Abstract: A legal process management system facilitates simultaneous dynamic dialogs between legal process managers and networked attorneys and contractors providing services in connection with security interest enforcement actions. The legal process managers submit queries and deadlines selected to timely guide the attorneys and contractors through the requirements of the security interest enforcement actions. The attorneys and contractors submit responsive answers revealing the status of their enforcement actions. The legal process management system allows the monitored attorneys to share in the information provided by the monitored contractors. The legal process management system further includes mechanisms for reminding the attorneys and contractors about impending deadlines. The system also allows the attorneys and contractors to be assessed on their success in complying with the queries and deadlines submitted by the legal process managers.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of identifying at least one transmission frequency in a set of carrier frequencies can include: (a) determining a first signal strength for each carrier frequency in the set of carrier frequencies; (b) choosing a first transmission frequency from the set of carrier frequencies at least partially based on the first signal strength of each of the carrier frequencies of the set of carrier frequencies; and (c) broadcasting electrical signals over the first transmission frequency. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of identifying at least one transmission frequency in a set of carrier frequencies can include: (a) determining a first signal strength for each carrier frequency in the set of carrier frequencies; (b) choosing a first transmission frequency from the set of carrier frequencies at least partially based on the first signal strength of each of the carrier frequencies of the set of carrier frequencies; and (c) broadcasting electrical signals over the first transmission frequency. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A legal process management system facilitates simultaneous dynamic dialogs between legal process managers and networked attorneys and contractors providing services in connection with security interest enforcement actions (SIEAs). The legal process managers submit queries and deadlines selected to timely guide the attorneys and contractors through the requirements of the SIEAs. The attorneys and contractors submit responsive answers revealing the status of their SIEAs. In some embodiments, an events based management system uses a stochastic model to calculate completion times for the milestones of the SIEA, including the “events” that make up subparts of the milestones. This provides a flexible and powerful system for managing prosecution of the SIEA and for predicting likely durations. The stochastic model incorporates the concept of both fixed-frequency events and random-frequency events, and also allows for both controlled events and managed events.

Abstract: An igniter for a passenger vehicle safety airbag module includes a housing with apertured walls, gas-generating tablets filling the housing, and, in direct contact with gas-generating tablets, an initiator containing combustible material. A plurality of four malleable flaps of substantially identical shape and size are secured about the squib in an upstanding circumscribing array with spaced-apart, opposed lateral edges between adjacent of the flaps interconnected by fluid seals in the form of webbing that is structurally less robust than the flaps. The ends of the flaps remote from the squib curl radially inwardly into a spaced-apart edge-to-edge disposition beyond the combustible material. The webbing and the flaps together enclose an interior space and the combustible material. Pressure from the ignition of the combustible material causes the fluid seals to burst and the flaps to pivot outwardly crushing the gas-generating tablets in the housing.

Abstract: A legal process management system facilitates simultaneous dynamic dialogs between legal process managers and networked attorneys and contractors providing services in connection with security interest enforcement actions (SIEAs). The legal process managers submit queries and deadlines selected to timely guide the attorneys and contractors through the requirements of the SIEAs. The attorneys and contractors submit responsive answers revealing the status of their SIEAs. In some embodiments, an events based management system uses a stochastic model to calculate completion times for the milestones of the SIEA, including the “events” that make up subparts of the milestones. This provides a flexible and powerful system for managing prosecution of the SIEA and for predicting likely durations. The stochastic model incorporates the concept of both fixed-frequency events and random-frequency events, and also allows for both controlled events and managed events.

Abstract: An inflator including a housing with a first chamber that contains a quantity of gas generant. An initiator is operatively associated with the first chamber and in reaction initiating communication with at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant. The initiator, upon actuation, acts to ignite at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant to form gas. The housing further has a second chamber adjacently disposed to the first chamber. The second chamber contains a sealed storage reservoir and a piston assembly. The sealed storage reservoir includes a liner and a lid and contains a quantity of liquid. The piston assembly includes a piston. During deployment, the piston moves to unseal the storage reservoir to release at least a portion of the quantity of liquid such that the released liquid contacts and cools gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant. A discharge opening permits gas to exit the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking and locating system provides information to a user about a vehicle of interest, and includes a database controller in operative communication with a database, and configured to receive data corresponding to vehicles from a plurality of client sources, and configured to save the data as information records corresponding to each client source. A plurality of external communication devices transmit a data request by the user corresponding to the vehicle of interest. A request server receives the data request in one a variety of communication formats. An input request processor operatively coupled to the request server is configured to obtain information records from the database corresponding to the data request. An output processor operatively coupled to the request server provides data of interest from the obtained information records for transmission to the respective communication device to satisfy the user request.

Abstract: An inflator including a housing with a first chamber that contains a quantity of gas generant. An initiator is operatively associated with the first chamber and in reaction initiating communication with at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant. The initiator, upon actuation, acts to ignite at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant to form gas. The housing further has a second chamber adjacently disposed to the first chamber. The second chamber contains a sealed storage reservoir and a piston assembly. The sealed storage reservoir includes a liner and a lid and contains a quantity of liquid. The piston assembly includes a piston. During deployment, the piston moves to unseal the storage reservoir to release at least a portion of the quantity of liquid such that the released liquid contacts and cools gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant. A discharge opening permits gas to exit the housing.

