Abstract: A fluid dispenser such as a soap dispenser or the like. The dispenser includes a sleeve and a pump rotatably disposed inside the sleeve. A swivel is substantially fixed to the pump and rotatable inside the sleeve. The dispenser is configured so that fluid is drawn from a reservoir, through the swivel and into the pump. From the pump, the fluid is dispensed through a spout to the user.

Abstract: The system, method, and program of this invention enables an object language application to issue a query over a view and to receive back, as query results, handles to application type objects which can be further manipulated by the application. A view is defined herein as a collection of a view type, and a view type is defined as a class or type. Upon receipt of the query referencing a view type, a query engine generates a query plan that builds mock (i.e., proxy) application type objects in memory based upon the view types. The application objects have a form that is consistent with the class definition for a type of object returned as a result. The application can run methods on the application type objects or point to other application type objects from the handles, to the application objects, that are returned to the application; and these manipulations will be understood by the query engine.

Abstract: A positive-feedback go/no-go control system for an electric-vehicle ride (10) at an amusement park reliably communicates motion commands, vehicle-presence signals, and vehicle-status signals in the presence of high electrical noise and does so without the addition of expensive add-on equipment. The railway electric-vehicle ride includes an outbus (16) and an inbus (18) running along a railway (14). The positive-feedback go/no-go control system comprises a wayside control board (22) that provides a bipolar pulse-width-modulated command signal (26) to the outbus. A control circuit (24) onboard the electric vehicle receives the bipolar pulse-width-modulated command signal, amplitude modulates it at different frequencies that represent the electric vehicle's intended action, and provides the processed bipolar pulse-width-modulated command signal (30, 32) to the inbus.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for using a relational database management system to support on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems. A multi-dimensional database is defined having a set of multi-dimensional data blocks and a set of identifiers comprising selected dimensions of multi-dimensional data for identifying particular ones of the multi-dimensional data blocks. The set of identifiers provides an ordering of the multi-dimensional data blocks using multi-dimensional member identifiers and holds usage information and age information about the multi-dimensional data blocks. The data in the set of multi-dimensional data blocks is stored in a relational database that represents the multi-dimensional database. Then, a set of rows representing a multi-dimensional data block is accessed from the relational database.

Abstract: An apparatus and method therefore transfers electric charge between a charge storage device (25) and a first power terminal (11) having a plurality of first-nodes. The method interchanges charge between the charge storage device and a first first-node of the plurality of first-nodes through an inductive section (22); and, when a predetermined charge has been interchanged between the charge storage device and the first first-node, replacing the first first-node by a second first-node of the plurality of first-nodes. Charge is interchanged between the charge storage device and the second first-node through the inductive section. Preferably, the ratio of the charge interchanged between the charge storage device and the first first-node and the charge interchanged between the charge storage device and the second first-node is equal to a ratio of the currents drawn from the first first-node and the second first-node.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer implemented recovery system for restoring a database in a computer. The database contains objects and is stored on a primary data storage device connected to the computer. Objects of different types in the database are copied from the primary data storage device to a secondary data storage device. Modifications to the objects are logged in a log file. A recovery indicator is received that indicates that recovery of the objects in the database is required. The objects are copied from the secondary data storage device to the database on the primary data storage device. Modifications in the log file are applied to the copied objects during one pass through the log file.

Abstract: A safety swimwear is provided, having a bodice portion, at least one floatation member or bladder and a protective panel securely affixed to the exterior of the bodice portion and holding the bladder. The panel is securely affixed to the exterior side of the bodice portion in a manner which draws attention to the presence of the floatation member and/or the level of deflation or inflation of the bladder. The panel may be of a contrasting appearance, such as, a contrasting color, texture and/or pattern, against the bodice portion to highlight the presence of the panel and particularly the bladder. In an embodiment of the swimsuit, two bladders and two panels are provided so that one bladder is securely affixed to a front piece of the swimsuit and another bladder is securely affixed to a back piece of the swimsuit. The bladders and thus the panels may be of different configurations.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer implemented two-level caching system. A statement is executed in a computer. The statement is executed by the computer to manipulate data in a database stored on a data storage device connected to the computer. Initially, a first statement is prepared to create an executable structure for executing the first statement from an application. Then, the executable structure is stored in an application-level cache associated with the application. A second statement is received for execution from the application. It is determined that the second statement can be executed using the stored executable structure for the first statement. Next, the second statement is executed using the stored executable structure.

