64results about How to "Readily and easily" patented technology

Apparatus and accompanying methods for use therein for implementing an integrated, virtual office user environment, through an office server(s), through which a remotely stationed user can access typical office network-based applications, including e-mail, file sharing and hosted thin-client programs, through a remotely located network, e.g., WAN, connected web browser. Specifically, a front end, namely a service enablement platform (SEP), to one or more office servers on a LAN is connected to both the WAN and LAN and acts both as a bridge between the user and his(her) office applications and as a protocol translator to enable bi-directional, web-based, real-time communication to occur between the browser and each such application. The SEP translates user input originating from the browser into application-specific protocols and applies a result to a corresponding office application server.

An instrument for recording and replicating the spatial orientation of a dialable component of an implant relative to a bone engaging component of the implant includes a base assembly for supporting the bone engaging component and a fixture supported on the base assembly for supporting an alignment tool. The alignment tool is configured to engage a portion of the dialable component when the implant is supported by the base assembly. The fixture includes a locking assembly for locking the spatial position of the alignment tool relative to a pre-determined datum on a trial implant. The same instrument can be used to support a final implant and to replicate the spatial position of the alignment tool relative to the same datum on the final implant. The alignment tool can then be used to align the dialable component of the implant. The alignment tool can also constitute an impacting tool so that it can be used to impact the dialable component into locking engagement with the implant using the same instrument.

A pre-assembled pipe coupling for joining and sealing two grooved-ended pipe segments without disassembling the coupling is disclosed. The coupling has a housing with upper and lower arcuate housing segments and left and right bridge segments. Each bridge segment has at least one set of dihedrally angled faces that engage corresponding faces each in the upper and lower housing segments. Drawing the upper and lower segments inwardly together along a first axis, presses each bridge segment inward along a second axis roughly tangential to the first axis. All segments are loosely pre-assembled with bolts and nuts into a coupling and all segments each have radially inwardly projecting lands that mate with end grooves in the pipes to be joined. The coupling also has a one-piece circular sealing gasket that has an inward circumferential and centrally positioned pipe stop that has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the pipes to be joined. The gasket has two circumferential sealing lips axially outward from the pipe stop, the inner diameter each sealing lip larger than the outer diameter of the pipe segments to be joined.

Method for joining and sealing two grooved-ended pipe segments with a pre-assembled pipe coupling, without disassembling the coupling, is also disclosed.

The present inventions provides a directing device for controlling the orientation of a ball launching device, comprising a first member, a second member pivotally attached to the first member, and a third member disposed substantially parallel to the second member, rotatably connected to the second member and operably configured to receive the ball launching device. The device further includes a first actuator connected to the first and second members and, a second actuator connected to the first and third members. When the first actuator is actuated the second member pivots relative to the first member, and when the second actuator is actuated the third member rotates relative to the second member. This invention also provides an automatic ball throwing device having the directing device of this invention and a method of converting a pitching machine into the same. This invention further provides a hopper for use with the directing device.

Detection apparatus for use in the detection of the presence of a selected pathogen in a sample are disclosed. Such apparatus include: a substrate with a detection region on a surface thereof, the detection region having microstructures including grooves formed therein that will align liquid crystal material in contact therewith, the width and depth of the grooves being in the range of 10 μm or less; a blocking layer on the surface of the detection region of the substrate that does not disrupt the alignment of liquid crystal material in contact therewith, the blocking layer blocking nonspecific adsorption of pathogens to the surface; and a binding agent on the surface of the detection region of the substrate, the binding agent specifically binding the selected pathogen.

A network management method includes receiving network requirements of a network application/service of an entity. Thereafter, network resource capability is determined over a plurality of network providers to meet the received network requirements. Finally, network resources of at least one of the plurality of network providers are dynamically assigned to the network application/service, upon determining network capability over the plurality of network providers, to meet the received network requirements.

The variable length decoder has a memory device including a plurality of lookup tables, and sequentially decodes codewords of variable-length codes using the memory device. The decoded values corresponding to the codewords and control information pieces are stored in the lookup tables. In decoding one codeword, one lookup table is selected from among the plurality of lookup tables. In the decode, one decoded value corresponding to the one codeword, and a control information piece for selecting a next lookup table depending on the decoded value and used for a next decode are produced from the selected lookup table in response to the one codeword in parallel.

A rotating and swinging exerciser includes a base, a housing rotatably attached onto an axle of the base, a frame disposed on the base and having an inclined peripheral surface, and a lever pivotally secured to the housing with a pivot pin and having two foot pedals pivotally attached to two end portions. The lever is slidably engaged onto and movable along the inclined peripheral surface of the frame, and to cause the housing to rotate relative to the base. One of the foot pedals may be forced to move upwardly along the inclined peripheral surface of the frame when the other foot pedal is stepped downwardly by a user and when the lever is moved along the inclined peripheral surface of the frame.

