Abstract: A power supply (10) and corresponding method (200) supply power in high external magnetic fields. A power converter system (12) converts input power to output power using one or more electromagnetic components (18). One or more ferrous bands (16) encircle the electromagnetic components (18) and shield the electromagnetic components (18) from the high external magnetic fields.

Abstract: Cushioned handle to cover a common, conventional shopping cart handle, preventing a shopper's hands from coming in contact with the cart handle. Additionally, offers a comfortable rest area for forearms while shopping. User does not come in contact with handle. Cover slips over handle and is secured in place. Shopping complete, cover is removed. The part that touched the handle is not exposed to the user. The handle cover comes with its own carrying case, which has a carrying handle. Once home, the handle cover is removed from its case and the foam form insert is removed, the cover goes straight into the clothes washer. Once dry, the foam form is re-inserted. The spread of germs, viruses and other disease-causing micro-organisms which can lie on the handle are never touched and end up in the washer.

Abstract: Disclosed are an orbital smoothing device for smoothing a surface of a substrate and a method of smoothing a surface of a substrate using the orbital smoothing device. The orbital smoothing device includes a rotatable plate that is driveable by a motor in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction and a plurality of smoothing pad assemblies coupled to said plate. Each of the plurality of smoothing pad assemblies is capable of independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions and includes a shaft for coupling each of said smoothing pad assemblies to the rotatable plate, means for providing independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions mounted on the shaft and securable in a pad holder and a pad holder for receiving and securing the means for independent rotation. The pad holder has removably mounted thereon a smoothing pad capable of smoothing the surface of the substrate when the rotatable plate is driven by the motor.

Abstract: Methods and systems may include an engine having a crankshaft with a longitudinal axis and a plurality of pistons coupled to the crankshaft. The engine may also include a bore structure having surfaces that define a plurality of combustion chambers, wherein each combustion chamber contains a piston and the bore structure rotates about the longitudinal axis in response to piston displacement within the combustion chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) protects a device (80) which has a ferrous electromechanical component which saturates in a high magnetic field (40) and draws a dangerously high electric current. A current sensor (110) senses current in excess of safe operating conditions of the protected device (80) in or near the magnetic field (40). A current switch (120) is controlled by the current sensor (110) and interposed between a power supply (90) and the device (80) to interrupt the current flow to the protected device (80) when the current sensor (110) senses current flow above a threshold due to the saturation.

Abstract: Disclosed are an orbital smoothing device for smoothing a surface of a substrate and a method of smoothing a surface of a substrate using the orbital smoothing device. The orbital smoothing device includes a rotatable plate that is driveable by a motor in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction and a plurality of smoothing pad assemblies coupled to said plate. Each of the plurality of smoothing pad assemblies is capable of independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions and includes a shaft for coupling each of said smoothing pad assemblies to the rotatable plate, means for providing independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions mounted on the shaft and securable in a pad holder and a pad holder for receiving and securing the means for independent rotation. The pad holder has removably mounted thereon a smoothing pad capable of smoothing the surface of the substrate when the rotatable plate is driven by the motor.

Abstract: Disclosed are an orbital smoothing device for smoothing a surface of a substrate and a method of smoothing a surface of a substrate using the orbital smoothing device. The orbital smoothing device includes a rotatable plate that is drivable by a motor in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction and a plurality of smoothing pad assemblies coupled to said plate. Each of the plurality of smoothing pad assemblies is capable of independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions and includes a shaft for coupling each of said smoothing pad assemblies to the rotatable plate, means for providing independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions mounted on the shaft and securable in a pad holder and a pad holder for receiving and securing the means for independent rotation. The pad holder has removably mounted thereon a smoothing pad capable of smoothing the surface of the substrate when the rotatable plate is driven by the motor.

Abstract: Disclosed are an orbital smoothing device for smoothing a surface of a substrate and a method of smoothing a surface of a substrate using the orbital smoothing device. The orbital smoothing device includes a rotatable plate that is driveable by a motor in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction and a plurality of smoothing pad assemblies coupled to said plate. Each of the plurality of smoothing pad assemblies is capable of independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions and includes a shaft for coupling each of said smoothing pad assemblies to the rotatable plate, means for providing independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions mounted on the shaft and securable in a pad holder and a pad holder for receiving and securing the means for independent rotation. The pad holder has removably mounted thereon a smoothing pad capable of smoothing the surface of the substrate when the rotatable plate is driven by the motor.

