Abstract: A method for multi-selection gifting, including maintaining a merchandise database comprising records for merchandise for a plurality of merchants, each record including a stock keeping unit (SKU) for an item of merchandise, a description of the item, a price of the item, and the merchant for the item, maintaining a gift database comprising records for multi-selection gifts, each record including at least one gift recipient, a plurality of SKU's for items of merchandise, and at least one selection rule for selecting at least one of the items of merchandise, interactively enabling a gift giver to generate a multi-selection gift for a gift recipient, Interactively guiding the gift recipient to select at least one of the items of merchandise in the multi-selection gift in accordance with the gift's at least one selection rule, aggregating the at least one item selected by the gift recipient according to merchant, issuing purchase orders to each merchant in accordance with the aggregated selected items correspond

Abstract: A composite metal article includes a higher melting point metal, a lower melting point alloy and at least one other metal with an intermediate melting point between that of the higher melting point metal and the lower melting point alloy. The at least one other metal is selected to aid in sinter-densification of the higher melting point metal in a temperature range above the liquidus temperature of the lower melting point alloy and below the melting point of the at least one other metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surfactant blend that includes an extended chain surfactant and high HLB nonionic surfactant. The surfactant blend may be incorporated into household and industrial-institutional cleaning products to solubilize hard to remove oily stains and soil from a variety of surfaces.

Abstract: The invention is a joint cover assembly for covering a gap adjacent an edge of a panel that covers a sub-surface, and a method of covering such a gap. The assembly can be installed to be a flush or near-flush arrangement with adjacent flooring elements.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions useful as detergents in cleaning a wide variety of substrates, including hard surfaces and laundry. The compositions contain a water-soluble polymer, which is a co-polymer between a polymerizable amide and a second, ethylenically-unsaturated monomer. The polymerizable amide itself is prepared from an amine-capped, alkoxylated alcohol by reaction with maleic acid anhydride. Compositions according to the invention show enhanced cleaning performance and beneficial anti-redeposition properties.

Abstract: Provided herein are catalysts useful in enabling and promoting the insertion of alkylene oxides into ester linkages. The esters employed as a substrate to be alkoxylated include esters of fatty acids, such as methyl esters of C14 to C22 fatty acids, and mono-, di-, and tri-esters of glycerine, including vegetable oils, animal fats, and plant oils. A catalyst according to the invention includes at least two alkaline earth compounds, which may include any known stable compounds of the alkaline earths, and optionally contains one or more additional materials such as a carboxylic acid or a polyalkylene glycol having a molecular weight between about 100 and 1500 or a C1-C10 alkyl-capped polyalkylene glycol having molecular weight between about 100 and 1500, which has been acidified with a strong mineral acid. The preferred alkaline earths employed are salts and compounds of magnesium and calcium.

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: An apparatus for printing a variable pattern on a substrate, a method using the apparatus, a product produced by using the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes an ink bath containing a printing agent to be applied to the substrate, a roller that picks up ink from the ink bath, a doctor blade to wipe of excess printing agent on the roller, and a means for intentionally varying the design printed on the substrate from the roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides acylalkylisethionate esters useful in consumer products. The acylalkylisethionate esters are produced by reacting one or more carboxylic acids with one or more alkyl-substituted hydroxyalkyl sulfonates under esterification reaction conditions. The alkyl-substituted hydroxyalkyl sulfonates used as a raw material in producing the esters are prepared by reacting bisulfite with one or more alkylene oxides.

Abstract: A protective mat, coaster or cutting board are embodiments of some products that can be obtained from the present invention. In one such embodiment, a floor mat having two major surfaces, i.e., an upper and lower surface, each of which can optionally be formed of a laminate, preferably, but not necessarily, having different decors, is provided. The floor mat can be made in one piece, but preferably, is assembled from several pieces, optionally packaged as a kit, in combination with joining elements and optionally an edge border, or glue, and/or gripping pad or pads.

