Abstract: A tool for dispensing plastic fasteners from a fastener clip includes a housing, a trigger pivotally mounted in the housing, a hollow slotted needle slidably mounted in the housing, an ejector rod disposed to insert back and forth through the hollow needle and an indexing mechanism for advancing the cross-bar of a fastener in the fastener clip into axial alignment behind the needle. The indexing mechanism includes a feed slide coupled to the trigger and a pivotally mounted feed cam connected to the feed slide, the feed cam including a pair of spaced apart projections. A metal feed pawl includes a ratchet shaped tooth and is disposed against the feed cam in a fitted relationship between the pair of projections. A spring mounted on the feed pawl resiliently urges the ratchet tooth into continuous contact with the fastener clip to prevent a jamming condition.

Abstract: A molding system and method for installation that covers existing molding. The molding system covers existing trim for doorways and floors with a more decorative molding. The invention includes a molding overlay that has three points of contact. An upper corner block covers the intersections of the existing doorway molding, and a lower corner block covers a section of the existing doorway molding with the existing baseboard, eliminating the need to cut mitered angles in the overlay molding. Recesses in the backside of the corner blocks allow the corner blocks to receive the old molding. The molding overlay abuts the corner blocks, thereby avoiding the requirements for making any cuts other than perpendicular cuts.

Abstract: A ladder stabilizing attachment for a ladder is disclosed. The device is basically made of two or more long variable length stabilizing legs FIGS. (1) and (11) attached to the upper part of a ladder by universal joints FIGS. (9) and (9A), and capable of forming a triangular or multi-angular pyramid with the ladder. The legs can be independently positioned to give greater lateral stability, as well reducing slide out tendency of the ladder base. The foot sockets of the stabilizing legs FIG. (5) are designed to minimize overloading and movement due to ladder flexing .

Abstract: A calibrating system for measuring amounts of sprayed material has an array of nozzles for dispensing a sprayed material and a capture apparatus positioned to receive the dispensed sprayed material from the array of nozzles. The capture apparatus has aligned channels configured for receiving the dispensed sprayed material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of generating hydrogen that comprises forming a mixture of a hydrogen containing compound and a nanotube containing material, and dissociating hydrogen by exposing the mixture to activation energy. Also disclosed are articles for generating hydrogen comprising a container for holding the hydrogen containing compound and nanotube containing material, optionally comprising at least one inlet for applying activation energy.

Abstract: A container including a mixture of refrigerant and leak detection dye medium is disclosed for adding to an air conditioning or refrigeration system. The container includes a storage container adapted to communicate with an air conditioning or refrigeration system for supplying material inside the container to the air conditioning or refrigeration system. A refrigerant is contained within the container, along with a leak detection dye medium. The dye medium including a dye adapted to fluoresce when exposed to incident radiation below about 500 nm. The dye medium having an initial state where at least a portion of the dye medium is in a non-liquid form separate from the refrigerant and includes a concentrated dye, and a second state where the dye is dispersed or mixed with the refrigerant. A method of forming the mixture within the container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A weld wire for storage on a spool of weld wire, a method for making same, and an article of manufacture including a weld wire carried on a spool. The weld wire has a substantially linear cast in the form of an undulating curve including a succession of generally semi-circular sections having a generally fixed mean average radius of curvature of about 200 inches but not less than 80 inches. In one form, the cast has a radius of curvature in the range of about 100-300 inches. The linear cast is formed on the weld wire prior to the weld wire being wound onto the spool of weld wire. The linear cast is at least partially retained on the weld wire after the weld wire is unwound from the spool and during the feeding of the weld wire through a welding machine. The spool includes a hub portion having a diameter in the range of about 18-20 inches for carrying weld wire having a diameter in the range of about 0.035-0.062 inches.

Abstract: A recovery system recycles the washwater used to clean excess binder and debris from the production components, including a forming hoodwall constructed of non-corrosive materials, for manufacturing fiberglass insulation. A separate closed-loop recovery system is provided for the forming hoodwall in which the binder-containing washwater is screened and then recycled back to the forming hoodwall without further chemical treatment to change the pH level. A binder reclamation system is coupled to the hoodwall washwater recovery system to divert the low pH washwater when the supply of binder needs replenished at the forming hoodwall. The binder reclamation system introduces an acid solution to the cleaned washwater to lower the pH from about 2.5 to about 3.5. The other production components share a bulk washwater recovery system in which a base solution is introduced to raise the pH to approximately 8 or above to reduce corrosion in the other production components.

Abstract: A coating system and method of applying coatings includes applying a first coating having an ultraviolet (UV) indicator therein to an area. The area visually inspected with a UV light and defects are remedied until the area passes the visual inspection. A second coating without a UV indicator is applied over the first coating and visually inspected, with the first coating being visible with a UV light at portions wherein the second coating does not cover the first coating. The second coating is reapplied to portions of the area not passing inspection until the second coating passes inspection. The system also includes three, four or more coating layers in some embodiments with layers having a UV alternated with layers without a UV indicator. The indicator is an inert substance that remains stable to allow for periodic visual inspection over the life of the coating.

Abstract: In general, the present invention converts speech, preferably recorded on a portable recorder, to text, analyzes the text, and determines voice commands and times when the voice commands occurred. Task names are associated with voice commands and time segments. These time segments and tasks may be packaged as time increments and stored (e.g., in a file or database) for further processing. Preferably, phrase grammar rules are used when analyzing the text, as this helps to determine voice commands. Using phrase grammar rules also allows the text to contain a variety of topics, only some of which are pertinent to tracking time.