Abstract: A portable bar code scanner apparatus having a keyboard and a display mounted on the front face of the housing. The housing is configured to be held in the palm of one hand with the keys on the keyboard engageable by the thumb or fingers of the hand holding the housing. Only one hand is required for scan actuation and key entry and to maintain a comfortable precision grip. The portable bar code scanner apparatus may also include a radio for transmitting data to or receiving data from a host computer, and may be mounted on the back of the operator's hand for hands-free operation while in an object-sense mode.

Abstract: A special effect system and method includes an image panel having a surface coated with phosphor particles and a video screen that projects a transmitted predetermined display. The phosphor coated surface of the image panel is placed in close proximity to the video screen. The phosphor particles that overlap and are thus exposed to the predetermined display are excited by the wavelength emissions of the display and undergo phosphorescence in a wavelength range of human-visible light. Thus, when the panel is removed from the screen, a glow in the dark, "secret" message or image, special effect is revealed.

Abstract: A dual speed fishing reel having a housing with a spool on a spool shaft, a driven gear on the spool shaft and having a low speed pinion and a high speed pinion, a drive shaft, a low speed drive gear for engaging the low speed pinion and a high speed drive gear for engaging the high speed pinion, with the drive gears carried on the drive shaft, with one of the drive gears fixed to the drive shaft for rotation by the drive shaft and with the other of the drive gears riding on the drive shaft independent of rotation of the drive shaft, with the high speed drive gear engageable with the low speed drive gear, and a gear shift for moving the low speed drive gear into and out of engagement with the high speed drive gear.

Abstract: An irradiance redistribution guide (IRG) for providing from a radiation source having a nonuniform irradiation distribution, a predetermined irradiance distribution over a predetermined target area spaced away from the IRG, includes a tubular reflective inner surface disposed between an entrance aperture and an exit aperture. The reflective inner surface has a varying cross-sectional radius. The profile of the cross-sectional radius is defined by a spline function that is uniquely determined by a plurality of knots. The IRG, when used in conjunction with a high-power solar concentrator, is advantageous in materials processing that requires high irradiance level that is uniformly distributed over an area spaced away from the exit aperture by a working distance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a translating handle assembly that actuates a latch mechanism to releasably secure a door to a structure. The handle assembly includes an interior handle, an exterior handle, and a translating shaft. The translating shaft is connected between the interior handle and the exterior handle. The interior handle is rotatable between closed and open positions and the exterior handle rotates in unison with the interior handle between closed and open positions. In the closed position, the exterior handle is disposed within the recess of an exterior handle housing. Rotation of the interior handle between closed and open positions causes the translating shaft to move axially between non-extended and extended positions displacing the exterior handle axially out of the recess of the exterior handle housing.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer implemented data manager. A statement is executed in a computer. The statement being performed by the computer to access data from a database stored on a data storage device connected to the computer. A determination is made as to whether to defer referential integrity checking when executing the statement. When it is determined that referential integrity checking is to be deferred, each record is processed that is specified in the statement. Keys for select records are stored as each record is processed. Then, after executing the statement, referential integrity checking is performed on the stored keys.

Abstract: A water ski has an upper side, an under side, a front end and a rear end, with an arched fin carried on the ski under side at the ski rear end. The arched fin has opposed edges adjacent the edges of the ski under side, with the opposed edges joined together adjacent the ski rear end to form an opening for water flow therethrough, and with the opposed edges tapering forward and upward from the opening to the ski under side, and terminating forward of the ski rear end. The arched fin and ski form a continuous channel for water flow along the bottom of the ski toward the rear end, preferably with the cross-section area of the forward end of the channel is greater than the cross-section area of the rear end of the channel.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer-implemented live connection manager. A statement is executed in a computer to retrieve data from a database stored on a data storage device connected to the computer. In particular, a first statement is received from another computer via an internet network. The first statement is prepared to create an executable structure for executing the first statement. A second statement is received from another computer via an internet network. Then, when the received second statement or portion thereof is the same as the first statement or portion thereof, processing the second statement or portion thereof by executing the executable structure created for the first statement or portion thereof.

Abstract: An irrigation hose splice and method of making the same that permits used irrigation hose to be reinstalled and retrieved in the same manner as new irrigation hose. The method of splicing includes providing two segments of unjoined irrigation hose. Inserting a heat shield into a first segment to prevent its inner circumferential surface from fusing together when the first hose segment is later fused with a second hose segment. Inserting the first hose segment into the second hose segment, creating an area where the two segments overlap. Appyling heat and compression simultaneously at the overlapping area to fuse together the first and second hose segments, creating an irrigation hose splice which is composed of material from the first hose segment and the second hose segment that have been fused together.