Author: claimsbot

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving a location update for a first user;
identifying one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user in response to receiving the location update for the first user; and
recording a location reported in the location update for the first user as a current location of the first user and a current location of each of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a social location-based service based on current locations of a plurality of users comprising the first user and the one or more second users.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the location reported in the location update for the first user is a current geographic location of the first user.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the location reported in the location update for the first user is a check-in location for the first user.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to receiving the location update for the first user:
receiving, from a requesting user, a request to location-synchronize the requesting user to the first user; and
recording the requesting user as being location-synchronized to the first user;
wherein identifying the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user comprises identifying the requesting user as one of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to receiving the location update for the first user:
receiving, from the first user, a request to location-synchronize a select user to the first user; and
recording the select user as being location-synchronized to the first user;
wherein identifying the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user comprises identifying the select user as one of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to receiving the location update for the first user:
programmatically determining that a user is to be location-synchronized to the first user; and
recording the user as being location-synchronized to the first user;
wherein identifying the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user comprises identifying the user as one of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on one or more user settings.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on one or more system-defined rules.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on current locations of the first user and the user at that time.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on one or more historical locations of the first user and the user.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on information obtained from one or more third-party sources that is indicative of spatial proximity of the first user and the user.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, from a requesting user, a request to de-synchronize the requesting user from the first user; and
de-synchronizing the requesting user from the first user such that the requesting user is no longer location-synchronized to the first user.
14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, from the first user, a request to de-synchronize a select user from the first user; and
de-synchronizing the select user from the first user such that the select user is no longer location-synchronized to the first user.
15. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to receiving the location update for the first user:
programmatically determining that a user is to be de-synchronized from the first user; and
de-synchronizing the user from the first user such that the user is no longer location-synchronized to the first user.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user after a defined amount of time has expired since the user was location-synchronized to the first user.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the defined amount of time is defined by the user.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the defined amount of time is a system-defined amount of time.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user at a time specified by the user.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on one or more user settings.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on one or more system-defined rules.
22. The method of claim 15 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on current locations of the first user and the user at that time.
23. The method of claim 15 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on one or more historical locations of the first user and the user.
24. The method of claim 15 wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on information obtained from one or more third-party sources that is indicative of spatial proximity of the first user and the user.
25. A computer server comprising:
a communication interface adapted to communicatively couple the computer server to a network; and
a controller associated with the communication interface that is adapted to:
receive, via the communication interface, a location update for a first user;
identify one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user in response to receiving the location update for the first user; and
record a location reported in the location update for the first user as a current location of the first user and a current location of each of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user.
26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for instructing a controller of a computing device to:
receive a location update for a first user;
identify one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user in response to receiving the location update for the first user; and
record a location reported in the location update for the first user as a current location of the first user and a current location of each of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user.

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

1. A glove comprising:
a glove shell having a dorsal side segment, a palmar side segment, and at least one finger section segment extending outwardly from said dorsal side and said palmar side, said shell having an opening therein opposite said finger section segment;
a first shock absorbing pad positioned along the dorsal side of said shell disposed to overlie at least one metacarpal and a proximal portion of the metacarpalphalangeal joint, said first shock absorbing pad having a wrist end and a knuckle end, said first shock absorbing pad having an inner concave surface adjacent a dorsal side of a human hand, said inner surface at said wrist end having a first radius of curvature, said inner surface at said knuckle end having a second radius of curvature, said second radius of curvature being greater than said first radius of curvature.
2. The glove of claim 1 including a second shock absorbing pad disposed to overlie said first shock absorbing pad, said first shock absorbing pad being softer than said second shock absorbing pad.
3. The glove of claim 1, said first radius of curvature being from about 0.50 to 0.85 of said second radius of curvature.
