Abstract: A hand-held personal cleaning device is provided for allowing users with limited upper body mobility to clean hard to reach areas after using the restroom. The device comprises a handle having a grip, a working end having a grasping means, and a rigid curved tube secured therebetween. A first button disposed on the inside of the handle grip allows a user to open and close the grasping means located at the working end. The grasping means is used to retain and release a tissue loofah. A second button is located on the underside of the handle and may be used to disburse liquid from a reservoir within the handle onto the tissue loofah. A user may then maneuver the device and use the loofah to wipe his or her hard to reach areas. The loofah may then be disposed of by depressing the trigger button again, releasing the loofah for disposal down a drain or in a waste basket.

Abstract: A low pressure blow-off assembly provides converging airflow around a length of material moving through the assembly. The assembly generally includes a body having an interior wall and an exterior wall. The interior wall defines a bore extending through the body for receiving the material through the body, and the exterior wall surrounds the interior wall and defines an air reservoir within the body generally between the exterior wall and interior wall. A cap is configured to be coupled to the body to cover at least part of the air reservoir. The bore includes a generally tapered end and the cap includes a generally tapered inner lip, where the tapered end of the bore and the tapered inner lip of the cap define an opening therebetween for discharging air from the air reservoir through the opening in a generally converging airflow pattern around the material passing through the body.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to create a migration mapping definition based upon computer program changes and use the migration mapping definition to migrate instance data from an older software version format to a newer software version format. A developer uses edit commands, such as mouse commands and keyboard commands, to update a computer program. For example, a software developer may upgrade “Application XYZ” from version 1.0 to version 2.0 in order to include a simpler approach to import images, as well as the ability to import newer image format types. As a developer updates a computer program using edit commands, the edit commands are stored in a migration mapping definition. In turn, the migration mapping definition is deployed, along with the updated computer program, to an end user. The end user then uses the migration mapping definition to migrate instance data generated by the original computer program to instance data that is usable by the updated computer program.

Abstract: Cloth or fabric fan blades self-inflate when rotated about an axis to produce air movement, the blades being secured to a fan hub which is in turn connected to a fan motor assembly that provides the rotational force to inflate the blades, the blades collapsing upon contact with any object for safety purposes, the innovative blades being lightweight and safe such that no fan guard is required.

Abstract: A fibre-optic module incorporating a semiconductor optical amplifier is compatible with a standard specification for a fibre-optic transceiver module, which is typically pluggable. The module comprises optical connectors capable of connection to first and second optical fibres and being in accordance with said standard specification and the input optical signal received from the first optical fibre is amplified by the semiconductor optical amplifier and supplied to the second optical connector for transmission along the second optical fibre. The module further comprises an electrical parallel connector having a physical configuration in accordance with said standard specification and a control circuit which receives control signals from the electrical parallel connector and to control the operation of the optical amplifier. Thus the module maybe connected to a standard electrical backplane alongside fibre-optic transceiver modules to augment the optical performance of the transceiver modules.

Abstract: A low pressure blow-off assembly provides converging airflow around a length of material moving through the assembly. The assembly generally includes a body having an interior wall and an exterior wall. The interior wall defines a bore extending through the body for receiving the material through the body, and the exterior wall surrounds the interior wall and defines an air reservoir within the body generally between the exterior wall and interior wall. A cap is configured to be coupled to the body to cover at least part of the air reservoir. The bore includes a generally tapered end and the cap includes a generally tapered inner lip, where the tapered end of the bore and the tapered inner lip of the cap define an opening therebetween for discharging air from the air reservoir through the opening in a generally converging airflow pattern around the material passing through the body.

Abstract: A timing device monitors an estimated time of arrival (ETA) for an object in a process of traversing a predetermined range of distance by computing the estimated time of arrival based on a time the object has spent completing at least one interval during the course of traversing the distance. The computation is invoked each time a signal is received by the timing device indicating the completion of an interval. The signal can be sent by a user of the device of by a transmitter placed near an end of the interval.

Abstract: A clip for connecting steel bars, the clip having two loop shaped ends which are connected by a intermediate wire piece which is bent such that the clip can be mounted on a crossing of at least two rods and will keep its position on that rod before the clip is twisted to secure the rods together. Also disclosed is a hook for engaging such a clip, wherein the hook has a shaft that, on one end is provided with the hook element and that, on the other free end is insertable in a hand power tool such as a hand drill. Further a method for connecting at least two steel bars crossing each other is provided, the method including the use of a jig, clips and a hook with a hand powered tool.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention uses the message sequence chart (MSC) and various visual cues to provide an interactive visualization of threaded electronic conversations (e.g., in email, bulletin board, instant message, or social network) by presenting to users various information about a particular conversation or the conjunction of separate conversations, such as sequences of messages, conversation participants, time in transit, time send/received, and other message attributes.

Abstract: A structural element for constructing an auxiliary means for the manufacture of a reinforcement includes at least one coupling point for coupling the structural element to another structural element. The structural element is formed from a basic element. The structural element may further include a holding means for holding a reinforcement rod. A method for constructing an auxiliary means and a method for manufacturing a reinforcement are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a ‘contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a ‘contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a “contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a ‘contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a ‘contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a ‘contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a “contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a “contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a “contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for allowing a remote user to purchase, over a distributed computer network (e.g., the Internet), an option for a ticket and/or accommodations for a ‘contingent event”, e.g., an event which is certain to occur but for which the participants, content and/or location(s) are not predetermined. For instance, the subject system can be used to sell options for the purchase of tickets to such contingent events such as playoff games on the basis of what teams qualify, or all-star game.