Author: claimsbot

I claim:

1. A method of fabricating a mailbox having side walls, a back wall, a floor, a roof and a door, comprising the steps of:
(a) obtaining an extruded metal bar having a generally L-shaped cross section defining an elevation flange and a base flange, wherein
(i) the length of the elevation flange is selected to correspond generally to a desired height of the side walls of the mailbox, and the length of the base flange is selected to correspond generally to one-half of a desired width of the floor,
(ii) the elevation flange has an outside face and an inside face, with the outside face having a substantial flat area and an area shaped as a decorative molding detail, and
(iii) the base flange having an inside and outside face and having an outboard edge opposite the elevation flange;

(b) cutting two equal-length billets from the extruded bar, the length of the billets corresponding to the desired length of the mailbox,
(c) positioned the billets to face each other and aligned such that outboard edges of the base flanges are pressed against each other to create a seam;
(d) joining the billets along the seam to create a open rectangular channel comprising the side walls and floor;
(e) joining a back plate to the billets to close one end of the open channel and form the back wall;
(f) attaching a hinged door to the billets at the end of the channel opposite the back wall; and,
(g) attaching an ornamental cast metal roof over the side walls and back plate.
2. A method of fabricating a mailbox as in claim 1, wherein with the inside face of the base flange includes a pattern of raised longitudinal ribs.
3. A method of fabricating a mailbox as in claim 2, wherein the pattern of raised longitudinal ribs is spaced across the base flange such that the base flange terminates at an end that is formed as one half of a raised rib.
4. A method of fabricating a mailbox as in claim 3, further comprising the base flanges’ outside face tapering toward its inside face at the outboard end of the base flange.
5. A method of fabricating a mailbox as in claim 1, wherein the back plate forming the back wall has an outside face that contains a decorative molding detail that conforms as a corner continuation of the molding detail on the elevation flanges
6. A mailbox fabricated by the steps of claim 1.
7. A mailbox fabricated by the steps of claim 2.
7. A mailbox fabricated by the steps of claim 4.
8. A mailbox fabricated by the steps of claim 5.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A synchronization control apparatus for synchronizing the output of a voice signal and the operation of a movable portion, comprising:
phoneme-information generating means for generating phoneme information formed of a plurality of phonemes by using language information;
calculation means for calculating a phoneme continuation duration according to the phoneme information generated by the phoneme-information generating means;
computing means for computing the operation period of the movable portion according to the phoneme information generated by the phoneme-information generating means;
adjusting means for adjusting the phoneme continuation duration calculated by the calculation means and the operation period computed by the computing means;
synthesized-voice-information generating means for generating synthesized-voice information according to the phoneme continuation duration adjusted by the adjusting means;
synthesizing means for synthesizing the voice signal according to the synthesized-voice information generated by the synthesized-voice-information generating means; and
operation control means for controlling the operation of the movable portion according to the operation period adjusted by the adjusting means.
2. A synchronization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means compares the phoneme continuation duration and the operation period corresponding to each of the phonemes and performs adjustment by substituting whichever is the longer for the shorter.
3. A synchronization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means performs adjustment by synchronizing at least one of the start timing and the end timing, of the phoneme continuation duration and the operation period corresponding to any of the phonemes.
4. A synchronization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means performs adjustment by substituting one of the phoneme continuation duration and the operation period corresponding to all of the phonemes, for the other.
5. A synchronization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means performs adjustment by synchronizing at least one of the start timing and the end timing, of the phoneme continuation duration and the operation period corresponding to each of the phonemes, and by placing no-process periods at lacking intervals.
6. A synchronization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means compares the phoneme continuation duration and the operation period corresponding to all of the phonemes and performs adjustment by extending whichever is the shorter in proportion.
7. A synchronization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation control means controls the operation of the movable portion which imitates the operation of an organ of articulation of an animal.
8. A synchronization control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detection means for detecting an external force operation applied to the movable portion.
9. A synchronization control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the synthesizing means and the operation control means changes a process currently being executed, in response to a detection result obtained by the detection means.
10. A synchronization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization control apparatus is a robot.
11. A synchronization control method of synchronizing the output of a voice signal and the operation of a movable portion, comprising:
a phoneme-information generating step of generating phoneme information formed of a plurality of phonemes by using language information;
a calculation step of calculating a phoneme continuation duration according to the phoneme information generated in the phoneme-information generating step;
a computing step of computing the operation period of the movable portion according to the phoneme information generated in the phoneme-information generating step;
an adjusting step for adjusting the phoneme continuation duration calculated in the calculation step and the operation period computed in the computing step;
a synthesized-voice-information generating step of generating synthesized-voice information according to the phoneme continuation duration adjusted in the adjusting step;
a synthesizing step of synthesizing the voice signal according to the synthesized-voice information generated in the synthesized-voice-information generating step; and
an operation control step of controlling the operation of the movable portion according to the operation period adjusted in the adjusting step.
12. A recording medium storing a computer-readable program for synchronizing the output of a voice signal and the operation of a movable portion, the program comprising:
a phoneme-information generating step of generating phoneme information formed of a plurality of phonemes by using language information;
a calculation step of calculating a phoneme continuation duration according to the phoneme information generated in the phoneme-information generating step;
a computing step of computing the operation period of the movable portion according to the phoneme information generated in the phoneme-information generating step;
an adjusting step for adjusting the phoneme continuation duration calculated in the calculation step and the operation period computed in the computing step;
a synthesized-voice-information generating step of generating synthesized-voice information according to the phoneme continuation duration adjusted in the adjusting step;
a synthesizing step of synthesizing the voice signal according to the synthesized-voice information generated in the synthesized-voice-information generating step; and
an operation control step of controlling the operation of the movable portion according to the operation period adjusted in the adjusting step.