4. The glove of claim 3, said first radius of curvature being approximately 0.69 of said second radius of curvature.
5. The glove of claim 1, said first radius of curvature being from about 2.0\u2033 to about 4.5\u2033.
6. The glove of claim 1, said second radius of curvature being from about 3.0\u2033 to about 6.8\u2033.
7. The glove of claim 1, said first shock absorbing pad having a wrist end and a knuckle end, said first shock absorbing pad being narrower at said wrist end than said knuckle end.
8. The glove of claim 7, said wrist end having a width of from about 0.60 to about 0.90 of the width of said knuckle end.
9. The glove of claim 8, said width of said wrist end being approximately 0.77 of said width of said knuckle end.
10. The glove of claim 1, said first shock absorbing pad having an inner length positioned between a thumb and an index finger of said glove and an outer length positioned along a small finger section of said glove from a wrist end to a knuckle end, said inner length being greater than said outer length.
11. The glove of claim 10, said inner length being greater than said outer length by a factor of from 1.10 to about 1.75.
12. The glove of claim 11, said inner length being approximately 1.43 times greater than the outer length.
13. The glove of claim 1, said at least one finger section including an index finger section, a long finger section a ring finger section and a small finger section.
14. The glove of claim 1, said at least one metacarpal includes the metacarpals of an index finger a long finger, a ring finger, or a small finger or combinations thereof.
15. The glove of claim 1 including a second shock absorbing pad disposed to overlie said first shock absorbing pad.
16. The glove of claim 15, said second shock absorbing pad being in two sections of generally arcuate shape with a gap disposed therebetween.
17. The glove of claim 16, said gap being greatest adjacent a mid point of the width of said first shock absorbing pad.
18. The glove of claim 15, said second shock absorbing pad being in two sections on opposed sides of said hand defining a gap between said first shock absorbing pad and said second shock absorbing pad.
19. The glove of claim 18, each of said second shock absorbing pads being wedge-shaped.
20. The glove of claim 1, said first shock absorbing pad being in two sections of generally arcuate shape with a gap disposed therebetween.
21. The glove of claim 20, said gap being greatest adjacent a mid point of the width of said first shock absorbing pad.
22. The glove of claim 20, said first shock absorbing pad being in two sections on opposed sides of said hand defining a gap between said first shock absorbing pad and said dorsal side of said shell.
23. The glove of claim 22, each of said first shock absorbing pads being wedge-shaped.
24. The glove of claim 1 including a blocker shield attached along a top surface of said glove.
25. A glove comprising:
a glove shell having a dorsal side segment, a palmar side segment, and at least one finger section segment extending outwardly from said dorsal side and said palmar side, said shell having an opening therein opposite said finger section segment;
a first shock absorbing pad positioned along the dorsal side of said shell disposed to overlie the back of a hand from a wrist area to a knuckles area at a location adjacent a proximal portion of the metacarpalphalangeal joints, said first shock absorbing pad having a wrist end and a knuckle end, said first shock absorbing pad having an inner concave surface positioned to be adjacent a dorsal side of a human hand, said inner surface at said wrist end having a first radius of curvature, said inner surface at said knuckle end having a second radius of curvature, said second radius of curvature being greater than said first radius of curvature.
26. The glove of claim 25, including a second shock absorbing pad disposed to overlie said first shock absorbing pad, said first shock absorbing pad being softer than said second shock absorbing pad.
27. The glove of claim 26, said first radius of curvature being approximately 0.69 of said second radius of curvature.
28. The glove of claim 25, said first radius of curvature being from about 0.50 to 0.85 of said second radius of curvature.
29. The glove of claim 28, said first radius of curvature being from about 2.0\u2033 to about 4.5\u2033.
30. The glove of claim 28, said second radius of curvature being from about 3.0\u2033 to about 6.8\u2033.
31. The glove of claim 25, said first shock absorbing pad being narrower at said wrist end than said knuckle end.
32. The glove of claim 31, said wrist end having a width of from about 0.60 to about 0.90 of the width of said knuckle end.
