Abstract: A fastening element for a joint forming device includes an elongate dowel and a sleeve for the dowel. The dowel has a head portion at one end thereof which is engagable in use with a tightening element. The dowel is adapted at the other end thereof to co-operate with the sleeve to cause radial expansion of an expandable end section of the sleeve upon relative axial movement between the sleeve and dowel. The expandable end section of the sleeve is insertable axially into a mounting hole in a first panel. The head of the dowel is insertable axially into a mounting hole in a second panel whereby to enable engagement with said tightening element. The sleeve is configured to allow the position of the dowel within its mounting hole in the second panel to be adjusted to enable insertion of the expandable end section of the sleeve into its mounting hole in the first panel, in use, even if the axes of the two mounting holes are out of axial alignment.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of lubricating containing: (a) employing a first functional fluid, (b) adding or contacting the first functional fluid with a controlled release gel wherein the controlled release gel has the desired additives to be released imparting the desired properties into the first functional fluid which is for lubricating a mechanical device; and/or adding a delivery system with the desired additives for a second functional fluid; (c) releasing the desired additives from the delivery system into the first functional fluid resulting in the first functional fluid changing into a second functional fluid, with the proviso that the second functional fluid is different from the first functional fluid.

Abstract: An additive composition comprises (A) an additive comprising a nitrogen-containing detergent, a fatty acid based friction modifier, or a mixture thereof and (B) a solid organic matrix material where the additive composition is a solid that melts in the range of about 25 to about 200° C. A method to enhance performance of a functional fluid, especially a fuel composition or power transmission fluid of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, comprises adding a performance-enhancing amount of the additive composition to the functional fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises an Internet Protocol telephone set accommodating at least first and second Internet Protocol addresses, wherein at least first and second sets of configuration parameters associated with the first and second Internet Protocol addresses are stored in the telephone set, and one of the first and second sets of configuration parameters is applied to a selected telephone line.

Abstract: A fry scoop with one or two cells store food and condiments within a folded container. The fry scoop starts as a single blank with a rear panel, a rear wall, a bottom, a front wall with flanking side panels, and a front panel. The panels fold onto their respective walls, the walls fold upwardly from the bottom, and the sides then fold and attach to the rear wall. With the sides, front wall, and rear wall upright, an open top food container forms. Pulling the front and rear panels inwards opens two condiment cells. The front and rear panels have similar edge shapes and attain the same height from the bottom. The similarity between the front and the rear of the present invention allows consumers, or restaurant staff, to load the scoop from the front or the rear.

Abstract: A composition of a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity; a secondary or tertiary amine being represented by the formula R1R2NR3 wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl groups of at least 6 carbon atoms and R3 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a hydroxyl-containing alkyl group, or an amine-containing alkyl group; and a dispersant, provides high static coefficients of friction and a durable positive slope during oxidative and mechanical stressing, particularly as a friction component of an automatic transmission.

Abstract: Systems and methods for customizing data including audio data. A database stores audio data, customization data, and metadata that is related to both the audio data and the customization data. A user can select audio from the audio data. Then, information is collected from the user based on the selected audio and the metadata associated with the selected audio. From the collected information, inserts are identified from the customization data. The inserts are merged into the selected audio to produce customized audio. The inserts are seamlessly integrated into the selected audio to eliminate aural discontinuities and improve the listening experience. The inserts and the audio data are pre-processed to insure that merging the inserts into the audio data provides customized audio that is seamlessly integrated. The customized audio can then be delivered to the recipient.

Abstract: A voice over IP (VoIP) softphone access module (VSAM) comprises a softphone client installed on a portable memory device (PMD). The softphone client is installed in its own read-only partition. The softphone client is adapted to autorun from the PMD when the PMD is connected to a computing device and to load an instance of the softphone client in the volatile memory of the computing device. When used with a computing device comprising a duplex audio system with analog-to-digital conversion and an Internet connection, the VSAM permits a VoIP service subscriber to send and receive VoIP telephone calls through a VoIP service provider gateway. The VSAM may be associated with an activation code that when sent to the VoIP service provider gateway associates a user with pre-paid softphone usage credits. Alternatively, the softphone client is installed on CD.

Abstract: A composition of a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity; a secondary or tertiary amine being represented by the formula R1R2NR3 wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl groups of at least 6 carbon atoms and R3 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a hydroxyl-containing alkyl group, or an amine-containing alkyl group; and a dispersant, provides high static coefficients of friction and a durable positive slope during oxidative and mechanical stressing, particularly as a friction component of an automatic transmission.

Abstract: Users of small footprint devices such as smart cellular phones, personal data assistants, etc. may create and store bookmarks referencing various types of objects and/or data sources. Each bookmark may comprise a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) which may be used to refer to the object/data source. The bookmark system may be open-ended, allowing virtually any type of object or data source to be bookmarked. The bookmarks may later be used by a user or application to reference the respective data source to perform some type of action on the data source, such as displaying or editing it. A lightweight application/service containment framework is described which enables services to run on small footprint devices. A bookmark service may cooperate with an activation framework capable of encapsulating various types of entities. In one embodiment, a bookmark service operates in conjunction together with the JavaBeans™ Activation Framework (JAF) to implement the bookmark functionality.

