Abstract: An improved tarp cover system for covering the open-topped container body of a vehicle is characterized by the provision of a generally U-shaped inverted hold-down arm that is pivotally connected with the front wall of the container body and that is spring biased to apply a downward force on the front portion of the cover when the container is in the completely closed condition, thereby to reduce flapping of the cover during transport. The flexible tarp cover is wound on a roll that is rotatably supported adjacent the front wail of the container. In a first embodiment, to cover the container, the free end of the cover is displaced rearwardly of the container by a cover arm that is pivotally connected with the side walls of the container. The cover arm is biased toward its rearmost container covering position by a pair of side mounted spring arrangements that include compression springs that are concealed within the hollow leg portions of the cover arm.

Abstract: A thermostatic control valve assembly for use in continuously mixing a hot first fluid with a cold second fluid to continuously produce a mixed fluid at a constant temperature. The valve assembly includes an improved mixing dome defining a mixing chamber that facilitates thorough mixing of the hot and cold fluids over a wide range of flow rates, including rates as low as two gallons per minute. The improved mixing performance is accomplished by a plurality of baffles sequentially disposed along the flow path within the mixing chamber and extending at an angle in opposition to the flow path. Each baffle exhibits a paisley shape and is angularly displaced from the adjacent baffles to turn the fluid flow, thereby optimally mixing the hot and cold fluids over a wide range of flow rates while minimizing the pressure drop between the valve inlet and outlet.

Abstract: The invention provides a temperature sensor on the basis of a thermocouple constituted by two different metals. The first metal is provided in the form of an electrically insulated wire, having a blank uninsulated portion. The second metal is constituted by a jacket member enclosing the insulated wire. The jacket member is in electrical contact with the insulated wire via the blank uninsulated portion to thereby form a measuring junction. As a feed line, an electrically insulated copper wire is provided whose free end has a blank portion. The first wire is wound around the copper wire and projects over the free end thereof. The jacket member extends over the blank uninsulated portion of the carrier wire and is in electrical contact therewith. Due to the fact that the same material is chosen for the jacket member and for the carrier wire, i.e. copper, the carrier wire can be used as electrical feed line.

Abstract: An arrangement for adaptive time keeping in a utility meter includes a timing circuit and a controller. The timing circuit is operable to generate timing signals. The controller is operably coupled to the timing circuit to receive timing signals therefrom. Further, the controller is operable to: generate a first real-time value based at least in part on an externally generated first reference time value; derive a subsequent second real-time value, based at least in part on the first real-time value, the timing signals, and a timing circuit calibration value; obtain an externally generated second reference time value; determine a rate adjustment based at least in part on a difference between the second real-time value and the second reference time value; and generate a subsequent real-time value based at least in part on the timing signals, the timing circuit calibration value, and the rate adjustment.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and/or method is provided for removing water vapor from a wafer processing chamber generated as a byproduct of wafer processing. A water vapor trap is used to collect the water vapor byproduct from the processing chamber interior. The water vapor trap has at least a portion thereof in communication with an interior of the processing chamber for collection of the water vapor and another portion thereof in communication with an exterior of the processing chamber. The portions are movable with respect to the interior and exterior of the processing chamber such that the portions may switch places. This allows the processing chamber to be in at least a substantially continuous mode of operation while still providing for the removal of water vapor byproduct via the water vapor trap. The “used” portion of the water vapor trap is regenerated while the “clean” portion is collecting water vapor.

Abstract: A system and method obfuscates a reference voltage being applied to a touch screen to reduce the likelihood that location coordinates may be obtained from electrically coupling to the touch screen. The method is performed by applying a varying reference voltage to a first plane of a touch screen with a time of application duration being substantially less than a touch period and by measuring a voltage present on a second plane during a portion of the application duration of the voltage to the first plane. A system may include a controller for randomly varying the reference voltage level and coupling a reference source that generates the reference voltage to a first plane of a touch screen for an application period that is significantly less than the touch period.

Abstract: An acetabular cup and method of securing the acetabular cup to an acetabulum so as to provide a bearing surface for a head portion of a femur is provided. The acetabular cup is shaped to provide a cementless, press-fit into a reamed acetabulum. The acetabular cup is formed of a body having a sidewall defining a radius from a center point of the annular rim to the sidewall wherein the radius increases in length from the apex to said annular rim. The method of securing the acetabular cup first includes reaming the acetabulum with a reamer having a head with a radius of curvature that is less than the radius from the center point to the annular rim of the acetabular cup.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and arrangement for use in an electrical utility meter, the electrical utility meter operable to be connected to a plurality of electrical service types. The arrangement is operable to identify a present service type, the present service type being one of the plurality of electrical service types to which the electrical utility meter is connected. The arrangement comprises: conversion circuit for obtaining measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data for a plurality of phases in a polyphase electrical system; a memory; and a processor connected to said memory and said conversion circuit. The processor is operable to execute programming steps stored in the memory to receive the measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data from the conversion circuit and identify the present electrical service type based on the measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data.

