Abstract: The present invention is directed to an adjustable guide for a container conveyor system. The guide includes multiple pairs of pivoting mechanisms located along the conveyor. Each pivoting mechanism includes a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm which can be independently manipulated to locate a guide within a container envelope. The multiple pairs of pivoting mechanisms are operable coupled by a set of drive cables to permit simultaneous adjustment of the pivoting mechanisms.

Abstract: A thermoplastic endless belt (100, 150) has a smooth outer surface (105) substantially free of discontinuities and an inner surface (108) with a plurality of teeth (108) at a given belt pitch (112). The teeth (108) are adapted to engage a sprocket (102, 152) with circumferentially spaced sheaves (104, 154) at a sprocket pitch (116) greater than the belt pitch (112). The belt (100, 150) is slightly stretchable so that the sprocket (102, 152) can drive the endless belt (100, 150) when engaging the teeth (108) within a range of load on the belt (100, 150). The belt (100, 150) is preferred for use in conveyors in food processing industries where the smooth outer surface (105) can transport food items and is easier to clean and keep free of impurities.

Abstract: A pasta dryer comprising a conveyer belt for conveying and delivering dried pasta, the conveyor belt being configured as a continuous conveyor. To operate more efficiently, the conveyor belt has a delivery table in the vicinity of an idler, the table comprising an attached fixed or sliding product collection tray. The reinforcement elements of the conveyor belt are preferably S-shaped.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging unit for two substances to be stored separately from each other and mixed together before use, particularly a liquid and a powdered substance. The invention comprises a first container and a second container which is moveably suspended in the neck of the first container. The second container is moved by screwing tight the closure cap of the first container and thereby opened.

Abstract: Embodiments of garment hangers retail package comprising a display tag having a substantial display area located on top of the garment hanger supporting arms for illustrating the specialty features of the garment hanger. The display tag is sandwiched in between the first two hangers in a retail package of multiple hangers.

Abstract: A lid assembly for a container with a top portion that defines a container opening area includes a bottom lid member sized to fit over the top portion of the container. The bottom lid member includes an extension portion configured to mechanically engage the bottom lid member with the top portion of the container and to provide a peripheral structure with a peripheral structure area larger than the container opening area. The lid assembly also includes a top lid member configured to mechanically engage with the bottom lid member such that a premium storage space is provided therebetween.

Abstract: A display unit for storing a tool assembly, comprising a base, a moving-rotating mechanism and a support plate. The base has a front end, a rear end opposite the front end and two opposite sides. The moving-rotating mechanism comprises at least one moving-rotating device. The support plate has a front end and two opposite sides for supporting the tool assembly. At least one of the two opposite sides of the base is coupled to at least one of the two opposite sides of the support plate by at least one moving-rotating device, and the front end of the support plate is moveable and rotatable from a first position at the front end of the base to a second position at the rear end of the base.

Abstract: A glass sheet packing apparatus has a base plate 3 for supporting a plurality of glass sheets 10 in parallel and upright; a side frame 2 for holding faces of a group of glass sheets loaded on the base plate; and a top frame 4 for holding the top face of the glass sheets loaded on the base plate; wherein the glass sheets are fixed by a band 5 together with the side frame 2 and the top frame. The side frame 2 is a pair of a male frame 6 and a female frame 7, each formed in a L-shape by a vertical square pipe and a horizontal square pipe, the horizontal square pipe of the male frame 6 is inserted into the horizontal square pipe of the female frame 7 to form a letter U like shape.

Abstract: A container for storing and dispensing consumer products comprises a multi-compartment moulded tray (1) formed with an array of discrete cavities (6) for receiving consumer products. A cover film (20) is secured by adhesive to the generally planar top surface (5) of the tray (1) to retain the one or more items within the cavities (6). The cover film has pre-formed tear lines (23) defining the peripheries of an array of tear-off portions (22), each tear-off portion being arranged so that in use it overlies an associated one of the cavities to retain the one or more items in that cavity until it is removed. Each tear-off portion (22) has an associated lug portion (24) not secured to the tray in use, for gripping by a user preparatory to removing the said tear-off portion (22).

Abstract: A method and apparatus of separating integrated circuit (IC) devices according to magnetic properties of the devices is disclosed. A plurality of IC devices are subjected to a magnetic field. The IC devices containing only nonferrous material are not responsive to the magnetic field and are thus gathered to a first collection site. The IC devices containing ferrous material adhere to a moving surface proximate the magnetic field and are transported to a second collection site. The sorted devices are then transported to separate locations for further processing. The apparatus used for separating the IC devices may include a conveyor having a magnetic drum and an antistatic belt which travels about the magnetic drum. The conveyor allows nonferrous IC devices to fall off the edge of the magnetic drum into the first collection site while transporting the ferrous IC devices to another location for collection.