A stringed musical instrument having an elongate neck and a body which may have a resonant cavity at one end and a head at the other end thereof. Strings extend across the neck and, when vibrated, generate musical sounds. The invention relies upon fingerboards which are removable so that one type of fingerboard may be substitutable for another type of fingerboard in order to generate sounds of different timber or of different qualities. Thus, fretted fingerboards are substitutable for non-fretted fingerboards. Moreover, and in a preferred embodiment, the fingerboards are inserted onto the neck of the instrument and can be slid into and out of interlocking elements from one longitudinal side of the neck of the instrument. In one embodiment of the invention, dovetail projections are formed on the neck of the musical instrument and corresponding notches or grooves are formed on the underside of the fingerboard to permit an interlocking arrangement of the fingerboard on the neck of the musical instrument. Compensation in the thickness of fretted and non-fretted fingerboards is also provided to insure that the string of the instrument is only moved the same distance with either fingerboard.

A threaded anchor which comprises a threaded shank portion, a tip portion defined upon one end of the threaded shank portion, and a head portion disposed adjacent to the opposite end of the threaded shank portion. The head portion comprises a hexagonally configured drive section for threadedly driving the threaded anchor into a substrate. An axially extending lug-type projection is integrally connected to the hexagonally configured drive section of the head portion, and a transversely oriented throughbore is defined within the axially extending lug-type projection so as to accommodate any one of a structural or fixture support wire or cable, a power cable, a fiber optic or telephone cable, a turnbuckle wire assembly, a support strap, a safety or guy wires, a tie down wire or cable, and the like.

Disclosed is an acoustic probe/wedge holder that facilitates the operation of holding and sliding the probe over often non-flat test surfaces. The probe/wedge holder is configured to allow the adjustment of the probe/wedge so that the footing of the probe holder and the test surface of the probe or wedge collectively match the surface of a test object, allowing the probe or wedge to have intimate contact with the test surface and the probe holder to be stably disposed on or gliding over the surface of the test object. The surface of the test object is often of non-flat surface, such as that of a pipe.

A protective member, preferably an extruded plastic is used to enclose, at least partially, a component of a bed frame so as to provide protection against inadvertent injury to a user striking the otherwise sharp edges of the component. The components are normally a side rail and a center rail and the protective member is snapped fitted to that component by the presence of curved lips that at least partially encircle the external edges of the component. There are also ribs formed in the protective member and which position the protective member a predetermined distance away from the particular component. In the case of the center rail, the protective member is spaced away from the upper surface of the center rail so as to compensate for the lower position of that surface with respect to the head and foot cross members so that a box spring resting upon the side rails and the center rail is supported evenly and does not bow at its center due to a spatial difference between the center rail and the cross members.

The end connector assembly (12) for a gas spring (44) enables the connector body to be connected with and disconnected from a ball (14) on the end of a ball stud (16) by relatively moving the connector body (26) and ball along a path generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gas spring (44) to which the connector body (26) is connected. The ball (14) enters the connector body (26) through an opening (32) in the body's front surface, that is, the surface generally perpendicular to the gas spring's longitudinal axis. A slot in the body's bottom surface, that is, the surface facing the ball (14), accommodates the shaft portion (22) of the ball stud (16), adjacent the ball (14), as the ball moves into or out of the connector body (26) through the opening (32). A retainer clip is connected with the connector body (26) and is selectively movable between a first or open position where the ball may be admitted into or withdrawn from the connector body (26) and a second or closed position where the ball is secured within the connector body by the retainer clip (62).

The present invention provides a ball engagement device for use with a ball launching device, comprising a housing having first and second ends, an opening for accepting balls and a ball chamber adjacent to the opening. The device further includes a motor coupled to the housing and a pinion connected to and driven by the motor. The pinion drives a rack that has a ball engagement end, wherein the rack is slideably disposed along an interior portion of the housing. The device also includes a first switch disposed in the housing and that is operably configured to activate the motor to rotate the pinion in a first direction, the first switch is activatable by the presence of a ball in the ball chamber, a second switch disposed in the housing operably configured to rotate the pinion in an opposing second direction, a third switch disposed in the housing at a predetermined distance from the second switch and operably configured to deactivate the motor and a switch activation member disposed along the rack. Upon activation of the first switch, the motor rotates the pinion in the first direction causing the rack to push the ball out of the first end of the housing, the switch activation member travels with the housing until the activation member activates the second switch which then reverses the direction of the pinion in a second direction causing the movement of the rack towards the second end of the housing until the switch activation member strikes the third switch and turns the motor off. This invention further provides a hopper for use with the ball engagement device.

Ballistic material side elements are shaped to cover portions of a wearer's face and selectively attached to a ballistic helmet. The side elements cover the sides of the wearer's head, but leave room to avoid interfering with hearing needs and goggles. These side elements are held in place by connecting them to the existing helmet shell with an encircling strap and band, or to the straps and hardware of the helmet retention system by receiving portions of the straps through loops on the interior of the side elements. A front ballistic member may join the side elements to cover a significant portion of the wearer's face. The ballistic material is formed of a plurality of layers with a resin and joined by the application of pressure. Higher pressure in the forming of the side elements produces stiff members which stay in place when attached to the helmet.

A drive tool device includes a drive shaft having a handle member, and having two stems secured together, the handle member is formed on one of the stems and includes a non-circular cross section and includes a density gradually increased from the one end portion toward the other end portion of the handle member, and includes a center of gravity located closer to the other end portion of the handle member. The drive shaft includes a narrowed neck portion and an inclined surface, and the handle member is formed and located between the narrowed neck portion and the inclined surface of the drive shaft and includes a relatively swelled or protruded or expanded structure.