33. The glove of claim 32, said width of said wrist end being approximately 0.77 of said width of said knuckle end.
34. The glove of claim 25, said first shock absorbing pad having an inner length positioned between a thumb and an index finger of said glove and an outer length positioned along a small finger section of said glove from a wrist end to a knuckle end, said inner length being greater than said outer length.
35. The glove of claim 34, said inner length being greater than said outer length by a factor of from 1.10 to about 1.75.
36. The glove of claim 25, said inner length being approximately 1.43 times greater than the outer length.
37. The glove of claim 25, said at least one finger section including an index finger section, a long finger section, a ring finger section and a small finger section.
38. The glove of claim 25, said at least one metacarpal includes the metacarpals of an index finger, a long finger, a ring finger, or a small finger or combinations thereof.
39. The glove of claim 25, including a second shock absorbing pad disposed to overlie said first shock absorbing pad.
40. The glove of claim 39, said second shock absorbing pad being in two sections of generally arcuate shape with a gap disposed therebetween.
41. The glove of claim 40, said gap being greatest adjacent a mid point of the width of said first shock absorbing pad.
42. The glove of claim 39, said second shock absorbing pad being in two sections on opposed sides of said hand defining a gap between said first shock absorbing pad and said second shock absorbing pad.
43. The glove of claim 42, each of said second shock absorbing pads being wedge-shaped.
44. The glove of claim 25, includng a blocker shield attached along a top surface of said glove.

1. A device for at least one of monitoring or treating a patient, the patient having a tissue, the device comprising:
a battery;
circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient, the circuitry comprising a processor;
at least two electrodes configured to couple to the tissue of the patient;
a first switch coupled to the at least two electrodes, the battery and the circuitry, the first switch configured to detect tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes and connect the battery to the circuitry to turn on the processor in response to tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes; and
sustain circuitry comprising a second switch to connect the battery to the processor in response to a signal from the processor, such that power is sustained to the processor after the tissue is uncoupled from the at least two electrodes and the first switch opens.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising start-up circuitry, the start-up circuitry comprising the first switch, and wherein the first switch closes to connect the battery to the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient and the first switch comprise a low power configuration when the at least one switch is open and a high power configuration when the first switch is closed.
4. The device of claim 2 wherein the start-up circuitry and the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient are configured to draw a first amount of current from the battery when the first switch is open and a second amount of current when the first switch is closed and wherein the first amount of current is no more than about one tenth of the second amount of current.
5. The device of claim 2 wherein the start-up circuitry and the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient are configured to draw no more than about 0.5 \u03bcA from the battery when the first switch is open and wherein the start-up circuitry and the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient are configured to draw at least about 5 \u03bcA from the battery when the first switch is closed.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a voltage regulator and wherein first switch and the voltage regulator are connected in series between the battery and the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient, such that the first switch and the voltage regulator connect the battery to the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises an open configuration to disconnect the battery from the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein no more than about 0.5 \u03bcA of current passes from the battery when the switch is in the open configuration.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least two electrodes are configured to couple to a skin of the patient.
10. The device of claim 7, wherein no more than about 0.1 \u03bcA of current passes from the battery when the switch is in the open configuration.
11. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least two electrodes are configured to couple to an internal tissue of the patient.
12. The device of claim 7, wherein no more than about 100 pA of current passes from the battery when the switch is in the open configuration.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises a closed configuration to connect the battery to the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient in response to tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the at least about 100 uA of current passes from the battery when the first switch comprises the closed configuration and connects the battery to the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises a voltage divider and a transistor having a gate with a threshold voltage and wherein the voltage divider and the threshold voltage are configured to close first switch when a impedance between the at least two electrodes is below a threshold tissue detection impedance.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an implantable device configured to contact the tissue with the at least two electrodes.
17. The device of claim 16, one of the at least two electrodes comprises a housing of the implantable device.
18. The device of claim 1, wherein the tissue comprises skin and further comprising at least two gel pads in contact with the at least two electrodes to couple the at least two electrodes to the skin of the patient.
