Abstract: Systems and methods of evaluating buildings that may be physically and/or financially distressed are provided. The disclosed subject matter obtains building condition indicator measurements, applies building condition indicator measurements to a mathematical relationship, and obtains a building score from the mathematical relationship and the building condition indicator measurements.

Abstract: A connector for a steel fence or the like is provided. The connector is formed from a single, cast metallic piece yet can mount one or multiple adjacent rail sections on a post using only a single mount or piece of hardware attaching the connector to the post. It has a vertical throughbore for receiving the post and a horizontal throughbore that intersects with the vertical throughbore at approximately its mid-point. Each end of the horizontal throughbore forms a receptacle for receiving an end of an associated rail section. A grommet is mounted in each receptacle for centering the associated rail section end in the receptacle, locking the rail section from rotation. The grommet also accommodates limited pivoting of the rail section relative to the connector in both the horizontal and vertical planes, hence, accommodating both inclination and directional changes in the fence.

Abstract: A power management system is provided for a software-defined radio. The power management system includes: an antenna; a regulated power supply; a power amplifier; and a digital signal processor. A software-implemented power supply calculator and power supply adjustor are operable within the digital signal processor. The power supply calculator receives an indicator of a type of waveform to be transmitted by the radio and determines the drain voltage for the power amplifier based on the waveform indicator. The power supply adjustor receives forward power and reflected power values from the antenna and computes a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). The power supply adjustor further computes an adjustment for the drain voltage based on the VSWR.

Abstract: A child bath seat, adapted for use with a bathtub, includes a seat body that includes both a seat and a retaining structure extending above the seat for laterally retaining a child seated in the seat body. The seat also includes a bracing structure that holds the seat body in an upright position. The bracing structure has a first end attached to the seat body, and a second end, defining a recess, for receiving an upper edge of a side of the bathtub. The seat also includes a foot structure attached to the bracing structure and capable of being placed in contact with a predominantly horizontal surface outside the bathtub. The child bath seat can be adjustable to accommodate varying bathtub side widths and varying bathtub depths and can be suspended above or a portion of the bath seat can rest on the bottom surface of the bathtub.

Abstract: The Intelligent Multiservice Access System (IMAS) enables support for the next generation of virtual connections. Regardless of whether the communications lines coupled to the inputs and outputs of the IMAS are based on SVC, PVC, or a combination of PVC and SVC, the IMAS can support SVCs for a more flexible, timely, efficient, and manageable connection. In the more typical configuration, the loop side of the IMAS is PVC-based because the modems do not support SVC signaling, and the telecommunications backbone side is capable of supporting SVC signaling even though existing DSLAMs do not employ SVC signaling logic. With SVC support, the IMAS assists the ATM network in hand crafting an SVC-based connection almost immediately between end users when the originating end user wants to make a call to a destination end user, and tear down that virtual connection almost immediately when that call has completed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems, assemblies and methods for packaging hearing devices to protect them during shipping and storage. Many embodiments provide packaging systems that allow metal-air battery powered hearing aids to be stored for several months or longer with a live battery and then ready for use upon opening of the packaging. One embodiment provides a packaging system for a hearing aid comprising a packaging container and a hearing aid disposed in the container. The container comprises an air-impermeable material and has a removal cap that forms an air-impermeable seal with the container. The hearing aid can be positioned on a compliant support coupled to the interior surface of the cap. The support and container protect the hearing aid from shock and vibration as well as reducing the application of force to sensitive components. The container can also include one or more structures for ESD protection.

