Abstract: A post anchoring foot is configured for use in securing a post to a surface. The foot includes a body dimensioned to snugly receive a portion of the post, with the body including a generally horizontal base portion and a generally vertical side wall that cooperatively present a laterally enclosed post-receiving area. The base portion defines a lowermost surface-engaging anchoring face and an elevated supporting face configured to engage an end of the post, with the supporting face being disposed above the anchoring face. The base portion further defines a plurality of anchor-receiving apertures extending therethrough, with each aperture being configured to receive an anchor therein to securely couple the foot to the surface. The side wall defines a fastener-receiving hole extending therethrough, with the hole being configured to selectively receive a fastener therein to securely couple the foot to the post.

Abstract: A hands-free system for connecting and disconnecting a tool from an adjustable length extension pole. The system includes first and second slidably interconnected elongated members, a tool-holding assembly releasably coupled to the second elongated member, and a locking assembly disposed between the first and second elongated members. The relative sliding of the first and second elongated members can be selectively restrained by rotating the first and second elongated members relative to one another. The tool-holding assembly can be disconnected from the second elongated member by sliding the first and second elongated members together.

Abstract: A flexible unit for collecting and transporting liquid to a collection point or to an area of use, and especially for facilitating management of urinary incontinence is provided which includes a flexible pad adapted to be positioned under an incontinent patient or worn under an undergarment. The pad is provided with an outer liquid permeable polymeric film layer, an outer liquid impermeable polymeric film layer and an intermediate cellular layer made up of a series of individual, spaced, thin wall, liquid impermeable polymeric cells. An aspiration assembly is connected to the pad for removing urine from the interior of the pad, which collects in the spaces between the individual cells. A disposable porous sheet, preferably comprising Dry-Weave® material, is releasably positioned over the outer permeable film layer of the pad. The pad may be sanitized and reused multiple times with only replacement of the Dry-Weave® sheet being required.

Abstract: Improved methods for removing arsenic from starting liquid hydrocarbons are provided which comprise contacting the hydrocarbons with a composition containing a triazine component and a glycol ether component, allowing the composition to react with the arsenic to create a treated hydrocarbon fraction and an arsenic-rich fraction, and separating the treated fraction from the arsenic-rich fraction. Preferably, the treating composition also includes an alcohol, and is used at a level of from about 1-10,000 ppm.

Abstract: A system (50) is provided for the production of elongated comestible products such as hot dogs, without the use of traditional casings. The system (50) includes a circular pattern of arrays (92) of elongated, open-ended, extruded synthetic resin cooking tubes (94, 96) within a rotatable cylindrical heating drum or housing (70). The tube housing (70) and arrays (92) are incrementally rotated and at each stop position certain of the tubes (94, 96) are filled with portions of meat emulsion (590) and alternating plugs (208), while previously filled tubes (94, 96) containing cooked product are unloaded, and other unfilled tubes are internally coated with a lubricant (e.g., a mixture of lecithin and vegetable oil). Energy exchange media such as hot water and/ or steam are used within the housing to continuously cook the emulsion portions within the tubes (94, 96) to the desired extent.

Abstract: Decorated three-dimensional articles (64, 78, 82, 86) may be produced having wall structure (66-72) with distortion-free images (40a, 40b) appearing through the inner and outer surfaces of the wall structure (66-72). Preferably, a sheet of paper stock (38) is imprinted on both faces with mirror images (40a, 40b), and the stock (38) is applied to a light-transmitting substrate (44) so that the image (40b) appears through the substrate (44), thereby yielding a blank (50). A plurality of lines of weakness (54) are formed in the blank (50) by laser ablation extending through the image (40a) and stock (38), but not through the image (40b), in order to define spaced apart bend areas (56). The substrate (44) is then heated along the bend areas (56), and the blank (50) is formed about a mandrel (62). If desired, the formed blank (50) may be completed by addition of a base (74).

Abstract: A method of calculating a control parameter for a component in an HVAC system includes receiving a plurality of input signals, and calculating a value of the control parameter using a control parameter equation having a plurality of predetermined coefficients and a plurality of variables, each variable corresponding to one of the input signals. This equation is stored in and subsequently fetched from memory associated with a component of the HVAC system, such as a blower motor controller or a system controller. In some embodiments, the equation is stored in a device for interfacing a system controller with a blower motor assembly.

Abstract: New compositions and methods of using those compositions as bonding compositions are provided. The compositions are preferably thermoplastic and comprise imides, amideimides, and/or amideimide-siloxanes (either in polymeric or oligomeric form) dispersed or dissolved in a solvent system, and can be used to bond an active wafer to a carrier wafer or substrate to assist in protecting the active wafer and its active sites during subsequent processing and handling. The compositions form bonding layers that are chemically and thermally resistant, but that can also be softened to allow the wafers to slide apart at the appropriate stage in the fabrication process.

Abstract: A gradient compression article with therapeutic and aesthetic properties broadly includes a limb-receiving section extending continuously between a distal end and an open proximal end thereof. The limb-receiving section includes a tubular distal portion and a tubular proximal portion. The limb-receiving section is knitted at least substantially of a core-spun yarn with an elastomeric core and a twisted fiber sheath and includes elastomeric threads integrated into the stretch yarn knitting. The limb-receiving section further presents a gradient region that extends from a distal location adjacent the distal end to a proximal location adjacent the proximal end, with a property of the article changing progressively along the gradient region to provide compression that decreases progressively from the distal location to the proximal location when the article is donned.

Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly, and a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms that are attached to and cooperatively support the flexible cutterbar assembly. The header also includes a draper assembly with a side draper carried on multiple ones of the support arms so as to flex with the cutterbar assembly. The side draper includes an endless flexible draper belt presenting laterally endmost margins, with upper and lower crop-conveying runs extending between the margins. The header further includes pivoting structure mounted relative to the header frame at a rear pivot location so that the pivoting structure projects forwardly from the rear pivot location.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, and a conveyor assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The support arms are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis so that the flexible cutterbar assembly is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced. The cutterbar drive includes a forward gearbox drivingly connected to the cutterbar assembly and supported on an outer support arm.

Abstract: A feedback control module for stabilizing a carrier-envelope phase of an output of a laser oscillator system comprises a first photodetector, a second photodetector, a phase stabilizer, an optical modulator, and a thermal control element. The first photodetector may generate a first feedback signal corresponding to a first portion of a laser beam from an oscillator. The second photodetector may generate a second feedback signal corresponding to a second portion of the laser beam filtered by a low-pass filter. The phase stabilizer may divide the frequency of the first feedback signal by a factor and generate an error signal corresponding to the difference between the frequency-divided first feedback signal and the second feedback signal. The optical modulator may modulate the laser beam within the oscillator corresponding to the error signal. The thermal control unit may change the temperature of the oscillator corresponding to a signal operable to control the optical modulator.

Abstract: An expanded bit map display (“EBMD”) (10) for displaying an image (14) and a method of creating such for mounting the EBMD (10) to a building surface (12) is provided. The EBMD (10) is a large-scale colored light display comprising a plurality of intelligent light fixtures (16) having a microprocessor and a memory and mounted to the building surface (12). Each light fixture (16) is separately addressable and operable to store lighting characteristics or information. Groups of light fixtures (16) are in communication with a central processor operable to communicate control protocol.

Abstract: A label product in web form has alternating, oppositely indented creases in the liner of the product to produce a fan-folded stack having alternating, reversely folded plies. Each crease is substantially, if not entirely, perforation-free to maximize the strength of the liner at the fold lines. The product is preferably produced on a narrow web press in a creasing station that includes a stack of rolls wherein a first die roll is on the bottom of the stack, a second die roll is on the top of the stack, and a pair of base rolls are located in the middle of the stack between the die rolls. A blade on each die roll cooperates with a cushion on the corresponding base roll to produce a crease during every other rotation of the die roll, each of the base rolls having a smaller circumference than its corresponding die roll.

Abstract: An anti-tamper assembly (40, 40a) is provided in order to sense the attempted removal of a body attached to a surface (17) by a fastener (36, 36a). The assembly (40, 40a) includes an anti-tamper access-blocking element (42, 42a) positioned in an anti-tamper position proximal to the fastener (36, 36a), along with an anti-tamper switch (44, 102) operably coupled with the element (42, 42a) in order to bias the switch (44, 102) to one switch condition. In the event that the element (42, 42a) is moved from its anti-tamper position, the switch (44, 102) moves to another switch condition, which generates an alarm signal. The assembly (40, 40a) may be used to protect an alarm section (16, 16a) forming a part of an alarm assembly (10, 10a). The section (16, 16a) includes a sensor or switch (64) operable to detect relative movement between first and second members such as a door (12) and doorframe (14).

Abstract: New compositions and methods of using those compositions as bonding compositions are provided. The compositions comprise a cycloolefin copolymer dispersed or dissolved in a solvent system, and can be used to bond an active wafer to a carrier wafer or substrate to assist in protecting the active wafer and its active sites during subsequent processing and handling. The compositions form bonding layers that are chemically and thermally resistant, but that can also be softened or dissolved to allow the wafers to slide or be pulled apart at the appropriate stage in the fabrication process.

Abstract: An investment method provides a predictable monthly income to a retiree or other investor while increasing asset growth potential and decreasing the likelihood that assets will need to be sold during market downturns. The method may be implemented by computer equipment and computer programs operated by an investment services provider. Funds are first received from an investor and used to purchase assets for a Growth Component and an Income Protection Component. The assets in the Growth Component are invested primarily in growth-oriented investments, and the assets in the Income Protection Component are invested primarily in income-oriented investments. The investor may be paid distributions from the Income Protection Component. As the Income Protection Component is depleted through the payment of the distributions, it is periodically replenished by selling assets from the Growth Component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phase detector circuit (10) having an RF distribution device (20) which is intended to receive two sinusoidal high-frequency signals (RF, LO) with an input phase difference (?RF(t)??LO(t)) and comprises two power splitters (21, 22) in order to split the two high-frequency signals (RF, LO) into two respective parts, a self-calibrating phase detector module (30) which is configured to receive one respective part of the two high-frequency signals which have been split, a low-noise phase detector module (40) which is configured to receive the respective other part of the high-frequency signals which have been split, and a complementary filter device (50) which is configured to receive the output signals from the self-calibrating phase detector module (30) and the low-noise phase detector module (40) and to output a signal which indicates the time-dependent input phase difference between the two high-frequency signals (RF, LO).

Abstract: A network-based biometric authentication system includes a client computer (10), a third party server (24), and a biometric authentication server (26). A user requests access to a web site hosted by the third party server via the client computer, wherein the third party server communicates a deployable object to the client computer. The client computer executes the deployable object, wherein the object enables the client computer to receive a user name, password, and biometric data from the user and to communicate the user name, password, and biometric data to the biometric authentication server in a secure fashion. The biometric authentication server authenticates the user name, password, and biometric data, and communicates the user name and password to the third party server, which attempts to verify the user name and password in a conventional manner and grants access to the user if the user name and password are verified.