Abstract: A user interface operated via at least one consumer computing device, a database, and at least one host computer processor, provide an electronic commerce (eCommerce) environment for secured transactions between consumer and vendor members subscribed to the environment. Digital product images are scaled into digital images of environments of intended use for virtual reality observation. Tags to product representations or other features of media performance transmissions are scanned by consumer members for product purchasing, saving for later purchase, and/or sharing with other consumers (e.g. via social networks). Consumers create their own consumer product store with an inventory of items saved within the environment database for later purchasing or sharing. Original vendors initially providing items saved by consumers are rewarded commissions if later purchased from other vendors.

Abstract: The organophilic clay comprises a smectite-type clay ion exchanged with quaternary ammonium ions, where at least 75 mol-% of said quaternary ammonium ions are bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-dimethylammonium fatty acid esters and at least 90% of the fatty acid moieties of the bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-dimethylammonium fatty acid esters have a structure RC(O) with group R being a linear alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 9 to 21 carbon atoms. The organophilic clay is useful for thickening oil based compositions, in particular drilling fluids for drilling oil or gas wells, comprising an oil phase.

Abstract: The organophilic clay comprises a smectite-type clay ion exchanged with quaternary ammonium ions, where at least 75 mol-% of said quaternary ammonium ions are bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-dimethylammonium fatty acid esters and at least 90% of the fatty acid moieties of the bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-dimethylammonium fatty acid esters have a structure RC(O) with group R being a linear alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 9 to 21 carbon atoms. The organophilic clay is useful for thickening oil based compositions, in particular drilling fluids for drilling oil or gas wells, comprising an oil phase.

Abstract: A system for sanding a surface includes a sanding tool, a robotic manipulator to move the sanding tool relative to the surface, and a control unit operatively coupled with the sanding tool and the robotic manipulator. The control unit is operable to: (1) move the sanding tool to a sanding position relative to the surface in which an abrasive surface is in contact with the surface and a sanding force is approximately normal to the surface; (2) set one or more sanding parameters corresponding to a model material removal rate; (3) monitor one or more of the sanding parameters; (4) determine an actual material removal rate, based on one or more of the sanding parameters being monitored; and (5) modify one or more of the sanding parameters until the actual material removal rate is approximately equal to the model material removal rate.

Abstract: A user interface operated via at least one consumer computing device, a database, and at least one host computer processor, provide an electronic commerce (eCommerce) environment for secured transactions between consumer and vendor members subscribed to the environment. Digital product images are scaled into digital images of environments of intended use for virtual reality observation. Tags to product representations or other features of media performance transmissions are scanned by consumer members for product purchasing, saving for later purchase, and/or sharing with other consumers (e.g. via social networks). Consumers create their own consumer product store with an inventory of items saved within the environment database for later purchasing or sharing. Original vendors initially providing items saved by consumers are rewarded commissions if later purchased from other vendors.

Abstract: A user interface operated via at least one consumer computing device, a database, and at least one host computer processor, provide an electronic commerce (eCommerce) environment for secured transactions between consumer and vendor members subscribed to the environment. Digital product images are scaled into digital images of environments of intended use for virtual reality observation. Tags to product representations or other features of media performance transmissions are scanned by consumer members for product purchasing, saving for later purchase, and/or sharing with other consumers (e.g. via social networks). Consumers create their own consumer product store with an inventory of items saved within the environment database for later purchasing or sharing. Original vendors initially providing items saved by consumers are rewarded commissions if later purchased from other vendors.

Abstract: A game call archery release assembly for actuating an animal call while drawing an archery bow includes an archery release that is wearable on a wrist of a user. The archery release engages a string on an archery bow for drawing and subsequently releasing the string. The archery release includes a wrist strap and a trigger portion. An electronic game call is integrated into the archery release. The electronic game call emits an audible sound when the electronic game call is actuated to attract a game animal. Moreover, the electronic game call is actuatable while the string on the archery bow is drawn facilitate hands free use.

Abstract: A game call archery release assembly for actuating an animal call while drawing an archery bow includes an archery release that is weareable on a wrist of a user. The archery release engages a string on an archery bow for drawing and subsequently releasing the string. The archery release includes a wrist strap and a trigger portion. An electronic game call is integrated into the archery release. The electronic game call emits an audible sound when the electronic game call is actuated to attract a game animal. Moreover, the electronic game call is actuatable while the string on the archery bow is drawn facilitate hands free use.

Abstract: A method of preparing a cut length of slide fastener chain for operational use includes: providing a system that includes first and second machines; providing a cut length of slide fastener chain; introducing a notch to one end of the cut length of slide fastener chain, using the first machine; orienting a slider body onto a positioning device, using the second machine, so that the slider body is in a fixed position; inserting the notched end of the cut length of slide fastener chain into a mouth of the slider body; and pulling the cut length of slide fastener chain through the slider body by a distance, thereby mounting the slider body to the cut length of slide fastener chain.

Abstract: The organophilic clay comprises a smectite-type clay ion exchanged with quaternary ammonium ions, where at least 75 mol-% of said quaternary ammonium ions are bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-dimethylammonium fatty acid esters and at least 90% of the fatty acid moieties of the bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-dimethylammonium fatty acid esters have a structure RC(O) with group R being a linear alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 9 to 21 carbon atoms. The organophilic clay is useful for thickening oil based compositions, in particular drilling fluids for drilling oil or gas wells, comprising an oil phase.

