Abstract: A litter box includes upper and lower shells having corrugations formed therein that strengthen the walls of the shell and that enable the walls themselves to be relatively thinner than would be required in the absence of corrugations. The relatively thinner walls thus enable the litter box to be formed from less material. The corrugations are configured to enable molding with conventional two-part molds. An upper shell portion has a handle integrally molded therein. When assembled, the upper shell sits atop the lower shell, and the line of junction between the upper and lower shells is oriented oblique to a bottom surface of the lower shell and thus oblique to a floor upon which the litter box may sit. The oblique angle enables a relatively low step-over height at the front and a relatively high height at the rear to resist the penetration of urine.

Abstract: A pet kennel that is structured to receive an animal includes an upper kennel portion and a lower kennel portion that include first and second engagement structures that are slidingly engageable. The upper kennel portion is situated in a first position atop the lower kennel portion offset from one another along a longitudinal axis of the pet kennel. The upper kennel portion is then translated along the longitudinal axis with respect to the lower pet kennel portion toward a second, assembled position to cause the first engagement elements and the second engagement elements to become slidingly engaged and to cause the upper and lower kennel portions to become aligned with one another. The upper kennel portion additionally includes a pair of latches that are engageable with the lower shell portion in the second position of the pet kennel to retain the upper and lower kennel portions in the second position.

Abstract: A litter box includes upper and lower shells having corrugations formed therein that strengthen the walls of the shell and that enable the walls themselves to be relatively thinner than would be required in the absence of corrugations. The relatively thinner walls thus enable the litter box to be formed from less material. The corrugations are configured to enable molding with conventional two-part molds. An upper shell portion has a handle integrally molded therein. When assembled, the upper shell sits atop the lower shell, and the line of junction between the upper and lower shells is oriented oblique to a bottom surface of the lower shell and thus oblique to a floor upon which the litter box may sit. The oblique angle enables a relatively low step-over height at the front and a relatively high height at the rear to resist the penetration of urine.

Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems implementing browser-based database manipulation are described. A browser on a client device can receive a form definition that is generated based on a schema of a relational database and a layout. The schema in the form definition can specify properties of data fields. The browser can display the data fields and other components of the layout in a list. The browser can receive a drag-and-drop input, the drag-and-drop input selecting a data field or a layout component from the list and dropping the selected data field or layout component in a drop zone in a form area in the browser. The browser can determine the drop location, and use the drop location as a parameter to modify the form definition. The layout and the schema can be modified based on the modified form definition.

Abstract: A pet kennel that is structured to receive an animal includes an upper kennel portion and a lower kennel portion that include first and second engagement structures that are slidingly engageable. The upper kennel portion is situated in a first position atop the lower kennel portion offset from one another along a longitudinal axis of the pet kennel. The upper kennel portion is then translated along the longitudinal axis with respect to the lower pet kennel portion toward a second, assembled position to cause the first engagement elements and the second engagement elements to become slidingly engaged and to cause the upper and lower kennel portions to become aligned with one another.

Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems implementing intelligent data caching are disclosed. A client can send a request for data to a server. The request can include a query and a query context. The query can retrieve more data than can be displayed in a current page. The query context can specify a quantity of data records that can be displayed in the current page. The client can receive from the server two sets of data in response to the request. The first set of data can include row identifiers of data records that satisfy the query. The second set of data can include data records that can be displayed in the current page. The client can store the two sets of data in one or more buffers (e.g., two buffers) and update buffer(s) when different data records are displayed (e.g., when a user scrolls through pages).

Abstract: A cutting machine for trimming window covering work pieces is disclosed. The cutting machine includes a stand, one or more cutting mechanisms attached to the stand, a controller and one or more locators connected to the controller that are movable relative to the one or more cutting machines and are configured to engage at least a portion of a window covering work piece between the ends of the work piece. The controller has a memory having a program. The program enables the controller to cause one or more of the locators to move so that a desired amount of material can be trimmed from at least one end of the work piece after the controller receives information about the work piece. The controller may be connected to the one or more locators by one or more wireless connections or by one or more direct connectors such electronic wiring.

Abstract: A pet kennel that is structured to receive an animal includes an upper kennel portion and a lower kennel portion that include first and second engagement structures that are slidingly engageable. The upper kennel portion is situated in a first position atop the lower kennel portion offset from one another along a longitudinal axis of the pet kennel. The upper kennel portion is then translated along the longitudinal axis with respect to the lower pet kennel portion toward a second, assembled position to cause the first engagement elements and the second engagement elements to become slidingly engaged and to cause the upper and lower kennel portions to become aligned with one another. The upper kennel portion additionally includes a pair of latches that are engageable with the lower shell portion in the second position of the pet kennel to retain the upper and lower kennel portions in the second position.

Abstract: An improved blind cutting machine has a work surface on which a blind to be cut is placed and at least one end stop against which an end of the blind to be cut rests prior to being cut by a cutting mechanism. An actuator is connected to the end stop. The actuator moves the end stop relative to the work surface and the cutting mechanism in response to signals from a controller. An operator enters information about the blind to be cut and the dimensions of an opening over which the blind to be cut is to be mounted into the controller. The controller then calculates the location where the end stop should be so that a sufficient amount of material can be trimmed from an end of the blind to be cut to enable the blind to fit the opening. Then the controller sends a signal to the actuator that causes the actuator to move the end stop to that location. In alternative embodiments the end stop is fixed and the actuator moves the cutting mechanism or a work surface on which the blind to be cut has been placed.

