Abstract: A guard bar apparatus is configured to protect the legs of ATV riders, and provide a secure mounting location for shock absorbing tunable footpegs. The guard bar assembly provides for a pivot point for allowing rapid turns around fixed objects. The footpeg apparatus is configured with a cradle having a receiving cavity within which one or more elastomeric balls may be positioned to function as shock absorbers. A foot contact component is pivotally mounted to provide a foot engagable surface and an oppositely disposed biasing surface which pivotally moves against the balls within the receiving cavity to achieve a shock absorbing function. A travel limiting feature limits the travel of the foot contact component and may be utilized to preload the receiver cavity containing balls into compression.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for determining the end of life condition for a replaceable unit, which may be associated with a multifunction device, and have a useful life expectancy based upon a number of operations. A counter associated with the multifunction device maintains a running count of operations for the unit. Once the number of performed operations of the replaceable unit reaches a given percentage of the expected life of that unit, an analysis is performed on a running history of the fault codes. Once the number of fault codes attributable to any given replaceable unit meets or exceeds a predetermined level, such as a percentage of the running history, a notification is generated indicating a need to replace the replaceable unit.

Abstract: A guard bar apparatus is configured to protect the legs of ATV riders, and provide a secure mounting location for shock absorbing tunable footpegs. The guard bar assembly provides for a pivot point for allowing rapid turns around fixed objects. The footpeg apparatus is configured with a cradle having a receiving cavity within which one or more elastomeric balls may be positioned to function as shock absorbers. A foot contact component is pivotally mounted to provide a foot engagable surface and an oppositely disposed biasing surface which pivotally moves against the balls within the receiving cavity to achieve a shock absorbing function. A travel limiting feature limits the travel of the foot contact component and may be utilized to preload the receiver cavity containing balls into compression.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an immunoassay comprises determining the position of the flow edge of fluid across an immunoassay region. This allows, for example, early detection of possible errors in the test. For example the speed of the movement of the fluid flow edge may be determined from measurements of the position of the fluid flow edge at times throughout the test, and the determined speed may be compared with one or more thresholds to determine whether the test is proceeding correctly. A further method of monitoring an immunoassay comprising monitoring the variation with time of a reference zone of an immunoassay region. This can provide the user with early information as to whether the test is proceeding correctly. The above methods may also be used to provide methods to improve the run conditions of a test during its development. The method may be applied to a competitive assay.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the caster of the steering wheels of an all terrain vehicle. An eccentric threaded stud support is adjustively rotatable to position the eccentrically retained stud at a plurality of caster angle defining orientations extending from zero caster negatively or positively. Perceptible indicia identifies each caster incremental location.

Abstract: A printer includes at least one replaceable module which is removable from the printer. A processor discontinues an operation of the printer when the processor determines that an end of life value for the replaceable module is reached unless an appropriate identifier is input which allows the operation of the printer to continue beyond the end of life value. The identifier may be provided by a supplier at the end of life point, provided that an order for a replacement module is received.

Abstract: The front wheel suspension assemblies of an ATV are configured with translation assemblies aligned along a translation axis generally parallel with the vehicle axis. These translation mechanisms are engaged by pivotal follower assemblies attached to a ball joint which are moveable along the translation axis either by the pivoting action of the suspension control arms or by a motor driven system.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring leakage within a building. Remote sensors are placed at locations that are likely to have leaks occurring. If a leak is detected by one of the remote sensors, a signal is sent to a control for a main shut-off valve. The main shut-off valve is placed on the main water supply line leading into the building. Further, a flow meter is placed on the main water supply line. The flow meter monitors water being delivered into the building, and should an abnormal water flow be detected, the control will close the shut-off valve. The flow meter and control may learn normal water usage patterns for the building, or the patterns may be pre-programmed into the system. A manual override allows the control to be bypassed when it is intended for a large volume of water to be moved into the building, such as when a swimming pool is filled, etc.

Abstract: A printer includes at least one replaceable module which is removable from the printer. A processor discontinues an operation of the printer when the processor determines that an end of life value for the replaceable module is reached unless an appropriate identifier is input which allows the operation of the printer to continue beyond the end of life value. The identifier may be provided by a supplier at the end of life point, provided that an order for a replacement module is received.

Abstract: A measurement device provides coordinates for a specified location and position on the exterior surface of a vessel, including a base adapted to contact the exterior surface of the vessel; a rail extending upwardly from the base, the rail including a measurement scale; a head slidably supported by the rail; the head including a clamping mechanism used to releasably secure the head to the rail; and a laser carried by the head for projecting an image on the exterior surface of the vessel. The device quickly measures both the radial position and the angular position of an indicated location relative to the axis of the nozzle, and the skew of a transducer probe which provided the indicated location.

