Abstract: The present invention relates to a building construction using bulge notch connectors located within a wall cavity at the top and bottom end of metal framing members as well as through the holes in the metal forming members. The spacing-bracing members connecting the metal framing members have bulges, bulge notches, lips and lip notches in the spacing-bracing members and the holes securing the spacing bracing members have notches to secure framing members together. The holes can have holes notches or hole bulges to connect the bulges and bulge notches to connect metal framing components together. The longitudinal ends of the spacing-bracing members can have hook tongues with adjoining members having receiver holes for the tongue portion to fit into.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to an apparatus having cutter elements for destroying articles such as paper sheets and a mechanism for separating at least a sheet from a stack in a tray. The separation mechanism can be activated by rotation of the cutter elements. In one embodiment, the separation mechanism is provided in the form of a helical mechanism, such as a coil, configured for insertion into the stack and to receive separated sheets from the stack in between its space(s) as it is rotated. The separated sheets can fall via gravity into the shredder mechanism. Optionally, a paper feed mechanism can feed separated paper to the cutter elements. The tray can include an edge to assist in directing separated paper towards the cutter elements. One or more staple picking support mechanisms can also be provided to assist in separating sheets from a stapled set of pages.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to an apparatus having cutter elements for destroying articles such as paper sheets and a mechanism for separating at least a sheet from a stack in a tray. The separation mechanism can be activated by rotation of the cutter elements. In one embodiment, the separation mechanism is provided in the form of a helical mechanism configured for insertion into the stack and to receive separated sheets from the stack in between its space(s) as it is rotated. The separated sheets can fall via gravity into the shredder mechanism. Optionally, a paper feed mechanism can feed separated paper to the cutter elements. The tray can include an edge to assist in directing separated paper towards the cutter elements. One or more staple picking support mechanisms can also be provided to assist in separating sheets from a stapled set of pages.

Abstract: An equipment notification system for a component of an agricultural vehicle, including a processor configured to receive a first signal indicative of an operational parameter of the agricultural vehicle, determine an absence of the operational parameter based at least in part on the first signal, compare a period of time of the absence of the operational parameter to a threshold period of time associated with the operational parameter, and output, in response to determining that the period of time of the absence of the operational parameter exceeds the threshold period of time, a second signal indicative of an instruction to provide a notification regarding a position of the component of the agricultural vehicle via a user interface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for scoring a glass article, including positioning a plasma flame of a plasma torch and the glass article in close proximity to one another; and moving the plasma torch across a surface of the glass article to form at least one indentation in the surface, wherein the at least one indentation is formed from the plasma flame melting at least a portion of the glass surface to form a scoring line, without penetrating through a total thickness of the glass article.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a device having a first sensor and a second sensor. The method includes capturing sensor data using the first sensor and the second sensor. The device maintains a calibration profile including a translation parameter and a rotation parameter to model a spatial relationship between the first sensor and the second sensor. The method also includes determining a calibration level associated with the calibration profile at a first time. The method further includes determining, based on the calibration level, to perform a calibration process. The method further includes performing the calibration process at the first time by generating one or both of a calibrated translation parameter and a calibrated rotation parameter and replacing one or both of the translation parameter and the rotation parameter with one or both of the calibrated translation parameter and the calibrated rotation parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for auto-monitoring a trip solenoid and a switching semiconductor in a circuit breaker comprises determining whether the trip solenoid or the switching semiconductor is open-circuited or otherwise non-operational. The trip solenoid has multiple windings therein and the switching semiconductor has multiple semiconductor switches therein. The circuit breaker automatically performs a designated action if one of the multiple windings or one of the semiconductor switches is determined to be open-circuited or otherwise non-operational. In some embodiments, the circuit breaker is a miniature circuit breaker.

Abstract: An information management system may store information related to tasks to be performed by workers in an organization. Workers in the organization may communicate with the information management system using email messages. The information management system may not require a login or authentication procedure, and workers may interact with the information management system without the need to log in to the information management system. The information management system may receive an email message from a worker that indicates a request for a report. The information management system may determine whether to transmit the report to the worker based on whether the worker is appropriately registered with the information management system, and/or whether the worker has administrative privileges. The information management system, in response to a positive determination, may transmit the report to the email address from which the requesting email message was sent.

