Abstract: A winch drum is disclosed. In a first aspect, a first set of teeth are positioned around an outer perimeter of a drum. The first set of teeth taper from a first crown to a first base. A second set of teeth are positioned around the outer perimeter of the drum. The second set of teeth taper from a second crown to a second base. The second set of teeth are offset from the first set of teeth such that a gap between the first bases and the second bases forms a sinusoidal channel for a line to follow the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth becomes a guide for the line so that the line can engage the sinusoidal channel. The line follows the sinusoidal channel and each change of direction along the sinusoidal path causes the line to engage by friction with the first bases and the second bases. In a second aspect, the drum includes a trough that follows a sinusoidal path and wherein the trough is narrower at its bottom than at its top.

Abstract: An air filtering mask is disclosed which includes a rigid component and a flexible component. The rigid component and the flexible component combine to form a space over a user's mouth and nostrils, to form a seal therearound and to maintain the mask in place. The mask also includes an exhaust port with an exhaust filter and an intake port with an intake filter. The mask further includes an air mover pulling exhaust air out the exhaust port, thereby drawing intake air through the intake port.

Abstract: A device to disinfect air filtering headwear comprising a chamber, an access port, a first disinfectant emitter to disinfect an outer surface of the headwear, and a mount wherein personal protection headwear is placed on, the mount comprises a second disinfectant emitter to disinfect an inner surface of the headwear.

Abstract: A head covering device comprising a rigid component comprising a transparent face shield, a fabric component, wherein the face shield and fabric combine to cover an entire head of a user and form a seal around the user's neck, an intake port with an inlet filter, an exhaust port with an exhaust filter, an air mover causing filtered air to enter the intake port and exhaust air to exit the exhaust port, and communication hardware facilitating communication for the user.

Abstract: A device for filtering air for a user comprising a rigid component comprising a transparent face shield that provides a space for air between an inside surface of the face shield and the user's face, an intake port, through which air enters the device, an exhaust port, through which air exits the device, a fabric component affixed to the rigid component that, combined with the rigid component, covers the user's head and seals around the user's neck, an intake filter that filters air passing through the intake port, an exhaust filter that filters air passing through the exhaust port, and an air mover held by the rigid component that moves air through the intake port and out the exhaust port.

Abstract: A head covering air filtering device comprising a rigid component comprising a transparent face shield, a fabric component, wherein the rigid component and the fabric component combine to cover an entire head of a user and form a seal around the user's neck. The device further comprises an intake filter to filter all intake air entering the device, an exhaust filter to filter all exhaust air exiting the device, and an air mover causing intake air to enter the device and exhaust air to exit the device.

Abstract: There is disclosed an extendable sofa comprising a frame having a seat support portion, a back-support portion, and a cushion storage compartment, wherein the frame is adapted to extend and collapse length-wise between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration. A primary seat cushion adapted to rest upon the seat support portion of the frame when in the frame is in the collapsed configuration. An auxiliary seat cushion adapted to be stored in the cushion storage compartment when the frame is in the collapsed configuration and adapted to rest upon the seat support portion when the frame is in the extended configuration. At least one primary back cushion adapted to rest against the back-support portion of the frame when the frame is in the collapsed configuration.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a system for heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling a room is disclosed. The system includes a panel with a first, second, and third wall. The second wall is disposed between the first and third walls and separated by a plurality of partitions. The partitions create a first and second row of elongated channels. Each channel in the first row is bounded on two sides by two partitions and on two other sides by the first and second walls. Each channel in the second row is bounded on two sides by two partitions and on two other sides by the second and third walls. The first row of channels is a fluid layer configured to allow heated or cooled fluid to pass through. The fluid layer is in thermal communication with the room. The second row of channels is an insulating vacuum layer, with a reduced pressure that is at least 20% less than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A counterbalance system for an overhead door is disclosed. The system includes a torsion adjustment comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being rotatable relative to one another in a first direction and not in a second direction opposite the first direction. The system also includes an anchor fixed to the first portion, a collar fixed to the second portion, the collar being selectively fixable to a shaft of the overhead door, and a spring coupled between the collar and the anchor. The spring supports at least a portion of the weight of the overhead door as the overhead door is raised and lowered. Rotating the first portion of the torsion calibration collar relative to the second portion of the torsion calibration collar increases torsion in the spring and therefore calibrates the spring to support a desired amount of the weight of the overhead door.

Abstract: An overhead door opener for opening and closing an overhead door. A motor is coupled to a shaft and is configured to rotate the shaft to raise and lower the overhead door. The shaft is coupled to the overhead door. The overhead door opener also includes a one-way bearing coupling the motor to the shaft, wherein the one-way bearing is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the shaft, and not to transmit torque from the shaft to the motor.

