Abstract: A computer system displays a first application user interface at a first location in a three-dimensional environment. While displaying the first application user interface at the first location in the three-dimensional environment, the computer system detects, at a first time, a first input corresponding to a request to close the first application user interface. In response to detecting the first input corresponding to a request to close the first application user interface: the computer system closes the first application user interface, including ceasing to display the first application user interface in the three-dimensional environment; and, in accordance with a determination that respective criteria are met, the computer system displays a home menu user interface at a respective home menu position that is determined based on the first location of the first application user interface in the three-dimensional environment.

Abstract: Computerized systems and methods are provided for automatically generating an application overflow tool that is dynamically updated and arranged to provide improved access to popular or recently used applications. These systems and methods improve existing technologies by generating an overflow panel different from a task bar, such that the overflow panel provides access to most recently used applications that are not on the task bar. As such, ease of access to applications is improved to increase user efficiency. These systems also improve the way computers operate by leveraging existing GUI layouts to reduce computing resource consumption, such as memory, network latency, I/O, and the like, that would otherwise be required improve access to applications.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved method and apparatus, associated with a self-piercing valve assembly for mounting the self-piercing valve on a pipe and for constraining movement of the valve on the pipe. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a self-piercing valve assembly comprises a clamping assembly and a crimping member associated with the clamping assembly, which crimping member "automatically" crimps a pipe and forms a recess therein when the self-piercing valve clamping assembly is tightened about the pipe, and simultaneously effects a crimping member/recess interface (much like a key-and-keyway interface) which inhibits relative angular rotation between the pipe and valve. The crimping member is, preferably, a rigid, projection or tab.

Abstract: An self-regulating quarter turn faucet valve is fabricated entirely of non-metal parts for use in purified and distilled water dispensing faucets. The valve has wall dimensions that are designed to withstand the torque and tensile forces generated when the valve is threaded into a faucet receptacle and has key operational components located in non-stressed areas of the valve to prevent destructive shear forces during operation. A stacked polished ceramic disc arrangement is used to shut the valve on and off through rotation of the discs relative to each other to align and misalign wing-shaped openings formed in the discs.

Abstract: An improved garbage disposal assembly with an apparatus and related method for selectively varying the sink-side appearance of the garbage disposal assembly. In its preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a decorative flange mask for covering a sink flange of a garbage disposal. A sink flange includes an open cylindrical body portion for insertion through a drainage hole of a sink bottom and an annular lip portion extending radially outward from one end of the cylindrical body portion for location above the sink bottom. The decorative flange mask, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes an open cylindrical mask body for insertion into the cylindrical body portion of the sink flange and an annular mask lip connected to and extending radially outward from one end of the cylindrical mask body for covering the annular lip portion of the sink flange.

Abstract: A hand-held marking device comprises an electrically actuated writing head for making marks on a writing surface and a sensor for detecting when the writing head is moving in any direction in a plane parallel to the surface. The device includes a mechanism for causing the head to be actuated when the sensor detects relative movement of the writing head and the surface. The writing head can be arranged to be able to make a plurality of different types or sizes of marks on a writing surface, in which case a mechanism is provided for selecting which of the different mark types or sizes is to be made.

Abstract: An improved garbage disposal assembly with an apparatus and related method for selectively varying the sink-side appearance of the garbage disposal assembly. In its preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a decorative flange mask for covering a sink flange of a garbage disposal. A sink flange includes an open cylindrical body portion for insertion through a drainage hole of a sink bottom and an annular lip portion extending radially outward from one end of the cylindrical body portion for location above the sink bottom. The decorative flange mask, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes an open cylindrical mask body for insertion into the cylindrical body portion of the sink flange and an annular mask lip connected to and extending radially outward from one end of the cylindrical mask body for covering the annular lip portion of the sink flange.

Abstract: An air distribution housing in an automotive air conditioning system includes spaced wall portions forming an air passage for flow of conditioned air into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle; each of the wall portions having pins directed internally of the wall portions without forming openings therethrough and including distal ends thereon inserted into a tubular end portion of the valve member for pivotally supporting the valve member within the air passage without penetrating through the spaced wall portions so as to prevent air leakage and resultant noise from the air distribution housing. A method of assembly of the air distribution housing includes the steps of providing two separate housing parts with integrally formed pins on the inner surfaces thereof; providing a valve door with a pivot tube on one end thereof; vertically locating one end of the tube on one of the pins; thereafter joining the housing parts to locate the other pin in the other end of the pivot tube.

Abstract: A fluid compressor comprises a casing containing liquid and having located within it a shaft driven radial impeller for pressurizing the liquid before it is fed to a further rotatable structure. By rotation of the impeller and the further rotatable structure, the high pressure liquid compresses a gas or vapor within the compressor casing and expels it from the casing through an outlet port therein. The high pressure liquid inlet end of the rotatable structure is partially shrouded by a shroud structure to restrict the input of high pressure liquid to part of the rotatable structure. The shroud structure has an opening therein which allows the high pressure liquid entering the rotatable structure to be depressurized and returned to the inlet end of the radial impeller after compressing the gas or vapor. By so doing, further gas or vapor for compression will be drawn into the compressor casing.

