Abstract: A dock leveler includes a lip that not only pivots between an extended operative position and a pendant position relative to a deck but also translates in its pendant position between blocking and non-blocking positions. A fastener connects the lip to a hinge in such a way as to minimize the stress between the fastener and the lip. The hinge includes a lip-facing surface into which the fastener is anchored, wherein the fastener is tilted out of perpendicularity to the lip-facing surface. The head of the fastener is held parallel to the lip even though an angled gap may exist between the lip and the lip-facing surface of the hinge.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of devices for capturing obstructions within passageways. The devices disclosed herein may include a flexible tubular body forming multiple flexible members arranged in a helical pattern. These flexible members may be expandable to form one or more cages when the tubular body is expanded to an increased diameter state. The cages may be generally centered around the longitudinal axis of the tubular body between the two ends of the body. Also disclosed herein are methods for capturing obstructions within passageways, methods for obtaining tissue samples from body passages, and methods for making devices for capturing obstructions within passageways.

Abstract: Articles made of shape memory alloys having improved fatigue performance and to methods of treating articles formed from shape memory alloy materials by pre-straining the articles (or desired portions of the articles) in a controlled manner so that the resultant articles exhibit improved fatigue performance. The shape memory articles are preferably medical devices, more preferably implantable medical devices. They are most preferably devices of nitinol shape memory alloy, most particularly that is superelastic at normal body temperature. The pre-straining method of the present invention as performed on such articles includes the controlled introduction of non-recoverable tensile strains greater than about 0.20% at the surface of a desired portion of a shape memory alloy article. Controlled pre-straining operations are performed on the shape-set nitinol metal to achieve non-recoverable tensile strain greater than about 0.20% at or near the surface of selected regions in the nitinol metal article.

Abstract: A filter for producing potable water filter comprises a housing including a water inlet and a water outlet, and a filter material arranged within the housing. The filter material comprises activated carbon particles, and a plurality of carbon nanofilaments disposed on the surface of the activated carbon particles. The filter is operable to provide potable water by removing contaminants from a liquid water stream flowing from the water inlet to the water outlet of the housing.

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for selectively inclusive multi-level cache. When data for which memory coherency is designated is received from a process and stored into a lower level cache the data is copied into a higher level of cache. When the data is snooped it is snooped from the higher level cache and not the lower level of cache. When data is invalidated in the higher level cache, the data is invalidated in the lower level cache also. Lines of higher level cache are inclusive of lower level cache lines for data for which memory coherency is designated, but need not be inclusive of data for which coherency is not designated.

Abstract: Phosphonate substituted compounds with HIV protease inhibitory properties having use as therapeutics and for other industrial purposes are disclosed. The compositions inhibit 5 HIV protease activity and/or are useful therapeutically for the treatment of AIDS and other antiviral infections, as well as in assays for the detection of HIV protease.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention identify a flaw in a structure by comparing a first interference pattern resulting from a first wave signal and a second wave signal propagating through the structure to a second interference pattern resulting from the first wave signal and the second wave signal propagating through the structure. The second interference pattern is obtained after obtaining the first interference pattern. It is determined whether there is a flaw in the structure by determining whether the first interference pattern deviates from the second interference pattern by a predetermined variance.

Abstract: An energy efficient gaming machine includes a cabinet housing, one or more buttons positioned on the cabinet that are illuminated with light emitting diodes. The energy efficient gaming machine also includes one or more displays illuminated with one or more cold cathode lights, one or more light emitting diodes, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining power events on an I/C chip for undissipated power to the chip, and wherein the chip includes a plurality of separately regulatable power consumers. A structure is provided for monitoring the occurrence of each power event to each power consumer, and determining the dissipation of power from each power event, and controlling power used by the chip responsive to the amount of undissipated power.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a universal button module for use in connection with a machine, including a gaming machine. The universal button module is adaptable to perform particular functions in gaming machines such as controlling the selection of the number of pay lines to play or the number of credits to bet per pay line. Additionally, the universal button module comprises a display button positioned between the first button portion and the second button portion, wherein the display button portion displays information and may be manipulated to activate a function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a universal button module for use in connection with a machine, including a gaming machine. The universal button module is adaptable to perform particular functions in gaming machines such as controlling the selection of the number of pay lines to play or the number of credits to bet per pay line. Additionally, the universal button module comprises a display for outputting information.