Abstract: An improved blind cutting machine has a work surface on which a blind to be cut is placed and at least one end stop against which an end of the blind to be cut rests prior to being cut by a cutting mechanism. An actuator is connected to the end stop. The actuator moves the end stop relative to the work surface and the cutting mechanism in response to signals from a controller. An operator enters information about the blind to be cut and the dimensions of an opening over which the blind to be cut is to be mounted into the controller. The controller then calculates the location where the end stop should be so that a sufficient amount of material can be trimmed from an end of the blind to be cut to enable the blind to fit the opening. Then the controller sends a signal to the actuator that causes the actuator to move the end stop to that location. In alternative embodiments the end stop is fixed and the actuator moves the cutting mechanism or a work surface on which the blind to be cut has been placed.

Abstract: In a cutting machine for cutting down venetian blinds a headrail cutter and a bottom rail cutter are provided which move along a horizontal axis. After the headrail and bottom rail are trimmed a slat cutter moves in a vertical axis, up or down to cut the slats. The cutting machine enables one to cut down a venetian blind while the opposite end of the blind remains in the packing box. Preferably, a spacer or collar is provided on the blind prior to packaging so that the headrail, window covering material and bottom rail will be spaced apart from one another a desired amount. That spacing should be the same spacing as the openings in the cutting machine so that when one end of the blind is removed from the package that end of the blind can be readily inserted into the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems implementing intelligent data caching are disclosed. A client can send a request for data to a server. The request can include a query and a query context. The query can retrieve more data than can be displayed in a current page. The query context can specify a quantity of data records that can be displayed in the current page. The client can receive from the server two sets of data in response to the request. The first set of data can include row identifiers of data records that satisfy the query. The second set of data can include data records that can be displayed in the current page. The client can store the two sets of data in one or more buffers (e.g., two buffers) and update buffer(s) when different data records are displayed (e.g., when a user scrolls through pages).

Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems implementing browser-based database manipulation are described. A browser on a client device can receive a form definition that is generated based on a schema of a relational database and a layout. The schema in the form definition can specify properties of data fields. The browser can display the data fields and other components of the layout in a list. The browser can receive a drag-and-drop input, the drag-and-drop input selecting a data field or a layout component from the list and dropping the selected data field or layout component in a drop zone in a form area in the browser. The browser can determine the drop location, and use the drop location as a parameter to modify the form definition. The layout and the schema can be modified based on the modified form definition.

Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems implementing collaborative database operations are disclosed. Collaborative database operations can be facilitated by data notification, where a server notifies a client when data being viewed at the client are updated. Notification can be achieved through registration and polling. A client of a database can request data from a server. The request can include a data request and a registration request. The data request can include a query into a database. The registration request can include a specification on conditions upon which the client is to be notified. The condition can include an event type. Upon registration, the client can poll the server periodically to determine whether a result of the query has changed, and if so, what data record in the result has changed. If a data record has changed, the client can request the changed data using an identifier of the data record.

Abstract: In a cutting machine for cutting down venetian blinds a headrail cutter and a bottom rail cutter are provided which move along a horizontal axis. After the headrail and bottom rail are trimmed a slat cutter moves in a vertical axis, up or down to cut the slats. The cutting machine enables one to cut down a venetian blind while the opposite end of the blind remains in the packing box. Preferably, a spacer or collar is provided on the blind prior to packaging so that the headrail, window covering material and bottom rail will be spaced apart from one another a desired amount. That spacing should be the same spacing as the openings in the cutting machine so that when one end of the blind is removed from the package that end of the blind can be readily inserted into the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: In a cutting machine for cutting down venetian blinds a headrail cutter and a bottom rail cutter are provided which move along a horizontal axis. After the headrail and bottom rail are trimmed a slat cutter moves in a vertical axis, up or down to cut the slats. The cutting machine enables one to cut down a venetian blind while the opposite end of the blind remains in the packing box. Preferably, a spacer or collar is provided on the blind prior to packaging so that the headrail, window covering material and bottom rail will be spaced apart from one another a desired amount. That spacing should be the same spacing as the openings in the cutting machine so that when one end of the blind is removed from the package that end of the blind can be readily inserted into the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: A method of trimming blinds is disclosed in which at least one spacer is attached to a blind to space the headrail, bottomrail, and window covering between the headrail and bottomrail in relative positions that correspond to openings in a cutting device. A portion of the blind that is desired to be cut is then moved into those openings and cut away.

Abstract: A collar for a venetian blind has two generally rectangular rings or half rings, one fitting over the headrail and the other fitting over the bottom rail. A sidewall or pair of spaced apart sidewalls extend between the two rings or half rings, such that the headrail and bottom rail are maintained in a desired spaced apart relationship. That spacing corresponds to a distance between the headrail die cavity and a bottom rail die cavity in a cut-down machine. Consequently, the end of a venetian blind to which the collar is attached may be readily inserted into the cutting die of a cut-down machine.