1. A method for enhancing capabilities of a graphical display to automatically sort and filter a list of items in a space-constrained view, the method comprising:
causing displaying, using graphical display enhancing logic, in a display page of an electronic display screen, a first filtered list of items;
the graphical display enhancing logic causing displaying, in the display page as an overlay over the first filtered list of items and without changing to any other display page, a first visual depiction of a first filter;
the graphical display enhancing logic receiving a first user input that indicates selection of the first visual depiction of the first filter;
the graphical display enhancing logic, in response to the first user input, causing displaying, in the display page and without changing to any other display page, a filter modification overlay over the first list of items that depicts one or more attributes of the first filter;
the graphical display enhancing logic receiving a second user input that indicates selection of a first attribute from the one or more attributes of the first filter;
the graphical display enhancing logic in response to the second user input, generating a second filtered list of items by excluding from the first filtered list of items those items that do not include the first attribute.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising, using the graphical display enhancing logic:
displaying, on the display page, a list of items and a filter widget;
receiving a third user input that indicates selection of the filter widget;
in response to the third user input, displaying, in the display page and without changing to any other display page, a filter category overlay that depicts one or more filter categories of one or more filters;
receiving a fourth user input that indicates selection of a first filter category from the one or more filter categories, and causing creating the first filter and generating the first filtered list of items that include the first filter category.
3. The method of claim 1, comprising, using the graphical display enhancing logic:
in response to the second user input:
updating the second filtered list of items to reflect applying the first filter and the first attribute to create the second filtered list of items;
displaying, in the display page without changing to any other display page, the second filtered list of items.
4. The method of claim 1, comprising, using the graphical display enhancing logic, in response to the second user input, displaying, in the display page and without changing to any other display page, a second visual depiction of a second filter near to the first visual depiction.
5. The method of claim 1, comprising, using the graphical display enhancing logic, in response to the second user input, displaying, in the display page and without changing to any other display page, a second visual depiction of a second filter and the first visual depiction in an ordered linear stack.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising, using the graphical display enhancing logic:
in response to the first user input, removing, from the display page, a visual depiction associated with the at least one filter selected for removal;
updating the display page to reflect a list of items ordered without application of the at least one filter selected for removal.
7. The method of claim 1, comprising, using the graphical display enhancing logic, displaying a filter widget and one or more visual depictions of filters in the display page without overlapping the first filtered list of items.
8. The method of claim 1, comprising, using the graphical display enhancing logic, displaying a filter category overlay and filter modification overlay semitransparently and without entirely obscuring the first filtered list of items.
9. The method of claim 1, comprising, using the graphical display enhancing logic, displaying the display page in a handheld mobile device.
10. The method of claim 1, comprising, using the graphical display enhancing logic, displaying the display page using a mobile application of a handheld mobile device.
11. A system comprising:
a graphical display unit that:
displays, in a display page of an electronic display screen, a first filtered list of items;
displays, in the display page as an overlay over the first filtered list of items and without changing to any other display page, a first visual depiction of a first filter;

a filter modification unit that:
receives a first user input that indicates selection of the first visual depiction of the first filter;
in response to the first user input, displays, in the display page and without changing to any other display page, a filter modification overlay over the first list of items that depicts one or more attributes of the first filter;
receives a second user input that indicates selection of a first attribute from the one or more attributes of the first filter;
in response to the second user input, generates a second filtered list of items by excluding from the first filtered list of items those items that do not include the first attribute.
12. The system as recited in claim 11,
wherein the graphical display unit:
displays, on the display page, a list of items and a filter widget;

