Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for illuminating a dartboard comprising filtering of an illumination source from direct view by the player while protecting the illumination source from damage or breakage by darts or other objects.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for concomitantly resisting fire and soil erosion. The compositions comprise an aqueous mixture of a polymer mixed with an organic material. The polymer preferably comprises polyacrylamide or a copolymer of polyacrylamide having anionic functional groups. The organic material comprises either cellulose, mulch and/or seed and mulch. The methods of the present invention comprise providing or forming an aqueous mixture of the compositions of the present invention and applying them to an area of land sought to be provided with soil erosion and/or fire resistant properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for illuminating a dartboard comprising filtering of an illumination source from direct view by the player while protecting the illumination source from damage or breakage by darts or other objects.

Abstract: Compositions and method for resisting soil erosion. The compositions comprise either an aqueous mixture of a polymer mixed with an organic material or, alternatively, a polymer and organic material that can be mixed in water. The polymer preferably comprises polyacrylamide having anionic functional groups and the organic base comprises either cellulose, mulch and/or seed and mulch. The methods of the present invention comprise providing or forming an aqueous mixture of the compositions of the present invention and applying them to an area of land sought to be provided with soil erosion resistance.

Abstract: Compositions and method for resisting soil erosion. The compositions comprise either an aqueous mixture of a polymer mixed with an organic material or, alternatively, a polymer and organic material that can be mixed in water. The polymer preferably comprises polyacrylamide having anionic functional groups and the organic base comprises either cellulose, mulch and/or seed and mulch. The methods of the present invention comprise providing or forming an aqueous mixture of the compositions of the present invention and applying them to an area of land sought to be provided with soil erosion resistance.

Abstract: Compositions and method for resisting soil erosion. The compositions comprise either an aqueous mixture of a polymer mixed with an organic material or, alternatively, a polymer and organic material that can be mixed in water. The polymer preferably comprises polyacrylamide having anionic functional groups and the organic base comprises either cellulose, mulch and/or seed and mulch. The methods of the present invention comprise providing or forming an aqueous mixture of the compositions of the present invention and applying them to an area of land sought to be provided with soil erosion resistance.

Abstract: Compositions and method for resisting soil erosion. The compositions comprise either an aqueous mixture of a polymer mixed with an organic material or, alternatively, a polymer and organic material that can be mixed in water. The polymer preferably comprises polyacrylamide having anionic functional groups and the organic base comprises either cellulose, mulch and/or seed and mulch. The methods of the present invention comprise providing or forming an aqueous mixture of the compositions of the present invention and applying them to an area of land sought to be provided with soil erosion resistance.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method, apparatus, and composition of matter for producing near-infrared (near-IR) radiation. The subject invention can incorporate a polymer and a metal-containing compound, wherein the metal-containing compound can incorporate a metal-ligand complex, wherein when the metal-ligand complex becomes excited, energy is transferred from the ligand to the metal, wherein, the energy transferred to the metal by sensitization is emitted as near-infrared radiation. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a composition of matter having a luminescent polymer and a metal containing compound where the metal containing compound incorporates a metal-ligand complex such that the absorption spectrum of the metal-ligand complex at least partially overlaps with the emission spectrum of the luminescent polymer.

Abstract: A system, method, and program for deriving metaclasses of classes of objects defined according to traditional subclassing inheritance is disclosed, which uses a neutral set of information from which object support is enabled for any target language, including support between languages. The information defining a new class is parsed and compiled to generate a bindings file that is input along with method information to the target language compiler to create an object file. The object file is thereafter link edited to create an executable program. When this program is executed, each defined class of objects is implemented by a corresponding object, called a class object, whose parents are determined by its definition, and whose class is a metaclass that is automatically derived and created at runtime according to the parent classes of the class object.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a tracing of program execution within an object-oriented programming language environment. A new tracing class is created which is derived from the original class. When tracing is desired, a user creates instances of the tracing subclass instead of the original class and this instance is used in place of the original object. When tracing is not desired, a user merely creates and uses an instance of the original class. The new tracing subclass incorporates "print" statements, which permit observation of the control of code flow within the object.

Abstract: An initializer which is a dynamically resolved method for initializing an object in a multiple inheritance object oriented system is introduced. The initializer is introduced in an ancestor class and can be inherited and overridden by subclasses. An overridden initializer can be invoked on an instance of a subclass to initialize an object in the system.

Abstract: An information-handling system is disclosed that includes an improved application programmatic interface that allows application binary interfaces to be ported from one platform to another incompatible platform with minimal difficulty. Within the information-handling system, there are one or more processors; a storage system; one or more I/O controllers; a system bus connecting the processors, the storage system, and the I/O controller; and an operating system programmed for controlling the operation of the information-handling system. The application programmatic interface (API) operates in association with the operating program. The API provides a language and platform neutral interface for manipulating a particular variable list within the ABI and is portable from one platform to another.

Abstract: A system for creating before and after behavior upon invocation of a method in an object-oriented system. The framework provides metaclasses containing methods for dispatching a before method and an after method at the time of invocation of each client method in subclass instances. Object-oriented system properties of inheritance and encapsulation are supported as are derived metaclasses. Derivation ensures that the specification syntax for each class does not impact the expected result. The combination of explicit before after classes, dispatcher class, and derived metaclasses ensures that the system will have associative composition.

Abstract: A valve device adapted for insertion at one or more specified locations in a pipe system. The device is adjustable into three positions: in the open position affording normal operation of the pipe system; in a first closed position affording connection of external pressure fluid to the system at one side of the location; and a second closed position affording connection of external pressure fluid to the system at the other side of the location. The device is in the nature of a ball valve with a spherical valve element having means for connecting pressure fluid through the valve housing into the system when the valve is in either of the first and second closed positions.

Abstract: A device for displacing or washing out blockages in pipe systems. The device has a central tube which can be closed with a gate valve which thereby isolates the pipe above and below the device. Fluid under pressure is introduced through a three way valve that can be positioned to direct the flow of fluid into the isolated chamber above the gate valve if that is where the blockage is or below the gate valve if the blockage is there.

Abstract: A method for removing an oil seal and the like from a housing is disclosed, wherein the seal is of the type which is received in the housing for providing a sealed relation between the housing and a shaft which projects outwardly through the seal. The method is preferably carried out utilizing a tool which comprises a shank portion, and a working portion of generally S-shaped configuration which extends from the shank portion, the working portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion which terminates in a tapered pry point. The tool is operable for removing a seal in accordance with the method by inserting the pry point between the seal and the shaft and then moving the tool so that the lower portion of the working portion rolls on the shaft to extract the seal. Thereafter, if necessary, the tool can be rolled further on the shaft until the upper portion engages the end of the shaft to provide additional leverage for extracting the seal.