Abstract: A folding cane with a first shaft member, a second shaft member, a third shaft member, a handle member, a foot member, a first hinge, a second hinge, a first hinge lock assembly and a second hinge lock assembly is disclosed. The handle member is attached to the top of the first shaft member. The first hinge member connects the first shaft member to the second shaft member. The second hinge member connects the second shaft member to the third shaft member. The foot member is attached to the bottom of the third shaft member. The hinge lock assemblies are capable of automatically locking the hinges when the folding cane is deployed to the use position and each hinge lock assembly includes a spring biased slide tab allowing a user to unlock the hinge lock assemblies when wanting to fold the cane into a compact stored configuration.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device that includes a touch screen display configured to display information and to permit a user to enter information, a network connection configured to communicate with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller, and a controller in operative communication with the touch screen display and the network connection. The controller may be configured to receive one or more messages related to the operation of the HVAC system via the network connection, and to display the one or more messages on the touch screen display.

Abstract: An HVAC controller includes a user interface configured to accept inputs from a user and to display information to the user, and a controller configured to process inputs from the user interface and to provide the user interface with information to be displayed. An equipment connection may be connectable to one or more HVAC components and may be operably coupled to the controller. A network connection may be operably coupled to the controller and may provide the controller with access to outside information. The controller may output (via the user interface) a particular cue in response to information received from the equipment connection and/or the network connection, and wherein the particular cue is a cue that was previously selected and activated by the user.

Abstract: A building automation system may adjust operation of a building system based upon information regarding the relative location of one or more users of the building automation system. In some embodiments, a mobile device having location services for determining a location of the mobile device may provide this information. A mobile device may include a user interface, a memory for storing two or more predetermined geo-fences each defining a different sized region about a home of a user of the mobile device and a controller operatively coupled to user interface and the memory, the controller configured to accept a selection of one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences via the user interface. The controller may report when the location of the mobile device crosses the selected one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences to a remote device. Other geofencing approaches are also described.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device that includes a touch screen display configured to display information and to permit a user to enter information. A network connection is configured to communicate with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller. A controller may display one or more screens on the touch screen display of the mobile device and to accept input from a user to remotely program one or more functions of the HVAC controller. The controller may provide a tour via the touch screen display of the mobile device that guides a user though programming functions of the HVAC controller and may output the one or more programmed functions of the HVAC controller to the remote server via the network connection.

Abstract: A building automation system may adjust operation of a building system based upon information regarding the relative location of one or more users of the building automation system. In some embodiments, a mobile device having location services for determining a location of the mobile device may provide this information. A mobile device may include a user interface, a memory for storing two or more predetermined geo-fences each defining a different sized region about a home of a user of the mobile device and a controller operatively coupled to user interface and the memory, the controller configured to accept a selection of one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences via the user interface. The controller may report when the location of the mobile device crosses the selected one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences to a remote device. Other geofencing approaches are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a walking stick made from a plurality of telescoping rigid tubular members. Locking joints at the juncture of adjacent tubular members allow the height of the walking stick to be adjusted. A resilient handle grip surrounds the upper surface of the top-most tubular member. A ball shaped top is fastened to the end of the top-most tubular member. The walking stick is capable of being used as an aid to help a person rise from a sitting position by placing the person's weight on the ball shaped top portion and using arm muscles to push up from the seated position to a standing position. In the preferred embodiment the ball shape is approximately three inches in diameter.

Abstract: A mobility assisting walker device with a folding frame assembly, a pair of non-swiveling wheels, a pair of friction pads, a pair of support handles and a pair of lift arms is disclosed. The non-swivel wheels are mounted to the bottom front portion of the folding frame and the friction pads mounted to the bottom rear portion of the frame. The support handles are mounted to the top portion of the frame assembly. The lift arms are each attached to the outer slidable juncture of the frame. The folding frame assembly is capable of going from a narrow, storage position to a wide use position by a user raising or lowering the lift arms. The frame assembly configured to allow the user to have maximum stride capability while using the walker device. A preferred embodiment includes the friction pads are constructed from injection molded high sticktion TPE plastic.

Abstract: A folding cane with a first shaft member, a second shaft member, a third shaft member, a handle member, a foot member, a first hinge, a second hinge, a first hinge lock assembly and a second hinge lock assembly is disclosed. The handle member is attached to the top of the first shaft member. The first hinge member connects the first shaft member to the second shaft member. The second hinge member connects the second shaft member to the third shaft member. The foot member is attached to the bottom of the third shaft member. The hinge lock assemblies are capable of automatically locking the hinges when the folding cane is deployed to the use position and each hinge lock assembly includes a spring biased slide tab allowing a user to unlock the hinge lock assemblies when wanting to fold the cane into a compact stored configuration.

