Abstract: Dust boot assemblies for providing grease relief while preventing or minimizing infiltration of contaminants into a cavity in the dust boot and between the surfaces of a greased joint coupled to the dust boot. Some such dust boot assemblies include two-piece grease relief inserts having a body and a shield, wherein the body includes grease relief route(s) and the shield prevents or minimizes infiltration of contaminants into the grease relief route(s). Other dust boot assemblies include one-piece grease relief inserts with integral body and shield components. Some grease relief routes include axial and radial channels. Grease relief inserts are inserted under an edge of a dust boot. A dust boot skirt covers grease relief ports through which excess grease is relieved to the external environment. The grease relief insert is located to in a portion of the dust boot experiencing limited or zero movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling one or more coherent images from a plurality of segments of the coherent image reproduced on parts, pieces, blocks, cards, or the like is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the face of each segment includes a portion of the resulting single coherent image. When all segments are correctly arranged and stacked, or overlapped, with the correct orientation, the visible images on the faces of the segments mesh to form one or more larger coherent images. A variety of plates or stands are disclosed to aid the player in stacking the segments and arranging them with the proper orientation during the reassembly process. Additionally, information or images may be included on the portions of the faces of each segment that are obscured by other segments when the segments are properly assembled, thereby allowing such games to have multiple uses.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for wirelessly recording multi-track audio files without the data corruption or loss of data that typically occurs with wireless data transmission. In some aspects of the present invention, each performer is equipped with a local audio device capable of locally recording the respective performer's audio while also transmitting it to a master recorder. The locally recorded audio may then be used to repair or replace any audio lost or corrupted during transmission to the master recorder. Such repair or replacement may be performed electronically or via playback of the locally recorded audio. In other aspects of the present invention, a master recorder is not required since all locally recorded audio may be combined or otherwise processed post-recording. A multi-memory unit is provided in another aspect of the present invention to facilitate manipulation and processing of audio files.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for adapting a first receptacle coupled to a vehicle to power a second receptacle coupled to the vehicle without the need for modifying the vehicle's electrical system wiring. A method is provided in which a vehicle plug connected to the vehicle's electrical system is removed from a power inlet of the first receptacle, a first interface of the adaptor is plugged into the same power inlet, the vehicle plug is plugged into a second interface of the adaptor, and a third interface of the adaptor is coupled to the second receptacle. In some embodiments, the adaptor is provided with modules that replicate the interfaces of existing, standardized vehicle receptacles to increase compatibility with pre-installed vehicle receptacles. The adaptor may optionally be provided with an adaptor plug that wires to a second receptacle via terminal blocks or the like and plugs into the adaptor's third interface.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for preventing ignition and fire in maintained hypoxic environments. In one aspect of the present invention, the hypoxic environment is initially obtained via an initial release of large quantities of nitrogen and is thereafter maintained via use of nitrogen generation equipment, thereby eliminating the need for onsite nitrogen storage. In other aspects of the present invention, the hypoxic environment is initially obtained via the same equipment used to maintain the hypoxic environment. Additionally, venting is provided to prevent over-pressurization of the hypoxic environment or to otherwise regulate the pressure of the environment. Furthermore, ultra-sophisticated fire detection system is implemented to detect invisible by-product materials as they degrade during pre-combustion stages of an incipient fire, thereby detecting a fire as early as six hours prior to ignition.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for testing packaging and/or materials (e.g., package integrity and/or seal strength testing) wherein one or more coatings are applied to the one or more surfaces of the packaging and/or materials prior to testing. In one aspect of the present invention, when applied to a permeable package or a portion thereof, the coating transforms the package, or portion thereof, to an impermeable package or a package having impermeable portions thereof. After such transformation, a wider variety of testing methods including quantitative test methods may be used to test such permeable packages including standard burst seal strength, dye seal integrity, and package integrity tests. Furthermore, application of one or more coatings to the permeable package and/or material prior to testing enhances the sensitivity and repeatability of the test methods allowing for more reliable seal strength measurements and consistent detection of small defects (e.g., pinholes).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately dispensing, monitoring, quantifying, and controlling liquids provided to one or more animals. In some embodiments, a standalone apparatus having a local user interface is coupled to a liquid source and drinking assembly to monitor, quantify, and control the liquid consumption of one or more specific animals. In other embodiments, multiple standalone apparatuses are each coupled to a liquid source and a respective drinking assembly to monitor, quantify, and control the liquid consumed through the respective drinking assembly. In this scenario, each of the standalone apparatuses shares one or more common remote user interface panels. In yet another embodiment, standalone apparatuses are networked to other standalone apparatuses. User workstations and central control panels resident on the watering apparatus network, or a third-party network interfaced to the network, allow liquid consumption to be monitored, controlled, and quantified both locally and remotely.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling one or more coherent images from a plurality of segments of the coherent image reproduced on parts, pieces, blocks, cards, or the like is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the face of each segment includes a portion of the resulting single coherent image. When all segments are correctly arranged and stacked, or overlapped, with the correct orientation, the visible images on the faces of the segments mesh to form one or more larger coherent images. A variety of plates or stands are disclosed to aid the player in stacking the segments and arranging them with the proper orientation during the reassembly process. Additionally, information or images may be included on the portions of the faces of each segment that are obscured by other segments when the segments are properly assembled, thereby allowing such games to have multiple uses.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for locating and classifying optical sources. In one aspect, a pair of imaging spectrometers is orthogonally oriented relative to an optical axis to accommodate simultaneous creation of two diffraction profiles for each imaged optical source. Such orientation increases the accuracy of detecting diffraction profiles of interest (“DPI”), as a DPI will not be declared unless it is sensed by both spectrometers. Furthermore, the spectrometers' orientation allows data such as a two-dimensional angle of incidence to be collected from an identified DPI without identification of either DPI's 0th order ray segment, thereby increasing the accuracy of the collected data. Such increased accuracy in both data determinations allows optical sources to be more accurately located and classified as information such as wavelength, amplitude, etc. may be calculated from the detected DPI with a greater degree of accuracy. Furthermore, false DPI detections are minimized.

