Author: claimsbot

1. A circuit assembly adapted to be implanted within a living body, comprising:
a core element formed of a thermoplastic material;
at least one circuit element capable of conducting electricity positioned in proximity to the core element;
a connector member to couple electrically and mechanically to a ring connector of a lead;
a receptacle formed in the core element for receiving the connector member therein; and
a guide member integrally formed on a surface of the core element to support and position the at least one circuit element on the surface of the core element.

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 corner connection structure for walls constructed of stacked horizontal logs, the corner connection structure comprising:
a) logs having overlap portions shaped so that the overlap portions of the logs of a first wall are capable of overlapping and being alternately interlaced with the overlap portions of the logs of a second wall;
b) a generally vertical slot extending through the overlap portions of the logs; and
c) at least one spline shaped to fit in the slot.
2. The corner connection structure of claim 1 wherein the overlap portions of adjacent interlaced logs are shaped to interlock with each other.
3. The corner connection structure of claim 2 wherein the overlap portions of adjacent interlaced logs are shaped to form interlocking dovetails.
4. The corner connection structure of claim 1 wherein the slot is formed by grooves in each log, the groove of one log positioned to cooperate with the grooves of adjacent logs to form the slot, each groove having an open vertical edge along the overlap portion of each log and an opposed closed vertical edge within the log cross-section adjacent the overlap portion.
5. The corner connection structure of claim 1 wherein the spline comprises a plate portion and a locking rib extending therefrom, the locking rib having a thickness extending transversely from the plate portion, and wherein the slot has a corresponding transversely extending rib recess for receiving the locking rib.
6. The corner connection structure of claim 5 wherein the locking rib is oriented generally vertically, and the plate portion extends horizontally outwardly from either side of the locking rib.
7. The corner connection structure of claim 5 wherein the locking rib has an outer surface which in cross-section provides interspersed contact areas and non-contact areas with the inner surface of the rib recess.
8. The corner connection structure of claim 7 wherein the rib recess comprises a generally cylindrical bore positioned adjacent the slot.
9. The corner connection structure of claim 8 wherein the cylindrical bore of the rib recess is positioned towards the outer sidewall of the slot, and the cylindrical bore is tangentially intersected by the slot.
10. The corner connection structure of claim 8 wherein the outer surface of the rib is polygonal having a plurality of vertices, the vertices providing the contact areas with the inner surface of the cylindrical bore.
11. The corner connection structure of claim 8 wherein a plurality of splines are provided in the slot to form a stack of splines, and wherein the connection structure further comprises:
a) a generally vertical bolt cavity extending through the stack of splines;
b) a through bolt extending through the bolt cavity; and
c) clamping elements coupled to the through bolt and positioned adjacent the upper and lower ends of the stack of splines, the clamping elements being adjustable to clamp together the plurality of splines in the stack of splines.
12. The corner connection structure of claim 5 further provided with a generally vertical bolt cavity extending through the overlap portions of the logs of the intersecting walls, and having a through-bolt clamping apparatus, the through-bolt clamping apparatus comprising:
a) a through-bolt, the through bolt extending through the bolt cavity;
b) a lower clamp arm coupled to the through-bolt and the bottom of the intersecting walls; and
c) an upper clamp arm coupled to the through bolt and the top of the intersecting walls.
13. The corner connection structure of claim 12 wherein the bolt cavity is provided substantially within the locking rib of the spline.
14. The corner connection structure of claim 12 wherein at least one of the upper and lower clamp arms comprises a transfer bar, the transfer bar having spaced apart first and second contact pads, the first contact pad engaging the first intersecting wall at a position spaced horizontally away from the corner joint area, and the second contact pad engaging the second wall at a position spaced horizontally away from the corner joint area, the corner joint area being defined as the stacked overlap portions of the intersecting logs.
15. The corner connection structure of claim 12 wherein each of the upper and lower clamp arms comprises a transfer bar, the transfer bar having spaced apart first and second contact pads, the first contact pad engaging the first intersecting wall at a position spaced horizontally away from the corner joint area, and the second contact pad engaging the second wall at a position spaced horizontally away from the corner joint area, the corner joint area being defined as the stacked overlap portions of the intersecting logs.
16. The corner connection structure of claim 12 wherein an anti-rotate coupling device is provided to couple the lower clamp arm to the through-bolt.
17. The corner connection structure of claim 16 wherein the anti-rotate coupling device comprises an elongate hex-nut, and wherein the bolt cavity has an inner surface which is hexagonal in cross-section and is shaped to slidingly receive the elongate hex-nut.