Abstract: An automated window mechanism is disclosed, including a motor secured to a window, the window being in a frame and wherein the motor causes the window to move relative to the frame in two directions: an open direction being defined as a direction toward which movement of the window relative to the frame causes the window to be more closed, and a closed direction defined as a direction opposite the open direction. The mechanism also includes a transmission component that transfers power from the motor to movement of the window relative to the frame, the transmission component having a backup defined as a distance the transmission component can move from a first point at which further movement in the open direction will cause the window to begin moving in the open direction, and a second point at which further movement in the closed direction will cause the window to begin moving in the closed direction.

Abstract: The invention is an automated window mechanism having an electric motor attached to a sliding panel of a window configured to open and close the window by moving the sliding panel. The electric motor has a locked state in which the electric motor and sliding panel are stationary. The automated window mechanism also includes a monitor configured to detect an external force applied to the sliding panel while the electric motor is in the locked state. In response to the monitor detecting the external force while the electric motor is in the locked state the positive lead and the negative lead to a same electric potential thereby rendering the electric motor an electric brake impeding the external force from moving the sliding panel. A method and system for preventing unwanted movement of an automated window are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is systems and methods of operating a window with an automated window mechanism. The systems and methods include moving with the automated window mechanism a sliding panel of a window relative to a window frame to open or close the window. The sliding panel moves through a proximate closing zone. The method also includes in the proximate closing zone, operating the automated window mechanism in a limited state comprising at least one of reduced velocity, reduced current to the automated window mechanism, or reduced voltage to the automated window mechanism.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an overhead door opener and a lifter are disclosed. The lifter is positioned above the overhead door when the overhead door is in a retracted position and raises and lowers objects along a path that, without care, will intersect with the overhead door. A controller monitors the position of the overhead door and the lifter and moves the overhead door if the lifter is out of the way, and if the lifter is not out of the way the command is not executed to prevent interference between the lifter and the overhead door.

Abstract: Systems and methods for token secured routing are disclosed. An outbound routing table is maintained. A first token state is determined. A token value is determined based on the determined token state. First and second portions of the token value are identified. The first message is encrypted using the second portion of the first token value. A first packet is generated that includes the first portion as a token and includes the encrypted first message. The first packet is sent to the second node based on the second outbound routing entry in the outbound routing table.

Abstract: An overhead door system is disclosed, which includes a first track and a second track mounted on opposite sides of an opening. Each track has a vertical portion, a transition portion, and a horizontal portion, with the transition portion being between the vertical portion and the horizontal portion. An overhead door engages the first and second tracks on opposite sides of the overhead door and is movable along the first and second tracks between a closed, vertical position and a raised, horizontal position. A motor unit has a motor that is mounted above the horizontal portions of the first and second tracks. A rail is parallel to and disposed between the horizontal portions of the first and second tracks. The rail carries a carriage configured to move in a first direction to raise the overhead door and in a second, opposite direction to lower the overhead door. A connecting member is pivotally attached at one end near a top edge of the overhead door and attached at an opposite end to the carriage.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for locating an item within an enclosure is described. The method includes affixing a first-tier label to a fixture within the enclosure, identifying a first location of the first-tier label based on at least three distance measurements between the first-tier label and a respective plane of the three orthogonal planar surfaces, identifying a second-tier label in proximity to the first-tier label, wherein the second-tier label is associated with an item, determining a first relative position of the second-tier label with respect to the first location of the first-tier label, and determining a second location of the second-tier label based on the first relative position with respect to the first location and the first location.

Abstract: A unified tracking system is disclosed. The unified tracking system tracks items by adding a first block to a first blockchain associated with a first item, adding a second block a second blockchain associated with a second item, identifying a first value for an attribute associated with the first item based on an association with the second item, adding a third block to the second blockchain, wherein the third block includes the first value for the attribute of the first item and a reference to a block in the first blockchain, and adding a fourth block to the first blockchain, wherein the fourth block includes the first value for the attribute of the first item and a reference to a block in the second blockchain.

Abstract: A label and methods and devices for detecting an environmental factor that exceeds a threshold are described. The label includes a plurality of codable areas. The first portion of the plurality of codable areas are coded according to a first value and the second portion of the plurality of codable areas are coded according to a second value. The label additionally includes an environmentally triggered bubble positioned in one of the plurality of codable areas. The environmentally triggered bubble changes between the first value and the second value when ruptured. As a result, the code that the label represents changes when the environmentally triggered bubble ruptures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for securely identifying an item are disclosed. The method includes receiving an item, selecting a plastic wrap that is opaque and that includes a random pattern of markings, and wrapping the item with the plastic wrap, which protects the protects the item frons visual inspection with the opaque plastic and that secures the item with a unique fingerprint/code formed from the random pattern of markings.