Abstract: A media sharing and display application and system comprising a method of sharing and persistently displaying photographs and short video clips, shared between close friends and family members or any group of people is described. The system, in one embodiment, is composed of desktop software, mobile device applications, an integrated server-based online service, and a website where online services are accessed. The system creates a user experience for both sharing and persistently displaying digital photos and videos on another person's computer or mobile device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restraining an animal such as a dog within an automotive vehicle equipped with a personal (human) belt-type restraint system having an inertia brake. A tether is attachable at one end to an animal harness and at the other end to a section of human restraint system webbing, the latter attachment being achieved by way of a spring biased clamp having friction pads on the inside surfaces of two complemental clamp elements. The clamp elements are closed and secured by means of a buckle or clasp such as a loop/spring bayonet clasp.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restraining an animal such as a doc within an automotive vehicle equipped with a personal (human) belt-type restraint system having an inertia brake. A tether is attachable at one end to an animal harness and at the other end to a section of human restraint system webbing, the latter attachment being achieved by way of a spring biased clamp having friction pads on the inside surfaces of two complemental clamp elements. The clamp elements are closed and secured by means of a buckle or clasp such as a loop/spring bayonet clasp.

Abstract: A tie-down cleat removably secured at the vehicle's license plate area with the same screw used for securing the license plate. The cleat serves as an attachment point for a rope, etc. that is being used to maintain a vehicle's trunk lid or cargo hatch door in a substantially fixed unlatched position with respect to the vehicle when the trunk or cargo area is overfilled or otherwise preventing the lid or door from being latched and in a fully closed position. In another embodiment the cleat is provided with a slot for insertion of a top license plate portion for securing the cleat, with or without attachment also by the license plate screw. The slot can also be sized to receive the top of a vehicle window for securing the cleat at the vehicle window to serve as rope attachment points for securing an item to the vehicle's roof.

Abstract: A data communication system for communicating between a central office and a remote premises comprises a first transceiver, a second transceiver, and control logic. The first transceiver is coupled to a first communication connection extending from the central office to the remote premises and is configured to communicate with a central office transceiver. The second transceiver is coupled to a second communication connection extending from the central office to the remote premises. The control logic resides at the remote premises and is configured to detect an error condition associated with communication between the first transceiver and the transceiver located at the central office.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and method for creating operating systems for Virtual Machines. The apparatus and method perform acts including: cloning a guest operating system (OS) that is supported in a first Virtual Machine in order to create a cloned guest OS, and performing maintenance on the cloned guest OS, wherein the cloned guest OS is booted in a second Virtual Machine before performing maintenance on the cloned guest OS, or wherein maintenance is performed on the cloned guest OS and the cloned guest OS is then booted in the second Virtual Machine.

Abstract: A method of delivering liquid fabric treating compositions to clothing in a clothes dryer is provided which employs a dryer sheet, preferably a substrate such as a sheet of non-woven material, having a liquid fabric treating composition retained in liquid form on or in the substrate. The dryer sheet is introduced into a rotary clothes dryer with laundered, damp clothing and a transfer cycle is initiated wherein little or no heat is applied to the clothing or to the dryer sheet thus allowing an effective amount of the liquid fabric treating composition to be transferred from the dryer sheet into the fabric of the articles of clothing as a result of contact of the composition with the water contained within the clothing. At the conclusion of the transfer cycle, a drying cycle may be initiated to introduce sufficient heat into the dryer so that water may be removed from the clothing.

Abstract: Concrete products and mixes with reinforcing carbon graphite fibers, the carbon fibers being provided in the form of resin coated warped beam fabric, and a method for producing reinforced concrete products, where semi-cured carbon fibers are mixed with concrete and then cured through the hydration step to result in the formation of strengthened concrete products.

Abstract: Concrete and/or cement products and mixes with reinforcing carbon graphite fibers having a length of about 2½ inches to about 3½ inches, and/or nano and/or micron sized carbon fibers, and a method of reinforcing concrete.

Abstract: A fabric softening system comprises a liquid fabric softening composition retained in liquid form within a substrate which is introduced into a rotary clothes dryer with laundered, wet clothing, wherein the softening composition is released into the fabric of the wet articles of clothing to impart softness.

Abstract: A connector for use in joining adjacent support sections of a cable support assembly. The support section includes a wall having connector mounting apertures therein. The connector includes a main body and a plurality of fasteners extending from a fastener mounting surface of the main body. Each fastener includes a shank and a generally resiliently deformable head portion in the region of the free end of the shank. The head portion is deformable so that it can pass through a respective one of the mounting apertures of one of the support sections and subsequently adopt a configuration where, when the connector is in a fitted position retraction of the fastener head through the mounting aperture in the support section is inhibited.

Abstract: Assembly of the combustor dome in a gas turbine engine is facilitated by providing a self-fixturing configuration. The combustor dome assembly is made up of a dome plate having a plurality of swirler assemblies mounted therein. Each swirler assembly is provided with a locating pin that extends between the dome plate and the swirler assembly for positioning the swirler assembly with respect to the dome plate without the use of fixturing tools. Preferably, the swirler assembly includes a swirl cup and an outlet sleeve mounted in the dome plate. The locating pin is pressed into a hole formed in the swirl cup. One end of the pin is received in a slot formed in the dome plate, and the other end of the pin is received in a slot formed in the outlet sleeve. Thus, the locating pin sets the circumferential orientation of the swirler assembly in relation to the dome plate.

Abstract: A co-aptive surgical instrument has a pair of opposite facing co-aptive surfaces for grasping tissue. The co-aptive surfaces are formed with a matrix layer which is preferably of a metal such as nickel with a plurality of hard crystalline particles which are preferably a diamond grit which is captured in the matrix. To insure sufficient capture of the particles in the matrix so as to avoid loss of particles while at the same time providing the maximum possible protrusion of the particles and maximum coverage of the surface by such particles, the particles are oriented in juxtaposition to evenly cover the surface and the matrix is made to have a depth which is at least fifty percent of the average diameter of the particles.

Abstract: An earth boring apparatus for driving a boring tool, the tool having a head for penetrating the earth and a longitudinally extending rotary drive shaft (15) for advancing the head. A carriage (18) is mounted to support frame (10) for advancing movement so as to advance and retract the drive shaft (15) and head. A drive shaft extension can be fitted between the carriage (18) and the drive shaft (15) thereby extending the effective length of the drive shaft (15). The apparatus includes a shaft engaging member (40) associated with the frame (10) and selectively operative to engage the shaft (15) having the head thereon and to inhibit rotation thereof thereby enabling the carriage (18) to be retracted and the drive shaft extension to be fitted between the carriage (18) and the shaft (15).

Abstract: A gyroscope mounting structure for use in a spacecraft attitude control system has ten control moment gyroscopes. The structure has a truss for supporting the gyroscopes. The truss has an axis of symmetry. Five front gyroscopes are axially spaced from five rear gyroscopes along the axis of symmetry. The front gyroscopes and the rear gyroscopes are peripherally spaced about the axis of symmetry at equal angular spacings. Each gyroscope has a gimbal axis which is disposed at substantially the same acute angle to the axis of symmetry. Each gimbal axis is disposed parallel to an adjacent reference line which passes through a common intersection point on the axis of symmetry. The truss has a front frame, a rear frame and chords connecting the frames. The truss has five front struts interspaced between the five front gyroscopes for support thereof. The truss also has five rear struts interspaced between the five rear gyroscopes for support thereof.