Abstract: A dragline bucket having a back wall, opposite side walls, a bottom, an open front, and a removable pipe arch assembly for connecting the front upper corners of the side walls of the bucket together, the removable pipe arch assembly including a saddle bracket on the inside upper front corner of each of the side walls of the bucket, the saddle bracket having a semi-annular channel providing a pocket on the inside face of each saddle bracket, a pipe arch extending between the saddle brackets, the opposite ends of the pipe arch being removably engaged in the saddle bracket on each of the side walls, a collar on each end portion of the pipe arch resting in the pocket in each of the saddle brackets, and a locking plate connected with each of the saddle brackets over the pipe for removably locking the pipe end portions in the saddle brackets.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an image based document processing and information management system and apparatus. It provides a more efficient method and apparatus for handling large volumes of form based business transactions using a digital image-based system for the capture, identification and processing of images, statistics and business data. The system converts documents, such as forms and supporting pages, into digital data which can be used to update computer records and to manage and support the adjudicative processing of business transactions by human operators at computer terminals.

Abstract: A physical training unit comprising a tethered ball adapted for facilitating practice of a sport swing beneath a basketball hoop. The swinging motion for sporting activities such as baseball, tennis and golf may be addressed by the suspension of a ball from a tether in a configuration simplifying both the installation, removal and retrieval of the tethered ball relative to the hoop. In the present embodiment, the tether is secured at a first, upper end to a hoop mounting means facilitating the suspension of the tether therefrom. A tubular member of defined length is inserted over the tether and permits the pivotal actuation of the tether upon impact of the ball by the user and the limited motion thereof due to interaction with the basketball hoop as well as the limited movement of a free end of the tether relative to the tubular member. In this manner, a variety of athletic swings can be practiced from a conventional basketball hoop assembly.

Abstract: In telecommunications switching systems, software is frequently modified, enhanced or replaced altogether by new versions. The implementation or integration of the new or revised software into the operational system must be accomplished in accordance with strict requirements for not disturbing the ongoing activities of the system. Therefore, it is desirable that the system not be halted while the change to the new software is made. Rather, the preferred approach is to be able to replace software modules with new versions on the fly, during system operation. The smooth modification made possible in the disclosed system allows such changes with minimal disturbance to ongoing activities by dynamically linking and binding software modules during execution.