Abstract: Poured concrete floors and ceilings in buildings contain electrical conduit, air conditioning conduit, plumbing and junction boxes, for example. These conduits must withstand the rigorous activity of a construction floor and the concrete poured on them during the construction phase. Rod support structures made out of steel rod stock are used to hold the conduit and junction boxes in place on a temporary plywood floor in between rebar. The support structures have feet. The poured concrete floor covers the conduit, junction boxes and support structures. The footprint of each of the support structures is designed to be as small as possible by having minimum contact with a temporary plywood floor. When the plywood floor is removed, the support structures are substantially buried in the concrete. The concrete floor is underneath the feet, providing minimum exposure of the feet to the surface of the concrete next to the plywood floor.

Abstract: An explosive discharge actuated tool for driving fasteners has a barrel with a closed bore, an interchangeable nose piece to accommodate different length fasteners and a piston that is manually reset to firing position by a spacer-fastener being inserted into the barrel.

Abstract: A support bar for spanning a pair of metal studs is attached to the studs by gripping fasteners formed at the ends of the support bar or attached to a horizontal support beam by a gripping fastener at one end. The gripping fastener is formed out of the support bar in the form of a first loop that extends from the first end of the bar and lies in a first plane, substantially perpendicular to the rod, with a second loop extending from the first loop lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first loop. In a second embodiment, the gripping fastener is formed out of the bar as a series of slots in the bar, perpendicular to the central axis, for a short distance along its length, at the ends. The slots are sized to fit the thickness of the metal stud.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for configuring a user interface to a user role. A user model defines one or more user roles and one or more tasks, each user role being linked to: one or more user tasks via one or more user goals, and a set of skills a user performing the role must have, wherein each task is also linked to one or more skills. A software product defines one or more software functions, and means are provided for linking each user task to a sequence of software function calls. The system includes an organization modeling tool including means for customizing the user model dynamically to alter the user role to task mapping to meet the current needs of an organization including validating the goals and sets of skills of the user model.

Abstract: An explosive discharge actuated tool for driving fasteners has a barrel with a closed bore, an interchangeable nose piece to accommodate different length fasteners and a piston that is manually reset to firing position by a spacer-fastener being inserted into the barrel.

Abstract: A digital voice and/or data communication cable hanger provides a saddle support on a shaft fastened to a ceiling or beams or side wall by an integral fastening loop at one end. The other end of the hanger is shaped into a support loop for the cable. A saddle having the support shaft running through it closes the support loop to prevent cable from slipping out. The cable hanger is made by a tool using a rotating spool designed to shape the rigid shaft into a fastening loop at one end and a support loop at the other end. A second support loop can be selectively attached to the shaft between its ends.

Abstract: The concrete insert may be positioned in concrete structures for attachment rods or other structural fasteners. A shaft may have a head to form a projecting edge at a first end and a hole at a second end. There may be slots formed in an external surface of the shaft oriented parallel to the shaft longitudinal axis. The external surface may have multiple retaining flats positioned intermediate the slots and approximately parallel to the slots. The retaining flats may not extend to the second end. A plate groove may be circumferentially formed in the external surface intermediate the first end and the second end. A plate may have an aperture that may be the form of a lateral cross section of the shaft, and may have projections to engage the slots or the flats. A spring may be placed on the shaft between the head and the plate.

Abstract: A digital voice and/or data communication cable hanger provides a saddle support on a shaft fastened to a ceiling or beams or side wall by an integral fastening loop at one end. The other end of the hanger is shaped into a support loop for the cable. A saddle having the support shaft running through it closes the support loop to prevent cable from slipping out. The cable hanger is made by a tool using a rotating spool designed to shape the rigid shaft into a fastening loop at one end and a support loop at the other end. A second support loop can be selectively attached to the shaft between its ends.