Abstract: The inventive pet shelter described herein overcomes these drawbacks. The pet shelter has a non-deformable steel cage defining a space therein suitable for the enclosure of a pet and deformable pieces removably attachable to the perimeter of the steel cage. The steel cage has a top shelter section and a side shelter section formed by a guide following door, wherein the guide following door can be recessed into the pet shelter and underneath and adjacent to the top shelter section. The deformable pieces are oriented on corners and edges of the steel cage.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide seals for retaining hearing devices in the ear canal. An embodiment provides a seal for a hearing device comprising a curved shell having a wall and an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. The shell wall has a shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall dynamically conforms to changes in the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The shell can include an anti-microbial coating to produce a reduction in bacteria contacting the coating. Also, the shell wall can have a water vapor transmission rate to reduce moisture accumulation in the canal during periods of extended wear to reduce the incidence of infection and otitis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide seals for retaining hearing devices in the ear canal. An embodiment provides a seal for a hearing device comprising a curved shell having a wall and an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell wall defines a cavity for retention of a hearing device component with at least a portion of the shell comprising a resilient material having sound attenuating properties. The shell has a structure such that a force for removal of the seal from the canal is greater than a force for insertion of the seal into the canal. That structure can have an umbrella or cup shape. The structure can be configured to act as a mechanical toggle when acted upon by a laterally applied force to the shell. The structure can also be configured to exert a constant frictional force against the canal wall during insertion into the ear canal.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator for a hydraulically actuated device such as a brake or a clutch comprises a pedal and a pressure vessel that is integral to the pedal and that has an outlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the pressure vessel, and an unpressurized reservoir. At least a portion of the pressure vessel and at least a portion of the pedal are formed integrally with one another from a single component. In addition, at least a portion of the reservoir is formed in a hollow interior portion of the brake pedal at a location that is spaced from the pressure vessel. The actuator may also include a mounting arrangement that receives the pressure vessel and pedal in a manner that permits the actuator to be preassembled as a completed unit before being mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a seal for retaining a hearing device within the ear canal comprising a curved shell having an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. An interior surface of a shell wall has a scalloped shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall conforms to the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The scalloped shape can be configured to produce a substantially constant amount of inward deformation of a shell wall independent of a force application point on a shell perimeter. The shell can include a coating to retain the seal in the canal and/or to promote asparagine growth into the coating to fastenly retain the seal in the canal.

Abstract: An annular mold for curing an annular ring tread is disclosed. The annular mold has a plurality of radially movable and outwardly expandable inner segments for forming the inner surface of the tread and a plurality of radially movable and inwardly contracting outer segments for forming the tread outer surface. The radially outer segments are parallelograms. Each outer segment when in a closed molding position spans across one full radially inner segment and portions of two adjacent inner segments. The radially outer segments have inclined laterally extending edges relative to the axial direction of the mold while the circumferentially extending axially outer edges are perpendicular to the axial direction of the mold. The inclined laterally extending edges are inclined at least 5°, preferably about 10° relative to the axial direction. In the preferred embodiment the mold has 12 outer segments, each segment being of an arc length of about 30°.

Abstract: Precision castings requiring a fine finish and having complex internal geometries can be produced by casting a semi-solid thixotropic metal alloy within or about a melt-away metal component in the form of a core and/or a die insert that has a lower melting point than the solid-to-semi-solid transition temperature of the thixotropic alloy The thixotropic alloy may be cast, e.g., by thixocasting, rheocasting, sub liquidus casting. Then, after the alloy solidifies to form a casting with a captured melt-away component, the component is melted from the casting, preferably using a liquid bath. Process robustness, speed, and versatility can be enhanced by coating the component with a thin, uniform, abrasion-resistant, and thermally resistant coating that prevents excessive heat from being transferred to the component from the alloy and that prevents the component from alloying with the casting.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes a hydraulic accumulator that stores much of the energy generated upon brake pedal depression. The stored energy can be used to maintain the brakes in their fully engaged state and to help return an applied brake pedal to its released position, in which case return fluid flow to the master cylinder is damped to avoid undesirable severe kickback of the brake pedal. A booster is provided to automatically boost the energy storage capacity of the accumulator during normal brake and hold cycles in order to provide sufficient energy accumulation to compensate for relatively severe pressure drops occurring, e.g., during prolonged periods of storage at extremely low temperatures. The booster may comprise an indexing arm that is acted upon by the system's brake pedal to selectively move a variable thickness spacer on the indexing arm into and out of engagement with the accumulator.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system (50) for a vehicle such as a golf car or the like uses the same brakes (52) and same brake pedal (80) for both service braking and park and hold braking. The brakes (52) are selectively engaged, locked in their engaged position, and released using an integrated control assembly including a brake pedal (80), an accelerator pedal (82), and a brake pedal locking mechanism (84). The brake pedal locking mechanism (84) is configured to automatically latch the brake pedal (80) in a locked position thereof and to automatically unlatch the brake pedal (80) from its locked position upon either subsequent movement of the brake pedal (80) into an overtravel position or subsequent actuation of the accelerator pedal (82). In addition, a hydraulic accumulator (62) stores part of the energy generated upon brake pedal depression and consequent manual actuation of a master cylinder (60) of the system to maintain the brakes (52) in their fully engaged state when the brake pedal (80) is latched.

