Abstract: Methods for producing a conductive element precursor and a conductive element, such as a tape or wire, are provided. The methods comprise growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes on a metallic substrate and coating carbon nanotubes of the plurality of carbon nanotubes on the metallic substrate with a metallic material.

Abstract: Methods for producing a conductive element precursor and a conductive element, such as a tape or wire, are provided. The methods comprise growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes on a metallic substrate and coating carbon nanotubes of the plurality of carbon nanotubes on the metallic substrate with a metallic material.

Abstract: Methods for producing a conductive element precursor and a conductive element, such as a tape or wire, are provided. The methods comprise growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes on a metallic substrate and coating carbon nanotubes of the plurality of carbon nanotubes on the metallic substrate with a metallic material.

Abstract: Methods for producing a conductive element precursor and a conductive element, such as a tape or wire, are provided. The methods comprise growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes on a metallic substrate and coating carbon nanotubes of the plurality of carbon nanotubes on the metallic substrate with a metallic material.

Abstract: An appliance for delivering agent. The agent-delivery appliance includes an agent-releasing mechanism, an air-moving device that generates a flow of air moving from upstream to downstream, and at least one filter. The agent-releasing mechanism includes a chamber configured to release agent into the flow of air generated by the air-moving device. The chamber includes multiple openings, one of which is configured to provide air loaded with agent from the chamber to a first location within the flow of air generated by the air-moving device. At least one filter is located upstream from the first location within the flow of air generated by the air-moving device.

Abstract: A method, for handling partially inconsistent states among members of a cluster in an erratic storage network that responds to requests from a client, includes assigning a unique commit identifier corresponding to each successive modification of state of the cluster when an update request has been successfully completed and correlating an incoming request to a given member of the cluster with any commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request. The method further includes detecting, on the incoming request to the given member of the cluster, whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member, and processing the incoming request based on whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member. Operation of the members can be asynchronous.

Abstract: An appliance for delivering agent. The agent-delivery appliance includes an agent-releasing mechanism, an air-moving device that generates a flow of air moving from upstream to downstream, and at least one filter. The agent-releasing mechanism includes a chamber configured to release agent into the flow of air generated by the air-moving device. The chamber includes multiple openings, one of which is configured to provide air loaded with agent from the chamber to a first location within the flow of air generated by the air-moving device. At least one filter is located upstream from the first location within the flow of air generated by the air-moving device.

Abstract: A method, for handling partially inconsistent states among members of a cluster in an erratic storage network that responds to requests from a client, includes assigning a unique commit identifier corresponding to each successive modification of state of the cluster when an update request has been successfully completed and correlating an incoming request to a given member of the cluster with any commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request. The method further includes detecting, on the incoming request to the given member of the cluster, whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member, and processing the incoming request based on whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member. Operation of the members can be asynchronous.

Abstract: A scent-releasing mechanism that is usable with an existing air moving device. The scent-releasing mechanism includes a chamber configured to enclose a scent source such as a scent cartridge, scent pad or the like, an air inlet, and an air outlet to release scent into a stream of air moved by the air moving device, so that the scent is dispersed throughout the room. At least one of the air inlet or air outlet is an adjustable port. The adjustable port may be adjusted to control the amount of scent released through the air outlet.

Abstract: A method, for handling partially inconsistent states among members of a cluster in an erratic storage network that responds to requests from a client, includes assigning a unique commit identifier corresponding to each successive modification of state of the cluster when an update request has been successfully completed and correlating an incoming request to a given member of the cluster with any commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request. The method further includes detecting, on the incoming request to the given member of the cluster, whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member, and processing the incoming request based on whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member. Operation of the members can be asynchronous.

Abstract: A scent-releasing mechanism that is usable with an existing air moving device. The scent-releasing mechanism includes a chamber configured to enclose a scent source such as a scent cartridge, scent pad or the like, an air inlet, and an air outlet to release scent into a stream of air moved by the air moving device, so that the scent is dispersed throughout the room. At least one of the air inlet or air outlet is an adjustable port. The adjustable port may be adjusted to control the amount of scent released through the air outlet.

Abstract: A dehumidifier has a main body and a water collection container that is removably and fluidly coupled to the main body. The main body includes a dehumidifier device to dehumidify air surrounding or fed into the dehumidifier. The water collection container couples to the main body to receive water output by the dehumidifier device. The main body and the water collection container are configured so that the water collection container is disposed closer to a top of the dehumidifier than to a bottom of the dehumidifier. The water collection container preferably has a handle in which the handle is closer to the top of the dehumidifier than to the bottom of the dehumidifier.

