Abstract: A connector for releasably attaching a pair of conduits includes male and female components having proximal and distal ends and a lumen, and a swivel connection releasably connecting the male and female components. The swivel connection permits fluid communication between the male and female components and also permits free rotation between the male and female components.

Abstract: A wet/dry vacuum is disclosed. The wet/dry vacuum preferably includes a base, a handle coupled with the base, a lid coupled with the handle, and a container that is removable from the base. In operation, the container is placed on the base. As the handle is rotated towards the rear of the base, the handle secures the container to the base by lowering the lid onto the container.

Abstract: An emergency floatation system for a helicopter includes a safety trigger device for inflating at least one raft during the course of an emergency. The safety trigger device includes a plurality of handles such that pulling any one of the plurality of handles triggers the inflation of the at least one raft.

Abstract: There is provided a method of, computer programs for and apparatus for providing and accessing digital content such as a news item. A news provider generates a news item, creates a digitally signed version of the news item and packages them together with a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority containing the public key required to decrypt the digitally signed version. The package is posted to a server and is transmitted, or made available or transmission, over a public data network together with a computer program for verifying the news item. A receiving party receives, over the public data network, the package at a client device and is provided with means for launching, and if necessary first downloading, the verifying program. The verifying program uses the public key contained in the certificate to verify the digitally signed news item.

Abstract: A method of displaying a visual image includes scaling at least one monochrome digital photograph, scaling at least one non-monochrome icon, and assembling a digital composite display of the at least one scaled monochrome digital photograph and the at least one scaled non-monochrome icon. The digital composite display includes a plurality of monochrome pixel values corresponding to the at least one scaled monochrome digital photograph, and at least one non-monochrome pixel value corresponding to the at least one scaled non-monochrome icon. A composite bitmap is created including a color table having a plurality of color values. Each color value has a plurality of color component intensity values. Each color value corresponds to a respective monochrome pixel value. Selected color values are reserved for non-monochrome colors. Each selected color value is provided with color component intensity values corresponding to a selected non-monochrome pixel value.

Abstract: A coil retention, protection and guidance device, comprising a bow tie-shaped device scored at a pair of separate and parallel locations across its width and forming at its ends two rectangular members; perforated at a single location parallel to and equidistant from said scored locations across its width and through its midpoint forming two mirror-image trapezoid members between said scored locations; and conformed to embrace the outer layer of a coiled bundle generally radially and across the bundle's width. The device, when applied to a coil of strand material, protects the material during shipment and storage, and facilitates the unravelling of the strand.