Abstract: An automobile sun visor with an electromechanical sun shade device preferably comprising an elongated housing with a generally tear-shaped profile that is adapted for pivotally-adjustable installation at essentially any location proximate the interior roof of a vehicle and that attractively accommodates all necessary elements of the device therewithin, a scissor-type extension mechanism with interdependent, multi-stage frame support layers that evenly and supportively extend and adjust to a plurality of lengths, a two-layer screening system that surrounds the extension mechanism on all sides via a releasable connector, and that is adapted for preferential variation of interior versus exterior display during deployment, and a motorized control system with guide elements.

Abstract: A boot (10) for enclosing a foot of a quadruped up to, but not including, a carpal or tarsal joint (32), made generally of a first flexible material (14) with a slit (16) forming an opening for inserting the foot. A lower portion of the first flexible material forms a toe box (20). An upper portion of the toe box is formed of a second flexible material (12A, 12B) that is more elastic than the first flexible material, such as an elastic fabric. The elastic fabric allows the toes to flex downward at the end of each step, then pulls them upward to prevent them from curling under the foot on the next step. An upper retainer (16) may be provided on an upward extension strap (15). The upper retainer loops around the leg above the carpal or tarsal joint (32) to provide vertical retention of the boot.

Abstract: A computer has a USB bus with at least two USB connectors for removable USB devices. When a removable USB device is connected to at least one of the connectors, conventional standard actions are auto-launched. However, when a removable USB device is connected to at least one special USB connector, no action is auto-launched, or some non-standard action is auto-launched. The special USB connector is designated as such by a configuration file stored by the computer, because neither the USB address and port number of the hub for the special connector, nor the USB address allocated to the removable USB device can simply be used for this purpose.

Abstract: A band (30) is buckled around a pole (50). A hanger arm (18) has a top end attached to the band (30) at an attachment point (44), and has a bottom end with a load hook (20). A high-friction cam surface (24) is formed on the hanger arm (18). The relative positions of the cam (24), the band attachment point (44), and the load hook (20) cause the band attachment point (44, 46) to move away from the pole (50) as the hanger arm is loaded, tightening the band (30) on the pole (50). This automatically adjusts the hoop tension in the encircling band (30) depending on the arm loading (52).

Abstract: A system and method for nematode extermination in lawns using an array of insulated heat blankets (2) placed on the lawn, and energized in a controlled sequence to raise the soil temperature to an effective degree and depth to exterminate nematodes. An electric current controller such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) activates a first subset of the blankets (2) until they reach an upper setpoint temperature, then maintains the blanket temperature within a desired range with reduced current while activating additional blankets. The heat penetrates the soil over a period of about 20 to 50 hours to raise the temperature to at least about 52° C. (125° F.) at a sufficient depth such as at least 12 cm (4.7 inches) to kill at least most nematodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in the storage and transportation of recyclable waste comprises a housing (10) having a bottom (16) for standing on the ground, a rear wall (20), a pair of opposed side walls (22), a handle (26) adjacent the top and rear of the housing, and a pair of wheels (28) adjacent the bottom and rear of the housing and arranged such that the housing can be tipped rearwardly using the handle so that the wheels engage the ground, so that the bottom of the housing no longer engages the ground and so that the apparatus can be moved on the wheels using the handle to move it. The housing provides at least one space (48) accessible from the front of the housing, the or each space being arranged to receive at least one recycling box (12) having a base (30), four side walls (32) and an open top.

Abstract: A pivoting cable extension arm (2) has a pivot sensor (3). The extension arm is mounted on a swivel frame (4) having a swivel sensor (5). The swivel frame has two tangent sheaves (4A, 4C) that allow a wide pivot range of the extension arm. A cable take-up drum (6) has a range sensor (7) for sensing the length of cable (1) extending from the drum. The three-sensors (3, 5, 7) provide data for computing 3D coordinates of the end of the cable (1) over a wide range of space surrounding the assembly. This allows an object to be measured and modeled in three dimensions by touching the cable end to points on the object and acquiring spatial coordinates of the points.

Abstract: An automotive bucket seat with a frame, a back cushion mounted on the frame, a bottom cushion removably mounted on the frame, and a set of interchangeable bottom cushions in a range of lengths that are alternately mountable on the frame. A tool-less releasable attachment mechanism provides fast but secure interchange of cushions. This provides a bucket seat that properly fits users of different sizes.