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: A method and apparatus for generating electric energy from the motion of the waves. The apparatus comprises at least one member which is moved by the motion of the waves. The apparatus also comprises an energy transfer mechanism coupled to the or each member. The energy transfer mechanism converts the kinetic energy from movement of the or each member to potential energy by pressurization of a fluid. The apparatus further comprises a first chamber, arranged to store the pressurised fluid and a conversion means for converting the potential energy stored in the pressurised fluid into electric energy. The apparatus can be arranged such that any substantially vertical displacement of the or each member causes actuation of the or each corresponding energy transfer mechanism.

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: A ventilated quarter round molding or shoe molding can be used, in combination with a water impervious underlayment to dissipate water vapor which is often generated from subfloors. Such water vapor can damage certain flooring, and the invention allows for the installation of devices to limit or eliminate such damage without significant cost.

Abstract: A spray composition includes an aqueous spray medium, an active ingredient, and a deposition control agent, wherein: the composition comprises at least one surfactant, and the deposition control agent is selected from the group consisting of the following: hydroxypropyl guar having a molecular substitution of at least 0.6, hydroxyalkyl guars, wherein the alkyl has at least 4 carbon atoms, having a molecular substitution of at least 0.15, guar having both carboxymethyl groups and hydoxyalkyl groups and having a molecular substitution of at least 0.1, and guar having both hydroxyalkyltrimethylammonium, preferably hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium or alkyltrimethylammonium and hydroxyalkyl groups.

Abstract: A heat sink is for an integrally fused low-voltage power air circuit breaker including a line terminal and electrical bus work coupled to a current limiter. The line terminal, electrical bus work, and current limiter contribute to the formation of a thermal dam. The heat sink includes a heat exchanger structured to be coupled to the line terminal at or about the current limiter in order to expel heat from the thermal dam. The heat exchanger comprises at least one conductive member having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of bends therebetween. The heat exchanger includes heat reduction features, such as, for example, two conductive members having a number of air gaps therebetween to facilitate heat convection, a dark coating to expel heat, materials having a high thermal conductivity, and surface-enlarging mechanisms such as fins, flanges and apertures.

Abstract: The invention is a joint cover assembly for covering a gap adjacent an edge of a panel that covers a sub-surface, and a method of covering such a gap. The assembly can be manipulated to form an end molding, a T-molding, a hard surface reducer, a carpet reducer, and/or a stair nose molding.

Abstract: An elective healthcare insurance model using an individual's own peripheral blood stem cells for the individual's future healthcare uses. An individual can elect to have his or her own stem cells collected, processed and preserved, while he or she is in healthy or “pre-disease” state, for future distribution for his or her healthcare needs. The process includes methods of collection, processing, preservation and distribution of adult (including pediatric) peripheral blood stem cells during non-diseased state. The stem cells collected will contain adequate dosage amounts, for one or more transplantations immediately when needed by the individual for future healthcare treatments. The collected adult or non-neonate child peripheral blood stem cells can be aliquoted into defined dosage fractions before cryopreservation so that cells can be withdrawn from storage without the necessity of thawing all of the collected cells.

Abstract: A medical device for temporarily treating an individual having a flail chest injury prior to and during transport of the individual for further medical treatment. The medical device includes a flexible member engageable with a flail segment of an individual that provides skin traction to the flail segment of the individual for stabilizing paradoxical motion of such flail segment during respiration. There is an adhesive layer disposed on the flexible member for temporarily adhering it to the flail segment of the individual.

Abstract: A connector (1) connects an air-inflatable mattress (4) which alternately inflatable cells (11, 12) to a pump. Air-supply lines (13, 14) from the pump are attached to male parts (2) of connector (1). Air-supply lines (15, 16) from mattress (4) connect to passages (17, 18) of female parts (3) of the connector (1). When the male parts (2) and the female parts (3) are engaged, supply lines (13, 14) are in fluid communication with fluid lines (15, 16) via passages (17, 18) in the female part (3). When the male parts (2) are removed from the connector (1) to disconnect the air supply, one-way valves (7) seal the air-supply lines (13, 14) and expose a cross-connect port (8) in interconnecting the female part passages (17, 18). Thus cells (11, 12) are interconnected and the pressure is equalized throughout the mattress (4). The invention provides a self-sealing automatic transport mode connection system upon disengagement of the male parts (2) from the mattress (4), thus eliminating user error.