Author: claimsbot

1. A hidden drawstring apparatus comprising, in combination:
a housing;
a rotatable hub positioned within the housing and configured to receive an end of a drawstring to be wound about the hub;
a handle assembly rotatably connected to the housing; and
a drive member has a first end connected to the handle assembly and a second end connected to the rotatable hub.
2. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first aperture configured to receive a drawstring and a second aperture through which the drive member extends.
3. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly comprises a base portion and an arm pivotally secured to the base portion.
4. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 3, wherein the arm includes at least one pin and the base portion includes at least one notch, each notch receiving a corresponding pin when the arm is pivoted into an abutting relationship with the base portion.
5. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 4, wherein each pin is biased outwardly from the arm and the arm includes a release button connected to each pin and configured to release the pin from an outwardly biased condition.
6. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 3, wherein the base portion includes a recess into which the arm can be pivoted.
7. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly further comprises a handle housing to which the base portion is connected.
8. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the base portion includes a plurality of pins and the handle housing includes a plurality of recesses, each recess receiving a corresponding pin to secure the base portion to the handle housing.
9. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion releasably secured to the first portion.
10. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 9, wherein one of the first portion and the second portion includes a plurality of projections and the other of the first portion and the second portion includes a plurality of apertures, each projection releasably received in a corresponding recess to releasably secure the first portion to the second portion.
11. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one of the first portion and the second portion includes a plurality of pairs of slots extending radially inwardly from an exterior surface thereof, each pair of slots defining a flexible arm, wherein each projection is positioned on a corresponding flexible arm.
12. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guide member secured to an exterior of the housing proximate the first aperture.
13. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 12, wherein the guide member comprises a roller bar extending between a pair of flanges extending outwardly from an exterior of the housing.
14. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a plurality of locking apertures disposed about the second aperture.
15. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a locking pin extending axially inwardly from an interior surface of the handle, the locking pin receivable in the locking apertures.
16. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 15, wherein the locking pin is biased radially outwardly.
17. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a spring in the handle biasing the locking pin outwardly.
18. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an article of apparel to which the housing and handle assembly are secured.
19. A hidden drawstring apparatus comprising, in combination:
a housing having a first aperture and a second aperture;
a rotatable hub positioned within the housing;
a drawstring extending through the first aperture in the housing and having a first end secured to the hub, the drawstring being wound about and unwound from the hub as the hub rotates;
a handle assembly rotatably secured to an exterior of the housing; and
a drive member extending through the second aperture in the housing and connected at a first end thereof to the handle assembly and at a second end thereof to the hub, the drive member transmitting a rotational force applied to the handle assembly to the hub.
20. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 19, wherein the handle assembly comprises a base portion and an arm pivotally secured to the base portion.
21. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 19, wherein the handle assembly further comprises a handle housing to which the base portion is connected.
22. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 19, wherein the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion releasably secured to the first portion.
23. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 19, wherein the housing includes a plurality of locking apertures disposed about the second aperture.
24. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a locking pin extending axially inwardly from an interior surface of the handle, the locking pin receivable in the locking apertures.
25. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an article of apparel to which the housing and handle assembly are secured.
26. A hidden drawstring apparatus comprising, in combination:
a housing having a first portion, a second portion releasably secured to the first portion, a first aperture, and a second aperture;
a rotatable hub positioned within the housing;
a drawstring extending through the first aperture in the housing and having a first end secured to the hub, the drawstring being wound about and unwound from the hub as the hub rotates;
a handle assembly rotatably connected to the housing and comprising:
a handle housing;
a base portion secured to the handle housing;
an arm pivotally secured to the base portion; and
a drive member having a first end connected to the arm and a second end connected to the rotatable hub;
wherein the drive member extends through the second aperture in the housing and is configured to transmit a rotational force applied to the handle to the rotatable hub.
27. The hidden drawstring apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an article of apparel to which the housing, the handle housing and the base portion are secured.

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 system for making a waterproof seam, comprising:
a coated thread comprising thread with an adhesive coating;
means for forming a seam between two materials wherein a needle punctures a series of holes in said materials to be joined and simultaneously interleavens said coated thread through said holes thereby fastening the said materials to each other along a seam line;
means for placing a thin strip of adhesive between said materials at said seam line;
means for applying heat and pressure to the coated thread along said seam line.
2. A system for making a waterproof seam as recited in claim 1, wherein:
said means for forming a seam between two materials is a conventional sewing machine;
said means for applying heat and pressure is comprised of a sewing chamber added to said conventional sewing machine, said sewing chamber comprising a sewing needle between a plate and heater wheel, wherein the two materials are brought together within said sewing chamber to form a seam, wherein said plate and wheel are separately heated, wherein the two materials are passed over said plate, wherein said wheel is positioned above and against said two materials over said plate.
