Abstract: The presently disclosed adjustable slide knob addresses the ‘Backing-Off’ problem present with various conventional nuts. The adjustable slide knobs can be quickly positioned along a threaded rod by applying pressure to an exposed surface of a partially threaded nut. When the knob is placed against a work surface and the user releases pressure from the partially threaded nut, the thread pattern on the partially threaded nut meshes with the matching thread pattern on the threaded rod. The device can then be twisted, which will translate the device along the threaded rod, to apply a larger load to the work surface. The threaded rod may include one or more key-ways shaped to allow a locking tab housed within the knob to stop the device from freely disengaging the threaded rod to protect a user from potential injury caused by the fastener unexpectedly backing off and disengaging.

Abstract: A mobile radio direction finding (RDF) calibrator, and a method of using it to calibrate an RDF system aboard a vehicle. The calibrator has a GPS (global positioning satellite) or other GNSS (global navigation satellite system) receiver, which permits the calibrator to make its location known to the calibration process of the RDF-equipped vehicle. During calibration, the calibration process controls the calibrator remotely. As the RDF-equipped vehicle moves in a circle, it collects calibration response data, as well as location data, so that the calibration response data can be mapped to the correct azimuth.

Abstract: A mobile radio direction finding (RDF) calibrator, and a method of using it to calibrate an RDF system aboard a vehicle. The calibrator has a GPS (global positioning satellite) or other GNSS (global navigation satellite system) receiver, which permits the calibrator to make its location known to the calibration process of the RDF-equipped vehicle. During calibration, the calibration process controls the calibrator remotely. As the RDF-equipped vehicle moves in a circle, it collects calibration response data, as well as location data, so that the calibration response data can be mapped to the correct azimuth.

Abstract: A system includes a device and a wireless network. The device uses multiple wireless communication protocols. The wireless network is coupled to the device by the multiple wireless communication protocols. The device simultaneously uses two of more of the multiple wireless communication protocols. The wireless communication protocols and the wireless communication export protocols include WiFi, ZigBee and Bluetooth.

Abstract: A method for wireless communication includes communicating with a first wireless device via a first wireless communication protocol selected from multiple wireless communication protocols. The method also includes communicating with a wireless network via a second wireless communication protocol selected from multiple wireless communication protocols. The communications via the first wireless communication protocol and the second wireless communication protocol are filtered via a digital filter and/or an analog filter.

Abstract: A system includes a device and a wireless network. The device uses multiple wireless communication protocols. The wireless network is coupled to the device by the multiple wireless communication protocols. The device simultaneously uses two of more of the multiple wireless communication protocols. The wireless communication protocols and the wireless communication export protocols include WiFi, ZigBee and Bluetooth.

Abstract: A system includes a transmitter, a device and a wireless network. The device is coupled to the transmitter by a set of wireless communication protocols. The wireless network is coupled to the device by a set of wireless communication export protocols. The wireless communication protocols and the wireless communication export protocols include 802.11 WiFi, WiFi, ZigBee and Bluetooth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a chemical hydride is described and which includes a pseudo-plasma-electrolysis reactor which is operable to receive a solution capable of forming a chemical hydride and which further includes a cathode and a movable anode, and wherein the anode is moved into and out of fluidic, ohmic electrical contact with the solution capable of forming a chemical hydride and which further, when energized produces an oxygen plasma which facilitates the formation of a chemical hydride in the solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a chemical hydride is described and which includes a pseudo-plasma-electrolysis reactor which is operable to receive a solution capable of forming a chemical hydride and which further includes a cathode and a movable anode, and wherein the anode is moved into and out of fluidic, ohmic electrical contact with the solution capable of forming a chemical hydride and which further, when energized produces an oxygen plasma which facilitates the formation of a chemical hydride in the solution.

Abstract: Bleached, Kraft chemical pulp having increased hemicellulose content compared to conventional Kraft chemical pulps. In one embodiment, the pulp has a hemicellulose content greater than about 17 weight percent as measured by the 18% caustic solubility test. In another aspect, a method for making wood cellulose pulp having increased hemicellulose content compared to conventional Kraft chemical pulps. In the method, a lignocellulosic material is pulped in caustic sulfide to provide a first brownstock, which is treated with oxygen to provide a second brownstock, which is then bleached to provide the pulp product.

Abstract: Bleached, Kraft chemical pulp having increased hemicellulose content compared to conventional Kraft chemical pulps. In one embodiment, the pulp has a hemicellulose content greater than about 17 weight percent as measured by the 18% caustic solubility test. In another aspect, a method for making wood cellulose pulp having increased hemicellulose content compared to conventional Kraft chemical pulps. In the method, a lignocellulosic material is pulped in caustic sulfide to provide a first brownstock, which is treated with oxygen to provide a second brownstock, which is then bleached to provide the pulp product.

