Abstract: An apparatus is described herein that may generally include an air pump, a rotatable drum, a flexible hose, and first and second housings. The drum may draw in and let out the flexible hose. The pump may be connected to the flexible hose. The first housing may enclose in inner portion of the drum, and may include a first air intake. The pump may be disposed within the first housing. The second housing may surround the drum and may include a second air intake. The flexible hose may pass through the second air intake. The first intake may be aligned perpendicular to the second air intake. Alternatively, the first intake may be aligned parallel to the second air intake on a side of the drum opposite the second air intake. Sound emitted from the pump may pass over, and be absorbed by, the flexible hose within the second housing.

Abstract: A three-wheeled automobile is described herein. The automobile may include a unibody frame, a flexible engine cowling, and a fastener. The unibody frame may include an exposed unibody panel and/or a removable-panel securing fixture disposed adjacent to the exposed unibody panel. The engine cowling may be secured to the securing fixture. The fastener may pass through the engine cowling panel and may be affixed to the securing fixture, thereby securing the engine cowling panel to the unibody frame. The engine cowling panel may pass over the securing fixture and/or behind the unibody panel. The engine cowling panel may be pressed against the unibody panel outwards from the automobile by a bending force in the engine cowling panel such that the exposed unibody panel may prevent bowing of an outside edge of the engine cowling panel directly adjacent to the unibody panel.

Abstract: A compact inflator is described herein. The inflator may include a rotatable drum, an air pump disposed within the drum, a fixed securing mechanism that provides structural support to, and enables rotation of, the drum, a power supply, and an electric power transmission mechanism. The drum may draw in and let out a hose. The hose may have a first end and a second end, the first end having a connection mechanism that connects the hose to an inflatable object. The air pump may be connected to the second end of the hose. The power supply may provide power to the motor, and may be coupled to the pump or the power supply. The power transmission mechanism may include a slip ring assembly or a pair of parallel inductors, one which rotates with the drum about the other.

Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is described herein. The apparatus may include a pressure mechanism, a thermal device, a plurality of individually actuatable pins, and/or a pin actuation mechanism. The pressure mechanism may create a force against a die surface. The thermal device may change a thermal state of a material forced by the pressure mechanism against the die surface. The plurality of individually actuatable pins may form the die surface. The pin actuation mechanism may be connected to the plurality of actuatable pins and/or may actuate the pins. This apparatus improves on prior solutions in many ways. For example, embodiments of the thermoforming apparatus may require significantly less time between different molds than previous thermoforming machines and 3D printers.

Abstract: A secure remote actuation system is described herein that operates based on voice commands provided by a user and/or owner of the system. The system may include: a remote input receptor having a user interface for receiving one or more user inputs from a user, the user interface having a voice input processor, and the user inputs including vocalization; and a cloud-based network storing one or acceptable inputs and including a network device for obtaining said one or more user inputs from the remote input receptor. The network device may obtain said one or more user inputs from the remote input receptor while the user is using the user interface. The cloud-based network may compare said one or more user inputs to said one or more acceptable inputs. The voice input processor may include a microphone, a speaker, or both, and may perform various types of voice recognition.