Abstract: A cable tie includes a locking head and an attached strap, the locking head being adapted to receive and engage the strap when the tie is formed into a closed loop. The cable tie additionally includes a fir-tree fastener connected to the locking head by an elongated standoff that includes a stem and an enlarged member which separates the stem into first and second sections. In use, a plurality of wires bundled together by the tie can be secured to an automotive valve cover by inserting the fastener and the first section of the stem through a corresponding bore formed in the valve cover. With tie inserted as such, the second section of the stem serves to space the bundled wires away from the valve cover, with the first section of the stem and the enlarged member together serving to stabilize the tie within the bore of the valve cover.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and device for assisting users in assessing individual health, deriving intervention programs and making health related decisions. A health assessment-intervention component collects and screens diagnostic and demographic data from clients and assists in forming health-care related decisions, action plans and treatment plans. The system can collect and maintain health-related data from third parties such as physicians, researchers, universities and the like, and can provide user accessible personal health records and health decision assistance. The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a system, a device, a method, or a computer readable medium implemented as a smart drive device and/or keychain-type memory device, for example.

Abstract: A one-piece cable tie includes a locking head and an attached strap, the locking head being adapted to receive and selectively engage a portion of the strap when the tie is formed into a closed loop. The cable tie additionally includes a fastener formed onto the locking head that is designed for connection with the electrical connector for an oxygen sensor for an automotive emissions control system. The fastener includes a flattened platform that is spaced away from the top surface of the locking head by an inverted T-shaped standoff, the flattened platform being sized and shaped to be slidably disposed within a corresponding slot formed in the electrical connector. A ratchet-shaped projection is formed onto the flat top surface of the platform that serves to retain the platform in place within the slot in the electrical connector.

Abstract: A one-piece cable tie includes a locking head and an attached strap, the locking head being adapted to receive and selectively engage a portion of the strap when the tie is formed into a closed loop. The cable tie additionally includes a fir-tree fastener formed onto the locking head, the fastener being sized and shaped to be fittingly inserted through a quarter-inch circular opening in a panel. The fastener includes a stem and a plurality of flutes formed onto the stem in such a manner so as not to interfere with one another when the fastener is being fittingly inserted through the opening in the panel. Because the fastener does not experience flute interference when inserted through a panel opening, the fastener is characterized as having a relatively low insertion force (i.e., the force required to insert the fastener into the panel opening) while maintaining a relatively high extraction force (i.e., the force required to withdraw the fastener from the panel opening).

Abstract: A cable tie installation tool for forming a cable tie into a closed loop around a plurality of objects includes a housing which is adapted to receive an individually loaded cable tie. A transport assembly driven by a first motor advances the tail of the cable tie around the objects to be bundled. A jaw assembly driven by a second motor guides the tail through the head to form the cable tie into a closed loop around the desired bundle. A cinch assembly driven by the first motor further advances the tail through the head so as to reduce the size of the closed loop around the desired bundle. A control circuit electrically monitors the tension level of the closed loop around the bundle by measuring the current draw of the first motor. The control circuit limits the tension of the closed loop around the bundle to a user adjustable, desired tension level.

Abstract: An animal waste collection and disposal device, adapted for use with disposable bags with handles, includes an elongated handle portion and a shovel portion adjustably attached thereto. The shovel portion includes an elongated, open-ended chute portion, a sifting portion extending at an acute angle from the chute and having a plurality of openings for removal of kennel gravel and dirt, and a lifting edge, which preferably includes a plurality of teeth for aiding in lifting the waste out of grass or other uneven terrain, which may extend at a second acute angle from the sifting portion. A pair of sidewalls extend along the longitudinal edges of the shovel portion, thereby preventing the animal waste from falling off of the shovel. The shovel is attached to the handle using a plurality of brackets and retention sleeves. The sleeves may be tightened about the handle, preferably with set screws.

Abstract: A striker bar assembly including a resiliently biased striker bar. The striker bar is supported by a mounting bracket and resilient biased to permit a limited degree of rotation. The resilient biasing of the striker bar allows the striker bar to deflect when inadvertently struck by a foreign object and, if misalignment has occurred between the striker bar and the latch during mounting, allows the striker bar to deflect self-align and permit engagement.