Abstract: A fastener has a body with an attachment surface and a holding surface. A large number of tiny hairs protrude from the attachment surface. A hook, post, ring or other structure extends from the holding surface to permit an object to be hung from or attached to the fastener. The attachment surface can be formed by depositing or growing the hairs on a substrate or by using a mold to form the hairs.

Abstract: Methods and devices for rejuvenating, supplementing, or bypassing an individual fuel cell or a group of fuel cells, in a fuel cell stack, is disclosed. The methods and devices provide for a mechanism for removing catalyst poisons on both the anode portion and the cathode portion of the fuel cell and providing an improvement in the operation of the electrolytes. A controller that controls a variable resistor or a variable power supply in parallel with an individual fuel cell or a group of fuel cells in a stack is utilized. Adjusting the resistive value of the variable resistor, or the voltage level of the variable power supply, directly controls the current in the fuel cell. In accordance with Kirchoff s Current Law, decreasing the fuel cell voltage increases the current through the fuel cell, while the fuel cell stack is operational, and poisons deposited on the anode and cathode electrocatalysts are removed, thereby rejuvenating the fuel cell.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a captured image and, more particularly, for processing a captured image comprising a document. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a camera to capture documents is described. In another embodiment, a method for processing a captured image that includes a document comprises the steps of distinguishing an imaged document from its background, adjusting the captured image to reduce distortions created from use of a camera and properly orienting the document is described.

Abstract: As taught herein, we provide different embodiments for portable self-contained service carts, with each of the carts having a specific use and various tools and equipment for performing specialized tasks.

Abstract: A rosary prayer device has a ring or elongated housing containing a series of stops. The stops are arranged in five groups of five or ten with a starting space adjacent one of the groups of stops. A bead is positioned on the ring and sized to travel around the ring and remain between any two selected stops on the ring until pushed over one of the two selected stops. A user pushes the bead to the next stop after saying each prayer of the rosary.

Abstract: Gaming devices comprising a standard gaming unit, e.g., three reels, and a discernible additional payout indicator, e.g., a rotatable wheel. A preferred bonus payout indicator is clearly visible by the player and is actuatable when the reels of the slot machine stop on certain predetermined indicia. A preferred embodiment further comprises a payout multiplier which displays a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for the movement of goods in a goods storage area or areas. In one embodiment the goods storage area is or includes the interior of a goods storage trailer for a vehicle. The apparatus is provided with a body and includes at least one platform which can be movable in a substantially vertical direction. Wheels are provided on the apparatus body to allow movement of the apparatus along the floor of the goods storage area. The apparatus is of a width such that the same substantially extends across the width of the good storage trailer so as to allow access from the platform to all of the goods storage trailer interior for the loading and unloading goods via the platform.

Abstract: A method for operating a network of video machines including the steps of providing a video machine that is part of the network, inputting and storing a value of credits, determining and verifying if a player is a member of a player club, determining whether the player wants to be a member if the player is not a member, enrolling the player at the video machine if the player is not a member, playing the video machine, adding and debiting credits to the stored value of credits for credits earned or lost during play, encoding the value of any credits remaining and data associated with the player onto the readable/encodable card, and ejecting the readable/encodable card, whereby no interaction with a human being is required by the player to become a member of the player club.

Abstract: A door hook including a U-shaped bracket having a top member and a front side and back side attached to the top member. The front and back sides are separated by a first distance, which corresponds generally to the thickness of a door over which the door hook is to be placed. A hook is attached to the front side, while a spacer portion is attached to the back side or top. A frangible joint is formed in the back side or top such that the spacer portion can be detached and then reattached to the back side. With the spacer portion in this reattached position the spacer portion and the front side are separated by a second distance, different from and typically less than the first-distance. The second distance corresponds generally to the thickness of a thinner or thicker door, over which the door hook may be placed after removal or removal and reattachment of the spacer.

Abstract: Methods of playing games of chance and gaming devices comprising multiple wagering options. In one aspect, a single wagering unit activates a plurality of pay lines. In another aspect, at least one wager is randomly assigned to at least one pay line. Other aspects include novel arrangements of pay lines and wagering options to add excitement and enjoyment to the gaming experience. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, one or more indicia for a particular pay line are received for display thereon from at least one other gaming device.

Abstract: A plate, an electrical interconnect formed by the plate, and a fuel cell assembly incorporating the electrical interconnect. The electrical interconnect is for use in a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell assembly is for use in the electrochemically active section of a fuel cell stack. The assembly includes one or more membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), each disposed between two flow field plates that distribute fuel and oxidant to the anode and the cathode, an additional flow field plate for passing coolant in order to cool the assembly and, possibly, a buss plate. At least one of the buss plates is an electrical interconnect of the present invention. The electrical interconnect is constructed to include one or more electrically conductive tabs, where one or more of the tabs are in turn coupled to a fuel cell health management (FCHM) device that is able to monitor, control, rejuvenate, supplement, and bypass the fuel cell assembly through the connection made via the tabs.

