Abstract: A heating pad having at least one heating element positioned within an encapsulation layer. Each heating element has a carbon fiber tape layer and a conductive sheath surrounding the carbon fiber tape layer. Within each heating element, an insulation layer can be positioned between the carbon fiber tape layer and the conductive sheath. The carbon fiber tape layer of each heating element can have opposing ends to which electrodes can be secured. Systems and methods of using and making the heating pad are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for capturing shockwaves from high voltage arcs from both human and natural sources and generating additional power therefrom is disclosed. The invention is comprised of three main parts: a first part being a shockwave chamber with a conductive channel having a gap therebetween; a second part being a sealed compression chamber with a pressure reduction system; and a third part being a pressure turbine. When the aforementioned high voltage arcs across the gap in the conductive material, the shockwave is captured within the shockwave chamber. The shockwave is then stepped down by the pressure reduction system and is then transferred to the turbine which rotates to provides additional mechanical energy.

Abstract: A buyer broker real estate rebate system for purchasing and leasing real estate. The system utilizes property databases and provides an interactive purchasing broker for offering, negotiating and accepting terms; preparing a contract and closing package; and for rebating the buyer/seller.

Abstract: A dipole microphone assembly for a nearfield sound source has a first microphone and a second microphone. The second microphone is out of phase with the first microphone so as to provide a dipole microphone assembly. Each of the microphones has a port, and a dipole spacing is defined as a distance from the center of the port of the first microphone to the center of the port of the second microphone. The dipole spacing is less than ¼ of a wavelength for the highest frequency of the sound of interest.

Abstract: A dipole microphone assembly for a nearfield sound source has a first microphone and a second microphone. The second microphone is out of phase with the first microphone so as to provide a dipole microphone assembly. Each of the microphones has a port, and a dipole spacing is defined as a distance from the center of the port of the first microphone to the center of the port of the second microphone. The dipole spacing is less than ¼ of a wavelength for the highest frequency of the sound of interest.

Abstract: A dipole microphone array is provided for an acoustical stringed instrument of the type having a body and a plurality of strings spaced from the body. The array includes a plurality of microphone assemblies each having a first and a second microphone. The second microphone is out of phase with the first microphone so as to provide a dipole microphone assembly. Each of the microphone assemblies is mounted on the body of the instrument in close proximity to one of the strings.

Abstract: A dipole microphone array is provided for an acoustical stringed instrument of the type having a body and a plurality of strings spaced from the body. The array includes a plurality of microphone assemblies each having a first and a second microphone. The second microphone is out of phase with the first microphone so as to provide a dipole microphone assembly. Each of the microphone assemblies is mounted on the body of the instrument in close proximity to one of the strings.

Abstract: A sump draining apparatus having a pressure transducer engaged in a receptacle that is in turn engaged in an open-ended collar of a housing. The receptacle and thus the pressure transducer is slideable in the axial direction into and out of the open-ended collar. The housing is generally cylindrical and contains a pump and motor, each of which has a generally cylindrical shape and is axially stacked in the housing. A cord having a vent and electrical leads for the pressure transducer is releasably engaged via a cord restraint at one end portion of the housing and the pressure transducer is releasably engaged in the receptacle in the open-ended collar at the other end of the housing. The receptacle and sensor may be removed, serviced, and/or replaced without the housing being opened and without the pump and motor being removed.

Abstract: A display portal page in a web-based environment. This display portlet presents the message communication information between the portlets that are currently running on that portal page. The displayed message communication information indicates the portlet that is the source of a transmitted message and displays one or more portlets that receive the message. The visual representations can be of various formats such as a spacial display or a tree representation. Each communicated message has a stored record identifying the transmitting portlet and any portlet that receives the message.

Abstract: A display portlet is incorporated into a portal page in a web-based environment. This display portlet presents the launch sequence of the portlets that are currently running on that portal page. The displayed launch sequence indicates the source of a launched portlet and displays any portlets that are launched by a portlet running on that portal page. The visual representations can be of various formats such as a spacial display or a tree representation. Each launched portlet has a stored record containing information about the portlet, the portlet that launched it and any portlets launched by the particular portlet.

Abstract: A task-like user interface is provided for Web-based applications. Preferred embodiments enable users to initiate multiple instances of tasks within a single Web application, where independent state information is retained for each instance. Each user-initiated task also has a prescribed life cycle with a definite start and end. Resources allocated to perform various activities can therefore be released when the activity ends. Optionally, contextual information can be passed to a task upon invocation. Support for persisting a currently-viewable work unit as a user-selectable favorite may optionally be provided.

Abstract: A storage system (10), including a transport assembly (18) for moving a plurality of cartridges (26) between a storage rack (12) and a tape drive (14) includes a guide (32), a transport mover (30), a transporter (28) and a cartridge mover (34). The guide (32) extends between the storage rack (12) and the tape drive (14). The transport mover (30) moves the transporter (28) along the guide (32) between the storage rack (12) and the tape drive (14). The transporter (28) selectively receives the cartridges (26) and includes a first transport receiver (36A) and a second transport receiver (36B) that can each receive and transport one of the cartridges (26). With this design, while one cartridge (26) is being used by the tape drive (14) the transport assembly (18) can retrieve another cartridge (26) from the storage rack (12) for immediate insertion into the tape drive (14) upon rewinding of the first cartridge (26).

