Author: claimsbot

1. A method for securing a transaction in order to prevent fraudulent transactions, said method comprising:
receiving prior to the transaction a secret master key from a third party, wherein the master key remains unchanged and is kept secret, and is not altered after the transaction, the third party storing a copy of the master key;
receiving a request for a digest from a requestor;
retrieving the master key;
retrieving unique client information;
the client information being associated with the master key;
creating the digest by hashing the unique client information and the master key;
returning the digest and the unique client information to the requester, wherein the digest and the unique client information will be used for transacting with the third party;
wherein the request further comprises unique requester information and creating the digest further comprises hashing the unique requester information; and
wherein the transaction is a credit card transaction, the third party is a credit card issuer and the requestor is a merchant, further wherein the unique requester information includes information describing a merchant identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer, a transaction identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer and purchase information which is specific to a purchase initiated by the client.
2. The method recited in claim 1 above, wherein the request includes unique merchant information which is used to access the master key.
3. The method recited in claim 1 above, wherein the unique client information includes a reference number, the reference number being one of a plurality of reference numbers provided to the client by the third party.
4. The method recited in claim 1 above, wherein creating the digest by hashing is performed by a smart card.
5. The method recited in claim 1 above further comprises encrypting the unique client information prior to retrieving the unique client information.
6. A method for securing a transaction in order to prevent fraudulent transactions, said method comprising:
receiving, prior to the transaction, a secret master key from a third party, wherein the master key remains unchanged, and is not altered after the transaction, the third party storing a copy of the master key within the third party, the master key being kept secret;
receiving, by the third party, a transaction request from a requestor, wherein the transaction request includes a digest and unique client information, the unique client information being associated with the master key;
accessing the copy of the master key based on the unique client information;
creating an authorization digest by hashing the unique client information and the copy of the master key;
comparing, by the third party, the authorization digest with the digest from the requestor;
returning a response to the requester from the third party, the content of the response being based on an outcome of the comparison of the authorization digest with the digest from the requestor;
wherein the request includes unique requestor information and creating the authorization digest further comprises hashing the unique requestor information; and
wherein the third party is a credit card issuer, the transaction is a credit card transaction and the requester is a merchant, further wherein the requestor information includes information describing a merchant identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer, a transaction identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer and purchase information which is specific to a purchase initiated by the client.
7. The method recited in claim 6 above, wherein the unique client information includes a reference number, the reference number being one of a plurality of reference numbers provided to the client by the third party.
8. The method recited in claim 7 above further comprises:
accessing all previously used reference numbers associated with the unique client information;
comparing the previously used reference numbers with the reference number contained in the unique client information; and
returning a response to the requester, the content of the response being based on the outcome of the comparison of the previously used reference numbers with the reference number contained in the unique client information.
9. The method recited in claim 6 above, wherein creating the authentication digest by hashing is performed by a smart card.
10. The method recited in claim 6 above further comprises decrypting the unique client information prior accessing the copy of the master key.
11. A system for securing a transaction in order to prevent fraudulent transactions comprising:
receiving means for receiving a secret master key from a third partition prior to the transaction, the master key remaining unchanged after the transaction, the master key being kept secret;
receiving means for receiving a request for a digest from a requester;
retrieving means for retrieving the master key;
retrieving means for retrieving unique client information;
the client information being associated with the master key;
creating means for creating the digest by hashing the unique client information and the master key;
returning means for returning the digest and the unique client information to the requester, wherein the digest and the unique client information will be used for transacting with the third party;
wherein the request further comprises unique requester information and creating the digest further comprises hashing the unique requestor information; and
wherein the transaction is a credit card transaction, the third party is a credit card issuer, and the requester is a merchant, further wherein the unique requester information includes information describing a merchant identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer, a transaction identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer and transaction data which is specific to a transaction initiated by the client.
12. The system recited in claim 11 above, wherein the request includes unique merchant information which is used to access the master key.