Abstract: A child bath seat, adapted for use with a bathtub, includes a seat body that includes both a seat and a retaining structure extending above the seat for laterally retaining a child seated in the seat body. The seat also includes a bracing structure that holds the seat body in an upright position. The bracing structure has a first end attached to the seat body, and a second end, defining a recess, for receiving an upper edge of a side of the bathtub. The seat also includes a foot structure attached to the bracing structure and capable of being placed in contact with a predominantly horizontal surface outside the bathtub. The child bath seat can be adjustable to accommodate varying bathtub side widths and varying bathtub depths and can be suspended above or a portion of the bath seat can rest on the bottom surface of the bathtub.

Abstract: A hand held device (1) for recording scores of a golf game played by one or more players comprises a VDU (3) which selectively displays reference fairways (30) graphically which permits a player to enter the position of the location of a ball after each shot on the VDU (3) by positioning a cursor at a position (41) on the green (31) or the reference fairway (30) displayed on the VDU (3), which substantially corresponds to the position of the ball on the fairway or green being played. The position of the ball after each shot until the ball is holed is entered on the screen through the cursor. A microprocessor (2) reads the position of the cursor and stores a graphical representation of the progress (37) of the ball along the screen to the hole (29). The microprocessor (2) stores the graphical representation of the reference fairway (30) with the positions (41) of the ball entered through the cursor in a RAM (5) and computes the number of shots to the hole (29).

Abstract: A golf car having a frame supported on a plurality of wheels and a bracket member fixedly coupled to the frame. A brake pedal assembly and an accelerator pedal assembly are pivotally coupled to the bracket member such that the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are disposed in a generally suspended position behind the cowling, rather than a floor mounted position. This arrangement maximizes the ergonomic placement of the pedals, and minimizes corrosion due to exposure to moisture and chemicals and damaged caused by contact with brush and debris.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes a hydraulic accumulator that stores much of the energy generated upon brake pedal depression. The stored energy can be used to maintain the brakes in their fully engaged state and to help return an applied brake pedal to its released position, in which case return fluid flow to the master cylinder is damped to avoid undesirable severe kickback of the brake pedal. A booster is provided to automatically boost the energy storage capacity of the accumulator during normal brake and hold cycles in order to provide sufficient energy accumulation to compensate for relatively severe pressure drops occurring, e.g., during prolonged periods of storage at extremely low temperatures. The booster may comprise an indexing arm that is acted upon by the system's brake pedal to selectively move a variable thickness spacer on the indexing arm into and out of engagement with the accumulator.

Abstract: An automated dermatological examination system captures an image including a lesion. The image is divided into lesion and non-lesion areas, and the lesion area is analysed to quantify features for use in diagnosis of the lesion. Features of lesion colour are extracted (step 502) and the shape of the lesion is analysed (step 504). Features of lesion texture and symmetry are derived (step 506) as are measures of categorical symmetry within the lesion (step 508).