAS. The RAS then analyzes the received signals and component inventory to identify and inventory potential wide band inhibitors that are present in the subscriber loop being analyzed.

Abstract: An inclination adjustment fitting for adjusting the inclination of a seat back relative to a seat body and tilting the seat into a release position includes a first and a second actuation element mounted about an actuation shaft, an opposing element secured to the seat back, a ratcheting disk mounted to the seat back and including a plurality of engaging teeth, and a ratcheting block mounted to the seat back and including an engaging surface. The seat inclination is adjusted by pivoting the first actuation element, thereby releasing the engaging teeth from the engaging surface and pivoting the second actuation element and allowing the ratcheting disk to rotate. The seat is tilted to the release position by pivoting the second actuation element wherein the first actuation element remains in its initial position and the ratcheting disk is secured against the seat body by means of the ratcheting block.

Abstract: A pedal mechanism 20 requires a friction mechanism for producing the force hysteresis in the pedal to ensure the correct, desirable pedal ‘feel’. A pedal arm 18 is pivoted in a housing 24. Friction is produced with a piston 28,128 which is urged by resetting springs 30,32,130,132 into frictional contact with a friction pad 36,136 which is fixed in the housing. Relative angular movement between the pedal 18 and the pad 36,136 when the pedal is depressed causes the point of contact between the pad and the piston 28 to move relative to the housing 24. This movement is resisted by friction between the pad and the piston, and by the springs which have to be compressed to allow the movement to take place. The same springs provided a restoring force to return the pedal to its initial position when it is released.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of hot tapping a conduit and inserting a sensor is disclosed wherein the conduit is hot tapped and the sensor inserted in one step. The apparatus includes a first cavity, a propellant disposed in a first end of the first cavity, a plunger, and a second cavity adapted to contain a sensor. The plunger includes a shearing surface and an aperture. The propellant propels the plunger from the first end of the first cavity towards the second end of the first cavity, creating an aperture in the conduit. When the plunger is disposed at the second end of the first cavity, the first and second cavity are in fluid communication with each other and the apertures in the plunger and the conduit are aligned with the second cavity, and the sensor is then automatically propelled through into the conduit by the propellant.