Abstract: A window blind includes a rod and a support unit. The support unit is disposed on an end portion of the rod, and includes an end cover, a fixing pillar, a support pillar, an inserting tube, and a metallic brace member. The end cover has an outer surface and an inner surface. The fixing pillar includes a rectangular pillar body having a pair of opposing wide faces and a pair of opposing narrow faces. The support pillar extends from the inner surface of the end cover and into the rod. The inserting tube is sleeved rotatably on the support pillar and inserted fixedly into the rod. The metallic brace member includes a ring portion, two wing portions, and two engaging portions.

Abstract: A method for multi-factor authenticating of a user using an application server and an authentication server is disclosed. The method includes receiving from the application server a first source IP address associated with a request for authenticating from the user browser program to the application server. The method also includes receiving from the user browser program a request to perform additional authentication between the user browser program and the authentication server using a separate communication channel. The method additionally includes comparing the first source IP address with a second source IP address associated with the request to perform the additional authentication and failing, if the first source IP address does not match the second source IP address, authentication of the user.

Abstract: A vertical planting apparatus includes a water storage tank, an n-shaped vertical frame extended upwardly from a side of the water storage tank, a water pump motor installed at the water storage tank for pumping irrigation water stored in the water storage tank out from the top of the n-shaped vertical frame through a water delivery pipe, a water permeating layer hanged within a range surrounded by the n-shaped vertical frame, and a plurality of bags formed on the water permeating layer and provided for growing plants, and the irrigation water outputted from the water delivery pipe enters into the permeating layer through the top of the n-shaped vertical frame and permeates sequentially from top to bottom into each of the bags.

Abstract: A water supply device for a planting container comprises a main body having a water storage space and a water supply space. A water supply hole is disposed between the water storage space and the water supply space. Water in the water storage space is transported to the water supply space through the water supply hole. A water absorbing material is disposed in the water supply space and utilizes siphon principle to pump the water in the water supply space. When the water level of the water supply space is higher than the water supply hole, a vacuum effect is generated. When the water level of the water supply space is lower than the water supply hole, the vacuum effect is released so that water in the water storage space is transported to the water supply space through the water supply hole.

Abstract: A hook assembly is adapted to be mounted on a sunshade screen. The hook assembly includes a side strip unit and a hook member. The side strip unit includes a first side strip extending along a longitudinal direction, and a second side strip extending along the longitudinal direction and cooperating with the first side strip for clamping the sunshade screen therebetween. The hook member includes an engaging portion detachably and slidably engaging the first side strip, and a hook portion extending from the engaging portion and exposed from the side strip unit.

Abstract: A sunshade includes a roller and a screen. The roller has an intermediate portion, two end portions extending respectively from opposite ends of the intermediate portion, and a screen-stretching portion disposed on an outer surrounding surface of the intermediate portion. The screen has a main body and two lateral portions. The main body is wound on the screen-stretching portion and the intermediate portion of the roller and has opposite ends. The lateral portions are connected respectively to the opposite ends of the main body and are wound respectively on the end portions of the roller.

Abstract: A sunshade includes a hollow roller, a screen wound on the roller, and a torque unit. The roller has a plurality of positioning protrusions protruding inwardly therefrom. The torque unit includes an axle extending outwardly of the roller, an end plug and a stationary plug inserted fittingly in the roller, a spring, and a bushing. The end plug is sleeved rotatably on the axle. The stationary plug is sleeved fixedly on the axle. The spring is sleeved on the axle and has first and second end portions fixed respectively to the axle and the end plug. The roller, the end plug and the second end portion of the spring are rotated during operation of the screen, so that the spring is twisted and pitches of the spring are decreased. The bushing is disposed between the roller and the spring, is in frictional contact with the protrusions so as to be immovable relative to the roller, and is made of a plastic material.

Abstract: A sunshade includes a roller, a screen wound on the roller, a torque unit, and a latch unit. The torque unit is mounted in the roller, extends outwardly of the roller, and is disposed for urging movement of the screen to a wound state. The latch unit includes a plug disposed in the roller and formed with a pin hole, a pin member, and a biasing member disposed in the roller. The pin member has a main portion (521) extending movably through the pin hole, a diameter-enlarged portion disposed in the roller and connected fixedly to the main portion, and a shoulder portion formed between the main portion and the diameter-enlarged portion and biased by the biasing member to abut resiliently against the plug.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for operating a sunshade, includes a housing, a gear assembly, a drive unit and a vibration limiter. The drive unit 5 includes a motor with an output shaft, a worm gear connected to the output shaft and the gear assembly and having a free end section opposite to the output shaft. The vibration limiter has an embracing member disposed around the free end section to prevent the free end section from shaking. With the vibration limiter, vibration and rattling noises can be eliminated.

Abstract: A window blind includes a rod and a support unit. The support unit is disposed on an end portion of the rod, and includes an end cover, a fixing pillar, a support pillar, an inserting tube, and a metallic brace member. The end cover has an outer surface and an inner surface. The fixing pillar includes a rectangular pillar body having a pair of opposing wide faces and a pair of opposing narrow faces. The support pillar extends from the inner surface of the end cover and into the rod. The inserting tube is sleeved rotatably on the support pillar and inserted fixedly into the rod. The metallic brace member includes a ring portion, two wing portions, and two engaging portions.

Abstract: A sunshade assembly includes a housing having a top opening, a winding shaft mounted rotatably in the housing, a sunshade cloth wound around the winding shaft, a pull rod disposed outside the top opening, a frame body disposed below the housing, a gear rack mounted to the frame body and having a top end connected to the pull rod, and a clutch unit meshing with the gear rack and including a pusher that is operable to place the clutch unit in a non-clutching position, where the gear rack is freely movable to permit the sunshade cloth to be wound by the winding shaft, or a clutching position, where the clutch unit applies a retarding force to retard a movement of the gear rack, which prevents the winding shaft from winding the sunshade cloth but permits the pull rod to pull and stop the sunshade cloth at a desired position.