Abstract: Methods and systems may include an engine having a crankshaft with a longitudinal axis and a plurality of pistons coupled to the crankshaft. The engine may also include a bore structure having surfaces that define a plurality of combustion chambers, wherein each combustion chamber contains a piston and the bore structure rotates about the longitudinal axis in response to piston displacement within the combustion chambers.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for updating retrievability aids. A search request including one or more search terms is received. Each of the one or more search terms is captured. A list of topics is provided to a user as search results. User selection of a topic in the list of topics is received. After reviewing the topic, the user adds one or more folksonomy tags to the topic. The one or more folksonomy tags added by the user to the topic are captured. Each of the one or more search terms and each of the one or more folksonomy tags are mapped to the topic. For each of the search terms, based on a number of times that the search term has been used to search for the topic, the search term is added to one or more retrievability aids. For each of the one or more folksonomy tags, based on a number of times that the folksonomy tag has been applied to the topic, the folksonomy tag is added to at least one of the one or more retrievability aids.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for updating retrievability aids. A search request including one or more search terms is received. Each of the one or more search terms is captured. A list of topics is provided to a user as search results. User selection of a topic in the list of topics is received. After reviewing the topic, the user adds one or more folksonomy tags to the topic. The one or more folksonomy tags added by the user to the topic are captured. Each of the one or more search terms and each of the one or more folksonomy tags are mapped to the topic. For each of the search terms, based on a number of times that the search term has been used to search for the topic, the search term is added to one or more retrievability aids. For each of the one or more folksonomy tags, based on a number of times that the folksonomy tag has been applied to the topic, the folksonomy tag is added to at least one of the one or more retrievability aids.

Abstract: A method for advertising is provided. The method includes providing a user with an IP telephone device and providing phone service to the user through an IP network. A user profile is obtained from the user of the IP telephone device, and advertisements and advertiser user profile preferences are obtained from a plurality of advertisers. Based on a comparison of the user profile with the advertiser user profile preferences, advertisements are transmitted through the IP network to the IP telephone device, and the advertisements are delivered with the IP telephone device to the user. The phone service is subsidized based on an amount of the advertisements delivered by the IP telephone device. A system for advertising including an IP telephone device is also provided.

Abstract: A billboard apparatus is provided. The billboard apparatus includes a frame, a billboard display connected to the frame for providing information to a user, and a telephone connected to the frame in proximity to the billboard display. A method of advertising using a billboard apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing and installing cement-based concrete tiles, composed of portland cement, polymer-modified cement admixtures, sand, additional ingredients and color pigments integrated with reinforcement mesh for support and strength. The cement-based concrete mix may be dispersed and formed into a single layer cement-based concrete slab configuration with the reinforcement mesh completely embedded within. The cement-based concrete mix is distributed to achieve the desired texture, thickness and finish to form the cement-based concrete slab. After curing, any desired custom designs, engravings, additional colorations and wearing surface sealers are added to render the designs an embodiment of the cement-based concrete slab and thus an embodiment of the cement-based concrete tiles. The concrete slab is then cut into concrete tiles of custom dimensions. The cement-based concrete tiles are identified in sequential order to establish correct placement during the installation process.

Abstract: A cement based pigmented concrete overlay system that is applied in a thin coat to resurface and add design to unsightly concrete substrates, delivered in a multi-use packaging system. The shipping, water measuring and mixing system utilizes a plastic bucket with watertight lid as the shipping container. Inside the shipping container are the individually packaged ingredients of the overlay system, after the shipping container is emptied of the individually packaged ingredients, it becomes the mixing bucket. The individually packaged ingredients consist of a plastic watertight bottle of concrete primer, which after emptying becomes the exact water measurment vessel. A plastic watertight bag of the dry cement mix, and a plastic watertight bottle of sealer is included. Water is added into the mixing bucket and then the dry cement mix is added, which is then blended to become the overlay mix. The overlay mix is applied to the primed concrete substrate and allowed to dry becoming the overlay surface.

Abstract: Improved apparatus and method for mixing and introducing gas into a large body of liquid. The apparatus supports and rotates a plurality of spoke-like discharge members below the surface of the liquid. The members have upwardly facing perforated discharge surfaces through which compressed gas is released up into the liquid. Preferably the members have non-porous lower portions. To counter upward "lift pump" effect forces created by the rotating members, the members are tilted with their leading edges lower than their trailing edges. The tilt of the members and the speed of rotation are balanced so that the resultant angle of attack of the liquid relative to the discharge surfaces is zero or slightly greater, for efficiently and effectively shearing the emerging gas into relatively small size bubbles.

Abstract: A plurality of hydraulic turbines is provided to generate electrical energy. A first hydraulic turbine is powered by the flow of water from an upper reservoir to plurality of holding tanks. Compressed air is used to return the water from the tanks to the reservoir. A second hydraulic turbine is provided in the return line which connects the tanks with the reservoir.

Abstract: A power producing loop continuously carrying water picking up geothermal heats and being made into steam and condensate that is continuously returned to said water source, with appropriate means of producing power at proper points in the loop.

Abstract: A gas making retort includes a substantially upright mixing chamber opening into a first horizontal refractory cylinder which encloses a second horizontal refractory cylinder. The second cylinder encloses two centrally positioned refractory circular gas out take tubes directly opposite to each other. Each of the cylinders has a cylindrical passageway for the introduction of a mixture of air, steam and a carbonaceous material from the mixing chamber into a gas making space defined between the internal ends of the gas out take tubes wherein a partial combustion of the mixture takes place.

Abstract: In areas where wind power, hydro power and earth heat power are all available and are to be developed, a common means and method of storing such power during off peak periods of power use are frequently required. Here power storage is accomplished by the lifting of under ground weights. Earth power may be geothermal heats, volcanic heats, heats from hot springs, deep holes in the earth, or heats from deep oil or gas wells, such as come to the surface when they bring up oil or natural gas. These are all here combined as a common source of power. Any or all may contribute power to the power storage.