Abstract: A corner bracket. The corner bracket includes a bottom edge and an outside edge, where the outside edge includes a bend. The corner bracket also includes an inside edge, where the inside edge includes a bend. The angle of the bend in the outside edge is the same as the angle of the bend in the inside edge.

Abstract: Compositions of vinyl halide polymers such as PVC are rendered compostable by a prodegradant system of a monomeric adduct of an organotitanate or zirconate and an organotin. PVC sheets and composites are compostable in landfills.

Abstract: A series of musical vehicles form a cooperative musical instrument. Each musical vehicle may be outfitted with a musical tone generator and horn, or loud speaker that plays a particular note on a music scale. Each musical vehicle may have multiple horns or speakers having a predetermined tonal separation between each horn or speaker. For example, the B flat vehicle may have 5 horns that play a series of five of the B-flat notes having a predetermined tonal separation between each note. Each of the horns or speakers on each musical vehicle may be separately activated so that, for example, the B vehicle would sound a middle B when the middle B signal is activated. The horns or speakers may be permanently mounted or preferably mounted on a rack that can be moved from vehicle to vehicle.

Abstract: A modular lighting system is formed of tubular fluorescent lamps mounted within adjustable fixtures. The fixtures are composed of rigid and flexible elements and can conform to the shape of almost any size or shape of lamp. The lamps may be of any variety of pre-determined shape, curvature or length, to meet the desired lighting requirement. Each fixture may include a lampholder, lamp retention device, mounting surface, ballast, enclosures, and specially-molded flexible special power cable which flexibly connects the rigid elements or assemblies of each fixture. Electrical connections are made between each adjacent fixture, with integral male and female flexible power cords. Thus, a custom-made fluorescent lighting system is created using standardized flexibly adjustable fixtures and any variety of lamp shapes or lengths. The system may be installed and electrically connected without any disassembly or tradition field-assembled and installed wiring, minimizing effort for installation or removal.

Abstract: An ice skate comprising a blade and a blade holder. The blade holder providing decreasing, non rigid, and/or no lateral support in a rearward region of the blade so that it may facilitate increased or freer flexibility of the blade and improved maneuverability. The blade is rigidly laterally supported at a front end section of the blade holder and preferably also at a back end section of the blade holder so that it may facilitate efficient transfer of force between the skater and the blade. One or more non-rigid support members may be employed to control, absorb and/or cushion the flexing of the blade. The ice skate may be tuned to reflect the desired performance requirements of the individual skater and/or use.

Abstract: In a communication technique using the apparent distribution of stars and other celestial bodies visible from the earth to generate codes corresponding to communication characters such as the English alphabet and or Arabic numbers, the characters of a conventional keyboard, or any other suitable character set. The stars, or subset of stars, or combinations of stars and other celestial bodies to be used may be divided into sections; the stars or stars and celestial bodies of each section may be assigned to represent one or more characters of the character set to be used. A communication to be sent is prepared by replacing each conventional character of the communication with the section of stars that correspond to the character. The resulting communication is unrecognizable as a conventional communication, it has a high degree of security, and yet it has an esthetic or romantic appeal similar to that of the night sky. Any celestial communication may be decoded by reversing the procedure.

Abstract: A series of musical vehicles form a cooperative musical instrument. Each musical vehicle may be outfitted with a musical tone generator and horn, or loud speaker that plays a particular note on a music scale. Each musical vehicle may have multiple horns or speakers having a predetermined tonal separation between each horn or speaker. For example, the B flat vehicle may have 5 horns that play a series of five of the B-flat notes having a predetermined tonal separation between each note. Each of the horns or speakers on each musical vehicle may be separately activated so that, for example, the B vehicle would sound a middle B when the middle B signal is activated. The horns or speakers may be permanently mounted or preferably mounted on a rack that can be moved from vehicle to vehicle.

Abstract: Compositions of vinyl halide polymers such as PVC are rendered compostable by a prodegradant system of an organotitanate or zirconate and an organotin. PVC sheets and composites are compostable in landfills.

Abstract: A skateboard assembly includes a platform or board, a plurality of spaced wheel axles and pivotally secured set of arms connected to the frame at opposite ends of the skateboard. The truck suspension system provides shock-absorbing capabilities and includes an improved shock-absorbing system that can be easily interchanged to create a desired amount of shock-absorbing capability for the skateboard. The shock-absorbing system includes an outer shock member which encases at least one shock-absorbing insert. These shock-absorbing components are placed between each arm of the truck assembly and the board to absorb shock. The shock-absorbing insert is interchangeable so that the amount of shock absorption can be changed depending upon the rider's weight or to attain a particular ride feel. A quick release strap-down system utilizes hook and loop fasteners to create a system for easily and quickly interchanging the shock-absorbing components.

Abstract: In a communication technique using the apparent distribution of stars and other celestial bodies visible from the earth to generate codes corresponding to communication characters such as the English alphabet and or Arabic numbers, the characters of a conventional keyboard, or any other suitable character set. The stars, or subset of stars, or combinations of stars and other celestial bodies to be used may be divided into sections; the stars or stars and celestial bodies of each section may be assigned to represent one or more characters of the character set to be used. A communication to be sent is prepared by replacing each conventional character of the communication with the section of stars that correspond to the character. The resulting communication is unrecognizable as a conventional communication, it has a high degree of security, and yet it has an esthetic or romantic appeal similar to that of the night sky. Any celestial communication may be decoded by reversing the procedure.

Abstract: A data storage control unit is coupled to one or more host devices and to one or more physical storage units, the storage control unit configured as a plurality of clusters. Each cluster includes cache memory and often non-volatile storage (NVS). The storage control unit receives and processes write requests from the host devices and directs that data updates be temporarily stored in the cache in one cluster and copied to the NVS of the other cluster. The data updates are subsequently destaged to the logical ranks associated with each cluster. During an initial microcode load (IML) of the storage controller, space in the cache and NVS of each cluster is allocated to buffers with the remaining cache and NVS space being allocated to customer data. After an IML has been completed, the size of the buffers become fixed and no further buffer allocation may occur.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for closing and sealing the flaps of envelopes that have passed through an inserting machine in which collations of insert material have been inserted into the envelopes, and for detecting whether or not certain envelopes cannot be properly closed and sealed and for separating such envelopes from those that are properly closed and sealed. The apparatus is constructed and arranged such that if insert material is improperly inserted into the envelope such that the flap cannot turn freely about the crease line that connectes the flap to the envelopem, the flap will remain substantially in the flat, extended position it occupies when the envelope enters the closing and sealing apparatus. That position of the flap is sensed and the envelope is then diverted from the normal path of properly closed and sealed envelopes into a collection bin for retreival by an operator.

Abstract: An improved condom having an elastic mesh as an integral part of the walls of the condom. The elastic mesh reinforces the latex walls of the condom making the condom less susceptible to breakage without loss of sensitivity.

Abstract: Creping of fibrous webs to enhance their softness and bulk is improved and the resulting creped web is made strong, water dispersible and non-blocking by employing a bonder and creping adhesive composition containing four components which are blended to produce a mixture having a percent solids of from 10% to 40% and an initial modulus for a film of the solids of less than 1.75 .times. 10.sup.8 dynes/cm.sup.2. The composition (mixture) functions as a bonder for the fibers to impart strength and as a creping adhesive for the web so that creping enhances softness and bulkiness. Also disclosed are methods of creping employing such a bonder and creping adhesive composition and sheet materials creped with such compositions.