Abstract: A dental case including a substrate having a plurality of holes therein and a grommet matrix. The grommet matrix including a plurality of grommets each having a groove. The plurality of grommets are interconnected outside of said groove and the plurality of grommets are located at predetermined positions corresponding to the plurality of holes.

Abstract: A system of intelligent appliances coupled by common household power lines or wireless links. One or more of the appliances serves as a system controller and may include a further communications interface for coupling to an external communications network, such as the telephone network. The system can thus be accessed and controlled remotely. The system can also communicate with and obtain information from remote sources such as Internet-based facilities.

Abstract: A system of intelligent appliances coupled by common household power lines or wireless links. One or more of the appliances serves as a system controller and may include a further communications interface for coupling to an external communications network, such as the telephone network. The system can thus be accessed and controlled remotely. The system can also communicate with and obtain information from remote sources such as Internet-based facilities.

Abstract: A sterilization tray system which comprises an outer box-like case having holes in the case bottom wall through which steam or other sterilant may circulate through the case. Pairs of brackets are affixed vertically to opposite the case side and/or end walls. A plurality of spaced holes is provided in each bracket. The holes serve as anchoring points for shelf brackets or fixtures for supporting trays at selected positions in the case.

Abstract: A system of intelligent appliances coupled by common household power lines or wireless links. One or more of the appliances serves as a system controller and may include a further communications interface for coupling to an external communications network, such as the telephone network. The system can thus be accessed and controlled remotely. The system can also communicate with and obtain information from remote sources such as Internet-based facilities.

Abstract: A system and method providing electronic registration and maintenance of business directory listings and advertisements. In a computer system hosting an online business directory, it is advantageous to provide interested businesses with the ability to register their business listing information and/or advertisements such that the user may have direct input into the categorization the business listing(s) or advertisement(s) in the business directory. In an illustrative implementation, the system and methods of the present invention may be realized as an Internet based registration computing application cooperating with a business directory storing and displaying business directory listing information. This registration computing application may be employed as part of an Internet business directory listing information offering deployed on a Web site that offers business listing information services.

Abstract: A system of intelligent appliances coupled by common household power lines or wireless links. In particular, the system includes one of more of a kitchen console, a breadmaker, a slow cooker, and a rice cooker/steamer. One or more of the appliances serves as a system controller and may include a further communications interface for coupling to an external communications network, such as the telephone network. The system can thus be accessed and controlled remotely. The system can also communicate with and obtain information from remote sources such as Internet-based facilities.

Abstract: Improving event-based windowing in a network environment. After a client retrieves an electronic document, the client detects a reference in the document to computer-executable instructions not included in the document. The client then retrieves the computer-executable instructions as well as relevant predefined event-based content that is to be displayed in response to a predetermined event. If a predetermined event occurs, the processing of the computer-executable instructions results in a window having the predefined content to be displayed over the document. The window is not easily preempted by other processes. Also, the computer-executable instructions permit a wide variety of formatting of the text within the window, and is not limited to images.

Abstract: A surgical instrument tray support assembly for attachment to a surgical table having a table frame and at least one side rail secured to the table frame. The surgical instrument tray support system includes a bracket for attachment to the side rail for supporting a post in a generally upright position. A top tube is slidably mounted over the post. Completing the assembly is a frame for supporting a surgical tray, and a bracket for attaching said frame to the top tube.

Abstract: A sterilization tray system which comprises an outer box-like case having holes in the case bottom wall through which steam or other sterilant may circulate through the case. Pairs of brackets are affixed vertically to opposite the case side and/or end walls. A plurality of spaced holes is provided in each bracket. The holes serve as anchoring points for shelf brackets or fixtures for supporting trays at selected positions in the case.

Abstract: A surgical tray comprises a frame made of a synthetic plastic material having a metal plate insert floatably mounted in the frame and forming the tray bottom or floor.

