Abstract: Ladders and ladder components are provided including a rung assembly that provides an alert to a user of the ladder that they are standing on a particular rung or step. In one example, the lower most rung or step of a ladder includes a rung assembly having an alert mechanism. The alert mechanism may provide an audible and/or other sensory alert to a user when they step on the rung assembly so that the user recognizes their position relative to the ground or supporting surface. In one embodiment, the rung assembly is configured such that a front edge remains in a constant or fixed position relative to the rails to which it is coupled so that a user can rely on a fixed or constant position of the front edge of the assembly when climbing or descending the ladder.

Abstract: Apparatus, system, and method embodiments are disclosed for illuminating clothing, fashion accessories, and other items using diffusion and reflection of light from a light source. A fashion accessory can include a diffusion layer to provide a unique visual appearance from the light source based on the diffusion layer's manipulation of photon wavelength. The diffusion layer can reside under an exterior shell of the fashion accessory and diffuse light from the light source, providing a unique design aspect to the fashion accessory. The fashion accessory can further include a light refraction chamber to direct light in a visually appealing way, providing variations in quality and texture of the light that an observer sees. Additional layers of material over the exterior shell can provide additional variations in quality and texture of the observed light.

Abstract: A nonremovable linkage for securing a rack assembly to a frame, the linkage securing or automatically securing the rack assembly to the frame at a first position in response to the rack assembly returning to the first position from a second position.

Abstract: A ladder is provided having a base section and a fly section slidably coupled with the base section. The base section includes a first pair of spaced apart rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. The fly section includes a second pair of spaced apart rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of spaced apart rails. The various rungs may be coupled with their associated rails in an offset relationship such that they are not centered along a longitudinal center axis line of the rails. A rung lock device may be used which includes an arm pivotally coupled with the base section and configured to selectively engage various rungs of the second plurality of rungs to maintain the fly section in a desired position relative to the base section.

Abstract: A ladder is provided having a base section and a fly section slidably coupled with the base section. The base section includes a first pair of spaced apart rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. The fly section includes a second pair of spaced apart rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of spaced apart rails. The various rungs may be coupled with their associated rails in an offset relationship such that they are not centered along a longitudinal center axis line of the rails. A rung lock device may be used which includes an arm pivotally coupled with the base section and configured to selectively engage various rungs of the second plurality of rungs to maintain the fly section in a desired position relative to the base section.

Abstract: A structure for use with a trailer tongue including two pairs of opposed sidewalls interconnected to one another to form an integral hollow rectangular structure that is adapted to receive and be secured to an end of a first rectangular tongue member. Each sidewall rotatably carrying a roller, at least a portion of each roller positioned in the interior space of the rectangular structure to substantially prevent contact between the inside surface of the rectangular structure and an outside surface of the second rectangular tongue member. The rectangular structure including a retainer for retaining a latch in a latch installed position, the retainer permitting selective actuation of the latch between the latch installed position and a latch uninstalled position by hand.

Abstract: A nonremovable linkage for securing a rack assembly to a frame, the linkage securing or automatically securing the rack assembly to the frame at a first position in response to the rack assembly returning to the first position from a second position.

Abstract: A structure for use with a trailer tongue including two pairs of opposed sidewalls interconnected to one another to form an integral hollow rectangular structure that is adapted to receive and be secured to an end of a first rectangular tongue member. Each sidewall rotatably carrying a roller, at least a portion of each roller positioned in the interior space of the rectangular structure to substantially prevent contact between the inside surface of the rectangular structure and an outside surface of the second rectangular tongue member. The rectangular structure including a retainer for retaining a latch in a latch installed position, the retainer permitting selective actuation of the latch between the latch installed position and a latch uninstalled position by hand.

Abstract: An elongated member pulling device including a support surface and a reel assembly for rotatably carrying a take-up reel about a first axis for receiving an elongated member, the reel assembly rotatably carried by the support surface about a second axis. A guide device including a plurality of rollers defining a closed geometry for guiding the elongated member toward the reel assembly. In response to the elongated member being guidingly received through the guide device and rotatably collected by the take-up reel, the reel assembly being selectably oscillatingly rotatable about the second axis to permit even winding of the elongated member on the take-up reel.

Abstract: A ladder is provided having a base section and a fly section slidably coupled with the base section. The base section includes a first pair of spaced apart rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. The fly section includes a second pair of spaced apart rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of spaced apart rails. The various rungs may be coupled with their associated rails in an offset relationship such that they are not centered along a longitudinal center axis line of the rails. A rung lock device may be used which includes an arm pivotally coupled with the base section and configured to selectively engage various rungs of the second plurality of rungs to maintain the fly section in a desired position relative to the base section.

