Abstract: A wearable device that has an elongate first portion and a cover portion connected to the first portion. The first portion comprises a bi-stable core arranged longitudinally at least partially therethrough and the wearable device has a first stable state in which the bi-stable core is coiled and a second stable state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a rewards program for registered customers of a business make use of a central computer server and a database that is in communication with the central computer server and that stores data about the registered customers. Multiple mobile devices associated with the various registered customers communicate with the central computer server via a software application running on the mobile device, and a subset of the data from the database is thereby communicated to each of the multiple mobile devices from the central computer server. A query of the data about the registered customers is then initiated from the central computer server and communicated to each of the multiple mobile devices via the software application running on each of the multiple mobile devices, with a result of the query being processed on each of the multiple mobile devices then communicated back to the central computer server.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a lipped tray, intended for use on scaffold towers and adapted to hold builders' tools in use. The tray incorporates on each of its two opposite side edge regions a means which, when the tray is in use, locates the tray between horizontally successive rails of the tower in a manner which also causes the tray to engage with one at least of those rails and be supported, in use, by each of them.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing chewing gum, the method including feeding one or more gum ingredients including at least an elastomer into a continuous extruder including a plurality of screws, rotating screws and mixing the one or more ingredients via the rotating of the screws within the continuous extruder, forming a partial chewing gum base via the mixing of the one or more ingredients, creating a flow of the partial chewing gum base including the one or more ingredients through the continuous extruder towards a downstream extent of the plurality of screws via the rotating, and conveying the flow of the partial chewing gum base to a region of the continuous extruder that is proximate the downstream extent of the plurality of screws, wherein the flow includes a temperature of less than 90 degrees Celsius when the flow reaches the downstream extent of the plurality of screws. Some independent claims relate to a flow reaching two different temperatures that are within 20 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A head rest (10) comprises a curved sheet member (12) having an upper surface (14), a lower surface (16), and front and rear ends (18, 20), wherein the upper surface (14) comprises a generally forwardly facing portion (26) and a generally rearwardly facing portion (28), and wherein the generally forwardly facing portion (26) includes a first concave portion (34) for receiving the head of a user, the front and rear ends (18, 20) are configured for contact with a resting surface (38) and, between the front and rear ends (18, 20), the lower surface (16) defines a passageway (36) dimensioned to receive at least one arm of the user. The head rest has sufficient rigidity such that when the user's head is resting on the member (12), one or both arms of the user may be positioned in the passageway (36) in a manner that does not require the arm(s) to support the weight of the head. In this way, the head rest allows comfortable resting without loss of circulation in the arms.

Abstract: A head rest (10) comprises a curved sheet member (12) having an upper surface (14), a lower surface (16), and front and rear ends (18, 20), wherein the upper surface (14) comprises a generally forwardly facing portion (26) and a generally rearwardly facing portion (28), and wherein the generally forwardly facing portion (26) includes a first concave portion (34) for receiving the head of a user, the front and rear ends (18, 20) are configured for contact with a resting surface (38) and, between the front and rear ends (18, 20), the lower surface (16) defines a passageway (36) dimensioned to receive at least one arm of the user. The head rest has sufficient rigidity such that when the user's head is resting on the member (12), one or both arms of the user may be positioned in the passageway (36) in a manner that does not require the arm(s) to support the weight of the head. In this way, the head rest allows comfortable resting without loss of circulation in the arms.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a lipped tray, intended for use on scaffold towers and adapted to hold builders' tools in use. The tray incorporates on each of its two opposite side edge regions a means which, when the tray is in use, locates the tray between horizontally successive rails of the tower in a manner which also causes the tray to engage with one at least of those rails and be supported, in use, by each of them.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the specific gravity of a monophasic or polyphasic fluid flowing in a conduit. The apparatus employs an square wave shaped tube known for its effectiveness in differential pressure measurements. The apparatus is configured such that the differential pressure is measured in crosswise manner Pressure taps comprising high and low pressure taps for a respective pressure sensing device are associated with a different leg. The apparatus has also been found to be effective for determining flow rate of the fluid in the conduit using differential pressure measurements.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for detection of a position of a wave front in a signal received by a detector. This method includes converting the signal into a digital signal, defining a working group of N successive samples in the digital signal, and processing at least some of the samples in the working group. Energy of the signal is calculated from the processed samples in the working group in terms of the root mean square over a sliding window, the window including an optimum number Lopt of samples (Lopt is less than N). Also included is detecting the position of the wave front corresponding to the position of the sample for which the energy of the signal exceeds a threshold D that depends on the value of the energy of the signal previously at the wave front, for the first time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a film dispenser for dispensing a film web, at least one drive down roller configured to engage the width of the film web, and at least one roping mechanism. The at least one roping mechanism may be a cable rolling element configured to roll a portion of the film web into a rolled cable of film. The apparatus may also include means for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser to wrap a roped portion of the film web around a base of the load/top portion of a pallet supporting the load.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined substantially constant length of pre-stretched packaging material based upon load girth. Based upon the girth of the load to be wrapped, an amount of pre-stretched packaging material to be dispensed for each revolution of relative rotation between a packaging material dispenser and the load is determined. A rotational drive system used to provide the relative rotation is linked to a pre-stretch assembly portion of the packaging material dispenser. The linkage may be mechanical or electrical. The linkage controls a ratio of the rotational speed to the pre-stretch assembly dispensing speed, such that the predetermined substantially constant length of pre-stretched packaging material is dispensed for each revolution of the packaging material dispenser relative to the load regardless of the speed of the rotational drive.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined fixed amount of pre-stretched packaging material based upon load girth. A non-rotating ring carries a belt driven by a motor. A packaging material dispenser is mounted on a rotating ring, and the rotating ring may include a pulley that connects to the band, such that the rotating ring is driven by the drive belt. Based upon the girth of the load to be wrapped, an amount of pre-stretched packaging material to be dispensed for each revolution made by the rotating ring is determined. Good wrapping performance in terms of load containment (wrap force) and optimum packaging material use is obtained by dispensing a length of pre-stretched packaging material that is between approximately 90% and approximately 120% of load girth. Once the amount of packaging material to be dispensed per revolution is determined, a ratio of rotating ring drive to final pre-stretch surface speed (i.e.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a skid assembly for use with a cargo container. In one particular embodiment, the skid assembly comprises an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface; a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface; and at least two locking fittings, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to at least two corresponding castings located on the lower surface of a cargo container. Alternately, the skid assembly may comprise: an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, two end surfaces, and an end extension extending from each of the two end surfaces for slideably engaging at least two elongate tracks of a cargo locking system.