Abstract: A golf car accessory includes a mounting assembly for attaching a ball washer or other accessory to a golf car. The assembly includes a pair of parallel opposing L-shaped brackets, each bracket having a first member that extends substantially perpendicularly outward from a vertical member. The vertical member of each bracket is mounted to the golf car through one or more mounting holes disposed in the first member of each bracket for attaching each first member to the golf car in a spaced apart configuration. A mounting arm has an upper and lower end. The upper end terminates in a first horizontal member extending outwardly from the mounting arm and beyond the pair of opposing L-shaped brackets and the lower end terminates in a second horizontal member extending inwardly from the mounting arm and forwardly along the pair of opposing L-shaped brackets in a direction opposite the first horizontal member.

Abstract: A halfshaft assembly in a vehicle is disclosed. The halfshaft assembly includes a hub and a mating universal joint, such as a constant-velocity joint. The hub has a plurality of hub-teeth arranged annularly about an axis. The constant-velocity joint has a plurality of joint-teeth arranged annularly about the axis and engaged with the hub-teeth. Between each joint-tooth is a joint-root. The top, outermost surface of each tooth facing away from adjacent roots extends at a first angle with respect to the central axis. The root extends at a second angle with respect to the central axis. The angles are different such that the height of the tooth varies along the same tooth along the length of the tooth. Each tooth has involute side surfaces. The joint-teeth form a conical or inverse-conical shape.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for extruding randomly shaped food items includes a one-piece finger member. The one-piece finger member reduces the downtime of the extruding machine containing the rotor assembly by reducing the number of parts in the rotor assembly and reducing the adjustment necessary after finger replacement. The proprietary threaded interface between the finger member and the improved extruder machine allows for quick swap out during extruder maintenance.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of predictive decision-making in an ad hoc network. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a set of rules into the ad hoc network and identifying a data set for each rule. The computer-implemented method also includes selecting a first and second node from the ad hoc network to process a first and second rule as a function of the identified data set according to an optimizing algorithm. The computer-implemented method also selects a third node to receive the processed results from the first and second nodes. An indication is provided of the processed results by the third node.

Abstract: Payment card transactions at a point of sale (POS) are secured in certain embodiments by intercepting, with a POS security layer installed on a POS terminal, payment data from the POS terminal, transmitting the payment data from the POS security layer to a server security application installed on a POS server, and providing false payment data from the POS security layer to a POS terminal application installed on the POS terminal. The false payment data in various embodiments is processed as if it were the payment data, such that the POS terminal transmits an authorization request to the POS server using the false payment data. In addition, the authorization request may be transmitted from the POS server to a payment gateway.

Abstract: An information management system may store information related to tasks to be performed by one or more individuals. The individuals may communicate with the information management system using email messages. The information management system may not require a login procedure, and individuals may interact with the information management system without the need to log in to the information management system. The information management system may receive an email message from an individual that indicates a request for a report. The information management system may determine whether to transmit the report to the individual based on whether they are appropriately registered with the information management system, and/or whether they have administrative privileges. The information management system, in response to a positive determination, may transmit the report to the email address from which the requesting email message was sent.

Abstract: An electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with a product that is being offered for sale, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the product associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the product. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, execute a transaction to purchase the identified product on behalf of the customer.

Abstract: Payment card transactions at a point of sale (POS) are secured in certain embodiments by intercepting, with a POS security layer installed on a POS terminal, payment data from the POS terminal, transmitting the payment data from the POS security layer to a server security application installed on a POS server, and providing false payment data from the POS security layer to a POS terminal application installed on the POS terminal. The false payment data in various embodiments is processed as if it were the payment data, such that the POS terminal transmits an authorization request to the POS server using the false payment data. In addition, the authorization request may be transmitted from the POS server to a payment gateway.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of predictive decision-making in an ad hoc network. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a set of rules into the ad hoc network and identifying a data set for each rule. The computer-implemented method also includes selecting a first and second node from the ad hoc network to process a first and second rule as a function of the identified data set according to an optimizing algorithm. The computer-implemented method also selects a third node to receive the processed results from the first and second nodes. An indication is provided of the processed results by the third node.

Abstract: An electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with a product that is being offered for sale, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the product associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the product. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, execute a transaction to purchase the identified product on behalf of the customer.

Abstract: A merger, for picking up and distributing materials from a ground surface, includes a frame that provides support to the merger, a pick-up head affixed to the frame that lifts the materials from the ground surface, a height adjustor affixed to the frame that maintains a minimum clearance between the ground surface and the pick-up head, and a conveyor affixed to the frame that receives the materials from the pick-up head. The conveyor includes a first belt and a second belt that independently distributes the materials on the ground surface from at least one of a first side of the frame and a second side of the frame.