Abstract: A frame for a screen utilized in a shaker separator, the frame including: a first (2) and a second (4) longitudinal support member (2) spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the each other; one or more inner longitudinal support member (6), positioned between and substantially parallel to the outer longitudinal support members; a first (8) and a second (10) outer lateral support member (8), each being connected and substantially perpendicular to a corresponding outer longitudinal support member; a third outer lateral support member (12), connected and substantially perpendicular to the second outer longitudinal support member; a fourth outer lateral support member (14), connected and substantially perpendicular to the second outer longitudinal support member; one or more inner lateral support member (16), positioned between and substantially perpendicular to the first outer longitudinal support member and the second outer longitudinal support member and connected to the one or more inner longitudinal

Abstract: A card reader includes a receiving arrangement configured to sequentially receive cards from an upstream process and position the cards to be read. It also includes a first reader configured to read card information from cards a first time and a second reader configured to read card information from cards a second time. The second reader is positioned such that the information is read by the second reader after the information is read by the first reader. The card reader also includes an advancing mechanism configured to advance cards from the receiving arrangement, through the first and second readers, to a downstream process. The card reader also includes a processor programmed to receive card carrier information that identifies at least one card relating to a particular card carrier. The processor also receives card information from the first reader and from the second reader.

Abstract: A filter device, in particular, for high-pressure applications in a molten polymer filtration, has a screw-in piece (10), provided with a first threaded section (12) for fixing the filter device, and a second threaded section (14) for fixing a filter medium (16), in particular, in the form of a metal wool and with a perforated support tube (18) for the metal wool. The other free end of the filter device is provided with a volume displacer (24). The metal wool is surrounded by a support grid (20) and fixed by two fixing pieces (28, 30), held at a separation from each other by the support grid (20). One fixing piece (28) is fixed to the second threaded section (14) of the screw-in piece (10). The other fixing piece forms a handle (30) for the fixing formed.

Abstract: An edge filter assembly is disclosed. The edge filter assembly may include a housing having an inlet and an outlet. The edge filter assembly may further include a filter element disposed within the housing including first and second filter plates and first and second spacers disposed between the first and second filter plates. The spacers and filter plates may be configured and arranged to form a flow channel extending generally radially within the housing and defined between the first and second filter plates and the first and second spacers. The flow channel may have an inner flow gate and an outer flow gate. The inner flow gate may be disposed radially inward of the outer flow gate and may have a different cross-sectional configuration than the outer flow gate. The first filter plate may have an axial projection extending therefrom generally aligned with a fluid path within the housing.

Abstract: An adapter element is provided for interfacing with a card guide of a card cage system to enable ready definition of various card storage configurations within the card cage system. The adapter element is configured to be removably attached to a card guide so that different card storage configurations may be readily defined within a particular card storage level by removing one or more adapter elements from the corresponding card guides and/or positioning one or more adapter elements in corresponding card guides. Additionally, the adapter element is configured to engage the fasteners of a functional module so as to securely retain the functional module in position in the card cage assembly when the adapter element is attached to the card guide.

Abstract: In a method for selling window coverings a set of swatch cards and sample blinds are provided in a display unit. The swatch cards contain a piece of window covering material and a pricing table for a product being offered for sale. The card may contain other information about the product such as options and options. Each set of swatch cards will contain samples of all window covering materials available for the type of product with which the cards are associated. A photograph or other reproduction of each window covering material and a photograph of a window covering product could be used in place of actual samples.

Abstract: A number of arms are coupled to a base. Each arm is to hold a blade of a respective knife, and is moveable relative to the other about a pivot axis. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for suspending and transporting articles, and is provided with a wobble prevention member that is capable of moving between a support position where it abuts against a lateral surface of an article and a release position, and in the support position keeps the article from wobbling in at least one direction. The wobble prevention member has a roller capable of rotation about a vertical shaft, and by the roller abutting against the article when the wobble prevention member is in the support position, wobbling of the article is reduced.

