Abstract: A solder preform having multiple layers including a solder layer filled with additives interposed between two unfilled layers for improved wettability. A solder preform having a sphere which contains a solder material filled with additives, and an unfilled surface layer for improved wettability. A thermal interface material having a bonding component and an additive component which is a CTE modifying component and/or a thermal conductivity enhancement component. Active solders containing intrinsic oxygen getters.

Abstract: A ring binder includes a housing, a driving mechanism moveable relative to the housing, and rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. Each ring has a first ring member and a second ring member moveable relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position. A ring actuator is positionable relative to the housing and operatively connected to the driving mechanism for moving the ring members between their closed and opened positions. A blocking device blocks the ring members in their closed position against movement to their opened position. The blocking device is positionable relative to the housing between a blocking position wherein the ring members are inhibited by the blocking device against movement from their opened position, and an unblocking position wherein the ring members are selectively moveable from their closed position to their opened position by positioning of the actuator. The blocking device is operable independent of the actuator.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism that retains loose-leaf pages and has ring members that readily lock together, preventing accidental loss of pages. The mechanism comprises a housing that supports two hinge plates for loose pivoting motion, bringing the ring members to either an open position or a closed position. The mechanism further comprises a control structure, which includes an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the housing. The actuating lever moves a travel bar and its locking elements for controlling the pivoting motion of the hinge plates. When the ring members are closed, the locking elements block the hinge plates from pivoting to open the ring members. In addition, a spring is attached to the travel bar for automatically biasing the travel bar and locking elements to the locked position when the ring members close.

Abstract: A control valve assembly for spray guns comprises a flexible valve having a water-sealing portion defined by a support surface and an abutment surface conjoined to a pivoting rod via a water-stop surface disposed there-between. A water-pressure adjusting valve includes a pressure-relief section having a flow orifice to mount to a valve shaft of a pressure valve and match to the pivoting rod and the abutment surface of the flexible valve thereby. The pressure-relief section, precisely situated between a stop seat of a spray gun body and a valve seat, has a watertight ring fixed at one side to closely abut against the stop seat. A support section, extending at the other side of the water-pressure adjusting valve, has a pivoting hole defining the end portion opposite to the flow orifice thereof. Besides, the pressure valve has a positioning ring mounted to the predetermined position of the valve shaft thereon.

Abstract: A UV LED device may be used for curing fluids. In one embodiment, LEDs are positioned on faces defined by an inverted recess in a base portion. The LEDs are configured such that the light beams emitted from the LEDs converge at a single area or point to provide a single, focused area or point of amplified power from the LEDs. In another embodiment, the base portion is elongated to provide a single, focused line or region of amplified power from the LEDs. In another embodiment, the curing process occurs in an inert atmosphere. In one embodiment, a printed circuit is disposed in the base portion to provide power to the LEDs.

Abstract: A method of batching multiple sets of responses on a server and sending the responses to a client in a single batch (i.e., a “chained” or “packed” batch). The sets of responses may be each be obfuscated and/or compressed. Once the batch is received by the client, each set is processed individually. The client may be configured to communicate the size of an uncompressed set of responses that it can handle. The server may use this information to create sets of responses that are the correct size, and may or may not compress the sets of responses. The server may chain the sets of responses and may continue to chain sets, compressed or not, until the server's buffer is full or close to full. The chained set of responses may then be sent to the client, and may process each of the sets of responses individually.

Abstract: A process is described in which an elastic fluid is contacted with a particulate solid. This comprises providing a substantially vertical elongate tubular containment zone (1) containing a charge of the particulate solid (5), the volume of the containment zone (1) being greater than the settled volume of the particulate solid (5). An upper retainer means (3) is mounted at the upper end of the containment zone (1), the upper retainer means (3) being permeable to the fluid but adapted to retain particulate solid (5) in the containment zone (1). A follower means (4) is movably mounted in the containment zone (1) beneath the charge of particulate solid (5) for movement upwardly from the lower end of the containment zone (1) upon upward flow of elastic fluid through the containment zone (1) at a rate beyond a threshold rate.

