Abstract: A case for a portable electronic device such as cell phones, cameras, MP3 players and PDAs wherein said case includes material at the corners to provide protection to the electronic device. To reduce bulk at the corners and allow the material forming the case to conform with the contours of the device, the protection at the corners includes strips of material defining apertures there between. The apertures provide reduction in bulk and allow the case to conform to the corners of the device therein. Alternately, the protection at the corners can be provided by other structures co-molded into the corners of the cases. Such structures include material that is of a reduced thickness than other material used in the case, or structures that are formed to conform to the corners of the case. Such structures can be joined to the material forming the panels of the case by co-molding.

Abstract: A dispensing assembly has a ferrule and collar for maintaining a coupling of a dispensing module to a receptacle neck. The ferrule has an annular plastic skirt open on one end, and plastic nibs extending radially inwardly from the skirt inner surface. The skirt outer surface is a regular polygon with flat surfaces between corners. The collar has a Nomar edge defining an annular recess adjacent the open end with an annular face facing the collar other end. At least the corners of the skirt open end extend radially outwardly into the annular recess of the collar inner surface when the dispensing assembly is secured to the receptacle to retain the collar on the ferrule while the dispensing assembly is secured to the receptacle by the ferrule nibs beneath the flange of the receptacle neck. Installation involves pushing the collar and ferrule onto the receptacle neck with the collar in a raised position on the ferrule, and then pushing the collar down relative to the ferrule.

Abstract: A drag harness comprises two arm loops, each of which has a fixed length and is adapted to receive a separate arm of a wearer, and a gripping loop having a fixed length, joined to the arm loops. Rather than one gripping loop, a pair of gripping loops, each having a fixed length, can be advantageously used. The arm loops are made from a non-abrading material, which may be rope, such as cotton rope or polyester rope. Alternatively, the non-abrading material may be a material, such as strapping, webbing, or rope, which has a surface finish providing the material with a non-abrading characteristic.

Abstract: A node device (601) of a wireless sensor network comprises a receiver (651) for receiving transmissions from other nodes. A controller (641) selectively switches on said receiver (651) according to a timetable. The node device (601) maintains synchronization with and receives beacon transmissions from another node in said wireless sensor network. If a failure is observed in previously maintained synchronization, the controller (641) reads from memory previously received information about neighboring nodes with which said node device (601) did not yet maintain synchronization. The controller (641) utilizes such stored information to selectively switch on the receiver (651) to attempt receiving a beacon transmission from such a neighboring node.

Abstract: Thin sheets of magnetic material are subjected to a pressing process to stamp many sheets of core pieces, and caulking projections defined in the core pieces are caused to go into connecting through holes defined in the core pieces for connecting and laminating to produce a laminated core. In lower layer of the core pieces having the caulking projections arranged in different positions seeing in plan, at least two sheets of core pieces and other core pieces having the connecting through holes are provided. The caulking projections defined in the core pieces have projecting length of at least twice of thickness of the core pieces, and are fitted in the connecting through holes, so that upper and lower laminated core pieces are unified.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a lens and the method of manufacturing progressive addition lenses (PAL) to remove unwanted base out prism and minimize excessive convergence, comprising determining basic configuration of two major lens surfaces to provide a distance portion and near portion, wherein diopter power increases from the distance portion of the lens to the near portion; selecting an amount of prism reduction; and reducing base out prism that inherently occurs as diopter power increases by altering the configuration of the lens as a function of the amount of prism reduction to minimize any disruption of optical properties a lens while decreasing base out prism.

Abstract: Electrokinetic devices and methods are described with the purpose of collecting assayable agents from a dielectric fluid medium. Electrokinetic flow may be induced by the use of plasma generation at high voltage electrodes and consequent transport of charged particles in an electric voltage gradient. In one embodiment, the agents are directed electrokinetically to the sample collection assay device with no intermediate transfer steps. The agents are directed by creation of an electrokinetic potential well, which will effect their capture on to an assay device. Environmental agents such as biowarfare agents, pathogens, allergens or pollutants are collected autonomously on to the assay device, without any human intervention. The dielectric fluid medium, such as air, is sampled by electrokinetic propulsion with no moving parts or optionally, by transporting the dielectric fluid by a fan, pump or by breath.

Abstract: A windrower with a frame that: a) has a front, a rear and laterally spaced sides; and b) is movable in an advancing direction. A processing mechanism is capable of: a) unearthing grown product; and b) separating foreign matter from the grown product as the frame is advanced. A cross conveyor assembly controllably discharges grown product from the processing mechanism to the underlying terrain. The cross conveyor assembly has a first discharge end and at least one section, including the first discharge end, that is selectively translatable laterally relative to the frame as the frame is advancing thereby to laterally change a location of the first discharge end and thus the lateral discharge location for the cross conveyor assembly at the first discharge end.

Abstract: A package having a recloseable pour spout is disclosed, with the package including front and rear package panels which may be joined at respective side edges thereof by inwardly extending side gussets. An upper edge portion of the package is removable, including one of the side gussets, to form a pour spout for dispensing the contents of the package. A fastener strip, which can be detachably connected to itself, extends between confronting inside surfaces of the front and rear package panels, adjacent to the pour spout, whereby the pour spout can be conveniently closed after the package is initially opened. A method of forming the present package is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the non-recirculating self-sanitization of a carbon filter (14) in a water pretreatment system (12). The apparatus includes a heat exchanger (50) that can maintain an activated carbon bed (44) of the carbon filter (14) at a desired sanitization temperature during service operation of the pretreatment system (12) where the pretreatment system (12) is providing a pretreated water stream (32H) for final treatment.