18. A through-bolt clamping apparatus for bracing at least one wall constructed of stacked horizontal logs, the through-bolt clamping apparatus comprising:
a) a through-bolt extending along the height of the wall;
b) a lower clamp arm coupled to the through-bolt and the bottom of the at least one wall; and
c) an upper clamp arm coupled to the through bolt and the top of the at least one wall.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein a generally vertical bolt cavity extends through the logs of the wall, and is shaped to receive the through-bolt.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 for bracing two intersecting walls constructed of stacked horizontal logs, wherein the logs of each wall have overlap portions which alternately overlap at the intersection, the stacked overlap portions defining a corner joint area, and wherein the through bolt extends through the corner joint area.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein at least one of the upper and lower clamp arms comprises a transfer bar, the transfer bar having spaced apart first and second contact pads, the first contact pad engaging the first intersecting wall at a position spaced horizontally away from the corner joint area, and the second contact pad engaging the second wall at a position spaced horizontally away from the corner joint area.
22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein each of the upper and lower clamp arms comprises a transfer bar, the transfer bar having spaced apart first and second contact pads, the first contact pad engaging the first intersecting wall at a position spaced horizontally away from the corner joint area, and the second contact pad engaging the second wall at a position spaced horizontally away from the corner joint area.
23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein an anti-rotate coupling device is provided to couple the lower clamp arm to the through-bolt.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the anti-rotate coupling device comprises an elongate hex-nut, and wherein the bolt cavity has an inner surface which is hexagonal in cross-section and is shaped to slidingly receive the elongate hex-nut.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the anti-rotate coupling device comprises a coupling sleeve coupled to the through-bolt, a locking pin having ends projecting outwardly from the sleeve, and a generally horizontal lock bore provided in the wall and intersecting the bolt cavity, wherein the outwardly projecting ends of the locking pin are adapted to engage the lock bore to prevent rotation of the coupling sleeve.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the coupling sleeve has a tapered lead surface for guiding the through bolt into coupled engagement with the coupling sleeve.
27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the anti-rotate coupling device comprises a clamp arm recess provided in a lowermost log of the wall, the clamp arm recess having side walls spaced apart to receive the clamp arm and adapted to engage a surface of the clamp arm to prevent rotation of the clamp arm within the clamp arm recess.
28. An opening support structure provided at an opening in a wall constructed of stacked courses of horizontal logs, the opening support structure comprising connectors positioned within the wall adjacent the opening for connecting vertically adjacent logs together, said connectors having a connector body with lower and upper log engagement portions, wherein the lower engagement portion engages a log in one course, and the upper engagement portion engages a log in a course vertically above the log engaged by the lower log engagement portion.
29. The opening support structure of claim 28 wherein the logs adjacent the opening have top surfaces provided with upper connector apertures adapted to receive the lower log engagement portions of the connectors, and bottom surfaces provided with lower connector apertures adapted to receive the upper log engagement portions of the connectors.
30. The opening support structure of claim 29, wherein the outer profile of the connectors is adapted to provide interspersed areas of contact and areas of non-contact between the outer surface of the connectors and the inner surface of the connector apertures.
31. The opening support structure of claim 28 wherein the connectors are further provided between the logs in the courses of logs interrupted by the opening and the logs in the courses of logs immediately above and below the interrupted logs.
32. The opening support structure as claimed in claim 28 further comprising:
a) sub-jamb members provided adjacent the vertical sides of the opening, each sub-jamb member having vertically elongate slots along its length;
b) fastener access passageways extending through the wall between the slots of the sub-jamb members and the connectors; and
c) fasteners extending through the elongate slots of the sub-jamb members and the fastener access passageways, wherein the fasteners are coupled to the connectors and to the sub-jamb members, and are adjusted to draw the sub-jamb members snugly against the sides of the opening.
33. The opening support structure of claim 32 wherein the fastener comprises a bolt with a threaded portion, and the connectors are provided with a generally horizontal internally threaded bore shaped to engage with the threaded portion of the bolt.
34. The opening support structure of claim 33 wherein opposed depressions are provided in the top and bottom surfaces of the logs, said depressions adapted to cooperate to form the fastener access passageways.
