Abstract: Helmets and pad kits for use in helmet shells are provided. The pad kits, when inserted or attached to the inner surface of a helmet shell, provide a user or wearer with enhance blunt force protection relative to padding in prior helmet systems. Pad kits include pads having one or more layers of differing material, typically two or more layers of material; one layer including a rate sensitive, impact absorbing material, and another layer including a comfort or form-fitting material. The impact absorbing material provides enhanced protection to the user's head from impact to the helmet shell.

Abstract: Bulletproof vests, body armor, and other tactical vests with quick release buckle mechanisms are described along with methods of their use. The multi-point buckle mechanisms release upon rotating a shaft, allowing the vest panels and straps to fall cleanly to the ground without knocking the wearer off balance. Waist belt clips allow a wearer to put the vest on over his or her head without engaging the emergency release, or the multi-point buckle mechanism can release only the waist straps upon rotating the shaft in the opposite direction. A flap protects the rotatable quick release mechanism from inadvertent activation.

Abstract: A novel allograft is provided for insertion into a prepared site between adjacent spinal facets. The allograft or facet dowel is typically comprised of three portions, a partially spherical body defining a spherical segment, a nose portion, and a tail portion, all aligned along a longitudinal axis. In addition, a set of instruments is provided for the excavation of an allograft placement site between the two facets. The set of instruments includes a T-spade drill which will, in conjunction with a normal drill, excavate a site for the emplacement of the allograft. A novel method of using the instruments and the allograft is also provided.

Abstract: Bulletproof vests, body armor, and other tactical vests with quick release buckle mechanisms are described along with methods of their use. The multi-point buckle mechanisms release upon rotating a shaft, allowing the vest panels and straps to fall cleanly to the ground without knocking the wearer off balance. Waist belt clips allow a wearer to put the vest on over his or her head without engaging the emergency release, or the multi-point buckle mechanism can release only the waist straps upon rotating the shaft in the opposite direction. A flap protects the rotatable quick release mechanism from inadvertent activation.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing high precision arrays of curved features (e.g. lenses) in the surface of a workpiece are described utilizing orthogonal sets of inter-fitting locating grooves to mate a workpiece to a workpiece holder mounted to the spindle face of a rotating machine tool. The matching inter-fitting groove sets in the workpiece and the chuck allow precisely and non-kinematically indexing the workpiece to locations defined in two orthogonal directions perpendicular to the turning axis of the machine tool. At each location on the workpiece a curved feature can then be on-center machined to create arrays of curved features on the workpiece. The averaging effect of the corresponding sets of inter-fitting grooves provide for precise repeatability in determining, the relative locations of the centers of each of the curved features in an array of curved features.

Abstract: A ski attachment kit for a kick scooter having a scooter steering assembly that includes a front fork configured for attaching a front wheel, a scooter body that includes a stand-on area and a rear fork rearward of the stand-on area configured for attaching a rear wheel, and a coupling that couples the steering assembly and the scooter body. The kit includes a front ski assembly having a scooter steering assembly mount that receives and releasably retains the steering assembly while providing a clearance for an attached front wheel. The kit also includes a rear ski assembly having a scooter body mount that receives and releasably retains the scooter body while providing a clearance for an attached rear wheel.

Abstract: A ski attachment kit for a kick scooter having a scooter steering assembly that includes a front fork configured for attaching a front wheel, a scooter body that includes a stand-on area and a rear fork rearward of the stand-on area configured for attaching a rear wheel, and a coupling that couples the steering assembly and the scooter body. The kit includes a front ski assembly having a scooter steering assembly mount that receives and releasably retains the steering assembly while providing a clearance for an attached front wheel. The kit also includes a rear ski assembly having a scooter body mount that receives and releasably retains the scooter body while providing a clearance for an attached rear wheel.

Abstract: A system for capturing time and expense information over a network and for processing the information into a project accounting system has a project accounting system adapted to store time and expense data associated with a project. A user interface provides a form accessible over a network by a user via a browser. The form comprises fields for data entry by the user and a button for electronic submission of the form. A services API is adapted to invoke transactions with the project accounting system based on data contained in the submitted form.

Abstract: A multi-information-character, surveillance imaging system and method employing a plural-imager, assembly of surveillance imagers including (a) an optical, daytime, color imager, (b) an optical, nighttime, light-intensified, black-and-white imager, and (c) a thermal imager, and featuring a pair of side-by side adjacent, readily co-viewable, video image display structures. One of these display structures is dedicated to the presentation of thermal imagery, and other is selectively and changeably dedicatable, at any time, to any one alone of the three system imagers. Interconnect structure, including a user-operable controller, operatively and communicatively interconnects the imagers and the display structures in a manner permitting selective user switching of communication between the “other” display structure and one or another of the daytime, nighttime and thermal imagers.

Abstract: A plural-mode, plural-receptor surveillance imaging system and methodology which offer very simple, versatile one-handed control over the operations and viewing orientations of three different surveillance imagers, thus to minimize the tasks involved in controlling the specific surveillance views which are established and presented by these imagers. Provided for allowing such control are a one-hand-operable, intuitive touch-screen and joystick controller structure, and a appropriate computer for translating user control actions accurately into changes in system behavior. This one-handedness characteristic promotes an operational environment in which the larger share of a user/operator's attention can successfully be focused on the received surveillance imagery, per se, rather than upon details of operating a control.

