Abstract: A dual-use ladder and bridge modular system preferably includes tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints are made of carbon fiber. A method connects and disconnects modular carbon fiber ladder segments. Another method creates a lightweight carbon-fiber beam with exceptionally high stiffness and strength using a combination of carbon-fiber braid material, uni-directional cloth, and pultruded carbon-fiber strips. A carbon fiber ladder segment and tube connectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure include a social networking system that can generate or utilize a social menu in a social network page. The social menu can be generated based on a crowd-sourced user interaction, an external database of business offerings, an administrator interface of the social network page, or any combination thereof. A user interaction of one user account with a menu item of a social menu can be presented to another user account. A user account can select the menu item by querying the social networking system for creating a reference link to the menu item.

Abstract: Social networking system users may create events where a group of other users invited to the event meet at a specified time and location. The social networking system suggests users to invite to an event based on a prediction that the users would attend the event if invited. Various factors may be used to make the prediction, such as an affinity between the inviting user and the other users, the availability of the other users at the time of the event and/or the proximity of the other users to the location of the event. An inviting user receives the suggested users and selects suggested users to invite to the event or invitations may be automatically sent to the suggested users by the social networking system.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating access to a protected application are disclosed. For example, the method receives from a protected application a request by a user to gain access to the protected application. In one embodiment, the request contains an identification of the user and an identification of at least one media device of the user. The method then verifies the identification of the user and the identification of at least one media device of the user, e.g., via a database operated by a proxy server. The method then generates an access code if the identification of the user and the identification of at least one media device are verified. Finally, the method sends the access code to both the user and to the protected application.

Abstract: A dual-use ladder and bridge modular system preferably includes tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints are made of carbon fiber. A method connects and disconnects modular carbon fiber ladder segments. Another method creates a lightweight carbon-fiber beam with exceptionally high stiffness and strength using a combination of carbon-fiber braid material, uni-directional cloth, and pultruded carbon-fiber strips. A carbon fiber ladder segment and tube connectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system for connecting tubes or rods, which are preferably uni-directional pultruded, filament wound, or roll-wrapped carbon-fiber tubes or rods, together to form trusses and other structures using a series of connector pieces preferably bonded together with adhesive.

Abstract: A dual-use ladder and bridge modular system preferably includes tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints are made of carbon fiber. A method connects and disconnects modular carbon fiber ladder segments. Another method creates a lightweight carbon-fiber beam with exceptionally high stiffness and strength using a combination of carbon-fiber braid material, uni-directional cloth, and pultruded carbon-fiber strips. A carbon fiber ladder segment and tube connectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system for connecting tubes or rods, which are preferably uni-directional pultruded, filament wound, or roll-wrapped carbon-fiber tubes or rods, together to form trusses and other structures using a series of connector pieces preferably bonded together with adhesive.

Abstract: A dual-use ladder and bridge modular system preferably includes tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints are made of carbon fiber. A method connects and disconnects modular carbon fiber ladder segments. Another method creates a lightweight carbon-fiber beam with exceptionally high stiffness and strength using a combination of carbon-fiber braid material, uni-directional cloth, and pultruded carbon-fiber strips. A carbon fiber ladder segment and tube connectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: The carbon fiber c-shaped clamp tool is preferably used in wood working and instrument manufacturing. The carbon fiber c-clamp tool preferably includes a main body, carbon fiber sleeves, pads, one or more threaded rods, and turning knobs. In a preferred embodiment, the main body and sleeves are made of unidirectional carbon fiber. A method connects the main body and sleeves by extending the carbon fibers from the main body to the sleeves and wrapping them around threaded inserts.

Abstract: A system of joining two tubes is provided. More specifically, a node is formed on an end of an inner tube that is received within an outer tube. A portion of the outer tube is then deflected into the indent such that the outer tube matingly engages the inner tube. The force required to deflect the portion of the outer tube into the inner tube is provided by tensioning a band clamp positioned around the outer tube.

