Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods disclosed herein enable synergy among a group of users by providing a real-time, secure collaboration environment that allows for cooperative interaction and decision making and provide the ability for users to simultaneously view, revise, and review a document or multimedia file that resides in a shared data storage location. Real-time, low latency, rich collaboration between producers and consumers provides organization efficiency, and this collaboration provides real-time, low latency transmission of data.

Abstract: A debris blowing and/or vacuum appliance. The appliance comprises a body including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid externally of the body, a volute located in a flowpath between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and a centrifugal impeller located within the volute and rotatable by a motor to generate a flow of fluid, and a diffuser located immediately downstream of the centrifugal impeller between the centrifugal impeller and a volute outlet region. The diffuser comprises an annular channel surrounding the centrifugal impeller and has substantially constant radial width such that the impeller is radially spaced from the volute walls by at least the width of the diffuser. By providing such an arrangement, the efficiency of the impeller can be improved.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a power tool is disclosed, in which the power tool has a housing, a motor provided in the housing, an output shaft adapted to be caused by the motor to execute reciprocating motion, and a blade assembly (5) extending from the housing along a first axis (A-A). The handle assembly (2) comprises a front handle (6), a rear handle (7) integral with the front handle (6) and a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the housing of the tool, wherein the rear handle (7) is displaced from the plane (A-A) of the blade assembly (5) in use. As a result of this, the knuckles of the hand of the user that is gripping rear handle (7) are raised away from the surface of the object being cut. This provides the advantage that the user's knuckles avoid any grazing or cutting resulting from contact with the object, or with the ground when carrying out low cutting.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a power tool is disclosed, in which the power tool has a housing, a motor provided in the housing, and an output shaft adapted to be caused by said motor to actuate a working member extending from the housing along a first axis (A-A). The handle assembly (102) comprises a front handle (106), a rear handle (107) integral with the front handle, and a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the housing of the tool, wherein the front handle (106) forms an obtuse angle with the axis (A-A) of the working member in use. This last feature makes the power tool more comfortable for a user to operate, provided that the centre of mass of the power tool lies in the region between the front handle (106) and the rear handle (107). This will usually be the case, since the heaviest parts of the tool are generally the working member and the motor housing thereof.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexible composite panel having a plurality of reservoirs connected by at least one capillary includes forming a capillary assembly by winding a flexible, deformable capillary base web partially around a rotating cylinder that has a plurality of recessed features formed therein; drawing the capillary base web into the recessed features to form the capillaries in the capillary base web; filling the capillaries; and laminating a capillary barrier web over the capillary base web. A flexible reservoir assembly is formed by cutting the perimeter of the at least two reservoirs and associated catchments into a flexible reservoir web; removing the waste cut interiors of the reservoirs and the catchments from the reservoir web; securing the reservoir web to a base layer; overfilling each reservoir; and laminating the capillary assembly over the reservoir assembly, driving excess filler from the reservoirs into the catchments.

Abstract: A vegetation trimmer (10) having a motor (20) with a motor output shaft (30), a cutting head (22) for cutting vegetation, and a gear mechanism (26, 34, 36, 38) for transmitting power from said motor output shaft (30) to the cutting head (22). The motor output shaft (30) has a gear mechanism with a pinion wheel and a fan (28) mounted thereon. The gear mechanism (26, 34, 36, 38) further comprises an internal gear wheel (26) engaging with the pinion wheel (34) and connected to the cutting head (22), whereby the cutting head (22) rotates in the same direction (B) as the fan does (D) during operation of the motor (20).

Abstract: A method includes providing a persistent common view of data, services, and infrastructure functions accessible via one or more shared storage systems of a plurality of shared storage systems of a virtual shared storage system. The method includes applying different governance policies to two or more shared storage systems of the plurality of shared storage systems. The method includes restricting access to first content accessible via a first shared storage system of the plurality of shared storage systems based on a security level associated with a data consumer. The first content corresponds to at least one of first data, a first service, and a first infrastructure function.

Abstract: A method includes providing a persistent common view of a virtual shared storage system. The virtual shared storage system includes a first shared storage system and a second shared storage system, and the persistent common view includes information associated with data and instructions stored at the first shared storage system and the second shared storage system. The method includes automatically updating the persistent common view to include third information associated with other data and other instructions stored at a third shared storage system in response to adding the third shared storage system to the virtual shared storage system.

Abstract: A method providing a persistent common view of data, services, and infrastructure functions accessible via a plurality of shared storage systems of a virtual shared storage system. The method includes applying different governance policies at two or more shared storage systems of the virtual shared storage system. The method includes transferring content from a particular shared storage system to a requesting device without using at least one of a server session, an application-to-server session, and an application session. The content corresponds to at least one of data, a service, and an infrastructure function provided via the particular shared storage system.

Abstract: Shared storage systems and methods are provided. A particular shared storage system is a system including multiple instances of shared storage. Each of the instances of shared storage includes data and file system metadata separated from the data. The file system metadata includes location data specifying storage location information related to the data. A persistent common view is provided of local and remote files, file systems, and services in the shared storage.

