A grabbing device having a plurality of jaws which can be moved between an open position and a closed position to enable the device to grasp an object(s). The technology finds particular application in the forestry industry and moving logs.

Group online communication and collaboration has become part of people's daily life. Therefore, it is critical to provide a meeting initiator to efficiently present his/her information, and control his/her presented information. It is also critical for the speed and efficiently to process the meeting initiator's requests for his/her presented information to be quickly reaching to other meeting participants during a meeting. This invention facilitates a unique user interface (UI) for the meeting initiator to efficiently present information and to control presented information through a unique withdrawing (un-post) operation. Specially, this invention deploys dynamic workspaces technology together with post and un-post (withdraw) operations that greatly improves the speed and efficiency for processing the meeting initiator's requests and for monetizing the meeting activities.

A method for posting and un-posting files and messages in a collaborative file sharing environment. A user is provided with the functionality of instantly stop sharing files or folders without physically deleting the files or folder.

An insulating felling grapple is used with an insulating utility vehicle. The utility worker stands on the ground near the worksite and remotely controls the insulating felling grapple and the utility vehicle to perform the task. In addition to other standard trimming and removal tasks, the insulating felling grapple is adapted to allow for the removal of energized vegetation material. In one method, the utility worker grasps the energized vegetation material, lifts or moves the energized vegetation material such that it is no longer energized, severs the non-energized vegetation material, and moves the severed vegetation material to a discard location. A boom assembly of the utility vehicle includes a primary insulation segment. The felling grapple includes a secondary insulation segment, as well as a grapple and a feller. The grapple has at least two tines for gripping the energized material. The feller is configured to sever the energized or nonenergized material.

An insulating felling grapple is used with an insulating utility vehicle. The utility worker stands on the ground near the worksite and remotely controls the insulating felling grapple and the utility vehicle to perform the task. In addition to other standard trimming and removal tasks, the insulating felling grapple is adapted to allow for the removal of energized vegetation material. In one method, the utility worker grasps the energized vegetation material, lifts or moves the energized vegetation material such that it is no longer energized, severs the non-energized vegetation material, and moves the severed vegetation material to a discard location. A boom assembly of the utility vehicle includes a primary insulation segment. The felling grapple includes a secondary insulation segment, as well as a grapple and a feller. The grapple has at least two tines for gripping the energized material. The feller is configured to sever the energized or nonenergized material.

A grapple-heel rack having a frame, a grapple, and first and second angle-enabler catches. A grapple attachment (which may be or may include a universal joint) may be used to support the grapple from a nose of the frame. A mechanical grapple return system may be used to return the grapple from a non-neutral position to a neutral position. At least one method for using the grapple-heel rack.

A system and associated method for detecting an entity in a detection area surrounding a drilling machine is provided. The detection area is being divided into a plurality of subzones, with each of said plurality of subzones being associated with a corresponding safety level. The system comprises at least one optical scanner optically covering the detection area and operable to capture the entity within the detection area; a controlling device, operatively connected with the at least one optical scanner, the controlling device is configured to: determine a position of the entity captured by the at least one optical scanner within at least one of the plurality of subzones of the detection area; and trigger at least one action signal based on the safety level of the subzone corresponding to the determined position of the entity.

A pallet puller comprising: a first bar having a first hook disposed on a distal end of the first bar, wherein the first hook is a wedge connected to the distal end of the first bar; a second bar having a second hook disposed on a distal end of the second bar, wherein the second hook is a wedge connected to the distal end of the second bar; a ring loosely coupled to a proximal end of the first bar and to a proximal end of the second bar such that the first and second bars are able to move with respect to the ring and such that pointed ends of the first and second hooks are pointed in opposite directions with respect to each other; and a line having a proximal end coupled to the ring and a distal end terminated in a connection point.

A pallet puller comprising: a first bar having a first hook disposed on a distal end of the first bar, wherein the first hook is a wedge connected to the distal end of the first bar; a second bar having a second hook disposed on a distal end of the second bar, wherein the second hook is a wedge connected to the distal end of the second bar; a ring loosely coupled to a proximal end of the first bar and to a proximal end of the second bar such that the first and second bars are able to move with respect to the ring and such that pointed ends of the first and second hooks are pointed in opposite directions with respect to each other; and a line having a proximal end coupled to the ring and a distal end terminated in a connection point.

The virtual presentation technology in this invention can significantly reduce data load on a network and thus reduce the network bandwidth requirement. This allows serving more requests for data transaction over a network with fixed network bandwidth. In addition, with traditional Internet file sharing products, e.g. the then-existed Yahoo Group online service, in order to stop sharing a file, the file must be physically deleted that prevents resharing the file unless expensively recreating them. In addition, traditional email and instant message does not allow a user to delete a previously posted or shared message from a UI of a recipient. Therefore, the user could be embarrassed if the posted message is not proper to the recipient. This invention has overcome the problems to allow user instantly deleting posted information of file or folder from recipient's UI without physically deleting the file, and deleting previously posted messages from recipient's UI.