Abstract: A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of thermoplastic auxetic foams comprising the steps of: a) taking conventional thermoplastic foam; b) subjecting said foam to at least one process cycle wherein the foam is biaxially compressed and heated; c) optionally subjecting the foam to at least one process cycle wherein the biaxial compression is removed and the foam mechanically agitated prior to reapplying biaxial compression and heating; d) cooling said foam to a temperature below the softening temperature of said foam; and e) removing said compression and heat.

Abstract: A two microphone noise reduction system is described. In an embodiment, input signals from each of the microphones are divided into subbands and each subband is then filtered independently to separate noise and desired signals and to suppress non-stationary and stationary noise. Filtering methods used include adaptive decorrelation filtering. A post-processing module using adaptive noise cancellation like filtering algorithms may be used to further suppress stationary and non-stationary noise in the output signals from the adaptive decorrelation filtering and a single microphone noise reduction algorithm may be used to further provide optimal stationary noise reduction performance of the system.

Abstract: Laminated, paper cards are manufactured by adhering a first side of a calendared paper to a first side of a fiber board stock using a biodegradable adhesive to thereby create a sheet of material. A card construct is then formed by adhering a second side of the fiber board stock of a first sheet of material to a second side of the fiber board stock of a second sheet of material using a biodegradable adhesive. A second side of at least one of calendared papers of the card construct is then printed and the printed card construct is then subjected to a heat and pressure treatment in a hydraulic press. The treated, printed, card construct may then be die punched to provide one or more of the laminated, paper cards.

Abstract: A portable circular saw has a housing and a baseplate. The housing carries a motor which is connected to a blade through a transmission mechanism. The baseplate includes a main baseplate and a secondary baseplate each of which has a bottom surface and the bottom surfaces are coplanar. At least a part of the blade passes though a slot formed in the main baseplate. The main baseplate includes a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposing sides of the blade. The secondary baseplate has at least two exchangeable positions. In a first position, the secondary baseplate is jointed or adjacent to the first edge of the main baseplate and, in a second position, the secondary baseplate is joined or adjacent to the second edge of the main baseplate.

Abstract: A nailer device has a housing containing a motor and a striking device arranged in a compact manner. A transmission mechanism is mounted in the housing for translating the rotating motions of the motor into the periodic impact motions upon the striking device. The transmission mechanism includes an impact assembly which imparts the periodic impact motions upon the striking device.

Abstract: A sub-floor assembly for a sports flooring system includes a plurality of sub-floor panel components each formed of a plastic material and each having a formed channel wherein the formed channels of the plurality of sub-floor panel components are linearly aligned. A first strip of anchoring material is disposed within the linearly aligned formed channels of the plurality of sub-floor panel components and is used to attach a plurality of flooring strips to the sub-floor panel components.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to identify and locate products for purchase that include, but are not limited to, products listed in an electronic catalog. The described system and method accepts from the user, via a network, a request for product information. The system then uses the request to search a database to determine if the database contains the requested product information. If the database contains the requested product information, the product information from the database is returned, via the network, to the user. If, however, the database does not contain the requested product information, the request for product information is forwarded to a sourcing management system that initiates a search to gather the product information from third party sources. Any relevant gathered product information is returned to the user, via the network. In addition, the database or electronic catalog is updated to reflect the newly gathered product information.

Abstract: A sub-floor assembly for a sports flooring system includes a plurality of sub-floor panel components each formed of a plastic material and each having a formed channel wherein the formed channels of the plurality of sub-floor panel components are linearly aligned. A first strip of anchoring material is disposed within the linearly aligned formed channels of the plurality of sub-floor panel components and is used to attach a plurality of flooring strips to the sub-floor panel components.

Abstract: A fastener removing tool is provided. The fastener removing tool includes an extractor portion having an inside surface adapted to grip a fastener. The extractor portion further defines an outside surface with a cutting edge is adapted to cut a bore when the tool grips and removes a fastener. The fastener removing tool further includes a main body fixed relative to the extractor portion. The main body is adapted to engage with a driving tool for powering rotation of the fastener removing tool. The fastener removing tool also includes a cutter portion fixed relative to the main body opposite the extractor portion. The cutter portion includes a plurality of cutting members defining a plug forming space therebetween. A formed plug is to be placed into the bore formed during extraction of the fastener.

Abstract: Various synchronization and content acquisition tasks able to be performed by a portable device are governed by reference to a budget. In operation, the budget may be adjusted as a function of a state of a battery associated with the portable device, as a function of one more file sizes associated with content to be acquired, as a function of a data transfer rate, and/or as a function of a temperature associated with the portable device. A filter may also be provided for use in determining which content the portable device will acquire.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an alarm clock and a system for presenting pre-selected information from a website via the internet. The alarm clock includes a snooze button, a visual display, a speaker, a port for connecting to the internet, and a timer device for activating downloading of pre-selected information from a website through the port, and for activating the presentation of the pre-selected information on the visual display and the speaker.

Abstract: A plastic container having a body portion and a handle portion which extends from the body portion is formed using a pair of mold halves placed into engagement. During the molding process, a surface of the handle portion is provided with a recess in at least one area where the mold halves are in placed into engagement.

Abstract: A remote control adapted for use with a releasable readable media storage device. A readable media storage device having data and target indicators. Electrical contacts provide releasable connection with the remote control.

Abstract: A power strip adapted to support power status reporting as well as the issuing of commands to control functional operations of the appliances. The power strip may receive a command from a remote control (for example transmitted via radio frequency or wired connection) and, in turn, issue a corresponding command (for example transmitted via infrared) to one or more appliances to cause the one or more appliances to perform a functional operation.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a customized product catalog. The customized catalog is created in response to a request to search an electronic catalog that has data representative of a plurality of products each having one or more attributes. The search request includes at least one user-specified attribute of interest. Products in the electronic catalog are identified that have an attribute corresponding to the user specified attribute of interest. The identified products are aggregated into a sub-catalog that includes data representative of the identified products which data is formatted using a user-specified electronic format. In this manner, a customized catalog can be created for used in a user-specific electronic commerce system.

Abstract: A configurable controlling device and associated editor program that allows a consumer to create on a personal computer for downloading to the controlling device a user interface comprised of user interface pages having icons which icons, when activated on the controlling device, cause the controlling device to perform a function, such as to transmit a command to an appliance, to change the user interface page being displayed, etc. The editor program allows for the visualization of links created between user interface pages, single step assigning of commands to logical groups of function keys (both iconic and hard keys), single step assigning of backgrounds to groups of user interface pages, and pre-rendering of user interface pages prior to the downloading of the user interface to the controlling device.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying an electronic program guide and for remotely controlling the recording functionality of an appliance. A user registers with a Web site to enable the downloading of an electronic program guide (“EPG”) to a portable device. The downloaded and displayable EPG includes a listing of programs from which the user may select a program of interest. In response to receiving input from the user requesting that the program be recorded, data indicative of the recording request is stored in the portable device. Then, when it is determined that the portable device is able to establish communication with the appliance (either directly or via an intermediate PC), the data indicative to the recording request is provided to the appliance to effect the recording of the program.