Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) and a removable cover for covering a top of the agitators and allowing access to the agitators from a top of the surface cleaning head. The dual agitators may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The brush roll may be located in a brush roll chamber and at least partially in an opening to the suction conduit. The leading roller may be positioned adjacent to and in advance of the suction conduit opening such that the leading roller engages debris and moves the debris toward the brush roll and the opening. The leading roller may be removable from the housing and held in place by the removable cover. The cover may be coupled using isolated latching mechanisms.

Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) and a removable cover for covering a top of the agitators and allowing access to the agitators from a top of the surface cleaning head. The dual agitators may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The brush roll may be located in a brush roll chamber and at least partially in an opening to the suction conduit. The leading roller may be positioned adjacent to and in advance of the suction conduit opening such that the leading roller engages debris and moves the debris toward the brush roll and the opening. The leading roller may be removable from the housing and held in place by the removable cover. The cover may be coupled using isolated latching mechanisms.

Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) and a removable cover for covering a top of the agitators and allowing access to the agitators from a top of the surface cleaning head. The dual agitators may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The brush roll may be located in a brush roll chamber and at least partially in an opening to the suction conduit. The leading roller may be positioned adjacent to and in advance of the suction conduit opening such that the leading roller engages debris and moves the debris toward the brush roll and the opening. The leading roller may be removable from the housing and held in place by the removable cover. The cover may be coupled using isolated latching mechanisms.

Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) and a removable cover for covering a top of the agitators and allowing access to the agitators from a top of the surface cleaning head. The dual agitators may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The brush roll may be located in a brush roll chamber and at least partially in an opening to the suction conduit. The leading roller may be positioned adjacent to and in advance of the suction conduit opening such that the leading roller engages debris and moves the debris toward the brush roll and the opening. The leading roller may be removable from the housing and held in place by the removable cover. The cover may be coupled using isolated latching mechanisms.

Abstract: A dynamic firmware update process includes finding an updated version of a dynamic data-object in firmware memory. A callback handle for an in-use version of the dynamic data object in use by a consumer is identified. The consumer of updated version of dynamic data object is notified using the callback handle.

Abstract: A dynamic firmware update process includes finding an updated version of a dynamic data-object in firmware memory. A callback handle for an in-use version of the dynamic data object in use by a consumer is identified. The consumer of updated version of dynamic data object is notified using the callback handle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allocating computer hardware resources of a hard partition of a computer server system to one or more soft partitions. In response to a partitioning request, a nucleus firmware instance of a hard partition may be configured to launch a separate firmware instance corresponding to each requested soft partition, and to allocate partitionable hardware resources of the hard partition to the soft partitions by allocating the hardware resources to each separate firmware instance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for subdividing a hard partition of a computer server system into one or more soft partitions using partition management programming installed within firmware of the server system. The partition management firmware may be disposed at least partially on a central service processor and may be programmed to present generic interfaces, so that operating systems do not require modification to interface with the partition management programming.

Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having an opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having an opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having an opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: A computer system is provided that comprises a processor and firmware in communication with the processor, the firmware having updatable components and an arbitrator. The arbitrator manages conflicts between error handling and firmware updates performed within the firmware.

Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having an opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having a opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allocating computer hardware resources of a hard partition of a computer server system to one or more soft partitions. In response to a partitioning request, a nucleus firmware instance of a hard partition may be configured to launch a separate firmware instance corresponding to each requested soft partition, and to allocate partitionable hardware resources of the hard partition to the soft partitions by allocating the hardware resources to each separate firmware instance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for subdividing a hard partition of a computer server system into one or more soft partitions using partition management programming installed within firmware of the server system. The partition management firmware may be disposed at least partially on a central service processor and may be programmed to present generic interfaces, so that operating systems do not require modification to interface with the partition management programming.

Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having a opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: A computer system is provided that comprises a processor and firmware in communication with the processor, the firmware having updatable components and an arbitrator. The arbitrator manages conflicts between error handling and firmware updates performed within the firmware.

Abstract: A method for preparing stretchable bonded nonwoven fabrics which involves forming a substantially nonbonded nonwoven web of multiple-component continuous filaments or staple fibers which are capable of developing three-dimensional spiral crimp, activating the spiral crimp by heating substantially nonbonded web under free shrinkage conditions during which the nonwoven remains substantially nonbonded, followed by bonding the crimped nonwoven web using an array of discrete mechanical, chemical, or thermal bonds. Nonwoven fabrics prepared according to the method of the current invention have an improved combination of stretch-recovery properties, textile hand and drape compared to multiple-component nonwoven fabrics known in the art.

Abstract: A system consisting of a base GPS receiver with a clear view of the sky, one or more remote GPS receivers with restricted views of the sky and a processing center that batch processes range information provided by the GPS receivers determines the positions of the remote GPS receivers to within tight tolerances. The base GPS receiver and the remote GPS receivers produce range information based on the satellite signals that the respective receivers can track at a given time, and provide the range information to the processing center. The range information includes both code and carrier measurements for each of the signals that are being tracked by the respective GPS receivers. The center collects the range information over an extended period of time, for example, hours, days or weeks, and then batch processes the collected information in multiple passes through the data, to calculate the precise latitude, longitude and height of the receiver.