Abstract: A ski carrier including a flexible pad and a pair of shoulder straps fastened to the pad. A first pair of loops is secured to the bottom of the pad for receiving a pair of skis and for catching the bindings of the skis. A second pair of loops is secured to the top of the pad for grasping the skis at points above the bindings of the skis. The each of the second pair of loops is provided with a releasable fastener so that such can be selectively opened to receive or release a ski. A lanyard extends from the top of the pad and carries a ring at the free end thereof to which can be secured a boot-carrying harness.

Abstract: A mounting system for releasably securing a portable electronic device (Preferably a DVD entertainment device) within an automobile. A harness is designed to securely attach the portable electronic equipment to the back of an automobile seat. The harness includes a headrest strap that wraps around the upper portion of the seat, while a second strap wraps around the base of the vertical backrest portion of the seat and is connected to the housing at a third location. The harness is preferably limited to a three-point attachment between each end of the headrest strap and the housing, and a third connection between the housing and the base strap. A crossover strap may be employed to form an intermediate connection between the base strap and the housing.

Abstract: A pill box having a base, a lid with a blade, and a blade guard. The base has a bottom side to which the blade guard is coupled. The base also has a top side with a pill storage compartment, a pill cutting surface, and a pill grip coupled to the pill cutting surface. The lid has a top side and a bottom side with the bottom side having a blade coupled to it. The lid is coupled to the base by one or more hinges.

Abstract: A nailer includes a main body provided with a contact switch, an adjusting member movably mounted on the main body, a trigger mounted on the adjusting member to move therewith, and a stepped press plate mounted on the trigger to move therewith. Thus, the trigger and the press plate are moved by the adjusting member, so that the press plate is disposed at different locations to press the contact switch of the main body with different pressing actions so as to perform a single or successive trigger action by the principle of air compression, such that the trigger has an adjustable function.

Abstract: An end to end anastomotic stapling device connects two lumen sections avoiding constriction at the anastomotic ring. An intraluminal end to end anastomotic stapler includes an expanding head and anvil designed to fire an anastomotic ring having an inner diameter at least equal to the nominal inner diameter of the remaining lumen sections. An extraluminal end to end lumen stapler is described attaching the lumen sections with an exterior flange type connection having anastomotic rings with a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the lumen sections whereby the anastomotic site has a diameter at least as great as the adjacent lumen sections.

Abstract: A staple-forming and inserting apparatus 10 is provided having an apparatus 22 for movement of the cutter box 20 to allow automatic variations in staple length for one or more staple-forming and inserting apparatus 10 said staple-forming and inserting apparatus 10 being provided with a staple crown 105 supporting shoe 56 to permit supported insertion of the staple into the workpiece the device 10 having blades 50a, 50b for pinch-cutting of the staple wire 72 to provide chisel ends to legs 101 of stable 100 device 10 have key and rail construction to allow the operating drive 16 and bender 18 rails to travel on keys 32 that may be replaced to avoid wear on drive 16 and bender 18 rails and replacement of the rails and a floating bender rail 18 that prevents overstrike and damage to knives 50a, 50b.

Abstract: A portable hand-held power stapler with an outer housing contoured to fit comfortably within the grip of a hand, said stapler having an improved actuation system comprising a manually operated power switch that will actuate the stapling mechanism when a paper-sensing arm positioned in a document insertion slot is brought into contact with the inserted edge of a document, thereby completing the electric circuit to the power source of the electric motor driving the stapling mechanism, said actuation system further having a manually actuated reverse switch to engage a reverse function of the stapling mechanism to clear a paper or staple jam.

Abstract: A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic procedures incorporates a handle that produces separate closing and firing motions to actuate an end effector. In particular, the handle produces multiple firing strokes in order to reduce the required amount of force required to fire (i.e., staple and sever) the end effector. A linked transmission reduces the required handle longitudinal length, yet achieves a rigid, strong configuration when straightened for firing. A traction biased firing mechanism avoids binding in driving this straightened linked rack in cooperation with an anti-backup mechanism, with a lockout mechanism that prevents releasing the closure trigger during firing. Furthermore, an external indicator gives feedback to the surgeon as to how far firing has progressed, as well as providing a manual retraction capability.