Abstract: Excavating apparatus of limited mobility adapted primarily for indoor use on brick or cement floors and having a body adapted to make substantially planar contact with the floor. The apparatus is stabilized by at least one pair of legs having respective retractile feet spaced from the body and respective, substantially planar pads connected to the free ends of the feet. The legs are also pivotally attached at an inner end remote from the pads to respective sides of the apparatus for lateral rotation towards and away from each other so as to vary the distance separating the feet.

Abstract: A rotary pump system for pumping a liquid which is delivered under pressure from a backing pump 8, in which a rotary pump 1 has a pump body which is required to be drained of liquid at times when the pump 1 is inoperative, wherein the backing pump 8 has a by-pass circuit between its inlet and outlet ports, the by-pass circuit comprisng a multiphase pump 13 which has a suction inlet 14 connected to a drain point 16 on the pump 1 body and a vortex chamber 17 through which liquid passes from the pump 13 outlet to the backing pump 8 inlet, a central outlet 18 of said vortex chamber being connected to an inlet port 6 of said pump 1. This allows automatic draining of the pump 1 body when use of this pump is not required.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for use in rotary wing aircraft is described. The system comprises a separating means 10 for: receiving an air, vapor and fuel mixture at relatively low pressure from a fuel tank; separating the air and the vapor from the mixture; and providing a fuel supply at a relatively high pressure, and a pump means 12 for returning the separated air and vapor to the tank.

Abstract: Cigarette rod or cigarette filter rod comprising an outer, longitudinally seamed wrapper is monitored, to detect defects in the longitudinal seam, by directing, from a nozzle, a stream of air tangentially of the rod, whereby the air flows in Coanda effect contact with the rod, and audio detecting the presence or absence of air, at a location spaced from the nozzle, in accordance with the presence or absence of a seam defect.

Abstract: A pattern recognition system which produces from any object a diffraction pattern-typically an optical Fourier transform of the object, on a high resolution detector. Different points in the detector can be addressed by a scanning device to produce an electrical signal which can be digitized if required before being processed and compared with reference signals in a processor. A reduction in the formation to be scanned and pattern matched is obtained by using an optical Fourier transform or the like of the original object.

Abstract: A fuel monitoring system comprises a centrifugal air separation chamber having input and output Venturi devices. The system is arranged so that fuel from the fuel tank of the aircraft is pumped to the input Venturi device which due to the pressure drop therein, serves to release air from the fuel before it passes into the centrifugal air separation chamber where the air released from the fuel is separated out and exhausted from the chamber, whereas the substantially de-aerated fuel passes from the separation chamber into the output Venturi device, which produces a pressure drop enabling the vapor pressure of the de-aerated fuel to be determined therefrom.

Abstract: In a simple optical fibre duplex coupler of high light-coupling efficiency, two elongate optical guides are so arranged that, over a part of their lengths extending from one end of the coupler, one optical guide surrounds and is coaxial with the other optical guide with their neighboring end faces lying in a substantially common plane. At a position intermediate the ends of the coupler, the optical guides separate into distinct optical channels. The optical guides are surrounded by and enclosed in a body 1 of a transparent plastics material having a refractive index less than that of the outer optical guide. Preferably, the inner optical guide is a composite optical fibre and the outer optical guide is an elongate body of moulded transparent plastics material having a refractive index greater than that of the material of the cladding of the composite optical fibre.

Abstract: A jet pump having a diffuser, a mixing section and a nozzle produced by electroforming onto at least one highly polished mandrel, whereby the diffuser, mixing section and nozzle have a surface finish of substantially the same quality as the mandrel.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for detecting water-based residues in translucent bottles, in which energy in two parts of the spectrum in and near the infra-red region, in one of which parts (0.8 to 0.9 microns) water is relatively transparent and the other of which parts (1.2 to 1.6 microns) water is more strongly absorbent is transmitted through a bottle, and the intensities of the emergent energies in the two parts are separately measured by a silicon detector and a germanium detector, associated with respective collimator tubes and filters, and are compared to produce a signal indicative of the presence of water in the bottle.

Abstract: A sound deadening coating is provided on an article, such as an engine cover, by applying a polysulphide, silicone or polyurethane rubber layer to the surface of the article and applying a layer of zinc, aluminium or ferrous metal or their alloys to the rubber layer. Preferably, polysulphide rubber and zinc metal are used. The metal or alloy may be applied to the rubber layer when the latter is only partly cured. Preferably, the rubber and metal layers are sprayed.

Abstract: A radial flow centrifugal impeller comprising an even number of re-heat flow ports, a main engine flow port, and a drive shaft having a helical impeller arrangement provided on its circumference and impeller blades mounted on the circumference of the helical impeller arrangement, each impeller blade having a flat peripheral first portion adjacent each re-heat flow port and a flat peripheral second portion adjacent the main engine flow port, the ratio of the size of the first portions on all the impeller blades to the size of the second portions on all the impeller blades being effective to control the ratio of the fuel flowing through the re-heat flow ports and the main engine flow port, and the re-heat flow ports being symmetrically disposed about the radial flow centrifugal impeller.