Abstract: A wire nail for use with a powered nail-driving tool has a full-round head with an axis that is offset from an axis of the integrally formed shank. An outer circumferential surface of the shank is at least as offset from the shank axis in one radial direction as a circumferential surface of the head in that radial direction. Accordingly, such nails may be collated shank-to-shank in a strip of wire nails such that adjoining shanks are both parallel and touching. During manufacture of the wire nail, a notch is formed in the shank at the intersection between the shank and the head. The notch and the head axis are disposed on opposite sides of the shank axis from each other. The notch facilitates improved metal flow during the head-forming procedure and results in strong shank to head connections.

Abstract: A printing apparatus (1) for printing an image onto a 3-dimensional surface of a plastics article such as a mobile telephone or computer mouse (not shown) has a housing (2) having a slot (3) for receiving a drawer (4) for receiving one of more of the articles to be printed. The drawer (4) is provided with clamp release buttons (5) on a front surface (6) thereof. The housing (2) contains a heater box (7), located above the slot (3), and having a fan (8) for directing hot air through a separator plate (9) onto a transfer element (not shown) mounted on the top of drawer (4) over the article on which an image is to be printed. The transfer element has a support layer of met,allised amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET) having an aqueous coating of polyvinyl polymers, which may also contain synthetic silica, surfactants and optical brightening agents. The metallisation is formed by applying one or more metallic coatings to one side of the APET film during manufacture.

Abstract: A lens includes a surface that includes a seamless profile. The seamless profile is defined by at least one cubic polynomial function to provide a filtering surface that produces a controlled amount of spherical aberration.

Abstract: A sorting system may include a sorting apparatus coupled to a programmable control system which is configured to actuate the sorting apparatus so that it assembles similar products for packaging in an arbitrary, user imposed order or selection bias. In preferred implementations, a user may activate a biasing protocol pursuant to which items bearing certain images appear with a disproportionate frequency on the top of a stack of items such that the selected images are the most common images viewable through a transparent product packaging. In certain implementations, empirical sales data is used to determine weighting factors used in the biasing protocol. In still other implementations, a more specific ordering protocol is imposed by a user such that some or all of the sequence of items in a stack or collection is arbitrarily imposed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a fluorine-containing mordenite catalyst and use thereof in the manufacture of alkylbenzene (LAB) by alkylation of benzene with an olefin. The olefin may have from about 10 to 14 carbons. The fluorine-containing mordenite is prepared typically by treatment with an aqueous hydrogen fluoride solution. The benzene alkylation may be conducted using reactive distillation. This invention is also directed to a process for production of LAB having a high 2-phenyl isomer content by use of the fluorine-containing mordenite in conjunction with a conventional solid LAB alkylation catalyst. The two catalysts may be used in a mixed catalyst bed or may be packed in series, with the relative proportions being adjusted to provide a desired 2-phenyl isomer content of in the final product.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, the rear roll-up, truck-door indicator is a magnetically operated indicator which is visible to the truck driver by simply looking into the driver's rear view mirror. The invention relates to a rear roll-up, truck-door open-or-closed indicator. Said indicator will be located on the outside of the left side of the truck box body. There will be a clear tube placed through the truck box and will extend outside of the body. This tube will be placed at a slight upward angle from the outside of the truck to the inside of the truck box (higher on the inside). A colorful indicator piston will be placed inside of this tube. The indicator will be colorful when the door is open; conversely, the indicator will not be colorful when the door is closed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to detergent compositions which employ sulfonated alkyltoluenes as surfactants, wherein the sulfonated alkyltoluenes have a higher content of the sulfonated 2-phenyl alkyltoluenes isomers than was previously available in sulfonated alkyltoluene surfactants of the prior art. Cleaning compositions according to the invention are more effective as cleaning agents over their counterparts of prior art which contain sulfonated alkyltoluenes having lower contents of the 2-phenyl alkyltoluene isomers, owing to an unexpected increase in tolerance of water hardness minerals normally associated with precipitation of the active detergent agent. Solid sulfonate salts of alkyltoluenes are also provided, including dry cleaning formulations containing same.

Abstract: A synthetic ice surface system includes a plurality of sections of synthetic ice and a plurality of dowels. At least a portion of an outer periphery of each section of synthetic ice has one or more passages. Each of the dowels has a pair of opposing ends and one end of one or more of the dowels mates in one of the passages in one of the sections of synthetic ice. Another end of the one or more of the dowels mates in another one of the passages in another one of the sections of synthetic ice to secure the adjacent sections of synthetic ice together and form a substantially smooth ice surface. The sections of synthetic ice and the dowels are made of substantially the same material.

Abstract: A vibratory separator and methods for using it, the separator in certain aspects having a base, a basket on the base, motor apparatus for vibrating the basket and screen apparatus thereon, variable frequency drive apparatus for selectively driving the vibratory motor apparatus, and, in certain aspects, angle adjustment apparatus for adjusting angle of the basket; and, in certain aspects, for sensing a parameter indicative of operation of the vibratory separator, and control apparatus for receiving signals from the sensor apparatus, for controlling the separator based on said signals; and, in certain aspects, for automatically signalling a drive apparatus to change the speed of the motor apparatus; and, in certain aspects, the vibratory motor apparatus connectible to the basket at a plurality of locations so that a motion profile of the basket is selectively variable between linear, elliptical, and circular motion.

