Abstract: An automated vehicle includes a vehicle body, a power source, one or more motors housed within the vehicle body and in operable connection with the power source, running gear in operable connection with the one or more motors for facilitating movement and supporting the vehicle body upon a surface, and an optical system. The optical system includes an optical sensor for detecting light reflected from the surface and generating an output in response to the light reflected, and one or more light sources, each light source capable of projecting light on the surface. Furthermore, the optical system is configured to regulate an amount of power supplied to the one or more motors in response to the output generated by the optical sensor.

Abstract: A dynamic hand splint including a hand support section, a sleeve configured to receive a digit therein, and a first tensioner having an elastic body and forming a loop, wherein the first tensioner is attached to the hand support section, as well as a first location of the sleeve, such that the first tensioner extends from the hand support section to the first location and spans a first joint of the digit.

Abstract: A hand carried, manually operated apparatus for cleaning flooring, carpet, upholstery, and the like includes a cleansing fluid chamber, a waste fluid chamber, a pump and an applicator. A first fluid passageway connects the pump and cleansing fluid chamber, a second passageway connects the cleansing fluid chamber and applicator, a third passageway connects the applicator and waste fluid chamber, and a fourth passageway connects the waste fluid chamber and pump. A first one-way valve permits flow from the pump to the cleansing fluid chamber but inhibits reverse flow; and a second one-way valve permits flow from the applicator to the waste fluid chamber but inhibits reverse flow. Air is transferred through the pump from the waste fluid chamber to the cleansing fluid chamber as cleansing fluid is transferred to the applicator from the cleansing fluid chamber and waste fluid is transferred from the applicator to the waste fluid chamber.

Abstract: A hand carried, manually operated apparatus for cleaning flooring, carpet, upholstery, and the like includes a cleansing fluid chamber, a waste fluid chamber, a pump and an applicator. A first fluid passageway connects the pump and cleansing fluid chamber, a second passageway connects the cleansing fluid chamber and applicator, a third passageway connects the applicator and waste fluid chamber, and a fourth passageway connects the waste fluid chamber and pump. A first one-way valve permits flow from the pump to the cleansing fluid chamber but inhibits reverse flow; and a second one-way valve permits flow from the applicator to the waste fluid chamber but inhibits reverse flow. Air is transferred through the pump from the waste fluid chamber to the cleansing fluid chamber as cleansing fluid is transferred to the applicator from the cleansing fluid chamber and waste fluid is transferred from the applicator to the waste fluid chamber.

Abstract: A protective helmet, which includes a motion restrictor device, is disclosed which has at least one strut member associated with the helmet and a harness assembly, and the at least one strut member includes a locking assembly associated with the strut member, which upon a predetermined force being sensed by a force sensor or a predetermined amount of or rate of acceleration being sensed by an acceleration sensor, stops substantially all relative motion between the ends of the strut member and the predetermined force is substantially transferred from the helmet to the harness assembly.

Abstract: A dulling assembly includes a corrugated bundle having a plurality of generally vertically oriented planar paperboard sheets with fluted paperboard sheets located therebetween, each fluted paperboard sheet being adhered to the two planar paperboard sheets it is located between, and a plurality of grains of sand adhered with glue to a top surface of the corrugated bundle. A method of creating a dulling assembly includes the steps of providing a corrugated bundle, applying glue to a top surface of the corrugated bundle; and applying sand to the top surface of the corrugated bundle.

Abstract: A travel cooler includes a wheeled platform and an insulated container configured to be selectively coupled to and uncoupled from the wheeled platform. The wheeled platform comprises a base, a plurality of wheels mounted to the base and a first coupling component. The insulated container includes a second coupling component. The first and second coupling components are disengaged from one another when the insulated container is uncoupled from the wheeled platform. The first and second coupling components are disposed in interlocking engagement when the insulated container is coupled to the wheeled platform, whereby the insulated container is securely coupled to the wheeled platform in fixed disposition relative thereto for safe transportation on the wheeled platform. The base defines a container receiving recess within which a bottom portion of the insulated container is received when the insulated container is coupled to the wheeled platform.

Abstract: A stroller for carrying a child in a plurality of configurations includes a frame having a frame base defining a forward-facing direction and a rearward-facing direction and at least two side members attached at opposite sides of the frame base. The stroller further includes a plurality of wheels connected to the frame and a seat arranged generally above a platform attached to the frame and configured for selective rotation, relative to the frame base, about an axis generally perpendicular to the platform. The seat may be selectively rotated between a forward-facing position and a rearward-facing position. The seat may further be adapted to be selectively reconfigurable between a seated configuration and a standing configuration.

Abstract: A hand carried, manually operated apparatus for cleaning flooring, carpet, upholstery, and the like includes a cleansing fluid chamber, a waste fluid chamber, a pump and an applicator. A first fluid passageway connects the pump and cleansing fluid chamber, a second passageway connects the cleansing fluid chamber and applicator, a third passageway connects the applicator and waste fluid chamber, and a fourth passageway connects the waste fluid chamber and pump. A first one-way valve permits flow from the pump to the cleansing fluid chamber but inhibits reverse flow; and a second one-way valve permits flow from the applicator to the waste fluid chamber but inhibits reverse flow. Air is transferred through the pump from the waste fluid chamber to the cleansing fluid chamber as cleansing fluid is transferred to the applicator from the cleansing fluid chamber and waste fluid is transferred from the applicator to the waste fluid chamber.

