Abstract: A mating force sensing coaxial cable connector is provided, the connector comprising: a connector body; a sensing circuit positioned on a face of an insulator component, the insulator component located within the connector body; a capacitive space in immediate proximity with the face of the insulator component upon which the sensing circuit is positioned; and a flexible member forming at least one boundary surface of the capacitive space, said flexible member being movable due to mating forces.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exercise system including an exercise device and an interactive game environment. An enclosure receives an exercise device and the exercise device receives a theme element. Sensors, transducers, and a man-machine interface are interconnected by a controller which operates sensory stimulators in response to controller instructions and user, sensor, and transducer signals. Game play is influenced by a user's exercise performance and in an embodiment a first exercise system user competes with a remote second exercise system user utilizing a wide area network that interconnects the controllers of the two exercise systems.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for enabling venue-to-venue communication. A message is sent from a messaging device located in a first venue. The system receives the message via a communications network. The system transmits the message via the communications network to a local venue exchange associated with a second venue. The message is presented to an audience present at the second venue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for at least partially disinfecting biological fluid of a mammal, which comprises pathogens. The method includes contacting a non-thermal plasma with the biological fluid to kill at least a portion of the pathogens within the biological fluid, and filtering toxins from at least some components of the biological fluid.

Abstract: A system and method relates to allocating seats to a ticketed event. The method can include receiving a request for a number of seats at a ticketed event, selecting a first seat wherein the first seat is determined to be a best unassigned seat at the ticketed event, and determining a best grouping of seats wherein the best grouping of seats includes the number of seats requested and further wherein the best grouping of seats comprises the best unassigned seat at the ticketed event.

Abstract: A system and method is described for determining a scoring efficiency of a team engaged in a sport, such as baseball, softball or other sport in which runners attempt to advance from a series of base positions. A memory or database stores a total number of runs scored from scoring position and a total number of individual base runners that reached base from a single at-bat, over a predetermined interval, such as an inning, a series of innings, a game or a series of games. A processor, coupled to the memory, determine scoring efficiency by determining a ratio between the number of runs scored from scoring position and the total number of individual base runners that reached base from a single at-bat. An output device operatively connected the processor receives the scoring efficiency calculated by the processor and transmits or displays the scoring efficiency for evaluation of a team's efficiency in scoring from scoring position or preventing scoring from scoring position.

Abstract: A system is provided for selectively presenting a portion of an event to a user. The system includes a first device, a second device, and a network allowing communication between the first and the second device. An application at the first device displays a plurality of sub-events that characterize an event; receives an input from a user whereby the user selects a sub-event from the plurality of sub-events; sends a request to a second device, the request comprising information associated with the selected sub-event; receives media data from the second device whereby the media data represents the selected sub-event; and presents the received media data. An application at the second device receives the request from the first device, selects the media data that represents the selected sub-event from a database using the information associated with the selected sub-event, and sends the selected media data to the first device.

Abstract: A fully adjustable back/lumbar support device having a lumbar support which is adjustable up and down and in and out, and a buttocks support which is adjustable fore and aft and up and down permitting custom fit in conjunction with the lumbar support. The device is portable and is hinged to fold flat.

Abstract: A fishing pole holder mounting system for permitting fishing pole holders to be mounted to a rear of a boat. The fishing pole holder mounting system includes a support member comprising a medial portion and a plurality of mounting portions. The medial portion is positioned between the mounting portions. The mounting portions of the support member are designed for being selectively coupled to the boat whereby the medial portion of the support member extends along the rear of the boat. The medial portion is designed for being selectively engaged by the fishing rod holders whereby the medial portion supports fishing rods placed in the fishing rod holders and allowing the fishing rods to extend outwardly from the rear of the boat. The medial portion is coupled to the mounting portions at an angle to allow the medial portion to be positioned above the rear of the boat.

Abstract: A deice maximizes the allowable granularity of adjustment of a bus driver line characteristics by compensating for temperature variations by selecting components that have an opposite and approximately equal thermal coefficient. In the first aspect, component parts may be made smaller because their tolerances need not be made so precise. In the second aspect, duplicating the circuitry with matching characteristics allows one circuit to be operational while the other circuit is tested or dormant. Switching between the two circuits is performed seamlessly with no interruption of device operation.

Abstract: An at least ternary metal alloy of the formula AB.sub.(Z-Y) X.sub.(Y) is disclosed. In this formula, A is selected from the rare earth elements, B is selected from the elements of Groups 8, 9, and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and X includes at least one of the following: antimony, arsenic, germanium, tin or bismuth. Z is greater than or equal to 4.8 and less than or equal to 6.0. Y is greater than 0 and less than 1. Ternary or higher-order substitutions to the base AB.sub.5 alloys that form strong kinetic interactions with the predominant metals in the base metal hydride are used to form metal alloys with high structural integrity after multiple cycles of hydrogen sorption.

