Abstract: A retractable leash device for animal control is disclosed, having a multitude of settable maximum leash line extensions providing leash line retraction at each set extension length. The device includes a leash line connectable to an animal, a housing having an axle and an outlet aperture, a reel having a hub and mounted on the axle, a reel biasing spring to retract the leash line, a maximum extension brake having an arresting member and a brake control. The leash line is wound on the reel and exits the housing through the aperture. The arresting member crosses the leash line thereinbetween the hub and the aperture. Upon engagement of the brake therewith the reel and extension of the leash line, an eventual interaction of the arresting member therewith the leash line prevents further extension of the leash line. The brake control engages and disengages the brake with respect to the reel.

Abstract: A mechanism for picking one or more vibratory strings of a string musical instrument comprising an actuator, shaft, pick and pick holder with extended offset sides to guide the pick to the correct angle for proper picking of a vibratory string on both the forward and backward picking strokes. The shaft is parallel to the vibratory string in one plane and angled to the vibratory string in a perpendicular plane as a means of fine adjustment of the engagement with the vibratory string.

Abstract: A concrete truck or cement tanker truck alignment system with a loading station having a discharge chute, an electronic sensor that sees through dust or an environmental dust shield, and provides location information used to determine a hopper offset. The hopper offset is a measurement of the physical offset between a feed hopper on the truck and the discharge chute. The system may further include an alignment feedback unit that provides feedback based on the hopper offset. The alignment feedback unit may indicate the hopper offset is within an alignment tolerance. The sensor may use radar. The alignment feedback unit may provide auditory or graphical feedback. The graphical feedback may show a discharge icon representing the position of the discharge chute and a hopper icon representing the feed hopper where the location of the hopper icon is relative to the discharge chute based on the hopper offset.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system may include a first-fluid-housing, and a drain in communication with the first-fluid-housing that pulls a first non-serosanguinous fluid from a patient into the first-fluid-housing. The system may also include a sensor that measures the first non-serosanguinous fluid entering the first-fluid-housing. The system may further include a computer-controller in communication with the sensor and drain, the computer-controller includes a profile that identifies the patient, the first-fluid-housing, and records the sensor's first non-serosanguinous fluid measurements that any user can retrieve based upon permissions granted to each user.

Abstract: A novel, simple, inexpensive and universal device and method for manipulating a magnetic object with at least a portion thereof having a substantially prismatic shape with side surfaces and an end surface such as a fastener, bolt, nut, plug, screw, and the like is disclosed. One embodiment of the device includes a head assembly having a magnetic field. The head assembly includes a body and a magnetic pole piece. The body serves to support the magnetic pole piece and the magnetic pole piece is configured to contact no more than two side surfaces of the magnetic object. The magnetic pole piece is also constructed and arranged to concentrate and shape the magnetic field into the magnetic object. The head assembly is further configured to be spatially open opposite from the magnetic pole piece so as to receive and contact the magnetic object.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a novel, simple, inexpensive, user friendly and portable, truck bed assist handle quickly attachable without tools to a truck tailgate striker and tailgate hinge is presented. The assist handle provides for easy access into a truck bed. The handle includes an elongated body having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion being a tailgate hinge connector configured for removably engaging with the tailgate hinge. The second end portion being a hand grip. Positioned thereinbetween the first end portion and the second end portion, the body has one of at least one first tailgate striker connector integrated therewithin the body and a structure attached thereon the body. The structure has at least one second tailgate striker connector integrated thereon. Both at least one tailgate striker connectors being configured for removably engaging with the tailgate striker.

Abstract: A simple ammunition casing resizer helps eliminate the problem of the casing becoming frictionally stuck with the resizing die. The ammunition casing resizer is a table top secured base that has a die plate located above the base with the resizing die removably secured within the die plate. A resizing frame reciprocates in up and down fashion under the guidance of either a manually controlled handle or an electrical motor. A ram is positioned below the resizing die while a push rod is positioned above the die such that the ram and push rod, each attached to the frame, travel in up and down reciprocating lockstep. As the ram travels upwardly, the ram presses a casing into the die for resizing and as the ram travels downwardly, the push rod passes through the top of the die and into the interior of the casing, pushing the casing out of the die.

Abstract: A novel, simple, inexpensive and universal device and method for manipulating a magnetic object with at least a portion thereof having one of a substantially prismatic cavity and a substantially prismatic shape, each with side surfaces and an end surface such as a fastener, bolt, nut, plug, screw, and the like is disclosed. One embodiment of the device includes a head assembly having a magnetic field. The head assembly includes a body and a magnetic pole piece. The body serves to support the magnetic pole piece and the magnetic pole piece is configured to contact no more than two side surfaces of the magnetic object. The magnetic pole piece is also constructed and arranged to concentrate and shape the magnetic field into the magnetic object. The head assembly is further configured to be spatially open opposite from the magnetic pole piece so as to receive and contact the magnetic object.

Abstract: A device and method, for use with a striker bar to secure an object to an adjacent structure, the device operable from each side of the object. The device includes a latching member and a locking member. The latching member and the locking member are adapted for at least indirect mounting on the structure. The latching member has a leading edge cam and a grapple for engaging the striker bar to establish a latched state. The locking member has a closure portion and both pivots with and slides to engage with the latching mechanism. The members together include a multipart locking assembly operable alone or in combination with a separate lock device. The members secure the striker bar to the device when the members are locked together, thereby securing the object to the structure for establishment of a locked state.

