Abstract: A segmented pulley transmission is provided. A pulley assembly is rotationally mounted on an axle. The pulley assembly includes a core pulley having a first set of mating features on a peripheral surface thereof. A pulley segment set comprises a number of pulley segments slidably mounted in the pulley assembly and arranged in a ring concentric with the core pulley. The pulley segments are individually actuatable out of the pulley assembly into an engaging position and into the pulley assembly into a non-engaging position. The pulley segments have a second set of mating features on an peripheral surface matching the first set of mating features. An endless drive member has corresponding mating features on an inside surface for engaging the first and second sets of mating features of the core pulley and the pulley segments in an engaging position. Contact between the endless drive member and a core pulley defines a contact zone.

Abstract: A segmented pulley transmission [20] is provided. A pulley assembly [36] is rotationally mounted on an axle [32]. The pulley assembly [36] includes a core pulley [45] having a first set of mating features on a peripheral surface thereof. A pulley segment set comprises a number of pulley segments [48] slidably mounted in the pulley assembly and arranged in a ring concentric with the core pulley [45]. The pulley segments [48] are individually actuatable out of the pulley assembly into an engaging position and into the pulley assembly into a non-engaging position. The pulley segments [48] have a second set of mating features [52] on an peripheral surface matching the first set of mating features. An endless drive member [47] has corresponding mating features on an inside surface for engaging the first and second sets of mating features of the core pulley [45] and the pulley segments [48] in an engaging position. Contact between the endless drive member [47] and a core pulley defines a contact zone [CZ].

Abstract: A key pulley segment in a synchronized, segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system is either first or last in a pulley segment set to engage an endless member. The first or last key segment teeth to engage or disengage, respectively, are shortened or completely trimmed, and the adjacent pulley segment to the key segment is elongated such that the inward portion of the tooth profile extends toward the key segment. Shortened tooth or teeth and an elongated adjacent segment together allow for many pulley segments to be designed as key segments. Completely trimmed teeth may be engineered to create a supporting surface for the endless member on the key segment. The elongated adjacent segment may have an extending portion which slidably mates with the supporting surface of the key segment, thereby receiving radial support therefrom.

Abstract: A vent cap includes a main body configured to be received within an opening in a cover of a battery cell, the main body including a fluid flow path formed therethrough to facilitate a flow of a fluid to be added to the battery cell, a valve moveably disposed within the flow path to selectively open and close the fluid flow path, and a float coupled to the valve and positioned to float adjacent a surface of a fluid disposed within the battery cell, the float causing the valve to open the fluid flow path at a pre-determined fluid level within the battery cell to permit the fluid to be added to the battery cell to flow through the fluid flow path, wherein the fluid flow path is configured to minimize an impinging on the float by the fluid to be added to the battery cell.

Abstract: An impact absorbing footwear device employs opposed planar sole portions engaged by a selective resistance coupling that biases the opposed planar sole portions in a non-linear manner in response to forces exerted by the wearer against the sole portion in frictional contact with a floor surface. The planar sole portions are disposed in a footwear appliance that takes the form of an athletic shoe sole. The selective resistance coupling includes a plurality of resilient deformation members that engage the planar sole portions in an opposed circumferentially aligned manner, selectively deform in response to pressure exerted by the wearer for preventing ACL and other impact related injuries, and recover to an undeformed rest position without breakaway to allow the wearer uninterrupted usage while dampening forces that surpass an injury threshold from the resilient deformation that allows the planar sole portions to temporarily misalign.

Abstract: An improved filter arrangement solves problems associated with dislodging the filter from a support basket at change-out when intimate contact between the filter and basket is no longer desirable. An elastomeric end cap is bonded to the distal end of the filtering medium. The end cap has a circular, outer perimeter defining a diameter less than the inner diameter of the filter basket. The end cap is dome shaped, such that when the filtering element is inserted into the filter basket with the end cap positioned adjacent the bottom of the filter basket, the end cap assumes a pressurized state when a fluid entering the filtering element applies pressure to the end cap, causing the outer perimeter of the end cap to expand radially outwardly, and a non-pressurized state wherein the outer perimeter of the end cap contracts, facilitating an easier removal of the element from the basket.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display surface, the method comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a focal region with a magnification for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region across which the magnification varies to provide a continuous transition from the focal region to regions outside the lens; receiving a first signal for selecting the shoulder region; while receiving the first signal, receiving a second signal for selecting the focal region and for adjusting a position of the focal region relative to the shoulder region to define a degree and a direction of a folding of the focal region over the shoulder region for the lens; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation.

Abstract: A battery vent cap includes a cylindrical body having an upper portion and a lower portion. A pair of diametrically opposed, radially outwardly extending bayonet tabs is formed on the lower portion. The bayonet tabs permit an installation of the vent cap into a vent port of a battery cover without rotational movement thereof and a removal of the vent cap from the vent port with less than about 180 degrees rotational movement.

Abstract: A vent cap gang includes a plurality of vent caps to be received in respective vent ports formed in a battery cover. Each of the vent caps includes a cylindrical body having first pin located at an axial center thereof and a second pin offset from the axial center. A plurality of elongate members is operably coupled to each of the vent caps by the first and second pins. An actuator is operably coupled to the elongate members and at least one of the vent caps to cause simultaneous rotational movement of the vent caps.