Abstract: A hook for holding objects under a shelf or mantel has a body configured so that when the hook is positioned for holding an object under a shelf or mantel, a mounting end will be adjacent the top surface of the shelf and the opposite end will be under the bottom surface of the shelf. A resilient gripper body is attached to the mounting end of the hook body. The gripper body has a curved surface which is positioned for engagement with the top surface of the shelf. When the hook is placed on the top surface and no load is on the hook, a first portion of the curved surfaced will be on the top surface of the shelf and a second portion of the curved surface will be spaced away from the top surface of the shelf. As increasing loads are placed on the hook, the shape of the curved surface will change increasing the contact area between the gripper body and the top surface of the shelf.

Abstract: A door hook including a U-shaped bracket having a top member and front and back sides attached to the top member. The front and back sides are separated by a first distance, which corresponds generally to the thickness of a door over which the door hook is to be placed. A J-hook is attached to the front side, while a spacing member is attached to the back side or top. A hinge element is formed in the back side or top such that the spacing member is pivotable toward a position under the top member. With the spacing member in this position, the spacing member and the front side are separated by a second distance, less than the first distance, which corresponds generally to the thickness of a thinner, second door over which the door hook may be placed. In this manner, the door hook may be easily adjusted to fit over doors having different thickness, such as, for example, exterior and interior doors.

Abstract: Gaming devices comprising a standard gaming unit, e.g., three reels, and a discernible additional payout indicator, e.g., a rotatable wheel. A preferred bonus payout indicator is clearly visible by the player and is actuatable when the reels of the slot machine stop on certain predetermined indicia. A preferred embodiment further comprises a payout multiplier which displays a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.

Abstract: A method that is used for control of various liquids, including storage, mixing and dispersing thereof, but more particularly pertains to an improved method that is suitable for use with substantially any type of liquid of user choice. The method is economical, simplified, environmentally friendly, and includes use of multipurpose container(s) that further include various components and/or attachments that allow for storage, mixing and dispensing there from.

Abstract: An inspection system based upon an enclosed conveyance such as a van capable of road travel. The conveyance is characterized by an enclosing body, or skin. The system has a source of penetrating radiation contained entirely within the body of the enclosed conveyance and a spatial modulator for forming the penetrating radiation into a beam for irradiating an object with a time-variable scanning profile. A detector module generates a scatter signal based on penetrating radiation scattered by contents of the object, while a proximity sensor generates a relative motion signal based on a relative disposition of the conveyance and the inspected object. An image is formed of the contents of the object based in part on the scatter signal and the relative motion signal. A detector, which may be separate or part of the scatter detector module, exhibits sensitivity to decay products of radioactive material.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement comprising a first membrane having a periphery and a second membrane comprising a first portion overlying the first membrane and a second portion extending from the first portion, wherein the first membrane is substantially wholly attached to the first portion of the second membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for analyzing multimedia content to identify the presence of audio, visual and textual cues that together correspond to one or more high-level semantics are provided. The apparatus and method make use of one or more analysis models that are trained to analyze audio, visual and textual portions of multimedia content to generate scores associated with the audio, visual and textual portions with respect to various high-level semantic concepts. These scores are used to generate a vector of scores. The apparatus is trained with regard to relationships between audio, visual and textual scores to thereby take the vector of scores generated for the multimedia content and classify the multimedia content into one or more high-level semantic concepts. Based on the scores for the various audio, video and textual portions of the multimedia content, a level of certainty regarding the high-level semantic concepts may be generated.

Abstract: Water-dispersible nanoparticles are prepared by applying a coating of a multiply amphipathic dispersant to the surface of a hydrophobic nanoparticle comprised of a semiconductive or metallic material. The multiply amphipathic dispersant has two or more hydrophobic regions and two or more hydrophilic regions, and is typically polymeric. Preferred polymeric dispersants are comprised of (1) a hydrophobic backbone with hydrophilic branches, (2) a hydrophilic backbone with hydrophobic branches, or (3) a backbone that may be either hydrophobic or hydrophilic, and substituted with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic branches. Monodisperse populations of water-dispersible nanoparticles are also provided, as are conjugates of the water-dispersible nanoparticles with affinity molecules such as peptides, oligonucleotides, and the like.

Abstract: Water-dispersible nanoparticles are prepared by applying a coating of a multiply amphipathic dispersant to the surface of a hydrophobic nanoparticle comprised of a semiconductive or metallic material. The multiply amphipathic dispersant has two or more hydrophobic regions and two or more hydrophilic regions, and is typically polymeric. Preferred polymeric dispersants are comprised of (1) a hydrophobic backbone with hydrophilic branches, (2) a hydrophilic backbone with hydrophobic branches, or (3) a backbone that may be either hydrophobic or hydrophilic, and substituted with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic branches. Monodisperse populations of water-dispersible nanoparticles are also provided, as are conjugates of the water-dispersible nanoparticles with affinity molecules such as peptides, oligonucleotides, and the like.