wherein the filter modification unit:
receives a third user input that indicates selection of the filter widget;
in response to the third user input, displays, in the display page and without changing to any other display page, a filter category overlay that depicts one or more filter categories of one or more filters;
receives a fourth user input that indicates selection of a first filter category from the one or more filter categories, and causes creating the first filter and generating the first filtered list of items that include the first filter category.
13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the graphical display unit:
in response to the second user input:
updates the second filtered list of items to reflect applying the first filter and the first attribute to create the second filtered list of items;
displays, in the display page without changing to any other display page, the second filtered list of items.
14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the graphical display unit:
in response to the second user input, displays, in the display page and without changing to any other display page, a second visual depiction of a second filter near to the first visual depiction.
15. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the graphical display unit:
in response to the second user input, displays, in the display page and without changing to any other display page, a second visual depiction of a second filter and the first visual depiction in an ordered linear stack.
16. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the graphical display unit:
in response to the first user input, removes, from the display page, a visual depiction associated with the at least one filter selected for removal;
updates the display page to reflect a list of items ordered without application of the at least one filter selected for removal.
17. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the graphical display unit:
displays a filter widget and one or more visual depictions of filters in the display page without overlapping the first filtered list of items.
18. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the graphical display unit:
displays a filter category overlay and filter modification overlay semitransparently and without entirely obscuring the first filtered list of items.
19. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the graphical display unit:
displays the display page in a handheld mobile device.
20. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the graphical display unit:
displays the display page using a mobile application of a handheld mobile device.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What 1 claim as my invention is:

1. A method for adjusting the temperature of a swimming pool having a filter system and a waterfall, comprising running the filter system at times of the day such that heat transfer with ambient air is optimized by the action of swimming pool water falling through the ambient air.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising positioning and substantially fixing the position of a movable surface below the waterfall to help maximize the heat transfer with the ambient air.
3. The method of claim 2, comprising floating the movable surface on the swimming pool.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the moveable surface is a raft.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the raft has an irregular surface designed to maximize the time the swimming pool water remains upon the raft and in contact with the ambient air.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the raft is double sided and wherein one side is designed for use by swimmers and an opposing side is designed for maximum heat transfer.
7. A method for adjusting the temperature of a swimming pool having a surface, a filter system, a perimeter and a submerged water return opening comprising: (1) installing a conduit with a first end and a second end with the first end running from the submergerd water return opening and the second end exiting above the surface of the pool; and (2) positioning a movable surface underneath the second end of the conduit.
8. An apparatus for either heating or cooling a swimming pool having a waterfall and a filter system; comprising a movable surface which can be positioned and substantially fixed in position underneath of the waterfall such that it is possible to optimize heat transfer from ambient air by running the filter system at times of the day designed to either heat or cool recirculating water from the swimming pool.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the movable surface floats in the swimming pool.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the movable surface is a raft.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the raft has an irregular surface designed to optimize the heat transfer.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the raft is dual purpose and can be utilized as either a heat exchanger or a normal flotation device for swimmers.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the movable surface is attachable to other movable surfaces to maximize the surface area for the heat transfer.
14. An apparatus for either heating or cooling a swimming pool having a filter system and a submerged water return opening comprising; (1) a movable surface; and (2) a conduit designed to direct water from the submerged water return opening to the movable surface such that water runs over the movable surface and heat transfer occurs as it comes into contact with ambient air.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the movable surface floats in the swimming pool.
16. The aparatus of claim 15, wherein the movable surface is a raft.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the raft has an irregular surface designed to optimize the heat transfer.
18. The appartus of claim 17, wherein the raft doubles as both a heat exchanger and a normal flotation device for swimmers.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the movable surface is attachable to other movable surfaces to maximize the surface area for the heat transfer.
20. A method for adjusting the temperature of a swimming pool comprising:
running swimming pool water over a waterfall; and transferring energy between the swimming pool water and the ambient air by impacting the water onto a movable surface wherein the transfer of energy adjusts the pool temperature to a desired state.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the desired state is to lower the temperature of the swimming pool water; the running step further comprising running the water when the ambient air temperature is lower than the swimming pool water temperature.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the desired state is to raise the temperature of the swimming pool water; the running step further comprising running the water when the ambient air temperature is higher than the swimming pool water temperature.