A wedge apparatus for a stirrup for reducing alleviating pain on a horseback rider's knees and ankles, the stirrup comprising a pair of opposing side bars, a hangar bar portion and a footrest bar, the wedge apparatus comprising (a) a wedge associated with the footrest bar, the wedge having a lateral portion and a medial portion, the lateral portion being thicker than and tapering toward the medial portion; (b) an impact-absorbing material; and, (c) an attachment mechanism for attaching the wedge and the impact-absorbing material to the footrest bar.

A horse blanket allowing freer movement of a horse in use, comprising a generally rectangular piece of material with a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges. The blanket is split, from each side edge to the center line thereof, into a front section and a rear section, the front and rear sections being connected together at the center line of the blanket to define a flexible joint therebetween, about which the blanket articulates. The flexible joint extends to a position to each side of the center line. The flexible joint is positioned, in use, at a location to the rear of the horse's withers where the pommel of a saddle would be properly positioned. The articulation of the blanket about the flexible joint facilitates up and down movements, side to side movements, as well as twisting movements of the front section relative to the rear section in response to movements of the horse.

A spur attachable to a boot. The spur includes a body having a first arm, a second arm, and a neck. A first bar having eyelets is attached to a distal end of the first arm and a second bar having eyelets is attached to a distal end of the second arm. The first arm and the second arm are configured to be forward relative to a heel of the boot and the neck is configured to be rearward relative to the heel of the boot.

A protective garment for livestock, such as a horse, has a first portion and a second portion defining a planar sheet of material. The first portion substantially covers a left leg and shoulder of the livestock, while the second portion substantially covers a right leg and shoulder of the livestock. The garment can comprise a one-piece protective cover or a two-piece protective cover. In one embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are connected to each other by an attachment member extending across a back of the livestock. In use, the protective garment is sufficiently secured to the livestock to protect it from undesirable external elements, such as insects and sunlight, yet somewhat loose to allow the livestock to freely move while wearing the garment.

A fly blanket for laying atop a horse's rump behind a saddle comprising a mesh sheet having a generally rounded trapezoidal shape; two attachment components both for attaching the mesh sheet to a saddle ring disposed on the saddle; and stitched binding disposed along edges of the mesh sheet, wherein a weighted rope is disposed in all of or a portion of the stitched binding, wherein the weighted rope functions to help keep the fly blanket from flopping around while the horse is moving.

A horse boot (10) includes a shell (12) and a gaiter (22). The shell has a sole (14) and an upper (16) with a vertical slit (18). The gaiter (22) is releasably attached to the heel of the upper and is wrapped around the pastern (P) above the hoof's hairline (C) and below the fetlock to anchor the shell to the pastern and function as a barrier against debris. The gaiter includes a portion of two-way stretch material (60) that makes it possible to fold it out of the way for ease of installation. The process is further facilitated by the slit (18) that allows spreading of the shell. By shaping the upper (16) so that it presses against the hoof (H), the boot is advantageously held in place using only the gaiter anchored to the heel of the boot and strapped to the pastern of the horse.

A perch-shank device is disclosed as having a perch with an upper, central, and lower portion. The upper portion has an eyelet for attaching a headstall or chinstrap. The lower portion directly connects to a mouthpiece. The invention also includes a shank having an upper and lower portion, wherein the lower portion has an eyelet for attaching a rein and the upper portion of the shank is connected above the lower portion of the perch adjacent to one of the central and upper portion of the perch.

Disclosed is a horseback riding animal and article carrier attachable to a horse saddle. The device comprises a housing having upstanding sidewalls, a plurality of securement straps and an elastic contact pad. The housing is an open enclosure having upstanding sidewalls, a base and an open upper to support a pet or a plurality of personal items therein. Along the underside of the base and extended along a forward side of the housing is a contact pad that bears against a horse croup and the backside of a horse saddle cantle. An upstanding, horizontal and diagonal strap are provided along the sides of the housing connect to a saddle strap connectable to a saddle girth along both sides of the horse. The straps are length adjustable to tension the straps and draw the housing toward the horse and the saddle during use.

A locking headplate for an adjustable saddle tree includes opposed, hingedly connected plates for securing to a saddle tree head portion, a rotatable displacing element for displacing the hingedly connected plates inwardly or outwardly, and at least one supplemental locking mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable displacing element. The hingedly connected plates include apertures for receiving a portion of the rotatable displacing element therethrough, the apertures defining at least one cross-sectional dimension that is greater than a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the rotatable displacing element. Saddle trees and saddles incorporating the locking headplate are provided.

