Abstract: A variable-displacement piston-cylinder device may be adapted for providing work output, and/or for pumping or compressing fluids. The piston-cylinder device defines two or more coaxial cylindrical expansion chambers between a piston having two or more coaxial and conjoined piston members, and a correspondingly-shaped cylinder. Substantially any combination of the expansion chambers may be activated or deactivated in order to vary the effective displacement of the piston-cylinder device. The effective displacement of each piston-cylinder may be changed in mid-operation in order to reduce power output and fuel consumption (or pumping or compressing capacity), without introducing vibration. In addition, a control system is provided for managing the effective displacement of each piston-cylinder according to output required, desirable operating parameters, and other parameters that can effect the operation of the device.

Abstract: A pallet for the movement of goods includes several individual parts connected to one another, including an upper section and a frame section. The upper section includes a plurality of openings, which are located in recesses formed in the underside of the upper section, which help the escape of heat through the pallet. The pallet may be formed from a fire retardant material and may be certified to comply with the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Standard 2335 “Fire Tests of Storage Pallets.” The pallet may include a transponder for locating the pallet.

Abstract: A wire marker that can be removably attached to a wire, such as an aerial or fence wire. The marker can have a base and an integral deformable arm having a first and second distal tip. The tips can have catches on the same side and a catch on the opposite side oriented between the catches and offset along a longitudinal axis between the catches. The offset can be distal or proximal to the base on the longitudinal axis between the catches, and the offset can be configured to accommodate a diameter of a fence wire. The marker base can be substantially triangular in shape and made of injection molded plastic and colored to make it visible relative to its surroundings, such as international orange.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control apparatus that can be ergonomically and movably connected to a patient support apparatus. The control apparatus comprises a control module which is operatively coupled to the patient support apparatus and can provide a means for controlling the plurality of patient support apparatus functions. The control module is adapted for connection to a housing and the housing is movably connected to the patient support apparatus by a coupling device. The coupling device enables the relative movement of the housing and as such the control module relative to the patient support apparatus. In this manner access to the control module, and therefore to the functionality of the patient support apparatus, can be provided independent of the configuration of the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element and a video display element. The video display element is disposed behind the mirror reflective element so that images displayed by the video display element are viewable through the mirror reflective element when the video display element is activated. The video display element is configured to display images that are readily viewable by the driver of the host vehicle and not readily viewable by drivers of other vehicles in the lane adjacent to the host vehicle.

Abstract: A display mirror assembly includes a reflective mirror element having a semitransparent mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate. Visible light transmission through the reflective mirror element is at least 3 percent and visible light reflectance by the reflective mirror element is at least 40 percent for visible light incident upon the front side of the reflective mirror element. The reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon its front side. A display device is disposed to the rear of the reflective mirror element and configured so that light emitted by the display device passes through the semitransparent mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front. When electrically powered, a display luminance of at least about 60 foot lamberts as measured with said display device placed behind, and emitting light through, the reflective element is achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor block (1) comprising a housing (2) with at least one connection surface (3A) that absorbs the load and pivot bearing seats (4) for plain and/or anti-friction bearings (5) that are designed to support a rotor (6). To dismount the rotor (6) from the housing (2), the plain and/or anti-friction bearings (5) can be dismantled from the exterior and the rotor (6) from a side (8) lying transversally to the bearings. The pivot bearing seats (4) take the form of recesses (9) that are directly configured in the housing wall, without the use of annular bodies. To facilitate the mounting and dismounting processes and to improve the precision of the rotor alignment, the pivot bearing seats (4) are configured in such a way that they form a segment greater than a semi-circle around the plain and/or anti-friction bearings (5), leaving a section open on one side (8) in relation to said bearings (5), thus forming a narrowing (13).

Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly that is mountable at an exterior side of a vehicle and has an inboard portion that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator is disposed at the inboard portion of the mirror casing of the mirror assembly. The blind spot indicator comprises an illumination source comprising at least one light emitting diode. The illumination source is disposed behind an at least partially light transmitting element, and light emitted by the illumination source passes through the at least partially light transmitting element for viewing by a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror substrate having a front surface and a rear surface. The mirror substrate has a first reflector portion and a second reflector portion, with the first reflector portion having a principal reflector portion of the mirror reflective element. The rear surface of the mirror substrate has a curved recess established thereat, and the second curved reflector portion is established at the curved recess. The curved recess has a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the first reflector portion, whereby the curved recess, when coated by a reflector coating, provides a wide angle auxiliary reflector portion integrally formed with the mirror reflective element.

