All The Claims

We claim:

1. For a peripheral that during normal operation, connects to a host computer through a cable containing a controller, a demonstration system comprising:
a controller of a type employed in the cable that connects the peripheral to the host computer during normal operation; and
a memory that is external to the peripheral, contains demonstration data, and is coupled to the controller to enable the controller to read the demonstration data from the memory for the peripheral to perform a demonstration without being connected to the host computer.
2. The demonstration system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is a printer.
3. The demonstration system of claim 2, wherein:
the controller in the cable operates to format data from the host computer for a print operation of the printer; and
the controller in the demonstration system operates to format data from the memory as required for the print operation of the printer.
4. The demonstration system of claim 1, wherein the demonstration further comprises:
a socket having a pin layout for connection to the printer;
a first enclosure containing the controller; and
a second enclosure containing the memory.
5. The demonstration system of claim 4, wherein the socket, the first enclosure, and the second enclosure are substantially identical to matching elements of the cable that connects the peripheral to the host computer during the normal operation.
6. The demonstration system of claim 1, wherein the memory is a non-volatile memory.
7. The demonstration system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable in a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode, the controller boots from an internal memory, and in the second mode, the controller boots from the external memory.
8. The demonstration system of claim 7, further comprising circuitry connected to the controller to cause the controller to operate only in the second mode.
9. The demonstration system of claim 7, wherein the external memory further comprises demonstration code that the controller executes.
10. The demonstration system of claim 1, wherein the external memory further comprises demonstration code that the controller executes.
11. A method of making a demonstration system for a printer, comprising:
connecting to the printer a cable containing a controller that is of a type used in a printer cable that connects the printer to a host computer during normal operation of the printer; and
storing demonstration data in a memory; and
connecting the memory to the cable to enable the controller to read the demonstration data from the memory and format the data for the printer.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controller has a computer interface and a memory interface, the computer interface is connected through the printer cable to the host computer during normal operation, and wherein connecting the memory comprises connecting the memory through the cable to the memory interface.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer interface implements a protocol for serial communication with the host computer and the memory interface implements an interface for access in a non-volatile memory.
14. The method of 13, wherein the computer interface implements the protocol required for connection to a universal serial bus, and the memory interface implements accesses to a serial EEPROM.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the memory interface comprises circuitry for access of non-volatile memory.

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

1-92. (canceled)
93. A paper suitable for electrophotographic printing, comprising
a web comprising cellulosic fibers; and
a composition comprising starch, an acrylic acid polymer and a polyglycerol ester on a surface of said web, in said web or on a surface and in said web.
94. The paper according to claim 93, wherein the starch is an anionic starch.
95. The paper according to of claim 93, wherein the acrylic acid polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene acrylic acid), ethylene acrylic acid co-polymer, poly(ethylene-acrylic acid co-polymer), poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid), poly(ethylene-acrylic acid co-polymer) and mixtures thereof.
96. The paper according to claim 93, wherein the acrylic acid polymer comprises ethylene acrylic acid co-polymer.
97. The paper according to claim 93, wherein the polyglycerol ester is selected from the group consisting decaglyceryl hexaoleate, decaglyceryl decaoleate, glyceryl tricaprylate, glyceryl tricaprate and mixtures thereof.
98. The paper according to claim 93, wherein the polyglycerol ester is decaglyceryl hexaoleate.
99. The paper according to claim 93, wherein the polyglycerol ester is present at an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent based upon solids of the composition.
100. A method of making the paper according to claim 93, comprising contacting the composition with the web.
101. The method according to claim 100, wherein the contacting step is performed with a size press or coater.
102. The method according to claim 100, wherein the polyglycerol ester is present at an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent based upon solids of the composition.
103. A method for producing a paper suitable for liquid electrophotographic printing, comprising
providing a papermaking furnish containing cellulosic fibers;
forming a fibrous web from the papermaking furnish;
at least partially drying the web; and
treating the web in a size press with a sizing composition comprising starch, an acrylic acid polymer, a polyglycerol ester, and water to apply a coating of the sizing composition upon at least one surface of the web, and calendaring the web to a final, desired caliper.
104. A paper sizing composition comprising starch, an acrylic acid polymer, a polyglycerol ester, and water.