Abstract: An improved method for processing coiled metal sheet is provided, wherein a line threading device is inserted between the metal sheet and the process line surface at the leading edge of the metal sheet. The device is rigid and adapted to glide easily along the process line surface when propelled in a forward direction. The device has an upper surface that includes a plurality of grooves that run perpendicular to the forward direction, and the leading edge of the sheet, when it curves toward the process line surface, does not come into contact with a recess of the process line surface, but instead becomes lodged in a groove of the device, which guides the sheet along the process line surface, and does not impede forward progress.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling anomalies in a hardware system including a master device and at least one slave device coupled with the master device through an interconnect device is provided. The apparatus includes at least one controller operative to receive status information relating to the slave device. The status information is indicative of whether an anomaly is present in the slave device and/or the interconnect device. The controller is operative to generate output response information as a function of the status information relating to the slave device for detecting and/or responding to hardware system anomalies in a manner which reduces a need for resetting the hardware system to return to normal operation.

Abstract: A water-based non-permanent adhesive solution composition comprised of water, gum arabic powder, sodium benzoate, citric acid and denatured alcohol capable of being applied directly to the thumb and playing fingers for players of stringed instruments including, but not limited to, banjos, steel guitars, and Dobros. When applied to the thumb and playing fingers the solution quickly and safely binds the picks to the skin to prevent the picks from slipping or falling off during prolonged periods of play.

Abstract: An improved method for processing coiled metal sheet is provided, wherein a line threading device is inserted between the metal sheet and the process line surface at the leading edge of the metal sheet. The device is rigid and adapted to glide easily along the process line surface when propelled in a forward direction. The device has an upper surface that includes a plurality of grooves that run perpendicular to the forward direction, and the leading edge of the sheet, when it curves toward the process line surface, does not come into contact with a recess of the process line surface, but instead becomes lodged in a groove of the device, which guides the sheet along the process line surface, and does not impede forward progress.

Abstract: A water-based non-permanent adhesive solution composition comprised of water, gum arabic powder, sodium benzoate, citric acid and denatured alcohol capable of being applied directly to the thumb and playing fingers for players of stringed instruments including, but not limited to, banjos, steel guitars, and Dobros. When applied to the thumb and playing fingers the solution quickly and safely binds the picks to the skin to prevent the picks from slipping or falling off during prolonged periods of play.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling anomalies in a hardware system including a master device and at least one slave device coupled with the master device through an interconnect device is provided. The apparatus includes at least one controller operative to receive status information relating to the slave device. The status information is indicative of whether an anomaly is present in the slave device and/or the interconnect device. The controller is operative to generate output response information as a function of the status information relating to the slave device for detecting and/or responding to hardware system anomalies in a manner which reduces a need for resetting the hardware system to return to normal operation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for configuring a base platform having ASIC and FPGA modules to perform a plurality of functions. A verified RTL hardware description of a circuit is mapped and annotated to identify memory programmable functions. The memory programmable functions are grouped for assignment to FPGA modules. The non-memory programmable functions are synthesized to ASIC modules, and the memory programmable functions are synthesized to FPGA modules. Placement, signal routing and boundary timing closure are completed and the platform is configured by adding metallization layer(s) to configure the ASIC modules and creating a firmware memory to configure the FPGA modules. An over-provisioning feature in the FPGA modules permits post-fabrication alteration of logic functions.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a device and device access circuitry. The device is mapped to a first mapped address region and to a second mapped address region. The device access circuitry, in turn, is operative to access the device in accordance with a first set of memory attributes when addressing the device within the first mapped address region and to access the device in accordance with a second set of memory attributes when addressing the device within the second mapped address region. The first set of memory attributes is different from the second set of memory attributes.

Abstract: A hose controlled sprinkler device, whose sequential liquid output states can be remotely controlled by a substantially unidirectional movement of a hose connected to the sprinkler device. The hose controlled sprinkler device includes a valve and at least one valve support. The valve includes a moveable member, a valve housing, an inlet connection configured for connection to the hose and an outlet connection. The valve is configured to have at least one liquid off state, a liquid on state, and a liquid off state output sequence at the outlet connection. The sequence is established by a pressurized liquid input at the inlet connection and further by a unidirectional movement of the movable member and the housing one about the other. The at least one valve support is connected to the valve and is configured to stabilize the valve above at least one of a ground and a lawn.

Abstract: A partially manufactured semiconductor chip comprising a slice and a number of shells is a template for a communication and networking chip. The slice has a number of I/O ports, blocks, and PHYs. The hardmac PHYs are established to correspond to a high speed data transmission protocol. The interior of the template comprises logic gate arrays and configurable memory. Once particular protocols of data receipt and transmission are selected, the logic gate arrays and configurable memory can be programmed and otherwise configured to develop protocol layers for data networking and communication.

Abstract: A device and method for lifting and transporting a conventional hay bale feeder in association with the directed movement of a round hay bale and for facilitating the placement of the feeder around the bale. The device can be removably attached to the feeder and consists of a lift arm assembly, a lift arm support assembly, and an anti-slide stabilizing assembly. The lift arm assembly includes a lift arm that is angled away from the top of the feeder to provide feeder lift. The lift arm support assembly acts as a brace to support the lift arm. The anti-slide stabilizing assembly limits rearward and side to side rocking movement of the feeder when lifted and transported, respectively. In alternate embodiments, the device is integrated into circular and multi-sided feeders during manufacture, forming single stand-alone units.