An insect repellent compound that includes naturally occurring oil that emits an odor which repels insects is described. The compound is not harmful to animals, to humans or to the environment. The compound may be incorporated into materials such as yarn that is woven to form a mesh. The material may be used for making an animal mask, for screen doors and other applications. A method of making the compound and incorporating it into materials and products is described.

A seat support device for a riding animal or a pack animal, a saddle tree, and a saddle with such a saddle tree. The seat support device comprises a right multi-linked lug arrangement with a first link section and at least a second link section and a left multi-linked lug arrangement with a first link section and at least a second link section. A pivoting device with a pivot axis is each formed case between two adjacent link sections, so that two adjacent link sections are pivotable towards one other around a pivot axis substantially within a pivot plane which penetrates the pivot axis substantially perpendicular.

A method and apparatus for detecting tightness of a pick-up head, and a method and apparatus for controlling the moving of the pick-up head are disclosed. The method for detecting the tightness of the pick-up head includes moving the pick-up head to an inner area of the disc reading device when then disc reading device is powered on, moving the pick-up head to an outer area of the disc reading device within a predetermined time period, moving the pick-up head from the outer area of the disc reading device to the inner area at a constant speed by a first fixed force, and recording the moving duration for moving the pick-up head from the outer area of the disc reading device to the inner area at the constant speed.

A magnetic disk device according to an embodiment includes a disk including a data area, a head configured to read and write data from and to the data area, and a controller configured to determine under a first condition whether the data area includes a defect, and to determine, under a second condition of a higher defect detection sensitivity than the first condition, whether a first area around a first defect area includes a defect, when detecting the first defect area under the first condition.

Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element.

There are provided an optical disk and an optical disk recording method which are capable of stable data reading in a case where a recording linear density is increased. According to an optical disk of the present disclosure, a run-in pattern recorded in a groove track and a run-in pattern recorded in a land track are made different patterns so that no great change is caused in the amplitude of an acquired signal due to interference between adjacent recording patterns, and thus, data may be stably read.

First and second signal patterns are used to write corresponding portions of first and second adjacent tracks to a magnetic storage medium. A characteristic of the first signal pattern is changed based on the second signal pattern, the changing of the characteristic reducing an adjacent track interference affecting the second track.

An apparatus includes a storage medium operable to store a number of data tracks, a read channel circuit operable to process the data tracks read from the storage medium, and a track quality classifier circuit operable to determine a track quality metric for the data tracks read from the storage medium. The track quality metric indicates whether a corresponding one of the data tracks that has failed to successfully process in the read channel circuit can be reprocessed within a track gap period.

According to one embodiment, when an access destination of a reading request is a second region, a controller performs a first retry reading process by use of a second reading condition in first parameter information. The second region is adjacent to a first region, which is adjacent to a defect region and has a particular width, and is present as a region other than the defect region on a magnetic disk. When the access destination of the reading request is the first region, the controller performs a second retry reading process by use of a fourth reading condition in second parameter information. The second parameter information is set such that a grown defect is registered at an earlier time in the second retry reading process, as compared with that in the first retry reading process.

In an embodiment, a side door for a vehicle can comprise: a structure comprising a plastic inner shell comprising a fiber strip, and a plastic outer shell comprising an outer shell support beam positioned across a width of the outer shell. The outer shell support beam can comprise a fiber strip with ≧50 wt. % fibers oriented at an angle of less than or equal to ±45° to a main axis. In an embodiment, a method for making the side door for a vehicle can comprise: flow molding a fiber-reinforced polymer over a fiber strip to form a plastic inner shell; flow molding a fiber-reinforced polymer over a fiber strip deposited to form a plastic outer shell, wherein the outer shell comprises an outer shell support beam positioned across a width of the outer shell; and joining the inner shell and the outer shell together to form a composite structure.

A heat recovery steam generator access door kit comprising a door assembly comprising an insulation box; a door face attached to the insulation box that is larger in width and length than the insulation box and projects around the perimeter of the insulation box; at least one cross beam; a frame assembly comprising a frame and at least one swing bolt assembly attached to the frame.

A door for attachment on the front of a machining tank of an electric discharge machine includes a door frame and first and second lifting doors that move up and down with respect to the door frame. When the first lifting door is lifted, pulleys attached on the first lifting door also move up, causing a belt wound around the pulleys and fixed to the door frame via a first belt-attaching member to rotate. As a result, the second lifting door, fixed to the belt via a second belt-attaching member, moves up with respect to the first lifting door.

A universal locking device for securing flat or corrugated hurricane storm panels in place to avoid unauthorized removal and entry into a building. The locking device includes a combination of brackets removably secured between the building and the storm panels, and an adjustable locking bar locking these elements securely together.