Abstract: A medical instrument sterilization system includes a sterilization tray having a bottom wall and an array of ventilation/mounting holes in the bottom wall. The ventilation/mounting holes are arranged evenly spaced at least in part in the bottom wall. Preferably the ventilation/mounting holes comprise a central portion and one or more lobes. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the ventilation/mounting holes comprise a plurality of like cruciform-shaped holes. Completing the invention are one or more rigid brackets having posts arranged to project through the ventilation/mounting holes for anchoring at selected positions on the tray.

Abstract: A sterilization tray container system includes an apertured rack in which surgical tools are located. A resiliently deformable retention mat having a plurality of apertures formed in a predetermined array pattern underlying, at least in part, the array pattern in the tray, is provided below the rack. The apertures in the resiliently deformable retention mat extend entirely therethrough, and are sized and configured so as to releasably grip the surgical tools intended to be placed therein. The resiliently deformable retention mat is positioned below the rack, and is attached to the rack by a mechanical support, or fixedly held in position between the rack and the container bottom.

Abstract: A slide-latch for use on a container having a storage tray and a closing lid. The latch comprises a generally J-shaped body terminating in a hook portion, and having an elongate ovoid slot running therethrough. The latch is mounted to said lid on an elongate rod located within the slot. The rod in turn is mounted to said lid. The latch is slidably operable between a closed position wherein the hook portion secures the lid to the storage tray, and an open position wherein the lid is separable from the storage tray. A cam surface between the underside of the latch and the top surface of the lid locks the latch in a closed position.

Abstract: A control program for a programmable toy (24) is created using a graphic programming system implemented on a personal computer (10). In the preferred embodiment, the programmable toy comprises a vehicle that can be commanded to make turns in 45.degree. increments and to track an infrared source (220). To create the graphic control program, the user simply selects graphic objects from control panel (154) presented on a cartoon-like graphic screen. For example, the user can select a horn graphic object (168) or a headlight graphic object (166) to respectively activate a horn or headlights on the programmable toy. The user creates a graphic control program on a grid (160) using a mouse (23) to select the graphic objects and indicate parameters. Once the graphic control program is completed, it is downloaded from the RS-232 serial port of the personal computer into the programmable toy through a connecting link (25), which is then uncoupled from the programmable toy.

Abstract: A control program for a programmable toy (24) is created using a graphic programming system implemented on a personal computer (10). In the preferred embodiment, the programmable toy comprises a vehicle that can be commanded to make turns in 45.degree. increments and to track an infrared source (220). To create the graphic control program, the user simply selects graphic objects from control panel (154) presented on a cartoon-like graphic screen. For example, the user can select a horn graphic object (168) or a headlight graphic object (166) to respectively activate a horn or headlights on the programmable toy. The user creates a graphic control program on a grid (160) using a mouse (23) to select the graphic objects and indicate parameters. Once the graphic control program is completed, it is downloaded from the RS-232 serial port of the personal computer into the programmable toy through a connecting link (25), which is then uncoupled from the programmable toy.

Abstract: A surgical container for sterilizing, transporting and storing small surgical instruments such as drill, pins, screws and the like. The container comprises a base having at least one well, and includes an apertured plate for holding the instruments, covering the well at least in part. The apertured plate has apertures sized to accommodate selected instruments, and a cover rotatably mounted over the apertured plate. The cover has an opening for providing access to a limited area of the plate and any instruments loaded therein.

Abstract: A data backup system implements coordination between a Database Server and a Backup Server to produce a recoverable database dump. By utilizing a technique referred to as stripe affinity, a mechanism is disclosed for ensuring the integrity of a database backup made to multiple archive devices simultaneously. In addition, by utilizing stripe affinity, archived data may be reloaded from fewer archive devices than were used to make the original backup.A task scheduler mechanism allocates processor time among the tasks that comprise the backup system. In this way the I/O service tasks can process their event queues while the current set of allocation pages are also being processed.