Abstract: A snow melter that may be used to melt snow. The snow melter includes a dump tank for receiving a quantity of snow to be melted. The melter also includes a melt tank and a heat exchanger. The melt tank separate from the dump tank. The heat exchanger heats the water in the melt tank. Water heated by the melt tank is allowed to flow from the melt tank into the dump tank to melt the snow in the dump tank. Doors may also be added to the dump tank to facilitate the removal of debris from the dump tank after use. Further, the dump tank may also have an inclinable floor to further facilitate the removal of debris from the dump tank after use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Abstract: A snow melter that may be used to melt snow. The snow melter includes a dump tank for receiving a quantity of snow to be melted. The melter also includes a melt tank and a heat exchanger. The melt tank separate from the dump tank. The heat exchanger heats the water in the melt tank. Water heated by the melt tank is allowed to flow from the melt tank into the dump tank to melt the snow in the dump tank. Doors may also be added to the dump tank to facilitate the removal of debris from the dump tank after use. Further, the dump tank may also have an inclinable floor to further facilitate the removal of debris from the dump tank after use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ski in which bonding portions join non-metal side members (20) and a metal sheet (18) to form a cap preform section. The cap preform section is pressed downward against the top surface of a core (14) and heat is applied to bond the cap preform section to the core (14). The bonding portions include bonding strips (22) formed of a thermoplastic material that becomes adhesive when subjected to pressure and heat at a sufficiently high temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Abstract: A packet switch receives data and processes it for assembly into packages. A bus allows communication between each of the data processing units of the switch and one or more storage units for storing the data packets. Arbitration for deciding which of the processing units will be granted access to the bus is performed by a system which selectively and alterably designates any of at least two different levels of priority of access to the bus for each of the processing units, and the relative percentages of time of access for the different priorty levels. The system assures greater access to the bus by those of the processing units having the higher level of priority. If communication is provided by two buses, the requests for access are alternated between them.