Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and computer systems for an electronic transaction platform that enables the buying and/or selling of securities by users. The methods and systems relate to controlling communication of information during an electronic communication session for trading a financial instrument between an initiating user and one or more invitee users with the assistance of a dealer user or other intermediate entity. When a dealer with whom the initiating user has a relationship does not have a relationship with invitee users that may desire to trade for the security, a second dealer can be included in the electronic communication session, where the second dealer has a relationship with such invitee users. Various levels of participation are available for each user and correspond to what information each user is provided during the electronic communication session.

Abstract: A light bulb changing device with expandable fingers is extendable to allow a person to install and remove light bulbs from an elevated ceiling without need for climbing a ladder. The device includes a tube, with the fingers attached thereto. A horn is slidably disposed on the top, movement of the horn adjusts the movement of the fingers. A compression spring and pulley housing with pulleys therein actuate movement of a tension member allowing for opening of the fingers and closing the fingers around a light bulb with limited torque to avoid breaking the light bulb.

Abstract: A light bulb changing device with expandable fingers which can grasp all light bulbs within a size range between 1 inch and 6 inches diameter and all shapes of light bulbs including incandescent, compact fluorescent and LED having a screw thread base. The disclosed device is extendable to allow a person to install and remove light bulbs from an elevated ceiling without need for climbing a ladder. The device provides for a user to controllably expand the fingers to insert or remove a bulb at both the proximal (bottom)and distal (Ceiling) ends of the device so that a user can reach up to the ceiling, open the fingers to grasp the bulb using the proximal actuation, remove it, bring it down to reachable level, remove the used bulb using the distal actuation, insert a new bulb using the distal actuation, elevate the bulb to the ceiling screw it into the socket and using the proximal actuation open the fingers to complete the job.

Abstract: An ambient, beautiful, entertaining visual experience that can be displayed on a TV requiring little or no user interaction beyond initiation. Multiple image layers that may be still or moving video, photos, etc, or a combination thereof can be overlaid on each other.

Abstract: A tow bar includes a towing hitch member including a pintle hitch and secured to a towing vehicle; a towed hitch member secured to a vehicle to the towed; a head member with a lunette ring; a pair of tow bar legs, each including a proximal end including an outer member with a distal end, and a distal end including an inner member with a proximal end telescopingly displaceable within the distal end of the outer member; a leg connector mechanism pivotally connecting the proximal ends of the tow bar legs to the head member; towed connector elements secured to the distal ends of the tow bar legs and structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to the towed hitch member; and a locking mechanism structured to automatically and releasably lock each of the tow bar legs in either a stored configuration or a deployed configuration.

Abstract: A tow bar having telescoping tow bar legs connected to a head member which is structured to be releasably securable to a towing hitch member of a towing vehicle; aft leg connector mechanisms structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to a towed vehicle; and a latching mechanism, including latching portions structured to releasably retain the tow bar legs in a stored configuration, and locking portions structured to releasable lock the tow bar legs in a deployed configuration.

Abstract: A circuit producing a wake-up signal with a frequency selective RF amplifier that produces an amplified RF output. An RF detector detects the RF output and produces a signal W indicative of the the RF output signal's presence. A threshold detector determines if the amplified output signal has reached a predetermined threshold and produces an output T. A clock signal is generated in response to the threshold detector output signal T. A data decoder logic circuit turns off the clock in the absence of an RF output signal for a time period and decodes the RF detector output W into a stream of output signals. A serial comparator compares a most recent stream of N output data from the data decoder logic with a stored reference to generate a wake-up signal that enables power to an electronic system. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A tow bar having orthogonally-articulated towed-vehicle connectors includes a body element; a first connector element secured to and extending forwardly from the body element, the first connector element being structured to releasably connect the body element to a towing hitch arrangement of a towing vehicle; at least one tow bar leg having a fore end connected to the body element, and an aft end extending rearwardly from the body element; and a second connector element secured to and extending rearwardly from the aft end of the at least one tow bar leg, the second connector element being orthogonally-articulated and structured to releasably connect the aft end of the at least one tow bar leg to a towing hitch arrangement of the towed vehicle.