What is claimed is:

1. A rim board for flooring or rafter installations for use with joists, the rim board having a front surface, first end, a second end, and a length between the first end and second end, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a transverse depth between said top edge and bottom edge, the rim board further comprising a plurality of recesses in said front surface for receiving ends of said joists.
2. A rim board as in claim 1, wherein said recesses are cut into the rim board at pre-determined spacing along the length of the rim board.
3. A rim board as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said recesses has a generally back wall, and two sidewalls extending generally perpendicularly from the flat back wall to the front surface.
4. A rim board as in claim 3, wherein said back wall is flat and parallel to the front surface of the rim board.
5. A rim board as in claim 1 adapted for use with an I-joist having a top flange, a bottom flange, and a web, wherein at least one of said recesses comprises a top compartment with a width for receiving the top flange, a bottom compartment with a width for receiving the bottom flange, and a central slot extending the top compartment and bottom compartment and having a width that is less than the widths of the top and bottom compartments for receiving said web.
6. A rim board as in claim 5, wherein said top compartment has a curved back wall.
7. A rim board as in claim 5, wherein said bottom compartment has a curved back wall.
8. A rim board as in claim 5, wherein said top compartment has a curved back wall and said bottom compartment has a curved back wall.
9. A rim board as in claim 8, wherein said top compartment curved back wall curves outward toward the rim board front surface near said central slot.
10. A rim board as in claim 8, wherein said bottom compartment curved back wall curves outward toward the rim board front surface near said central slot.
11. A rim board as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said recesses comprises two sidewalls that meet at an angle to each other at a rearward extreme of the recess.
12. A rim board system for flooring joists and roof rafters, the system comprising:
an elongated rim board for forming a perimeter of a floor or a rafter installation, the rim board having a front surface and a recess extending into the rim board from the front surface; and
a joist or rafter member having an end and two lateral side surfaces, the joist or rafter member received in the recess so that the joist or rafter member is secured from lateral movement relative to the rim board.
13. A rim board system as in claim 12, comprising no attachment between the rim board and the joist or rafter member other than nails.
14. A rim board system as in claim 12, wherein said recess is a rectangular recess extending all the way from a top edge to a bottom edge of the rim board.
15. A rim board system as in claim 14, wherein said rectangular recess has a flat back wall and two sidewalls extending to the front surface perpendicular to the flat back wall.
16. A rim board system as in claim 12, wherein said recess is a profiled recess having at least one curved rear wall and two sidewalls.
17. A rim board system as in claim 12, wherein said joist or rafter member is an I-joist with a top flange, and bottom flange, and a web, and wherein said recess is a profiled recess, the profiled recess comprising a top compartment for receiving the top flange and a bottom compartment for receiving the bottom flange, and a slot extending between the top and bottom compartments for receiving the web.
18. A rim board system as in claim 17, wherein the top compartment has a curved rear wall.
19. A rim board system as in claim 17, wherein said bottom compartment has a curved back wall.
20. A rim board as in claim 17, wherein said top compartment has a curved back wall and said bottom compartment has a curved back wall.
21. A rim board system as in claim 18, wherein said top compartment curved back wall curves outward toward the rim board front surface near said central slot.
22. A rim board system as in claim 19, wherein said bottom compartment curved back wall curves outward toward the rim board front surface near said central slot.
23. A rim board system as in claim 17, wherein said profiled recess comprises two sidewalls meeting at a rearmost extremity of the recess.
24. A method of installing a flooring or rafter system, the method comprising:
providing a rim board with a front surface having a plurality of recesses in the front surface adapted to receive a joist;
providing a plurality of joists each having an end; and
inserting one of said joists into each of said recesses so that said end of each joist is captured by said recess.
25. A method as in claim 24, further comprising a plurality of said rim boards and connecting them end-to-end.
26. A method as in claim 24, wherein said plurality of recesses are provided in said rim board at pre-determined spacing along substantially the entire length of the rim board.