3. A system for making a waterproof seam as recited in claim 2, wherein:
said means for placing a thin strip of adhesive between said material at said seam line is comprised of a seam guide removably attached to a sewing machine front, said seam guide comprising an adhesive roll holder, a linear guide attachment from the roll holder, terminating in a curved sewing chamber guide guiding an adhesive strip from said roll holder into said sewing chamber between the said two materials the seam.
4. A system for making a waterproof seam as recited in claim 3, further comprising:
a rotating horizontal element electrically driven by the sewing machine, wherein said heater wheel is geared to said rotating horizontal element by means of a chain, wherein said chain synchronizes the rotation of the heater wheel with a sewing machine operation.
5. A system for making a waterproof seam as recited in claim 4, wherein:
said rotating element contains a puller wheel for drawing a sewn seam through and from said sewing chamber.
6. A system for making a waterproof seam as recited in claim 5, wherein:
said heater wheel is attached to a yoke driven by an airline cylinder which lifts and lowers the yoke thereby lifting and lowering the heater wheel.
7. A system for making a waterproof seam as recited in claim 6, wherein:
the coated thread is formed with three threads, twisted counter clockwise in a Z-twist, and coated with an adhesive.

1. A portable stretcher made of a lightweight material, for manually transporting an injured person in a seated position, said stretcher comprising:
(i) a harness for carrying said injured person in a sitting position;
(ii) means for securing said injured person 5 to said harness;
(iii) two carrying straps, each strap including at least one buckle for adjusting the strap’s length; and
(iv) means for attaching said two carrying straps to said harness.
2. The stretcher of claim 1, further including an additional support strap attached to said two carrying straps, providing support for the injured person’s back.
3. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein said lightweight material is cloth, any plastic material including nylon, rope, rubber or any combination thereof.
4. The stretcher according to claim 1, weighing less than 1.5 kg.
5. The stretcher according to claim 1, further including means to fold the stretcher to a compact case.
6. The stretcher of claim 5, further including a quick-release mechanism.
7. The stretcher according to claim 1, further including means to transport said stretcher by aerial evacuation means.
8. The stretcher according to claim 2, wherein said lightweight material is cloth, any plastic material including nylon, rope, rubber or any combination thereof.
9. The stretcher according to claim 2, weighing less than 1.5 kg.
10. The stretcher according to claim 3, weighing less than 1.5 kg.
11. The stretcher according to claim 2, further including means to fold the stretcher to a compact case.
12. The stretcher according to claim 3, further including means to fold the stretcher to a compact case.
13. The stretcher according to claim 4, further including means to fold the stretcher to a compact case.
14. The stretcher according to claim 2, further including means to transport said stretcher by aerial evacuation means.
15. The stretcher according to claim 3, further including means to transport said stretcher by aerial evacuation means.
16. The stretcher according to claim 4, further including means to transport said stretcher by aerial evacuation means.
17. The stretcher according to claim 5, further including means to transport said stretcher by aerial evacuation means.
18. The stretcher according to claim 6, further including means to transport said stretcher by aerial evacuation means.

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 for improving network connection, comprising:
receiving a first fault notification formatted in a first protocol indicating a network fault from a service subscriber to an optical port of a multiservice router (\u201cMSR\u201d) over a first circuit, wherein the first circuit is a link transmitting the first fault notification;
translating the first fault notification to a second fault notification formatted in the second protocol;
shutting down at least a portion of the first circuit for suspending traffic flow in response to the first fault notification; and
sending the second fault notification from an Ethernet port of the MSR to an edge router via a second circuit indicating the network fault,
wherein receiving the first fault notification formatted in the first protocol from the service subscriber to the optical port of MSR includes obtaining a link down message formatted in point-to-point protocol (\u201cPPP\u201d) from a subscriber to a synchronous optical networking (\u201cSONET\u201d) interface of the MSR via a PPP circuit.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a first recovery notification formatted in the first protocol from the service subscriber to the optical port of the MSR via the first circuit;
resuming the first circuit for network service;
translating the first recovery notification to a second recovery notification formatted in the second protocol; and
sending the second recovery notification from the Ethernet port of the MSR to the edge router via the second circuit.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a link down message formatted in point-to-point protocol (\u201cPPP\u201d) sent over a PPP circuit further includes receiving a terminate-request formatted in Link Control Protocol (\u201cLCP\u201d) indicating that the PPP circuit is down.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the first fault notification to a second fault notification formatted in the second protocol includes converting the first fault notification formatted in the PPP to the second fault notification formatted in IEEE 802.1ag.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein converting the first fault notification formatted in the PPP to the second fault notification formatted in IEEE 802.1ag includes translating a terminate-request formatted in link control protocol (\u201cLCP\u201d) to a continuity check message (\u201cCCM\u201d) with remote defect indication (\u201cRDI\u201d) having a set value indicating link failure.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein shutting down at least a portion of the first circuit includes:
suspending data traffic on a PPP link; and
sending an acknowledge message coded in the PPP to the service subscriber.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the second fault notification from an Ethernet port of the MSR to an edge router via a second circuit includes forwarding a continuity check message (\u201cCCM\u201d) with remote defect indication (\u201cRDI\u201d) having a set value to the edge router via a virtual local area network (\u201cVLAN\u201d).
8. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a first recovery notification formatted in the first protocol includes receiving a link control protocol (\u201cLCP\u201d) configure-request formatted in point-to-point protocol (\u201cPPP\u201d) from a subscriber to a synchronous optical networking (\u201cSONET\u201d) interface of the MSR via a PPP circuit requesting link resumption.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein resuming the first circuit for network service includes:
resuming data traffic on the PPP link; and
sending a configure-acknowledge message coded in the PPP to the service subscriber.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein translating the first recovery notification to a second recovery notification includes converting the LCP configure-request to a continuity check message (\u201cCCM\u201d) with defect indication (\u201cRDI\u201d) having a unset value formatted in IEEE 802.1ag indicating link resumption.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein sending the second recovery notification from the Ethernet port of the MSR to the edge router via the second circuit includes forwarding the CCM with RDI having a clear value to the edge router via a virtual local area network (\u201cVLAN\u201d).
12. A method for improving network fault management, comprising:
receiving a continuity check message (\u201cCCM\u201d) with defect indication (\u201cRDI\u201d) having a set value formatted in IEEE 802.1ag indicating a link failure from an edge router to an Ethernet port of a multiservice router (\u201cMSR\u201d) via a virtual local area network (\u201cVLAN\u201d);
translating the CCM with RDI to a terminate-request formatted in link control protocol (\u201cLCP\u201d) at the MSR;
shutting down at least a portion of the VLAN for suspending traffic flow in response to the CCM with RDI; and
sending the terminate-request coded in LCP from the MSR to a service subscriber over a point-to-point protocol (\u201cPPP\u201d) circuit indicating the link failure, wherein sending the terminate-request coded in LCP from the MSR to a service subscriber includes obtaining the terminate-request formatted in PPP from a subscriber to a synchronous optical networking (\u201cSONET\u201d) interface of the MSR via a PPP circuit.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a CCM with RDI having an unset value formatted in IEEE 802.1.ag indicating a link recovery from the edge router to the Ethernet port of the MSR via a VLAN.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising converting the CCM with RDI having an unset value to an LCP configure-request formatted in the PPP.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
sending the LCP configure-request formatted in PPP from the MSR to the service subscriber over the PPP circuit indicating the link resumption; and
receiving an LCP configure-acknowledge coded in the PPP from the service subscriber to a time-division multiplexing (\u201cTDM\u201d) interface of the MSR over the PPP circuit.
16. A network configuration comprising:
a network element (\u201cNE\u201d) coupled to Internet and configured to route data traffic to and from the Internet via an Internet Protocol (\u201cIP\u201d) based network;
a node coupled to a subscriber and able to route data stream via its synchronous optical networking (\u201cSONET\u201d) port;
a router having a SONET port and an Ethernet port and configured to couple to the SONET port of the router to the SONET port of the node via a point-to-point protocol (\u201cPPP\u201d) circuit, the Ethernet port coupled to the NE via an Ethernet link, wherein the router is able to route link failure messages between the NE and the node via a protocol translation module which converts the link failure message between optical network protocol and Ethernet network protocols, wherein the router is configured to obtain link failure messages formatted in PPP from the subscriber to a SONET interface via the PPP circuit.
17. The network configuration of claim 16, wherein a network element (\u201cNE\u201d) coupled to Internet and configured to route data traffic to and from the Internet via an Internet Protocol (\u201cIP\u201d) based network includes an edge router coupled to the router via a virtual local area network (\u201cVLAN\u201d).
18. The network configuration of claim 17, wherein a node coupled to a subscriber and able to route data stream via its synchronous optical networking (\u201cSONET\u201d) port includes one or more service subscribers and configured to coupled to the router via the PPP circuit capable of transport link control protocol (\u201cLCP\u201d) messages regarding connectivity of the PPP circuit.
19. The network configuration of claim 18, wherein the router is a multiservice router having the protocol translation module wherein the protocol translation module is configured to translate the link failure messages between the LCP message formatted in the PPP and a continuity check message (\u201cCCM\u201d) formatted in IEEE 802.1ag.