Abstract: A motorized window treatment provides a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment includes a covering material, a drive shaft, at least one lift cord rotatably received around the drive shaft and connected to the covering material, and a motor coupled to the drive shaft for raising and lowering the covering material. The window treatment also includes a spring assist unit for assisting the motor by providing a torque that equals the torque provided by the weight on the cords that lift the covering material at a position midway between fully-open and fully-closed positions, which helps to minimize motor usage and conserve battery life if a battery is used to power the motorized window treatment. The window treatment may comprise a photosensor for measuring the amount of daylight outside the window and temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures inside and outside of the window.

Abstract: A motorized window treatment may provide a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment may include a covering material (e.g., a cellular shade fabric or a roller shade fabric), a drive assembly for raising and lowering the covering material, and a motor drive unit including a motor configured to drive the drive assembly to raise and lower the covering material. The motorized window treatment may comprise one or more battery packs configured to receive batteries for powering the motor drive unit. The batteries may be located out of view of a user of the motorized window treatment (e.g., in a headrail or in a battery compartment). The motorized window treatment may use various power-saving methods to lengthen the lifetime of the batteries, e.g., to reduce the motor speed to conserve additional battery power and extend the lifetime of the batteries.

Abstract: A motorized window treatment for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window includes a covering material, a drive shaft, and a motor coupled to the drive shaft for raising and lowering the covering material. The window treatment also includes a spring assist unit for assisting the motor by providing a torque that equals the torque provided by the weight on the cords that lift the covering material at a position midway between fully-open and fully-closed positions to minimize motor usage and conserve battery life. The window treatment may comprise a photosensor for measuring the amount of daylight outside the window and temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures inside and outside of the window. The position of the covering material may be automatically controlled in response to the photosensor and the temperature sensors, or in response to an infrared or radio-frequency remote control.

Abstract: A case has a quick-access weapon holder assembly that moves from a concealed position to an accessible position. The weapon carried by the weapon holder assembly may be a firearm, a chemical-based defense weapon, a baton, or an electricity-based (electroshock) weapon. The weapon holder assembly may include a holster designed to secure the weapon in the manner of a traditional holster so that the weapon is securely held by the weapon holder assembly and so the weapon does not unintentionally fall out of the holder assembly during normal use of the case. The movement of the weapon holder assembly is actuated without the need for the user to remove his hand from the normal case-carrying position. The normal case-carrying position is one wherein the user's hand is positioned on a handle of a hard-sided case or positioned on the lower portion of the front portion of a strap of a soft-sided case or purse.

Abstract: Automobile steering linkage systems and methods are provided in the various embodiments of the present invention. Some embodiments of the present invention can be used in heavy-duty automobiles for steering linkage toe-adjustment systems, and other embodiments can be utilized in other automobiles. An automobile steering linkage system can comprise a first rod and a unitary second rod. The first rod can be coupled between a first point and a first wheel, and the length of the first rod can be altered. The second rod can be coupled to the first wheel and a second wheel, and an eccentric ball stud can couple the second rod to the second wheel to alter the distance between the first wheel and the second wheel thus providing an automobile toe-adjustment system. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

Abstract: Automobile steering linkage systems and methods are provided in the various embodiments of the present invention. Some embodiments of the present invention can be used in heavy-duty automobiles for steering linkage toe-adjustment systems, and other embodiments can be utilized in other automobiles. An automobile steering linkage system can comprise a first rod and a unitary second rod. The first rod can be coupled between a first point and a first wheel, and the length of the first rod can be altered. The second rod can be coupled to the first wheel and a second wheel, and an eccentric ball stud can couple the second rod to the second wheel to alter the distance between the first wheel and the second wheel thus providing an automobile toe-adjustment system. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

Abstract: A sign support structure, such as for supporting a distress flag or any other information-carrying flag. The structure comprises an elongated main shaft which is secured at a lower end to a support base having a magnet therein. A flat support surface is provided under the support base whereby the base can be attached to any metal surface such as the roof top or door of a car. A coupling element is removably secured to an upper end of the main shaft and has a transverse support shaft secured thereto. The coupling element also has an axial bore opening in a lower end thereof to receive a free end portion of the upper end of the main shaft. Furthermore, the coupling element has a second bore disposed transverse to the axial bore and above a base of the axial bore and above the axial bore and below the transverse support shaft for receiving the free end portion of the main shaft when the support structure is in a storage position.