Abstract: A vehicle is described herein that includes a body structure such as a windshield and/or a windshield frame, a compartment such as a passenger compartment, one or more body panels around the compartment, and an at least partially floating cover, such as a roof, disposed over the compartment. The floating cover includes one or more body structure mounts and an overhang extending from the body structure over the compartment to an aft portion of the compartment. Other similar embodiments include features such as support structures, support structure mounts that mount the floating cover to the support structures, and various aerodynamic features incorporated into the floating cover. For example, some embodiments include roll bars and roll bar mounts, aerodynamic arcs, and aerodynamically continuous surfaces.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a flexible, roll-up wall are described herein. The wall includes a roller drum having a selectively engageable one-way bearing, one or more power supplies, a motor, a flexible, sound-attenuating sheet, an electromagnet and at least one of a corresponding permanent magnet or ferromagnet, one or more conductive threads, a force meter, and a potentiometer. The motor is coupled to the drum by a transmission. The flexible sheet includes a base fabric and a polymer coating surrounding the base fabric, and is coupled to the roller drum at a first end of the sheet. The one or more conductive threads are woven into the base fabric. At least one conductive thread electrically couples the electromagnet to one of the power supplies. The potentiometer varies the current delivered to the electromagnet based on a force measured by the force meter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the zero-resonance microwave oven are described herein that include a cooking cavity, an opening that allows access to the cavity, one or more microwave-transparent walls surrounding the cavity, a microwave-opaque housing also surrounding the cavity, and a reservoir disposed between the microwave-transparent walls and the microwave-opaque housing. The reservoir is filled with a dielectric material, and has a depth greater than or equal to half the penetration depth of microwaves in the dielectric material and less than or equal to twice the penetration depth of microwaves in the dielectric material. Other embodiments of the zero-resonance microwave oven are also described herein.

Abstract: A system and method for a tamper-resistant network is disclosed. The system includes a primary network hub (PNH) having a PNH transceiver and a PNH microcontroller. The PNH microcontroller has long range spread spectrum frequency hopping (SSFH) firmware, a plurality of frequency hopping sequences, and PNH tamper firmware. The system also includes a peripheral device (PD) having a PD transceiver, a PD tamper circuit, and a PD microcontroller. The PD microcontroller includes the long range SSFH firmware, the plurality of frequency hopping sequences, and PD tamper firmware. The PD communicates to the PNH that it is compromised, and the PNH deactivates the PD and an associated frequency hopping signal.

Abstract: A three-wheeled vehicle crumple zone is described. The crumple zone includes a triangular, single-sided swing arm coupling a wheel to a frame of the vehicle at an end-most portion of the vehicle. The swing arm includes a u-shaped frame yoke coupling the swing arm to the frame and an angled wheel yoke coupling the wheel to the swing arm. The wheel yoke extends from the frame yoke at an angle ranging from 40 to 70 degrees, such that the frame yoke, the wheel yoke, and a centerline axis extending perpendicularly from the frame yoke form a right triangle.

Abstract: A microwave oven is disclosed herein that includes a cooking cavity and a magnetron. The magnetron includes a body portion having an anode, a cathode, one or more magnets, and an antenna extending from the body. The antenna directs microwaves generated by the body to the cooking cavity. The magnetron is movably coupled to a housing surrounding the cooking cavity and the magnetron. For example, in one embodiment, the magnetron oscillates along three perpendicular dimensions of mobility.

Abstract: A system to reduce drafts in front of a window is described. The system includes a window covering and a motor and gearbox that adjust the window covering. The system also includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a microcontroller networked to the motor and temperature sensors. The first temperature sensor is positioned above the window covering within a thermal convection zone of a window associated with the window covering, and the second temperature sensor is positioned below the window covering within the thermal convection zone. The microcontroller instructs the motor to adjust the window covering based on a temperature gradient from the first temperature sensor to the second temperature sensor.

Abstract: A double-cavity microwave oven is disclosed that includes a first and a second cooking cavity, a moveable barrier disposed between the first and the second cavity, a first and a second magnetron, and a first and a second waveguide corresponding to the first and the second magnetron, respectively. The first cavity is electromagnetically isolated from the second cavity, and, as the barrier moves, the size of the first cavity relative to the second cavity changes. As the barrier is in a first position, the first waveguide directs microwaves from the first magnetron to the first cavity and the second waveguide directs microwaves from the second magnetron to the second cavity. As the barrier is in a second position, the first and the second waveguide direct microwaves from the first and the second magnetron to the first cavity. Various embodiments are also disclosed including additional features.

