Abstract: Apparatuses and methods based thereon are provided for utilizing washing attachments in portable manner. A washing attachment may comprise a movement component and a washing component. The movement component is adapted to connect the washing attachment to a driving device that is operable to provide a driving force to the washing attachment. The washing component is adapted to fit within a space in the container when the washing attachment is applied to the container, and is configured to facilitate laundry washing within the space when the driving force is applied to the washing attachment. The washing component may be an auger component having a helical-shaped structure. The helical-shaped structure may comprise helical extensions (e.g., spiral blades) configured to generate washing movement in the space. When the driving device is a power drill, the helical-shaped structure may be designed such that the spacing between spiral blades of the structure is 0.9 inches.

Abstract: A power tool that includes a brushless DC motor, one or more motor sensors, and a controller, such as, for example, an electronic speed control (ESC) circuit. The controller is adapted to provide instructions to control the operation of one or more parameters of the brushless DC motor. The controller is also adapted to receive feedback from one or more motor sensors that reflect whether the motor is attaining the one or more parameters. The controller may also be adapted to have a learning mode, in which feedback provided during use of the power tool is stored by the controller as a program so that the same operating parameters may be subsequently replicated by using the program to operate the tool. The controller may also use the feedback to adjust the operation of the motor so that the motor maintains one or more selected or programmed operating parameters.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods based thereon are provided for mixing utilizing mixer inserts. A mixer insert may be adapted to enclose a space in a container, with the mixer insert having one or more securing components for securing the mixer insert to the container, and one or more mixing components, adapted to fit within the enclosed space when the mixer insert is secured to the container, with the one or more mixing components being configured to mix material placed within the enclosed space when the container is subject to a rotational force or movement. The mixer insert may have a closing section that has a shape matching an opening of the container, with the mixer insert being configured such that the closing section engages the opening of the container. At least one of the mixing components may be a blade, which may be twisted along the length of the blade.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods based thereon are provided for mixing utilizing mixer inserts. A mixer insert may comprise an enclosing component adapted for application to an opening in a container to which the mixer insert is applied, to enclose a space in the container. The mixer insert may further comprise one or more mixing components, adapted to fit within the enclosed space when the enclosing component is applied to the opening in the container, with the one or more mixing components being configured to mix material placed within the enclosed space when the combination of the container and the mixer insert is subject to particular force or movement.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling wireless control of devices via portable power supply components. A power supply component may be configured to store and discharge power, which may be configured for use to supply power to a first device, may be additionally configured to pair the first device with a second device; to determine power related data associated with the power supply component, to generate one or more control messages based on the power related data; and to wirelessly communicate the one or more control messages to the second device. The power related data may include information relating to one or more conditions associated with use of power stored in the power supply component.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling wireless control by use of portable power supply systems with embedded communication components. A power supply component, which is operable to store and discharge power, and which may be configured for use in a first device to supply power thereto in portable manner, may be configured to determine data associated with the power supply component. The data may comprise information relating to one or more conditions associated with use of power stored in the power supply component, in conjunction with operation of the first device. The power supply component may comprise a communication element, for wirelessly communicating messages to a second device that is physically separate from the first device, to control at least part of operations of the second device. Controlling operations of the second device may comprise activating or deactivating the second device based on use of power by the first device.

Abstract: Embodiments for monitoring and powering one or more sump pumps of a sump pump system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a monitoring device includes a battery, a power inverter, a power outlet, and a power cord to receive AC power from an AC power outlet. A sump pump system includes a sump and an AC pump coupled to the power outlet of the monitoring device. The monitoring device is configured to select between AC power received from the AC power outlet and AC power supplied by the battery and the power inverter, and provide the selected AC power to the AC pump via the power outlet of the monitoring device.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for monitoring a sump pump system. The monitoring device may include electrical sensors to sense electrical characteristics of the sump pump system. The sensors may include one or more current clamps which may be clamped around an electrical lead or wire of the sump pump system. The monitoring device may further include control logic circuitry configured to monitor sensed electrical characteristics of the sump pump system and deduce an operating status based on the sensed electrical characteristics. The monitoring device may further include a communications interface configured to report the deduced operating status to an interested party via a communications device.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods based thereon are provided for utilizing washing attachments in portable manner. A washing attachment may comprise a movement component and a washing component. The movement component is adapted to connect the washing attachment to a driving device that is operable to provide a driving force to the washing attachment. The washing component is adapted to fit within a space in the container when the washing attachment is applied to the container, and is configured to facilitate laundry washing within the space when the driving force is applied to the washing attachment. The washing component may be an auger component having a helical-shaped structure. The helical-shaped structure may comprise helical extensions (e.g., spiral blades) configured to generate washing movement in the space. When the driving device is a power drill, the helical-shaped structure may be designed such that the spacing between spiral blades of the structure is 0.9 inches.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods based thereon are provided for mixing utilizing mixer inserts. A mixer insert may comprise an enclosing component adapted for application to an opening in a container to which the mixer insert is applied, to enclose a space in the container. The mixer insert may further comprise one or more mixing components, adapted to fit within the enclosed space when the enclosing component is applied to the opening in the container, with the one or more mixing components being configured to mix material placed within the enclosed space when the combination of the container and the mixer insert is subject to particular force or movement.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling wireless control by use of portable power supply systems with embedded communication components. A power supply component, which is operable to store and discharge power, and which may be configured for use in a first device to supply power thereto in portable manner, may be configured to determine data associated with the power supply component. The data may comprise information relating to one or more conditions associated with use of power stored in the power supply component, in conjunction with operation of the first device. The power supply component may comprise a communication element, for wirelessly communicating messages to a second device that is physically separate from the first device, to control at least part of operations of the second device. Controlling operations of the second device may comprise activating or deactivating the second device based on use of power by the first device.

