Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of a closure system for a drain hole of a bath, sink or the like. The system comprises a closure means which is movable between an open drainage position and closed sealed position. The movement is controlled by a movement assembly mounted in connection with the closure means so as to allow the movement to be achieved without direct contact between the user and the closure means being required. Typically one or more user operable switches or remote control means are provided to allow the selective movement of the closure means by the movement assembly to be achieved.

Abstract: A method for tracking messages in a mentoring environment includes presenting to a reviewer a computer-based activity tracking form that is populated with data from an underlying relational database, wherein the underlying relational database includes a content of e-mail messages addressed to an adult mentor and a content of e-mail messages addressed to a juvenile protégé, and wherein the underlying relational database includes a status of e-mail messages between the adult mentor and juvenile protégé as determined by an e-mail interceptor; displaying a status of an e-mail, between the adult mentor and the juvenile protégé, which has been intercepted by the e-mail monitor; in response to a displayed status indicating that the e-mail has not been reviewed, blocking transmission of the e-mail to an intended recipient; and in response to the displayed status indicating that the e-mail has been reviewed, enabling transmission of the e-mail to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A long travel, varying spring rate combination spring includes two differing rate springs connected end-to-end in such a way that the lower rate spring is compressed until positive engagement of a plunger with an intermediate flange member occurs with the higher rate spring thereafter compressed. Each spring may be assembled separately and connected together with a coupling to create a combination spring, allowing various springs to be combined to meet the requirements of a particular application.

Abstract: A footwear item takes the form of a flip-flop or a slipper style of footwear. It is configured to be rolled or folded into a packaged configuration and later unrolled or unfolded into a wearing or unpackaged configuration. In one embodiment, the footwear item may serve as temporary footwear to obtain relief from uncomfortable shoes. The footwear item includes a sole member and an attachment member for coupling or attaching the footwear item to a person's foot. The attachment member may be mechanically coupled to, integrally formed with, or otherwise connected to the sole member. During use, the footwear item helps to keep a bottom of a person's foot clean and substantially protected from the ground or other foot contact surface. The small footprint of the footwear item in the packaged configuration permits it to be easily stored and readily usable in a variety of environments.

Abstract: A system and method for prioritizing multiple audio sources and balancing them in a single combined output in a handheld device. Audio sources are sensed and combined with the level of each source subject to adjustment by an attenuator/amplifier. A priority logic unit controls the attenuator/amplifier associated with each source. the level of each source being combined is adjusted on the basis of the character of the sources being combined and a set of programmed rules. For example, if source A is a high priority source (e.g. a telephone ring or other alert tone) and source B is a lower priority source (e.g. a music program) then the sound management system may lower the volume on source B combine with source A and output the result. Alternatively, source A may be raised in volume, combined with source B, and then output. In one embodiment, the sound management system is integrated with a palm sized handheld computer system.

Abstract: A pod propulsion system comprises a housing defining a fluid duct and an annular drum rotatably mounted to the housing within the fluid duct. The annular drum has a drum interior and a cylindrical outer surface. The system further comprises a rotor mounted to the drum for rotation therewith, the rotor and the drum having a common axis of rotation. A bearing assembly mounted to the housing comprises a first bearing comprising a first plurality of bearing pads disposed circumferentially around the drum. Each pad has a pad bearing surface adapted to contact a first drum portion in a predetermined manner and is pivotably mounted to the housing so as to maintain contact of the pad bearing surface with the first drum portion in the predetermined manner when an orientation of the drum portion relative to the housing changes.

Abstract: A post bearing and method of manufacture in which bearing balls are loaded into a series of pocket holes arranged along a helical pattern in a sleeve cage. A single groove is swaged into the outside diameter of the sleeve intermediate the ball turns to capture the balls in the pocket holes.

Abstract: A press mounted cam has a slide guided on an adapter by structural features including as one or more T blocks fixed to the slide and received in a respective channel formed in the adapter. In an aerial cam embodiment, a vertical clearance space is provided between the T block and adapter channel such that positive driving engagement between cam surfaces on the slide and the adapter is momentarily delayed after the initial engagement of the slide and driver surfaces to let the momentum of the slide be absorbed prior to the beginning of positive driving by the press motion, reducing shock and noise. The slide is laterally located with respect to the driver by an upwardly projecting locator-guide key on the driver received in a central channel in the slide. A positive return is provided by engagement of a driver key having T features received in a T-shaped slide channel and captured therein when the slide is driven laterally.

Abstract: A treated substrate with improved availability of a beneficial component for transfer to a target surface and methods for making the same are described. The substrate has a contacting surface with a beneficial component that is transferred from the contacting surface to a target surface during use of the article. The beneficial component is applied to the article in such a way as to “Top-Bias” the component on or near the contacting surface of the article.

Abstract: A method of creating point-in-time views of data on a disk involves initiating from a host at least one session of writing data to a disk. For each session, an entry is created and stored on an array on the disk. The sessions are assigned unique IDs to each, and provide indications where data for a particular session may be found on the disk.

Abstract: A press mounted cam has an adapter, slide and a driver with range of sizes and working angles provided at low cost by driver and/or adapter constructions having base plates and a series of side by side upright plates of a number corresponding to a given length with an angled top corresponding to a given working angle.

Abstract: An improved method for maintaining a designed functional shape in fabricated, expanded snack products by utilizing discrete, solid lipid particles. These lipids must be solid at room temperature with a melting point above 100° F. such that they remain discrete and solid when mixed with the dough and are subsequently sheeted or extruded. During the toasting, frying, or baking step, the solid lipid particles melt and soften and disrupt the starch matrix, thus allowing steam to escape and preventing undesirable defects such as excessive blistering, pillowing, and other shape defects that prevent the intended functionality. The addition of solid lipid particles, however, prevents steam accumulation only in the localized area where a solid lipid particle exists. Thus, by changing the level of solid lipid particles in the dough, the degree of shape deformities can be controlled.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed. The method includes launching a first application on a handheld device implementing a Palm Operating System (OS), and launching a second application. The second application is a time dependent application that runs in the background of the first application.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing a plurality of data images in a computer system, includes a primary image and at least one secondary image which are synchronized. A host computer issues write requests to a primary image site which is also transmitted to a secondary image site. Writing to the primary image and the secondary image at the primary image site and secondary site is conducted simultaneously. If a failure to write to the secondary image occurs, a fracture log is created which is a bitmap representative of changed regions in the primary image at the primary image site in response to the write request. When writing to the secondary image is restored, the log can be used to synchronize the primary image and the secondary image.

Abstract: Charge transport layers comprise a charge transport compound and binder including styrene-acrylic resin. Dual layer photoconductors comprise a substrate, a charge transport layer as described, and a charge generation layer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which allows more accurate counting of particles where the sample has significant size variability between particles. The method uses flight time and wait time to obtain a corrected count of particles.

Abstract: A chest-mounted paint carrier and method for painting comprises a low profile paint receptacle depending from a mounting plate positioned at a painter's chest level, the paint receptacle hinged and pivoted from the mounting plate such that it is maintained in an upright position at all times, the receptacle having a lower dimension extending not below the painter's waist for ergonomic and efficient placement of the paint receptacle and improved access to the paint. A new method of painting using a chest-mounted paint carrier increases freedom of movement and frees both hands of the painter for other uses.