Abstract: A boat windshield is described including a transparent pane. A rail is disposed adjacent and secured to one of either the bottom or the top edge of the transparent pane. An opening is defined through the rail. An air intake housing is secured to the front surface of the rail. An air intake opening and passageway are defined in the air intake housing. An air discharge housing is secured to the rear surface of the rail. An air discharge opening and passageway are defined in the rear intake housing. The air intake passageway, the opening through the rail, and the air discharge passageway define an air pathway from the front surface to the rear surface of the rail. The air discharge opening is positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the transparent pane to direct air along the rear surface of the transparent pane upon exiting the air discharge housing.

Abstract: A boat windshield is described including a transparent pane. A rail is disposed adjacent and secured to one of either the bottom or the top edge of the transparent pane. An opening is defined through the rail. An air intake housing is secured to the front surface of the rail. An air intake opening and passageway are defined in the air intake housing. An air discharge housing is secured to the rear surface of the rail. An air discharge opening and passageway are defined in the rear intake housing. The air intake passageway, the opening through the rail, and the air discharge passageway define an air pathway from the front surface to the rear surface of the rail. The air discharge opening is positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the transparent pane to direct air along the rear surface of the transparent pane upon exiting the air discharge housing.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and displaying dynamic special effects on graphic text objects. Preferably, the special effects are displayed in stages or animation frames, such that the special effects appear to move. In addition, the special effects preferably are displayed for a predetermined period and then the original text objects are redisplayed without the special effects. The system and method include alternate embodiments for displaying at least three different dynamic special effects: fade-out, shimmer, and sparkle. The fade-out embodiment erases progressively larger portions of a selected text object with each animation frame. The shimmer embodiment shifts consecutive rows or column of pixels of the selected text object in opposite directions with each animation frame. The sparkle embodiment displays random pixel patterns, referred to as sparkle grids, over random locations of the selected text object.

Abstract: A method and system for automatic formatting of user selected text in a word processing system. A number of format options are displayed to the user and a text format selection is then obtained from the user for a selected format option. An identifier identifying the selected text format is stored in a text format data structure. One or more portions of existing text are thereafter selected by the user. For each selected portion of existing text, the selected portion is formatted with the text format identified by the identifier stored in the data structure. These steps are repeated until canceled by the user or until the user enters new text. In a preferred embodiment, the word processing system provides a conventional mode for performing conventional text formatting in which a text format is specified only after a single portion of existing text is selected by the user to which to apply the specified text format.

Abstract: An improved document processing system is disclosed wherein objects such as text areas, numerical tables or graphic data may be assigned a fixed location within a document. The system automatically allocates layout areas that surround the fixed areas without overlapping. Means are provided for linking text from one side of a fixed object to the other side while automatically maximizing the area available for free text or other objects. The invention allows an infinite number of fixed objects, and automatically generates page layout. In addition, the invention allows the user to set page size, page margins, and the size of fixed-position objects relative to page size. The system allows the use of numerous page formats, including multiple columns, and then automatically generates page layouts where the text area is maximized. These steps require a minimum of interaction with the user.