Certain example embodiments relate to a sliding window assembly (e.g., of the type found in utility cabs or other vehicles), and methods of making the same. A slidable window panel includes at least one top pin and at least one bottom pin attached thereto. A single fixed window panel includes a hole being defined therein for receiving the slidable panel. Elongated upper and lower rails connected to the fixed panel include upper and lower rail channels defined therein for slidingly receiving the at least one top and bottom pin attached to the slidable panel. Forward and rear end details are provided to each of the upper and lower rails proximate to the hole for slidingly receiving, in respective channels formed therein, the at least one top and bottom pins. The slidable panel is laterally movable when being opened via the respective rail channels provided to the upper and lower rails. The channels in the forward and rear end details are formed so that the slidable panel is movable slightly outwardly towards the hole when the slidable window is being closed and slightly inwardly away from the hole when the slidable window is being opened.

A shutter-blind system for windows is provided. The system includes a frame and a plurality of rotatable parallel louvers coupled within the frame. Each louver of the plurality of louvers is operatively coupled to adjacent louvers with a collapsible linkage. The system may further comprise a biasing member coupled to a first louver located at a first end of the plurality of louvers and a resisting member coupled to a second louver located at a second end of the plurality of louvers. The biasing member pulls against the resisting member to maintain tension in the collapsible linkage. According to certain embodiments, the frame elements are coupled within a window opening and trim elements are coupled to cover gaps between the frame elements and the window opening.

A system and method for a quick release of a second object from a first object, e.g., quick release of hurricane panels (second object) from the inside of a habitable structure (first object). A stepped quick release bolt assembly or a dual quick release car assembly may be employed. In the preferred embodiment, a pin passing through a cross bored hole in a stepped bolt disposed in a receiving structure attached to a first object is releasable in order to disconnect the second object from the first object.

A high security adjustable keyless locking contrivance for preventing the forced opening of a hinged door of unoccupied homes or buildings. An engaging apparatus that incorporates a first armor structural plate combined with a first structural cylinder having a pair of first slots and a connecting bolt shaft, which first structural cylinder inserts into a conventional door knob bore hole with the bolt shaft passing through the existing door latch assembly in concert. A second armor structural plate combined with a second structural cylinder that matingly connects to said first structural cylinder from the opposite side of the hinged door, allowing the penetration of the connecting bolt shaft through the second armor structural plate bolt hole which will conjoin the two devices with a security fastener, thus sandwiching and securing the hinged door and door jamb between the two armor structural plates.

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is comprised of a micromirror attached to a semiconductor device. A stack of inorganic high index materials comprised of titanium oxide, titanium nitride, and titanium is deposited above metal levels within the semiconductor device. Another stack of inorganic high index materials comprised of titanium oxide, titanium nitride, and titanium may be deposited in a continuous or dis-continuous layer within one or more of the dielectric layers. Each stack of high index material films is deposited at a depth and of thickness to achieve a minimum reflectance for the entire film system and to ensure maximum destructive interference at the targeted wavelength range. The high index material stack results in reduced light scattering during operation of the micromirror and improves contrast of the display system.

Compositions having a high metal content comprising a metal salt solution, a stabilizer and one or more optional additives, wherein the metal salt solution comprises a metal ion, a counter ion and a solvent. The compositions are useful for forming films on substrates in the manufacture of solid state and integrated circuit devices.

A method for forming an organic coating on a surface of nickel or nickel alloy is disclosed. The method includes contacting the nickel surface with a composition comprising a specific pyrazine derived compound to prevent corrosion of nickel without forming known gold emersion film on the surface of the nickel.

The present invention concerns a solvent-free photocrosslinkable writing ink advantageously for a pen, comprising, as a percentage by weight relative to the total weight of the ink: a—between 40 and 75% of a photocrosslinkable acrylate and/or methacrylate oligomer,b—between 1 and 55%, optionally, of a photocrosslinkable acrylate and/or methacrylate monomer,c—between 0.5 and 6% of a photoinitiator,d—between 1 and 10% of a dye, advantageously a basic dye, ande—between 0 and 10% of an additive. It further concerns a method for securing a writing medium using said ink, the crosslinked ink obtained by crosslinking said ink and a pen for photo-crosslinkable ink comprising said ink.