35. The opening support structure of claim 34 wherein the opposed depressions comprise v-grooves.
36. The opening support structure of claim 35 wherein the connectors are further provided with an alignment pin positioned vertically adjacent to and parallel with the internally threaded bore, and wherein the v-grooves provide converging portions adapted to interact with the alignment pin to provide vertical and rotational alignment of the internally threaded bore with the fastener access passageways.
37. A butt joint connection structure provided between first and second horizontally adjacent logs in a wall constructed of logs so that the logs may be joined end-to-end, the butt joint connection structure comprising:
a) a generally vertical spline slot extending across the seam between the end faces of the first and the second logs, the spline slot formed by the cooperation of a vertically oriented spline groove provided in each of the adjacent end faces of the first and the second logs, the spline grooves having opposed sidewalls extending generally parallel with the wall;
b) a spline adapted to fit into the spline slot, the spline having a plurality of vertically oriented recesses, each recess having an elongate open face adjacent said sidewalls of said spline grooves
c) fasteners provided in each recess, the fasteners having a cross-sectional area which exceeds the cross-sectional area of said recesses, wherein a depression is created in said sidewall opposite said recess.
38. The butt joint connection structure of claim 37 further comprising a butt joint sealing structure, said sealing structure comprising:
a) a generally vertical seal slot extending across the seam between the end faces of the first second logs, the seal slot formed by the cooperation of vertically oriented seal grooves provided in each of the adjacent end faces of the first and second logs, said seal grooves having opposed sidewalls extending generally parallel with the wall;
b) a seal assembly provided in the seal slot, the seal assembly having at least one stiffening portion of non-buckling material adhered to a sealing element of resilient weather proofing material.
39. The butt joint connection structure of claim 38 wherein the seal assembly comprises two stiffening portions adhered to opposite sides of the sealing element.
40. The butt joint connection structure of claim 39 wherein the seal assembly has a relaxed state and a compressed state, and the seal assembly must be manipulated into the compressed state for insertion into the seal slot.
41. A profile for a log, a plurality of the logs being stacked to form a log wall, the log profile comprising:
a) opposed, generally vertical, side surfaces;
b) a top surface extending between the side surfaces, the top surface having an upwardly directed tongue adjacent each side surface,
c) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the bottom surface having upwardly directed grooves shaped to receive the tongues of an adjacent log; and
d) a pair of spaced apart seal recesses provided in one of the upper surface and lower surface of the log for receiving a sealant;
e) wherein the portion of the top surface of the log from either side surface of the log to the adjacent seal recess consists of one or more upwardly inclined surfaces.
42. The log profile of claim 41 further comprising an elongate depression positioned substantially centrally along at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the log, whereby elongate passageways are provided between adjacent logs.
43. The log profile of claim 42 wherein the depressions comprise opposed v-grooves provided in the top surface and bottom surface of the logs.
44. An exterior side casing structure for an opening provided in a wall constructed of stacked horizontal walls, the opening having an opening support structure comprising subjamb members along either vertical side of the opening, the sub-jamb members accommodating relative vertical movement between the logs and the sub-jamb members, the side casing structure comprising:
a) a vertical casing member extending along either vertical side of the opening, the casing member having a rear face adjacent the logs and the sub-jamb member along each side of the opening, and a width which spans the interface between the logs and the sub-jamb member;
b) a channel provided in the rear face of the casing member, the channel extending vertically along the length of the casing member, and the channel having a width which spans the interface between the logs and the sub-jamb member; and
c) a mounting base provided along the rear face of the casing member, the mounting base fixed to the sub-jamb member.
45. A post-to-log connection structure for connecting stacked horizontal logs of a log wall to a vertical post, the post-to-log connection structure comprising:
a) a bracket coupled to the post, wherein the bracket is vertically slidable relative to the post;
b) a connector positioned within the wall adjacent the post;
c) a fastener access passageway extending through the wall between the bracket and the connector; and
d) a fastener extending through the fastener access passageway, wherein the fastener is coupled to the bracket and to the connector, and is adjustable to draw the logs snugly against the post.
46. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 45 wherein the connector has a connector body with lower and upper log engagement portions, wherein the lower engagement portion engages a log in one course, and the upper engagement portion engages a log in a course vertically above the log engaged by the lower log engagement portion.
47. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 46 wherein the logs adjacent the post have top surfaces provided with upper connector apertures adapted to receive the lower log engagement portions of the connectors, and bottom surfaces provided with lower connector apertures adapted to receive the upper log engagement portions of the connectors.
48. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 47 wherein the outer profile of the connectors is adapted to provide interspersed areas of contact and areas of non-contact between the outer surface of the connectors and the inner surface of the connector apertures.
49. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 45 wherein the fastener comprises a bolt having at opposite ends a head and a threaded portion, and the connectors are provided with a generally horizontal bore shaped to engage with the head of the bolt.
50. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 49 further comprising a hex nut coupled with the threaded portion of the bolt, and a locking pin extending transversely from the nut and engaging the bracket.
51. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 45 wherein opposed depressions are provided in the top and bottom surfaces of the logs, the depressions adapted to cooperate to form the fastener access passageways.
52. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 51 wherein the opposed depressions comprise v-grooves.
53. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 45 wherein the post is provided with a generally vertical channel abutting the logs, and the bracket is vertically slidable within the channel.
54. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 53 wherein the channel comprises generally transverse retaining shoulders, and the bracket has clamp arms in engagement with the retaining shoulders.
55. The post-to-log connection structure of claim 54 wherein the clamp arms of the brackets comprise obliquely aligned flange members, wherein the spacing between the flange members converges from a wider spacing away from the connectors, to a narrower spacing nearer the connectors.
56. The post-to-log connection structures of claim 55 wherein the retaining shoulders have obliquely aligned contact surfaces for providing generally flush contact with the flange members of the bracket.

1. A computer-implemented method for operating a service to arrange transport between a customer and a transport party, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:
(a) associating an account with each of the customer and the transport party;
(b) determining when the customer is provided transport by the transport party;
(c) determining a fare for the transport; and
(d) directing funds corresponding to the fare to be transferred from the account of the customer to another account as compensation for the transport.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) includes transferring the funds from the account of the customer to one or more intermediary accounts that are associated with either the service or the transport party.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) is performed automatically.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising programmatically determining that the transport has been completed.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (d) is performed automatically in response to detecting that the transport has been completed.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein programmatically determining that the transport has been completed includes determining that the customer has left the of the transport party.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein programmatically determining that the transport has been completed includes detecting a designated action performed by at least one of the customer or the transport party.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a mobile device with at least one of the customer or a vehicle of the transport party, and wherein step (c) is performed in response to the user or the transport party performing a designated action on the respective mobile device.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the designated action corresponds to the customer using the associated computing device to enter an input or feedback for the transport party.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a mobile device with at least one of the customer or a vehicle of the transport party, and wherein step (c) is performed by monitoring at least one of the mobile device of the customer or the mobile device of the driver.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is performed programmatically and automatically, by monitoring a computing device of at least one of the transport party or the customer within a vehicle carrying the customer from a pickup location to a destination location.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying the customer, so that step (d) includes identifying the account of the identified customer.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring the computing device includes receiving global positioning system (GPS) information from the computing device within the vehicle.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (c) includes determining the fare based in part on one or more of the pickup location, the destination location, andor a path taken by the vehicle between the pickup location and the destination location.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising defining one or more pre-determined geographic regions, and wherein step (c) includes using the GPS information to determine that at least one of the pickup location or the destination location is in one of the one or more pre-determined geographic regions.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising defining a plurality of pre-determined geographic regions, and wherein step (c) includes (i) using the GPS information to determine that each of the pickup location and the destination location is in a corresponding one of the plurality of pre-determined geographic regions, and (ii) determining a pre-determined fee associated with the predefined geographic regions that contain the pickup and destination locations.
17. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a mobile device with at least one of the customer or a vehicle of the transport party, and wherein step (c) includes programmatically determining the fare based, at least in part, by monitoring a global positioning system (GPS) information communicated from the mobile device of at least one of the customer or the transport party.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (c) includes programmatically determining the fare based, at least in part, by monitoring a duration of time for the vehicle to carry the customer from the pickup location to the destination location.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein step (c) includes programmatically determining the fare based at least in part on a time of day in which the customer requests transport or is provided transport.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein step (c) includes programmatically determining an availability of vehicles to provide transport at a time when the customer requests transport.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein determining the availability includes determining (i) a status of individual vehicles that are in service at a time that the customer requests transport, and (ii) a number of the vehicles that are engaged to provide transport to other customers at the time the customer requests transport.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein step (c) includes programmatically predicting, based on historical information, an availability of vehicles to provide transport at a time when the customer requests transport.
23. The method of claim 17, wherein programmatically determining the fare is based on one or more of (i) a rating of the customer using the service in the past, (ii) a rating of the transport party as provided by other customers for part transports, or (iii) a type of vehicle or transport provided to the customer.
