Abstract: A hand shield is provided comprising a body dimensioned to cover the first web space of a human hand, a proximal end extending from the body in the direction of the thumb, and a distal end extending from the body in the direction of the index finger. The body may have a variety of shapes and profiles, and comprises a base resting over the first web side of the hand, an anterior wall covering at least a portion of the anterior side of the hand, and a posterior wall covering at least a portion of the posterior side of the hand.

Abstract: The present invention is an ink-based electronic voting apparatus that generates a paper ballot for every voter. The voter marks a ballot with a probe as he/she would with a conventional ink-based system. In one embodiment, the paper ballot is situated underneath the surface of an input board electrically connected to a computer. A vote is cast when the probe is depressed onto the ballot at a designated input point. The electrical interaction between the probe and the input board generates a vote signal for recording and causes ink to be released from the probe to mark a corresponding spot on the paper ballot. As such, votes are electronically recorded for fast tabulation while paper ballots are generated for manual and/or optical scanner recounts to safeguard against computer errors and tampering. Furthermore the voting apparatus has a built-in mechanism to prevent undervoting and overvoting and thus increases valid votes.

Abstract: This invention discloses a slide-out room mechanism for recreational vehicles that allows the smooth and stable contraction and extension of slide-out rooms while requiring a minimum of parts or modifications to the recreational vehicle chassis or stationary floor. The slide-out room mechanism includes one or more rollers which facilitate contraction and extension of the slide-out room. The slide-out room mechanism includes an inclined plane configured to roll upon the one or more rollers. The slide-out mechanism can also use electro-mechanical or other mechanisms to assist the rolling of the rollers and/or assist the extension and contraction of the slide-out room.

Abstract: A thermostat system includes a temperature sensor, an LCD for selectively displaying alphanumeric and graphic devices on a touchscreen with virtual buttons, a processor having a memory for storing program and data information, and means for establishing communication with a remote correspondent. In one embodiment, the communication from the remote correspondent includes functional programming adding functions or virtual buttons to the thermostat not previously available to it. A communications interface connects the processor and a remote correspondent which is a source of functional programming.

Abstract: A unique educational medium for teaching children to recognize various objects by sight and touch including animals, vegetables, minerals, articles, items, and environmental features according to a thematic scene associated with the medium. The medium is preferably at least one sheet of material having a surface with a plurality of objects thereon and forming a part of the thematic scene, the objects representing at least two of the group consisting of images, shapes, forms, and numbers. Tactile material forms at least a part of each object and is used to represent the actual object such that a user may touch the tactile material and recognize the object. The sheet is of a size sufficient to allow a user to walk on the sheet, cover themselves with the sheet, and identify objects on the sheet by touch.

Abstract: A programmable thermostat for controlling space conditioning equipment receives power from the equipment. The thermostat has an interactive interface for user programming, a temperature sensor and a processor including: a central processing unit; a memory for storing program and data information, a real time clock and a non volatile random access memory. A control program stored in the memory causes the real time clock to periodically read its current time and date information into the non-volatile RAM. Upon restart after an outage, the time and date information stored in the non-volatile RAM is read into the real time clock to provide an acceptable time and date basis for resuming operation. Accordingly, the need for providing a backup power source, such as a battery or a supercap, is eliminated. In one exemplary embodiment, the thermostat also includes a receiver for accessing precision time and date signals from, for example, WWVB.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novelty item and kit comprising timepiece housing, timepiece face, timepiece hand element and images depicting a combination of morphed and non-morphed images.

Abstract: A programmable thermostat, with a touch screen liquid crystal display having the capability to add to or remove virtual buttons to the display depending on the items of space conditioning equipment connected with and controlled by the thermostat.

Abstract: A programmable thermostat having a touch screen dot matrix LCD in which the pictorial presenting information and virtual buttons on the touch screen is user configurable to be correctly oriented whether the thermostat is mounted horizontally or vertically.