Abstract: An air passageway body resides within a tire body and extends between an outward facing tire body surface and the tire cavity, the air passageway body having an enclosed air passageway extending between a hollow body outlet end facing the tire cavity and a hollow inlet end facing outward from the outward facing tire body surface. A tapping device is affixed over one or both of the ends of the air passageway body, the tapping device having an external vent opening and a protrusion member penetrating through a sidewall of the air passageway body to operatively establish an air flow path extending between the air passageway of the air passageway body through the protrusion member and the tapping device vent opening. The air passageway body is installed pre-cure within a green tire carcass build of the tire body and the tapping device(s) are attached post-cure to the air passageway body.

Abstract: An air passageway body resides within a tire body and extends between an outward facing tire body surface and the tire cavity, the air passageway body having an enclosed air passageway extending between a hollow body outlet end facing the tire cavity and a hollow inlet end facing outward from the outward facing tire body surface. A tapping device is affixed over one or both of the ends of the air passageway body, the tapping device having an external vent opening and a protrusion member penetrating through a sidewall of the air passageway body to operatively establish an air flow path extending between the air passageway of the air passageway body through the protrusion member and the tapping device vent opening. The air passageway body is installed pre-cure within a green tire carcass build of the tire body and the tapping device(s) are attached post-cure to the air passageway body.

Abstract: A retractable stud pin assembly is described for use in a conventional tire. The stud pin assembly includes a housing having an elastomer compartment and a spring in cooperation with the elastomer. A stud pin is mounted to the spring. The assembly may further optionally include a fluid compartment in cooperation with the elastomer compartment and the spring. The assembly may further include a second compression spring, which cooperates with the first spring and stud pin. An optional adjustment nut may be used to manually raise and lower the pin height as desired. An optional adjustment pin may also be used to extend into an optional fluid compartment to fine tune the pin height.

Abstract: A tire mold is described that includes a plurality of tread molding segments having an inner surface for molding the tire tread. The mold further includes a plurality of sidewall plates having an inner surface for molding the tire sidewall. The tread mold segments together with the sidewalls cooperate to form a tire molding cavity. The sidewall plate further comprises a slot that extends from the outer surface of the tread segment to the inner mold surface, and has a piston having a head slidably received in the slot. A pin is positioned between the piston head and an end of the slot. The mold further includes actuating means for actuating the piston in the slot when the mold is closed.

Abstract: A structure for a tread pattern of a pneumatic tire includes a radially extending pedestal, a first set of cylindrical voids extending radially through the pedestal, a second set of cylindrical voids extending radially through the pedestal, and a radially extending void ring circumscribing the pedestal.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The anti-slip structure includes a first end portion, a second triangular middle portion, and a third triangular end portion. The third end portion includes three radially extending projections for providing traction over ice. The shape of the radially extending recess corresponds to the shape of the anti-slip structure such that the anti-slip structure is both radially and rotationally secured within the recess relative to the tread band of the tire.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The anti-slip structure includes a first circular inner portion, a second outer portion, and a third core portion. The third core portion comprises an assembly of three pin structures for providing traction over ice. Each pin structure has a wedge-shaped base portion secured within the first circular inner portion and a pin extending through the second outer portion to the tread surface. The three wedge-shaped base portions combine to form a circular base portion for the assembly.

Abstract: Operational data are transmitted, by each of a plurality of material handling vehicles at a facility, into a communications system. A computer connected to the communications system processes the operational data and presents reports on a monitor screen. The computer operates in an impact report mode which provides reports about material handling vehicle impacts with objects, a maintenance report mode for reports pertaining to vehicle maintenance, a verify report mode presenting reports about vehicle inspections, and a metrics report mode for reports describing amounts of work performed by the vehicles, and an overview mode summarizes information from each of other report modes. Each report mode has different display modes which summarize data for a group of the vehicles or provide detailed information about one particular vehicle or one specific vehicle operator.

