Abstract: A remote control vehicle, a remote control for use in controlling the vehicle, and an arena in which the vehicle can be operated, via the remote control, to engage stunts and perform acrobatic maneuvers are provided. The remote control has a charging port for receiving and charging a battery configured for use with the remote control vehicle. And, the arena includes stunts and fences disposed along part of an outer portion of the arena. The remote control vehicle is operable, via the remote control, in the arena to engage the stunts and perform acrobatic maneuvers within the arena.

Abstract: A remote control vehicle, a remote control for use in controlling the vehicle, and an arena in which the vehicle can be operated, via the remote control, to engage stunts and perform acrobatic maneuvers are provided. The remote control has a charging port for receiving and charging a battery configured for use with the remote control vehicle. And, the arena includes stunts and fences disposed along part of an outer portion of the arena. The remote control vehicle is operable, via the remote control, in the arena to engage the stunts and perform acrobatic maneuvers within the arena.

Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of digital media boxes and related methods. In an exemplary embodiment, a digital media box includes a receiver that receives, via an antenna, signals including metadata and program content from over-the-air broadcast channels. A top portion of the box includes an antenna mount integral thereto for receiving the antenna. The box also includes a controller that combines metadata received by the media box from metadata sources, the combined metadata including but not limited to at least some of the metadata from the over-the-air broadcast channels. The controller provides a dynamic display, on a display device connectible with the digital media box, of at least some of the combined metadata to describe shows scheduled to be presented on the broadcast.

Abstract: A knotting mechanism includes a rod having a tapered end. The retaining mechanism includes a first leg and a second leg. A nook is defined between the first and second legs. The retaining mechanism is actuatable between an open configuration to selectively provide access to at least a portion of the nook and a closed configuration to selectively restrict access to at least the portion of the nook.

Abstract: A remote control vehicle, a remote control for use in controlling the vehicle, and an arena in which the vehicle can be operated, via the remote control, to engage stunts and perform acrobatic maneuvers are provided. The remote control has a charging port for receiving and charging a battery configured for use with the remote control vehicle. And, the arena includes stunts and fences disposed along part of an outer portion of the arena. The remote control vehicle is operable, via the remote control, in the arena to engage the stunts and perform acrobatic maneuvers within the arena.

Abstract: A toy vehicle track and vehicle therefor having an actuator mechanism operably coupled with the motor and configured to remove power from the motor once the actuator mechanism senses the toy vehicle has exceeded a first speed provided by battery-powered propulsion and reached a second speed provided by either the vehicle being moved manually by a user or by moving downhill. Once the actuator mechanism has activated, the vehicle moves into free-wheeling mode and remains in that mode until the actuator mechanism senses that the toy has moved from the second speed to a third speed slower than the battery-powered propulsion speed.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of antenna assemblies. In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna assembly generally includes at least one tapered loop antenna element having a generally annular shape with an opening. An antenna assembly may also include a rotatably convertible support including a base and an upper portion coupled to a tapered loop antenna element in some embodiments. The upper portion is rotatable relative to the base between a first configuration for supporting the tapered loop antenna element on a horizontal surface and a second configuration for supporting the tapered loop antenna element from a vertical surface.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of antenna assemblies. In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna assembly generally includes at least one tapered loop antenna element having a generally annular shape with an opening. An antenna assembly may also include a rotatably convertible support including a base and an upper portion coupled to a tapered loop antenna element in some embodiments. The upper portion is rotatable relative to the base between a first configuration for supporting the tapered loop antenna element on a horizontal surface and a second configuration for supporting the tapered loop antenna element from a vertical surface.

Abstract: A fishing reel including a spool shaft extending through a reel frame with a handle crank attached thereto with a non-rotating spool collar and spool positioned about the spool shaft, and a rod mount connected to the reel frame pivotable 90 degrees from a first position with respect to the reel frame to a second position. When the rod mount is in the first position, and the handle crank is rotated, the spool oscillates in and out with respect to the reel frame and the spool rotates about the spool collar in a manner such that fishing line positioned on the line guide is spooled onto the spool when being reeled in, and when the rod mount is in the second position, the spool is generally parallel to the rod mount to allow line to be cast out from the spool.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of antenna assemblies. In one exemplary embodiment, an antenna assembly generally includes at least one antenna element having a generally annular shape with an opening. At least one reflector element is spaced-apart from the antenna element for reflecting electromagnetic waves generally towards the antenna element.

Abstract: A fishing reel including a spool shaft extending through a reel frame with a handle crank attached thereto with a non-rotating spool collar and spool positioned about the spool shaft, and a rod mount connected to the reel frame pivotable 90 degrees from a first position with respect to the reel frame to a second position. When the rod mount is in the first position, and the handle crank is rotated, the spool oscillates in and out with respect to the reel frame and the spool rotates about the spool collar in a manner such that fishing line positioned on the line guide is spooled onto the spool when being reeled in, and when the rod mount is in the second position, the spool is generally parallel to the rod mount to allow line to be cast out from the spool.

Abstract: A distributed cache management system controls individual cache objects so they are selectively updated if messages are received at another cache in an expected order and selectively invalidated if messages are received with certain error state, thus causing reference to be made to the central database. In specific embodiments of the invention, each change to an object in the central database is assigned a unique version number with an inherent ordering to serialize all changes, and the version number is used as a key to determine if messages have been lost or otherwise received at a cache out of order. In a further specific embodiment, full object state information is communicated among caches without need for verification through the central database. Thus if messages are lost or received out of order, the state can be applied to the targeted objects in the local cache assuring full synchronization.