Abstract: A baseball swing training aid includes a housing and a lid for retaining a batting tee in a first or storage configuration and in a second or use configuration. In the first configuration, the batting tee is stowable on an underside of the lid such that the tee does not interfere with the lid's attachment to the housing. In the second configuration, the batting tee base attaches to a slot formed in the lid to extend the tee upwardly for baseball swing training. Accordingly, the tee is easily changeable between the first and second configurations for fast setup, storage or transportation.

Abstract: A track assembly for supporting fabric on a surface includes a base track defining a first half of a hinge and a first half of a snapping clamp. The base track preferably includes a tension force dissipater extending from the first half of the hinge. An upper track defines a second half of the hinge and is pivotally connectable to the base track. The upper track defines a second half of the snapping clamp for releasably engaging the fabric. The upper track includes a strut extended downwardly towards the base track such that when high tension forces are applied to the upper track, due to fabric tensioning, the strut contacts the base track and at least partially transmits the tension forces to the surface.

Abstract: The self-resonance insertion loss dip of a feedthrough capacitor is reduced or eliminated by raising the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor, thus minimizing the capacitor Q. The equivalent series resistance of the capacitor can be raised by forming voids in the active and/or ground electrode plates of the capacitor. The electrode plates may be formed so as to have a relatively reduced thickness, or a relatively increased thickness. A conductive material having a relatively high resistivity may be used to form the active and/or ground electrode plates of the capacitor. Alternatively, the conductive material forming the electrode plates may have a dielectric material added thereto.

Abstract: A system is disclosed herein for treating wastewater liquid by utilizing aerobic biological species. The contaminated wastewater stream is pretreated in a dissolved air flotation system to remove suspended solid waste, including large particles such as fats, grease, and physically emulsified oils. The purified wastewater containing dissolved waste is thereafter oxygenated and further decontaminated in a bioreactor tank. Biological species in the bioreactor tank consume oxygen and perform bodily functions that converts dissolved waste into easily removable carbon dioxide and suspend solids. Oxygen consumed by the biological species is replenished by pumping the wastewater though a liquid-oxygen mixer. A controller regulates the speed of the pump based on real-time oxygen concentration measurements provided by a corresponding oxygen probe disposed within the wastewater in the bioreactor tank.

Abstract: In order to make available an exhaust gas system for a combustion engine with an external housing, which contains at least one rear shell and one front shell, and with a catalyst chamber, in which at least one catalyst element is arranged, and with an exhaust gas duct, from which exhaust gas is conveyed from the catalyst chamber, said exhaust gas system including few components and being able to be produced cost-effectively and wherein harmful thermal stresses in the components of the exhaust gas system are largely avoided, the catalyst chamber also forms the exhaust gas duct. The catalyst chamber has at least two chamber halves, and the exhaust gas duct is provided materially uniform and in one piece in at least one chamber half.

Abstract: The invention relates to a work implement including a drive which can be started by a cable pull starter, wherein the cable pull starter has a starter handle which is located in a holder in a rest position and which can be removed from the holder by a user for starting the drive. The work implement also includes a starting brake for a tool which prevents tool movements hazardous to the user directly after starting the drive, wherein a tripping mechanism disposed on the holder is provided for the starting brake, which by removing the starter handle from the holder automatically tightens the starting brake.

Abstract: A standoff attachment for bonded fixation to a substrate includes a standoff post with internal nut for engaging a mating fastener used to mount a support element such as a line clamp substantially at a distal end thereof. The standoff post extends from an enlarged bond-on base and defines a hollow slotted channel of noncircular cross-section which terminates at the distal end in an in-turned flange defining an open fastener-receiving port. The nut includes a keyed rib sized and shaped for axial slide-fit reception into the slotted channel at an inboard side of the distal end flange, wherein this rib mates with the slotted channel shape to preclude substantial nut rotation. An elongated slotted plug is secured within the slotted channel to retain the nut, preferably with a minor degree of axial freedom, axially between the plug and the distal end flange.

Abstract: A pet habitat for cats and the like is provided for secure and stable mounting on or within a window or the like, in a position suspended substantially at an outboard side of the window. The habitat includes an articulated frame carrying a foldable tent-like canopy for facilitated transport and/or storage in a compact collapsed configuration. A spring-loaded clamp bracket enables secure and stable clamp-on frame mounting onto a sill or the like of an open window, whereupon articulated frame components accommodate quick and easy deployment to an erected configuration. When erected, the foldable canopy is stretched over the frame to define a pet enclosure at the outboard side of the window with an access opening for pet ingress/egress from an inboard side of the window. A wall-mounted cat perch and walkway system may be used in combination with the window-mounted pet enclosure.

Abstract: A method to determine real time image complexity in video streaming, IPTV and broadcast applications using a statistical model representing channel bandwidth variation and image complexity that considers scene content changes. Available channel bandwidth is distributed unevenly among multiple video streams in proportion to bandwidth variation and image complexity of the broadcast video stream. The distribution of available channel bandwidth is determined based upon an image complexity factor of each video stream as determined from probability matrices considering bandwidth variations and image complexity.

Abstract: A process for determining object level profitability includes the steps of (1) preparing information to be accessed electronically, (2) establishing rules for processing the prepared information, (3) calculating at least one marginal value of profit using established rules as applied to a selected set of prepared information, (4) calculating a fully absorbed value of profit adjustment using established rules as applied to the selected set of prepared information, and (5) combining the at least one marginal value of profit and fully absorbed value of profit adjustment to create a measure for object level profitability. The inventive process gives management profit measures tailored to its need for accurate decision oriented profit information required to manage a large organization based on profit measurement.

Abstract: An illuminated golf cup is internally lighted by a light source disposed within the cup. The light source is suspended in the bottom of the cup by being secured to the underside of an insert in the cup. The light source is directed upward from the bottom of the cup to cast light up and out of the cup. The light illuminates the opening of the cup and the flag in the cup, making the golf cup more visible from a distance and in low light.

Abstract: A system and process are provided for recovering and/or cleaning residual or waste petroleum products such as sludge accumulated within a storage tank or upon process equipment surfaces, or from inorganic materials such as sand or clay, and the like. The system and process include a negatively charged aqueous-based dispersion fluid, which is contacted with the petroleum product under controlled relatively high pressure and high shear conditions for fluidizing hydrocarbon molecules and for preventing such molecules from adherence to process equipment surfaces, or contaminants such as sand or clay. Additional mechanical separation as by subjecting the mixed petroleum product and dispersion fluid slurry to sonic vibration may also be employed. The thus-fluidized slurry of petroleum products, dispersion fluid, and inorganic materials can be separated by conventional techniques, as by settling and/or flotation, for further individual processing and/or re-use.

Abstract: A method and system provides a customized exercise (conditioning) program for the user using a computer. A plurality of different measurements (parameters) are input using the computer, and based on these measurements, a computer program generates a customized exercise program for the user. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the customized exercise program may be specific to conditioning the body or a particular body part of the user, or conditioning the user for a particular sport where both exercise program embodiments may include an optional nutrition plan, or alternatively the nutrition plan may generated independently. Advantageously, the computer program provides an efficient, customized conditioning (exercise) program for the user that enables a great amount of flexibility and convenience for the user.