Abstract: A collapsible cooking container formed from a generally, rectangularly shaped paperboard blank folded along crease lines so as to have a bottom portion, a first side portion, a top portion, and a second side portion wherein the top portion and the first side portion are adapted to be attached to form a cube having opposed, open sides. The opposed, open sides are substantially covered when the collapsible cooking container is in an expanded condition by segments provided to the bottom portion, first and second side portions, and top portion that cooperate to form first and second collapsible sides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a modulator of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC), which method comprises: (a) bringing into contact a test compound, a VGSC and one or more binding partners selected from PAPIN, periaxin and HSPC025 under conditions where the VGSC and the binding partner(s) are capable of forming a complex in the absence of the test compound; and (b) measuring an activity of the VGSC, wherein a charge in the activity of the VGSC relative to the activity in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound is a modulator of said VGSC. Compounds identified in such screening methods are proposed for use in the treatment of VGSC-related conditions, for example in the treatment or prevention of pain. Also provided are methods of enhancing the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) in a cell comprising the step of increasing the level of a binding partner of the invention in the cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to analyze the condition of a functional fluid comprising: (1) obtaining a sample of the used fluid; (2) placing the sample of the fluid to a test medium; (3) reacting the fluid with an indicator in the test medium; (4) analyzing visually the results of the reactor resulting in the determination of the condition of the fluid. Further an apparatus for analyzing functional fluids is disclosed in the form of a test medium consisting of an absorbent or nonabsorbent material which has been treated with a chemical indicator, marker substance or a developer or detector reagent upon which a sample of the fluid to be tested is placed. The components in the treated test medium react with components in the test fluid providing a visual indication, for example a color change, to judge the condition, the presence of a marker substance or another parameter of the fluid.

Abstract: A hair treatment composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of composite particles, said particles comprising: i) a clay with a net surface charge, and ii) a charged organic molecule comprising at least 6, preferably at least 11, more preferably at least 17 carbon atoms, wherein the charge on the charged organic molecule is opposite to the net surface charge of the clay, said hair treatment composition further comprising one or more suitable hair treatment ingredients.

Abstract: A collapsible cooking container formed from a generally, rectangularly shaped paperboard blank folded along crease lines so as to have a bottom portion, a first side portion, a top portion, and a second side portion wherein the top portion and the first side portion are adapted to be attached to form a cube having opposed, open sides. The opposed, open sides are substantially covered when the collapsible cooking container is in an expanded condition by segments provided to the bottom portion, first and second side portions, and top portion that cooperate to form first and second collapsible sides.

Abstract: A drawer locking device for locking a plurality of drawers has respective blocking devices for blocking movement of the drawers and a connector connecting the blocking devices such that movement of any of the blocking devices caused by opening of the respective drawer causes a corresponding movement of each remaining blocking device to respective positions in which opening of the respective drawers is blocked. A method of assembling the drawer locking device comprises connecting the blocking devices with a furniture item at respective reference positions provided on the furniture item and fixing the connector to the blocking devices when they are connected with the respective reference positions. This provides a drawer locking device in which the blocking devices are fixed to the connector at spaced positions determined by the reference positions. The drawer locking device can then be disconnected from the item of furniture for refitting in an operative position.

Abstract: A multifunctional dispersant useful in lubricating compositions is prepared by heating together (a) a dispersant and (b) 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole or a hydrocarbyl-substituted 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole which is substantially insoluble in a hydrocarbon oil of lubricating viscosity at 25° C., and further either (c) a borating agent or (d) an inorganic phosphorus compound, or both (c) and (d). The heating is sufficient to provide a reaction product of (a), (b), and (c) or (d) which is soluble in hydrocarbon oil at 25° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a modulator of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC), which method comprises bringing into contact a VGSC, a p11 peptide and a test compound under conditions where the VGSC and the p11 peptide are capable of forming a complex in the absence of the test compound: and measuring an activity of the VGSC, wherein a change in the activity of the VGSC relative to the activity in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound is a modulator of said VGSC. Compounds identified in such screening methods are proposed for use in the treatment of VGSC-related conditions, for example in the treatment or prevention of pain. Also provided are methods of enhancing the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) in a cell comprising the step of increasing the level of p11 in the cell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an apparatus for insertion of coupons or other material into hinge lid pack cigarettes. The apparatus of the present invention inserts the coupons in between the foil wrapped pack of cigarettes and the inner frame portion of the hinged lid pack. The apparatus of the present invention is comprised of a coupon inserter, a third wheel pocket and rail system wherein the pockets travel rotationally with the third wheel after receiving a coupon and thereafter allow the foil wrapped cigarette pack to be inserted thereon. The rail of the hinged lid pack assembly machine has been modified to receive these coupons in conjunction with the coupon multistage inserter or dispenser and all act cooperatively such that the coupons are inserted in timed relation to the rotational speed of the third wheel of the packager.