Abstract: A dual-use ladder and bridge modular system preferably includes tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints are made of carbon fiber. A method connects and disconnects modular carbon fiber ladder segments. Another method creates a lightweight carbon-fiber beam with exceptionally high stiffness and strength using a combination of carbon-fiber braid material, uni-directional cloth, and pultruded carbon-fiber strips. A carbon fiber ladder segment and tube connectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system for connecting tubes or rods, which are preferably uni-directional pultruded, filament wound, or roll-wrapped carbon-fiber tubes or rods, together to form trusses and other structures using a series of connector pieces preferably bonded together with adhesive.

Abstract: A cable tie having a head for receiving a tail for binding various objects is provided wherein a head of an integral buckle is tilted so that the tail portion is more easily received. By employing a tilted head, of preferably 30 degrees, a 15-20% increase in performance over similar cables ties of the prior art has been achieve. In addition, a cable tie is provided that includes a bulged or coined portion. A leading edge of the band that is associated with the buckle also includes a bulged or coined portion. The bulged portions are preferably created by a coining process and facilitate binding mechanically the band to the buckle. In addition, a cable tie is provided wherein a head of the integral buckle is interconnected to the band via angled side walls. The angled side walls increase an opening in the buckle that receives the band such that during tensioning less energy is needed to tension the cable tie around a bundle of cables, for example.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system for connecting tubes or rods, which are preferably uni-directional pultruded, filament wound, or roll-wrapped carbon-fiber tubes or rods, together to form trusses and other structures using a series of connector pieces preferably bonded together with adhesive.

Abstract: A dual-use ladder and bridge modular system preferably includes tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints are made of carbon fiber. A method connects and disconnects modular carbon fiber ladder segments. Another method creates a lightweight carbon-fiber beam with exceptionally high stiffness and strength using a combination of carbon-fiber braid material, uni-directional cloth, and pultruded carbon-fiber strips. A carbon fiber ladder segment and tube connectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a communication protocol for communicating between one or more entities, such as devices, hosts or any other system capable of communicating over a network. A protocol is provided that allows communication between entities without a priori knowledge of the communication protocol. In such a protocol, for example, information describing a data structure of the communication protocol is transferred between communicating entities. Further, an authentication protocol is provided for providing bidirectional authentication between communicating entities. In one specific example, the entities include a master device and a slave device coupled by a serial link. In another specific example, the communication protocol may be used for performing unbalanced transmission between communicating entities.

Abstract: A multiplex bus interface enables power and data to be transmitted and received on a two wire bus. Input and output devices operate with transceivers connected to the bus to communicate with each other by placing their data on the bus within specific time slots controlled by a controller, a clock module which broadcasts data to all connected transceivers. A pulsed power waveform provides power to the transceivers and data through pulse width modulation of the pulsed waveform. Data from the transceivers is transmitted during a time slot between power pulses. Data integrity is checked by the initiating input transceiver. Errors are reported at the end of a broadcast cycle. Output transceivers use the data as appropriate for the device and condition being monitored or controlled.

Abstract: A UPS for providing AC power to a load includes an input to receive AC power, an output to provide AC power to the load, a DC voltage source, an inverter coupled to the DC voltage source, a transfer switch coupled to the input, the inverter, and the output, a first controller coupled to the transfer switch and configured to control the transfer switch to selectively couple the input or the inverter to the output, a network interface coupled to the first controller and configured to communicate with a computing device via a network and with the first controller to transfer data between the first controller and the computing device and to provide commands from the computing device to the first controller, and a housing including a chassis configured to be mounted to a wall and to support the UPS when mounted to a vertical wall.

Abstract: A multiplex bus interface enables power and data to be transmitted and received on a two wire bus. Input and output devices operate with transceivers connected to the bus to communicate with each other by placing their data on the bus within specific time slots controlled by a controller, a clock module which broadcasts data to all connected transceivers. A pulsed power waveform provides power to the transceivers and data through pulse width modulation of the pulsed waveform. Data from the transceivers is transmitted during a time slot between power pulses. Data integrity is checked by the initiating input transceiver. Errors are reported at the end of a broadcast cycle. Output transceivers use the data as appropriate for the device and condition being monitored or controlled.