Abstract: A method of navigating data associated with a plurality of nodes in a hierarchy stored in a database. The nodes are organized in a plurality of levels of the hierarchy where each node has a label. Software of the invention requests and receives a set of labels associated with one or more nodes in one or more levels in the hierarchy from the database. The software displays a visual representation of the hierarchy to a user including the received labels. A user select a plurality of the displayed labels from any level in the hierarchy to process data associated with the nodes corresponding to the selected labels.

Abstract: 3,3-Dimethylbutanal is prepared from 3,3-dimethybutanol. Intermediate 3,3-dimethylbutanol is obtained by reacting ethylene, isopropylene and a mineral acid to produce a 3,3-dimethylbutyl ester which is hydrolyzed to the alcohol. The hydrolysis step is effectively carried out by reactive distillation. Alternatively, 3,3-dimethylbutanal is prepared from 3,3-dimethylbutanol obtained by reduction of the corresponding carboxylic acid or 1,2-epoxy-3,3-dimethylbutane, or by hydrolysis of 1-halo-3,3-dimethylbutane. Fixed bed gas phase and stirred tank liquid phase processes are provided for converted 3,3-dimethylbutanol to 3,3-dimethylbutanal by catalytic dehydrogenation.

Abstract: A stator segment for a stator assembly includes a stack of substantially identical laminations and a containment structure receiving a portion of the stacked laminations. The containment structure includes a flexible hinge element. The containment structure can include a first containment structure member having a first pocket for receiving a portion of the stack of substantially identical laminations and a second containment structure member having a second pocket for receiving a different portion of the stack of substantially identical laminations than the first pocket. In some embodiments, the stack of substantially identical laminations includes two ends and a middle portion extending between the ends. The containment structure can include a first containment structure member for capping one end of the stack of substantially identical laminations and a second containment structure member for capping the other end of the stack of substantially identical laminations.

Abstract: A snowboard binding having a base element that can be fastened to the top of a snowboard. At least one instep element extends over part of a snowboard boot fastened to the base element. The instep element is movable along at least one arc-like path to improve mobility of the boot in the binding.

Abstract: A composition suitable for formulation of an enzymatic reaction mixture, the composition comprising a reaction component essential for an ex-vivo non-polymerase enzymatic reaction in which a substrate is catalyzed by an enzyme in a reaction mixture to form a product, and a tracer compatible with the enzyme, the composition being substantially free of the substrate.

Abstract: In a tire management system and method for surveying and servicing a vehicle tire, a portable hand held computer unit receives and stores data for servicing the vehicle tire and data acquired from the vehicle tire. A desired tire air pressure is input into the portable hand held computer unit and is transmitted from the hand held computer unit to a tire inflation device adapted for automatically inflating or deflating the vehicle tire to the desired tire air pressure. The tire inflation receives the desired tire air pressure and is operated in response to receiving the desired tire air pressure to measure the actual tire pressure of the tire, to transmit the actual tire pressure back to the hand held computer unit for storage therein, to inflate or deflate the tire to the desired tire air pressure and to transmit a final measured tire air pressure back to the hand held computer unit.

Abstract: A multifocal lens to be used for digital still cameras comprises a fixed first lens or a first group of lenses; a movable second lens or a second group of lenses; and a fixed third lens or a third group of lenses, wherein the second lens or second group of lenses moves back and forth (up and down) between the first and third lenses or lens groups, and changes its own focal length of the whole lens from wide angle to telephoto and vice versa.

Abstract: A process for the formation of compounds of Formula VI: comprising hydrolyzing a compound corresponding to Formula VII: wherein —A—A—, —B—B—, R3, R8 and R9 are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A method and system of this invention that provides for profiling a user of the Internet according to predefined categories of interest is described herein. This invention includes scanning content information of an Internet user to generate unknown data and processing unknown data to determine its relevance to predefined categories of interest. This relevance is indicated in a matching rating system, analyzing attributes such as length of time reviewing content information, frequency of encounter, recency, strength and closeness. With comparisons such as these, this invention generates a match of the unknown data with the predefined categories to form a profile of the user that may ultimately be used to target offers to users based upon the profile.