Abstract: A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic procedures incorporates a handle that produces separate closing and firing motions to actuate an end effector. In particular, the handle produces multiple firing strokes in order to reduce the required amount of force required to fire (i.e., staple and sever) the end effector. A linked transmission reduces the required handle longitudinal length, yet achieves a rigid, strong configuration when straightened for firing. A traction biased firing mechanism avoids binding in driving this straightened linked rack in cooperation with an anti-backup mechanism, with a lockout mechanism that prevents releasing the closure trigger during firing. Furthermore, an external indicator gives feedback to the surgeon as to how far firing has progressed, as well as providing a manual retraction capability.

Abstract: A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic procedures incorporates a handle that produces separate closing and firing motions to actuate an end effector. In particular, the handle produces multiple firing strokes in order to reduce the required amount of force required to fire (i.e., staple and sever) the end effector. A linked transmission reduces the required handle longitudinal length, yet achieves a rigid, strong configuration when straightened for firing. A traction biased firing mechanism avoids binding in driving this straightened linked rack in cooperation with an anti-backup mechanism, with a lockout mechanism that prevents releasing the closure trigger during firing. Furthermore, an external indicator gives feedback to the surgeon as to how far firing has progressed, as well as providing a manual retraction capability.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described. The device includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly. The distal end of the elongated body is adapted to engage a disposable loading unit. A control rod having a proximal end operatively connected to the handle assembly includes a distal end extending through the elongated body. A control rod locking member is provided to prevent movement of the control rod until the disposable loading unit is fully secured to the elongated body of the stapling device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for forming a friction stir weld joint in a workpiece. According to one embodiment, the tool includes a rotatable pin having first and second ends and defining a stirring portion therebetween structured to frictionally engage the workpiece so as to at least partially form the friction stir weld joint. The tool includes a rotatable first shoulder defining an aperture therethrough structured to slidably receive the first end of the pin. The tool also includes a second shoulder defining an aperture structured to receive the second end of the pin such that the pin extends between the first and second shoulders and such that the second shoulder is in rotatable communication with the pin. The first shoulder is structured to rotate independently of the pin and the second shoulder.

Abstract: A Wire Bonder has a downholder for pressing the fingers of a system carrier onto a heating plate. The downholder can be raised and lowered. A downholder in accordance with the invention contains four guide elements for bearing a holding plate, whereby each guide element has a supporting surface and a bolt that can be moved by means of a drive. In the raised condition of the downholder, the holding plate rests on the supporting surfaces of the four guide elements. In the lowered condition of the downholder, the bolts of the four guide elements press the holding plate against the fingers of the system carrier presented on the heating plate. At least one of the four bolts can be moved separately so that the holding plate can temporarily anchor the system carrier without already pressing all fingers against the heating plate.

Abstract: An adjustable frame fixture aims to hold a printed-circuit board (PCB) to pass over a tin oven to process wave soldering. The fixture includes at least two side frames and at least two fasteners. The two side frames are coupled to form a holding dock. The positions of the two neighboring side frames are adjustable to form an area of different sizes to hold the PCB of different sizes. After the positions of the side frames have been adjusted, the fasteners are used to anchor and couple the side frames.

Abstract: A fixture for supporting a printed-circuit board (PCB) has an outer frame, an inner frame and at least two inner connection members. A production line has at least two conveyor belts. The outer frame has two outer side supports for laying on the conveyor and being movable therewith, the inner frame is used for holding the PCB, and the inner connection members couple the inner frame with the outer frame for adjusting the installation angle of inner frame with the outer frame.

