Abstract: A hair styling appliance has first and second arms coupled together for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other, and arranged to receive hair within a region between each other. A plenum is disposed within at least one of the first arm and the second arm, the plenum including an air inlet for receiving airflow from a fan unit and an air outlet for emitting airflow towards hair within the region. A hair clamp including a pair of clamping members for gripping hair therebetween, includes at least one flexible projection for guiding hair.

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 vehicular parking apparatus includes a frame defining horizontal rows and vertical columns of parking spaces. Subframes are configured to have a vehicle parked thereon and can move vertically in the columns. Platforms move horizontally in the rows and are configured to engage and move the subframes with the vehicles thereon. The subframes, the platforms and the frame provide electrical connections for charging parked electric vehicles.

Abstract: An electronic payment and authentication system that includes features to verify the authenticity of a payer, validate debit data, and facilitate debit (as opposed to credit) payment transactions. The electronic payment system allows a consumer to purchase items and services via a network while utilizing a debit transaction. The invention provides merchants with the ability to verify the identity of the consumer, determine if the consumer is a good debit transaction risk, and retrieve debit data associated with a particular consumer.

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 vehicular parking apparatus includes a frame defining horizontal rows and vertical columns of parking spaces. Subframes are configured to have a vehicle parked thereon and can move vertically in the columns. Platforms move horizontally in the rows and are configured to engage and move the subframes with the vehicles thereon. The subframes, the platforms and the frame provide electrical connections for charging parked electric vehicles.

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: An electronic payment and authentication system that includes features to verify the authenticity of a payer, validate debit data, and facilitate debit (as opposed to credit) payment transactions. The electronic payment system allows a consumer to purchase items and services via a network while utilizing a debit transaction. The invention provides merchants with the ability to verify the identity of the consumer, determine if the consumer is a good debit transaction risk, and retrieve debit data associated with a particular consumer.

Abstract: A process and system for forming an apparel fabric having a predetermined requisite optical colour and pattern effect and predetermined physical fabric properties are disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic payment and authentication system that includes features to verify the authenticity of a payer, validate debit data, and facilitate debit (as opposed to credit) payment transactions. The electronic payment system allows a consumer to purchase items and services via a network while utilizing a debit transaction. The invention provides merchants with the ability to verify the identity of the consumer, determine if the consumer is a good debit transaction risk, and retrieve debit data associated with a particular consumer.

Abstract: An electronic payment and authentication system that includes features to verify the authenticity of a payer, validate debit data, and facilitate debit (as opposed to credit) payment transactions. The electronic payment system allows a consumer to purchase items and services via a network while utilizing a debit transaction. The invention provides merchants with the ability to verify the identity of the consumer, determine if the consumer is a good debit transaction risk, and retrieve debit data associated with a particular consumer.

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.