Abstract: A system for a solar-powered protective car charging cover. The solar-powered car charging cover is designed to directly trickle charge electric cars by bypassing the internal charging power supply whilst also providing a protective barrier around the vehicle. This trickle charge provides enough power for charging cellular phones, powering lights, and other small electronics without further draining the battery and may even produce a net-positive charge to charge the vehicle's batteries. The barrier portion is a multi-layer cover with an adjustable-rigid air bladder layer sandwiched between an outer solar-panel layer and an inner vehicle paint protection layer. Zippered portions provide multiple configurations including using the solar-powered car charging cover without a vehicle for a make-shift tent with solar-powered charging ports. A power control box provides the means to connect external power sources to the solar-powered car charging cover.

Abstract: A system for a solar-powered protective car charging cover. The solar-powered car charging cover is designed to directly trickle charge electric cars by bypassing the internal charging power supply whilst also providing a protective barrier around the vehicle. This trickle charge provides enough power for charging cellular phones, powering lights, and other small electronics without further draining the battery and may even produce a net-positive charge to charge the vehicle's batteries. The barrier portion is a multi-layer cover with an adjustable-rigid air bladder layer sandwiched between an outer solar-panel layer and an inner vehicle paint protection layer. Zippered portions provide multiple configurations including using the solar-powered car charging cover without a vehicle for a make-shift tent with solar-powered charging ports. A power control box provides the means to connect external power sources to the solar-powered car charging cover.

Abstract: Accordingly, the inventor has conceived and reduced to practice, a system and method of farming using a computer controlled micro-environment suitable for soil-based and soilless growing media that is sustainable and totally automated from seed to harvest. The system utilizes software, sensor networks, and computing hardware that monitors the environment in the growing units and provides nutrients, water, lighting, air flow, and temperature control specific to the crop being cultivated in one or a combination of vertical assemblies of growing units by means of an automated system of electronically controlled features. Each unit is enabled to independently seed, cultivate, and produce a mature crop and discharge the contents for further processing for the intended market.

Abstract: A spare tire holder device mounted in a hitch receiver and holding the spare tire upright behind the tail gate of a pickup truck. The device is rotatable so the holder maintains the spare tire upright in a normal position and can be rotated away so as to hold the spare tire in a horizontal position to allow opening of the tail gate without removing the mount device from the truck.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for enabling the originator of a telephone call to send a customized message or signal to an unavailable telephony subscriber on a terminating telephone and to establish a direct operative connection therewith within the same telephone call. The apparatus and method include a Short Message Service device, typically operating in conjunction with a voice mail system and a call forwarding service, for providing the originator of a telephone call to the subscriber with the option of sending a short message to the subscriber's telephone in situations where the subscriber is unavailable. The subscriber may then send a response to the originator and/or choose to establish a direct operative connection therewith within the same telephone call and without requiring either party to place a separate telephone call.

Abstract: A fin-sealed, flat-topped, liquid-packaging carton with substantially triangular flaps of its tope end closure turned down and tacked to adjacent body panels has the horizontal part of its fin heat and pressure adhered to the top wall along approximately only that half of its length further from the triangular flap which will provide a pouring spout so that turning upwards of the spout end of the fin from its position flat against the top wall tends to pull upwards the central part of the top wall. Two score lines extending divergingly from the spout end of the top wall at respective opposite sides of the fin to respective corners of the opposite end of the top wall are thereby broken outwards rather than inwards.

Abstract: Filled and top-sealed cartons are fed in a line to a chamber supplied with dehumidified warm air and short rows, each of two or three cartons, are pushed consecutively and laterally at a grouping station by a vertical plate onto a carrier, which advances the rows in turn through a side-taping station. At the grouping station, a tape-gripping device draws off consecutively from a roll of non-adhesive tape predetermined lengths of the tape, which are gripped at their middle sections in turn and are cut off from the roll, the cut-off end zones falling down to respective opposite sides of the row. The cut-off lengths are advanced with the respective rows through the side-taping station, which has a pair of adhesive-tape-applying rolls at those respective opposite sides and at which respective side tapes are applied to adhere together the cartons of the row and the handle of the row.

Abstract: A gable-topped carton blank is cut from paperboard coated on both faces with thermoplastics. In the top closure, a loop of sub-panels provides a sealing fin. Each of two opposite sub-panels is folded inwardly upon itself and one is opened-out in forming a pouring spout. To reduce the tendency for the internal surface middle zone of this sub-panel to adhere to the internal surfaces of two other upper sub-panels during heat-sealing, these latter surfaces are formed in the blank with embossed recesses corresponding somewhat in position with recesses in sealing jaws.

Abstract: A cold forging machine comprises a fixed die 11 and a movable punch tool 13 reciprocable towards and away from the fixed die to act on a workpiece therein. The tool comprises a tubular punch 34 and extrusion pin 33 movable through the punch to form a bore in the workpiece. The die is provided with a tubular ejector 15 in which slides a carrier pin 16 to enter the bore of the formed workpiece to guide it during ejection. A fault detection system includes a switch 25,61 for detecting non-completion of the normal movement of the carrier pin 16 with respect to the ejector 15, and a further switch for detecting non-completion of normal movement of the extrusion pin 33 with respect to the punch 34.

Abstract: A pad box for cement attaching soles to differently shaped shoe bottoms comprises a forepart pad tiltably and vertically adjustable, a datum pad for supporting a shoe adjacent to its heel breast line, independent movable waist pads adjustable heightwise of the datum pad, a heel presser member mounted for movement heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe, and fluid pressure means for respectively operating the heel presser member and each of the waist pads. The arrangement and construction are such that the waist pads are fluid pressure actuated automatically to support the shoe bottom during pressing in accommodation of its lengthwise and widthwise configuration. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.