Abstract: Consistent with embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods are disclosed for providing service level agreement management. The method may include collecting performance data on a data network and collecting service information including at least one rule. The rule may include a service level agreement rule and a contract rule. The method may further include correlating the performance data and the service information and determining a violation of the at least one rule by the data network based on the collected performance data and the at least one rule. The method may further include collecting billing charges or monthly recurring charges corresponding to a service. The method may further include determining the penalties or charges to be given to a service and to a customer according to at least one rule in the event of a violation of the at least one service level agreement rule and a contract rule.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an circuit card includes an electronic circuit substrate, a ground plane on the electronic circuit substrate, first and second differential signal pads on the electronic circuit substrate, a ground return signal pad associated with the first and second differential signal pads, the ground return signal pad being connected to the ground plane on the electronic substrate, and a cutout structure on the ground plane positioned near a location where the ground return signal pad connects to the ground plane, wherein the cutout structure is configured to direct a ground return path associated with the first and second differential signal pads to the ground return signal pad associated with the first and second differential signal pads. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A device and a method for controlling resin bleed, the device comprising a substrate having a surface, wherein an interior region, a peripheral region, and an exterior region of the surface are generally defined. An adhesive generally resides on the surface of the substrate in the peripheral region thereof, wherein the adhesive comprises a plurality of components, such as a metal and a resin. A first barrier is formed on the surface of the substrate generally between the adhesive and the exterior region, wherein the first barrier generally prevents one or more of the plurality of components of the adhesive from bleeding onto the exterior region of the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the caster of the steering wheels of an all terrain vehicle. An eccentric threaded stud support is adjustively rotatable to position the eccentrically retained stud at a plurality of caster angle defining orientations extending from zero caster negatively or positively. Perceptible indicia identifies each caster incremental location.

Abstract: Stabilization of a moving ribbon of brittle material is provided by non-degrading contact in a quality area of the ribbon or degrading contact in a non-quality area of the ribbon. The non-degrading contact can include a removable coating applied to the quality area, thereby protecting the underlying ribbon. The non-degrading contact can be provided by resilient brushes or rollers. The degrading contact can include the application of a stiffener to the ribbon or the intermittent contact with ribbon coinciding with a downstream score line formation or crack propagation.

Abstract: A vertebral cage is provided for use in preserving the space between adjacent vertebral during the process of spinal fusion. In particular, this cage has an open modified oval peripheral shape with a continuous fluid anterior wall having angled screw passages accessible through co-planar openings to allow the construct to be stabilized between adjacent vertebral bodies through their endwalls. In addition, the cage has a back to front wedge taper with pull-out resistant ratchet surfaces. Further, in a second aspect of the invention, the screw passages have a unique locking mechanism provided by oversized internal threads in combination with a second locking thread on the head of the associated bone screws that allows for axial translation of the screws within the screw passages. This in turn permits play in the angulation of the screw relative to the anchoring bone in order to optimize the screw placement in the bone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for capacity planning by function. The method comprises: periodically collecting metrics for a plurality of components in a dynamic system; periodically determining dynamic system membership for a function provided by the dynamic system; providing at least one summation formula; and determining system wide metrics by function using the component metrics, the dynamic system membership for the function, and the at least one summation formula.

Abstract: A measurement device provides coordinates for a specified location and position on the exterior surface of a vessel, including a base adapted to contact the exterior surface of the vessel; a rail extending upwardly from the base, the rail including a measurement scale; a head slidably supported by the rail; the head including a clamping mechanism used to releasably secure the head to the rail; and a laser carried by the head for projecting an image on the exterior surface of the vessel. The device quickly measures both the radial position and the angular position of an indicated location relative to the axis of the nozzle, and the skew of a transducer probe which provided the indicated location.

Abstract: A noncontact glass sheet stabilization device is described herein that is capable of reducing translation (deflection) and/or rotational movement of a glass sheet while the glass sheet is being manufactured in a glass manufacturing system that implements a fusion process. Several different embodiments of the noncontact glass sheet stabilization device are also described herein.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the trimming and grinding of disks to make lens blanks and/or lenses for lithographic stepper camera optical systems, and in particular to disks made of calcium fluoride (CaF2), metal fluorides of general formula MF2 where M is calcium, magnesium, barium and strontium, and other materials suitable for use in optical systems