Abstract: A fingertip tactile sense input device for a personal digital assistant capable of various input operations produced by a moving fingertip over projections recognized by the fingertip tactile sense. An input plate has a plurality of fingertip input projections and input control means that encodes an input signal when a projection is depressed. A fingertip can be moved over the input plate with the wrists fixed. The projections are disposed within a surface area outlined by an inverted generally egg-shaped curve C1 or C2, which is usable equally by the index fingertip of either hand.

Abstract: A pail (50) for dry contents (32) with an inner container (20) for liquid contents (34). The inner container (20) has a lip (24) that overlays a lip (51) of the pail (50) for sealing of both the pail (50) and the inner container (20) with a common lid (52). The inner container (20) has two bottom walls (26, 28) forming an air pocket (30) to accommodate settling of the dry contents (34). The air pocket (30) may optionally contain instructions (36) for mixing and usage of the compounds (32, 34).

Abstract: A wheeled vehicle for small children with a steering wheel on a long steering column that extends upward and backward to about waist level of a child walking behind the vehicle. The child propels and steers the vehicle by pushing on the steering wheel and turning the steering wheel. The steering column extends below the vehicle to operate a front steering frame on which are mounted the front wheels. The steering frame is centrally pivotally mounted to the vehicle chassis at the front end of the vehicle. Inexpensive steering transmission and linkage is provided by a flexible cable, cord, or chain wrapped around the lower end of the steering column below the vehicle and spanning to the left and right sides of the steering frame.

Abstract: A cover for a duvet (D) comprises an underside panel and an upperside panel (16), the underside and upperside panels being joined together along their top edges and part-way along their side edges, and a further panel (14) joined to the bottom edge and part-way along the side edges of the underside panel: the upperside panel (16) is provided, adjacent its bottom edge and side edges, with fasteners (20) to engage complementary fasteners (22) along the edges of the further panel (14).

Abstract: A cage in which two pulley wheels are mounted with tangent circumferences so that their circumferential cable grooves surround a cable passing between the wheels. The cage freely rotates about an axis that passes between the wheels. The cage axis is normal to the plane of the parallel wheel axes. The cage extends forward of the wheels and forms two curved edges on opposed sides of the cage axis. Each curve has an apex at its forward-most point. A flexible cable passes through the cage, between the wheels, and forward between the curves. Extending the cable substantially away from the plane of the wheels causes it to contact one of the curves. This rotates the cage so that the wheels are aligned with the cable deflection. This switches the cable to one or the other of the wheels, and provides low friction cable operation for any cable direction.

Abstract: A measuring system for an apparatus having a bed, a first stage movable in a first direction relative to the bed, and a second stage movable in a second direction at right angles to the first direction, relative to the first stage. A first interferometer measures displacement in the first direction between a first reference reflector and a first target reflector fixed to the first stage. A second interferometer (a) measures displacement in the second direction between a second reference reflector and a second target reflector fixed to the second stage, (b) includes an intermediate reflector fixed to the first stage, (c) produces a beam that extends in the first direction from a position fixed to the bed to the intermediate reflector and in the second direction from the intermediate reflector to the second target reflector and (d) can therefore have a head that is mounted on the bed.

Abstract: An overflow device for a bathtub with an overflow inlet arranged for mounting in a conventional overflow hole of the bathtub and a valve connected between a water supply and a conventional bath tap. A spring can be used to change the valve from its open state to its closed state. A float and trigger lever can detect water that has entered the overflow inlet and trigger the device to change, using the stored spring energy, from a set state in which the valve is open to a triggered state in which the valve is closed. A manually operable resetting element can be operated by a user to replenish the spring with energy and return the device to the set state. The device can be permanently plumbed in and the bulk of the device can be hidden from view outside the bathtub.

Abstract: The engine (10) has a compressor (12) for compressing air, a plurality of combustion chambers (22a–f) in which fuel mixed with the compressed air combusts, and a turbine (16) which is driven by the products of combustion. Each combustion chamber operates in a cycle comprising the phases of: A. charging the combustion chamber with a charge of compressed air from the compressor while preventing air from escaping from the combustion chamber; B. then compounding by charging with a compounding charge of gas to form a compounded charge; C. then injecting fuel into the combustion chamber so that there is spontaneous ignition and combustion of the fuel with the compounded charge; and D. then exhausting the products of combustion to the turbine.