Abstract: A split nut having movable pieces that can be disengaged to expose an interior space of the thread so that the nut can be mounted on, and secured to, a threaded rod, without threading the split nut over an end of the threaded rod.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for and method of interfacing with a controller of test equipment to effect desired controller settings including, but not limited to protocol traffic and signal quality. The graphical user interface being operable to facilitate the setting of a variety of test parameters relating to traffic, as well as a variety of test parameters relating to optics.

Abstract: A stripline integrated circuit apparatus comprising a first ground plane, a stripline section positioned on the first ground plane, the stripline section including N stripline regions where N is a whole number greater than or equal to one, wherein each stripline region includes a stripline sandwiched therebetween a first dielectric layer with a thickness and a second dielectric layer with a thickness where each adjacent stripline is connected in parallel, wherein each adjacent stripline region is separated by a ground plane, a second ground plane positioned on the stripline region, and wherein the plurality of stripline sections are formed and electrically connected in series. The distances between the striplines and the ground planes are adjusted to vary the input and output impedance.

Abstract: A stripline integrated circuit apparatus comprising a first ground plane, a stripline section positioned on the first ground plane, the stripline section including N stripline regions where N is a whole number greater than or equal to one, wherein each stripline region includes a stripline sandwiched therebetween a first dielectric layer with a thickness and a second dielectric layer with a thickness where each adjacent stripline is connected in parallel, wherein each adjacent stripline region is separated by a ground plane, a second ground plane positioned on the stripline region, and wherein the plurality of stripline sections are formed and electrically connected in series. The distances between the striplines and the ground planes are adjusted to vary the input and output impedance.

Abstract: The present invention is a flexible bridge that positions a strut nut in a C-shaped mounting channel. The flexible bridge is graspable between a thumb and forefinger for rapid positioning, and converts to an anti-rotation device that prevents the strut nut from rotating within the channel. A harness supports the strut nut while a flexure member provides a grippable location to position the harness and strut nut combination at a desired location within the channel. The flexure member remains outside of the channel while the strut nut and harness are disposed within the channel, and at least a portion of the flexure member has a dimension greater than the width of the channel. This dimension prevents the flexible bridge from withdrawing into the channel when the strut nut is in place in the channel. The flexure member converts to an anti-rotation mechanism for preventing the strut nut from rotating within the channel during engagement with the threaded member.

Abstract: An optical receiver is formed to include a digitally-controlled preamplifier that is used to adjust the bandwidth of the receiver. A measured bandwidth of the receiver is compared to a desired bandwidth and a digital control signal (such as a voltage, current, or any other appropriate parameter) supplied to the preamplifier is thereafter adjusted (either increased or decreased) to increase/decrease the bandwidth of the receiver to the desired value. A voltage regulator and potentiometer may be used as the digital controller and coupled to the input voltage supply of the preamplifier to provide the needed adjustment in voltage.

Abstract: The versatility of the present invention is evident in the preferred embodiment that has a driver with a bore extending therethrough from one end, with a cap at the other end. The bore has stepped inner diameters, which preferably contain at least two threaded sections of different diameters. The threaded section with the largest diameter is next to an opening of the bore. Each threaded section thereafter is proximate to a non-threaded space of the same diameter. The capped end can accept a variety of attachments such as a handle, the chuck of a drill bit, or the driver of a ratchet or wrench.

Abstract: A seismic brace for fastening to a support rod at one end and a structural portion of a building, on the other end. The brace is attachable to the support rod without disconnecting it. The brace arm part is bent at an angle of 45° to form a base bracket that connects to the support rod. A locking bracket is hinged to the brace arm to overlay the base bracket. Both the base bracket and locking bracket have a slot extending from an edge towards the middle, the slots are arranged so that they form an aperture when the locking bracket overlays the base bracket part of the brace arm to completely enclose the support rod.

Abstract: A seismic brace having a brace arm for fastening to a support rod on one end and a structural portion of a building, on the other end, is attachable to the support rod without disconnecting it by a base bracket hinged to the brace arm and a locking bracket hinged to the brace arm or the base bracket to overlay the base bracket. Both the base bracket and locking bracket have a slot extending from an edge towards the middle with one slot offset form the other by ninety degrees (90°).