Abstract: An extruded multilayer seal member having an expanded temperature range and an improved compression set resistance wherein the seal member comprises a first fluoroelastomer as the inner layer of the multilayer seal member and a second elastomer as the outer layer of the multilayer seal member; and a method for manufacturing the multilayer seal member which comprises extruding a multilayer tubular structure, crosslinking the extruded multilayer tubular structure on a mandrel, cutting the multilayer tubular structure to provide a plurality of uniform seal members and recovering the seal members, are described.

Abstract: The presently disclosed systems and methods may be utilized in connection with several different sensor suites for detecting objects in the ground. Such systems and methods may be utilized in conjunction with a variety of military and commercial vehicles. In various embodiments, a sensing system may be carried by a vehicle in a stowed or deployed position. While in the stowed position, a segmented boom may have a relatively small vertical profile in comparison to the length of the boom when fully extended. According to various embodiments, in the deployed position the height of the sensor may be controlled to avoid obstructions. A hoist connected to the boom may be utilized to move the boom between the deployed and stowed positions.

Abstract: A legal process management system facilitates simultaneous dynamic dialogs between legal process managers and networked attorneys and contractors providing services in connection with security interest enforcement actions (SIEAs). The legal process managers submit queries and deadlines selected to timely guide the attorneys and contractors through the requirements of the SIEAs. The attorneys and contractors submit responsive answers revealing the status of their SIEAs In some embodiments, an events based management system uses a stochastic model to calculate completion times for the milestones of the SIEA, including the “events” that make up subparts of the milestones. This provides a flexible and powerful system for managing prosecution of the SIEA and for predicting likely durations. The stochastic model incorporates the concept of both fixed-frequency events and random-frequency events, and also allows for both controlled events and managed events.

Abstract: Au—Pt heteroaggregate dendritic nanostructures and AuPt alloy nanoparticles, and their use as anodic catalysts in fuel cells.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy from ambient energy such as the energy of ambient motion and acoustic vibrations. The system has at least two stages, a resonating electrical generator and a kinetic energy conversion system. The stages have differing resonant frequencies to enable harvesting energy from lower frequency ambient motion and converting the energy to higher frequency resonant oscillation for efficiently generating electrical energy. A multiaxial system having a plurality of systems for generating electrical energy from ambient motion each oriented to be responsive to motion along a different axis. An embodiment of a system for generating electrical energy from ambient motion for which the resonating electrical generator is at least part of a driving mass of the kinetic energy conversion system.

Abstract: A dual stage inflator device including a housing defining first and second chamber each containing a quantity of gas generant material ignitable to produce combustion products. A divider plate, separating the first chamber from the second chamber, is disposed and fixed within the housing. The divider plate includes an opening to allow gas flow communication from the second chamber to the first chamber. A removable plug element is normally disposed in the divider plate opening to prevent gas flow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber when in a static state.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronic accessory for coupling electronic devices to an external power supply includes: (a) a holder having: (1) a cradle section configured to couple to at least two of the electronic devices, the cradle section comprising a power coupling; and (2) two or more side supports, each of the two or more side supports configured to removably couple to the cradle section; and (b) a power unit electrically coupled to the power coupling and configured to removably couple to the external power supply. At least a first one of the two or more side supports is configured to provide support to a first one of the electronic devices when the first one of the electronic devices is coupled to the cradle section. At least a second one of the two or more side supports is configured to provide support to a second one of the electronic devices when the second one of the electronic devices is coupled to the cradle section. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.

Abstract: A juice extractor may include a drive housing and a drive shaft extending outwardly therefrom to a juice extraction area. The juice extractor may further include a shaft seal that, in turn, includes a seal housing and at least one positioning ring contained within the seal housing and surrounding a corresponding drive shaft. The seal may also include at least one sealing ring contained within the seal housing adjacent the at least one positioning ring and surrounding the corresponding drive shaft. The at least one positioning ring may be radially spaced from the corresponding drive shaft when the corresponding drive shaft is aligned along the seal axis, and the at least one sealing ring may sealingly engage the corresponding drive shaft and be radially spaced from adjacent portions of the seal housing when the corresponding drive shaft is aligned along the seal axis.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy from ambient motion that comprises two stages, a resonating electrical generator and a kinetic energy conversion system. The different stages have differing resonant frequencies to enable harvesting energy from low frequency ambient motion and converting it to high frequency resonant oscillation for efficiently generating electrical energy.

Abstract: An airbag inflator that includes a pyrotechnic material capable of producing a quantity of gas during deployment. The inflator also includes a filter. The filter may be an expanded metal filter that is wrapped about the pyrotechnic material. When this filter is wrapped about the pyrotechnic material, the filter forms a plurality of layers having holes that are a different size. This filter also includes a first set of barriers and a second set of barriers that are positioned exterior of the first set of barriers, the second set of barriers being offset from the first set of barriers. Gas passing through the filter will encounter the first set of barriers, be re-directed, encounter the second set of barriers, be re-directed, and then flow out of the filter.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjustably securing a boat accessory to a boat. A first member has a plug and a second member has a socket. The plug has a rosette shape with rounded protrusions and the socket has a corresponding mating shape. Both the plug and the socket have openings for a fastener to secure the plug in the socket. The first member is one of a mounting base and an accessory base, and the second member is the other one. In one embodiment, an extension is positioned adjacent the plug so as to separate the first and second members. In another embodiment, the extension has a plug on each end and the first and second members have sockets. In another such embodiment, the extension has two members joined with a rosette-shaped plug and socket.