Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle, a head at a distal end of the handle comprising a bristle plate, a hole extending through the bristle plate, a plurality of bristles at least partially disposed in the hole and extending from the hole in a direction away from the head, and a reservoir in fluid communication with the hole. Fluid in the reservoir enters the tuft holes and is wicked out of the head of the toothbrushes by capillaries formed between the bristles.

Abstract: A GUI for a Network Management System client is provided. The GUI presents network alarms in more than one alarm window. Each alarm window includes a drop-down menu for selecting an alarm filter and a pause button for halting display of new alarms. Alarm filters may be retrieved from a database accessible from a number of NMS clients, thereby allowing public filters to be created by a supervisor. A method of automatically populating the “additional text” field of alarms in a way specified manually after installation of the NMS, which provides additional means of filtering alarms. The invention provides an improved interface by which network administrators can manage network alarms, the interface being particularly advantageous during floods of large numbers of network alarms.

Abstract: A GUI for a Network Management System client is provided. The GUI presents network alarms in more than one alarm window. Each alarm window includes a drop-down menu for selecting an alarm filter and a pause button for halting display of new alarms. Alarm filters may be retrieved from a database accessible from a number of NMS clients, thereby allowing public filters to be created by a supervisor. A method of automatically populating the “additional text” field of alarms in a way specified manually after installation of the NMS, which provides additional means of filtering alarms. The invention provides an improved interface by which network administrators can manage network alarms, the interface being particularly advantageous during floods of large numbers of network alarms.

Abstract: A bulk Soft Permanent Virtual Circuit (SPVC) trace processor is provided. The bulk SPVC trace processor receives notifications of newly established SPVCs and SPVC re-routing instances. The bulk SPVC trace processor submits SPVC connection trace commands to corresponding trace source network nodes, and retrieves trace transit list information therefrom. The aggregate SPVC transport path information derived from trace transit list information is stored and provided to higher network management and service provisioning functions. The bulk SPVC trace processor may also be employed to trace SPVC portions of Hybrid SPVCs. As SPVC connection tracing is necessary subsequent to a failure, load balancing techniques are used to spread SPVC connection tracing over time, network resources, and network partitions to prevent weighting down the network. Network planning and design functions previously built for Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) provisioning may be seamlessly upgraded in migrating to (H)SPVC connectivity.

Abstract: A bulk Soft Permanent Virtual Circuit (SPVC) trace processor is provided. The bulk SPVC trace processor receives notifications of newly established SPVCs and SPVC re-routing instances. The bulk SPVC trace processor submits SPVC connection trace commands to corresponding trace source network nodes, and retrieves trace transit list information therefrom. The aggregate SPVC transport path information derived from trace transit list information is stored and provided to higher network management and service provisioning functions. The bulk SPVC trace processor may also be employed to trace SPVC portions of Hybrid SPVCs. As SPVC connection tracing is necessary subsequent to a failure, load balancing techniques are used to spread SPVC connection tracing over time, network resources, and network partitions to prevent weighting down the network. Network planning and design functions previously built for Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) provisioning may be seamlessly upgraded in migrating to (H)SPVC connectivity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for network resource utilization assessment are presented. The apparatus includes an information warehousing layer for storing a coherent network model including network node generated reporting information and derived reporting information. The coherent network model is generated by a network modeler and the derived information is generated by a network engineering analyzer. The apparatus further includes a presentation layer enabling support for extensive network resource utilization assessments. An equipment trend analyzer module provides equipment utilization tracking in communications network over time. Advantages are derived from a network resource utilization assessment enabling model based network engineering analysis to attain improved network resources utilization efficiencies.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive laminate for adhering to various items. The laminate includes a paper layer; a water-impermeable plastic film layer having a first corona-discharge treated surface which is adhesively laminated to the paper layer to form a paper-plastic film laminate having first and second opposed outer surfaces; and an exposed layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on one of the first or second outer surfaces. The plastic film portion of the laminate has a strength sufficient to allow the film to be stripped in one piece from an item to which the laminate is adhered. The laminate may, if desired, additionally have a layer of a release agent upon an uncoated one of the first and second opposed outer surfaces of the laminate. A preferred use for the laminate is as a pressure-sensitive tape product.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive sealing tape product for adhering to various items in applications involving taping and sealing, and having sufficient body to permit dispensing from a conventional pull and tear tape dispenser. The tape includes a paper layer; a water-impermeable plastic film layer having a first corona-discharge treated surface which is adhesively laminated to the paper layer to form a paper-plastic film laminate having first and second opposed outer surfaces; and an exposed layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on one of the first or second outer surfaces. The plastic film portion of the laminate has a strength sufficient to allow the film to be stripped in one piece from an item to which the laminate is adhered. The tape product may, if desired, additionally comprise a layer of a release agent upon an uncoated one of the first and second opposed outer surfaces of the laminate.

Abstract: A heat-activated sealing tape for manufacturing or sealing a carton or other article. The tape is composed of a paper layer, a layer formed of oriented plastic film which is adhesively laminated to the paper layer, and a heat-activatable adhesive exposed for use in adhering the paper-plastic film laminate to an object. The heat activatable adhesive is inactive at ambient temperatures. When exposed to low temperature heat sealing conditions, the adhesive is activated and enables the tape to be adhered to the article to be sealed. The sealing tape is designed for ease of handling and reduction in waste, and is adaptable for use in existing automatic and semi-automatic equipment for manufacturing or sealing cartons.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive tape for sealing cartons and for other applications requiring a flexible tape of exceptional strength and of sufficient body so that the tape in roll form may be dispensed from a conventional pull-and-tear tape dispenser. The tape is composed of a paper-plastic film laminate having a first ply of biaxially-oriented, synthetic-plastic film, cold-laminated by a water-based adhesive to a second ply formed of paper. The inner surface of the film ply is corona-discharge treated to render it wettable and receptive to the adhesive, thereby producing a strong adhesive bond to the paper ply that is resistant to delamination of the tape. One side of the laminate which may be either the paper or the film side, is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, whereas the other side is coated with a silicone release agent to prevent blocking, whereby the tape may be wound into a roll for loading a tape dispenser.

Abstract: A paper-film laminate sealing tape for sealing a corrugated board carton or other article fabricated of recyclable material. The tape is composed of a base ply formed of oriented synthetic plastic film whose opposing surfaces are corona-discharge treated to render them wettable and receptive to adhesives, and a paper face ply cold laminated to the base ply by a water-based adhesive. The exposed surface of the film base ply is coated with a water-remoistenable adhesive, such as a starch, so that when this adhesive is moistened in a tape dispenser, the sealing tape can then be adhered to the carton. Since the re-moistenable adhesive is coated on the film ply which is water-impermeable, when this adhesive is moistened with water it remains in a moistened state in a condition to be applied to the carton for a controlled "open-time" period.

Abstract: A paper-film laminate sealing tape for sealing a corrugated board carton or other article fabricated of recyclable material. The tape is composed of a base ply formed of high-strength, oriented synthetic plastic film whose opposing surfaces are corona-discharge treated to render them wettable and receptive to adhesives, and a paper face ply adhesively laminated to the base ply. The exposed surface of the base plastic-film ply is coated with a water-remoistenable adhesive, so that when this adhesive is moistened in a tape dispenser, the sealing tape can then be adhered to the carton. Since the remoistenable adhesive is coated on the plastic film ply which is water-impermeable, when this adhesive is moistened with water it remains in a moistened state in a condition to be applied to the carton for a relatively long "open-time" period.