Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media distribution device having a support structure adapted for removably receiving a server module, a plurality of encoders, and an Internet Protocol (IP) router module; and a bus adapted for placing the server module, the plurality of video encoders, and the IP router module in communication with each other, where the server module is adapted to receive media content, where the plurality of video encoders is adapted to generate a plurality of encoded media contents from the media content and the video encoders generate the encoded media contents in temporal proximity to each other, where the IP router module is adapted to distribute the plurality of encoded media contents over an IP network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides in one embodiment a system for monitoring structural health of a structure. The system has a structure to be monitored for structural health. The system further has a distributed network of nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor assemblies deposited onto the structure. Each assembly has a plurality of nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensors and a plurality of conductive ink power and communication wire assemblies interconnecting the plurality of sensors. The system further has an ink deposition apparatus depositing the distributed network of nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor assemblies onto the structure. The system further has an electrical power source providing electrical power to the distributed network. The system further has a data communications network retrieving and processing structural health data of the structure via one or more signals from the sensors.

Abstract: A removable discharge gate assembly for a corn shelling machine having a discharge gate rotatably mounted to the machine, a bracket mounted to the machine, and a shock absorber mounted to and extending between the gate and the bracket.

Abstract: Provided is a cooking grate for improving cooking performance on an outdoor cooking grill. The cooking grate has a metallic plate, configured to be placed over a heat source in the outdoor cooking grill, where the metallic plate has a plurality of perforation holes. The cooking grate further includes a plurality of cooking surface ribs, configured to support food during cooking and positioned above the metallic plate. Also provided are methods of providing an improved cooking grate for an outdoor cooking grill including the steps of: perforating a metallic plate, configured to be positioned above a heat source on the outdoor cooking grill; forming a plurality of cooking surface ribs, configured to receive food to be cooked thereon.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a child seat for rearward-facing use in a vehicle. It comprises a back portion and a squab portion. The back portion comprises a force-receiving assembly, located at the shoulder region, which is of a more rigid material than a main portion of the back portion, the main portion being of a light-weight material. The force-receiving assembly comprises a first portion arranged at the first side of the back portion providing an anchor point for a shoulder portion of a child safety belt arrangement. The force-receiving assembly further comprises a second portion arranged at the second side of the back portion providing an anchor point for a child seat fixation means. The disclosure further relates to a child seat arrangement, a kit of parts and a vehicle comprising the child seat.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasing a magnetic security device used to inhibit unauthorised access to and/or unauthorised removal of an article. The apparatus has a first portion (1) for locating an article in a first direction (D1) and a second portion (2) for locating an article in a second direction (D2) perpendicular to the first direction (D1), so providing an L-shaped slot or receptacle capable of receiving articles of a wide range of shapes and sizes having a security device installed adjacent two substantially perpendicular sides thereof. The first and/or second portions include magnetic release means for releasing a lock securing the security device to the article and arranged to assist in locating the article in a third direction (M) perpendicular to the first and second directions (D1, D2) by magnetic attraction of the security device as the article is brought into contact with the first and second portions to align the magnetic security device with the magnetic release means.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a mobile device having a controller to present media content provided by an interactive television (iTV) network, select a function during presentation of the media content to store at least a remaining portion of the media content, wherein the function is selected when the presentation of the media content is to be interrupted, store the media content in a memory location of the mobile device, select the function to retrieve the remaining portion of the media content from the memory location, and present the remaining portion of the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides in one embodiment a method of fabricating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor. The method has a step of formulating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink. The method further has a step of depositing the PZT nanoparticle ink onto a substrate via an ink deposition process to form a PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor.