Abstract: A transportation cart primarily for transporting deceased animals through the alleyways of a barn has a swivelling mast and boom mounted on the front section of a frame driven by powered wheels with a slide panel attached to the mast below the boom over which the object can slide as it is pulled by actuating a winch to be carried. A coupling is provided between the front frame section and a rear frame section with castor wheels for providing side to side movement of the rear frame section relative to the front frame section transverse to a longitudinal center line to provide ballast when the lifting is to one side and to provide manoeuvrability. The boom has an inner end mounted on the mast for pivotal movement about a transverse axis such that an outer end of the boom can be raised and lowered and the slide panel is movable from its inclined slide position below the boom to a raised stored position attached to an underside of the boom.

Abstract: A nipple for a baby bottle includes both inner and outer separable members. The inner member defines a valve passage that can be selectively obstructed by a flap of the outer member. The outer and inner members have respective flexible membranes that define a holding chamber having the valve passage as an inlet and an aperture at the tip of the outer member as an outlet. The flap inhibits flow from the holding chamber through the valve passage when the outer member is compressed, and deflects away from the valve passage to allow the holding chamber to receive a fluid through the valve passage when the outer member is released.

Abstract: The invention concerns an overcapping cover (1), comprising a head (5) and a skirt (4), and easy-to-open means, consisting of a line of weakness, borne by the skirt, and characterised in that: a) the easy-to-open means comprises at least a so-called lower line of weakness (44) located on the cover at a height H which defines a partition of said cover with a so-called upper part (10) and a so called lower part (11); b) said upper part (10) comprises a gripping tab (46) interposed between notches or recesses (460, 461); c) said cover comprises at least additional means selected among: a second line of weakness (43) in said upper part (10), means reinforcing (67) all or part of the lower part (11) means for fixing (66) on the neck of all or part of said lower part (11), means for reinforcing all or part of said upper part (10), such that when it is opened for the first time, the tear strip (45) formed by pulling the tab (46) removes along with it the whole upper part (10).

Abstract: A cap with a tamper-evident ring is designed to snap engage a container that is provided with an upper and lower bead. A ring of teeth provided along an inside skirt of the cap engage teeth located along an inside wall of the container. When the cap is snapped onto the container, both sets of teeth automatically engage and a plug seal provided on the cap engages the container upper bead. By turning the cap clockwise or counterclockwise, the side angles of the teeth force the cap to disengage upwards over the upper bead and unsnap from the container. When the closure is opened for the first time, the ring breaks away from the cap and slides down the container below the lower bead, which keeps the ring from coming off the container and provides evidence that the cap had been opened.

Abstract: A transport and storage container for liquids has a support frame of electrically conducting metal or plastic material. An inner plastic container is positioned on the support frame and has an electrically conducting exterior layer for electrically grounding the outer surface of the inner container. The inner container has an outlet socket with an electrically conducting outer layer arranged near the bottom. The outlet socket is formed as a unitary part of the inner container and has an outer cylindrical end drawn inwardly to form an inner ring with an annular electrically conducting inner layer that is in contact with liquid in the inner container for electrically grounding the interior of the inner container. The electrically conducting inner and outer layers of the outlet socket and the external container layer form a homogenous electrically conducting layer providing inner and outer electric grounding.

Abstract: A storage device is provided which includes at least first and second frames and a plurality of support members for maintaining the first and second frames at a spaced distance apart. The support members and frames define the shape of the storage device, and sheet material depends between the first and second frames and the support members to form side walls of the device. The device is movable between a flattened condition and an erect condition by user manipulation of the frames. This user manipulation includes rotating the frames relative to each other to twist the device and move the device between the flattened and erected conditions. When the device is in the collapsed or erect conditions, the support members are substantially straight.

Abstract: A drinking cup that teaches a child how to drink from a cup while minimizing spills includes an elongated, generally cylindrical housing for holding a liquid, the housing has an inside surface, an outside surface, and a bottom; an elongated, generally cylindrical insert with an inner surface and an outer surface where the insert fits within the housing; and a cap removably mounted to the housing. The insert includes a plurality of tabs located on the outer surface of the insert and a plurality of feet extending downwardly from the bottom of the insert that create a space between the insert and the housing. The space receives any liquid flowing between the inner surface of the insert and the outer surface of the insert. The cap has a plurality of openings formed therein and the openings are in fluid communication with the space formed between the insert and the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a box-like container for flat mailings in the upright position, comprising a stack support, which may be removed from the container open at the top, a base, two narrow front face walls and two lateral longitudinal walls. The mailings are arranged with the largest sides thereof facing the front face walls. The inner sides of the lateral longitudinal walls comprise straight long recesses, open to above, arranged at regular intervals perpendicular to the base, which are wider in the longitudinal direction of the lateral longitudinal walls than the slot like openings thereof to the container interior. The stack supports have formed elements at both lateral ends thereof which may only be slid into place in the long recesses perpendicular to the base with a positive fit connection through the slot like opening.