Abstract: An internet data exchange authentication method that can provide much of the user authentication assurance and capability of dedicated computer security cryptographic hardware, without requiring that the user actually have such hardware. This method allows users with computerized devices to communicate securely with secure servers by creating customized challenge-response authentication objects (pockets) where both the challenge and the response is based partially on the hardware identity of the user's computerized device, and partially on a secret (such as a random number) known only by the secure server. The secure server receives the device's hardware identity, generates the secret, creates the pocket, encrypts the pocket, and sends the encrypted pocket back to the user's device. The secure server, or a third trusted credential server, then sends the decryption key for the encrypted pocket back to the user using a different, “out of band” communications modality, thus reducing the chances of interception.

Abstract: A window covering includes a mounting unit, a shading unit, and a winding unit. The mounting unit includes a first fixing member and a second fixing member. The shading unit includes a rotating axle, a curtain member fixed at one end to the rotating axle and which is wound on and unwound from the rotating axle, a first rotating member, and a second rotating member. The first rotating member and the second rotating member are fixed to the rotating axle and extend respectively through the first fixing member and the second fixing member to support rotation of the rotating axle therebetween. The winding unit is mounted to the first fixing member and includes a spring reel secured to the first rotating member to rotate therewith, an auxiliary wheel, and a spring wound around the auxiliary wheel and which is fixed at one end to the spring reel.

Abstract: A motor controller includes a signal-generating unit that is operable so as to control rotational direction and rotational speed of a motor of a sunshade assembly, and a processing unit that operates the signal-generating unit to rotate the motor in a reverse direction to thereby retract a flexible screen body of the sunshade assembly, and to generate a decelerating signal for progressively reducing the rotational speed of the motor during a final stage of retraction of the flexible screen body.

Abstract: An auxiliary device is adapted to be electrically connected to a lawn mower, and includes a connecting unit having a first arcuate rack member, a housing turnably mounted on the connecting unit, a guard member turnably mounted on the housing and having a second arcuate rack member, and first and second pinions meshed with the first and second arcuate rack members, respectively. A sweeping area of a grass cutting member is adjusted by turning of the housing between a first position to increase a mowing area and to place a skirt portion of the guard member rearwardly of the grass cutting member, and a second position to enable the grass cutting member to be operated on an obstructed area and to place the skirt portion upwardly of the grass cutting member.

Abstract: A vehicle roof blind assembly includes a guide rail having upper and lower slide grooves, a pull rod, and a slide member having a slide portion extending slidably into the upper slide groove. A fabric blind has a transverse end portion connected to the pull rod, and a longitudinal insert portion received slidably in the lower slide groove and including first and second insert parts, and an angled part interconnecting the first and second insert parts. A guiding device is connected to the slide member, and includes a guide insert projecting into the lower slide groove and into the angled part between the first and second insert parts so as to push the angled part transversely of the fabric blind and inwardly of the lower slide groove.

Abstract: An autonomous wireless system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of devices. Each of the plurality of devices includes a wireless interface. At least two devices directly communicate with each other through a direct link between the wireless interfaces of the at least two devices. Methods and apparatus for two or more devices equipped with wireless local area network (WLAN) interface to communicate and exchange selected information are disclosed. Accordingly, a system and method in accordance with the present invention enables a handheld, laptop, smart phone or the like, which is equipped with a WLAN interface, to communicate and exchange business contact, sales brochures, event announcements, presentation materials, alert messages, etc., to other devices that include a WLAN interface.

Abstract: An autonomous wireless system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of devices. Each of the plurality of devices includes a wireless interface. At least two devices directly communicate with each other through a direct link between the wireless interfaces of the at least two devices. Methods and apparatus for two or more devices equipped with wireless local area network (WLAN) interface to communicate and exchange selected information are disclosed. Accordingly, a system and method in accordance with the present invention enables a handheld, laptop, smart phone or the like, which is equipped with a WLAN interface, to communicate and exchange business contact, sales brochures, event announcements, presentation materials, alert messages, etc., to other devices that include a WLAN interface.

Abstract: A grass trimming device includes a handle, a drive shaft driven by a drive unit and rotatably mounted on a cutting head-mounting end of the handle to swing a grass cutting member which extends radially from the cutting head-mounting end, and a safety shield mounted on the cutting head-mounting end, and having a shielding major wall which extends radially to shield a circumferential sweeping area of the cutting member, and which terminates at a peripheral marginal region. The shielding major wall has a cutout section extending from the peripheral marginal region radially and inwardly to terminate at a bordering edge. A guard unit extends cantileveredly from the bordering edge and radially and outwardly of the circumferential sweeping area so as to guard the cutting member against getting closer to undesired object.

Abstract: A partitioning device includes a fixing unit, a locking mechanism, and an article blocking mechanism. The fixing unit includes a first fixing seat, and a second fixing seat spaced apart from the first fixing seat. The locking mechanism includes a rod seat, and a securing unit that is mounted on the first fixing seat. The article blocking mechanism includes a rod that is mounted rotatably to the second fixing seat on one end and fixedly to the rod seat on its other end, a curtain member that is fixed at one end to the rod and that may be wound around and unwound from the rod, and an anchoring unit that is connected to a free end of the curtain member and that is adapted to be releasably anchored at a location in the passenger compartment of the vehicle such that the curtain member is at an extending position.