19. The device of claim 1, wherein the first switch is configured to connect the battery to the circuitry when the first switch detects an impedance between the at least two electrodes below a threshold impedance, and wherein the threshold impedance is within a range from about 2 k-Ohms to about 2 G-Ohm.
20. The device of claim 19, wherein the electrodes are configured to couple to a skin of the patient.
21. The device of claim 19, wherein the threshold impedance comprises a resistance within a range from 2 k-Ohms to 2 G-Ohm.
22. The device of claim 21, wherein the range is from about 100 k-Ohms to about 1 G-Ohm.
23. The device of claim 1, wherein the first switch is configured to connect the battery to the circuitry when the first switch detects an impedance between the at least two electrodes below a threshold impedance, and wherein the threshold impedance comprises at least about 100 Ohms.
24. The device of claim 23, wherein the at least two electrodes are configured to couple to an internal tissue of the patient.
25. The device of claim 1, wherein the tissue comprises skin having a skin impedance when the at least two electrodes are coupled to the skin and further comprising a removable liner having a liner impedance when the liner is coupled between the at least two electrodes, and wherein the liner impedance is greater than the skin impedance.
26. The device of claim 25, wherein the liner impedance comprises impedance between the at least two electrodes when the removable liner is coupled between the at least two electrodes.
27. The device of claim 25, wherein the liner impedance comprises a liner resistance and the skin impedance comprises a skin resistance and wherein the liner resistance is greater than the skin resistance.
28. The device of claim 25, wherein the liner comprises a substantially waterproof material.
29. The device of claim 25, wherein the liner comprises a cross-sectional thickness and a resistivity and the at least two electrodes comprise a separation distance such that the resistance between the at least two electrodes comprises at least about 10 M-Ohms when the liner is coupled to the at least two electrodes.
30. The device of claim 25, wherein the liner impedance comprises at least about 50 M-Ohms.
31. The device of claim 30, wherein the liner impedance comprises a resistance of at least about 50 M-Ohms.
32. The device of claim 31, wherein the liner resistance comprises at least about 1 G-Ohm.
33. The device of claim 25, wherein the liner comprises at least one piece.
34. The device of claim 33, wherein the liner comprises at least two pieces, the at least two pieces comprising a first liner piece and a second liner piece, the at least two electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein the first liner piece is positioned over the first electrode and the second liner piece is positioned over the second electrode and wherein the first liner piece and the second liner piece at least partially overlap between the first electrode and the second electrode.
35. The device of claim 25, further comprising at least two conductive gel pads disposed between the at least two electrodes and the liner, each of the at least two conductive gel pads in contact with one of the at least two electrodes and wherein the at least two conductive gel pads are separated to minimize electrical conductance between the at least two electrodes.
36. The device of claim 35, wherein each of the at least two conductive gel pads comprises a solid gel material to separate the at least two conductive gel pads.
37. The device of claim 35, further comprising a support comprising breathable tape affixed to each of the at least two electrodes, the breathable tape comprising an adhesive layer extending between the at least two electrodes and wherein the liner contacts the adhesive layer and the at least two gel pads and wherein the liner is configured to separate from the adhesive layer and the at least two gel pads to expose the adhesive layer and the at least two gel pads for placement against the skin.
38. The device of claim 37, wherein the support comprising the breathable tape and the adhesive layer comprises an impedance between the at least two electrodes and wherein the impedance of the support between the at least two electrodes and the impedance of the liner between the at least two electrodes are each greater the impedance of the skin when the skin is coupled to the at least two electrodes with the gel pads.
39. The device of claim 38, wherein the electrical impedance of the support comprises at least about 10 M-Ohm between the at least two electrodes and the electrical impedance of the liner comprises at least about 10 M-Ohm between the at least two electrodes.
