Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is described herein that includes an integral articulating foot. When the powered nozzle of the vacuum cleaner is removed, the articulating foot allows the user to access small, hard to reach places with high air flow velocity. The articulating foot remains in planar contact with the floor when the body of the vacuum cleaner is rotated up and down. No accessories need to be attached or unattached from the vacuum cleaner in order to use the articulating foot.

Abstract: A waste receptacle design is described that includes a substantially cylindrical body (or an elongated body) that is designed to slide longitudinally (e.g., along the length of the vacuum cleaner) around a filter/motor housing such that a front part of the filter/motor housing compacts any dirt or debris within the waste receptacle. The waste receptacle may include an inner chamber and a body around the inner chamber with space between the inner chamber and the body. Dirt and debris may be collected within the inner chamber while air passes into the inner chamber and out through a mesh or screen on the walls of the inner chamber to the space between the inner chamber and the body. When sliding the waste receptacle back towards the filter/motor housing, a distal wall of the filter/motor housing moves through the inner chamber of the waste receptacle to compact dirt and debris.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an item-identifying, mobile cart that may be utilized by a user in a materials handling facility to automatically identify a user operating the cart and items that the user places into a basket of the cart. In addition, the cart may update a virtual shopping cart of the identified user to include items taken by the user. The mobile cart may include multiple imaging devices and oriented such that their respective optical axes are directed towards an interior of a perimeter of the top of the basket, and above the top of the basket. The mobile cart may also include an imaging device oriented away from the basket such that a user operating the mobile cart may scan a user identifier using this imaging device to enable recognition of the user.

Abstract: A leak detection system for flat commercial roof structures is disclosed in order to detect and subsequently repair a leak as soon as possible such that any damage to the roof, as well as to other structural and/or insulation components of the overall roof structure, can be minimized due to the absorption or migration of the water. The leak detection system may comprise elongated water detection sensor strips to be fixedly secured to at least two edge portions of insulation board assemblies, or alternatively, electrical circuits may be provided over the entire expanse of the major upper surface portion of each insulation board assembly, or alternatively still further, rolls of water detection sensor strips may be applied to different regions of the flat commercial roof structure.

Abstract: A leak detection system for flat commercial roof structures is disclosed in order to detect and subsequently repair a leak as soon as possible such that any damage to the roof, as well as to other structural and/or insulation components of the overall roof structure, can be minimized due to the absorption or migration of the water. The leak detection system may comprise elongated water detection sensor strips to be fixedly secured to at least two edge portions of insulation board assemblies, or alternatively, electrical circuits may be provided over the entire expanse of the major upper surface portion of each insulation board assembly, or alternatively still further, rolls of water detection sensor strips may be applied to different regions of the flat commercial roof structure.

Abstract: A door hinge with a hidden closure system comprising, in general, a first hinge with a pin protruding from the face of the hinge, a second hinge with a hidden closure system, wherein such pin engages a latch and release mechanism and triggers a closure system in the second hinge during final approach, thus softly closing the door and reducing the sound of closure during the final approach of the door.

Abstract: A valve includes a bobbin/valve body, a solenoid and a plunger. The bobbin/valve body is formed in one piece, defines all of the valve's inlet/outlet ports and forms the entire support structure for the solenoid and the plunger. To assemble the valve, a plunger body is inserted into the bobbin/valve body through an end opening into a longitudinal bore and a spring positioned to bias the plunger body to a normally closed position. A pole piece is then inserted through the end opening into the longitudinal bore and attached to the bobbin/valve body. A solenoid coil is wound around a central cylindrical section of the bobbin/valve body, and terminal pins and a flux conductor are attached to the bobbin/valve body. The attachment of the pole piece, the terminal pins, and/or the flux conductor may be accomplished by press-fit and/or swage coupling techniques.

Abstract: A valve includes a bobbin/valve body, a solenoid and a plunger. The bobbin/valve body is formed in one piece, defines all of the valve's inlet/outlet ports and forms the entire support structure for the solenoid and the plunger. To assemble the valve, a plunger body is inserted into the bobbin/valve body through an end opening into a longitudinal bore and a spring positioned to bias the plunger body to a normally closed position. A pole piece is then inserted through the end opening into the longitudinal bore and attached to the bobbin/valve body. A solenoid coil is wound around a central cylindrical section of the bobbin/valve body, and terminal pins and a flux conductor are attached to the bobbin/valve body. The attachment of the pole piece, the terminal pins, and/or the flux conductor may be accomplished by press-fit and/or swage coupling techniques.

Abstract: A valve includes a bobbin/valve body, a solenoid and a plunger. The bobbin/valve body is formed in one piece, defines all of the valve's inlet/outlet ports and forms the entire support structure for the solenoid and the plunger. To assemble the valve, a plunger body is inserted into the bobbin/valve body through an end opening into a longitudinal bore and a spring positioned to bias the plunger body to a normally closed position. A pole piece is then inserted through the end opening into the longitudinal bore and attached to the bobbin/valve body. A solenoid coil is wound around a central cylindrical section of the bobbin/valve body, and terminal pins and a flux conductor are attached to the bobbin/valve body. The attachment of the pole piece, the terminal pins, and/or the flux conductor may be accomplished by press-fit and/or swage coupling techniques.

Abstract: Provided is a novel system for delivery of a gas from a liquefied state. The system includes: (a) a cabinet having a first and second panel disposed therein; (b) at least one compressed liquefied gas cylinder corresponding to each panel disposed in the cabinet; (c) temperature and/or pressure sensors disposed on each the cylinder; and (d) a controller for monitoring and adjusting the energy input into each of the cylinders based on the temperature and/or pressure in each of the cylinders sensed by the temperature and/or pressure sensors.