Abstract: A hand carried, manually operated apparatus for cleaning flooring, carpet, upholstery, and the like includes a cleansing fluid chamber, a waste fluid chamber, a pump and an applicator. A first fluid passageway connects the pump and cleansing fluid chamber, a second passageway connects the cleansing fluid chamber and applicator, a third passageway connects the applicator and waste fluid chamber, and a fourth passageway connects the waste fluid chamber and pump. A first one-way valve permits flow from the pump to the cleansing fluid chamber but inhibits reverse flow; and a second one-way valve permits flow from the applicator to the waste fluid chamber but inhibits reverse flow. Air is transferred through the pump from the waste fluid chamber to the cleansing fluid chamber as cleansing fluid is transferred to the applicator from the cleansing fluid chamber and waste fluid is transferred from the applicator to the waste fluid chamber.

Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a housing, a sensor, and a motor assembly that causes in response to a hand: a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from the housing a multiple of a predetermined unit length (PUL), optionally plus a further extent that is less than PUL; and then to be retracted. The motor assembly ceases retracting based on sensing the leading edge of the toweling. PUL is set in a length learn sequence by: retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed; advancing the toweling a preset extended length greater than at least a distance between immediately adjacent lines of perforations in the toweling; retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed while measuring a length by which the toweling is retracted; and determining the difference between the preset extended length and the measured retracted length.

Abstract: A travel cooler, includes a body comprising a base, sidewalls, and a lid connected together to define an interior, insulated containment space for holding cooler items. A lengthwise dimension of the cooler extends between opposite ends of the cooler, and the body defines recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler. The cooler further includes a U-shaped handle having two legs connected by a handle portion. The cooler is transitionable between a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend a substantial length from the body of the cooler, and a second configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler, the handle portion extending in close proximity to an end of the body of the cooler.

Abstract: A travel cooler includes a wheeled platform and an insulated container configured to be selectively coupled to and uncoupled from the wheeled platform. The wheeled platform comprises a base, a plurality of wheels mounted to the base and a first coupling component. The insulated container includes a second coupling component. The first and second coupling components are disengaged from one another when the insulated container is uncoupled from the wheeled platform. The first and second coupling components are disposed in interlocking engagement when the insulated container is coupled to the wheeled platform, whereby the insulated container is securely coupled to the wheeled platform in fixed disposition relative thereto for safe transportation on the wheeled platform. The base defines a container receiving recess within which a bottom portion of the insulated container is received when the insulated container is coupled to the wheeled platform.

Abstract: A container includes a first bowl suspended by a dual-axis gimbal within—and out of contact with—a second bowl. The first bowl includes a first opening and the second bowl includes a second opening. The first opening overlies the second opening to permit access to an interior storage space of the first bowl from an exterior of the container when the first and second bowls are in respective upright orientations. The first bowl may be rotated 180 degrees in every rotational direction relative to the second bowl. A lid is removably attachable to the second bowl and that inhibits rotational movement of the first bowl. A handle circumferentially extends entirely around the second bowl and defines an opening for a finger or thumb for gripping and holding of the container when the lid is attached.

Abstract: A travel cooler, includes a body comprising a base, sidewalls, and a lid connected together to define an interior, insulated containment space for holding cooler items. A lengthwise dimension of the cooler extends between opposite ends of the cooler, and the body defines recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler. The cooler further includes a U-shaped handle having two legs connected by a handle portion. The cooler is transitionable between a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend a substantial length from the body of the cooler, and a second configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler, the handle portion extending in close proximity to an end of the body of the cooler.

Abstract: A towel dispenser includes: a housing for receiving toweling; a motor assembly that causes a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from the housing such that a line of perforations in the toweling along which a user tears the toweling is located downstream of the sensor, and the toweling to be retracted into the housing after the leading edge has been extended; and a sensor that senses a leading edge of the toweling during retraction of the toweling. The sensor causes the motor assembly to cease retracting the toweling into the housing as a function of the sensing of the leading edge of the toweling. The toweling may be a roll of perforated paper towels.

Abstract: A mountable power strip includes a first arm section having a plurality of electrical receptacles defining a “strip” of electrical receptacles. The mountable power strip further includes a coupling assembly that is configured to couple the first arm section to a second arm section such that the first and second arm sections are configured for rotational movement relative to each other about an axis of the coupling assembly. The first and second arm sections are biased by at least one spring member such that the first and second arm sections are configured to transition between a first open configuration and a second closed configuration. The biasing may be toward the closed configuration for mounting of the power strip.

Abstract: A portable workstation includes wheels, a tabletop, a generally planar member and a chassis joining the wheels, the tabletop and the planar member. While joined to the wheels and the tabletop by the chassis, the planar member is movable between a protracted position and a retracted position. A majority of the planar member extends above the tabletop in the protracted position, and a majority of the planar member does not extend above the tabletop in the retracted position.

Abstract: A method of donning a potentiating support for a hinge joint of a body includes positioning a garment proximate an area of a body; positioning an expandable and recoverable framework in abutment with the area of the body such that the framework spans a hinge joint of the body, the framework defining a plurality of permanent openings extending therethrough regardless of whether the support is donned; applying tension at points of the framework such that the framework is expanded and the framework is tensioned in its abutment with the area of the body, said step of applying tension being performed by pulling on one or more fastening components that are attached at one or more points to said framework; and affixing each of the fastening components to the garment while applying tension to the framework to secure the expanded framework in its forced abutment with the area of the body.

Abstract: A protective helmet, which includes a motion restrictor device, is disclosed which has at least one strut member associated with the helmet and a harness assembly, and the at least one strut member includes a locking assembly associated with the strut member, which upon a predetermined force being sensed by a force sensor or a predetermined amount of or rate of acceleration being sensed by an acceleration sensor, stops substantially all relative motion between the ends of the strut member and the predetermined force is substantially transferred from the helmet to the harness assembly.