Abstract: A communication device employs a contactless secure communication interface to transmit and receive data with a computing device using close proximity extremely high frequency (EHF) communication. The communication device and the computing device periodically initiate a discovery operation mode, whereby the devices periodically transmit identifying information about the respective devices and listen for identifying information from the other device. Upon completion of the discovery mode operation, the devices enter a link-training operation mode and exchange capability information about the respective devices. During transport mode operation the communication device employs methods to manage access to data stored on the communication device by encrypting the data using one or a combination of training information or capability information as a basis for generating an encryption key.

Abstract: The organophilic clay comprises a smectite-type clay ion exchanged with quaternary ammonium ions, where at least 75 mol-% of said quaternary ammonium ions are bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-dimethylammonium fatty acid esters and at least 90% of the fatty acid moieties of the bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-dimethylammonium fatty acid esters have a structure RC(O) with group R being a linear alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 9 to 21 carbon atoms. The organophilic clay is useful for thickening oil based compositions, in particular drilling fluids for drilling oil or gas wells, comprising an oil phase.

Abstract: A user interface operated via at least one consumer computing device, a database, and at least one host computer processor, provide an electronic commerce (eCommerce) environment for secured transactions between consumer and vendor members subscribed to the environment. Digital product images are scaled into digital images of environments of intended use for virtual reality observation. Tags to product representations or other features of media performance transmissions are scanned by consumer members for product purchasing, saving for later purchase, and/or sharing with other consumers (e.g. via social networks). Consumers create their own consumer product store with an inventory of items saved within the environment database for later purchasing or sharing. Original vendors initially providing items saved by consumers are rewarded commissions if later purchased from other vendors.

Abstract: A process for recovering valuable products from ore containing boron and lithium, such as jadarite ore, includes an acid digestion step and downstream steps that recover valuable boron-containing and lithium-containing products.

Abstract: A system for sanding a surface includes a sanding tool, a robotic manipulator to move the sanding tool relative to the surface, and a control unit operatively coupled with the sanding tool and the robotic manipulator. The control unit is operable to: (1) move the sanding tool to a sanding position relative to the surface in which an abrasive surface is in contact with the surface and a sanding force is approximately normal to the surface; (2) set one or more sanding parameters corresponding to a model material removal rate; (3) monitor one or more of the sanding parameters; (4) determine an actual material removal rate, based on one or more of the sanding parameters being monitored; and (5) modify one or more of the sanding parameters until the actual material removal rate is approximately equal to the model material removal rate.

Abstract: A communication device employs a contactless secure communication interface to transmit and receive data with a computing device using close proximity extremely high frequency (EHF) communication. The communication device and the computing device periodically initiate a discovery operation mode, whereby the devices periodically transmit identifying information about the respective devices and listen for identifying information from the other device. Upon completion of the discovery mode operation, the devices enter a link-training operation mode and exchange capability information about the respective devices. During transport mode operation the communication device employs methods to manage access to data stored on the communication device by encrypting the data using one or a combination of training information or capability information as a basis for generating an encryption key.

Abstract: A communication device employs a contactless secure communication interface to transmit and receive data with a computing device using close proximity extremely high frequency (EHF) communication. The communication device and the computing device periodically initiate a discovery operation mode, whereby the devices periodically transmit identifying information about the respective devices and listen for identifying information from the other device. Upon completion of the discovery mode operation, the devices enter a link-training operation mode and exchange capability information about the respective devices. During transport mode operation the communication device employs methods to manage access to data stored on the communication device by encrypting the data using one or a combination of training information or capability information as a basis for generating an encryption key.

Abstract: A method of installing a slide fastener assembly in a thin shell garment includes: providing a slide fastener chain comprised of two interlocked rows of teeth, each row of teeth being attached to a cord bundle of a respective slide fastener tape; removing the interlocked rows of teeth from a portion of the slide fastener chain, thereby defining a length of the slide fastener chain without teeth; introducing a reinforcing film to the cord bundles, at a location along the length of the slide fastener chain without teeth, to shape the cord bundles for accommodation of a pin and box assembly; cutting the slide fastener chain at a film-reinforced location along the length of the slide fastener chain without teeth, thereby defining a semi-finished slide fastener assembly terminating in a film-reinforced end; and attaching the semi-finished slide fastener assembly to one or more panels of a thin shell garment.

Abstract: A molded-teeth slide fastener tape for use in a slide fastener assembly includes a woven portion and a plurality of resin-based teeth. The woven portion includes a cord arranged along an edge thereof and a plurality of spaced-apart perforations, disposed adjacent to the cord, which pass completely through the woven portion. Each of the plurality of resin-based teeth is integrally molded to the woven portion along the cord. Each molded tooth encompasses at least a portion of at least one of the spaced-apart perforations so that each molded tooth extends through the at least one of the spaced-apart perforations and fully around a cross-sectional shape of the cord.

Abstract: Zippers components such as a traditional pin and box assembly may be affixed to zipper stringer tapes by a simple injection molding process. When a non-traditional magnetic alignment assembly is used in place of a traditional pin and box assembly, other means are needed to adequately affix the components of the magnetic alignment assembly to the zipper stringer tapes in order to provide a durable finished zipper.