Abstract: An imaging surveillance system and methodology which employs a nighttime, intensified-light, black-and-white imager. This imager includes a light intensifier which, from a methodologic point of view, and through an appropriate input lens structure, directly gathers available nighttime scene light, and feeds substantially all of this light, after intensification takes place, to a single-CCD-device, black-and-white camera which, in a non-beam-splitting manner converts this received light to a black-and-white video image output data stream.

Abstract: A ski attachment kit for a kick scooter having a scooter steering assembly that includes a front fork configured for attaching a front wheel, a scooter body that includes a stand-on area and a rear fork rearward of the stand-on area configured for attaching a rear wheel, and a coupling that couples the steering assembly and the scooter body. The kit includes a front ski assembly having a scooter steering assembly mount that receives and releasably retains the steering assembly while providing a clearance for an attached front wheel. The kit also includes a rear ski assembly having a scooter body mount that receives and releasably retains the scooter body while providing a clearance for an attached rear wheel.

Abstract: An object oriented framework provides a set of objects that perform general ledger functioning and permits a framework user to add extensions to the framework for specific processing features, thereby producing a general ledger application program for managing business financial data of a company. The framework includes an Application category of classes that contains company information for general ledger processing, a Posting Combinations category of classes that define valid posting combinations for the general ledger, a Journals category of classes that create, process, validate, and post general ledger journals, a Bank Transactions category of classes that process bank statements, a Bank Statements and Reconciliation category of classes that reconcile bank statements with bank accounts, and a Closing category of classes that validate and close the current accounting period. These classes provide the base framework upon which a general ledger application program is developed by the framework user.

Abstract: A dispensing closure for a liquid product such as a liquid soap has a self-closing valve (12, 112) having a mounting ring (20, 120) and a dispensing head (24, 124) attached to the mounting ring by a generally cylindrical connecting wall (22, 122). The valve is located in the dispensing aperture (68, 168) of a closure body (10, 110, 110′) so as to form a seal against product escape. Retention of the mounting ring in its sealing position is provided by a resilient clamping ring (80, 180) of the closure body, which is turned inwardly against the mounting ring by means of a three-part mandrel (90).

Abstract: An object oriented framework provides a set of objects that perform account management functioning and permits a framework user to add extensions to the framework for specific processing features, thereby producing an account management application program for managing the financial accounts of a company, including accounts receivable and accounts payable. The framework includes an Application category of classes that contains company information for general ledger processing, a Posting Combinations category of classes that define valid posting combinations for the general ledger, a Journals category of classes that create, process, validate, and post general ledger journals, a Bank Transactions category of classes that process bank statements, a Bank Statements and Reconciliation category of classes that reconcile bank statements with bank accounts, and a Closing category of classes that validate and close the current accounting period.

Abstract: An adapter for facilitating the use of a device, such as an inclinometer, to measure the angular inclination of components in a vehicular drive train system is disclosed. The adapter includes a rectangular bracket having a flat upper surface and a lower surface. The bracket includes first and second legs extending from the lower surface and terminating in respective flat end surfaces. The end surfaces define a plane which is precisely parallel to the flat upper surface of the bracket. The inclinometer may be mounted in one of two different orientations on the flat upper surface of the bracket. The legs are spaced apart a predetermined distance to allow the end surfaces to engage flats machined on the surface of a full round end yoke of a universal joint without interference from the end flange portion of the bearing cap.

Abstract: An adapter for facilitating the use of a device, such as an inclinometer, for measuring the angular inclination of components in a vehicular drive train system is disclosed. The adapter includes an L-shaped bracket having a generally cylindrical head portion secured thereto. The bracket includes long and short legs, each of which are defined by parallel surfaces. The parallel surfaces of the long leg are perpendicular to the parallel surfaces of the short leg. The inclinometer may be mounted in any one of several different orientations on either of the surfaces of the long leg. The head portion has a closed end, which is secured to the bracket, and an opened, which is adapted to engage an end surface of a universal joint bearing cap. The opened end has a plurality of slots formed therein which define axial extensions. The extensions permit the adaptor to be used when the universal joint is mounted in a half round end yoke having integral end lugs.

Abstract: A releasable binding system for the sport of snowboarding includes releasable toe and heel binding clip means secured to forward and rear ends, respectively, of the ski board and simulated toe and heel members for releasable engagement with the releasable toe and heel binding clips along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski board. The simulated toe and heel members are secured, releasably or permanently to the booted feet of a rider. In one preferred embodiment, the release of one ski boot binding is sensed and causes the substantially simultaneous release of the other ski boot binding. In a further embodiment, an attachment is provided for converting a boot to snowboarding has a sole plate adaptor releasably secured to the sole of the boot with a releasable binding plate member having simulated toe and heel members which is adjustably coupled to the releasable binding plate member so that the simulated toe and heel members project laterally relative to the sole of the boot.

Abstract: A releasable binding system for the sport of snowboarding includes releasable toe and heel binding clip means secured to forward and rear ends, respectively, of the ski board and simulated toe and heel members for releasable engagement with the releasable toe and heel binding clips along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski board. The simulated toe and heel members are secured, releasably or permanently to the booted feet of a rider. In one preferred embodiment, the release of one ski boot binding is sensed and causes the substantially simultaneous release of the other ski boot binding. In a further embodiment, an attachment is provided for converting a boot to snowboarding has a sole plate adaptor releasably secured to the sole of the boot with a releasable binding plate member having simulated toe and heel members which is adjustably coupled to the releasable binding plate member so that the simulated toe and heel members project laterally relative to the sole of the boot.