Abstract: The invention consists of a method of fabricating a personalized, uniquely-contoured, shock-dampening grip for a hand-held implement or tool, e.g., a golf club grip, which consists of a molded grip of variable thickness which would fit and enable holding and controlling the implement, such as a golf club, or a tennis racket, or a tool such as a hammer or the handle of a pot or pan. The contour of the grip would be molded during fabrication to the flexed hand or hands of the person for whom it is to be used, so that the grip would afford an optimal degree of holding stability with a minimum degree of flexion exertion in maintaining a strong hold on, and optimal use of, the personalized grip while holding and controlling the implement or tool.

Abstract: A unitary plastic case includes a base and a cover that are pivotally coupled together by a hinge. In this manner, the plastic case is capable of being pivoted about the hinge between an open position and an enclosed position. With the plastic case disposed in its enclosed position, the base and cover are sized and shaped to substantially encapsulate a conventional EAS tag. In one embodiment, the plastic case additionally includes a pair of integrally formed mounting straps, each strap being shaped to include a plurality of ratchet teeth. Furthermore, the plastic case is shaped to define a pair of slots, each slot being sized and shaped to receive an associated mounting strap, the plastic case being shaped to sequentially engage the plurality of ratchet teeth on each mounting strap as each mounting strap is fed through its associated slot.

Abstract: A neutralization system for controlling the pH of the washwater used to clean and maintain polyacrylic bound glass forming equipment is provided. The neutralization system introduces a base solution to a washwater solution when the pH of the washwater solution contained in a closed loop washwater recovery system and in a washwater tank holding the washwater solution is determined to be below approximately 8.0. Maintaining the pH of the washwater solution reduces the corrosion rate of the glass fiber forming equipment that is typically associated with acidic binders. In a second embodiment of the invention, a closed-loop hoodwall reclaim washwater recovery system utilized in addition to the washwater neutralization system that allows for the recovery and reuse of a polycarboxylic acid binder with a minimal amount of base solution. The closed-loop hoodwall reclaim washwater system is not connected to the closed-loop washwater neutralization system.

Abstract: Partial pre-encryption with network-based packet sorting. A video-on-demand (VOD) delivery system for delivering encrypted transport streams to incumbent and overlay set-top boxes utilizes a packet picker/duplicator for sorting selected packets from non-selected packets, duplicating the selected packets, and encrypting one of the pair of duplicated selected packets according to an incumbent encryption scheme. A VOD file server stores the transport stream from the packet picker/duplicator. A network sorter sorts the unencrypted selected packet from the non-selected packets and the encrypted selected packet. The network sorter also sorts the encrypted selected packet from the non-selected packets and encrypts the unencrypted selected packets and the non-selected packets according to an overlay encryption scheme and then sends the transport stream to an overlay set-top box.

Abstract: A deferred-type payment approach facilitates transaction card management and processing. According to an example embodiment, a user's transaction card purchases are authorized against a purchase limit associated with a consideration-bearing (e.g., interest-bearing) account. The purchases are tracked and, at the end of a billing cycle, provided to the user via a statement or other informative approach. During a payment time period after the end of the billing cycle, the user is afforded an opportunity to review tracked purchases and provide funds to cover the purchases. If the user does not provide funds for the purchases during the payment time period, funds are automatically transferred from the consideration-bearing account to cover the purchases at the end of the payment time period. In this regard, purchases made with the transaction card against the consideration-bearing account are not assessed against the consideration-bearing account until after the billing cycle has ended.

Abstract: Systems and methods configured to guide and manage laboratory analytical process control operations. A Biometric quality control (QC) process application is configured to monitor bias and imprecision for each test, characterize patient population data distributions and compare, contrast, and correlate changes in patient data distributions to any change in QC data populations. The Biometric QC process monitors the analytical process using data collected from repetitive testing of quality control materials and patient data (test results). The QC process identifies the optimal combination of, for example, frequency of QC testing, number of QCs tested, and QC rules applied in order to minimize the expected number of unacceptable patient results produced due to any out-of-control error condition that might occur.

Abstract: A method of providing information relating to an article of commerce includes the steps of providing a unitary plastic fastener with the information relating to the article being formed therein and tagging the fastener to the article, such as using a conventional tagger gun. The unitary plastic fastener includes a filament, a paddle at one end of the filament, and a cross-bar at the other end of the filament. The paddle of the fastener is either embossed, cut-out and/or shaped to display the information relating to the article to which the fastener is to be attached. Types of information which may be formed into the paddle of the fastener include, among other things, a brand name associated with the article, a company name associated with the article, a logo associated with the article, size information relating to the article, instructional information relating to use of the article, identification information relating to the article, and certification information relating to the article.

Abstract: A molding system and method for installation that covers existing molding. The molding system covers existing trim for doorways and floors with a more decorative molding. The invention includes a molding overlay. An upper corner block covers the intersections of the existing doorway molding, and a lower corner block covers a section of the existing doorway molding with the existing baseboard, eliminating the need to cut mitered angles in the overlay molding. Recesses in the backside of the corner blocks allow the corner blocks to receive the old molding. The molding overlay abuts the corner blocks, thereby avoiding the requirements for making any cuts other than perpendicular cuts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a material for altering electromagnetic radiation incident on the material. The material disclosed herein comprises carbon nanotubes having a length (L) that meets the following formula (1): L?½???(1) where ? is the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the material. Also disclosed herein are methods of altering electromagnetic radiation, including mitigating, intensifying, or absorbing and re-transmitting electromagnetic radiation using the disclosed material.

Abstract: A hand-held germicidal UV lamp includes housing for a UV light source and an aperture for allowing the transmission of UV light. A safety switch is provided on the housing which can be moved by an activation tool. A cover is provided over the switch having an opening for accessing the switch. The opening is sized so that a human finger cannot pass through the opening and move the switch. A light shield may be provided which surrounds the aperture and limits transmission of UV light.