Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include an ironing board with two expandable front legs configured to expand to a wider separation in an open position than in a collapsed position. The wider separation in the open position allows for greater stability without increasing the size of the board in the collapsed position. The ironing board of the present disclosure includes a front leg pivot system that permits each of the front legs to spread apart from each other and an adjustable pivot mechanism that allows the front legs to move apart from the rear legs. In one embodiment, a cam is mounted to the two rear legs to serve as a track for the front legs. In another embodiment, a tension member is mounted to the two front legs to control the spread of the two front legs.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include an ironing board with two expandable front legs configured to expand to a wider separation in an open position than in a collapsed position. The wider separation in the open position allows for greater stability without increasing the size of the board in the collapsed position. The ironing board of the present disclosure includes a front leg pivot system that permits each of the front legs to spread apart from each other and an adjustable pivot mechanism that allows the front legs to move apart from the rear legs. In one embodiment, a cam is mounted to the two rear legs to serve as a track for the front legs. In another embodiment, a tension member is mounted to the two front legs to control the spread of the two front legs.

Abstract: An accelerator module for an electric vehicle, including a rotor actuator designed to hold a magnet in one end and to provide a drive interface with the vehicle at the other end. The accelerator module employs a Hall Effect chip configured to produce a variable voltage output in proportion to the relative locations of the magnet and the Hall Effect chip, such that when the rotor actuator is caused to rotate, the magnet is rotated across the Hall Effect chip. The Hall Effect chip includes a Hall Effect sensor, which senses differences in magnetic fields. When the magnet is passed across the Hall Effect sensor, the magnetic field will change in proportion to the amount of rotation of the rotor actuator. The variable voltage produced by the Hall Effect chip may then be translated into variable acceleration for the vehicle.

Abstract: An accelerator module for an electric vehicle, including a rotor actuator designed to hold a magnet in one end and to provide a drive interface with the vehicle at the other end. The accelerator module employs a Hall Effect chip configured to produce a variable voltage output in proportion to the relative locations of the magnet and the Hall Effect chip, such that when the rotor actuator is caused to rotate, the magnet is rotated across the Hall Effect chip. The Hall Effect chip includes a Hall Effect sensor, which senses differences in magnetic fields. When the magnet is passed across the Hall Effect sensor, the magnetic field will change in proportion to the amount of rotation of the rotor actuator. The variable voltage produced by the Hall Effect chip may then be translated into variable acceleration for the vehicle.

Abstract: A removable filter/pod compartment is filled with coffee grounds, tea, or other espresso particulate brewing substance and mounted within a water reservoir. Water is placed in the water reservoir. A bottom cover is connected to upper cup assembly to hold the filter/pod compartment in place. A resilient gasket or valve is positioned between the filter/pod compartment and a filtrate passage. A filtrate splash cover may be attached to the upper edges of the filtrate reservoir. The assembled beverage maker is placed into a microwave oven. As water in the water reservoir begins to heat up, steam is generated, and hot water is displaced upwards through the filter/pod compartment and particulate brewing substance. The heated beverage is automatically emptied into the filtrate reservoir, which is designed to function as a drinking cup for individually-sized portions.

Abstract: A removable filter/pod compartment is filled with coffee grounds, tea, or other espresso particulate brewing substance and mounted within a water reservoir. Water is placed in the water reservoir. A bottom cover is connected to upper cup assembly to hold the filter/pod compartment in place. A resilient gasket or valve is positioned between the filter/pod compartment and a filtrate passage. A filtrate splash cover may be attached to the upper edges of the filtrate reservoir. The assembled beverage maker is placed into a microwave oven. As water in the water reservoir begins to heat up, steam is generated, and hot water is displaced upwards through the filter/pod compartment and particulate brewing substance. The heated beverage is automatically emptied into the filtrate reservoir, which is designed to function as a drinking cup for individually-sized portions.

