Abstract: A hand tool for expanding an end of a pipe to insert a fitting therein and for pressing a retaining sleeve over the pipe and fitting. The tool includes: (a) a replaceable, expandable head for insertion within an end of the pipe; and (b) a gripping and pressing member to grip the fitting and the retaining sleeve and to press the retaining sleeve over the pipe and fitting.

Abstract: A smart card which includes a non-volatile read/write memory, a resolve buffer, a processor connected to the memory and the resolve buffer, and an installer module configured to cause the processor to receive computer code having unresolved references into the memory, and further configured to cause the processor to perform a method for resolving unresolved references. The method including steps for copying the contents of the memory into the resolve buffer, detecting unresolved references in the computer code, determining the resolved reference for each of the detected unresolved references, updating the contents of the resolve buffer with the resolved references, and replacing the contents of the memory with the contents of the resolve buffer.

Abstract: A smart card authentication framework may include a card application applet (CAA), an authentication policy applet (APA), and an authentication technology applet (ATA). The CAA may provide a protected service for a user. The APA may provide an authentication-technology-independent user validation service for the CAA. The ATA may provide a technology-specific authentication service. In one embodiment, the CAA provides a first external interface, the ATA provides a second external interface and a first internal interface, and the APA provides a second internal interface. The ATA may receive a host request for user authentication via the second external interface, and the ATA may process the authentication request without participation by the CAA. The CAA may communicate with the APA via the first internal interface to determine whether the user is currently validated. If so, the CAA may provide the protected service for the host via the first external interface.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for detecting successful transfers between a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and a USB smart card and generating a signal that provides an indication of the USB transaction activity. This USB transaction activity signal is modulated according to the USB transaction activity and drives a Light Emitting Diode (LED) in a preferred embodiment of the invention. A counter internal to the USB smart card scales the transaction activity signal such that it is perceptible to the user. Because the current through the LED depends upon the USB transaction activity, the brightness of the LED varies according to the USB transaction activity. The LED may be driven from a current mirror sink or source, or a current switch sink or source.

Abstract: A multi-application smart card has a persistent storage unit. The persistent storage unit stores data and/or information that indicates which application is to be run the next time the smart card is inserted into a terminal. The persistent storage unit may indicate the same application, a different user-selected application, or an application-selection application is to be run next. Alternatively, the persistent storage unit may indicate the next application on a predefined list as the application to be run next. An application-selection terminal allows a user to manually select the user-selected application. The terminal may initiate communication with the smart card by sending a special, predefined signal to the smart card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for communicating with a host. In one embodiment, a smart card has an IC with voltage conditioning circuitry and a pull-up resistor. The smart card, when inserted in a smart card reader coupled to the host, is capable of signaling the host over a bus using the pull-up resistor selectively coupled to a voltage output of the voltage conditioning circuitry and a first output of the smart card. The voltage conditioning circuitry output is selectively coupled to the first output through the resistor, responsive to the device being powered by the bus but not transmitting. This tends to pull up the first output to the voltage level of the voltage source, which makes the smart card capable of being properly detected by the host upon the bus being driven by a host. Selectively disconnecting the pull-up resistor while the smart card is transmitting or receiving results in a more balanced differential output signal.

Abstract: A dual-mode IC is provided for operating in first mode such as an ISO mode in accordance with International Standards Organization 7816 (ISO 7816) protocol, and a second, non-ISO mode, such as a USB mode in accordance with Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol. The dual-mode IC is preferably in a smart card and includes a microprocessor, a switching block, and an external interface. The external interface includes a voltage supply pad, a reference voltage pad, a reset pad, a clock pad and an input/output pad in accordance with the ISO 7816 protocol, and a D-plus pad and D-minus pad in accordance with the USB protocol. The IC further includes a mode configuration circuit for detecting a USB mode condition on at least one of the D-plus and D-minus pads, and configuring the IC in the ISO mode or the USB mode depending on the result. Once the IC is configured in a particular mode, it will operate in only that mode until the next power-on reset sequence.

Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for generating a local clock signal CLK1X (172) from Universal Synchronous Bus downstream-received differential signals DM and DP carrying the downstream received bit-serial signal. The method and device does not require the use of a crystal or resonator. Counters (312, 310, 305, 301) are used to determine a number of periods of a free-running high frequency clock signal (164) contained within in a known number of bit periods of the downstream received bit-serial signal (146). The counter values are divided by the known number of bit periods of the received bit-serial signal (146) to determine a bit period of the received bit-serial signal (146). The local clock signal (172) may be phase-locked with the received bit serial signal (146). The local clock period is updated on an ongoing manner by downstream known received traffic.