Abstract: Provided is a cooking grate for improving cooking performance on an outdoor cooking grill. The cooking grate has a metallic plate, configured to be placed over a heat source in the outdoor cooking grill, where the metallic plate has a plurality of perforation holes. The cooking grate further includes a plurality of cooking surface ribs, configured to support food during cooking and positioned above the metallic plate. Also provided are methods of providing an improved cooking grate for an outdoor cooking grill including the steps of: perforating a metallic plate, configured to be positioned above a heat source on the outdoor cooking grill; forming a plurality of cooking surface ribs, configured to receive food to be cooked thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a child seat for rearward facing use in a vehicle. The child seat includes an inflatable seating cushion chamber; an inflatable back part chamber; and inflatable side part chambers. The chambers are interconnected such that they form a continuous inflatable volume that require only a single port for inflation and deflation. The chambers are constructed out of a non-permeable fabric that maintains a constant separation between at least two non-permeable fabric surfaces when inflated.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway comprising a controller to receive from a communication device a request for media content, receive a key and a record associated with the communications device from an interactive television system, wherein the record comprises a list of entitled media content, determine whether the requested media content is in the list of entitled media content, retrieve the requested media content from the interactive television system when the requested media content is determined to be in the list of entitled media content, encrypt the retrieved media content utilizing the key, and transmit the encrypted media content to the communications device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway comprising a controller to receive from a communication device a request for media content, receive a key and a record associated with the communications device from an interactive Television (iTV) system, wherein the record comprises a list of entitled media content, determine whether the requested media content is in the list of entitled media content, retrieve the requested media content from the iTV system when the requested media content is determined to be in the list of entitled media content, encrypt the retrieved media content utilizing the key, and transmit the encrypted media content to the communications device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A cooking appliance having a heating source and a cooking surface disposed above the heating source. A temperature sensing probe is located between the heating source and the cooking surface for indicating to a user the temperature at or near the cooking surface.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can scale content resolution in order to mitigate errors in a provisioned service of a communication network, such as a wireless service or a femtocell service that integrates with DSL or other broadband carriers. The architecture can identify fault conditions relating to e.g., bandwidth oversubscription or symbolization integrity. Based upon such identification, the architecture can alter encoding format codecs of certain types of content in order to reduce their resolution/quality, thereby mitigating bandwidth oversubscription fault conditions or freeing up space (without necessarily increasing bandwidth) to insert additional FEC code.

Abstract: A part is manufactured by introducing magnetic particles into a matrix material, and orienting the particles by coupling them with an electromagnetic field. The matrix material is solidified in patterned layers while the particles remain oriented by the field.

Abstract: The disclosure provides in one embodiment a system for monitoring structural health of a structure. The system has a structure to be monitored for structural health. The system further has a distributed network of nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor assemblies deposited onto the structure. Each assembly has a plurality of nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensors and a plurality of conductive ink power and communication wire assemblies interconnecting the plurality of sensors. The system further has an ink deposition apparatus depositing the distributed network of nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor assemblies onto the structure. The system further has an electrical power source providing electrical power to the distributed network. The system further has a data communications network retrieving and processing structural health data of the structure via one or more signals from the sensors.

Abstract: The disclosure provides in one embodiment a method of fabricating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor. The method has a step of formulating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink. The method further has a step of depositing the PZT nanoparticle ink onto a substrate via an ink deposition process to form a PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a child seat for rearward-facing use in a vehicle. It comprises a back portion and a squab portion. The back portion comprises a force-receiving assembly, located at the shoulder region, which is of a more rigid material than a main portion of the back portion, the main portion being of a light-weight material. The force-receiving assembly comprises a first portion arranged at the first side of the back portion providing an anchor point for a shoulder portion of a child safety belt arrangement. The force-receiving assembly further comprises a second portion arranged at the second side of the back portion providing an anchor point for a child seat fixation means. The disclosure further relates to a child seat arrangement, a kit of parts and a vehicle comprising the child seat.

Abstract: The invention is a joint cover assembly for covering a gap adjacent an edge of a panel that covers a sub-surface, and a method of covering such a gap. The assembly can be manipulated to form an end molding, a T-molding, a hard surface reducer, a carpet reducer, and/or a stair nose molding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a child seat for rearward facing use in a vehicle. The child seat includes an inflatable seating cushion chamber; an inflatable back part chamber; and inflatable side part chambers. The chambers are interconnected such that they form a continuous inflatable volume that require only a single port for inflation and deflation. The chambers are constructed out of a non-permeable fabric that maintains a constant separation between at least two non-permeable fabric surfaces when inflated.