13. The system recited in claim 11 above, wherein the unique client information includes a reference number, the reference number being one of a plurality of reference numbers provided to the client by the third party.
14. The system recited in claim 11 above, wherein the creating means for creating the digest by bashing is performed by a smart card.
15. The system recited in claim 11 above farther comprises encrypting means for encrypting the unique client information prior to returning the unique client information.
16. The system recited in claim 11 above further comprises:
fingerprint reading and identification means for reading a fingerprint and authorizing a client based on an identity of a client’s fingerprint.
17. A system for securing a transaction in order to prevent fraudulent transactions comprising:
providing means for providing from a third party a secret master key to a client, the master key remaining unchanged after the transaction;
receiving means for receiving a transaction request from a requestor, wherein the transaction request includes a digest and unique client information, the digest being created utilizing the master key provided to the client and the unique client information, the unique client information being associated with the master key;
accessing means for accessing, by the third party, a master key stored within the third party based on the unique client information;
creating means for creating an authorization digest by hashing the unique client information and the master key;
comparing means for comparing the authorization digest with the digest from the requester;
returning means for returning a response to the requester, the content of the response being based on the outcome of the comparison of the authorization digest with the digest from the requestor;
wherein the request includes unique requester information and creating the authorization digest further comprises hashing the unique requester information; and
wherein the transaction is a credit card transaction, the third party is a credit card issuer and the requester is a merchant, further wherein the requester information includes information describing a merchant identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer, a transaction identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer and transaction data which is specific to a transaction initiated by the client.
18. The system recited in claim 17 above, wherein the unique client information includes a reference number, the reference number being one of a plurality of reference numbers provided to the client by the third party.
19. The system recited in claim 18 above further, comprises:
accessing means for accessing all previously used reference numbers associated with the unique client information;
comparing means for comparing the previously used reference numbers with the reference number contained in the unique client information; and
returning means for returning a response to the requester, the content of the response being based on the outcome of the comparison of the previously used reference numbers with the reference number contained in the unique client information.
20. The system recited in claim 17 above, wherein creating the authentication digest by hashing is performed by a smart card.
21. The system recited in claim 17 above further comprises decrypting the unique client information prior accessing the copy of the master key.
22. A computer program product for securing a transaction in order to prevent fraudulent transactions embodied on a computer readable medium comprising:
providing instructions for providing from a third party a secret master key, the master key remaining unchanged after the transaction;
receiving instructions for receiving a request for a digest from a requester;
retrieving instructions for retrieving the master key;
retrieving instructions for retrieving unique client information;
the master key being associated with the client information;
creating instructions for creating the digest by hashing the unique client information and the master key;
returning instructions for returning the digest and the unique client information to the requester, wherein the digest and the unique client information will be used for transacting with the third party;
wherein the request includes unique requester information and creating the authorization digest further comprises hashing the unique requester information; and
wherein the transaction is a credit card transaction, the third party is a credit card issuer and the requester is a merchant, further wherein the requester information includes information describing a merchant identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer, a transaction identifier which is specific to the credit card issuer and transaction data which is specific to a transaction initiated by the client.
23. The method recited in claim 22 above, wherein the request includes unique merchant information which is used to access the master key.
24. The method recited in claim 22 above, wherein the unique client information includes a reference number, the reference number being one of a plurality of reference numbers provided to the client by the third party.
25. The method recited in claim 22 above, wherein creating the digest by hashing is performed by a smart card.
26. The method recited in claim 22 above further comprises encrypting the unique client information prior to retrieving the unique client information.
27. The system recited in claim 22 above further comprises:
fingerprint reading and identification means for reading a fingerprint and authorizing a client based on an identity of a client’s fingerprint.