Abstract: The present teachings are directed to a shoulder prosthesis having an adjustable radial offset and/or angular inclination provided by relative rotation of an adapter interdisposed between a stem and a head. In one example, a prosthesis has a stem having a first longitudinal axis. The prosthesis can also include an adaptor including a first taper. The first taper can have a first taper axis. The prosthesis can include a head supported by the adaptor. The head can be selectively oriented and then coupled to the first taper and the combination can be selectively orientated and the coupled to the stem.

Abstract: A vegetation pruning device (2) includes a pair (4,6) of pivotally coupled arms. A motor bracket (36) with a rotary output drive (34) provides drive to a cutting element (8) which is coupled to the rotary output drive (34). The cutting element (8) is arranged for cutting vegetation (44) presented thereto.

Abstract: A vegetation pruning device (102) includes a pair (114, 116) of pivotably coupled handles and a motor having a rotary output drive (130) for driving an endless flexible cutting chain (108). A guard (162) is moved relative to the chain (108) by pivoting the handles (114, 116) relative to each other to grip vegetation between the guard (162) and the chain (108). The guard is provided with a pair of curved upper surfaces (164) having teeth (166). The rotary output drive (130) of the motor is arranged generally coaxially with the axis of pivotal movement of the handles (114, 116).

Abstract: A network interface unit is provided for use intermediate a LAN and a public or private network, or a combination of both, for establishing secure links to a VPN gateway. Login by a LAN client with the network interface unit, addressing, authentication, and other configuration operations achieved using a web page-based GUI are applied in establishing tunnels from LAN clients to desired VPN destinations. Illustrative network interface units include a DHCP server and provide encryption-decryption and encapsulation-decapsulation of data packets for communication with VPN nodes. Configuration and connection of a client are further enhanced by a built-in DNS server and other functional servers to provide a high degree of autonomy in establishing connections to a desired VPN gateway via an ISP or other public and/or private network links to. The interface unit then performs required authentication exchanges, and required encryption key exchanges.

Abstract: A network interface unit is provided for use intermediate a LAN and a public or private network, or a combination of both, for establishing secure links to a VPN gateway. Login by a LAN client with the network interface unit, addressing, authentication, and other configuration operations achieved using a web page-based GUI are applied in establishing tunnels from LAN clients to desired VPN destinations. Illustrative network interface units include a DHCP server and provide encryption-decryption and encapsulation-decapsulation of data packets for communication with VPN nodes. Configuration and connection of a client are further enhanced by a built-in DNS server and other functional servers to provide a high degree of autonomy in establishing connections to a desired VPN gateway via an ISP or other public and/or private network links to. The interface unit then performs required authentication exchanges, and required encryption key exchanges.

Abstract: An actuation mechanism for actuating a power tool that includes a cable assembly comprising at least one outer sheath (41) arranged coaxially around an inner cable (40), wherein the inner cable (40) slides relative to the outer sheath (41). The actuation mechanism also comprises an electrical contact (42) connected to the cable assembly and a plurality of switch members (51, 54) connected to the cable assembly. The coaxial cable assembly provides the advantage that a power tool with a two handed dual-switching mechanism can be actuated without the need for two independent electrical contacts wired in series, thereby reducing the amount of electrical wiring and components needed. Additionally, an electrical contact is provided with a connecting structure connected to the handle assembly and to the housing and adapted to enable actuation of the tool in a plurality of orientations of the handle assembly relative to the housing.

Abstract: Shared storage architectures are provided. A particular shared storage architecture includes an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) system. The ESB system includes shared storage including data and file system metadata separated from the data. The file system metadata includes location data specifying storage location information related to the data. An infrastructure function of the ESB system is provided to enable messaging between providers and consumers through the shared storage.

Abstract: Shared storage architectures and methods are provided. A particular shared storage architecture is a system including shared storage including data and file system metadata separated from the data. The file system metadata includes location data specifying storage location information related to the data. Services are provided from service providers to service consumers through the shared storage.

Abstract: Shared storage systems and methods are provided. A particular shared storage system is a system including multiple instances of shared storage. Each of the instances of shared storage includes data and file system metadata separated from the data. The file system metadata includes location data specifying storage location information related to the data. A persistent common view is provided of local and remote files, file systems, and services in the shared storage.

Abstract: A light fixture includes a flexible color filter material coupled to a scrolling mechanism that moves the material in a first direction to position a selected portion of the color filter material in a part of a light beam from the fixture. A device coupled to the mechanism may move the mechanism in a second direction so that another part of the light beam passes unfiltered. Different areas of the color filter material produce different colors. The device may move the mechanism in a direction parallel to a plane of the color filter material. The device may rotate the scrolling mechanism about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the plane of the color filter material. The color filter material may include a dichroic filter. The light fixture may also include a second scrolling mechanism coupled to flexible diffusion material, such that at least a part of the light beam of the light fixture may be diffused by a predetermined amount.