Abstract: Three solid round bars are prepared as auger members, respectively as a main body member, an upper shaft member, and a lower shaft member. End surfaces of the members are coaxially joined together by friction welding. Turning machining is then performed by using a lathe, forming a helical blade, a spline, and the like. In addition, burnishing is performed on a corner portion that includes an outer circumferential edge of a joining surface where friction welding is performed, and another corner portion that includes an outer circumferential edge of another joining surface where friction welding is performed. The burnishing is performed by pressing a roller, which is freely rotatable about a roller support shaft center of a Superoll, toward the corner portions of the rotating auger. Roller burnishing may also be performed two times on the same location, with a predetermined time interval therebetween.

Abstract: A method of repairing cracks on a surface of a component such as gas turbine components includes the steps of repairing the cracks of the component by brazing, detecting remaining cracks on the surface or below the surface, which were not properly filled with braze material during the repair brazing operation, and repairing the crack zones with a focussed low-heat input welding method using an appropriate weld filler materials.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly that includes a tube having an internal surface and an external surface. An aluminum-based component is disposed adjacent to the tube, the aluminum-based component has an aluminum-based material that has a magnesium content that is above 0.3%, wherein the aluminum-based component is joined to the tube using a brazing flux applied during a controlled atmosphere brazing process.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to utilize water soluble polymer-containing flux to provide protection to low-k ILD of flip chip devices during flip chip assembly. A flux which includes at least a solvent, a water soluble monomer or polymer is applied on a substrate. A die is placed on the substrate, the die is reflowed in an oven at a reflow temperature to redistribute stress caused by coefficient thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch between the substrate and the die. The reflow temperature is higher than a melting point of the polymer.

Abstract: A method for aligning the sputter target onto a backing plate having a peripheral arcuate-shaped flange on its bonding surface to provide an aligned and uniform solder bonded interface; and the sputter target/backing plate assembly so produced.

Abstract: A solder deposition method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (1) providing a solder slab; (2) providing a complementary means having a plurality of through holes; (3) providing a circuit element, which is composed of an insulating body and a plurality of embedded conducting terminals; (4) placing the circuit element under the complementary means and the solder slab above the complementary means, and injecting a plurality of solder bits taken from the solder slab by a punching device through the complementary means into the solder-retaining units of the conducting terminals. This method is advantageous in the simplicity of soldering instrumentation and process, which significantly reduces production costs.

Abstract: In order to provide a method for producing a soldered joint between a substrate for at least one electrode and a contact element of a fuel cell unit which results in the substrate being reliably soldered to the contact element but without impairing the functioning of the substrate by surplus solder material, it is proposed that the method for producing the soldered joint between the substrate and the contact element comprise the following process steps: applying a mixture, which comprises a soldering material and a bonding agent wherein the proportion of the solder material in the mixture amounts to at most approximately 60 percent by weight, to the contact element and/or the substrate; bringing the substrate and the contact element into contact; soldering the substrate and the contact element by heating them up to a soldering temperature.

Abstract: A method for connecting connection members to through-holes of a board by soldering is disclosed. The board is press holded on its one side by a jig, and paste solder or solder in paste form is forced to flow into each of the through-holes of the board from the opposite side by a paste solder printing method using a printing mask. The printing mask is then removed under the condition of the paste solder being filled in the through-holes. After the connection members have been inserted in the through-holes of the board or have been urged against the board on the opposite side, the connection members are further connected to the board by reflow soldering, while the board is still continuously restrained or press holded on the one side by the jig. In this manner, it become possible to form any desired shapes of a plurality of solder connection portions connected to the board on the one side.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a convertible tray container and blank. In accordance with the present invention, a single sheet of foldable material is cut and scored to define container blank. The blank includes a plurality of substantially identical and separable units, each unit includes a bottom panel, a pair of first opposed side panels attached to the bottom panel and a pair of second opposed side panels attached to the bottom panel. Additionally, a corner flap is connected with each of the first opposed side panels. Further, a locking tab is connected with the corner flap. Still further a side panel slot formed in the second opposed side panels and a bottom stacking slot is form in the bottom panel.

