Abstract: A bus bridge situated between two buses includes two queues: an outbound request queue and an inbound request queue. Requests originating on the first bus which target a destination on the second bus are placed into the outbound request queue. Requests originating on the second bus which target a destination on the first bus are placed into the inbound request queue. A transaction arbitration unit (TAU) within the bridge maintains transaction ordering and avoids deadlocks. The TAU determines whether requests can be placed in the inbound request queue. The TAU also determines whether requests originating on the first bus can be responded to immediately or whether the agent originating the request must wait for a reply. In addition, the TAU includes logic for determining whether a request in the outbound request queue can be executed on the second bus.

Abstract: A bus bridge situated between two buses includes two queues: an outbound request queue and an inbound request queue. Requests originating on the first bus which target a destination on the second bus are placed into the outbound request queue. Decoding circuitry within the bridge issues a deferred response if the request can be deferred. This deferred response is returned to the originating agent on the first bus, thereby informing the originating agent that the request will be serviced at a later time. Bus control circuitry coupled to the outbound request queue removes requests from the outbound request queue and executes them on the second bus. The bus control circuitry receives a response from the destination agent on the second bus in response to the execution of the outbound request. This response is returned to the originating agent either immediately or after passing through an inbound request queue.

Abstract: An ice-gripping sandal for securement to other primary footwear. The sandal comprises a sole, a toe strapping assembly and a heel strapping assembly. The sole has plural groups of cleats projecting therefrom. Some of the cleats extend at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the sole and include portions having ice-gripping screws. Grooves are provided between the cleats in the forefoot and toe portions of the sole. The width and depth of those grooves increase from the medial side of the sole to the lateral side of the sole to facilitate the release of material which may tend to adhere therein when the wearer walks. The toe strapping assembly includes plural flexible straps which produce an adjustable size toe box for receipt of the toe of the primary footwear. The straps of both of the strapping assemblies include VELCRO.RTM. fastening strips.

Abstract: A harnesses for protecting a worker from a fall off of an elevated structure. The harness is arranged to suspend a tool belt therefrom and harness comprises a pair of leg straps, a pair of upper torso straps, a pair of rappelling straps, a seat strap, and four belt suspenders. Each of the upper torso straps includes a chest strap portion and a back strap portion, with the chest strap portions extending across respective portions of the chest of the worker. The back strap portions extend across respective portions of the back of the worker. Two of the belt suspenders are mounted on respective ones of the back strap portions and include extendable free end portions have respective hooks thereon for releasable securement to respective rear portions of the tool belt. The other two belt suspenders are mounted on respective ones of the chest strap portions and include respective hooks for releasable securement to respective front portions of the tool belt.

Abstract: An ice-gripping sandal for securement to the sole of a boot or other primary footwear. The sandal comprises a sole and plural attachment straps for mounting the sandal on the boot. The sandal's sole has a bottom surface having plural ice-gripping teeth. The attachment straps are secured to the sole and comprise a short front strap and a long front strap and a pair of short rear straps. The long front strap is arranged to be extended through a loop in the short front strap and about the upper of the boot through loops in the rear straps so that its free end is connected to a buckle mounted on the short front strap at the toe of the boot, thereby forming "figure 8" strap pattern. A pair of cooperating VELCRO.RTM. fastening strips are secured onto the long strap to hold the long strap in the buckle.

Abstract: A circuit within a bus bridge operating in a first clock domain and a second clock domain, wherein the circuit allows data, address or any other information to be reliably transferred between the first and second clock domains regardless whether or not an internal bus clock of the second clock domain is operating in a synchronous or asynchronous fashion, while the circuit still minimizes clock skew between the internal bus clocks of both clock domains as well as any corresponding external bus clocks.

Abstract: A system and method of use for attaching a safety rope to an elevated portion of a tower, e.g., an electric power transmission tower, so that the rope extends along the tower's leg from the elevated portion to a lower portion, e.g., the ground, to enable a worker may be secured to the rope by a safety device, e.g., a rope grab, to protect the worker from a fall. The system comprises an air rifle for shooting a projectile having a light weight flexible filament secured to it over the elevated portion of the tower, the safety rope, and plural rope-retaining gates. Once the projectile has been shot over the tower to carry the filament over the elevated portion the safety rope is connected to the filament and pulled over the elevated portion of the tower. The safety rope is then secured in place extending vertically between the elevated portion and the ground.