Abstract: A rollator having an auto brake system made of a rigid frame assembly, a pair of forward facing swivel wheels, a pair of rearward facing non-swivel wheels, a pair of support handles, a pair of momentary electrical switches, a seat member, a back-rest member and a pair of electro-mechanical brake assemblies. The electro-mechanical brake assemblies are mounted on the frame assembly just above each rearward facing non-swivel wheel. The momentary electrical switches are mounted on the support handles. The brake assembly is actively engaged when the momentary electrical switches are not pressed and unengaged when the momentary electrical switches are pressed by the user. A preferred embodiment includes a pair of LED lights mounted on the front end of each the support handle, the LED lights being aimable by the user.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat including a housing that houses a temperature sensor, a microphone, and a controller. The controller may identify a trigger phrase in an audio stream provided by the microphone. In response to identifying the trigger phrase, the controller initiates processing of the audio stream to identify a command following the trigger phrase and to generate a command understandable by the thermostat that instructs the controller to perform the identified command. The controller then executes the generated command understandable by the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the microphone of the thermostat and/or a remote device having a microphone.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat including a housing that houses a temperature sensor, a microphone, and a controller. The controller may identify a trigger phrase in an audio stream provided by the microphone. In response to identifying the trigger phrase, the controller initiates processing of the audio stream to identify a command following the trigger phrase and to generate a command understandable by the thermostat that instructs the controller to perform the identified command. The controller then executes the generated command understandable by the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the microphone of the thermostat and/or a remote device having a microphone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-stick processing aid for use in a process for producing water-absorbing polymers, comprising the steps of: i) mixing (?1) 0.1 to 99.999% by weight of polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing acid groups, or salts thereof, (?2) 0 to 70% by weight of polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (?l), (?3) 0.

Abstract: An HVAC controller includes a user interface configured to accept inputs from a user and to display information to the user, and a controller configured to process inputs from the user interface and to provide the user interface with information to be displayed. An equipment connection may be connectable to one or more HVAC components and may be operably coupled to the controller. A network connection may be operably coupled to the controller and may provide the controller with access to outside information. The controller may output (via the user interface) a particular cue in response to information received from the equipment connection and/or the network connection, and wherein the particular cue is a cue that was previously selected and activated by the user.

Abstract: A building automation system may adjust operation of a building system based upon information regarding the relative location of one or more users of the building automation system. In some embodiments, a mobile device having location services for determining a location of the mobile device may provide this information. A mobile device may include a user interface, a memory for storing two or more predetermined geo-fences each defining a different sized region about a home of a user of the mobile device and a controller operatively coupled to user interface and the memory, the controller configured to accept a selection of one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences via the user interface. The controller may report when the location of the mobile device crosses the selected one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences to a remote device. Other geofencing approaches are also described.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat including a housing that houses a temperature sensor, a microphone, and a controller. The controller may identify a trigger phrase in an audio stream provided by the microphone. In response to identifying the trigger phrase, the controller initiates processing of the audio stream to identify a command following the trigger phrase and to generate a command understandable by the thermostat that instructs the controller to perform the identified command. The controller then executes the generated command understandable by the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the microphone of the thermostat and/or a remote device having a microphone.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for collecting and transferring physiological data. Different physiological monitoring appliances can be attached to a portable physiological data collection device. Each physiological monitoring appliance can collect a different physiological data (blood glucose data, heart rate data, etc.) from an individual. Different physiological data can be collected and stored at the portable physiological data collection device. In response to a triggering event, a connection can be established to an external computer system. The stored physiological data can be transferred over the established connection to the external computer system. In some embodiments, the external computer system is a healthcare server that shares collected physiological data as well as other healthcare information with designated entities (e.g., family, doctors, etc.).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-absorbing composition comprising water-absorbing polymer structures, on the surface of which is at least one tannin fraction which has a number-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, which has a weight-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, or which is a hydrolysable gallotannin. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a water-absorbing composition, the water-absorbing composition obtainable by this process, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this process, chemical products, such as, for example, hygiene articles, the use of a water-absorbing composition or of a composite and the use of a tannin fraction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-absorbing composition comprising water-absorbing polymer structures, on the surface of which is at least one tannin fraction which has a number-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, which has a weight-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, or which is a hydrolysable gallotannin. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a water-absorbing composition, the water-absorbing composition obtainable by this process, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this process, chemical products, such as, for example, hygiene articles, the use of a water-absorbing composition or of a composite and the use of a tannin fraction.