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

We claim:

1. A method of removing multi-valent water hardness cations from a water stream comprising passing said water stream in contact with a static bed of water softening material, said water softening material comprising macrocrystalline aggregates consisting essentially of microscopic aluminosilicate zeolite crystals, said macroscopic aggregates having an average size of greater than 5 microns.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said macroscopic aggregates have a size range of at least 20 microns and said microcrystalline aluminosilicate zeolite crystals are submicron in size.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said microcrystalline aluminosilicate zeolite crystals have a size range of from 0.05 to 0.5 micron.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said macroscopic aggregates consisting essentially of said microcrystalline aluminosilicate zeolite crystals are formed in-situ.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said macroscopic aggregates have a size of at least 50 microns.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said macroscopic aggregates have an average size of at least 100 microns.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said microcrystalline aluminosilicate zeolite crystals have an average size range of from 0.05 to 0.5 microns.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said aluminosilicate zeolite is a high aluminium zeolite having a SiAl of less than or equal to 1.1.
9. The method of claim 1 comprising periodically regenerating said water softening material by contacting said static bed of macroscopic aggregates with a salt solution which displaces multi-valent water hardness cations from said zeolite.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said macroscopic aggregates are periodically contacted with a sodium chloride solution to displace multi-valent water hardness cations from said zeolite.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein said aluminosilicate zeolite is zeolite A.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said aluminosilicate zeolite crystals contain up to 40% by weight relative to the total SiO2 content of the zeolite as occluded silicate which is not part of the framework of said zeolite crystals.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said occluded silicate is present in amounts of up to 20% by weight based on the total SiO2 content of the zeolite crystals.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said occluded silicate is present in amounts of 0 to less than 5 weight % of the total SiO2 content of said zeolite crystals.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein said water stream includes a household water supply.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein said water stream comprises an industrial water supply.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein said aluminosilicate zeolite is a high aluminum analog of gismondine.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said aluminosilicate zeolite is zeolite B or zeolite P.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein said aggregates are disposed of after repeated contact with said water source, said aggregates being substantially incapable of being regenerated by displacement of multi-valent water hardness cations with a separate salt solution.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein said aluminosilicate zeolite is a high aluminum analog of zeolite X.

1. A method for producing a lignocellulosic product comprising:
providing lignocellulosic material;
treating said lignocellulosic material with an adhesive bonding material comprising (a) an isocyanate polymer andor (b) an amino resin, and (c) plant oil modifier;
forming a mat comprising said treated lignocellulosic material; and
bonding together said mat of lignocellulosic material with said adhesive bonding material to form said lignocellulosic product.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plant oil modifier comprises soy oil
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said mat comprises a plurality of layers of said treated lignocellulosic material.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said lignocellulosic material comprises oriented strand board resin.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said amino resin comprises an aldehyde resin.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said amino resin comprises urea formaldehyde resin.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said amino resin comprises at least one of melamine urea formaldehyde resin and melamine urea phenol formaldehyde resin.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said adhesive bonding material comprises up to about 50% by weight of said amino resin.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said adhesive bonding material comprises from about 30% up to about 80% by weight of said isocyanate polymer.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said adhesive bonding material comprises up to about 30% plant oil modifier
11. A lignocellulosic product comprising:
lignocellulosic material; and
an adhesive bonding material comprising (a) an isocyanate polymer andor (b) an amino resin, and (c) a plant oil modifier,
said lignocellulosic material bonded together with said first adhesive bonding material to form said lignocellulosic product.
12. The product of claim 11, wherein said plant oil modifier comprises soy oil
13. The product of claim 11, which comprises a plurality of layers of said lignocellulosic material.
14. The product of claim 11, wherein said lignocellulosic material comprises oriented strand board.
15. The product of claim 11, wherein said amino resin comprises an aldehyde resin.
16. The product of claim 11, wherein said amino resin comprises urea formaldehyde resin.
17. The product of claim 11, wherein said amino resin comprises at least one of melamine urea formaldehyde resin and melamine urea phenol formaldehyde resin.
18. The product of claim 11, wherein said adhesive bonding material comprises up to about 50% by weight of said amino resin.
