Abstract: A windshield washing system and method including a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly (110). The windshield wiper and sprayer assembly (110) includes a windshield wiper assembly (114), a windshield wiper driver assembly operative to move the windshield wiper assembly (114) in rotational and linear motion along a vehicle windshield, a windshield sprayer assembly (116) mounted on the windshield wiper assembly (114), the windshield sprayer assembly (116) includes at least one sprayer.

Abstract: Inflatable support apparatus (4) comprising at least one inflatable support element (6, 8, 10) comprising a portion adapted to be fit under a groin area of a person, and a carrier (54) attached to said at least one inflatable support element (6, 8, 10) adapted to lift said person supported by said at least one inflatable support element (6, 8, 10), characterized in that said carrier (54) is connected to said at least one inflatable support element (6, 8, 10) by a plurality of straps (72, 80) attached at at least three attachment points to said at least one at least one inflatable support element (6, 8, 10) and at at least two attachment points to said carrier (54); and wherein said at least one inflatable support element (6, 8, 10) defines a plane for supporting said person in standing and walking positions, and an angle of said plane with respect to a horizontal plane is lowerable and raisable by adjusting said straps (72, 80) attached to said two attachment points to said carrier (54).

Abstract: Apparatus for informing a driver of a first vehicle that his headlights are blinding the driver of another vehicle, the apparatus including a dynamic retroreflector mounted on the other vehicle and arranged such that light from the headlights of the first vehicle is reflected by the dynamic retroreflector to the eyes of the driver of the first vehicle.

Abstract: A solenoid valve comprises a first coil, a plunger, a first and a second opening in the valve, and a latching mechanism placed in association with the first opening. The latching mechanism causes latching, with a predetermined latching force, of the plunger to the first opening, and energization of the first coil along a predetermined first polarity causes at least a reduction of the latching force. The plunger has a first end towards the first opening and a second end towards the second opening, and a magnetic field extensor extends a first pole of the magnetic field produced by the first coil to the first end of the plunger. The extensor comprises a hollow cylindrical ferrous member terminated by a ferrous endpiece and is movable, with the plunger, relative to the first opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, including a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid, a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning a vehicle window, and a first heating element disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel, characterized by an auxiliary heating element being disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel, wherein the auxiliary heating element is disposed at a bottom portion of the vessel and is operative to heat a quantity of fluid which is not necessarily sufficient to cover the first heating element.

Abstract: Patient support apparatus comprising a patient support assembly, a winch for vertically displacing the patient support assembly, yieldable force application apparatus operative to apply a restraining force to the patient support assembly, and a displacement limiter operative to limit the vertical displacement of the patient support assembly in at least one direction.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising driving apparatus coupled to a load, sensing apparatus for sensing at least one of position, velocity and acceleration being coupled to the driving apparatus, apparatus for determining input power to the driving apparatus, inaccuracy compensation control apparatus receiving a first input from the sensing apparatus and a second input from the apparatus for determining input power and providing a compensated output indication indicating at least one of the position, velocity, force and acceleration of the load on the basis of information regarding non-linearities between the driving apparatus and the load including information indicative of whether or not the load is driving the driving apparatus or the driving apparatus is driving the load.

Abstract: Positioning apparatus comprising driving apparatus to a load, position sensing apparatus coupled to the driving apparatus, apparatus for sensing input power to the driving apparatus, inaccuracy compensation control apparatus receiving a first input from the position sensing apparatus indicating the position of the driving apparatus and a second input from the apparatus for sensing input power and providing a compensated output indication indicating the position of the load on the basis of information regarding non-linearities in position changes between the driving apparatus and the load including information indicative of whether or not the load is driving the driving apparatus or the driving apparatus is driving the load.