A mask plate for laser irradiation and a method of laser encapsulation using the same are disclosed to improve the display effect of the encapsulated display panel and also the utilization of substrate thereof, so as to reduce the cost. The mask plate includes a laser blocking region and a laser transmitting region surrounding the laser blocking region, wherein the laser blocking region is configured to block laser having a predetermined wavelength; and the laser transmitting region is configured to allow the laser having the predetermined wavelength to transmit there-through; along a direction perpendicular to a surface of the mask plate, a width of a cross-section of the laser transmitting region is smaller than a diameter of a light spot of the laser having the predetermined wavelength.

An improved organic photoconductor drum having a protective overcoat layer and method to make the same is provided. The protective overcoat layer is prepared from a curable composition including a crosslinkable hole transport molecule containing four radical polymerizable functional groups in combination with a crosslinkable acrylate having at least 6 functional groups.

The LED light has Track to install LED-units anywhere along the length. The LED-unit has pair of resilient or pop-out & fall-down movable contactor so can fit-within or add-on LED-units to track and connect with metal bus-strip(s) which has electric current or-and magnetic force to adhesive the pop-out & fall-down contactor on back of the LED-unit. LED light device including LED light source, or mini size LED fluorescent tube, or mini LED light bar, or mini LED Bulb, or mini LED lamp, mini LED Lamp as light source has housing to fit-in or add-on or magnetic adhesive on track to form a finish light device and get power from built-in or outside AC-to-DC transformer, circuit, power source and can control by switch, remote controller, motion/moving detector(s) sensor, all kind of sensor, APP software while incorporate with Wifi or wireless network to make the on-off, color changing, color mix, dimmer adjustment, moving light, all other light show for LED track light has fit-in LED-units by resilient contractors or LED track light has add-on LED-units by pop-out & fall-down movable contactor built on back of LED-unit and adhesive by magnetic force bus-strips.

An LED linkable light system including LED light assemblies having LED light fixtures which are linkable together to enable linked individual LED lights to be turned on or off individually or together. Any number of LED linkable light fixtures can be linked together, and electricity is provided by a power cord being linked to one of the linked LED light fixtures and to a power source. The LED lamps are preferably LED shop lights or LED strip lights.

A track system includes a track. The track includes a track body, a first rail structure and a second rail structure. The track body has an inner surface and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. The first rail structure is formed on the inner surface of the track body. The second rail structure is formed on the outer surface of the track body.

A light fixture includes a housing comprising a body portion with an opening at a first end, a power supply at an opposing second end, and a heat sink comprising a plurality of fins between the opening and the power supply. A mating surface is positioned proximate to the opening. The mating surface includes a set of landing pad areas and a set of open areas. The fixture also includes a set of light emitting diode (LED) modules, each of which is positioned in the opening and secured to a landing pad area of the mating surface. The LED modules are arranged so that the plurality of open areas remain open to the atmosphere and provide an air path to and from the heat sink.

A backlight module and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight module are provided. The backlight module comprises a backlight source, which includes a plate body provided with a light source lamp, and a reflector arranged on at least one longitudinal edge of the plate body. An inner wall of the reflector forms a reflective surface, which is arranged as extending obliquely away from the light source lamp. The backlight module enables light emitted from the light source lamp to enter the light guide plate to the largest extent, thereby removing the problems of light leakage and low light efficiency. Hence, in a liquid crystal display device using the backlight module, electric current can be reduced while brightness is maintained, thereby achieving the purpose of energy conservation.

An apparatus and method for assembling a display device to which is coupled a light guide that has smooth surfaces for light-transmission and at least one surface that is for light scattering and internal reflection. The method includes depositing a reflective coating on that surface, and installing the display device with coupled light guide in an interior of a meter housing or casing. A portion of the casing interior is filled with a component, such as epoxy, for sealing the case interior to protect the display device and light guide against water and dust penetration. All surfaces of the light guide are protected from direct contact with the epoxy. This approach greatly simplifies the assembly process and yields a robust display that also prevents light leakage from the light guide.

A white reflective film for an edge light backlight improves the luminance and unevenness therein, voids uneven close contact with, and scraping of, the light guide plate, and minimizes the crushing of convexes formed on at least one side, even in cases where the reflective film is laid directly over a corrugated chassis designed to house circuitry or the reflective film is used in combination with LEDs. The film satisfies (i) to (iii): (i) a stiffness of 2 to 10 mN·m; (ii) convexes have been formed on at least one face (A), and their maximum height is 5 to 60 μm; (iii) the convexes contain an aromatic polyester.

Discussed are a backlight unit and an autostereoscopic 3D (three-dimensional) display device including the same, in which a 3D image can be displayed without using a 3D light controller that includes a liquid crystal layer. The backlight unit may include a 3D light guide plate having first light output patterns, first light sources irradiating light to at least one side of the 3D light guide plate, a 2D (two-dimensional) light guide plate arranged below the 3D light guide plate, and second light sources irradiating light to at least one side of the 2D light guide plate. The first light output patterns are a plurality of line prism patterns spaced apart from each other.

