Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole, an upper connected to the sole, and an insole positioned within a foot cavity. The upper includes an outer shell extending from the heel region to the forefoot region, the outer shell including an outer heel wall defining an upper perimeter. A bootie is positioned within the outer shell and extends from the heel region to the forefoot region. The bootie is free floating relative to the outer shell within the heel region. The booting includes an inner heel cup configured to be moved between an upright position and a folded position. A posterior wall of the inner heel cup extends above the upper perimeter of the outer heel wall when the inner heel cup is in the upright position. The posterior wall of the inner heel cup is laid against the insole when the inner heel cup is in the folded position.

Abstract: The invention is a reconfigurable workspace. The workspace is compact in order to keep components of the workspace within an arm's reach while standing in a fixed location. The workspace is made up of two rectangular housings, preferably of the same compact size and shape. The first housing has at least a sink and a counter space, though it could have other appliances. The second housing has a circulating storage system, preferably an automated storage and retrieval system that delivers items to a convenient access point. The two housings are repositionable in relation to each other along a fixed path. An apparatus such as a hinge or a set of tracks repositions the housings in relation to each other along the fixed path.

Abstract: The invention is an automated storage and retrieval system. Positionable objects are stored in columns within a frame. When a user requests an object, the objects are selectively relocated until the requested object is brought to an access point. The objects are relocated by planar motion mechanisms attached to the walls of the frame. When not moving, the objects are suspended from mountings that extend from the same walls that the planar motion mechanisms are attached to. The mountings are controlled by actuators within the walls. The mountings are retractable to allow the planar motion mechanisms to pass. Each of the objects is supported by more than one mounting so that support is not withdrawn when any one mounting is retracted to allow a planar motion mechanism to pass. The design allows objects to be arranged in more than two columns within an automated storage and retrieval system.

Abstract: A waste fragmenting toilet apparatus with pressurized water jets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a toilet bowl, a toilet trap, a water supply, and a plurality of oscillating water jet nozzles. The oscillating water jet nozzles are located within line of sight of recurrent waste blockage zones, interior to the toilet trap and/or toilet bowl. When actuated, the oscillating water jet nozzles inject pressurized water into a trap area breaking up waste material as it passes through. The oscillating water jet nozzles may be used to preemptively prevent blockages and to remove existing blockages.

Abstract: A thin scale apparatus for measuring body weight includes 5 or more force sensors within a total thickness of between 0.4 inches and 0.004 inches measured between a bottom surface and a top surface of the thin scale apparatus. The thin scale is designed to be thin enough to be non-intrusive or not recognized by a user. A weight of a toilet user may be determined as a combination of additive force of force sensors in a thin scale and force sensor associated with a toilet seat of a toilet. The force sensors may be positioned in one or more cavities on a bottom side of a substrate material of the thin scale or be embedded within a substrate material. Embodiments of a standalone thin scale and a thin scale with a toilet are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a reconfigurable workspace. The workspace is compact in order to keep components of the workspace within an arm's reach while standing in a fixed location. The workspace is made up of two rectangular housings, preferably of the same compact size and shape. The first housing has at least a sink and a counter space, though it could have other appliances. The second housing has a circulating storage system, preferably an automated storage and retrieval system that delivers items to a convenient access point. The two housings are repositionable in relation to each other along a fixed path. An apparatus such as a hinge or a set of tracks repositions the housings in relation to each other along the fixed path.

Abstract: The invention is an automated storage and retrieval system. Positionable objects are stored in columns within a frame. When a user requests an object, the objects are selectively relocated until the requested object is brought to an access point. The objects are relocated by planar motion mechanisms attached to the walls of the frame. When not moving, the objects are suspended from mountings that extend from the same walls that the planar motion mechanisms are attached to. The mountings are controlled by actuators within the walls. The mountings are retractable to allow the planar motion mechanisms to pass. Each of the objects is supported by more than one mounting so that support is not withdrawn when any one mounting is retracted to allow a planar motion mechanism to pass. The design allows objects to be arranged in more than two columns within an automated storage and retrieval system.