40. The device of claim 39, wherein the electrical impedance of the support comprises at least about 1 G-Ohm between the at least two electrodes and the electrical impedance of the liner comprises at least about 1 G-Ohm between the at least two electrodes.
41. The device of claim 37, wherein the liner comprises a low stick surface to seal separately each of the at least two conductive gel pads between the support and the liner when the low stick surface of the liner is placed against the adhesive such that conductance between the at least two conductive gel pads is minimized.
42. The device of claim 37, further comprising a sealed foil packaging to contain the battery, the circuitry, the at least two electrodes, the first switch, the breathable support and the gel pads so as to maintain hydration of the gel pads in storage and wherein the breathable support comprises an impedance of at least about 10 M-Ohms between the at least two electrodes when sealed with the gel pads.
43. The device of claim 1, further comprising a load coupled to the battery when the at least one switch is open and wherein the load draws no more than about 1 uA of current from the battery when the at least one switch is open.
44. The device of claim 43, wherein the load comprises a clock coupled to the battery when the first switch is open, the clock comprising current date and time information when the at least one switch is open, and wherein the circuitry is configured to couple to the clock when the first switch is closed to time stamp data measured with the circuitry.
45. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient comprises the circuitry to monitor the patient.
46. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient comprises the circuitry to treat the patient.
47. A device for monitoring andor treating a patient, the patient having a tissue, the device comprising:
a battery;
sensor circuitry configured to measure andor treat the patient;
processor circuitry coupled to the sensor circuitry and configured to at least one of monitor or treat the patient;
at least two electrodes configured to couple to the tissue of the patient;
start-up circuitry comprising a first switch coupled to the at least two electrodes, the battery, the sensor circuitry and the processor circuitry, the first switch configured to detect tissue contact with the at least two electrodes and connect the battery to the sensor circuitry and the processor circuitry in response to tissue contact with the at least two electrodes; and
sustain circuitry comprising a second switch to connect the battery to the processor circuitry and the sensor circuitry in response to a signal from the processor, such that power is sustained from the battery to the processor circuitry after the tissue is removed from the at least two electrodes and the first switch opens.
48. The device of claim 47 wherein the first switch of the start-up circuitry and the second switch of the sustain circuitry are configured in parallel between the battery and at least one of the sensor circuitry and processor circuitry.
49. The device of claim 47 wherein the sustain circuitry is capable of disconnecting the battery from the processor circuitry and the sensor circuitry after the tissue is removed from the electrodes and the first switch of the start-up circuitry opens.
50. The device of claim 47 wherein the processor circuitry is configured to detect disconnection of the tissue from the at least two electrodes.
51. The device of claim 50 wherein the processor circuitry is configured to transmit data from the sensor circuitry to a remote center in response to disconnection of the tissue from the at least two electrodes.
52. The device of claim 50 wherein the processor circuitry is configured to transmit a signal to a remote center in response to disconnection of the tissue from the electrodes to inform the remote center that tissue has been disconnected from the electrodes.
53. A method of monitoring andor treating a patient having a tissue, the method comprising:
providing a device comprising circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient, the device comprising a battery and electrodes; and
contacting the electrodes with the tissue to deliver power from the battery to the circuitry;
wherein a first switch closes to connect the battery to the circuitry and a processor when the electrodes contact the tissue;
and wherein a second switch subsequently closes in response to a signal from the processor to also connect the battery to the processor;
and wherein the second switch remains closed such that power is sustained to the processor after the tissue is removed from the electrodes.
54. The method of claim 53 further comprising removing the tissue from the electrodes and wherein a signal is sent to a remote center in response to removing the tissue from the electrodes.