Abstract: Systems and arrangements promoting a line from shared to exclusive in cache are contemplated. Embodiments include a cache controller adapted to determine whether a memory line for which the processor is to issue an address-only kill request resides in a fill buffer for the cache line in a shared state. If so, the cache controller may mark the fill buffer as not having completed bus transactions and issue the address-only kill request for that fill buffer. The address-only kill request may transmit to other processors on the bus and the other processors may respond by invalidating the cache entries for the memory line. Upon confirmation from the other processors, a bus arbiter may confirm the kill request, promoting the memory line already in that fill buffer to exclusive state. Once promoted, the fill buffer may be marked as having completed the bus transactions and may be written into the cache.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a dry-type, resin-encapsulated transformer coil that includes forming a plurality of conductive layers and positioning a plurality of pre-formed plastic cooling ducts so as to be disposed between the conductive layers.

Abstract: A gaming machine having a cabinet comprising at least one convenience platform pivotally and detachably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the convenience platform is movable between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a fluid pervious topsheet, a fluid impervious backsheet which may be joined to the topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. Additionally, the absorbent core comprises at least a superabsorbent material comprising a base polymer having a surface coating comprising a polyammonium carbonate. The result is an absorbent article which exhibits improved performance as well as greater comfort and confidence among the user.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a fluid pervious topsheet, a fluid impervious backsheet which may be joined to the topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. Additionally, the absorbent core comprises at least a superabsorbent material which contains at least a base polymer that has a pH less than six and has a surface coating comprising a polyamine. The result is an absorbent article which exhibits improved performance as well as greater comfort and confidence among the user.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a fluid pervious topsheet, a fluid impervious backsheet which may be joined to the topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. Additionally, the absorbent core comprises at least a superabsorbent material comprising a base polymer having a surface coating which comprises a polyamine and salt having at least one of a polyvalent metal cation and a polyvalent anion. The result is an absorbent article which exhibits improved performance as well as greater comfort and confidence among the user.

Abstract: Provided is a locking segmented handle for use with a cleaning implement and the like. The handle includes two or more segments that are coupled at assembly to form the handle. Each segment includes connector elements at connector ends of the segments. The connector elements of each segment include components that cooperate with corresponding components of the connector elements of other segments to preclude relative rotational motion of the segments after complete assembly of the segments to form the handle.

Abstract: A color-stable superabsorbent polymer having long-term color stability, and methods of manufacturing the polymer, are disclosed. The superabsorbent polymer is prepared using a sulfinic acid derivative, like 2-hydroxy-2-sulfinatoacetic acid, a salt thereof, or a mixture thereof, as the reducing agent in a polymerization initiator system for the preparation of a superabsorbent polymer from monomers. The resulting superabsorbent polymer resists color degradation during periods of extended storage, even at an elevated temperature and humidity.

Abstract: To permit below-dock level end-loading operations and to limit accidental freefalling of a dock leveler's deck, a dock leveler includes a unique support mechanism that employs one or more safety legs with an integral or operatively connected lip deflector. The support mechanism can be selectively moved to a deck-supporting position for freefall protection or moved to a lip-deflecting position for below dock level end-loading operations. In the deck-supporting position, the safety leg prevents the deck from falling an unsafe distance. In the lip-deflecting position, the lip deflector guides the descending motion of the dock leveler's lip extension plate so that the lip, while hanging pendant, can bypass and descend below a set of lip keepers.