Abstract: The present disclosure encompasses embodiments of a method of reducing the microbial load of a vegetable seed or a sprout thereof, comprising contacting the vegetable seed or the sprout thereof, with a composition comprising levulinic acid and a detergent for a period suitable for reducing a bacterial population of the vegetable seed or the sprout thereof. In embodiments of the methods of the disclosure, the composition can reduce a bacterial population located on the exterior surface of the seed coat (testa) of a vegetable seed, located in or on the seed contents beneath the testa, or located on and beneath the testa of the vegetable seed.

Abstract: The invention is a handle that is detachable from cookware, to allow cookware to be stored more efficiently. The handle includes a handle receiver that is affixed to cookware and a handle with a coupling end that is insertable into the handle receiver. A locking mechanism automatically locks the handle into the handle receiver. The handle is detachable from the handle receiver by pushing on a release mechanism, which then allows the handle to be pulled away from the handle receiver.

Abstract: In an implementation, an appearance of lens is displayed on a display device for a selected region of an image to magnify the selected region of the image in comparison with a portion of the image outside of the appearance of the lens. A zoomed-in view of the image is displayed on the display device by increasing magnification of the portion of the image outside the appearance of the lens successively as an animation until the magnification of the portion of the image outside of the appearance of the lens corresponds with the magnification of the selected region of the image within the appearance of the lens, at which point the appearance of the lens is no longer displayed.

Abstract: In an implementation, an appearance of lens is displayed on a display device for a selected region of an image to magnify the selected region of the image in comparison with a portion of the image outside of the appearance of the lens. A zoomed-in view of the image is displayed on the display device by increasing magnification of the portion of the image outside the appearance of the lens successively as an animation until the magnification of the portion of the image outside of the appearance of the lens corresponds with the magnification of the selected region of the image within the appearance of the lens, at which point the appearance of the lens is no longer displayed.

Abstract: An improved filter arrangement solves problems associated with dislodging the filter from a support basket at change-out when intimate contact between the filter and basket is no longer desirable. An elastomeric end cap is bonded to the distal end of the filtering medium. The end cap has a circular, outer perimeter defining a diameter less than the inner diameter of the filter basket. The end cap is dome shaped, such that when the filtering element is inserted into the filter basket with the end cap positioned adjacent the bottom of the filter basket, the end cap assumes a pressurized state when a fluid entering the filtering element applies pressure to the end cap, causing the outer perimeter of the end cap to expand radially outwardly, and a non-pressurized state wherein the outer perimeter of the end cap contracts, facilitating an easier removal of the element from the basket.

Abstract: A vent cap includes a main body configured to be received within an opening in a cover of a battery cell, the main body including a fluid flow path formed therethrough to facilitate a flow of a fluid to be added to the battery cell, a valve moveably disposed within the flow path to selectively open and close the fluid flow path, and a float coupled to the valve and positioned to float adjacent a surface of a fluid disposed within the battery cell, the float causing the valve to open the fluid flow path at a pre-determined fluid level within the battery cell to permit the fluid to be added to the battery cell to flow through the fluid flow path, wherein the fluid flow path is configured to minimize an impinging on the float by the fluid to be added to the battery cell.

Abstract: A method for displaying a region of interest within visual information on a display screen of a computer, the region of interest including a focal region and a base region. The method includes the steps of: providing means for selecting at least one parameter for transforming at least one of the region of interest, the focal region, and the base region; selecting the parameter using the means for selecting; transforming the visual information in accordance with a predetermined distortion function and the parameter to produce transformed visual information; and, displaying the transformed visual information on the display screen.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen of a client coupled over a network to a server, comprising: establishing a lens having a focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region; if the lens is in transit between first and second locations for the region-of-interest in the original image, applying the lens to the original image by a first method to generate the presentation at the client; and, if the lens is stationary in the original image, receiving the presentation from the server, the server applying the lens to the original image by a second method to generate the presentation.

Abstract: The ring seal and retainer assembly includes an annularly shaped ring seal defining a radial inner surface, a radial outer surface, first and second axial end surfaces and a central bore for fluid or gas passage. A retainer is provided for affixing and positioning a ring seal in a sealing assembly. The retainer includes a circular sidewall sized and positioned to engage and cover the ring seal's radial outer surface. The retainer includes an arcuate flange which extends at one of the retainer's axial extremities to form a concave interior and a convex exterior. Preferably, the arcuate flange extends outwardly to increase the retainer's radius and the arcuate flange is sized to compressibly engage the interior sidewall of the component block's counterbore.

Abstract: A segmented pulley transmission is provided. A pulley assembly is rotationally mounted on an axle. The pulley assembly includes a core pulley having a first set of mating features on a peripheral surface thereof. A pulley segment set comprises a number of pulley segments slidably mounted in the pulley assembly and arranged in a ring concentric with the core pulley. The pulley segments are individually actuatable out of the pulley assembly into an engaging position and into the pulley assembly into a non-engaging position. The pulley segments have a second set of mating features on an peripheral surface matching the first set of mating features. An endless drive member has corresponding mating features on an inside surface for engaging the first and second sets of mating features of the core pulley and the pulley segments in an engaging position. Contact between the endless drive member and a core pulley defines a contact zone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to linking a collection of words and/or phrases with locations in a video and/or audio stream where the words and/or phrases occur and/or associations of a collection of words and/or phrases with a call history.