Abstract: A compound mold or tooling system is designed to provide an alternative to conventional, expensive, metal molds for various plastics molding applications. The compound mold comprises a replaceable thin-walled liner, or skin-mold, defining the mold surface, temporarily bonded by vacuum means or mechanical means to a conforming backing-mold mold body supported by a rigid backing-plate. Both skin- and backing-molds are composed of suitable polymers with or without additives, fillers, reinforcements or other inclusions depending on mold requirements. The backing-plate contains standard features and fixtures common to all molds used in the particular process or of a particular geometry.

Abstract: A toggle locking tool is provided with an adjustment screw assembly comprising a force-enhancing shank that enables the holding force of the tool to be multiplied manifold. The adjustment screw assembly comprises an adjustment screw conventionally adapted to be fed into and to engage a threaded bore in the outer end of the fixed handle of the tool; however said adjustment screw itself comprises an internal, fine-threaded bore that extends through the length of said screw, and that receives a threaded force-enhancing shank having a head portion adapted for turning manually or with a turning tool. An end portion of said shank extends beyond the adjustment screw to form the bearing surface which, in a conventional toggle locking tool, is provided by the tip of the adjustment screw. Rotation of the adjustment screw provides rapid, low-force locking adjustment of the tool, and subsequent torquing of the force-enhancing shank results in the application of a multiplied locking force to the jaws of the tool.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for the distribution of recordings of live audio and/or video performances to audience members at a performance. The system comprises means for promptly uploading recordings of performance segments into a database controlled by an order server. An audience member employs a wireless messaging devices such as a cellular telephone to place an order for a recording with a Short Message Service linked to said order server, and, upon arranging for payment of a recording download, said audience member is provided (via a text message to the ordering wireless device) with an internet URL address at which a copy of the recording ordered has been made available for download.

Abstract: A graphical application development environment is provided, for the development of test, measurement and process control applications. Said environment comprises thematically organized groups of “panels” representing components of virtual instruments, and said panels are combined and interconnected via data channels, control channels and event channels to form a complete instrument “front panel.” Each panel represents a quasi-autonomous “aspect” software object that has the attributes, properties and connectivities of the represented instrument component, and that is associated with executable code segments, including code segments that are usable by a plurality of aspects and are maintained in libraries accessible to an aspect handler for the construction of aspects.

Abstract: A trading system for the trading of fixed-value contracts employs a novel form of contract that has a fixed face value and two sides that respectively represent mutually exclusive outcomes. Traders submit bids specifying a selected “side” of the contract, a price, and a contract quantity specification, for matching with complementary bids submitted for the opposing “side” of the contract, thereupon occasioning “filled” trades. Upon the termination of the contract in accordance with pre-established criteria, resulting in the determination of a prevailing side of the contract, holders of filled contracts whose bid specified the prevailing “side” of the contract receive the face value of the contract.

Abstract: A deployable message display and work light structure for attachment to a vehicle. Said structure comprises an anchor assembly attachable to the front or rear end of a vehicle, a message display panel support frame having parallel arms hingedly secured at their lower end to the anchor assembly, and a message display panel secured to the upper end of said arms. Said support frame may be rotated between a stored position, in which said arms follow the upper surface contour of the vehicle, and a substantially vertical raised display position whereby said message display panel is viewable to oncoming motorists. Work lights secured to the frame below said panel shine downward to illuminate the site without spilling glare in the eyes of motorists. Preferaby the display panel displays in alternative flashes a one word message and a graphical representation of open and closed travel lanes.

Abstract: A compact indoor power distribution substation employs ambient-air-insulated high-voltage components, in lieu of gas-insulated components, for the distribution at 36 kV or less of electrical power from 60 kV to 245 kV high-voltage incoming lines. The substation is contained in a rectangular building having a ground floor and a cross-shaped upper floor.

Abstract: A band clamp tightening tool comprising a cylindrical body, having at one end an internal bore adapted to pressfit the tool over the hex shaped head of a hose clamp adjustment screw, to which a combination crank/thumbscrew element has been affixed, said element being formed by passing a metal rod through a transverse aperture in the tool body, bending said rod to form a crank arm and a crank handle on one side of the body, and, on the opposite side of the tool body bending said rod to form a semicircular loop or thumbscrew element in the plane of the crank handle. In the use of this tool when attached to a hose clamp, the crank handle is rotated between the thumb and index finger to take up any slack in the band of the clamp, and to tighten the clamp the index finger is moved across the tool body to the thumbscrew loop, and the tool is turned as a large thumbscrew.