Abstract: A folding collapsible storage box is constructed to include a folding collapsible outer box, the outer box having front and back panels respectively internally reinforced with a rigid plate member and two opposite side panels respectively internally reinforced with two rigid plate members and bilaterally connected between the front and back panels, each side panel having a folding line extended between top and bottom sides thereof on the middle between the respective two rigid plate members, and an collapsible inner box inserted into the inside of the outer box, the inner box having two handle loops bilaterally disposed at a top thereof, and two handles respectively fastened to the handle loops, each handle having a clamping portion respectively clamped on the topmost edge of the outer box.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a divided bulk bin container and blank. In accordance with the present invention, a single sheet of foldable material is cut and scored to define container blank. The blank includes a pair of opposed first side panels and a pair of a opposed second side panels coupled with the first side panels. An outer bottom panel is connected with said first side panel and an inner bottom panel is connected with said second side panel. Also, a first divider panel is connected with said outer bottom panel and a second divider panel is connected with said inner bottom panel. Further, a divider slot is formed in said inner bottom panel and said second divider panel. The nature of the divider slot is such that the width of said divider slot is at least twice the thickness of the first divider panel.

Abstract: A hexagonal dispensing box suitable for mounting in a vehicle cup holder includes a dispensing opening, and a slider which may selectively open and close the dispensing opening. The dispensing opening may be in the top or in one side of the box. The slider may have stops to limit its movement, and may be guided by the box construction. The slider may be attached to an actuation panel extending down one side of the box, and the actuation panel may also serve as a handle for removing the box from the cup holder receptacle, and for handling the box.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stackable container and container blank. In accordance with the present invention, a single sheet of foldable material is cut and scored to define container blank. The blank includes a bottom panel and a side panel connected with the bottom panel. An end panel is connected with the bottom panel. A top panel is connected with said side panel opposite the bottom panel. Also, a top panel flap is connected with said top panel. The blank further includes a corner first panel that is connected with the end panel. Also, a corner second panel is connected with the corner first panel opposite the end panel. Further, a corner third panel connected with said corner second panel opposite said corner first panel, said corner third panel defining a corner third panel cutout.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hand-set tray type container with corner posts and the associated container blank. In accordance with the present invention, a single sheet of foldable material is cut and scored to define container blank. The blank includes a bottom panel and a side panel connected with the bottom panel. An end panel is also connected with the bottom panel. An end flap is connected with the end panel opposite said bottom panel. The end flap is connected with the end panel by a pair of spaced apart fold lines. Further, a corner first panel is connected with the side panel. A corner second panel is connected with the corner first panel opposite the end panel. Also, a corner third panel is connected with the corner second panel opposite the corner first panel.

Abstract: A tamper-evident bin for collecting confidential items has a self-locking closure that allows one to determine whether there has been an unauthorized opening of the bin. On a requested or a scheduled basis, a disposal service retrieves the old tamper-evident bin, provides a new tamper-evident bin, and disposes of the old tamper-evident bin and all of its contents without ever opening the bin. The bins can also include respective identity codes that allow them to be easily tracked to determine whether there has been an unauthorized replacement of a bin. Optional temporary storage of selected bins allows a second chance access to the bins prior to destruction.

Abstract: A decorative cover for a mailbox door includes a sheet that is contoured to fit on the mailbox door. The sheet can include a cut-out to accommodate the mailbox latch. The front surface of the sheet carries a desired graphic, such as a decorative indicia or design. The cover sheet is formed of a material that allows substantially the entire back surface of the sheet to be attached directly to the mailbox cover by an affinity between the cover sheet material and the mailbox cover material. In one embodiment, this affinity is accomplished by magnetism through the use of a magnetic sheet. In an alternative embodiment, the affinity property is electrostatic or static cling.

Abstract: A user-friendly article identifying device capable of retaining voice data associated with a tag. The device contains a tag reading section; a voice data input section; a storage section; a determining section; a voice data replay section; and a controller for governing all the sections above. First, the tag reading section reads a tag having a specific identifier, and then the voice data input section accepts voice data. Storage section, which contains a voice data table, a tag/address table, and a memo data table, stores voice data from the input section so as to associate with the specific identifier of a tag. The determining section judges whether the tag identifier read by tag reading section is retained in the storage section. Voice data replay section replays the voice data associated with the identifier according to the judgment by the determining section.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for capturing, verifying, transforming and managing data from documents contained on a physical or electronic media.