Abstract: A conveyor, which has an area in its conveyor line and for adjusting intervals between articles, includes (1) a plurality of zones constituting the area and each having at least one driving motor and an article sensor, (2) structure for measuring either an interval between adjacent articles in the conveying direction or a difference of time points when adjacent articles in the conveying direction pass the sensor, and (3) a motor controller for each of the zones and for varying a rotational speed of the driving motor. When the measuring structure measures either the interval or the difference upon reception of signals from the sensor, the motor controller either accelerates or slows down the rotational speed of the driving motor in a zone where the article is placed.

Abstract: A gasket system (18) is provided for use with a protective boot (12) and a pant leg (16) of a protective garment (14) for a firefighter or other emergency worker. The boot (12) includes an outer boot (24) and a moisture/vapor barrier liner (26), and the leg (16) includes an outer shell (20) and a moisture/vapor barrier liner (22). The gasket system (18) includes a first gasket (30) fixed to the liner (22) of the pant leg (16) and defining a first annular interlock (34) to encircle a wearer's leg received in the pant leg (16), and a second gasket (32) fixed to at least one of the outer boot (24) and the boot liner (26) and defining a second annular interlock (36) to encircle a wearer's leg received in the boot (12). The first and second interlocks (34,36) are engageable with each other to form a seal with a leg received in both the boot (12) and the pant leg (16).

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a surface bounding a space within which a bulk supply of flowable material can be contained. The apparatus has an elongate support with a proximal region and a distal region. At least one flexible tube is provided at the distal region of the elongate support through which a fluid from a pressurized supply can be directed. The at least one flexible tube is movable continuously in a whipping action to thereby cause a force to be applied to a surface at or adjacent to which the flexible tube is located to thereby at least one of: a) apply a fluid; and b) separate matter adhered, to a surface at or adjacent to which the flexible tube is located. The apparatus further has a moving assembly for the elongate support. The moving assembly is operable to controllably reposition and/or reconfigure the elongate support, thereby to controllably place the at least one flexible tube at different selected locations with respect to a surface to be treated by the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an extruded sheet product having an extruder assembly with a sheet die through which flowable material is delivered for sheet product formation and a roll stand assembly with a main frame and a roll stack sub-assembly on the main frame that cause flowable material from the sheet die to be formed into a sheet product. The apparatus further has a sub-frame assembly and a linear slide bearing assembly with at least one rail defining a travel path for the main frame and through which the main frame is guided in movement relative to the sub-frame assembly, thereby to selectively vary relative positions of the sheet die and roll stand assembly along the travel path.

Abstract: A powered apparatus having an elongate pole, a drive at a proximal region of the elongate pole and operable to rotate a first component on the drive, a tool at a distal region of the elongate pole with a second component that is rotatable to operate the tool, and a power transmission assembly for transmitting a drive force generated by rotation of the first component to the second component to thereby operate the tool. The power transmission assembly has a flexible drive link with a flexible length located between the drive and at least one other substantially inflexible drive part that is downstream of the drive link. The flexible length of the flexible drive link is greater than four (4) inches.

Abstract: A flexible, pressure-openable dispensing valve has a mounting base and has an outwardly extending head having at least three peripheral walls that each projects forwardly from the base. The head also includes an end wall that extends between, and connects, the outer margins of the peripheral walls. The end wall has a dispensing orifice surrounded by a spreading surface.

Abstract: A flow meter and method for measuring flow in liquids which may have entrained bubbles or foreign matter. The meter performs alternate transit time and Doppler measurements. The transit time measurements are used to calculate flow so long as they are successful. If the transit time measurements are not successful, the Doppler measurements are used.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating elongated semiconductor strips from a wafer of semiconductor material are disclosed. Vacuum is applied to the face of each elongated semiconductor strip forming an edge of the wafer or being adjacent to the edge. The wafer and a source of the vacuum are displaced to separate each elongated semiconductor strip from the wafer. Further, a method and an apparatus for assembling elongated semiconductor strips separated from a wafer of semiconductor material into an array of the strips are disclosed. Still further, methods, apparatuses, and systems for assembling an array of elongated semiconductor strips on a substrate are disclosed.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a movable closure element to releasably engage a strike assembly on a frame support and thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a predetermined position relative to the frame support. The operating mechanism has a base with a wall extending around a first axis and defining an elongate tubular passageway. The operating mechanism includes a latch system having: (a) a latched state; and (b) a released state. An actuating system on the base is changeable from a first state into a second state to thereby change the latch system from the latched state into the released state. The actuating system has an elongate flexible cable with a length residing at least partially within the passageway and made up of an elongate sheath and a movable core. An actuating system has an actuating assembly for the elongate flexible cable that is mounted to the wall.

Abstract: A firefighter's coat including an outer shell and a liner. The outer shell has an inner surface, an outer surface, a front opening with a closure, and a downwardly extending rear tail. The liner has an outer surface facing the inner surface of the shell providing a barrier against the environment. The liner outer surface has a bottom edge loose from the outer shell inner surface to facilitate air circulation for drying when the coat is not in use, and a pocket is defined along the bottom of the outer shell tail and adapted to receive the rear of the liner bottom edge when the coat is in use. A releasable fastener is adapted to releasably secure the liner in the pocket.