Abstract: A seat support assembly supports a cushion of a furniture member. The seat support assembly may include a frame, at least two seat springs, a support spring, and a coil spring. The support spring may be positioned between two seat springs, and the seat springs and the support spring may extend across the frame. A coil spring may be positioned on and attached to the support spring. The coil spring may extend to and bias against the two seat springs positioned on either side of the support spring.

Abstract: A headboard display rack for displaying a plurality of headboards. The display rack includes a frame, a plurality of bracket assemblies pivotably attached to the frame, and a plurality of roller assemblies that correspond to each of the bracket assemblies, wherein each bracket assembly is configured to support a first end of the headboard, and each roller assembly is configured to support a second end of the headboard.

Abstract: A coil spring bracket assembly that supports a cushion on a furniture frame is disclosed. A flat spring spans the furniture frame along a support plane to support the cushion. A cross member spanning the furniture frame is aligned with and spaced from the flat spring. A helical spring extends from the cross member to the flat spring to bias the flat spring toward the support plane. A bracket is disposed at opposite ends of the cross member to anchor the cross member to the furniture frame. The bracket includes a top portion that extends outwardly over the furniture frame along the support plane, a middle portion that extends from the top portion into the furniture frame, and a bottom portion that extends inwardly from the middle portion to abut a portion of the cross member in overlapping relationship.

Abstract: Beam placement during bridge construction by a carriage moving across an abutment or pier, supporting the end of a beam or pipe to position and align it on the abutment. A lift assembly lowers the end and the carriage is disengaged and moved to receive another beam, placing multiple parallel beams, without requiring a large crane. A carriage formed in sections separates to return to a new position. A screw jack or hydraulic unit moves the lift assembly, and deposits the beam on a load plate, and opposed separately-operated lift plates connected by a hinged cross-bar may form a beam-receiving basket assembly. Carriage rollers bear against a channel iron that protects underlying concrete structure from damage. A first set of rollers may bear against a horizontal surface and a second set of rollers bear against a vertical face of the abutment, aligning the carriage and beam along orthogonal axes.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the installation of a fiber optic cable to a house or other building structure are provided. The method may include identifying a preferred location of a customer through an indication left by the customer either on the interior side or exterior side of a wall, forming a through opening in the wall near or at the preferred location, and installing the in-wall termination device in the opening. The in-wall termination device may include a wall plate for attaching to an interior surface of the wall. The wall plate includes one or more connectors for receiving ends of cables extending from the exterior and connecting those cables to other cables extending through the interior of the building structure. The method may allow for the installation of the cable without requiring the presence of the customer or requiring access to the interior of the building structure.

Abstract: Beam placement during bridge construction by a carriage moving across an abutment or pier, supporting the end of a beam or pipe to position and align it on the abutment. A lift assembly lowers the end and the carriage is disengaged and moved to receive another beam, placing multiple parallel beams, without requiring a large crane. A carriage formed in sections separates to return to a new position. A screw jack or hydraulic unit moves the lift assembly, and deposits the beam on a load plate, and opposed separately-operated lift plates connected by a hinged cross-bar may form a beam-receiving basket assembly. Carriage rollers bear against a channel iron that protects underlying concrete structure from damage. A first set of rollers may bear against a horizontal surface and a second set of rollers bear against a vertical face of the abutment, aligning the carriage and beam along orthogonal axes.

Abstract: A system is provided including a unique marker configured to engage an unknown optical fiber and an identification device configured to selectively engage the unknown optical fiber and detect the unique marker. A method is further provided including the steps of attaching a unique identifier to an unknown optical fiber, engaging an identification device to the unknown optical fiber, and identifying the unique identifier via the unknown optical fiber.

