Abstract: A take down front pin and take down rear pin designed to simplify the process whereby an upper receiver is engaged with and disengaged from a lower receiver of a firearm. Each of the take down front and rear pins comprises a body having attached to a proximal end thereof a positioning member, wherein, when the pins are properly positioned to engage the upper receiver to the lower receiver, the positioning member protrudes from a main frame of the lower receiver. Furthermore, in addition to the positioning of the positioning member on the firearm such that it protrudes from the lower receiver, thereby making the respective pin easily accessible, the positioning member is also configured to facilitate the manual sliding of the pin to, within, from, and without engaging elements located on the upper and lower receiver of the firearm.

Abstract: A muzzle attachment system for a firearm includes a muzzle attachment having a first engagement means, and a muzzle distal portion including a second engagement means, the second engagement means being complementary with the first engagement means. The first and second engagement means cooperate to releasably secure the muzzle attachment to the muzzle distal portion. The first and second engagement means preferably include complementary coarse threaded engagement portions, an annular grooved surface having a plurality of grooves, a grooved surface engagement mechanism, and first and second position stops that abut to form a gas seal. The muzzle distal portion is preferably a flash suppressor, including at least two elongated ports substantially equally skewed from normal relative to a firing axis of the firearm, and substantially evenly distributed around the circumference of the flash suppressor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network accessible tool that is capable of providing map and satellite image data, as well as other photographic image data to locate, identify, measure, view, and communicate information about land over the Internet-to-Internet users. The network accessible tool includes a location tool that allows the user to locate areas on a map using geographic names, township, range and section descriptions, county names, latitude and longitude coordinates or zip codes. Network accessible tool also includes a metes and bounds tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data in response to metes and bounds descriptions that have been entered by the Internet user. The network accessible tool also includes a lat/long drawing tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data based upon latitude and longitude coordinate pairs that have been entered by the Internet user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network accessible tool that is capable of providing map and satellite image data, as well as other photographic image data to locate, identify, measure, view, and communicate information about land over the Internet-to-Internet users. The network accessible tool includes a location tool that allows the user to locate areas on a map using geographic names, township, range and section descriptions, county names, latitude and longitude coordinates or zip codes. Network accessible tool also includes a metes and bounds tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data in response to metes and bounds descriptions that have been entered by the Internet user. The network accessible tool also includes a lat/long drawing tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data based upon latitude and longitude coordinate pairs that have been entered by the Internet user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network accessible tool that is capable of providing map and satellite image data, as well as other photographic image data to locate, identify, measure, view, and communicate information about land over the Internet-to-Internet users. The network accessible tool includes a location tool that allows the user to locate areas on a map using geographic names, township, range and section descriptions, county names, latitude and longitude coordinates or zip codes. Network accessible tool also includes a metes and bounds tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data in response to metes and bounds descriptions that have been entered by the Internet user. The network accessible tool also includes a lat/long drawing tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data based upon latitude and longitude coordinate pairs that have been entered by the Internet user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network accessible tool that is capable of providing map and satellite image data, as well as other photographic image data to locate, identify, measure, view, and communicate information about land over the Internet-to-Internet users. The network accessible tool includes a location tool that allows the user to locate areas on a map using geographic names, township, range and section descriptions, county names, latitude and longitude coordinates or zip codes. Network accessible tool also includes a metes and bounds tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data in response to metes and bounds descriptions that have been entered by the Internet user. The network accessible tool also includes a lat/long drawing tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data based upon latitude and longitude coordinate pairs that have been entered by the Internet user.

Abstract: A reflective surface behind an image to be scanned on an optical image scanner, copier, facsimile machine or similar device. Preferably, the reflective surface has a reflectance less than 90% with a preferred reflectance range of 60% to 75%. This reflective surface is substantially integral with the scanner, copier or facsimile lid surface and substantially reduces image bleed-through while resulting in an acceptable level of color shift and an acceptable loss of dynamic range relative to a white surface. In a second embodiment, the reflective surface is interchangeable by the end user in order to optimize the reflectance of the reflective surface for any given document to be scanned, copied, or faxed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network accessible tool that is capable of providing map and satellite image data, as well as other photographic image data to locate, identify, measure, view, and communicate information about land over the Internet-to-Internet users. The network accessible tool includes a location tool that allows the user to locate areas on a map using geographic names, township, range and section descriptions, county names, latitude and longitude coordinates or zip codes. Network accessible tool also includes a metes and bounds tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data in response to metes and bounds descriptions that have been entered by the Internet user. The network accessible tool also includes a lat/long drawing tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data based upon latitude and longitude coordinate pairs that have been entered by the Internet user.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for assisting a manager of a sporting event or sporting facility in scheduling and managing the event or facility. The invention aids in scheduling league or tournament play and creates a website for helping registration, disseminating league or facility schedules or other information, keeping track of ongoing statistics, and adjusting schedules after the season or tournament starts.

Abstract: A method for removing artifacts from a bitmap of image data produced by scanning a halftone image may comprise the steps of: (a) calculating a weighted average intensity value for a target pixel based on a weight factor for the target pixel and on weight factors for neighboring pixels in the bitmap of image data; (b) repeating step (a) for each pixel in the bitmap of image data; and (c) replacing the intensity value of each pixel in the bitmap of image data with the weighted average intensity value for each such pixel.

Abstract: A method for removing artifacts from a bitmap of image data produced by scanning a halftone image may comprise the steps of: (a) calculating a weighted average intensity value for a target pixel based on a weight factor for the target pixel and on weight factors for neighboring pixels in the bitmap of image data; (b) repeating step (a) for each pixel in the bitmap of image data; and (c) replacing the intensity value of each pixel in the bitmap of image data with the weighted average intensity value for each such pixel.

Abstract: A system and method for finding areas of similar color in electronically captured spot color images and replacing the similar colors with a single dominant color. An original image is first prescanned at low resolution to generate an electronic image. Using information from the prescan step, the system classifies colors in the generated image using a three dimensional histogram. A pallet of dominant colors is identified based on the histogram classification. Each line of the original image is then scanned at a second resolution, the second resolution being substantially higher than the first resolution. The scanned lines are then processed to determine where within each line different colors exist. The locations of the different colors are noted using a break out box comprising a set of rules to evaluate each pixel.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for operating a fluidized bed chemical processing unit of the type having steam generating coils, so as to reduce the occurrence of thermally-induced stresses in the coils and thereby extend the useful life of the coils.The invention involves causing the tube wall temperature of a coil being brought into service to be lowered from bed temperature prior to initiating water flow in the coil, so as to decrease the thermal shock temperature gradient and thereby reduce the magnitude of thermally-induced stress in the coil.The invention utilizes a base coil in addition to the steam generating coil that is being cycled, and a pair of steam drums which operate at a pressure differential. The method involves generating saturated steam in the base coil and superheating the saturated steam in the coil being brought on line. Steam is directed from one drum to the other in a predetermined manner so as to provide proper temperature control of the coil being cycled.

Abstract: A single bullet tool for casting, shearing and molding bullet balls, comprising a mold for forming lead sticks, means for shearing off a lead slug from such stick, and means for forming a cold formed bullet ball of such slug and for removing the sprue excess formed around the bullet and for sizing the bullet to the desired diameter.

Abstract: Steam carrying fatty acids is contacted in a barometric condenser with a cooling medium comprising a fatty acid having between six and eighteen carbon atoms to produce a liquid organic phase containing the fatty acids which were entrained in the steam, and an aqueous phase, such phases being readily separated by decantation. After separation of the phases, a portion of the organic phase is used for the cooling medium.