Abstract: Embodiments for monitoring and powering one or more sump pumps of a sump pump system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a monitoring device includes a battery, a power inverter, a power outlet, and a power cord to receive AC power from an AC power outlet. A sump pump system includes a sump and an AC pump coupled to the power outlet of the monitoring device. The monitoring device is configured to select between AC power received from the AC power outlet and AC power supplied by the battery and the power inverter, and provide the selected AC power to the AC pump via the power outlet of the monitoring device.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for monitoring a sump pump system. The monitoring device may include electrical sensors to sense electrical characteristics of the sump pump system. The sensors may include one or more current clamps which may be clamped around an electrical lead or wire of the sump pump system. The monitoring device may further include control logic circuitry configured to monitor sensed electrical characteristics of the sump pump system and deduce an operating status based on the sensed electrical characteristics. The monitoring device may further include a communications interface configured to report the deduced operating status to an interested party via a communications device.

Abstract: A binding machine includes a body, an actuator coupled with the body, and a punch mechanism housed in the body for punching a stack of sheets upon actuation of the actuator. The punch mechanism includes a plate including a plurality of punch pins. The punch pins are configured to punch through the stack of sheets during a punch stroke. A shaft is coupled with the actuator such that movement of the actuator causes rotation of the shaft. At least one cam is mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. The cam is coupled with the plate to drive the plate in a punching direction. The cam includes a cam profile that dictates displacement of the plate in the punching direction relative to rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: A ratchet having an internal motor for rotatably displacing a mechanical fastener. The motor has a torque capacity that provides a minimum torque level. The minimum torque level is below a maximum torque level that is used to secure, or loosen, the mechanical fastener at/from a tightened position. When the mechanical fastener is being moved toward the desired tightened position, the motor of the ratchet may allow for relatively rapid rotational displacement of the mechanical fastener until the torque capacity of the motor is reached. The remaining torque, or maximum torque level, then needed to secure the mechanical fastener in, or at, a tightened position may be provided by the user pushing or pulling on the handle of the ratchet, wherein a wheel in the head portion having a drive may thereby be rotated so that a mechanical fastener that is operably connected to the drive is also rotated.

Abstract: A binding machine includes a body, an actuator coupled with the body, and a punch mechanism housed in the body for punching a stack of sheets upon actuation of the actuator. The punch mechanism includes a plate including a plurality of punch pins. The punch pins are configured to punch through the stack of sheets during a punch stroke. A shaft is coupled with the actuator such that movement of the actuator causes rotation of the shaft. At least one cam is mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. The cam is coupled with the plate to drive the plate in a punching direction. The cam includes a cam profile that dictates displacement of the plate in the punching direction relative to rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: A power tool that includes a brushless DC motor, one or more motor sensors, and a controller, such as, for example, an electronic speed control (ESC) circuit. The controller is adapted to provide instructions to control the operation of one or more parameters of the brushless DC motor. The controller is also adapted to receive feedback from one or more motor sensors that reflect whether the motor is attaining the one or more parameters. The controller may also be adapted to have a learning mode, in which feedback provided during use of the power tool is stored by the controller as a program so that the same operating parameters may be subsequently replicated by using the program to operate the tool. The controller may also use the feedback to adjust the operation of the motor so that the motor maintains one or more selected or programed operating parameters.

Abstract: A binding system for binding a stack of sheets with a binding element includes a binding machine having an indicia associated with an operation to be performed in binding the stack of sheets, and at least one binding element having an indicia corresponding to the indicia on the binding machine.

Abstract: A binding machine includes a body, an actuator coupled with the body, and a punch mechanism housed in the body for punching a stack of sheets upon actuation of the actuator. The punch mechanism includes a plate including a plurality of punch pins. The punch pins are configured to punch through the stack of sheets during a punch stroke, the punch stroke defining a force profile. A portion of the force profile defined from a first drop in force to a last peak force before a final decrease has no more than a 15 percent change in force relative to a normalized maximum force of the force profile.

Abstract: A binding machine includes a body, an actuator coupled with the body, and a punch mechanism housed in the body for punching a stack of sheets upon actuation of the actuator. The punch mechanism includes a plate including a plurality of punch pins. The punch pins are configured to punch through the stack of sheets during a punch stroke, the punch stroke defining a force profile. A portion of the force profile defined from a first drop in force to a last peak force before a final decrease has no more than a 15 percent change in force relative to a normalized maximum force of the force profile.