Abstract: An identification circuit for establishing and sensing the state of a fusible element used in on chip identification of the chip's type comprising: a circuit establishing control signals for turning the identification circuit on and off; dual paths energized by the control signals generated by the level setting circuit to energize one path through the fusible element to provide a state level and the other path through a reference path which provides a reference voltage level which is distinguishable from both the blown and unblown states of the fusible element; a differential sensing circuit for comparing the reference voltage level to the state level to provide a signal indicating the state of the fusible element; and protection circuitry to protect the circuit during an operation in which the state of the fusible element is set.

Abstract: A state detection circuit for a fusible element includes a differential sensing circuit that compares voltage at a detection point in a path containing the fusible element with that at a reference point in a path establishing a non-zero reference voltage. The paths are similarly configured except one contains the fusible element while the other contains a device establishing the reference voltage. The two paths in any given sensing circuit are located in close proximity to each other so that even though element parameters in the paths of different sensing circuits may vary significantly, those values track each other in the given sensing circuit. As a result, the normal non-zero value of the voltage at the reference point maintains a relationship to that at the detection point that enables the differential sensing circuit to detect between a fused and an unfused element irrespective of variation in circuit element parameters.

Abstract: A process unit comprising: (a) a first microchannel module comprising: (i) a first unit operation including microchannels, in which at least a portion of a unit operation takes place, adapted to be in fluid communication with a first inlet stream and a first outlet stream, and (ii) a second unit operation including microchannels adapted to be in thermal communication with the first unit operation, the second unit operation adapted to be in fluid communication with a second inlet stream and a second outlet stream; and (b) a pressurized vessel at least partially containing the first microchannel module adapted to be concurrently occupied by a compressive medium in thermal communication with the first microchannel module.

Abstract: A blade for a skate includes a holder, a runner, and an attachment device. The holder includes a front section and a rear section where at least one of the front section and the rear section includes at least two, separate hollow regions and an aperture. The aperture extends through the holder between the at least two, separate hollow regions. The attachment device extends through a substantially solid portion of the holder between the two, separate hollow regions into the aperture and secures the runner to the holder. At least a portion of the attachment device used to secure the runner to the holder is accessible in the aperture.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for treatment of tissue in a body lumen with an electrode deployment device. Embodiments typically include a device with a plurality of electrodes having a pre-selected electrode density arranged on the surface of a support. The support may comprise a non-distensible electrode backing that is spirally furled about an axis and coupled to an expansion member such as an inflatable elastic balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon is inflated to selectively expose a portion of the electrode surface while maintaining the electrode density.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical reading system comprising an optical reader and a host processor. In one aspect of the invention, the host processor may be configured to transmit a component control instruction in response to a user input command input by a user of the host processor to remotely control the reader. The optical reader subsequently receives the transmitted component control instruction and executes the component control instruction substantially on receipt thereof. In one embodiment, execution of the component control instruction by the optical reader has the same effect as the reader trigger being manually pulled by a reader operator.

Abstract: A method of measuring the rate of transmission of a vapor through a test sample using a mass spectrometer. The test sample is sealed to a gas cell defining a gas chamber, covering an opening in the gas chamber. A droplet of water including isotopes of mass number placed in the gas chamber and the gas cell is introduced into a vacuum chamber adjacent a mass spectrometer. After a sufficient time for evaporation of the liquid to saturate the gas chamber with vapor and for the output of the mass spectrometer to stabilize, the partial pressure of vapor in the vacuum chamber is measured using the mass spectrometer. The measure partial pressure is used to derive the rate of transmission of the vapor through the test sample.

Abstract: The invention provides tissue engineering compositions and methods wherein three-dimensional matrices for growing cells are prepared for in vitro and in vivo use. The matrices comprise biodegradable polymer fibers capable of the controlled delivery of therapeutic agents. The spatial and temporal distribution of released therapeutic agents is controlled by use of defined nonhomogeneous patterns of therapeutic agents in the matrices.

Abstract: This invention is directed to detergent compositions which employ sulfonated linear alkylbenzenes as surfactants, wherein the sulfonated linear alkylbenzenes have a higher content of the sulfonated 2-phenyl alkylbenzene isomers than was previously available in sulfonated phenyl alkylbenzene surfactants of the prior art. Cleaning compositions according to the invention are more effective as cleaning agents over their counterparts of prior art which contain sulfonated linear alkylbenzenes having lower contents of the 2-phenyl alkylbenzene isomers, owing to an unexpected increase in tolerance of water hardness minerals normally associated with precipitation of the active detergent agent. Solid sulfonate salts of alkylbenzenes are also provided, including dry formulations containing same.

Abstract: A pressure pad has two sets of cells with a sensor pad positioned under the pad. During inflation, part of the flow goes to the sensor pad to exhaust and the rest fills the cells. Any change in patient position/weight causing a change in airflow in tube will alter the differential pressure measured at a pressure transducer. Based on this feedback a microprocessor directly controls the power level to the pump, thus adjusting the airflow to the cells to prevent bottoming or to rung at a minimum pressure. The pressure pad is segmented into a heel section, upper leg section, torso section, and a head section. The heel, head, and upper leg sections are maintained at a lower pressure, and the torso section at a higher pressure. A control module to control the flow in the segments is provided inside the pressure pad. The pressure pad can be an alternating or static pad.

Abstract: The invention is a transaction terminal having an encryption mode apparatus comprising a secure information entry circuit and a secure mode indicator. The secure information entry circuit is operable to execute an encryption routine including steps that involve application of an encryption algorithm. Further included in the secure mode information entry circuit is cryptographic firmware which adapts the secure information entry circuit so that an encryption mode signal is caused to change state when an encryption routine is called. The indicator of the encryption mode apparatus is made responsive to the encryption mode signal so that the indicator indicates to a user as to whether data entered into the terminal will be encrypted by the terminal.