24. The method of claim 17, further comprising:
performing an evaluation of the transport party to either the customer or to one or more past customers, and
determining a metric associated with the evaluation; and
wherein step (c) includes programmatically determining the fare based at least on the metric.
25. A computer-implemented method for transacting fares between customers and drivers, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:
associating an account with each of multiple customers and a transport party;
determining when the multiple customers are provided transport in a vehicle of the transport party at the same time;
automatically determining a fare for the transport; and
directing transfer of funds from the account of each of the multiple customers to another account for compensation to the transport party, wherein the transferred funds from the account of each of the multiple customers collectively amount to at least the fare.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein determining when the multiple customers are provided transport includes determining at least one of a pickup location and a destination location for each of the multiple customer.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein automatically determining a fare for the transport includes determining a pickup location and a destination location for each of the multiple customers, then allocating a portion of the fare to each of the multiple customers based on the pickup location and the destination location of each of the multiple customers.
28. The method of claim 25, wherein transferring funds from the account of each of the multiple customers to the other account is performed after at least one of the multiple customers performs an action that designates that customer’s consent to sharing the fare.
29. The method of claim 25, wherein the action corresponds to the at least one of the multiple customers bumping their respective handsets to the handsets of another one of the multiple customers.
30. A system to arrange transport between a customer and a transport party, the system comprising:
one or more network interfaces, wherein each network interface communicates with a mobile device of a customer or a driver; and
one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
track a position of each of a vehicle of the transport party and the customer during a transport of the customer by the driver;
determine one or more payment parameters from the position of each of the vehicle and the customer;
calculate a fare for the transport; and
direct transfer funds from an account associated with the customer to another account for compensation for the transport.
31. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more payment parameters include a pickup location and a destination location.
32. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more payment parameters include a duration of the transport.
33. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect a completion of the transport, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to automatically transfer funds from the account associated with the customer to the other account upon the completion of the transport.
34. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect a completion of the transport by detecting a departure of the customer from a vehicle of the driver or a vicinity of the vehicle of the driver.

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. An improved assembly for creating a fire display from a liquid fuel comprising:
a) one or more fuel receiving reservoirs connected to one or more burner trays by one or more conduits, the conduits providing flow channels from said one or more reservoirs to said one or more burner trays for a liquid fuel placed in said reservoirs,
b) a bottle receiving area configured to receive a container of a liquid fuel, and
c) the bottle receiving area positioned to provide for delivery of the liquid fuel in the container to the fuel receiving reservoir upon placement of the container in or on the bottle receiving area while the flame display is present, said placement not releasing ignitable fuel fumes,
wherein the improvement comprises locating the one or more burner trays within or adjacent one or more non-flammable structures, the one or more non-flammable structures having a porous element, said porous element being in communication with liquid fuel in the burner tray such that the liquid fuel or vapors from the liquid fuel are transmitted to a porous outer surface of the porous element.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-flammable structure comprises one or more noncombustible logs with the burner trays adjacent to, enclosed or partially enclosed therein.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the liquid fuel comprises an ester oil, plant oil, alcohol, paraffinic compositions or petroleum product.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the liquid fuel is an alcohol solution.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the liquid fuel is denatured ethanol.
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein non-flammable structures are composed of a non-flammable porous or fibrous material, the porous or fibrous material suitable for transmitting vapors from the fuel in the burner tray, to portions of the outer surface of the non-flammable structures.
7. The assembly of claim 1 where a fluid level inside the burner is adjustable up and down by adjusting the height of the reservoir containing the fuel by moving the reservoir vertically.
8. The assembly of claim 1 further including at least one extension integral with or attached to a bottom surface of the porous element such that said at least one extension transmits the fuel from the burner tray to the outer surface of the porous element.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the non-flammable structure comprises one or more noncombustible logs with the burner trays adjacent to, enclosed or partially enclosed therein.
10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the extensions comprise or include a porous or fibrous wicking material or a tubular structure suitable for transmitting fuel in the burner tray, or vapors from the fuel in the burner tray, to the outer surface of the porous element.
11. The assembly of claim 8 where the fluid level inside the burner is adjustable up and down by adjusting the fuel in the reservoir by moving the reservoir vertically.
12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the non-flammable structures are composed of a non-flammable porous or fibrous material, the porous or fibrous material suitable for transmitting vapors from the fuel in the burner tray, to portions of the outer surface of the non-flammable structures.