Abstract: A gutter outlet punch for punching an outlet in a rain gutter. The gutter outlet punch has a female die and a male cutting die mating with the female die with the rain gutter positioned therebetween. The male cutting die is attached to a rod. A ratchet permits incremental, one way movement of the male cutting die toward the rain gutter. A ratchet handle permits one-handed operation of the ratchet. A ratchet release allows the male cutting die to be moved away from the rain gutter. An alignment mechanism permits alignment of the rain gutter with the male cutting die in two alternate orthogonal orientations. A housing surrounds the female die and encloses the male cutting die to prevent contact with the operator when the apparatus is not in use. An automatic mechanism ejects the punched-out slug from the apparatus.

Abstract: The J-channel siding tool is preferably used to cut tabs or notches or a miter finishing cut in J-channel vinyl or aluminum siding in perpendicularly adjacent pieces proximate to the corners of doors or windows of a building, through the one cut operation of the tool by an individual. The J-channel siding cutter includes a pair of pivotally interconnected handles, a first cutter having a pair of first cutting surfaces and a first traverse cutting surface on one of the handles, and a second cutter having a pair of second cutting surfaces and a second traverse cutting surface on the other handle. The second traverse cutting surface is recessed with respect to the first traverse cutting surface to enable an individual to selectively determine, in one cut, whether to create a tab or notch within J-channel siding. The first cutter may also include a stop for defining a uniform length of tab or notch.

Abstract: An apparatus which is useful on pitched roofs includes structural features which help keep roofing materials from sliding off the roof. The apparatus also protects roofers from heat and abrasion from the roof surface on which they are working. A substantially solid foam rubber wedge forms one component of the apparatus, and a substantially planar pad forms the other component of the apparatus. These components are placed in proximity to each other so that the roofer, when situated on the pad, can readily reach roofing materials disposed against the wedge. The wedge resiliently compresses when roofing materials are placed on its upper surface. This resilient compression, the angle of orientation of the wedge's upper surface, and the frictional engagement of the wedge with the roof surface each contribute in varying degrees to holding roofing materials in position on the roof.

Abstract: A smart card comprises a microcontroller, a memory unit, a storage unit, and a communications unit. The smart card may be connected to a terminal, which is in turn may be connected to a host computer and/or a network. The smart card is configured to initiate communications with the terminal, which enables the smart card to control the terminal, host computer, or network and to access the resources connected to the terminal, host computer, or network. A communications protocol defines the commands that the smart card can send and allows the smart card to communicate using asynchronous or logical asynchronous communication.

Abstract: A roofing material and roofing fastener removal tool. The tool comprises a handle attached to a blade. In the preferred embodiment, the handle is adjustable relative to the blade. In this embodiment, a portion of an adjustment assembly provides additional pivot points to extend the working range of the blade. The blade includes two rows of material engagement portions. The rows include large teeth and small teeth spaced evenly and regularly along the working edge of the blade. The larger teeth are thinned and rounded to facilitate insertion between roofing material and a structure, while the smaller teeth are thinned on one side only and rounded to facilitate insertion and engagement with roofing material and roofing fasteners. The teeth are separated from each other by tapered slots which are sized to engage shanks of roofing fasteners.

Abstract: A magnetic device for picking up ferrous metal debris, such as nails, screws, sheet metal fragments, staples, rivets, and other ferrous metal objects from an environmental surface such as the ground or a floor by rolling along the surface, consists of: a magnetic pickup member; a pair of wheels mounted to the magnetic pickup member and supporting the magnetic pickup member slightly above the environmental surface; a handle; a wiper for scraping ferrous metal debris from the magnetic pickup member and biased against the magnetic pickup member; and a release rope for rotating the magnetic pickup member against the wiper, thereby dislocating ferrous metal debris from the magnetic pickup member. Optionally, a hopper may be attached to the device for receiving the ferrous metal debris.

Abstract: Smart (integrated circuit) card supervisory control and data acquisition. Industrial processes may be controlled by one or more smart cards. Signals may be received from an industrial process by the smart card, the signals may be processed by the smart card, and control signals may be sent from the smart card to the industrial process in response to the processed signals. The smart card may provide security/tamper resistance for proprietary information associated with the industrial process. Control of the industrial process may be distributed among one or more smart cards at particular process points to receive sensed process parameters and to send control signals to implement process actions.

Abstract: A garden tool that has a tool member coupled to a hollow aluminum handle by a nylon spacer and a pair of threaded nylon rivets,

Abstract: A hand tool combination of a knife having a double edged blade for piercing and cutting duct insulation and a wire cutter swingably engaged with the knife for cutting wire embedded in the duct insulation. The hand tool includes two jaws. One jaw forms the double edged blade and includes an anvil. The other jaw includes a wire cutting edge. The jaws are drawn together to operate the wire cutter by squeezing handles engaged with the jaws. The handles are also manipulated to operate the blade.