19. The product of claim 11, wherein said adhesive bonding material comprises from about 30% up to about 80% by weight of said isocyanate polymer.
20. The product of claim 11, wherein said adhesive bonding material comprises up to about 30% plant oil modifier.
21. An adhesive bonding material comprising (a) an isocyanate polymer andor (b) an amino resin, and (c) a plant oil modifier.

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 device comprising:
a base defining at least one compartment comprising an opening;
a cover, wherein an inner surface of the cover comprises a mirror; and
at least one first magnet associated with the base and at least one second magnet associated with the cover, the first and second magnets coupling the base and the cover together so as to permit movement of the cover with respect to the base, in a generally hinge-like manner, between a closed position in which the cover covers the opening of the compartment and an open position in which access to the compartment is permitted,
wherein the device is configured to limit an extent of generally hinge-like movement of the cover so that when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, the cover moves with respect to the base up to a maximum angular extent of less than 180 degrees and greater than or equal to about 100 degrees.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a cosmetic compact, and wherein the device further comprises at least one of a cosmetic product and a cosmetic applicator disposed in the compartment.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the maximum angular extent is less than or equal to about 160 degrees.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the maximum angular extent is about 130 degrees.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a cover opening limiter comprising a first end portion associated with the cover and a second end portion associated with the base.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second end portion of the cover opening limiter comprises a projection, and wherein the base engages with the projection when the cover is in the open position.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the cover comprises a cover recess and the first end portion of the cover opening limiter comprises an axle configured to couple the first end portion of the cover opening limiter to a portion of the cover defining the cover recess.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to generally stabilize the cover with respect to the base when the cover is in the open position.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first magnet comprises a pair of first magnets and the at least one second magnet comprises a pair of second magnets.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a first generally plate-shaped member and a second generally plate-shaped member, wherein the first and second generally plate-shaped members comprise magnets coupling the first and second generally plate-shaped members together with one of the generally plate-shaped members being stacked on the other generally plate-shaped member.
11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a first cosmetic product contained in the first generally plate-shaped member and a second cosmetic product contained in the second generally plate-shaped member, the first and second cosmetic products differing from one another.
12. A device comprising:
a base defining at least one compartment comprising an opening, the base further defining at least one base recess;
a cover, wherein the cover comprises a mirror; and
at least one first magnet associated with the base and at least one second magnet associated with the cover, the first and second magnets coupling the base and the cover together so as to permit movement of the cover with respect to the base, in a generally hinge-like manner, between a closed position in which the cover covers the opening of the compartment and an open position in which access to the compartment is permitted; and
a cover opening limiter extending from the cover, the cover opening limiter comprising an end portion configured to be engaged with a portion of the base defining the base recess when the cover is in the open position,
wherein the cover opening limiter is configured to limit an angular extent of generally hinge-like movement of the cover.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein an inner surface of the cover comprises the mirror.
14. The device of claim 12, wherein the cover opening limiter is configured so that when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, the cover moves with respect to the base up to a maximum angular extent of less than 180 degrees and greater than or equal to about 100 degrees.
15. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is a cosmetic compact, and wherein the device further comprises at least one of a cosmetic product and a cosmetic applicator disposed in the compartment.
16. The device of claim 14, wherein the maximum angular extent is less than or equal to about 160 degrees.
17. The device of claim 14, wherein the maximum angular extent is about 130 degrees.
18. The device of claim 12, wherein the end portion of the cover opening limiter comprises a projection configured to engage with the portion of the base defining the base recess when the cover is in the open position.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the cover comprises a cover recess and the cover opening limiter comprises an axle configured to couple the cover opening limiter to a portion of the cover defining the cover recess.
20. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is configured to generally stabilize the cover with respect to the base when the cover is in the open position.
21. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one first magnet comprises a pair of first magnets and the at least one second magnet comprises a pair of second magnets.