Abstract: A method and product for repairing sound attenuation structure for aircraft jet engine noise that includes a central honeycomb core having an imperforate facing sheet adhesively bonded thereto and a perforated facing sheet adhesively bonded to the opposing surface of the core with a woven wire cloth media adhesively bonded to the outer surface of the perforated sheet. The wire cloth is subject to deterioration and disbonding in service use. The method provides for the removal of the deteriorated wire cloth that has disbonded or deteriorated and, after cleaning of the perforated sheet and the associated honeycomb core area, and priming of the cleaned area of the perforated sheet replacement with a polymer film that is precoated with a pressure sensitive adhesive so that the film may be easily applied to the exposed perforated sheet area in place of the removed wire cloth.

Abstract: A piece of trim having a hard finish is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the outer shell which is formed of fire retardant material. A thread protector is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the trim, and a thread forming a line of stitching extends through the thread protector, trim and shell to hold the trim in place. The thread includes exposed portions, and the thread protector is formed of soft material and extends away from opposite sides of the exposed portions of the thread. The thread protector also is spaced from the outer surface of the trim a greater distance than the tops of the exposed portions of the thread so that if an object approaches the sides of the exposed portions, it will first contact an edge of the thread protector and cause the thread protector to fold over the exposed portions of the thread to prevent abrasion thereof.

Abstract: A label having indicia thereon is attached to the shell of a firefighter's garment by stitching which passes through the label and the shell, with portions of the stitching extending outwardly of the label. A transparent protective layer is adhesively secured to the label and covers the outer surface of the label and the outwardly extending stitching portions. The protective layer is heat and abrasion resistant and is substantially waterproof.

Abstract: A hasp fastener unit for correcting alignment problems with a hinged hasp member includes a keeper plate having a raised portion defining a substantially concave interior surface and having an eye member passage. An end member has a base portion adapted to be positioned in a space defined by the concave surface, and has an outer end extending through the eye member passage which is pivotal within the eye member passage. Abutment portions of the base are adapted to contact the concave interior surface to limit the pivotal range of motion of the eye member with respect to the keeper plate. The base portion is preferably formed from a substantially planar piece that is slit to define legs. The legs are bent with respect to one another to form the abutment portion.

Abstract: A firefighter's coat includes (1) a body portion comprised of a flame-resistant shell and a heat-resistant liner, (2) a collar portion comprised of a flame-resistant outer collar part and a fire-resistant inner collar part, the upper edge of the shell being stitched to the lower edge of the outer collar part to provide an outer neckline of the coat, the upper edge of the liner being stitched to the lower edge of the inner collar part to help provide an inner neckline of the coat, and (3) a waterproof interliner which extends from between the shell and the liner of the body portion upwardly between the outer and inner necklines without connection thereto except possibly at their opposite ends, and then between the outer and inner collar parts of the collar portion so as to provide a moisture barrier which prevents water which has seeped through the stitching along the outer neckline from penetrating through the coat to contact the wearer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lift-front type hood adapted for use by firefighters which has an improved latching means. The hood comprises a helmet including a bump cap capable of fitting onto the top of the head of a wearer and a rigid liner attached to the bump cap and extending down from the front of the cap so as to be in front of the face of a wearer, the liner having an opening therein so as to allow a wearer to have vision. The hood further includes a shroud of flexible material attached to the exterior of the helmet and extending about the helmet so as to form a generally cylindrical skirt about the head and upper torso of a wearer, the shroud having an opening therein coextensive with the opening in the liner, and a shield plate comprising a sheet of transparent material covering the opening in the liner and shroud and attached to the liner by hinges.

Abstract: Data entered at a matrix keyboard or from a remote computer is loaded into a display buffer area of a random access storage device. Data is displayed by sequentially refreshing a plurality of display elements from a one character display buffer, loaded from the storage device under control of a display address counter. Data storage and data retrieval for display is multiplexed, with data retrieval being synchronous with respect to a system clock, and data loading being asynchronous from the keyboard. A control counter, synchronously driven by the system clock, is decoded to scan the keyboard for data entry and to gate the one character display buffer to the next sequential display element to be refreshed. Initial correspondence between the display gating and the display address counter is established, which correspondence is asynchronously stepped by entry of another character from the keyboard, so that the most recently entered character appears at the rightmost position of the display.

Abstract: In a time division multiplexed loop communication system, a plurality of terminals share one or more channels of a multichannel frame, with a second plurality of terminals assigned to different channels. The communications controller may dedicate one or more of the channels to one of the terminals automatically and dynamically. Alternatively, one of a plurality of terminals assigned to a particular channel group can interrupt the controller and become automatically selected for communication.