Abstract: A ladder is provided having a base section and a fly section slidably coupled with the base section. The base section includes a first pair of spaced apart rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. The fly section includes a second pair of spaced apart rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of spaced apart rails. The various rungs may be coupled with their associated rails in an offset relationship such that they are not centered along a longitudinal center axis line of the rails. A rung lock device may be used which includes an arm pivotally coupled with the base section and configured to selectively engage various rungs of the second plurality of rungs to maintain the fly section in a desired position relative to the base section.

Abstract: Ladders and ladder components are provided including a rung assembly that provides an alert to a user of the ladder that they are standing on a particular rung or step. In one example, the lower most rung or step of a ladder includes a rung assembly having an alert mechanism. The alert mechanism may provide an audible and/or other sensory alert to a user when they step on the rung assembly so that the user recognizes their position relative to the ground or supporting surface. In one embodiment, the rung assembly is configured such that a front edge remains in a constant or fixed position relative to the rails to which it is coupled so that a user can rely on a fixed or constant position of the front edge of the assembly when climbing or descending the ladder.

Abstract: Ladders and ladder components are provided including a rung assembly that provides an alert to a user of the ladder that they are standing on a particular rung or step. In one example, the lower most rung or step of a ladder includes a rung assembly having an alert mechanism. The alert mechanism may provide an audible and/or other sensory alert to a user when they step on the rung assembly so that the user recognizes their position relative to the ground or supporting surface. In one embodiment, the rung assembly is configured such that a front edge remains in a constant or fixed position relative to the rails to which it is coupled so that a user can rely on a fixed or constant position of the front edge of the assembly when climbing or descending the ladder.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved system of electro-mechanical hydraulic valve lifters for piston engine automobiles that increases fuel economy and reduces fuel emissions. The electro-mechanical hydraulic valve lifters enclose a magnetorheological fluid chamber, containing magnetorheological fluid. A control module manages voltage sent to the magnetorheological fluid in the magnetorheological fluid chamber. The control module introduces various amounts of magnetic flux to the magnetorheological fluid in the magnetorheological fluid chamber. The magnetorheological fluid's viscosity changes based on the amount of magnetic flux applied to it from the electromagnets and, along with the magnetorheological fluid chamber spring, controls how much an intake and exhaust port of the spark plug engine opens to control the amount of fuel used and exhaust let out of the engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved system of electro-mechanical hydraulic valve lifters for piston engine automobiles that increases fuel economy and reduces fuel emissions. The electro-mechanical hydraulic valve lifters contain that enclose a magnetorheological fluid chamber, containing magnetorheological fluid. A control module manages voltage sent to the magnetorheological fluid in the magnetorheological fluid chamber. The control module introduces various amounts of magnetic flux to the magnetorheological fluid in the magnetorheological fluid chamber. The magnetorheological fluid's viscosity changes based on the amount of magnetic flux applied to it from the electromagnets and, along with the magnetorheological fluid chamber spring, controls how much an intake and exhaust port of the spark plug engine opens to control the amount of fuel used and exhaust let out of the engine.

Abstract: A method serves for determining particles (3), in particular bacteria in fluid and operates using an imaging optical device with a light source (1), with an optical sensor (4) with a field of light-sensitive pixels and with a fluid sample, which is to be examined, arranged between the light source (1) and the sensor (4). Characteristics of at least one particle (3), which is detected with regard to imaging, are compared to characteristics of a characteristics collection for determining the detected particle (3). The image acquisition is effected with darkfield technology and a light-sensitive pixel comprises several subpixels which are used for image acquisition.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an oral composition comprising a combination of salivating agents and gum sensates in an orally acceptable carrier useful in treating and/or alleviating the symptoms associated with xerostomia. Additional components common in oral compositions may also be used, in order to potentiate the effect. Such components may be chosen among humectants, mucoadhesive polymers, water retention agents, antioxidants, antimicrobials, breath fresheners.

Abstract: Methods and system for the use of wireless tags, associated or attached to items to be tracked may be provided for the detection of wireless tags by wireless bridges. The wireless bridges may provide a gateway between the wireless tags and a broader network, including local networks such as home/office WI-FI, the Internet, or the Internet via WI-FI or other local network. The wireless bridges may detect the presence of wireless tags within detection range and communicate the presence of wireless tags, the wireless tag identity, as well as wireless bridge location to a user device with access to the network, thus providing location information about the item associated with a particular tag to a user.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an oral composition comprising a combination of salivating agents and gum sensates in an orally acceptable carrier useful in treating and/or alleviating the symptoms associated with xerostomia. Additional components common in oral compositions may also be used, in order to potentiate the effect. Such components may be chosen among humectants, mucoadhesive polymers, water retention agents, antioxidants, antimicrobials, breath fresheners.