22. The device of claim 12, wherein the base comprises a first generally plate-shaped member and a second generally plate-shaped member, wherein the first and second generally plate-shaped members comprise magnets coupling the first and second generally plate-shaped members together with one of the generally plate-shaped members being stacked on the other generally plate-shaped member.
23. The device of claim 22, further comprising a first cosmetic product contained in the first generally plate-shaped member and a second cosmetic product contained in the second generally plate-shaped member, the first and second cosmetic products differing from one another.
24. The device of claim 22, wherein each of the first and second generally plate-shaped members comprises a respective portion defining a recess and being configured to engage with the end portion of the cover opening limiter.
25. A device comprising:
a base defining at least one compartment comprising an opening,
wherein the base comprises a first member and a second member, wherein the first and second members comprise magnets coupling the first and second members together with one of the members being stacked on the other member; and
a cover, wherein an inner surface of the cover comprises a mirror,
wherein the cover is movable with respect to the base, in a generally hinge-like manner, between a closed position in which the cover covers the opening of the compartment and an open position in which access to the compartment is permitted,
wherein the device is configured to limit an extent of generally hinge-like movement of the cover so that when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, the cover moves with respect to the base up to a maximum angular extent of less than 180 degrees and greater than or equal to about 100 degrees.
26. The device of claim 25, wherein the device is a cosmetic compact, and wherein the device further comprises at least one of a cosmetic product and a cosmetic applicator disposed in the compartment.
27. The device of claim 25, wherein the maximum angular extent is less than or equal to about 160 degrees.
28. The device of claim 25, wherein the maximum angular extent is about 130 degrees.
29. The device of claim 25, wherein the device comprises a cover opening limiter comprising a first end portion associated with the cover and a second end portion associated with the base.
30. The device of claim 29, wherein the second end portion of the cover opening limiter comprises a projection, and wherein the base engages with the projection when the cover is in the open position.
31. The device of claim 30, wherein the cover comprises a cover recess and the first end portion of the cover opening limiter comprises an axle configured to couple the first end portion of the cover opening limiter to a portion of the cover defining the cover recess.
32. The device of claim 25, wherein the device is configured to generally stabilize the cover with respect to the base when the cover is in the open position.
33. The device of claim 25, wherein the magnets coupling the first and second members together comprise a first pair of magnets associated with the first member and a second pair of magnets associated with the second member.
34. The device of claim 25, further comprising a first cosmetic product contained in the first member and a second cosmetic product contained in the second member, the first and second cosmetic products differing from one another.
35. The device of claim 25, further comprising a cosmetic product contained in one of the members and a cosmetic applicator in the other member.
36. The device of claim 29, wherein each of the first and second members comprises a respective portion defining a recess and being configured to engage with the end portion of the cover opening limiter.
37. A device comprising:
a base defining at least one compartment comprising an opening, the base further defining at least one base recess;
a cover movable with respect to the base, in a generally hinge-like manner, between a closed position in which the cover covers the opening of the compartment and an open position in which access to the compartment is permitted; and
a cover opening limiter extending from the cover, the cover opening limiter comprising an end portion configured to be engaged with a portion of the base defining the base recess when the cover is in the open position,
wherein the cover opening limiter is configured to limit an angular extent of generally hinge-like movement of the cover, and
wherein the device is configured so that the end portion of the cover opening limiter moves into the base recess when the cover is moved from the open position to the closed position.
38. The device of claim 37, wherein an inner surface of the cover comprises a mirror.
39. The device of claim 38, wherein the device is a cosmetic compact, and wherein the device further comprises at least one of a cosmetic product and a cosmetic applicator disposed in the compartment.
40. The device of claim 37, wherein the end portion of the cover opening limiter comprises a projection, and wherein the base engages with the projection when the cover is in the open position.
41. The device of claim 37, wherein the cover comprises a cover recess and an opposite end portion of the cover opening limiter comprises an axle configured to couple the cover opening limiter to a portion of the cover defining the cover recess.