Abstract: A mandrel assembly is usable with a hole saw and a drill bit. The mandrel assembly includes a body having a shank portion and an adapter receiving portion. The adapter receiving portion defines an adapter receiving cavity and including a first wall having a first detent hole extending therethrough. The mandrel assembly further includes a bit coupler secured to the body. The bit coupler is located within the adapter receiving cavity and defines a drill bit receiving portion. The drill bit receiving portion includes a bit receiving cavity and a second wall having a second detent hole extending therethrough. The mandrel assembly further includes an adapter configured to be received within the adapter receiving cavity, the adapter having an externally threaded portion configured to meshingly engage with a set of internal threads of the hole saw, the adapter further having a first detent groove defined in an outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture system includes a collection of identically configured side panels, with sets of the side panels having different aesthetic and/or functional features, a collection of base panels and back panels spanning between pairs of side panels, the collection of base and back panels being provided in different sets of lengths and configurations to permit construction of different types of furniture. The panels are interconnected through a series of slots and notches. A locking member is provided that can be wedged into a slot to lock the entire RTA furniture item together. A second locking member can be provided to be wedged into a slot in the back panel to provide additional support for a base panel. A wide variety of furniture items are show that can be constructed using the two locking members.

Abstract: A modular prosthetic assembly for use during performance of a shoulder replacement procedure on a patient includes a stem component configured to be implanted into a medullary canal of a humerus of the patient. The assembly also includes a prosthetic head component configured to be secured to a proximal end portion of the stem component. The prosthetic head component has a glenoid-bearing portion which is configured to bear against a glenoid surface of a scapula of the patient when the stem component is implanted into the medullary canal of the humerus of the patient and the prosthetic head component is secured to the stem component. The prosthetic head component also includes an acromion-bearing portion which is configured to bear against an acromion of the patient during abduction of the humerus when the stem component is implanted into the medullary canal of the humerus of the patient and the prosthetic head component is secured to the stem component.

Abstract: A water valve assembly includes a valve body having defined therein (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) a central cavity, and (iv) a component access opening, wherein fluid advancing into the valve body through the inlet must pass through the central cavity before exiting out of the valve body through the outlet, and further wherein the component access opening is configured so that a valve component may be advanced into the central cavity through the component access opening. The water valve assembly further includes a retaining bracket having a retaining portion positioned in relation to the valve body so as to block advancement of the valve component from the central cavity to a location outside of the valve body through the component access opening.

Abstract: A hose includes a tube assembly surrounded by a textile reinforcement that is surrounded by a cover assembly. The tube assembly includes an inner non-foamed layer that is surrounded by a foamed layer that is surrounded by an outer non-foamed layer. The textile reinforcement surrounds the outer non-foamed layer of the tube assembly and preferably consists of a first spiral threading and a second mesh threading. The cover assembly includes an inner non-foamed layer that is surrounded by a foamed layer that is surrounded by an outer non-foamed layer. The adjacent relationship of the outer non-foamed layer of the tube assembly and the inner non-foamed layer of the cover assembly provide a substantial increase in adhesion between the two assemblies. Further, this configuration reduces the tendency for water seepage between the layer or plies that can cause bubbles and separation.

Abstract: A prosthetic device, such as an acetabular cup, includes a shell, a liner and a bearing. The bearing may be coupled to the liner so as to form a bearing-liner subassembly. The shell is provided with a female taper complimentary to a male taper on the liner. The liner-bearing subassembly may be secured to the shell by engaging the complimentary tapers.

Abstract: A door latching or locking mechanism or module for a self-cleaning oven includes latching linkage of the door latch module that enables use of lighter duty, less expensive motor. The mechanical advantage and vector optimization of the latching linkage avoids stalling especially from a locked position. The latching mechanism includes a plurality of switches having a corresponding plurality of terminals. The terminals are grouped or ganged to allow connection with a single connector interface. The switches are selectively actuable/de-actuable by a cam and cam plate that utilizes linear motion translated from rotational motion of a driven (motor) to selectively actuate and/or de-actuate the switches.

Abstract: A convertible lift mechanism for moving an object from a lower surface to a vertically displaced upper surface includes a number of retractable stairs. Each of the number of retractable stairs includes a stepping surface and is horizontally movable between a position received into an opening defined in a vertical wall between the upper and lower surfaces, and a position extending out of the opening. The convertible lift mechanism also includes a lift platform which is movable between a lowered position and a raised position. The convertible lift mechanism also includes a number of vertical screw drive mechanisms each including a driven lift nut that is secured to the lift platform. Actuation of the number of vertical screw drive mechanisms causes movement of the lift platform between the lowered position and the raised position. A method of operating a convertible lift mechanism is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tool for lifting a tray or a vessel having loop or hook handles comprises a substantially planar body having an upper end configured for hand holding and a lower end configured for receiving a handle of the tray or the vessel. The body includes a first hook and a second hook for catching a loop handle. The body may also include an opening disposed close to the lower end for receiving a hook handle. In addition, the body may define a handhold slot configured to fit a hand of the user and reduce slippage. Preferably, the tool is made of disposable material.

Abstract: A communications layer is provided between a host-based SCSI initiator and a SCSI target device to fully automate the validation process. The communications layer allows the host to direct variation and modification of the target parameters and behavior using vendor unique commands. The behavioral modification aims to establish interoperability by conforming the behavior of the target to the host behavior. The host-based initiator transports a suitable command structure to the target device containing appropriate ones of the vendor unique commands and associated parameter data. The target executes and otherwise processes the command structure to effectuate a reconfiguration according to the specifics of the command code. The command code is sufficient to fully reconfigure the SCSI target. Accordingly, the reconfiguration process is carried out in a fully automated fashion.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a leakage tagging signal includes inserting a tagging signal into a CATV television signal only during portions of the television signal in which control information is present. A method according to the present invention is a method of transmitting a tagging signal in a communication system, the communication system transmitting television signals comprising control information and program information. One step of the method includes generating a tagging signal that is detectable by corresponding leakage detecting equipment. The method also includes the step of identifying a portion of a television signal in which control information is present. Finally, the method of the present invention encompasses inserting the tagging signal into the television signal only during the portion of the television signal in which control information is present.