Abstract: A method and system for providing digital content to consumers utilizing a prepaid digital content medium. The method includes receiving unique identification information associated with a prepaid digital content medium (PDCM) from a consumer distributor of the PDCM. Upon payment for the PDCM by a purchaser, unique identifying information associated with the PDCM is sent to an authentication service provider, and the PDCM is activated based upon the identification information. The authentication service provider sends confirmation of activation of the PDCM to a digital content provider in response to a request for confirmation from the digital content provider, where the digital content provider sends the request for confirmation in response to a request for the digital content by a consumer possessing the purchased PDCM.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electronically processing financial transactions involving corporate checks. A front end device at a location associated with a merchant and a check processing service configured to detect and process corporate checks. In one embodiment, the detection of the corporate check is achieved at the front end device by reading of an auxiliary on-us field in the check's magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line. Such information denoting the check as a corporate check is used by the check processing service to at least partially base its assessment of whether to approve and process the corporate check electronically.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) and a method (100) which form a universal identification means for a user party. The identification of the user can be made with respect to one of several second parties. The inventive apparatus consists of: a data input device (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 15), a device for selecting the second party (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15) from a plurality of second parties in relation to which said user party can be identified, a data output device (2, 15) and a data processing device (14) comprising a storage device and an algorithm (60, 70) allowing to generate a variable identification code (10) which is specific to a given use by the user party and to disclose the code using the data output device (2, 15).

Abstract: The invention makes it easier for the post office to calculate accurately terminal dues by providing information to the post regarding each piece or parcel of mail that crosses an international border. The invention also makes it easier for the post offices to calculate terminal dues by obtaining fee information from mail that is sent internationally. The foregoing is accomplished by placing an indication on the mail that the fees for delivering the mail have been paid or will be paid by a mailer to each post office that handles the mail. For instance, if a mail piece is mailed in the United States and delivered to a destination in the United Kingdom, the mailer's postage meter will place a Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID) on the mail piece that indicates the portion of the delivery cost that is attributable to the United States post office and that portion of the delivery cost that is attributable to the Royal Mail.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems to authenticate identification documents. In a first implementation, an identification document includes a photograph and a digital watermark. The digital watermark carries first facial recognition data corresponding to a face depicted in the photograph. Optical scan data representing the photograph is received, and a second facial recognition data is derived. The first facial recognition data is recovered from the digital watermark, and is compared with the second facial recognition data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for transforming characters stored in a fixed format into an alternate format or template with which the fixed format would otherwise be incompatible. In particular, methods and systems are disclosed for reading a customer identification (CID) number from a radio frequency identification device (RFID) and processing the CID number into a format that is compatible with an otherwise incompatible standard, template, sequence, or combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an emerging security or authentication feature for identification documents and other objects. The security feature is constructed using two differently emission-decaying inks. The inks are arranged so as to convey a first pattern when they are both exited. A second pattern emerges as a first and more rapidly decaying ink decays, but while a second and relatively longer decaying ink still provides emissions. The second pattern can be alphanumeric characters, a barcode, a pattern that will yield a predictable frequency domain representation, a digital watermark, etc. In one implementation, the first pattern is a first machine-readable code and the second pattern is a second, different machine-readable code.

Abstract: A storage device detector system for use with a gripper assembly for handling storage devices in a storage library system is provided. In one example, the system includes a light source for directing light to an expected position of a storage device, a sensor, e.g., a linear scanner, for detecting light, and a controller, wherein the controller and the sensor are adapted to detect the light directed to the expected position of the storage device and determine the presence of the storage device based on frequency components from the sensor. If the frequency is above a predetermined value the system may determine that a storage device is present and if below the predetermined value determine that a storage device is not present.

