Abstract: A skateboard has one or more rollers on a bottom region of the body of the board, disposed between the front and rear trucks thereof. The roller(s) may be disposed longitudinally along the length of the board, generally parallel to a normal direction of travel of the board. However, in some embodiments, the angle of the rollers may be adjustable or fixed in a direction offset from parallel by from about 1 to about 45 degrees, typically between 1 and 15 degrees. The rollers may extend from the bottom of the board, or may be partially embedded in an indentation formed in the bottom of the board. The roller(s) may be solid, cylindrical, tapered or composed of a plurality of smaller rollers in a row, for example.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to footwear and methods for making the same, and more particularly to an athletic shoe with a reactive midsole. In one aspect of the invention, the midsole provides a continuously increasing offset between a heel center of pressure and a ball-of-foot center of pressure between the loading and a toe off gait phases.

Abstract: Methods for determining the concentration of nitrates in several types of water samples by photochemical reduction without the use of toxic materials such as cadmium or hydrazine, and having an approximately 100% reduction efficiency are described. A water sample mixed with a buffered aqueous solution including ammonium salts and EDTA is irradiated using ultraviolet light having wavelengths effective for photochemical conversion of nitrate and nitrite ions (NOx) to detectable species. The resulting species may be quantitatively determined by diazotization using sulfanilamide followed by coupling with N-(1-napthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride which produces a water-soluble azo dye having a magenta color which may be colorimetrically measured at 540 nm from which the nitrate and nitrite concentration in the sample is determined.

Abstract: Development environments are commonly used to facilitate the development of user interfaces (e.g. windows forms, web forms, etc.). Drawing objects are components that may be used within the development environment to provide visual enhancements to the user interface. An effective method for drawing one or more drawing objects is disclosed herein to draw the drawing objects as windowless shapes within a shape container. The shape container may be configured to participate in a windows message loop (e.g. event handling system), wherein the windowless shapes do not participate in the windows message loop (e.g. lack a windows handle). The shape container listens, for example, within the windows message loop for operations pertaining to windowless shapes, and executes the operations upon the windowless shapes. Computer resources may be efficiently allocated, for example to the graphical user interface during runtime, instead of the windowless shapes consuming resources to participate in the windows message loop.

Abstract: Methods for determining the concentration of nitrates in several types of water samples by photochemical reduction without the use of toxic materials such as cadmium or hydrazine, and having an approximately 100% reduction efficiency are described. A water sample mixed with a buffered aqueous solution including ammonium salts and EDTA is irradiated using ultraviolet light having wavelengths effective for photochemical conversion of nitrate and nitrite ions (NOx) to detectable species. The resulting species may be quantitatively determined by diazotization using sulfanilamide followed by coupling with N-(1-napthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride which produces a water-soluble azo dye having a magenta color which may be colorimetrically measured at 540 nm from which the nitrate and nitrite concentration in the sample is determined.

Abstract: Development environments are commonly used to facilitate the development of user interfaces (e.g. windows forms, web forms, etc.). Drawing objects are components that may be used within the development environment to provide visual enhancements to the user interface. An effective method for drawing one or more drawing objects is disclosed herein to draw the drawing objects as windowless shapes within a shape container. The shape container may be configured to participate in a windows message loop (e.g. event handling system), wherein the windowless shapes do not participate in the windows message loop (e.g. lack a windows handle). The shape container listens, for example, within the windows message loop for operations pertaining to windowless shapes, and executes the operations upon the windowless shapes. Computer resources may be efficiently allocated, for example to the graphical user interface during runtime, instead of the windowless shapes consuming resources to participate in the windows message loop.