Abstract: An under-counter portable automatic pill-dispensing apparatus includes a double array of storage units for storing pills in bulk, a retriever between the two arrays for retrieving selected storage units, and a pill-dispensing module for unloading pills into a vial. The storage units each include an outer container, a track positioned in a bottom of the outer container, and a hopper movably positioned within the outer container for movement toward and away from the track. The pill-dispensing module includes an oscillator for the track, a pill counter, and a lift for raising and lowering the hopper to control flow of pills. A prescription information station is provided including a computer for receiving patient prescription information, a printer for printing a label for the vial and for applying the label to the vial, bar code scanners for verification, and distributed controllers for operating the various components.

Abstract: The decorative air gap cover includes a base cover and a decorative attachment. The base cover includes a cup body and a cover fastener on a top thereof. The decorative attachment includes a decorative body and a decorative fastener on a bottom thereof. The cover fastener and the decorative fastener mate with each other to allow the decorative attachment to be retained on a top of the base cover. A liquid dispenser air gap cover includes the base cover and a liquid dispenser attachment. The liquid dispenser attachment includes a liquid container, a liquid pump and a liquid fastener on a bottom of the liquid container. The cover fastener of the base cover and the liquid fastener mate with each other to secure the liquid dispenser to a top of the base cover.

Abstract: A disposable spoon having a hollow main housing with a spoon that is releasably attached to the main housing. When the user places a food packet inside the main housing, the spoon pierces the food packet. A movable extruder actuator is operatively attached to an extruder blade. When the user slides the movable extruder actuator, the extruder blade compresses the food packet causing the contents of the food packet to extruded from the food packet and onto the spoon.

Abstract: A variable flow rate water dispenser mounted on a refrigerator door is provided that can dispense water at user selected flow rates. The water dispenser includes a nozzle for dispensing water from a dispenser housing on a refrigerator door and a user adjustable flow control. The user adjustable flow control can include a variable flow rate water valve or a plurality of water valves that can have different flow rates and can be operated separately or in combination to provide different flow rates. The user adjustable flow control can alternately include a variable flow pump for controlling flow of water to the nozzle at a user selected flow rate. The refrigerator can include a reservoir inside or outside the refrigerator. The reservoir can be connected to a source of water and automatically filled or can be manually filled. The nozzle can include a flow straightener or aerator to minimize splashing.

Abstract: A multifunctional bottle cap is disclosed, which includes a cap body having a lower portion with internal threads for connecting to a neck of a bottle, and an upper portion having an upwardly protruding nozzle with an outlet opening at an edge portion of the nozzle; a straw having an upper end extending out of the protruding nozzle adjacent to the outlet opening, the straw being vertically movable to extend upward from the cap body; and a spray assembly having a press pumping mechanism, an aspiration tube, a pump button extending upwardly, and a spray nozzle in perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cap body; the spray pump being positioned on an opposing side of the protruding nozzle. The multifunctional bottle cap provides a user the ability to drink, spray and pour liquid from an attached bottle.

Abstract: The present invention is a device that provides a trouble free method to invert glove appendages expeditiously; especially but not exclusively, industrial, heavy duty, lined, rubber gloves; to facilitate efficient cleaning and subsequent rapid drying of the lining, which consists of a base that has an opening and a pushrod that fits into the opening in the base to be securely mounted therein, wherein the exposed concave tip of the pushrod engages the tip of the glove appendage and insures continuous engagement thereof while the glove is peeled down over the pushrod, thereby accomplishing complete inversion of the glove appendage further providing means to promote and maintain healthy morbidity free hands.

Abstract: A baton holder consisting of at least one portion comprising the means adjustable into an opened position for insertion in and withdrawing of a baton from the holder and into a closed position for fixing the baton in the holder where the holder comprises an outer portion and an inner portion mounted for longitudinally motion in the outer portion along the longitudinal axis of the holder whereby the outer portion and the inner portion are provided by mutually cooperating elements (21, 24; 11, 14) permitting the inner portion to open in the opened position of the holder and to close and fix the baton body in the closed position of the holder. The inner portion consists of a cradle (2) having a generally opened cylindrical outer surface (201) and a cylindrical inner surface (20) and the outer portion consists of an opened elongated body (1) having a generally internal cylindrical surface (10) to support said cradle (2).