Abstract: A tire mold is described that includes a plurality of tread molding segments having an inner surface for molding the tire tread. The mold further includes a plurality of sidewall plates having an inner surface for molding the tire sidewall. The tread mold segments together with the sidewalls cooperate to form a tire molding cavity. The sidewall plate further comprises a slot that extends from the outer surface of the tread segment to the inner mold surface, and has a piston having a head slidably received in the slot. A pin is positioned between the piston head and an end of the slot. The mold further includes actuating means for actuating the piston in the slot when the mold is closed.

Abstract: A digital multimeter having improved recording functionality is disclosed. The digital multimeter disclosed incorporates a rotary switch, a series of keys and buttons, and a digital display so as to provide highly integrated, programmable and configurable features. Several of these features, either taken alone or in combination, provide significant improvements in ease of use, speed of user operation, and safety associated with use of the instrument.

Abstract: A digital multimeter with a rotary switch having a plurality of positions, each of the positions corresponding to a primary measurement function to be performed. An LCD displays secondary functions or modes corresponding to the positions of the rotary switch and values determined by performing one of the measurement functions. The multimeter includes default functions for each position of the rotary switch that may be changed to other functions or modes. When the other functions or modes are set in a first position, the rotary switch is moved to a second position, and returned to the first position the multimeter restores the functions and/or modes set when the rotary switch was previously in the first position.

Abstract: A configurable decoder within a receiver (for example, within a wireless communication device) includes numerous decoders. In one mode, the multiple decoders are used to decode different sub-packets of a packet. When one decoder completes decoding the last sub-packet assigned to it of the packet, then that decoder generates a packet done indication. A control circuit receives the packet done indications, and when all the decoders have generated packet done indications then the control circuit initiates an action. In one example, the action is the interrupting of a processor. The processor responds by reading status information from the control circuit, thereby resetting the interrupt. End-of-packet markers are usable to generate packet done indications and to generate EOP interrupts. Similarly, end-of-group markers are usable to generate group done indications and to generate EOG interrupts. The decoder block is configurable to process sub-packets of a packet using either one or multiple decoders.

Abstract: A retractable stud pin assembly is described for use in a conventional tire. The stud pin assembly includes a housing having an elastomer compartment and a spring in cooperation with the elastomer. A stud pin is mounted to the spring. The assembly may further optionally include a fluid compartment in cooperation with the elastomer compartment and the spring. The assembly may further include a second compression spring, which cooperates with the first spring and stud pin. An optional adjustment nut may be used to manually raise and lower the pin height as desired. An optional adjustment pin may also be used to extend into an optional fluid compartment to fine tune the pin height.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for providing increased health insurance benefits to employees of business entities for an insurance premium charge. A third party collects health plan requirements and critical health information from the employees. The third party then proposes health plans from health insurance companies to the business entities. Each employee of the business entities chooses a health plan. The third party combines the employees into groups based on the chosen health plans and geographic location of the business entities. The third party negotiates with the health insurance companies regarding health insurance benefits and insurance premium charges offered for the combined employee groups. Authorized personnel may be provided access to the critical health information of the employees.

Abstract: A digital multimeter having improved recording functionality is disclosed. The digital multimeter disclosed incorporates a rotary switch, a series of keys and buttons, and a digital display so as to provide highly integrated, programmable and configurable features. Several of these features, either taken alone or in combination, provide significant improvements in ease of use, speed of user operation, and safety associated with use of the instrument.

Abstract: A digital multimeter with a rotary switch having a plurality of positions, each of the positions corresponding to a primary measurement function to be performed. An LCD displays secondary functions or modes corresponding to the positions of the rotary switch and values determined by performing one of the measurement functions. The multimeter includes default functions for each position of the rotary switch that may be changed to other functions or modes. When the other functions or modes are set in a first position, the rotary switch is moved to a second position, and returned to the first position the multimeter restores the functions and/or modes set when the rotary switch was previously in the first position.