Abstract: A position sensor device that produces a variable output voltage when using a light emitting diode, such as an infrared light emitting diode (IR-LED), and a phototransistor further includes the use of a semi-transparent piece of material having a varying thickness that passes between the IR-LED and the phototransistor. The output voltage provided by the phototransistor varies depending on the amount of light collected by the phototransistor, which is controlled by the amount of light passing through the semi-transparent material. The amount of light passing through the transparent material depends on the thickness of the semi-transparent material. With the invention, the semi-transparent material may pass between the IR-LED and phototransistor in either a linear or rotary manner.

Abstract: An accelerator module for an electric vehicle has a pivotal actuator upon which is mounted a wiping element for wiping engagement with variable and constant resistance elements formed upon a printed circuit board mounted within a housing. A normally-open switch mechanism is also mounted upon the printed circuit board, and in order to delay the closure of the normally-open switch mechanism from its OPEN state to its CLOSED state, the actuator is provided with a spring-biased overtravel plunger mechanism which engages a push-button element of the switch mechanism so as to retain the switch in its OPEN state until the actuator has been moved a predetermined distance corresponding to a predetermined amount of depression of the accelerator pedal of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: According to the present invention, water is placed in a water reservoir constructed of plastic microwave-transparent, pressure-resistant material. A funnel positioned on the upper surface of filter compartment is supported on the upper edges of the water reservoir with the spout extending downwardly into the water reservoir. A lower filter is placed into the filter compartment, and coffee grounds or other espresso particulate substance is placed on upper surface of the lower filter. An upper filter is then positioned on the upper surface of filter compartment to restrain the coffee grounds or other particular substance during brewing. A filtrate reservoir is placed over the funnel, and twisted, thereby engaging threads to join the water reservoir and the filtrate reservoir. A filtrate splash cover is attached to the upper edges of the filtrate reservoir. The assembled espresso device is placed into a microwave oven.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for actuating an electrical switch and providing a variable electrical resistance usable to sense displacement of a movable member. The apparatus includes a housing for receiving the electrical switch, a variable resistance element, and an actuator with a body member and a transverse cylindrical sleeve. An electrically conductive wiper is coupled to the actuator and contacts the variable resistance element, which varies with pivotal movement of the actuator. The body member is pivotably supported by an aperture of the housing about an axis of the cylindrical sleeve, and a spring member biases the actuator toward an initial position, wherein the actuator is pivotable against the bias of the spring to actuate the electrical switch and to provide the variable resistance by positioning the electrically conductive wiper along the variable resistance element.

Abstract: A removable filter compartment is filled with coffee grounds, tea, or other espresso particulate substance and mounted within a water reservoir. Water is placed in the water reservoir. A bottom cover is connected to the water reservoir to hold the filter compartment in place. Lower and upper filters are formed into the filter compartment. The lower filter may include a slotted flow distribution port extending into the interior of the filter compartment to improve the distribution of water flow. A cup-like filtrate reservoir is integrally molded to the water reservoir. A filtrate passage forms a fluid path between the filter compartment and the filtrate reservoir. A resilient gasket or valve is positioned between the filter compartment and filtrate passage. A filtrate splash cover may be attached to the upper edges of the filtrate reservoir. The assembled beverage maker is placed into a microwave oven.

Abstract: According to the present invention, water is placed in a water reservoir constructed of plastic microwave-transparent, pressure-resistant material. A funnel positioned on the upper surface of filter compartment is supported on the upper edges of the water reservoir with the spout extending downwardly into the water reservoir. A lower filter is placed into the filter compartment, and coffee grounds or other espresso particulate substance is placed on upper surface of the lower filter. An upper filter is then positioned on the upper surface of filter compartment to restrain the coffee grounds or other particular substance during brewing. A filtrate reservoir is placed over the funnel, and twisted, thereby engaging threads to join the water reservoir and the filtrate reservoir. A filtrate splash cover is attached to the upper edges of the filtrate reservoir. The assembled espresso device is placed into a microwave oven.