Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pile driver with a lead that is capable of receiving and supporting a pile in a substantially horizontal orientation and subsequently rotating the lead and received pile from the substantially horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical orientation needed before the pile can be driven into the earth. In one embodiment of the pile driver, the chassis is of a relatively short length to be more maneuverable and the lead is capable of supporting a long and/or quite massive pile. To prevent the chassis, lead, and pile from tipping or being placed in an unstable condition, the pile driver further comprises a movable counterweight system. The method is also directed to methods of using such a pile driver to accomplish the driving of a pile.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for providing a storage rack for cooking utensils, such as skillets and the like, that can be adjusted to accommodate cooking utensils having different characteristics. Adjustment of the rack is accomplished by assessing a particular cooking utensil and bending one or more bendable members to define a slot between two of the bendable members that is of a width that potentially accommodates the cooking utensil. In another embodiment, a bendable handle support member is provided that is capable of being moved between two positions, one of which supports an extended handle of a cooking utensil in an elevated position and the other of which does not support the handle in an elevated position. In yet a further embodiment, a bendable positioner is provided that can be bent to engage a surface adjacent to a support surface and prevent the base from moving.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a precast girder that is used as the outer-most lateral girder in a bridge superstructure. In one embodiment, the girder is comprised of a first flange, a second flange that is separated from the first flange, and a web that connects the first flange to the second flange so that the resulting combination of the first flange, second flange, and web generally has an I-beam cross-section. The girder further includes an edge portion that is connected to the second flange and extends away from the first and second flanges.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosives to a blast hole. One embodiment of the platform provides a tank for holding an explosive composition and a rotary shaft that supports a mixing blade that mixes the explosive composition within the tank. The platform further comprises bearing structure for supporting the rotary shaft that is located to deter any of the explosive composition from entering the bearing.

Abstract: A machine for coating a transparent substrate for the production of display screens comprises a coating chamber that has a modular design. Each of the modules 1 features a chamber section 2, a first support 3 that is arranged removably in or at the chamber section 2, and a second support 4 that is arranged removably at the first support 3. Whereas the first support 3 bears the cathodes, the second support 4 is formed as a cover at which are arranged the pumps for producing a vacuum in the coating chamber. Carriers 3 and 4 can be removed laterally from the chamber section 2 to such an extent that areas 11a, 11b accessible to persons can be formed between the module components. In this way, the components of the machine are readily accessible, for example for maintenance purposes. Work can be done simultaneously on the cathodes and in the chamber interior.

Abstract: An explosive composition is provided that is comprised of a Heavy ANFO and grain hulls. In one embodiment, the grain hulls are comprised of rice hulls. The grain hulls serve both as an inert bulking additive that reduces the density of the composition and as a sensitizer that reduces the energy needed to reliably detonate the composition. Also provided is a method for manufacturing an explosive composition comprised of Heavy ANFO and grain hulls, such as rice hulls. Additionally, a method of using an explosive comprised of ANFO and grain hulls in a mining operation is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a slide with at least a portion of the slide being covered so as to define a tunnel in which a user of the slide is likely to having difficulty seeing where the slide is taking them and a lighting effect that uses invisible light (e.g., ultraviolet light, black light, or infrared light) and an element that, in response to invisible light, produces visible light in the tunnel that is capable of being seen by a user that is passing through the tunnel. Also provided is a method for retrofitting an existing amusement slide that has a tunnel without such a lighting effect or that has a tunnel with inadequate or undesirable lighting effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for producing a fire special facilitates a more compact device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a steam curtain generator for directing received steam to an outlet slot that directs the steam into the ambient atmosphere such that the steam is flowing in a substantially a first direction to produce a curtain of steam, fan that is oriented so as to produce a flow of air in a direction that is substantially parallel to the flow of a steam curtain, a deflector for redirecting the flow of air produced by the fan towards the steam curtain, an adjustable agitator for causing turbulent flow in the stream of air directed towards a steam curtain, and an LED light for producing light that is projected onto a steam curtain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for conducting online auctions, and has particular application in conducting business on-line over a network of computers such as the Internet, for establishing materials supply contracts. In particular, the invention relates to control of a reserve price in an online bidding event. An online auction between a controlling party and at least two competing participants comprises the steps of setting a reserve price for the auction, conducting the auction between the at least two competing parties, determining whether a predetermined time trigger has been reached and suspending the auction if the reserve price is not reached at the time, determining whether the controlling party has selected to enter an optional reserve price negotiation phase, and revising the reserve price for that reserve price negotiation phase, and accordingly, extending the auction based on the revised reserve price.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a message structure for electronically exchanging medical information between applications utilizing disparate medical coding systems and record architectures, the message structure comprising an optional storyline keyword that sets the context for one or more subsequent statements, each of which statements comprise a genre selected from a set of genre keywords representing message categories, a subject, comprising either a natural language string of one or more words or a nested statement, and, optionally, one or more parametrized predicates comprising a context joiner selected from a set of context joiner keywords, and a parameter comprising a natural language string of one or more words or a nested statement.

Abstract: The present invention can allow a user to locate items in a database based on numeric characteristics of the items using words to describe those characteristics. In one embodiment, the invention includes selecting a numeric attribute of an item in a database of items some of which have values for the selected attribute, linking the numeric attribute to a descriptive word, linking the numeric attribute to a function, executing the function on values of the numeric attributes, and assigning a descriptive word to an item based on the results of the function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic books that are accessed over a computer network, such as the Internet. One embodiment of the invention relates to a shared electronic book, i.e. a book in which multiple users each have the right to access the book but only one of the users is allowed to actually access the book at a given point in time. Another embodiment of the invention relates to the detection of potentially fraudulent access of an electronic book. Yet a further embodiment of the invention is concerned with preventing electronic copying of an electronic book when the book is provided to users over an intranet that is not under the direct control of the provider of the electronic book.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nozzle assembly for producing varying water patterns. In one embodiment, a variable first flow of water is constrained to flow in a linear direction. A variable second flow of water is applied to the first flow of water to impart a twist to the first flow of water. The resulting flow of water has a height component that is largely determined by the first flow of water and a lateral component that is largely determined by the second flow of water. For example, if there is only a first flow and no second flow, the resulting water effect is a narrow column of water. If there is no first flow and a second flow, the resulting water effect is a cone with a small vertical dimension. If there are both first and second flows, a cone is produced with a vertical dimension that is largely determined by the first flow and a lateral dimension that is largely determined by the second flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a blacklight or ultraviolet light special effect fixture for use in emulating a shimmering or water ripple type of pattern. In one embodiment, the fixture includes a drum, a motor for rotating the drum and a frame for positioning the drum between a blacklight source and a uv treated projection surface.

Abstract: An improvement in a system for encoding a data field on a disk with write gate data. The system has an encoder and a data receiving controller for directing write gate data in the form of 0 and 1 bits to the encoder. The encoder, in response to the write gate data, produces a primary code in the form of 0 and 1 bits and directing the primary code to the disk. The primary code has certain predetermined criteria with the encoder producing a secondary coding rate as an exception when the write gate data does not result in the predetermined criteria. The improvement comprises a mechanism for ensuring that the last predetermined number of bits in the data field are free from the exception.