Abstract: The present invention relates primarily to a method of fabrication of one or more free-standing micromachined parts. The method includes performing reactive ion etching of photoresist and tungsten-based layers supported on a carrier substrate to thereby define one or more micromachined parts, followed by separating the resulting one or more micromachined parts from the carrier substrate such that the parts are free-standing. The invention also relates to tungsten-based microprobe obtainable by such a method, wherein the microprobe has a substantially square or rectangular cross-section in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the microprobe, and to probe cards comprising a plurality of such microprobes.

Abstract: The present invention relates primarily to a method of fabrication of one or more free-standing micromachined parts. The method includes performing reactive ion etching of photoresist and tungsten-based layers supported on a carrier substrate to thereby define one or more micromachined parts, followed by separating the resulting one or more micromachined parts from the carrier substrate such that the parts are free-standing. The invention also relates to tungsten-based microprobe obtainable by such a method, wherein the microprobe has a substantially square or rectangular cross-section in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the microprobe, and to probe cards comprising a plurality of such microprobes.

Abstract: A material handling cart is provided, having a frame with wheels and engaging members for supporting a part carried by the cart. Each engaging member has an engaging surface including a material for protecting a corresponding surface of the part from damage. Upper supports are attached to the frame and extend upward to a distal end, and have a height equal to or greater than a height of the part when the part is carried by the cart. Each upper support has an upper stacking coupler at its distal end. Lower stacking couplers are attached to the bottom of the frame. The lower stacking couplers engage upper stacking couplers of a second identical cart, to stack the cart above the second cart. The upper stacking couplers engage lower stacking couplers of a third identical cart, to stack the third material handling cart above the cart.

Abstract: A thermal insulation and fire protection felt product is provided. The felt product includes a first layer including a first plurality of nonwoven mechanically entangled oxidized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor fibers bonded together by a first plurality of melted thermoplastic polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) fibers homogeneously mixed with the first plurality of mechanically entangled PAN precursor fibers. The first plurality of melted thermoplastic PPS fibers form a matrix of bond points between individual fibers of the first plurality of mechanically entangled PAN fibers. A second layer includes a second plurality of nonwoven mechanically entangled oxidized PAN precursor fibers bonded together by a second plurality of melted thermoplastic PPS fibers homogeneously mixed with the second plurality of mechanically entangled PAN precursor fibers.

Abstract: A material handling cart is provided, having a frame with wheels and engaging members for supporting a part carried by the cart. Each engaging member has an engaging surface including a material for protecting a corresponding surface of the part from damage. Upper supports are attached to the frame and extend upward to a distal end, and have a height equal to or greater than a height of the part when the part is carried by the cart. Each upper support has an upper stacking coupler at its distal end. Lower stacking couplers are attached to the bottom of the frame. The lower stacking couplers engage upper stacking couplers of a second identical cart, to stack the cart above the second cart. The upper stacking couplers engage lower stacking couplers of a third identical cart, to stack the third material handling cart above the cart.

Abstract: A material handling basket is provided comprising a base having two opposing pairs of substantially vertical outer walls. First and second sheet-metal dividers respectively extend between a first and second pair of the opposed vertical outer walls, and have a tab at each opposing end extending toward one of the walls of the first and second pairs of walls. Each of the walls of the first pair of walls has openings for accepting one of the tabs for positioning the first dividers relative to the respective wall; and each of the walls of the second pair of walls has openings for accepting one of the tabs for positioning the second dividers relative to the respective wall. Each of the tabs is rigidly joined to the respective opening to retain the first and second dividers between the first and second pairs of outer walls.

Abstract: A material handling device is provided. The material handling device includes a bottom, a frame, a wall, an a plurality of wheels. The bottom includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The frame includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The wall surrounds the bottom and the frame, and includes an inner surface, an outer surface and an inner shelf attached to a lower portion of the inner surface. The inner surface includes an upper surface attached to a portion of the lower surface of the bottom, and a lower surface attached to a portion of the upper surface of the frame. Each wheel is attached to the lower surface of the frame.

Abstract: A coupon dispensing module for use in conjunction with a vending machine includes a selection mechanism adapted to interrogate a database to determine whether a desired coupon corresponds to the desired product, a printing mechanism adapted to print the desired coupon, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the desired coupon upon the receipt of an actuating signal, and a control circuit coupled to the vending machine, the control circuit operating to interrogate the database to determine whether the desired coupon is available, operate the printing mechanism based on requirements of the desired coupon, and provide the actuating signal to the dispensing mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for managing the use of storage devices on a network of computing devices, the network comprising a plurality of computing devices each running different operating systems, at least one data storage device, and a management system for controlling archival of data from the computing devices to the data storage device, the management system including a database of data previously archived; the apparatus comprising an agent running on a first computing device attached to the network, the first computing device running a first operating system, the agent being adapted to issue an instruction to a second computing device being one of the plurality of computing devices via a remote administration protocol, the second computing device running a second operating system that differs from the first operating system, and the instruction comprising a query to the database concerning data archived from computing devices running the second operating system.

Abstract: Data processing apparatus in which removable storage media store a respective program and associated data, the apparatus comprising: a removable storage medium reader; and means for executing the program from a first removable storage medium which is currently readable by the reader, using data stored on that first removable storage medium, the executing means and/or the program being arranged so that at least a predetermined point within execution of the program, the first removable storage medium may be removed from the reader and a second, different, removable storage medium associated with the reader, so that execution of the program can continue using data read from the second removable storage medium.