Abstract: A method and an apparatus for playing golf on a hard surface comprises a replaceable striking pad attached to a conventional golf club head by means of at least one attachment means, a spiked ball, a portable ball trap to trap the spiked ball and an optional remotely controlled vehicle to position the portable ball trap. The replaceable striking pad includes a small lip at a bottom end on a front face and a holding ledge having substantially curved edges extending away from the bottom end of the front face. The holding ledge is adaptable to wrap around a bottom sole of the golf club head. The portable ball trap includes a thin flat platform with tapered edges, a central threaded pole positioned on the thin flat platform and a circular frame having a plurality of hinged tabs threaded to the central threaded pole.

Abstract: A ladder for a user to climb and which holds a rag includes a first rail having a top and a second rail and rungs attached to the first rail and second rail. The ladder includes an end cap that is attached adjacent to the top of the first rail. The end cap having an attachment portion which attaches to the first rail and a cover portion which covers over the first rail, and extend caps from the attachment portion. The cover portion having a rag holder. The ladder includes a pad attached to the back of the cover portion which contacts a surface against which the first rail leans down so as not to mar or scratch or damage the surface. An end cap. A method.

Abstract: A ladder for a user to climb and which holds a rag includes a first rail having a top and a second rail and rungs attached to the first rail and second rail. The ladder includes an end cap that is attached adjacent to the top of the first rail. The end cap having an attachment portion which attaches to the first rail and a cover portion which covers over the first rail, and extends from the attachment portion. The cover portion having a rag holder. The ladder includes a pad attached to the back of the cover portion which contacts a surface against which the first rail leans against so as not to mar or scratch or damage the surface. An end cap. A method.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for playing golf on a hard surface comprises a replaceable striking pad attached to a conventional golf club head by means of at least one attachment means, a spiked ball, a portable ball trap to trap the spiked ball and an optional remotely controlled vehicle to position the portable ball trap. The replaceable striking pad includes a small lip at a bottom end on a front face and a holding ledge having substantially curved edges extending away from the bottom end of the front face. The holding ledge is adaptable to wrap around a bottom sole of the golf club head. The portable ball trap includes a thin flat platform with tapered edges, a central threaded pole positioned on the thin flat platform and a circular frame having a plurality of hinged tabs threaded to the central threaded pole.

Abstract: A ladder for a user to climb and which holds a rag includes a first rail having a top and a second rail and rungs attached to the first rail and second rail. The ladder includes an end cap that is attached adjacent to the top of the first rail. The end cap having an attachment portion which attaches to the first rail and a cover portion which covers over the first rail, and extend caps from the attachment portion. The cover portion having a rag holder. The ladder includes a pad attached to the back of the cover portion which contacts a surface against which the first rail leans down so as not to mar or scratch or damage the surface. An end cap. A method.

Abstract: A ladder for a user to climb and which holds a rag includes a first rail having a top and a second rail and rungs attached to the first rail and second rail. The ladder includes an end cap that is attached adjacent to the top of the first rail. The end cap having an attachment portion which attaches to the first rail and a cover portion which covers over the first rail, and extends from the attachment portion. The cover portion having a rag holder. The ladder includes a pad attached to the back of the cover portion which contacts a surface against which the first rail leans down so as not to mar or scratch or damage the surface. An end cap. A method.

Abstract: A ladder for a user to climb and which holds a rag includes a first rail having a top and a second rail and rungs attached to the first rail and second rail. The ladder includes an end cap that is attached adjacent to the top of the first rail. The end cap having an attachment portion which attaches to the first rail and a cover portion which covers over the first rail, and extend caps from the attachment portion. The cover portion having a rag holder. The ladder includes a pad attached to the back of the cover portion which contacts a surface against which the first rail leans s down o as not to mar or scratch or damage the surface. An end cap. A method.

Abstract: A ladder for a user to climb and which holds a rag includes a first rail having a top and a second rail and rungs attached to the first rail and second rail. The ladder includes an end cap that is attached adjacent to the top of the first rail. The end cap having an attachment portion which attaches to the first rail and a cover portion which covers over the first rail, and extends from the attachment portion. The cover portion having a rag holder. The ladder includes a pad attached to the back of the cover portion which contacts a surface against which the first rail leans against so as not to mar or scratch or damage the surface. An end cap. A method.

Abstract: A sealing system and a method of manufacturing such a sealing system. The sealing system comprises a seal lip of two different materials that are bonded together using a polymeric material that forms strong chemical bonds with the two different materials at the same time. Further since the bonding only takes place after activation, this enables a precise physical alignment to be done before the activation.

Abstract: A highly efficient means for progressively backwashing and fluidizing filter media in packed media filtration systems utilized for removing contaminants from wastewater is disclosed. The means is suited for use with a generally unsaturated filter with air and water flowing concurrently in a downward direction during treatment. During periodic backwashing, a pump provides treated wastewater from a holding tank to an underdrain and a pressurized water jet configured as an eductor within the filter vessel to progressively fluidize, backwash and redistribute the media. Fluidized media flow induced by the water jet is turbulently transported to the top of the filter vessel in an upflow pipe, wherein excess biofilm is scoured from the media. Scoured biofilm leaves the filter with backwash water through an overflow conduit and an exit port. Backwashing removes excess solids caught in the filter media and controls the biofilm thickness and the nature of the biofilm.