Abstract: An device for attaching a cargo restraint system to the incorporated roll bar of a motor vehicle with convertible or removable top. By utilizing this existing portion of the vehicle, added cargo retention can be provided for, by attaching an device around said roll bar extending around the rear perimeter of the passenger area. In order to retain maximum driver visibility, the device will consist of netting material similar to that used in fishing, bordered by a heavier material to enable attachment to the vehicle. By utilizing an existing feature of the vehicle, the user is not required to modify any portion of the vehicle in order to attach the invention. Additionally, by not sharing any points of attachment with the existing top, the user is able to utilize the invention with or without the existing convertible top.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a cargo restraint system to the incorporated rollbar of a motor vehicle with convertible or removable top. By utilizing this existing portion of the vehicle, added cargo retention can be provided for, by attaching an apparatus around said rollbar extending around the rear perimiter of the passenger area. In order to retain maximum driver visibility, said apparatus will consist of netting material similar to that used in fishing, bordered by a heavier material to enable attachment to the vehicle. By utilizing an existing feature of the vehicle, the user is not required to modify any portion of the vehicle in order to attach the invention. Additionally, by not sharing any points of attachment with the existing top, the user is able to utilize the invention with or without the existing convertible top.

Abstract: Mating faces of a microchannel plate (MCP) (50) and a multi-layer ceramic body (80) unit are deposited with a thin film having protuberances (84) using a suitable metal selected for optimum diffusion at a desired temperatures and pressure. The metallized MCP (50) and multi-layer ceramic body (80) unit are then aligned and placed in a bonding fixture (F) that provides the necessary force applied to the components to initiate a diffusion bond at a desired elevated temperature. The bonding fixture (F) is then placed in a vacuum heat chamber (V) to accelerate the diffusion bonding process between the MCP (50) and the multi-layer ceramic body unit (80).

Abstract: An article of footwear for distributing pressure evenly on various regions of the foot comprising an upper and at least one moldable foam piece attached to an inner surface of the upper is provided, together with an article of footwear manufactured by a process comprising attaching at least one moldable foam piece to the inner surface of the upper of the footwear and stretching the upper over a footwear last comprising at least one cavity cut into the surface of the last that accommodates the moldable foam piece.

Abstract: A faceplate (F) for an image intensifier tube (10) for reducing veiling glare begins as a blank (36) of optical material of a desired glass composition having a shape that conforms substantially to a configuration of the faceplate (F) to be produced. An extraneous removable aperture step portion (54) is formed on the glass blank (36). The glass blank is blackened (41) and the aperture step portion (54) is removed creating a desired transmissive aperture (34) through the glass blank (36).

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for on-demand short term loan processing is disclosed which utilizes computing equipment (10) to expedite loan approval and the transfer of funds. The method preferably includes the steps of: (a) establishing a loan account for a customer (100); (b) providing the customer access to the loan account through an ATM card (102); (c) receiving a loan request from the customer through a communications network (104); (d) approving the loan request immediately by utilizing computing equipment (106); (e) depositing a loan amount immediately into the loan account utilizing the computing equipment such that the loan amount is immediately accessible by the customer through the ATM card (108); and (f) automatically withdrawing the loan amount and a loan fee from the loan account by utilizing the computing equipment when additional funds are deposited into the loan account (110).

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for on-demand short term loan processing and overdraft protection is disclosed which utilizes computing equipment (10) to expedite and facilitate loan approval, overdraft protection, and the transfer of funds. The method generally includes the steps of: establishing a customer account for a customer; receiving a request for overdraft protection from the customer; utilizing computing equipment to approve the request for overdraft protection; receiving a request for funds due to a transaction initiated by the customer; utilizing computing equipment to automatically provide an overdraft protection amount when the customer account lacks sufficient funds to cover the initiated transaction; and automatically withdrawing the overdraft protection amount and an overdraft fee from the customer account when additional funds are deposited into the customer account.

Abstract: A microchannel plate (MCP) (50) and a dielectric insulator (80) are deposited with a thin film (54, 84) using a suitable metal selected for optimum diffusion. The metallized MCP (50) and dielectric insulator (80) are then aligned and placed in a bonding fixture (36) that provides the necessary force applied to the components to initiate a diffusion bond. The bonding fixture (36) is then placed in a vacuum heat chamber to accelerate the diffusion bonding process between the MCP (50) and the dielectric insulator (80).