Abstract: A seat belt for dogs and cats is configured to couple to both a buckle and a prong of a vehicle seat belt system. In one embodiment, a detachable seat belt kit comprises a restraint strap having a coupling member and a harness having a securing member which is configured to couple to the coupling member. The harness includes a first connector and a second connector adapted to releasably couple to a first prong and a first buckle of a shoulder/lap belt combination seat belt system respectively. The harness further includes a first harness portion between a first harness end and a second harness end. The first harness portion includes a first intermediate point at which the securing member is affixed. The restraint strap includes a second intermediate point where the coupling member is affixed.

Abstract: A customizable audio earpiece includes an ear bud body with an ear bud size of which is adjustable along with some control over its orientation. The ear bud body comprises a ball point with teeth that couples to a mating cavity with teethed groves to movably lock or snap with each other on an ear bud stick. The flexibility of one or more petal shaped fingers provides an adequate level of stiffness for the ear bud when resting therein. The teeth on the ends of these petal shaped fingers releasably couple to teeth on a speaker body. In this way, users have varying size of ears with different size of ear canal cavities and conchal bowls can comfortably use the customizable audio earpiece.

Abstract: A hand-held, portable electronic device is provided with a retainer port for removably receiving one or more attachable wireless audiophones for in situ charging of at least one of a first or second attachable wireless audiophone on the hand-held, portable electronic device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a retainer port configured to mate with a first connector of a first attachable wireless audiophone including at least one of a speaker or a microphone at a hand-held, portable electronic device having a device housing with a surface is provided. The retainer port may comprise at least one of a first or a second port socket configured for removably retaining the first attachable wireless audiophone on the hand-held, portable electronic device. The first port socket to communicatively receive the first connector of the first attachable wireless audiophone for in situ charging thereof when the hand-held, portable electronic device is connected to an electrical power source for recharging.

Abstract: A hand-held, portable electronic device is provided with a retainer port for removably coupling an attachable wireless audiophone thereto. By removably coupling the attachable wireless audiophone, the retainer port may detachably retain the attachable wireless audiophone on the hand-held, portable electronic device. The hand-held, portable electronic device may include a first transceiver adapted to communicate with a second transceiver of the attachable wireless audiophone over a wireless communication link. As one example, a cell phone may removably receive a portion of a wireless headset in a retainer port on the cell phone housing for holding and/or in situ charging the wireless headset, such as Bluetooth wireless headset. Both the cell phone and the wireless headset may include a battery, respectively. A shared or common charger may charge the battery of the cell phone and the battery of the wireless headset in situ.

Abstract: A pet travel safety device is provided for use with a vehicle seatbelt system to controllably restrain movement of a pet in a vehicle during a collision or sudden deceleration of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a safety restrainer may secure a pet in a vehicle having a seat belt with a first prong configured to latch into a first buckle of a shoulder/lap belt combination system. The safety restrainer may comprise a restraint assembly including a restraint strap having a first strap end and a second strap end which are configured to releasably couple to each other. The safety restrainer may further comprise a harness configured to couple to the restraint assembly. The harness may include a first harness end and a second harness end. The first harness end comprises a first connector to releasably couple to the first prong and the second harness end comprises a second connector to releasably couple to the first buckle. The harness may include first and second harness portions.

Abstract: Device functionality is provided externally on a hand-held, portable electronic device. In one illustrative embodiment, the hand-held, portable electronic device comprises a transceiver for sending and receiving user communications; one or more processors; a memory; a user interface; a display; and a device body including a device housing. The device housing includes a side circumferential surface on at least two device edges and front, back surfaces. The device housing has a first groove being substantially disposed from the front surface to the back surface across the side circumferential surface of a first device edge of the at least two device edges.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for controllably illuminating automotive brake lights. In one embodiment, an automotive brake lighting system comprises a brake light including first and second light sources, a sensor to sense a level of an operating condition associated with at least one of a brake assembly or a brake pedal of a motor vehicle for illuminating the brake light, and a controller configured to monitor information provided by the sensor. The controller, in response to the level of the operating condition, selectively powers the at least one of the first or second light sources of the brake light based at least in part on the monitored information to generate a variable visual indication relating to braking of the motor vehicle from the brake light over a range of at least two different visual indications that indicate a variable braking rate of the motor vehicle over a corresponding range of at least two different braking rates.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for controllably illuminating automotive brake lights. In one embodiment, an automotive brake lighting system comprises a brake light including first and second light sources, a sensor to sense a level of an operating condition associated with at least one of a brake assembly or a brake pedal of a motor vehicle for illuminating the brake light, and a controller configured to monitor information provided by the sensor. The controller, in response to the level of the operating condition, selectively powers the at least one of the first or second light sources of the brake light based at least in part on the monitored information to generate a variable visual indication relating to braking of the motor vehicle from the brake light over a range of at least two different visual indications that indicate a variable braking rate of the motor vehicle over a corresponding range of at least two different braking rates.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for enabling a safe and secure environment for a pet traveling in a vehicle during a collision or sudden breaking of the vehicle by using a seat belt system to flexibly restrain the pet with a safety restrainer or a detachable safety belt. In one embodiment, a safety restrainer may secure a pet in a vehicle having a seat belt with a first seat belt prong that latches into a first seat belt buckle. The safety restrainer may comprise a restraint assembly including a restraint strap removably couplable to a body portion of the pet. The restraint assembly may be positionable about the body of the pet and the restrain strap positionable between a pair of fore legs and a pair of hind legs of the pet. The restraint strap may include a first strap end and a second strap end being releasably couplable to each other such that the restraint strap forms a loop having a hole when the first and second strap ends are releasably coupled together.