Abstract: A wireless response system and method of receiving user responses from a plurality of users at a base unit includes providing a base unit having a base transceiver that is adapted to wireless signal transmitting and wireless signal receiving and providing a plurality of response units. Each of the response units includes a response unit transceiver and a user input device. The response unit transceiver is adapted to wireless signal transmitting and wireless signal receiving. User input selections are received with the user input device. A response user transmission is transmitted with the response unit transceiver in response to the user input device receiving a user input selection. A base transmission is transmitted with the base unit transceiver. The user response transmissions are asynchronously transmitted after receipt of a base transmission.

Abstract: A response system and method of retrieving user responses from a plurality of users includes providing a plurality of base units and a plurality of response units, each of the response units adapted to receive a user input selection and to communicate that user input selection with at least one base unit utilizing wireless communication. Personality data is provided for the response units. The personality data facilitates communication with a particular base unit. The personality data of a particular one of the response units is changed in order to change which of the base units that response unit communicates. This allows a response unit to become grouped with a particular base unit at a particular time and become grouped with another base unit at another particular time. The personality data may be obtained from a database.

Abstract: The voice absorber of the present invention includes an absorption member and an attachment member and is adapted for use with portable telephonic devices to enable a user to engage in a more private conversation and limit the disruption to individuals nearby the user during the conversation. The shape of the absorption member may be selectively configurable and may be constructed of multiple layers, including a layer specifically adapted to absorb sound waves. The attachment member enables the voice absorber to be easily affixed and removed from portable telephonic devices and generally positions the absorption member in front of the user's mouth. The voice absorber also functions to isolate the transmitter portion of a portable telephonic device from ambient, background noise and serves as a reminder to a user to speak with a quieter voice.

Abstract: The transfer case pump bracket for use with a fluid pump in a transfer case of a vehicle is at least partially received within a pump cavity between the transfer case and the fluid pump. The transfer case pump bracket comprises a base member and one or more support members extending from the base member. The base member is configured to be positioned between the fluid pump and the transfer case when the fluid pump is assembled to the transfer case with the support members being adapted to be received within an indent portion of the pump cavity to at least partially inhibit the fluid pump from contacting the transfer case proximate the indent portion of the pump cavity.

Abstract: A running gear, for example, a single-rail lower-flange running gear for hoisting equipment, includes several wheels running on a rail, at least two of which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel of the running gear and adapted to be driven by an electric motor. The driven wheels are joined to at least two shafts, which are oriented coaxially to the axis of rotation of said at least two driven wheels.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support, a removable section configured for movement to a position wherein the removable section is aligned with patient support wherein the removable section can be coupled to the patient support, a second position wherein the removable section is adjacent to, but spaced from the first position and a third position spaced apart from the patient support. The patient support apparatus further includes a locking mechanism that is configured to sense when the removable section is properly aligned with the patient support so that the removable section can be mounted to the patient support.

Abstract: A wheelchair transfer device is configured for moving an invalid patient from a flat surface to a seated position for transport in the seated position on the transfer device. The transfer device includes a rolling base supported by casters and convertible low profile rollers that are configured to fit under the base of a hospital bed and convert to a larger diameter wheel without altering the height of the transfer device. The transfer device includes a leg portion, a torso portion and a seat portion configured to be coplanar for adaptation to a hospital bed, so that an invalid patient can, with assistance, roll onto the device. The seat portion can then be raised against the patient's buttocks, generally perpendicular to the leg and torso portions, and the whole assembly can then be rotated to a vertical position, with the seat portion supporting the weight of the patient.

Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle comprises a sealed unitary light module including at least one high-intensity power light emitting diode operates with a luminous efficiency of at least about 7 lumens per watt when passing a forward current of at least about 350 milliamps and that emits a luminous flux of at least about 25 lumens when operated at its operating voltage. The sealed unitary light module is removable as a unit from the vehicle and includes a heat dissipating element and a lens.

Abstract: An information display system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle and a video display screen disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly. The video display screen is operable to display information including video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver, and the video display screen is further operable to display information including at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle. The display of the instruction includes at least one of (a) text pertaining to the accessory, (b) an icon pertaining to the accessory and (c) an image pertaining to the accessory.