Abstract: A computer system bootstrap loads a processor and associated memory from an external memory device instead of being bootstrap loaded from on-board read only memory. The computer system is comprised of a system bus, a processing component, a first system memory device, a memory card interface controller, and an external memory device connected to the memory card interface controller. The system also includes a second system memory device, a keyboard memory device, a keyboard controller and a reset switch for causing a reset and initialization of the processing component. Upon reset, the logic in the memory card interface controller remaps the address space associated with the first system memory device to the external memory device and remaps the address space associated with the second system memory device to the keyboard memory device.

Abstract: An convertible overshoe for disposition on one primary shoe and being convertible for disposition on a larger primary shoe. Each of said primary shoes has an outer surface. The overshoe is formed as an integral unit of an elastic material, e.g., rubber, and comprises a sole and an upper. The sole includes anti-slip grit on its outer surface. The upper is in the form of a peripheral sidewall having an opening at the top edge thereof. The opening is of a sufficient size to enable a primary shoe to be extended therethrough so that it is received closely within the overshoe to prevent the overshoe from falling off. The sidewall of the upper includes a reinforcing strip in the form of a continuous thickened bead extending along a portion of the peripheral edge of the opening and spaced below that edge and an associated contiguous portion defining a trim line.

Abstract: A connector device for releasable securement to a post of scaffolding on which a worker wearing a safety restraint member, e.g., safety belt and associated lanyard, will be disposed. The post terminates at a free upper end. The connector device basically comprises a hollow cup-shaped member formed of any suitable flexible material, e.g., a fabric of nylon or polyester, having a top portion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion. The hollow interior is arranged to receive the top free end of the scaffold post therein. A reinforcing patch is disposed at the top of the hollow interior to abut the top free end of the scaffold post when it is located within the hollow interior of the connecting device. A ring, e.g., of metal, is pivotally secured to the outside of the downwardly depending skirt and is arranged to have the safety device, e.g., the lanyard, releasably secured thereto when the cup-shaped connector device is mounted on the scaffold post.

Abstract: A connector assembly for releasable securement to a portion of scaffolding on which a worker wearing a safety restraint member, e.g., safety belt and associated lanyard, will be disposed. The portion of the scaffolding comprises a cylindrical section having a pair of collars disposed on it. Each of the collars defines a channel between it and the cylindrical section. The connector assembly comprises an insert, a first connector pivotally secured by a bolt to the insert, a strap formed of a flexible web of material and having a loop at one end secured to the first connector, and D-ring secured to a loop at the other end of the strap. The insert has a pair of projections, each of which is arranged to be located within a respective one of the channels between the collars and the cylindrical section of the scaffolding to releasably secure the insert in place with respect to the scaffolding. The D-ring serves as a convenient connector for securing the lanyard thereto.

Abstract: An ice-gripping sandal for securement to the sole of a boot or other primary footwear. The sandal comprises a sole and plural attachment straps for mounting the sandal on the boot. The sandal's sole has a bottom surface having plural ice-gripping teeth. The attachment straps are secured to the sole and comprise a short front strap and a long front strap and a pair of short rear straps. The long front strap is arranged to be extended through a loop in the short front strap and about the upper of the boot through loops in the rear straps so that its free end is connected to a buckle mounted on the short front strap at the toe of the boot, thereby forming "figure 8" strap pattern. A pair of cooperating VELCRO.RTM. fastening strips are secured onto the long strap to hold the long strap in the buckle.

Abstract: An integrated safety system (20) comprises a rope grab (100), a body engagement device such as a harness (200, 201) or waist belt to be worn by a person (22), a lanyard (104) and lowering device (300). The harness (200, 201), which also constitutes a part of the invention by itself, comprises a compartment (202) for the lowering device (300), and also a first connector (224), a second connector (220) and in one embodiment (201) additionally comprises a third connector (600). The lanyard (104) is securable to the first connector (224) of the harness (200, 201) and to the rope grab (100) to enable the person (22) to be suspended thereby in the event of a fall. The lowering device (300) is stored in the compartment (202) of the harness (200, 201) until needed and is arranged to be mounted on the safety line (28) by the person (22) while the person is suspended thereby after a fall.