Abstract: An arm attachment system for a furniture member assembly includes a furniture member having a support frame. An attachment member is connected to the support frame. First and second connection members are individually fixed at opposing ends of the attachment member each extending vertically upward from the attachment member and individually positioned outward of a right hand side or a left hand side of the furniture member. Identically configured first and second arm assemblies each include first and second brackets. Each bracket includes a connection member receiving cavity opening downwardly. Each cavity is adapted to receive one of the first or second connection members upwardly into the cavity such that the first and second arm assemblies can be interchangeably connected at either a right hand side or a left hand side of the furniture member.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for clearing a forward capacity auction are provided. A limited number of lumpy bids and offers received in the auction are selected. A plurality of feasible price/quantity combinations may then be generated for the selected bids and offers. A minimum consumer payment may be determined from the plurality of feasible price/quantity combinations. A market clearing solution may be obtained based on the minimum consumer payment.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the installation of a fiber optic cable to a house or other building structure are provided. The method may include identifying a preferred location of a customer through an indication left by the customer either on the interior side or exterior side of a wall, forming a through opening in the wall near or at the preferred location, and installing the in-wall termination device in the opening. The in-wall termination device may include a wall plate for attaching to an interior surface of the wall. The wall plate includes one or more connectors for receiving ends of cables extending from the exterior and connecting those cables to other cables extending through the interior of the building structure. The method may allow for the installation of the cable without requiring the presence of the customer or requiring access to the interior of the building structure.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods for installing and maintaining aerial fiber optic cable are provided. Embodiments include a cable long enough to extend from two elevated support points and to provide enough slack for at least a portion of the cable to extend along the ground. The cable includes a wrapped portion for storing the slack and to elevate the entire cable above the ground. The wrapped portion being releasable in response to a force acting on the cable, such as a falling tree, allowing for at least a portion of the cable to fall to the ground and minimize the likelihood of the tree snapping the cable. Fasteners and frame members may be employed to support the wrapped portion. An embodiment may also include a cut-off apparatus for cutting the cable in response to the cable being pulled further once any slack in the cable has been expended.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods for installing and maintaining aerial fiber optic cable are provided. Embodiments include a cable long enough to extend from two elevated support points and to provide enough slack for at least a portion of the cable to extend along the ground. The cable includes a wrapped portion for storing the slack and to elevate the entire cable above the ground. The wrapped portion being releasable in response to a force acting on the cable, such as a falling tree, allowing for at least a portion of the cable to fall to the ground and minimize the likelihood of the tree snapping the cable. Fasteners and frame members may be employed to support the wrapped portion. An embodiment may also include a cut-off apparatus for cutting the cable in response to the cable being pulled further once any slack in the cable has been expended.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the installation of a fiber optic cable to a house or other building structure are provided. The method may include identifying a preferred location of a customer through an indication left by the customer either on the interior side or exterior side of a wall, forming a through opening in the wall near or at the preferred location, and installing the in-wall termination device in the opening. The in-wall termination device may include a wall plate for attaching to an interior surface of the wall. The wall plate includes one or more connectors for receiving ends of cables extending from the exterior and connecting those cables to other cables extending through the interior of the building structure. The method may allow for the installation of the cable without requiring the presence of the customer or requiring access to the interior of the building structure.

Abstract: A road crossing tool to assist in, and enable, a one-person installation of fiber optic cable which must be connected to a utility pole first, before being connected to a house on the opposite side of the road. Since fiber optic cable is not readily spliced in the field, as compared to copper wire cable which is readily spliceable, the fiber cable is supplied pre-connectorized with fixed lengths. This causes slack, or un-necessary cable length, which must be stored at the building/house site rather than atop the utility pole. This tool permits the installer to have good visibility of the roadway after making the cable connection to the utility pole and prior to hoisting the cable to its intended elevated height over the roadway before making the cable connection to the house and storing the slack at the house. This eliminates the need for a two person installation which would otherwise be required.

Abstract: A lyophilization apparatus includes a chamber and plural drying shelves arranged in vertically spaced apart relation. Each shelf has an inlet, outlet, and flow passageway therebetween. Plural sets of shelves are independently coupled to separate sources of circulating heat exchange fluid. In a preferred embodiment, every second shelf is fluidically coupled to a first inlet manifold and a first outlet manifold, and every other shelf is fluidically coupled to a second inlet manifold a second outlet manifold. The first inlet and outlet manifolds are fluidically coupled to a first circulating source of heat exchange fluid and the second inlet and outlet manifolds are fluidically coupled to a second circulating source of heat exchange fluid, whereby the temperature of each drying shelf can be controlled independently of a vertically adjacent one of the drying shelves. In a further aspect, a lyophilization process is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for managing a bulk electric power market. A set of inter-related automated process streams relating to the bulk electric power market are implemented. A plurality of automated processes for each process stream may also be implemented. At least one process of each process stream serves as an input to, or output from, at least one other process stream. Each process may comprise: (i) automated inputs; (ii) automated activities; (iii) and automated outputs. The process streams may be used to manage a bulk electric power market and to control an electric power grid. For example, the process streams may be used for determining market-based wholesale electric rates; scheduling transmission outages; creating a day-ahead market schedule; and calculating monetary positions of customers involved in settlement of the day-ahead market.

Abstract: A system is provided including a unique marker configured to engage an unknown optical fiber and an identification device configured to selectively engage the unknown optical fiber and detect the unique marker. A method is further provided including the steps of attaching a unique identifier to an unknown optical fiber, engaging an identification device to the unknown optical fiber, and identifying the unique identifier via the unknown optical fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of root pruning a woody plant having a main trunk and usually a distinct crown, such as a tree. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and manner in which to prune root systems of trees, in preparation of transplantation or while excavating in proximity to a tree, more efficiently and effectively than in the past. The invention includes among its essential elements a vibratory apparatus coupled to a mobile device. The mobile device may be an excavator machine having an articulated machine arm with the root pruning vibratory apparatus attached thereto. The machine's articulated arm positions the vibratory apparatus in a desired location while applying force to the apparatus, pushing it into the ground while the apparatus is vibrating, penetrating the blade into the ground or, optionally, the vibratory apparatus having the ability to provide a hammering action.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for managing a bulk electric power market. A set of inter-related automated process streams relating to the bulk electric power market are implemented. A plurality of automated processes for each process stream may also be implemented. At least one process of each process stream serves as an input to, or output from, at least one other process stream. Each process may comprise: (i) automated inputs; (ii) automated activities; (iii) and automated outputs. The process streams may be used to manage a bulk electric power market and to control an electric power grid. For example, the process streams may be used for determining market-based wholesale electric rates; scheduling transmission outages; creating a day-ahead market schedule; and calculating monetary positions of customers involved in settlement of the day-ahead market.