A display apparatus includes a plurality of light sources that are arranged in several rows at different intervals so that light emitted from the plurality of light sources may reach all regions of a display panel uniformly. Accordingly, a uniform dispersion of the light incident on the display panel may be achieved. Furthermore, distribution of light generated from the plurality of light sources on the display panel may be facilitated through a reflecting unit without the use of a light-guide plate or the like.

A system and a method for providing a query building logic for supporting testing requirements are disclosed. The system receives one or more business inputs from one or more users. An application database is configured for rendering one or more unique database schemas and a set of predefined parameters. The application database is accessed by at least one user to select one or more database schemas and identify a set of predefined parameters, based on one or more business conditions set for the at least one user. Further, the system comprises a TDS (Test Data Specification) framework that is configured to dynamically frame one or more queries based on one or more business inputs, selected database schemas and the identified predefined parameters by the one or more users.

An apparatus for optimizing a skewed join is described herein. The apparatus includes logic, at least partially including hardware logic, to determine that a dataset for the skewed join comprises a skewed key that does not fit in memory. The apparatus also includes logic to model the skewed join as a queue. The apparatus also includes logic to estimate a cost of the skewed join based on the modeled queue. The apparatus evaluates different join techniques, and partitioning strategies for the skewed join, and chooses the plan with the lowest cost.

The present disclosure provides various systems and methods for indexing digital (electronic) documents and providing various error reporting and identification functions. The systems and methods may utilize various software, hardware, and firmware modules to identify notations, such as primary sheet names and reference sheet names on construction documents. Various algorithms and methods may be employed to identify errors, erroneous notations, missing sheets, missing details, and/or the like to aid in the correction of construction documents. Identified notations are indexed and may be used to create hyperlinked and/or backlinked notations in output files.

A system provides search results in response to a search query. The system includes a query understanding module configured to receive the search query and output a processed search query based on the search query. The search query includes one or more words and the processed search query selectively includes tags assigned to the one or more words. The system includes a fuzzy knowledge module configured to receive the processed search query, generate a set of candidate tags for selected ones of the words in the search query, and selectively validate the candidate tags. The system is configured to provide the search results to a user device based in part on the candidate tags generated and validated by the fuzzy knowledge module.

A method and apparatus for generating a sphere-like mobile user interface is described including receiving search terms and search results, generating a sphere and blobs of the sphere and expanding a touched or swiped blob of the sphere.

Described herein is an extensible extract, transform and load (ETL) framework. In accordance with one aspect of the framework, a file location object and a corresponding file format object are retrieved from a repository. The file location object stores file location parameters that specify a remote file system directory and a local file system directory, while the file format object stores location configuration parameters that specify a data file and the file location object. The data file may be transferred from the remote file system directory to the local file system directory according to the file location parameters and the location configuration parameters. An extract, transform and load (ETL) job may then be performed on the data file to generate an output file.

Rank aggregation based on a Markov model is disclosed. One example is a system including a query processor, at least two information retrievers, a Markov model, and an evaluator. The query processor receives a query via a processing system. Each of the at least two information retrievers retrieves a plurality of document categories responsive to the query, each of the plurality of document categories being at least partially ranked. The Markov model generates a Markov process based on the at least partial rankings of the respective plurality of document categories. The evaluator determines, via the processing system, an aggregate ranking for the plurality of document categories, the aggregate ranking based on a probability distribution of the Markov process.

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a search query input comprising one or more n-grams; parsing the search query input to identify keywords; generating query commands for the keywords. Each query command may specify: a particular object-type; one or more identifiers of one or more objects that match the search query input; and one or more types of relationships with respect to the objects. The method may further include searching a particular vertical that stores objects of the particular object-type having a relationship of the type of relationship with respect to one or more of the objects; generating a plurality of search-result modules corresponding to the query commands, each search-result module comprising references to objects of the particular object-type specified by the query command; and sending, to a client device, instructions for presenting an interface comprising one or more of the search-result modules.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for controlling modification of a data file that is accessed by multiple components of an application platform. The method for controlling modification of a data file includes: preparing a link constraint data that includes information of a data file and a component of an application platform, the component being associated with the data file; preparing an alert data that includes information of the data file and a person having a permission to modify the data file; responsive to an attempt of a user to modify the data file, retrieving the information of the component from the link constraint data and the information of the person from the alert data; and sending a notice of the attempt to at least one of the person and the user.