Abstract: A water dispensing assembly is provided that is adapted to connect to a fire hydrant water outlet, the fire hydrant being connected to a water supply, for safely dispensing clean water for filling water bottles and the like. The water dispensing assembly is a self-contained unit that is relatively compact and low maintenance. The water dispensing assembly can be housed in an enclosed box-like housing structure that is tamper proof so that it cannot be accessed or modified by the public at large.

Abstract: A clipping device for securing an attached device is provided. The attached device is clipped to a clip target, such as a pocket edge, holster, utility webbing, belt strap, or other element commonly used to secure an attached device using a clipping device. A clip in the clipping device is configured to maintain tension against a clipping surface. To secure the device, the clip target is inserted between the clip and the clipping surface. The clipping device includes an integrated finger trap configured to facilitate manipulation of the attached device when the attached device is unclipped from the clip target. The attached device can be a smartphone and the clipping device can include a case for the smartphone as part of its structure.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a thermoplastic-based building product having a front face with a length and a width, an opposing back face, opposing top and bottom edges each with a thickness. The building product comprises at least one thermoplastic-based support layer, and at least one reinforcing flexing layer having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of less than or equal to about 15 ppm/° C. over the temperature range of ?20° C. to 70° C. The at least one reinforcing flexing layer is at least partially embedded in the at least one thermoplastic-based support layer along a longitudinal axis of the building product.

Abstract: A locking device for securing a gate so as to prevent tampering to the locking engagement of said locking device is provided. The locking device may include a lock latch which slides into a housing for forming the locking engagement therein. The cavity formed by the housing is accessible through a sliding door that encases the cavity and so prevents tampering to the locking engagement. The slide door forms a blade notch that a lock blade may engage, wherein the lock blade is key-actuated through the bottom wall of the housing.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a thermoplastic-based building product having a front face with a length and a width, an opposing back face, opposing top and bottom edges each with a thickness. The building product comprises at least one thermoplastic-based support layer, and at least one reinforcing flexing layer having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of less than or equal to about 15 ppm/° C. over the temperature range of ?20° C. to 70° C. The at least one reinforcing flexing layer is at least partially embedded in the at least one thermoplastic-based support layer along a longitudinal axis of the building product.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method of changing wireless communication channels in a connected host and client system. For example, in one embodiment, the link quality of a connection is monitored by the host or the client. If the connection has a link quality below a predetermined threshold but remains intact, a channel switch request is sent, synchronization packages are exchanged between the host and client on the current channel, the channel of the system is changed to a new channel, and the system resumes communications on the new channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method of changing wireless communication channels in a connected host and client system. For example, in one embodiment, the link quality of a connection is monitored by the host or the client. If the connection has a link quality below a predetermined threshold but remains intact, a channel switch request is sent, synchronization packages are exchanged between the host and client on the current channel, the channel of the system is changed to a new channel, and the system resumes communications on the new channel.

Abstract: A power control system includes a base having a housing configured for releasably receiving a control unit and a cavity within the housing for receiving a solid state relay having a hockey puck configuration. The base includes an input power terminal for coupling to an input power source, an output power terminal for coupling to a power receiving load, and coupling fixtures for fixedly and electrically coupling to input and output power terminals and control terminals of the received solid state relay. A control unit is configured to control the solid state relay for selectively providing, at least a portion of, the power received at the input power terminal to the output power terminal. The control unit has a housing adapted to be releasably coupled to the base housing. The control unit and base each configured to electrically couple the control unit to the control terminals of the received solid state relay as a function of the control unit being coupled to the base.

Abstract: A power control assembly for use in an integrated power control system has a base with a housing that defines a cavity adapted for receiving a power switch. The control assembly includes a control module configured for generating control signals for controlling the power switch for selectively providing power to a load. A control housing houses the control module and is adapted to be releasably coupled to the base housing and is configured for electrically coupling to control couplers on the base housing for providing the generated control signals to the power switch within the housing cavity upon coupling the control housing to the base housing.

Abstract: A footwear insert may include a puncture-resistant layer and a cushion layer. The cushion layer may be adjacent a top surface and an outer perimeter of the puncture-resistant layer. The cushion layer may comprise a lip extending upwardly from a region proximate a bottom surface of the puncture-resistant layer and extending outwardly with respect to the puncture-resistant layer. In some implementations, the puncture-resistant layer may comprise steel and the cushion layer may comprise polyurethane.

Abstract: An animated toy bowling game includes a plurality of pins, a base having a plurality of pin sockets therein, and a toy bowling ball. The pins have fanciful character faces that give the pins the appearance of live characters. Each of the pins is receivable in a respective pin socket for locating the pins in a specified pin arrangement. Each of the pin sockets includes a pin sensor for determining whether a pin is received therein and an actuator element engageable with the respective pin received therein to move, or wobble, the respective pin when the actuator element is moved into and out of engagement with the pin. The game further includes a drive device to effect movement of the actuator elements, and an audio unit operative for producing audible sounds. The sensors, drive device, and audio unit are coupled to a control unit operative for selectively controlling the drive device and the audio unit responsive to detection of the states of the pin sensors.

Abstract: A stacking block game includes a plurality of game blocks stackable in layers, and an elongate sleeve comprising four planar sides defining an interior for retaining the game blocks in layers in the interior. Apertures are provided in the sides, coincide with the game block layers and are dimensioned for passing the game blocks therethrough. The game blocks have a cuboid shape and colored indicia on the faces thereof, and are inserted in the sleeve interior in layers of four game blocks. The stacking block game is played by assigning a different indicia to each player, and then each player ejecting one of the game blocks from the sleeve interior, in turn, by pressing a previously-ejected game block through one of the apertures and against a game block opposite the game block to be ejected. Generally, each player makes a note of the indicia on the uppermost face of the previously ejected game block, and then presses that game block against the indicia of a game block in the sleeve matching the noted indicia.

Abstract: A document imaging system includes means whereby a large number of anomalous condition indicators or flags that define anomalous conditions that may occur as a result of the operation of a document scanner and/or document processor. A computationally efficient subset of flags and flag combinations is defined, and these subsets of flags and flag combinations (system states) are related to a quantitative measure of the quality (degree of suspiciousness) of the related document images, the documents themselves, and units of work that contain a plurality of documents. The machine computation of quality is compared to a human perception of quality, and computational input parameters are adjusted to improve the match of computational quality to the human quality perception, thus teaching the machine to make proper determinations of image and document quality.