Abstract: A sump draining apparatus having a pressure transducer engaged in a receptacle that is in turn engaged in an open-ended collar of a housing. The receptacle and thus the pressure transducer is slideable in the axial direction into and out of the open-ended collar. The housing is generally cylindrical and contains a pump and motor, each of which has a generally cylindrical shape and is axially stacked in the housing. A cord having a vent and electrical leads for the pressure transducer is releasably engaged via a cord restraint at one end portion of the housing and the pressure transducer is releasably engaged in the receptacle in the open-ended collar at the other end of the housing. The receptacle and sensor may be removed, serviced, and/or replaced without the housing being opened and without the pump and motor being removed.

Abstract: A storage system (10), including a transport assembly (18) for moving a plurality of cartridges (26) between a storage rack (12) and a tape drive (14) includes a guide (32), a transport mover (30), a transporter (28) and a cartridge mover (34). The guide (32) extends between the storage rack (12) and the tape drive (14). The transport mover (30) moves the transporter (28) along the guide (32) between the storage rack (12) and the tape drive (14). The transporter (28) selectively receives the cartridges (26) and includes a first transport receiver (36A) and a second transport receiver (36B) that can each receive and transport one of the cartridges (26). With this design, while one cartridge (26) is being used by the tape drive (14) the transport assembly (18) can retrieve another cartridge (26) from the storage rack (12) for immediate insertion into the tape drive (14) upon rewinding of the first cartridge (26).

Abstract: A golfer's pocket sized accessory is provided to permit a standing golfer to tee up golf balls, recover the tees after use, and to retrieve golf balls out of the cup. This accessory is made to clamp on the grip handle portion of a golf club in use. In a preferred embodiment a light weight plastic accessory has three plastic parts, a first unit for retaining the accessory on the golf club handle with accompanying O-ring movable between bistable positions on the clamp for attaching the accessory to the golf club handle and releasing it, and a golf and tee retrieval and retaining scoop unit. The two units are threaded for temporarily mating the ball and tee in teeing posture by twisting the retaining unit and scoop unit. The scoop has a spherically shaped cavity for retaining the golf ball, and for picking the ball out of a cup/by the accessory.

Abstract: In an apparatus for storing and automatically delivering cassette and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader. The apparatus includes a plurality of cassette retaining sites. A door assembly is provided adjacent the portal for allowing access to the plurality of cassette retaining sites. The door assembly has at least one door slideably mounted to the apparatus for movement between a closed position and an open position. A door safety system is provided.

Abstract: An equipment cabinet employs a rack-mountable equipment enclosure surrounded by a base, a cap, and front and rear covers. Each cover consists of a bezel and a door reversibly mounted thereon via removable hinge pins. The bezels have sidewalls that rest against ledges on the edges of the enclosure to receive support therefrom. The door has a centrally-located latch, the latch having a pawl with an eccentric catch portion that engages a latch opening on a ledge extending from the bezel. The pawl also has a tab that rests between the ends of an arcuate raised portion on the rear of the door to limit the rotational travel of the pawl. The base, cap, and covers are configured so that the enclosure is surrounded by hollows forming a peripheral passageway for cabling and the like. The base and cap have front and rear handle-like projections through which cables may be routed, and the covers have inward-facing snap tabs that engage the handle-like projections to secure the covers to the base and cap.

Abstract: An equipment cabinet employs a rack-mountable equipment enclosure surrounded by a base, a cap, and front and rear covers. Each cover consists of a bezel and a door reversibly mounted thereon via removable hinge pins. The bezels have sidewalls that rest against ledges on the edges of the enclosure to receive support therefrom. The door has a centrally-located latch, the latch having a pawl with an eccentric catch portion that engages a latch opening on a ledge extending from the bezel. The pawl also has a tab that rests between the ends of an arcuate raised portion on the rear of the door to limit the rotational travel of the pawl.

Abstract: A reversible drill and drive tool for performing a series of similar drill and drive operations. The tool consists of an elongated cylindrical housing having at its rear end a shaft of reduced diameter for insertion into the chuck of a power drill and a front and bifurcated to form two arms with parallel flat interior surfaces and a generally cylindrical tool-holding member having at each end an axially recessed cylindrical socket of reduced diameter adapted to receive a drilling tool at one end and a driving tool at its other end. Each arm of the housing contains an identical elongated slot running parallel to the axis of the housing, and the tool-holding member being slidably and pivotably pinned into the housing by a pin whose outer ends lie within the elongated slots in the arms of the housing. The tool-holding member also has a pair of identical and parallel flat sides which lie parallel to the flat interior surfaces of the arms of the housing and the housing has a third elongated slot which lies at 90.

Abstract: A reversible drill and drive tool holder for use in performing a series of similar drill and drive operations. The tool holder consists of three major parts: a hollow cylindrical locking sleeve; an elongated shaft lying partially within the sleeve and having one end adapted to be held in the chuck of an electric drill and the other end forked; and a tool holding member rotatably pinned into the forked end of the shaft. The tool holding member has a socket at each end for holding a drill bit at one end and a driving tool at the other end. The shaft is held within the cylindrical sleeve by a spring-loaded pin and is capable of axial movement within the sleeve. When the shaft is moved forward against the spring, the tool holding member is freed to rotate about the pin in the front fork of the shaft, thus permitting either a drill bit or a driving tool to be moved into operating position.