Abstract: A positive feed tool having a retract valve. The retract valve is manually actuatable so as to cause an advancing spindle of the tool to retract away from a workpiece. The retract valve is configured to automatically return its unactuated position after the retract valve is manually actuated so as to cause the spindle to once again advance toward the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically tailoring a communication device to suit the user's preferences based on the user's identity includes storing a plurality reference signatures and associated operational profiles. When a user supplies a proffered signature to the communication device, the proffered signature is compared to the stored reference signatures. If a match is found, the communication device is configured according to the operational profile associated with the matched reference signature. If no match is found, normal operation of the communication device is preferably inhibited. The proffered and reference signatures may be conventional manually entered passwords, spoken voice patterns, writing samples, fingerprints, and the like. The present invention allows a single apparatus to be used by a plurality of users under one service subscription and telephone number as well as under a plurality of subscriptions and telephone numbers.

Abstract: An assembly for reversing a fluid driven motor. The assembly includes a fluid driven motor, and a reversing valve that reverses inlet and exhaust porting to and from the fluid driven motor. An actuation device opens an actuation valve and a fluid supply valve. The actuation valve causes the reversing valve to reverse the inlet and exhaust porting to and from the fluid driven motor when the actuation device opens the actuation valve. The fluid supply valve allows fluid to flow through the fluid supply valve to the motor when the actuation device opens the fluid supply valve. The fluid supply valve also prevents fluid flow through the fluid supply valve to the fluid driven motor when the fluid supply valve is closed.

Abstract: A rocker-type load separating mechanism for a roller conveyor includes a rocker arm and a release mechanism. The rocker arm is pivotally mounted in a discharge zone of the conveyor. The rocker arm is movable between a first load blocking position in which an upstream end of the rocker arm extends into the conveyor pathway to block loads in the holding zone of the conveyor, and a load releasing position in which the upstream end is positioned out of the conveyor pathway to allow those to pass from the holding zone into a discharge zone of the conveyor. A manually actuated release mechanism applies force to the downstream end of the rocker arm to move the rocker arm from a load blocking position to the load releasing position. The force applied by the release mechanism overcomes the weight of loads in the holding zone pressing against the rocker arm when the rocker arm is in the load blocking position.

Abstract: A combination beverage and cellular phone holder adapted for insertion into an existing vehicle beverage holder to convert it to a multi-unit holder and firmly position the cellular phone within the vehicle in a convenient and accessible position.

Abstract: The invention relates to providing secure transactions with a tag and POS device associated with a host network authorization system. In doing so, the tag is adapted to bi-directionally communicate with a POS device, preferably a fuel dispenser, which further communicates with a host network to provide authorization of the tag and carry out any desired purchases or transactions. To avoid transmitting data from which valuable account or financial information could be derived, between the tag and POS device or the POS device and the host network system, the invention may maintain all or a majority of account and financial information requiring absolute security only at the host network. Neither the tag nor the POS device has or has access to certain critical financial or account information. The tag also is adapted to communicate with other local sources and the POS device directly. Additional and alternate security is available for these communications.

Abstract: A portable drive assembly for driving a chain hoist which includes a drive sheave having a drive shaft extending therefrom that is adapted to be connected to a portable power drill. The drive sheave includes a chain cavity extending around the same for engaging and driving the drive chain associated with a manual chain hoist. To stabilize the portable drive assembly during operation, a stirrup extends from the assembly and the operator is able to stabilize the portable drive assembly by projecting his or her foot into the stirrup. Thus the chain hoist is driven, in either direction, by simply actuating the power drill and holding the portable drive assembly such that the drive sheave continuously engages a lower run of the drive chain.

Abstract: The grapple system of the present invention is intended for use with a front-end loader or other type equipment which specialize in gripping and moving heavy loads. The grapple system includes a stationary jaw assembly that is comprised of a series of spaced apart fingers and which is adapted to be secured to a mounting fixture on the front loading equipment. Rotatably secured to the stationary jaw assembly, by a generally horizontal main shaft, is a movable jaw assembly. Also disposed about the main shaft is a T-shaped lever arm connector, which, along with a pair of hydraulic actuators, comprise an actuating linkage assembly. More particularly, the hydraulic actuators are disposed in a series configuration, with the T-shaped connector serving as an intermediate connecting link between the two actuators. The free end of one actuator is attached to the stationary jaw assembly, while the free end of the remaining actuator is attached in a similar manner to the movable jaw assembly.

Abstract: A portable viewer for viewing bar codes and other markings printed at least in part with invisible inks includes a light source for illuminating and exciting the ink of the bar code, a camera for detecting light emitted by the excited bar code and for outputting image data, a display for creating a visible image of the bar code from the image data output from the camera, and an optical system for projecting the visible image onto a viewing screen. The display may be a miniature, transmissive active matrix liquid crystal display with high resolution that produces a sharp, bright image. A backlight and lens project the image produced by the display to generate an enlarged virtual image that can be easily viewed by a user. The portable viewer is compact in size and can be accommodated in a small package and requires only a small amount of power.