55. A method of monitoring a patient, the method comprising: providing a device comprising a support, batteries, sensor circuitry, start-up circuitry, a processor, sustain circuitry, at least two electrodes and at least two gel pads in contact with the at least two electrodes, the batteries coupled to the startup circuitry, the electrodes coupled to the start-up circuitry and sensor circuitry, the start-up circuitry comprising at least one switch and configured to detect tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes, wherein the sustain circuitry comprises a second switch configured to redundantly connect the batteries to the processor in response to a signal from the processor after startup of the device, wherein the support comprises an adhesive and is configured to support the batteries, the sensor circuitry, the at least two electrodes and the at least two gel pads with the skin of the patient and wherein the removable liner covers the adhesive and the at least two gel pads; separating a removable liner from the adhesive and the at least two gel pads to expose the adhesive and the at least two gel pads; and placing the adhesive and the at least two gel pads against the skin of the patient to adhere the device to the patient and couple the electrodes to the skin, wherein the start-up circuitry closes an electrical switch to start the sensor circuitry with power from the battery when the at least two gel pads contact the skin of the patient.

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

1. A method of forming a sealing element on a fastening device, said method comprising the steps of:
conveying at least one fastening device nest, the fastening device nest having a chamber, a lock, and a release that are moveable relative to each other from a first position wherein the chamber is open to a second position wherein a portion of the lock is located within the chamber to a third position, wherein a portion of the release is in the chamber;
introducing a fastening device into the chamber of the fastening device nest while the fastening device nest is in the first position;
applying material to a predetermined portion of the fastening device contained in the fastening device nest;
heating the fastening device nest to a temperature sufficient to cure the material applied to the fastening device in the fastening device nest; and
removing the fastening device from the fastening device nest.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of moving the chamber, the lock, and the release relative to each other from the first position to the second position prior to said step of applying.
3. A method as set forth in claim 2 including the step of moving the chamber, the lock, and the release relative to each other from a second position to a third position after said step of applying.
4. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of urging the fastening device into proper alignment and seating in the fastening device nest.
5. A method as set forth in claim 4 including the step of urging the fastening device into proper alignment and seating in the fastening device nest prior to said step of moving the chamber, the lock, and the release relative to each other from the first position to the second position.
6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of urging includes causing said step of applying to occur only when the fastening device has been determined to be present in the fastening device nest.
7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the release urges the fastening device out of the chamber when the release is in the third position.
8. A method of forming sealing elements on fastening devices, said method comprising the steps of:
conveying a plurality of fastening device nests, each of the fastening device nests having a chamber, a lock, and a release that are moveable relative to each other from a first position wherein the chamber is open to a second position wherein a portion of the lock is located within the chamber to a third position, wherein a portion of the release is in the chamber;
introducing fastening devices into the chambers of the fastening device nests while the fastening device nests are in the first position;
applying material to a predetermined portion of each fastening device contained in one of the fastening device nests;
heating the fastening device nests to a temperature sufficient to cure the material applied to the fastening devices in the fastening device nests; and
removing the fastening devices from the fastening device nests.
9. A method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of urging the fastening devices into proper alignment and seating in the fastening device nests.
10. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of heating occurs prior to said step of applying.
11. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of heating occurs after said step of applying.
12. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said heating step occurs both prior to and after said heating step.
13. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of urging includes identifying each one of the fastening device nests and determining whether one of the fastening devices is present in each identified fastening device nest.
14. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of urging includes causing said step of applying to occur only when one of the fastening devices has been determined to be present in one of the fastening device nests.
15. A method as set forth in claim 8 including the steps of determining whether one of the fastening devices contained in one of the fastening device nests should be rejected and removing all rejected fastening devices in said step of determining from their respective fastening device nests while allowing all non-rejected fastening devices to continue to be conveyed on the fastening device nests.
16. A method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of removing the non-rejected fastening devices from the fastening device nests.
17. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of removing includes lifting the fastening devices from the fastening device nests and thereafter directing an airstream toward the fastening devices.
18. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of conveying includes conveying the fastening devices along an endless conveyor having a closed racetrack configuration and accomplishing all of the steps in less than one complete revolution of the conveyor.