Abstract: In a commodity classification master database for managing commodity classification codes, records containing a commodity classification code showing a current attribute, the level number showing a level of the current attribute in hierarchical structure of attributes and a parent code showing a commodity classification code of the parent code showing the attribute in the immediately higher level defining a broader sense than the current attribute are accumulated. Accepting a commodity classification code and a parent code, a management computer adds a record containing these codes to the commodity classification master database according to a management program.

Abstract: A dynamic index may list physical items in the changing vicinity of a user or a generator of the index. The vicinity may be within the same space as the user or the generator, such as a store, a library, a shelf, an aisle, within a given radius, a street, a city, a campus, a building, an area and a park. The index may store information about the physical items near the user or generator, such as content found on tags associated with the physical items. The content might be a description of the physical items and their locations. The present invention also includes a system and method to generate such a dynamic index.

Abstract: A system and method is provided overcoming decision-making and communications errors to produce expedited and accurate group choices. The invention provides collective outcomes that are resilient to communication and decision making errors, and which are provided with a minimum wait time. The system comprises a user interface engine that provides a channel to the features of the present invention, an agenda manager module for creating and presenting questions, a user manager module that controls interactions with user who request questionnaires, submit response data, and request access to analytical results, and a report manager module that identifies collective outcomes that are resilient to error and/or that weight individual votes to optimize the group's performance in producing one or more correct or optimal collective choices. A common data exchange allows communication between the modules.

Abstract: An optical information reading apparatus for reading information codes such as a bar code and a two-dimensional code includes, an image-forming lens fixed at a given point and imaging a reflection light from the information code, an optical sensor locating at a position relative to that of the image-forming lens and receiving an image formed by the image-forming lens, a light path bending unit bending the reflection light between the image-forming lens and the optical sensor a plurality of times, a shifter shifting the light path bending unit, a distance measurement unit measuring the distance from the information code to the reading apparatus and a controller controlling the shifter based on the measurement result of the distance measurement unit. The light path length between the image-forming lens and the optical sensor is changed by shifting the light path bending unit using the shifter.

Abstract: A contact sensing device is provided. The sensing device comprises a housing having a nib and a position sensor mounted in the housing. The position sensor generates position data when the nib is positioned in contact with a surface having coded data disposed thereon, the coded data being indicative of a plurality of locations within the region and the position data being indicative of the position of the nib relative to the region. The position sensor comprises imaging optics, an image sensor, and a processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods of extracting from an input image a graphical bar code containing graphically encoded information are described. In one aspect, a document template is matched to the input image. The document template is selected from a set of document templates each having a respective predetermined page layout corresponding to a respective document type and including a predetermined graphical bar code location. The input image is cropped based on information relating to the graphical bar code location in the page layout of the document template matched to the input image to produce a cropped graphical bar code candidate for decoding.

Abstract: The invention relates to security feature for identification documents, and in particular to A security feature, comprising a first covert layer comprising a first covert material that is not visible to a human eye under except under a first condition, the first covert layer further comprising a material constructed and arranged to produce, upon an attempted intrusion into any part of the security feature, a first effect that is visible at least under the first condition; an optically variable layer having first and second sides, the first side being disposed adjacent the first covert layer, the optically varying layer being constructed and arranged to cover at least a portion of the first covert layer; and a second covert layer disposed adjacent to the second side of the optically variable layer, the second covert layer being constructed and arranged to cover at least a portion of the optically variable layer, the second covert layer comprising a second covert material that is visible to the human eye only a

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a display list, for use in rendering a plurality of glyphs, is disclosed. The method creates a display list for storing representations of the glyphs and stores at least a first one of the glyphs in the display list as a bitmap representation depending on one or more predetermined criteria. The at least first one of the glyphs may alternatively be stored in the display list as a vector representation.

Abstract: A thermally actuated fluid shuttle valve that is a three-way direction control valve that shifts when fluid passing through said valve reaches a preset temperature. The control valve, including three ports, an internal shiftable spool, and a thermal element, wherein fluid entering a first port from a source of heated fluid passes around a thermal element and out of a second port, until the fluid is warm enough to cause the thermal element to expand, thereby shifting said spool so that the first port is closed, and the second and third ports are in fluid communication with each other.