Abstract: A demountable wall system that is adapted to be interposed between a floor and ceiling structure and including a series of wall panels that include a continuous and seamless wall covering. More particularly, the demountable wall system includes a floor railing disposed adjacent to the floor structure and a ceiling railing detachably connected to the ceiling structure. Longitudinally spaced between the ceiling and floor railings are a series of upright wall studs. Secured generally between the ceiling and floor railings and connected to the wall studs is a series of wall panels that are disposed edge to edge to form a continuous wall along one or both sides of the demountable wall system. Each wall panel includes a face area and there is applied to the central portion of the face area a wall covering. However, this pre-applied wall covering is not applied to the entire face. Outer areas on each side of the pre-applied wall covering are left uncovered.

Abstract: A pressure regulator and steamer oven for cooking food at low pressure includes heating elements and a cooking cavity having a pool for holding water to be turned into steam. A pressure sensor is disposed in a steam outlet passage connected to the cooking cavity. The pressure sensor is operable to turn off the heating elements when the pressure in the steam outlet passage exceeds a pre-determined level. The pressure sensor may be a float switch monitoring the water level in the steam outlet passage. The condensing steam in the steam outlet conduit may be routed back to the pool in the cooking cavity via an overflow.

Abstract: An object-linking interface for a computer system dynamically links a selected target object within an host application with a second user application. The operating environment includes a plurality of means testers, each of which is associated with a specific user application, and an object mapper. The means tester is passed a copy of the target object and tests the suitability of the associated application for processing the target object and generates a corresponding likelihood score. The object mapper queries each means tester to obtain the likelihood score and identifies, based upon said likelihood score, one or more applications suitable for processing the target object. The object mapper may automatically launch the recruited application or may allow the user to select a recruited application from among a list of candidates. The target object is then passed to the recruited application for processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing power consumption of a communications accessory attached to a vehicle based on the state of vehicle's ignition and upon the power on/off history of the wireless communications device attached to the communications accessory. The method determines whether the last powering off of the wireless communications device was due to user action. If so, then the wireless communications device is left in a powered off state when the ignition is turned back on. If, instead, the last powering off of the wireless communications device was in response to an automatically generated request from the communications accessory (prompted by the ignition being turned off), the wireless communications device is powered back on when the ignition is turned back on. An ignition sense circuit determines the power state of the vehicle's ignition and tracks the recent power on/off history of the wireless communications device.

Abstract: A method for determining when a wireless communications device's warranty period begins uses the wireless communications device's first use date as a proxy for the start of the warranty period. After being powered-on, the wireless communications device checks a non-volatile warranty registration status-flag. If that flag indicates that the wireless communications device has not previously registered, the wireless communications device sends a unique identifier, such as a serial number, to a warranty registration center. The warranty registration center stores the identifier with an associated registration date stamp. The wireless communications device then changes the warranty registration status flag to indicate that the device has been registered for warranty purposes. Once this automated warranty registration is complete, the wireless communications device proceeds with normal operation. The recorded first use date may be used as the start of the warranty period.

Abstract: The initial portion of an audio work received from an audio source is temporarily buffered so as to allow a user to make a recording of an audio work, including the initial portion of the audio work, even when the decision to record is made after the audio work has begun. In one embodiment, the incoming data stream representing the audio work is monitored for the presence of a sound gap, indicating the beginning of a new audio work. A DSP compresses the data, preferably according to perceptual coding technique such as MPEG-3 or Windows Media Technology 4.0, and forwards the compressed data to a short term memory buffer, such as a simple FIFO buffer, for temporary storage. If the user initiates a recording procedure before buffer is filled, a central controller pulls the compressed data from the buffer and transfers it to long term memory. If the user fails to act before the buffer fills, the buffer is flushed, and the process prepares for the next audio work.

Abstract: A received signal processing circuit for a receiver in a digital communication system uses a re-encode and compare scheme to measure received signal quality. The received signal is demodulated and decoded to produce an estimate of the original information bit sequence. The estimate of the information bit sequence is re-encoded using the same channel code as the transmitter. The re-encoded bits are compared to the demodulated bits output from the demodulator to yield an initial estimate of the channel bit error rate caused by the communication channel. Bias in th4e initial estimate of the channel bit error rate is removed to produce a refined estimate of the channel bit error rate.

Abstract: A battery charger to recharge a battery comprises a transistor switch coupled with a cable loss compensator. Additionally, the battery charger includes a comparator, a current limiter, and a differential amplifier. The circuits are created from discrete components, and particularly include individual transistors. A smoothing network takes the signal from the switch and passes it along to the battery for recharging.

Abstract: The present invention provides an artificial, bi-parabolic fish lure made from a flat, solid strip of sheet material of a uniform thickness having three segments that smoothly transition from one to the next. A relatively long, parabolic anterior section that makes up about three-fifths of the fish lure's length. Next is a circumvoluted middle section comprising about one-fifth of the total length and causes the lure to spin through the water like a propeller when pulled behind a fishing line. A relatively short, parabolic posterior section that also makes up about one-fifth of the total length. The fish lure has a center of gravity rearward of its longitudinal center. In a preferred embodiment, the fish lure is made of shiny metal and is stippled with numerous indentations resembling scales so that the fish lure closely resembles a minnow.

Abstract: The present invention entails a gas log set including a generally triangular shaped pan having front and rear portions and a pair of sides that extend generally rearwardly and inwardly from the front portion. Each side of the triangular shaped pan includes a cantilevered log support structure projecting outwardly therefrom for receiving and holding artificial logs. In addition, other artificial logs provided with the set are supported such that they extend into the pan itself.