Abstract: A sealing system and a method of manufacturing such a sealing system. The sealing system comprises a seal lip of two different materials that are bonded together using a polymeric material that forms strong chemical bonds with the two different materials at the same time. Further since the bonding only takes place after activation, this enables a precise physical alignment to be done before the activation.

Abstract: A compact high efficiency combined biological and physical unsaturated wastewater treatment filter configured for periodic backwashing is disclosed. The filter utilizes packed media and removes pollutants and pathogens from wastewater and other dirty water sources. The filter comprises a periodic backwashing means to less the chance that biofilm growth will clog the media pores. However, such backwashing still leaves sufficient biofilm attached to the media to maintain a very high level of treatment. In the preferred embodiment, the filter utilizes high frequency dosing to cause pore saturation at or near the surface during dosing and shortly thereafter in order to maximize distribution uniformity and to induce downward airflow into the media. The system provides a number of unexpected benefits; including allowing a very low distribution pressure and providing high oxygen transfer at low energy utilization into the filter media for aerobic biodegradation of pollutants.

Abstract: A compact high efficiency combined biological and physical unsaturated wastewater treatment filter configured for periodic backwashing is disclosed. The filter utilizes packed media and removes pollutants and pathogens from wastewater and other dirty water sources. The filter comprises a periodic backwashing means to less the chance that biofilm growth will clog the media pores. However, such backwashing still leaves sufficient biofilm attached to the media to maintain a very high level of treatment. In the preferred embodiment, the filter utilizes high frequency dosing to cause pore saturation at or near the surface during dosing and shortly thereafter in order to maximize distribution uniformity and to induce downward airflow into the media. The system provides a number of unexpected benefits; including allowing a very low distribution pressure and providing high oxygen transfer at low energy utilization into the filter media for aerobic biodegradation of pollutants.

Abstract: An upper shackle assembly for a steel pump jack for a wood pole includes a u-shaped shackle component to receive the wood pole. The assembly includes a crank handle that extends through the shackle component and engages the pole to lower the pump jack down the pole. The assembly includes a brake attached to the shackle component to engage with the pole if the crank handle fails. A method for installing a steel pump jack to a wood pole includes the steps of placing a u-shaped shackle component about the wood pole. There is the step of closing a brake with the shackle component to engage with the pole if a crank handle fails. There is the step of extending the crank handle through the shackle component to engage the pole. A steel pump jack.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and computing device for promoting reuse of previously generated access plans are disclosed. SQL statements containing literals are amended so as to substitute a parameter marker for each literal. Amended statements are provided to the DBMS along with parameters including the substituted literals and a substitution indicator indicating that the substitution has been performed. The DBMS assesses the soundness of the substitutions that are performed. Soundness may be measured in terms of the semantic correctness of the amended statement and the likelihood that the literal substitution will improve DBMS efficiency. If a substitution is unsound, the DBMS may obtain and optimize the original version of the amended SQL statement. Otherwise, the amended statement is optimized. Advantageously, SQL statements originally differing only in the value of one or more literals may become functionally equivalent, and the reuse of cached, previously generated access plans is thus promoted.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products sustain a fleet of configuration-controlled assets. The method involves integrating a plurality of previously separate systems with reusable business transactions associated with managing a fleet of vehicles. The method also involves receiving operational data associated with a vehicle of the fleet, integrating the operational data per customer requirements, packaging and distributing the operational data to the plurality of systems, and installing and distributing the operational data to one or more applications of the plurality of systems utilizing reusable business transactions. The system utilizes a plurality of applications and a plurality of logical subsystems, which are connected to each other through gateways. The logical subsystems use a common format defined by a set of messages. However, the applications can use a plurality of different formats.

Abstract: A pump jack pole brace. The brace comprises a U-shaped yoke member having a first leg and a second leg. The brace includes a latch plate assembly having a first side slidably and pivotably attached to the first leg, and a second side having a tab which engages with the second leg to form a closed envelope with the yoke. A method for securing a pole for use of a pump jack system.

Abstract: A system provides efficient multi-protocol database transaction processing in a multi-communications protocol and multi-programming model computing environment. The system separates the source and the target functionalities, and uses generic function names linked to function pointers, in order to permit the source layer to call embedded functions in the target layer. As an example, the system provides a source layer code path that includes embedded call-back functions and embedded generic function names. A target layer code path is set to include embedded functions and generic call-back function names. A function pointer array permits the source layer code path to call functions embedded in the target layer code path using the generic function names. A call-back function pointer array permits the target layer code path to call the call-back functions embedded in the source layer code path using the generic call-back function names.

Abstract: A database server helps to streamline the retrieval of LOB values by deciding to send a locator in replacement of the LOB value, or the LOB value itself, depending upon the specific LOB value being retrieved. A threshold value is determined in a fetch query, and the LOB sizes below that threshold are sent as values in a corresponding fetch response, and the lengths above are sent as locators in the fetch response. Indicators are inserted in a fetch parameter of the response to inform the receiving client the form of retrieval that was used for each requested LOB value being returned.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data processing system-implemented method, a data processing system, and an article of manufacture for investigating computer software. The data processing system-implemented method includes capturing tracing information at one or more boundary points of the computer software, and reproducing a behavior of the computer software at the boundary points based on the captured tracing information.