Abstract: Harnesses to be worn by persons located at an elevated position for releasable securement to a holding or lowering device to protect the persons from falling. Each harness is formed of interconnected webs of flexible, e.g., nylon, material. Some harnesses include a pair of extendable, flexible, rappelling straps for connection to a holding or lowering device. Some harnesses include a pair of vertically oriented waist belt positioning straps located on the rear of those harnesses for adjusting the height of the waist belt at the rear of the harnesses. Some harnesses includes passageways through portions thereof adjacent the front of those harnesses and through which respective waist belts extend to releasably secure them to the harnesses. The waist belt of various harness includes a positionable tool case thereon. The waist belts of some harnesses each include a positioning pad releasably secured thereto.

Abstract: A safety system for connection to at least one fixed, elongated, structural component, e.g., an I-beam, of a static structure, e.g., a building being erected, to protect a worker located on the structure from falling thereoff. The system comprising first and second releasably securable mounting assemblies frictionally secured at respective spaced locations on the structural component, a rope or cable connected between the mounting assemblies, and a sliding anchor mounted on the rope. The sliding anchor comprising a tubular member mounted on the rope means for sliding therealong to a desired position whereupon it can be actuated to releasably secured it against further sliding. The worker wears a supporting belt, harness or other device, which is connected, via a lanyard and an associated shock absorber, to the sliding anchor, to thereby prevent he/she from falling more than a predetermined distance away from said sliding anchor.

Abstract: A rope grab for protecting a worker at an elevated position from a fall. The rope grab is disposed on a vertically extending safety line and is connected to the worker by a lanyard. The rope grab includes housing having a pivotable actuator mounted thereon. The actuator includes an serrated extension for engaging the safety line. A rupturable capsule containing an indicating liquid is located in the housing. The actuator is connected to the lanyard to secure the worker to the rope grab and is pivotable upon a downward pull thereon to move the serrated extension from a first position to a second position. When the serrated extension is in the first position it engages the safety line slightly to permit the rope grab to be slid therealong.

Abstract: A lanyard for connection to safety device, e.g., a belt or harness, worn by a worker and for connection to an anchor point. The lanyard is arranged to be used in a method to prevent the worker from falling. The lanyard comprising a flexible member, e.g., nylon or polyester webbing, having first, second, and third, elongated sections, each of the sections having a first end and a second end. The second ends of all of the sections are connected, e.g., sewn, to one another. Each of the first ends of the lanyard includes a respective connector, e.g., a clasp, mounted thereon. In accordance with the method of use the connector of the first section is releasably secured to the safety device, while the connectors of the second and third sections are releasably secured to the anchor point. A shock absorber may be included in the first section of the lanyard.

Abstract: A buckle for a belt or harness comprising a ring member defining a hollow interior space, a slidable bar, and releasable securable lock. The ring member has a first and a second side section, and a first and a second end section, which are connected to one another. The slidable bar is mounted between the side sections and is movable between a position immediately adjacent the first end section and a position immediately adjacent the second end section. The first end section of the buckle is securable to one portion of a web of the belt or harness. A free end portion of a web of the belt or harness is arranged to extend through the ring's interior space between the first end section and the slidable bar, around the bar, and through the space between the bar and the second end section, from which it exits beyond the second end section of the buckle.

Abstract: A fall arrest lanyard for use by a worker at an elevated position on a pole, e.g., a telephone pole. The lanyard comprises a flexible strap and a pair of gripping units. The strap is arranged to be releasably connected to the worker to form a loop encircling the pole. Each of the gripping units comprises an elongated, arcuate tubular member having a handgrip at one end and pole penetrating members at the other end. The strap extends through both tubular members. The penetrating members are made up of an enlarged head having a plurality of larger upper teeth and a plurality of small lower teeth. Each tooth has a horizontally disposed cutting edge. The gripping units are arranged to be manipulated by the worker grasping the handgrips to cause the cutting edges of all of the teeth to penetrate into the material of the pole.

Abstract: A harness to be worn by a person located at an elevated position for releasable securement to a holding or lowering device to protect the person from falling. The harness is formed of interconnected webs of flexible, e.g., nylon, material. The harness includes a pair of extendable, flexible, rapelling straps for connection to the holding or lowering device. Each rapelling strap includes a passageway through which a waist belt extends to releasably secure it to the harness. The waist belt includes a positionable tool case thereon. A positioning pad may be releasably secured to the waist belt.