Abstract: A mount device for receiving a flag pole is described. The mount device is attachable to a trailer hitch such as a gooseneck hitch or a fifth wheel hitch, which is installed on a vehicle. The mount device includes a connecting tube for inserting into a hitch ball receiving aperture of the trailer hitch. The connecting tube has a top end defining a top aperture. The mount device also includes a receiving tube for inserting into the connecting tube. The receiving tube has a top end defining a top aperture for receiving a flag pole by inserting the flag pole into the aperture of the receiving tube.

Abstract: A system for measuring the conductivity of a flexible media positioned between a conductive backing and a conductive roller, wherein the conductive roller contacts the flexible media in a roller contact region. A pressure control mechanism presses the conductive roller against the second surface of the flexible media with a specified contact pressure, and a motion control system provide a relative motion between the conductive roller and the flexible media. A resistance measuring system connected to the conductive roller and the conductive backing measures the conductivity of the flexible media within the roller contact region. A data recording system records the measured conductivity of the media as a function of position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for igniting a power charge in downhole wellbore using an ignition propellant mixed with a main propellant.

Abstract: A hair iron according to one example embodiment includes a first arm and a second arm movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. A contact surface is positioned on an exterior of the first arm for contacting hair during use. The hair iron includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrical resistor material thick film printed on a surface of the ceramic substrate. The heater generates heat by applying an electric current to the electrical resistor material. The heater is positioned to supply heat to the contact surface.

Abstract: An extraction head for a cleaning machine is disclosed for traveling along a cleaning path on a variable-height floor. The extraction head comprises a body including a floor-facing surface and an extraction aperture disposed in the floor-facing surface. The extraction head comprises a vacuum outlet in fluid communication with the extraction aperture. The extraction head comprises an adjustable-height brush positioned in front of the extraction head body along the cleaning path. The adjustable-height brush is configured to translocate upwardly and downwardly as the extraction head moves along the cleaning path on the variable-height floor. The adjustable-height brush may comprise a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The proximal and distal ends may be configured to translocate upwardly and downwardly relative to each other as the extraction head moves along the cleaning path on the variable-height floor.

Abstract: There is set forth herein, according to one embodiment: a fastener having an extended section that includes a deformable distal end; a joining body having a through hole configured so that the extended section can be fitted through the through hole; wherein the fastener is configured so that with the joining body joined to the fastener, the deformable distal end can be deformed to increase a holding force between the joining body and the fastener. There is set forth herein, according to one embodiment: a fastener comprising a head and an extended section extending from the head, wherein the extended section includes a deformable distal; wherein the deformable distal end is defined by a circumferential sidewall that forms a counterbore.

Abstract: A method of making a heater includes an aluminum nitride base having equal to or less than 1% impurities, particularly one embodiment having none of polybrominated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated paraffin, phthalate, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. The base is fired in a heating unit before any layering. Thereafter, on a topside and backside of the base a conductor layer is layered and allowed to settle and dry before firing. Next, a resistive layer is layered on the base from a resistor paste such that the resistive layer connects to the conductor layer on the topside. The resistor paste is allowed to settle and dry and then the base with the conductor and resistor layers is fired. At least four layers of glass are layered next over the resistive layer, each instance thereof including layering a glass, drying the glass and firing.

Abstract: Methods and system for a unique coding framework used to create, manage and track instructions for documentation and dissemination of instructions, indicate a particular association or activate a given process. In one example, the present disclosure relates to the online publishing of documentation to demonstrate relationships of parties and compliance with regulatory and other requirements. The present disclosure uses URL hyperlinks, badges, watermarks, icons and visual displays that are representative of a given function and that may be identified by reference of unique coding structure. The present disclosure relates to the publishing and display of relevant visual codes or images for viewing by members of the public, (human readable) as well as machines. The present disclosure enables the tracking and measurement of uses of coded representations in public or private channels. Structured hyperlink codes allow brief messages to be sent in shortened form to instruct or deliver messages or processes.

Abstract: Obsoleting values stored in registers in a processor based on processing obsolescent register-encoded instructions is disclosed. The processor is configured to support execution of read and/or write instructions that include obsolescence encoding indicating that one or more of its source and/or target register operands are to be obsoleted by the processor. A register encoded as obsolescent means the data value stored in such register will not be used by subsequent instructions in an instruction stream, and thus does not need to be retained. Thus, such register can be set as being in an obsolescent state so that the data value stored in such register can be ignored to improve performance. As one example, data values for registers having an obsolescent state can be ignored and thus not stored in a saved context for a process being switched out, thus conserving memory and improving processing time for a process switch.