Abstract: An improved harness or harness-like garment for purposes of making the user more visible and/or with optional pocket or item(s) carrying means, having strap or straps or strap-like element(s) configured in two substantially “Y” or “V” shaped forms or one of each; the tops of the substantially “Y”-shaped and/or “V”-shaped forms are joined together, fused or one part; the bottoms of the substantially “Y” and/or “V”-shaped forms are fastened, joined fused or in one part to a waist strap forming means so that they meet the waist strap forming means at substantially 180 degrees from each other around the somewhat circular waist strap forming means; the waist strap forming means preferably having closure means.

Abstract: A web conveyor is provided having a frame, a pair of conveyor rails, and at least one sag rail. The pair of conveyor rails is carried by the frame in laterally spaced-apart relation. The pair of conveyor rails is configured to support and convey respective edges of a thermoformable web of plastic material. The at least one sag rail includes a friction-reducing material provided along at least a portion of a top edge of the sag rail. The sag rail is provided between the conveyor rails and extends longitudinally along a web travel path. The sag rail is configured to support a web of material intermediate the conveyor rails. A web support apparatus having one or more of friction-reducing material, local, raised portions, and a temperature regulator is also provided.

Abstract: A fastening tool with a housing assembly, a magazine assembly and a deflectable finger. The housing assembly includes a nosepiece. The magazine assembly, which is coupled to the housing assembly, is configured hold a plurality of fasteners and sequentially feed the fasteners into the nosepiece. The deflectable finger is coupled to the housing assembly and extends outwardly there from.

Abstract: Two slide bases (106) synchronizingly traveled on linear guides (105) arranged upwardly and downwardly in parallel with each other are rotatably attached with a clincher unit (107) and a driver unit (104) and provided with a click stop mechanism for fixing the clincher unit (103) and the driver unit (104) at a 0 degree position or a 45 degree rotated position. Respective outer peripheral portion thereof are provided with claw portions (119), (120), in correspondence with the 0 degree position and the 45 degree rotated position and a stopper pin (121) is arranged at a traveling path. When the driver unit and the clincher unit are traveled from an initial position to a skewed binding position, the 0 degree claw portion 119 impinges on the stopper pin (121) and the driver unit and the clincher unit are rotated to the 45 degree rotated position to fix.

Abstract: Stapler, in particular for hemorrhoidal use, includes a body, an elongate, fixed jaw part connected to the body and including a curved anvil defining staple-forming pockets and a curved portion defining an opening bound on lateral and longitudinal sides, an actuating jaw part including a curved staple driver and optionally a cutting knife, a trigger coupled to the body for actuating the actuating jaw part and an adjustment mechanism for moving the actuating jaw part to vary a longitudinal dimension of the opening defined between a staple cartridge and the anvil. When the actuating jaw part is actuated by the trigger, the staple driver forces staple blanks in the staple cartridge into staple-forming pockets of the anvil to form staples in tissue retained in the opening, while the cutting knife, when present, amputates the tissue.

Abstract: A method and device enabling friction stir welding along non-linear joint lines or seams on either planar or non-planar surfaces are provided. The device features four roller clamps located on upper and lower pieces. It also contains a non-consumable tool with a profiled probed end that engages work pieces and follows along a non-linear or linear joint lines in order to achieve high-integrity friction stir welds. No special anvil is required and the device can be manually or automatically operated and controlled. Operating similarly to a conventional sewing machine, this device and process enable an operator or user to manually guide work pieces to be welded through a friction stir welding tool and allows for flexibility in the path of the weld and the types of material being welded.

Abstract: A superplastically formed structural assembly is provided, as is an associated preform and method for forming such an assembly. The assembly includes a skin member and a support member that are joined to define a space between the members and between the joints. The assembly can be produced by joining the members in a flat configuration, and then forming the resulting preform to a predetermined shape of the structural assembly. The support member defines at least one aperture in communication with the space between the members. Thus, the skin member can be formed by delivering a pressurized fluid through the support member to the skin member, e.g., to superplastically form the skin member against a die that defines a contour surface corresponding in shape to the predetermined configuration of the assembly. The support member can extend in a substantially direct configuration between opposing portions of the skin member.