Abstract: Electromagnetic energy in the microwave range, radio frequency range or a combination of both frequencies may be used to treat poultry litter or other poultry wastes to remove or reduce pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. that affect poultry and human health. The treatment may be applied to the litter as well as to the floor upon which the litter is setting. The preselected amount and type of energy applied by radio frequency and microwave frequency depends upon the conditions of the litter and floor such as thickness, material, moisture content and length and of intensity of use of the litter. The litter may be treated in place on the floor to avoid contamination caused by moving the litter from the floor and into a treatment chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for detection of the position of a wave front in a signal received by a detector. This method consists of: converting the signal into a digital signal, defining a working group of N successive samples in the digital signal, and possibly processing the samples in the working group, calculating the energy of the signal from the processed samples in the working group, if any, in terms of the root mean square over a sliding window, the window comprising an optimum number Lopt of samples (Lopt is less than N), the position of the wave front corresponding to the position of the sample for which the energy of the signal exceeds a threshold D that depends on the value of the energy of the signal previously at the wave front, for the first time.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a skid assembly for use with a cargo container. In one particular embodiment, the skid assembly comprises an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface; a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface; and at least two locking fittings, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to at least two corresponding castings located on the lower surface of a cargo container. Alternately, the skid assembly may comprise: an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, two end surfaces, and an end extension extending from each of the two end surfaces for slideably engaging at least two elongate tracks of a cargo locking system.

Abstract: Ammonia in the air exhausted from animal containment facilities may be removed by scrubbing the air with a solution of a suitable salt of an acidic proton donor such as alum. Ammonia may be removed from the air within any enclosed animal building which includes at least one air inlet and at least one outlet, a ventilation system having an air mover effective to draw fresh air into the building through the inlet and exhaust contaminated air through the outlet, and an air scrubber in communication with the outlet. Prior to exhausting the air into the environment, the air is passed through the scrubber where it is contacted with a solution of the salt of an acidic proton donor effective for flocculating ammonia therein. The flocculated ammonia may then be removed from the solution, which may then be recycled to the scrubber.

Abstract: A memory includes: a memory array having a plurality of storage elements; a plurality of replacement storage elements; a plurality of address fuse units, each having a plurality of fusible links and being operable to store a replacement address, each replacement address identifying one of the storage elements of the memory array to be replaced by an associated one of the replacement storage elements and forming a respective 2m bit row or 2n bit column of a fuse array; a vector generator operable to produce a 2n bit row vector based on the rows of the fuse array and to produce a 2m bit column vector based on the columns of the fuse array; and a compression unit operable to produce a row checksum from the row vector and to produce a column checksum from the column vector.

Abstract: A current measurement circuit and method for testing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a voltage regulating circuit, the voltage regulating circuit being activated as needed to maintain a required voltage level; monitoring the voltage regulating circuit to determine a number of times it is activated during a sample period; and comparing the number of activations to a predetermined limit whereby if the number of activations exceeds the predetermined limit the semiconductor device is defective. The current measurement circuit includes an external clock for providing a clock signal; a first counter for counting when the voltage regulating circuit is activated; a second counter for counting clock cycles of a sample period; and a register for storing the number of activations, wherein the number of activations represents a relative current consumption value of the semiconductor device.