Abstract: An extraction head for a cleaning machine is disclosed for traveling along a cleaning path on a variable-height floor. The extraction head comprises a body including a floor-facing surface and an extraction aperture disposed in the floor-facing surface. The extraction head comprises a vacuum outlet in fluid communication with the extraction aperture. The extraction head comprises an adjustable-height brush positioned in front of the extraction head body along the cleaning path. The adjustable-height brush is configured to translocate upwardly and downwardly as the extraction head moves along the cleaning path on the variable-height floor. The adjustable-height brush may comprise a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The proximal and distal ends may be configured to translocate upwardly and downwardly relative to each other as the extraction head moves along the cleaning path on the variable-height floor.

Abstract: An appliance for heating fluid includes a reservoir for holding the fluid during use. One or more ceramic heaters mount with the reservoir to heat the fluid. The heater includes electrically resistive traces thick-film printed on a substrate. The heaters optionally mount with a heat transfer element having a relatively large surface area. The heat transfer element typifies a conductive element, such as an aluminum plate of forged aluminum. The plate has cavities to retain the heaters or sections fitted about heaters. Holes through a thickness of the plate induce turbulent fluid flow as the fluid freely passes there through during use. Heater control and mounting are still other aspects of the technology.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A reach matrix scheduler circuit for scheduling instructions to be executed in a processor is disclosed. The scheduler circuit includes an N×R matrix wake-up circuit, where ‘N’ is the instruction window size of the scheduler circuit, and ‘R’ is the “reach” within the instruction window of the matrix wake-up circuit, with ‘R’ being less than ‘N’. A grant line associated with each instruction request entry in the N×R matrix wake-up circuit is coupled to ‘R’ other instruction entries among the ‘N’ instruction entries. When a producer instruction in an instruction request entry is ready for issuance, the grant line associated with the instruction request entry is activated so that any other instruction entries coupled to the grant line (i.e., within the “reach” of the instruction request entry) that consume the produced value generated by the producer instruction are “woken-up” and subsequently indicated as ready to be issued.

Abstract: A heater includes an aluminum nitride base having equal to or less than 1% impurities, particularly one embodiment having none of polybrominated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated paraffin, phthalate, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. At least one resistive trace of silver and palladium overlies the base as does a conductor of silver and platinum or palladium that electrically connects to the resistive trace to apply an external voltage to the resistive trace for heating thereof. At least four, but optionally five, layers of glass overlie the resistive trace and part of the conductor. A first two consecutive layers of the glass layers define a first glass having a solid content of more than 65% and a viscosity of 100 Pa·s or less. The following two or three consecutive layers of the five layers define a second glass dissimilar to the first.

Abstract: A cooking device according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of modular heaters. Each modular heater includes a ceramic substrate and an electrically resistive trace positioned on the ceramic substrate. Each modular heater is configured to generate heat when an electric current is supplied to the electrically resistive trace. The cooking device includes a thermally conductive heating plate. The plurality of modular heaters are positioned against a bottom surface of the heating plate. The heating plate includes a top surface positioned to transfer heat provided by the plurality of modular heaters to a cooking vessel for cooking an item held by the cooking vessel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a hair iron having a ceramic heater between first and second arms movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The ceramic heater has resistive traces that heat up hair during use upon being connected to a power source. On a side of the ceramic heater opposite the resistive traces, a layer of metal is formed to spread out during use the heat from the resistive traces. The metal may be formed as a single or multiple layers. The composition of the metal can be, representatively, pure or alloys of silver, copper, or aluminum with platinum or palladium. The shape of the metal varies as does its coverage on a surface area of the ceramic heater.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a hair iron having a ceramic heater between first and second arms movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The ceramic heater has resistive traces that heat up hair during use upon being connected to a power source. On a side of the ceramic heater opposite the resistive traces, a layer of metal is formed to spread out during use the heat from the resistive traces. The metal may be formed as a single or multiple layers. The composition of the metal can be, representatively, pure or alloys of silver, copper, or aluminum with platinum or palladium. The shape of the metal varies as does its coverage on a surface area of the ceramic heater.

Abstract: A cooking vessel according to one example embodiment includes a food receptacle for holding food during cooking. The cooking vessel includes an inner shell and an outer shell. An outside surface of the inner shell forms the food receptacle. A portion of an inside surface of the inner shell is spaced from a portion of an inside surface of the outer shell forming a sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. A heat pipe is positioned within the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell for distributing heat through the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. Embodiments include those wherein each of the inner shell and the outer shell includes a respective bottom wall and a respective side wall.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a hair iron having a controller and a heater between first and second arms movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The controller connects or not the heater to a line voltage to heat hair when placed between the arms during use. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller communicates with a thermistor measuring a current temperature of the heater and makes requests of the controller to operate the heater at a setpoint temperature. In various embodiments, the heater heats to full power during warm-up and operates thereafter at lower temperatures based on a reading of the line voltage and a time to adjust the current temperature to the desired setpoint temperature.