Abstract: A carton blank having an outer layer of a relatively rigid material, a first inner layer of a relatively rigid material superposed over a portion of the outer layer and a second inner layer of a relatively flexible layer of a fluid impervious material is provided with first and second weakened portions so that, after a carton has been formed from the carton blank, filled with a desired material and sealed, the first weakened portion may be broken to form a flip top lid which when moved in an arcuate path will gradually sever the second weakened portion to form an opening in the carton so that an amount of the desired material may be removed from the carton. The carton also may include a feature which allows the flip top lid to be securely re-closed after initial opening of the lid.

Abstract: A pizza box having a plurality of ribs, which are selectively moveable between a first stored position and a second upright position is provided. The ribs are coupled to at least one actuating strip, which enables the ribs to be simultaneously shifted from the first stored position to the second upright position. The ribs and the actuating strip are formed from the same piece of material. The actuating strip may be configured to interlock with the box to maintain the ribs in the second upright position. There is also a stop tab configured to prevent the actuating strip from moving the ribs beyond a predetermine point.

Abstract: Stiffened double walled gift boxes are formed from paperboard blanks having main panels and wall panels with inner halves connected by gussets. A stiffener with a central panel and hinged sides half as wide as the side panels is placed in the main panel. Adhesive is applied on inner surfaces of the outer panels. As the wall panels are folded along peripheral edges of the main panel the loose stiffener is aligned by the wall panels. Sides of the stiffener bend with side panels of the box. Gussets are folded and placed inside end walls and are secured by outer end panels secured to inner end panels. Outer side panels are folded inward and adhered on sides of the stiffener, locking the stiffener in place.

Abstract: A container comprising a box having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, corner panels extending from either the end walls or the side walls and attached to outer faces of the side walls or the end walls, reinforcing panels extending from the side walls or the end walls and attached to inner faces of the end walls, a cover having an top wall and side walls and end walls extending downwardly from said top wall, the cover being placed over the box with the side walls and end walls of said cover extending outside of the box, and straps around the box and the cover and over the corner panels; and a blank for the box.

Abstract: This patent discloses a curbside mailbox assembly having a mailbox adapted to be attached to a post. The mailbox may include a base and a cover attached to the base to form a compartment. The mailbox additionally may include a platform attached to the mailbox base, a door attached to the platform, and a basket assembly. The basket assembly may include a basket, a first slide rail assembly, and a second slide rail assembly. The basket may be an openwork container having tabs.

Abstract: An election system provides, in one example, each voter with multiple physical “layers” that the voter is able to choose between. The voter takes part of the layers as a kind of receipt and the other layers are retained and/or destroyed by the system. The actual vote is not readily revealed by the layers taken by the voter, thus protecting against improper influence. In the voting booth, when all the layers are combined, however, the voter is readily able to verify the vote. Moreover, posted images of the layers not taken by the voter can be used to compute the election results in a way that is verifiable by interested parties. The results cannot be changed without substantial probability of detection and privacy of votes can be maintained unless a number of parties are compromised or collude.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal comprising a display and a keypad having plural keys. The keypad comprises a frame surrounding the display and the keys are arranged at respective key positions on the frame. The terminal is further configured to display symbols at positions on the display corresponding to the key positions on the frame. Furthermore, said frame is arranged to be rotated between at least a first and a second position whereby each said key becomes associated with a respective first and second operation of the terminal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, if a card in a card reader has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time, the card may be powered down. The card may be powered back up if an attempt is made to access the card. In some embodiments, if a memory card is in the memory card slot of the card reader, but has not been accessed in a second specified amount of time, the card reader may be electrically disconnected from the host controller if a sideband signal is available to signal the card reader when to electrically reconnect.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods within existing business and technology infrastructures and processes for facilitating an electronic transaction including payment by an account issuer to a merchant for online purchases by a consumer. The invention uses a web services model including request and response messages to provide simplified authentication and authorization through entry of the consumer's PIN, without the release of the consumer's account or billing information to the merchant. The invention reduces authorization processing, and reduces the transaction fees for online transactions, increasing the viability of lower value transactions.

Abstract: A secure credit card and a method of use of the same is shown. A transactional processing system using the method and the secure credit card of the present invention is also shown. The secure credit card has a first group of numbers or symbols which identify a user, and a second group of numbers or symbols, which may be different from the first group of numbers or symbols, and which represent unique information known only to the user, such information not being placed, or encoded, on the secure credit card in any way, so that it cannot be used in credit card theft and fraud. The position and/or number and/or type of symbols in the second group of symbols, or a combination of these, may be used to indicate to a card reader a unique piece of information (the identified information) to be requested from a user to verify a transaction.