Abstract: Embodiments of a remotely actuatable device are described herein. Such a device may include an electronically actuatable component, a communications module, and a controller. The communications module may include one or more of a receiver, a transmitter, and a transceiver. The controller may electronically communicate with one or more of the electronically actuatable component and the communications module. The controller may store and execute instructions for a set-signal-strength-threshold mode. The instructions may include: receiving at least three signal strength test signals at irregular intervals over a time span ranging from five seconds to five minutes; determining one or more of a mean signal strength and a mode signal strength of the signal strength test signals; and setting a signal strength threshold based on one or more of the mean signal strength and a mode signal strength.

Abstract: A vehicle is described herein that includes a unibody vehicle frame, a vehicle body panel, and one or more monolithic tripartite support mechanisms, which mechanisms provide structural support for at least three frame-mounted vehicle components. Each support mechanism includes a windshield support arm, a side view mirror support arm, and a body panel fixing plate. The side view mirror support arm extends from the windshield support, and the body panel fixing plate extends from the windshield support arm, the side-view mirror support arm, or both. Additionally, the windshield support arm holds a windshield to the vehicle, the side view mirror support arm holds a side view mirror to the vehicle, and the fixing plate secures the body panel to the frame.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment rack is described herein that includes at least one laser and a target. The laser is removably coupled to a wheel of a vehicle. The target corresponds to the laser and is disposed at an opposite end of the vehicle from the laser. The target is directly and removably coupled to a frame of the vehicle such that the target is aligned with the frame at a known angle. The wheel is aligned to the frame by comparing the known angle to an expected and actual position on the target where a beam of light from the laser strikes the target. Some embodiments of the claimed invention include at least a second laser and a second target similarly disposed. Various means of coupling the target or targets to the frame are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-powered switch and a switch dock. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short range wireless transmitter, one or more tactile control buttons, and one or more magnetic prongs. The magnetic prongs are contained within prong slots in a switch body. The prongs are coupled at one end to at least one spring coupled to the switch body, and the spring exerts a retracting force on the prongs when the prongs extend outwards from the switch body. The dock includes one or more metallic holes, where the number of holes matches the number of prongs. The prongs extend from the switch body and fit in the holes when brought near enough to the holes that the holes exert a magnetic force on the prongs that is stronger than the retracting force exerted on the prongs by the spring.

Abstract: Methods for negotiating optimum parameters for communicating between a wireless control device and a wireless user device are disclosed. The methods generally include transmitting a frequency-hopped and spread negotiation signal using network-maximum parameters. The initial parameters make the negotiation signal long-range but low-data. The methods further include adjusting the initial parameters to optimal parameters based on a link budget and data rate requirements received in response to the negotiation signal. The signals are communicated on the 902-928 MHz unlicensed ISM band, and the parameters include spreading factor, output power, and carrier frequency channel bandwidth.

Abstract: A method of powering an intermittent-duty cycle winch is disclosed. The method includes identifying a number of amp-hours required to power the winch through one duty cycle, identifying a minimum required rest period between two consecutive duty cycles, and assembling a power supply unit that powers the winch based, at least in part, on the duty cycle and the rest period. The duty cycle is mechanically or thermally limited. The power supply unit includes at least two components: a power storage unit and a charging unit that recharges the power storage unit during the rest periods. The power storage unit powers the winch through at least one duty cycle. The charging unit recharges the power storage unit during the rest period so that the power storage can power the winch through at least a second duty cycle that immediately follows the end of the minimum required rest period.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for an automotive vehicle is described herein. The assembly includes a cylindrical rim, a tire around the rim, two spoke assemblies, a wheel hub, a brake assembly, and a mounting arm. The rim is symmetrical, and has a first flange on a first side of the rim and a second flange on a second side of the rim. The tire is disposed around the rim. The first spoke assembly is coupled to the first flange and has a hub-mounting structure at its center. The second spoke assembly is coupled to the second flange and has an opening at its center. The wheel hub and brake assembly are disposed inside the rim between the first and second spoke assemblies, coupled to the hub-mounting structure. The mounting arm passes through the opening at the center of the second spoke assembly and couples the wheel assembly to the vehicle.