Abstract: An excreta-sampling toilet is disclosed which includes a bowl, a processing apparatus, and a chiller. The bowl separates excreta into solid excreta and liquid excreta. The processing apparatus then processes the solid excreta into a solid excreta sample, including metering it by weight or volume and storing it in containers. The chiller lowers the temperature of the sample, which is stored to await analysis. A metered liquid excreta sample is also stored and chilled in separate storage containers.

Abstract: An excreta-sampling toilet is disclosed which includes a bowl, a processing apparatus, and a chiller. The bowl separates excreta into solid excreta and liquid excreta. The processing apparatus then processes the solid excreta into a solid excreta sample, including metering it by weight or volume and storing it in containers. The chiller lowers the temperature of the sample, which is stored to await analysis. A metered liquid excreta sample is also stored and chilled in separate storage containers.

Abstract: A waste fragmenting toilet apparatus with pressurized water jets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a toilet bowl, a toilet trap, a water supply, and a plurality of oscillating water jet nozzles. The oscillating water jet nozzles are located within line of sight of recurrent waste blockage zones, interior to the toilet trap and/or toilet bowl. When actuated, the oscillating water jet nozzles inject pressurized water into a trap area breaking up waste material as it passes through. The oscillating water jet nozzles may be used to preemptively prevent blockages and to remove existing blockages.

Abstract: A thin scale apparatus for measuring body weight includes 5 or more force sensors within a total thickness of between 0.4 inches and 0.004 inches measured between a bottom surface and a top surface of the thin scale apparatus. The thin scale is designed to be thin enough to be non-intrusive or not recognized by a user. A weight of a toilet user may be determined as a combination of additive force of force sensors in a thin scale and force sensor associated with a toilet seat of a toilet. The force sensors may be positioned in one or more cavities on a bottom side of a substrate material of the thin scale or be embedded within a substrate material. Embodiments of a standalone thin scale and a thin scale with a toilet are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is an automated storage and retrieval system in which objects within the system may be repositioned one at a time in a circular or non-circular sequence. The system comprises a frame with one or more walls, one or more movable objects arranged in columns within the frame, one or more connectors mounted to the walls to which the movable objects are attached, and one or more planar motion mechanisms mounted to the frame. The system further comprises suspending the objects from the planar motion mechanisms to reposition the objects within the frame. Preferably, the planar motion mechanism is an H-bot. The objects can be storage bins or appliances. Advantages of the system are that it objects can be retrieved more quickly, the system can operate at less than full capacity, and the objects do not stack and therefore do not have strict structural requirements.

Abstract: The invention is a method for repositioning objects in an automated storage and retrieval system. The method allows objects to move one at a time in an optimally efficient non-revolving sequence, so that often-used storage items can be retrieved more quickly. The method includes arranging positionable objects, such as storage bins or appliances, within a frame with one or more walls. The objects are attached removably to the walls by connectors, such as hooks. One or more planar motion mechanisms, such as H-bots, are mounted on the walls next to the objects. The planar motion mechanisms lift the objects from the connectors to reposition the objects. When a target object is designated, a microcontroller teaches the planar motion mechanisms a sequence for moving the objects into vacant spaces such that the target object can travel to a target access position by the most direct path.

Abstract: A noise-cancelling wall is described that includes a height, a width, a depth, and first and second portions. The first portion has a first characteristic acoustic wavelength and a first thickness along the depth, and the second portion has a second characteristic acoustic wavelength and a second thickness along the depth. A relationship between the first and second portions is such that twice a difference between a ratio of the first characteristic acoustic wavelength to the first thickness, and a ratio of the second characteristic acoustic wavelength to the second thickness ranges from 0.25 above an odd integer to 0.25 below the odd integer. The first portion causes an acoustic phase shift of sound waves passing through the first portion relative to sound waves passing through the second portion, and the phase shift results in destructive acoustic interference between sound waves traveling through the wall.