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

Having thus described the preferred embodiments, the invention is now claimed to be:

1. A suspension system for suspending one or more of lightheads, monitors, cameras, and other medical apparatus from an overhead structure at a selectable height, the suspension system comprising:
a drop tube configured for supporting the one or more of lightheads, monitors, cameras, and other medical apparatus;
a receiving element having an inside diameter which decreases toward a lower end thereof, the receiving element surroundingly encompassing a selected portion of the drop tube;
a mounting plate rigidly connected with the receiving element and configured for mounting to the overhead structure, the mounting plate having an opening through which an end of the drop tube passes; and
a wedge-shaped element having an outer diameter which decreases toward a lower end thereof, the wedge-shaped element compressively inserting into the receiving element and surroundingly encompassing the selected portion of the drop tube to effectuate a compressive clamping of the selected portion of the drop tube inside the receiving element.
2. The suspension system as set forth in claim 1, further including:
a tightening nut adapted to thread onto a portion of the wedge-shaped element to compressively draw the wedge-shaped element into the receiving element.
3. The suspension system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped element includes a plurality of longitudinally extending slots.
4. The suspension system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the largest outer diameter of the wedge shaped element is greater than the smallest inside diameter of the receiving element
5. A device mounting system comprising:
a securing element configured for being rigidly connected with an associated overhead fixed structure;
a drop tube having a first end extending through an opening in the securing element;
a locking tube adapted to slidably receive the drop tube, the locking tube compressively inserting into the opening of the securing element to effectuate a compressive locking between the securing element and the drop tube; and
a rotatable spindle disposed at a second end of the drop tube.
6. The device mounting system as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least one of the securing element and the locking element has a tapered surface which engages a surface of the other of the securing element and the locking element.
7. The device mounting system as set forth in claim 5, further including an articulating arm attached to the rotatable spindle, the articulating arm having at least one adjustable joint and an attachment end adapted to receive an associated device.
8. The device mounting system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the attachment end is adapted to receive an associated device selected from the group consisting of lightheads, task lights, patient monitoring devices, equipment management systems., cameras, and combinations thereof.
9. The device mounting system as set forth in claim 5, further including:
a tightening nut that threadedly cooperates with the locking tube for drawing the locking tube into a the opening of the securing element.
10. The device mounting system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the securing element includes:
a mounting plate configured for being rigidly connected with the associated overhead fixed structure; and
a wedge-shaped collar rigidly attached to the mounting plate and having a narrowing tubular bore adapted to receive the locking tube, the locking tube being wedge-shaped.
11. The device mounting system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the locking tube includes a collet.
12. The device mounting system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the locking tube includes a plurality of slots arranged longitudinally along the locking tube.
13. A mounting post adjustably extending downward from an overhead structure, the mounting post comprising:
a mounting plate arranged a selected distance below the associated overhead structure and rigidly connected therewith, the mounting plate having a drop tube opening;
a drop tube extending into the drop tube opening and having a proximal end and a distal end extending downward below the drop tube opening;
a collar surroundingly arranged over the drop tube at the selected point, the collar having:
an outer surface of narrowing diameter terminating at a narrow end, which outer surface compressively wedges at least partially into the drop tube opening, and
an inner surface which compresses against the drop tube at the selected point responsive to the wedging to secure the drop tube in the drop tube opening at the selected point.
14. The mounting post as set forth in claim 13, wherein the drop tube opening has a narrowing diameter arranged to substantially mate with at least a portion of the narrowing outer surface of the collar.
15. The mounting post as set forth in claim 13, wherein the mounting plate includes:
a cheeseplate member rigidly connected with the associated overhead structure by a plurality of associated fasteners, the cheeseplate including a central opening; and
a receiving tube secured within the central opening, the receiving tube having a narrowing inside diameter adapted to wedgingly receive the collar.
16. The mounting post as set forth in claim 13, further including:
a tightening nut adapted to threadedly connect with the narrow end of the collar, wherein the narrow end extends through the drop tube opening and tightening of the nut effectuates the wedging.
17. A method of variably adjusting a distance, relative to a fixed surface, of a distal end of a drop tube for supporting a medical device, the method comprising:
rigidly supporting a receiving element from the fixed surface;
loosely inserting a collar into a bore of the receiving element;
inserting the drop tube into the collar such that an end of the drop tube extends a selected distance below the receiving element; and
drawing the collar into the receiving element bore such that the drop tube is compressively clamped by the receiving element and collar.
18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the step of drawing the collar into the bore includes tightening a nut on a portion of the collar.
19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the collar includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, spaced slots and wherein step of drawing the collar into the bore includes compressing strips defined between the slots.