Abstract: A tensioning device for connecting a trailer to a spring bar of a load-compensating apparatus includes a body unit for securement to a frame member of a trailer; a reel unit having an off-center hub portion with a slot and rotatively secured to the body unit about a pivot axis; a rotation-limiting element which limits rotation of the reel unit to approximately 180° about the pivot axis; a linked chain having a proximal end thereof releasably secured to the slot of the off-center hub portion and a distal end thereof connected to the spring bar of the load-compensating apparatus; a latching element including a biased latch pin; and a lug and removable handle for rotating the reel portion to, and the latching element releasably locks the reel portion in, a chain-tensioned configuration.

Abstract: A tow bar including a pintle hitch, telescoping tow bar legs pivotally connected to a head member, a lunette ring fixedly or pivotally connected to the head member, leg connector mechanisms releasably connecting the tow bar legs to a vehicle to be towed, and a latching mechanism including latching portions structured to releasably retain the tow bar legs in a stored configuration and locking portions with cammed release mechanisms wherein the locking portions are structured to releasable lock the tow bar legs in a deployed configuration.

Abstract: A tow bar includes a towing hitch member including a pintle hitch and secured to a towing vehicle; a towed hitch member secured to a vehicle to the towed; a head member with a lunette ring; a pair of tow bar legs, each including a proximal end including an outer member with a distal end, and a distal end including an inner member with a proximal end telescopingly displaceable within the distal end of the outer member; a leg connector mechanism pivotally connecting the proximal ends of the tow bar legs to the head member; towed connector elements secured to the distal ends of the tow bar legs and structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to the towed hitch member; and a locking mechanism structured to automatically and releasably lock each of the tow bar legs in either a stored configuration or a deployed configuration.

Abstract: A circuit for producing a wake-up signal to control powering up an electronic system, has a frequency selective radio frequency (RF) amplifier circuit that amplifies signals within a predetermined frequency range and produces an amplified RF output signal. An RF detector detects the presence of amplified RF output at the output of the amplifier circuit and produces a signal W indicative of the instantaneous presence of the RF output signal. A threshold detector circuit determines if the amplified output signal has reached a predetermined threshold and produces an output signal T. A clock generates a clock signal having clock period in response to the threshold detector output signal T. A data decoder logic circuit turns off the clock in the absence of an RF output signal for a prescribed time period and decodes the RF detector output signal W into a stream of output signals.

Abstract: An ambient, beautiful, entertaining visual experience that can be displayed on a TV requiring little or no user interaction beyond initiation. Multiple image layers that may be still or moving video, photos, etc, or a combination thereof can be overlaid on each other.

Abstract: An application program is stored in a peripheral device memory, and then transferred to a host device upon being connected using a plug-and-play communication protocol. The application program is executed by the host device to provide peripheral device functionality using an on-screen display of the host device. This peripheral device functionality may include control of the peripheral device, accessing media content stored on or by the connected peripheral device, and accessing security features available to the peripheral device. In this fashion, the host device, despite being a closed system, may be used as a single integrated interface for controlling or accessing any connected peripheral device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an engineered multidomain protein including at least two nonidentical engineered domains, each of which contains a protein-protein interaction interface containing amino acid sequence segments derived from two or more existing homologous parent domains, thereby conferring on the engineered domains assembly specificities distinct from assembly specificities of the parent domains. In particular, the engineered domains form heterodimers with one another preferentially over forming homodimers. Methods of designing and using the engineered proteins are also included.

Abstract: A tensioning device for connecting a trailer to a spring bar of a load-compensating apparatus includes a body unit for securement to a frame member of a trailer; a reel unit having an off-center hub portion with a slot and rotatively secured to the body unit about a pivot axis; a rotation-limiting element which limits rotation of the reel unit to approximately 180° about the pivot axis; a linked chain having a proximal end thereof releasably secured to the slot of the off-center hub portion and a distal end thereof connected to the spring bar of the load-compensating apparatus; a latching element including a biased latch pin; and a lug and removable handle for rotating the reel portion to, and the latching element releasably locks the reel portion in, a chain-tensioned configuration.