Abstract: An article organizer for storing, organizing, and displaying jewelry and similar articles, comprising a shaft and a plurality of storage units mounted around the shaft, which storage units may be individually rotatable. Each storage unit may be a display assembly, a shelf, or a tray assembly. Each display assembly comprises a display hub and one or more spokes that extend from the hub. Necklaces, bracelets, chains and other elongated jewelry may be suspended from the spokes so as to display these jewelry items and prevent them from becoming entangled or knotted. To further reduce the tendency for two pieces of jewelry to become entangled, a spoke may have periodic, random, or other non-monotonic upward and downward bends. A tray assembly comprises one or more levels, with the top level comprising a tray or drawers, and each remaining level comprising drawers.

Abstract: A lightweight, battery operated, portable, personal electronic device capable of faxing, scanning, printing and copying media as a standalone device or in cooperation with other electronic devices including PCs, mobile telephones, PDAs, etc. is provided. The device automatically detects the presence of fax-capable devices and reconfigures the software for compatibility with the fax-capable device eliminating the need for user programming. The device's ergonomic design, intrinsic physical stability, and same side paper feeds and user interface provide use in work areas having limited space. The device includes unidirectional, independent pathways for original and recording media such that paper jams are minimized. Portability is maximized through innovative power management software and hardware.

Abstract: A personalized electronic commerce marketing system wherein in-person sales representatives personally visit potential customers to improve the efficacy of the on-line marketing effort.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus and methods allow collection of concentrated samples of content in shipping packages without unsealing the package by forcing airflow via existing hidden gaps or, if necessary, creating one by a small incision. The air is injected into the hidden gaps by either probe or socket device to disturb and agitate contents inside the package, causing the contents to loosen and blending particulates on the surface into the air stream. Airborne particles are channeled into a detection device, where the particulates are concentrated. Display and warning apparatus receive and record the analysis results from the detection device. If the analysis finds that predetermined selection and sensitivity criteria for target hazard or contraband material are met, then the warning apparatus initiates the appropriate alert protocols.

Abstract: This apparatus and method allows collection concentrated sample of content in shipping packages without unsealing the package by forcing airflow via existing hidden gaps or, if necessary, creating one by a small incision. The air is injected into the hidden gaps by either probe or socket device to disturb and agitate contents inside the package, causing the contents to loosen and blend particulates on the surface into the air stream. Airborne particles are channeled into detection device, where the particulates are concentrated. Display and warning apparatus receives and records the analysis results from detection device. If the analysis finds that predetermined selection and sensitivity criteria for target hazard or contraband is met, then the warning apparatus initiates appropriate alert protocols.