Abstract: A foldable bookcase made up of two units comprising: (a) first and second units, each unit having a set of uniform sized shelves rigidly secured in spaced-apart parallel relation to and between a pair of opposed parallel, uniform-sized sideboards; (b) means for pivotally securing said first unit to said second unit to permit said first unit to be supported on said second unit with the side boards thereof aligned and also permits the back of said first unit to be folded against the back of said second unit with the side boards thereof aligned; and (c) wherein the relation of said first and second sets of shelves is such as to cause the positions of individual ones of said second set of shelves to be offset from the positions of individual ones of said first set of shelves when said first and second units are in a folded position.

Abstract: An infrared video camera system comprises an uncooled infrared sensor mounted and a thermally conductive thin walled radiation shield for shielding radiation from reaching an active surface of the uncooled infrared sensor. A TEC maintains the sensor active surface and the radiation shield at a substantially constant temperature. The uncooled infrared sensor and radiation shield are further housed in a hollow thermally conductive vacuum cover which is vacuum sealed with a base assembly and includes a vacuum sealed infrared transparent window in an aperture at a top end of the vacuum cover for allowing infrared radiation to reach the active surface and for forming a vacuum chamber enclosing the infrared sensor and radiation shield. A relay optical cell mounted to a camera body comprises at least one optical element for relaying an image formed at its entrance onto the active surface.

Abstract: A wet/dry vacuum cleaner in one commonly available configuration includes a canister having an interior region defining a chamber, a motor mounted on the canister, a filter mounted on the canister and disposed within the chamber, and an inlet fitting attached to the canister. The inlet fitting is positioned generally adjacent the filter which results in the flow of air or water carrying debris generally towards the filter. The present invention is directed to a deflector boot which is secured to the inlet fitting for deflecting the flow of air or water carrying debris away from the filter. The deflector boot includes a cylindrical wall having an open end at one end thereof and an end wall that encloses the opposite end of the cylindrical wall. The open end of the cylindrical wall is sized to fit snugly over the inlet fitting when attaching the boot to the fitting.

Abstract: A safety harness comprising a waist strap for placement around the waist of a child, right and left shoulder straps for placement over corresponding shoulders of the child and for crossing each other over the chest of the child, and an anchor strap with distal fastening elements for securing the harness to restrain the child. Each shoulder strap has a proximate end fixedly secured to the waist strap in spaced relation to the proximate end of the other shoulder strap, and a distal end with a securing loop adapted to be received on and to slide along a corresponding attachment section of the waist strap. The attachment sections have cooperative facings of hook and loop materials on opposite sides of the waist strap adjacent to front free ends such that overlapping and pressing the attachment sections together while the securing loops are received thereon releasably joins together the free ends to form a continuous waist strap with the shoulder straps connected thereto.

Abstract: An article carrier having an elongated central strap with a fixed loop at one end, a cross-tab at the other end, and a cross-strap fixed to an intermediate portion of the central strap between the respective ends thereof. Left and right transverse segments of the cross-strap have distal end portions arranged to be placed in opposing overlapped relation within the fixed loop, and the cross-tab is arranged to be placed in opposing relation to an outside surface section of the cross-strap. Opposing surfaces of the overlapped segments and opposing surfaces of the cross-tab and cross-strap have cooperating panels of hook and loop materials for releasably connecting the article carrier in a configured orientation and for providing size adjustability thereof. A belt loop for supporting the carrier is provided by a folded portion of the central strap between the cross-strap and the cross-tab when the cross-strap and cross-tab are releasably connected together.

Abstract: A database system for maintaining accounting records in relation to usage of postage meters is disclosed. The database system is provided with two computers, both of which provide access to the system from remote postage meters via a telephone network, and each computer maintains a separate database. One computer acts as primary and handles all transactions, received either direct or via the other secondary computer, and maintains a primary database. For each transaction, the primary computer creates an archived record in a buffer and periodically when the buffer is full sends an archive record to the secondary computer for use by the secondary computer to update the secondary database. In addition for critical transactions such as a postage meter recredit transaction, the primary computer also creates a transaction log and sends it to the secondary computer for storing in a FILO buffer. The primary computer lastly authorises credit to the postage meter.

Abstract: A method is employed for pre-assignment and pre-scheduling of tasks that enables allocation across multiple physical processors arranged in a variety of architectures. The method comprises the steps of: constructing a DFG of tasks to be performed to provide a solution for a problem; determining cost values for each task and the overall problem, such cost values taking into account a target multiprocessor architecture and factors such as elapsed task execution times. The method pre-assigns the tasks to logical processors and assures that inter-dependent tasks are executable by logical processors that are within required communications delay criteria of each other. The assigning action attempts to arrive at a minimal cost value for all tasks comprising the problem. The pre-assigned tasks are then pre-scheduled based upon a performance criteria and are converted to machine code. The machine code is then deployed to physical processors in the target multi-processor architecture.