Abstract: An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

Abstract: A breast pump system includes a vacuum break backflow preventer for preventing breast milk from accidentally backflowing into a suction tube leading to a vacuum pump. The backflow preventer is a vacuum passageway with two spaced apart suction openings. The two openings convey air to cyclically pressurize and depressurize a small milk charging chamber. If milk accidentally covers one of the openings, air at the other opening minimizes the pressure differential that might otherwise draw the milk deep into the suction tube and toward the vacuum pump. For ease of cleaning and sanitizing, the system avoids or minimizes the use of baffles, permanently enclosed passageways, moving parts, and tight inside corners. Some passageways can be split open for access during cleaning. To make the breast milk collection device less protruding under a brassier, the vacuum passageway curves around the side of a nipple receptacle rather than in front of it.

Abstract: A breast pump system includes a flexible vinyl suction tube that connects a milk collection device to a vacuum pump. If a milk droplet accidentally backflows into the suction tube, a supplementary opening injects tiny volumes of air sequentially into the vacuum pump or into the suction tube near the pump. As the vacuum pump operates in a cyclical manner, the injected air returns the droplet in sequential steps back to the milk collection device.

Abstract: A breast pump system includes a one-size-fits-all funnel for fittingly receiving the breast of a lactating woman. In some examples, the funnel has a superelliptical opening that provides a smooth, naturally occurring vent at the funnel's inlet. The vent places the breast-to-funnel circumferential seal closer to the narrow end of the funnel, rather than at the funnel's wider inlet. The seal being closer to the nipple ensures that the nipple remains centrally aligned within the system's nipple-receiving receptacle, regardless of the size and shape of the breast.

Abstract: A breast pump system includes a fluid isolator that is particularly useful as an aftermarket product that can be readily installed between various vacuum pumps and milk collection devices. The fluid isolator includes a pliable, limp diaphragm that equalizes the pressure between a vacuum pump and a milk collection device while providing a barrier that prevents milk from accidentally backflowing from the milk collection device to the vacuum pump. In some examples, the fluid isolator includes one or more tiny supplementary openings for synchronizing the movement of the diaphragm with the cyclical action of the vacuum pump and/or for returning a misdirected milk droplet in a suction tube back to a charging chamber of the milk collection device.

Abstract: A breast pump system includes a duckbill-style check valve that intermittently releases breast milk from a charging chamber to a storage chamber. Various examples of rotational interlocks ensure that the valve is properly installed to avoid interference between the valve's discharge end and the inner surface of an outer shell that contains the valve. In some examples, the outer shell includes a concavity or other feature configured to accommodate multiple rotational positions of the valve.

Abstract: An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

Abstract: A carwash includes an emergency stop triggered by a car horn. A controller with a microphone listens to various sounds generated during the carwash process and performs a simple spectrum analyses to identify sounds characteristic of car horns. Rather than knowing beforehand a plethora of different car horns, the controller recognizes any number of unknown car horns because virtually all car horn tones are each comprised of multiple prominent frequencies, as opposed to a single frequency note such as the electronic “beeeeep” of a microwave oven. Steady, multiple prominent frequency tones of car horns are readily distinguishable from the noise of carwash spray, which might explain why humans can readily distinguish a car horn from carwash noises, regardless of whether the horn is louder or quieter than the surrounding carwash sounds. In some examples, the horn-activated emergency stop automatically sends a text/video message to a remote carwash owner or manager.

Abstract: A hybrid manual/programmable thermostat for a furnace or air conditioner offers the simplicity of a manual thermostat while providing the convenience and versatility of a programmable one. Initially, the hybrid thermostat appears to function as an ordinary manual thermostat; however, it privately observes and learns a user's manual temperature setting habits and eventually programs itself accordingly. If users begin changing their preferred temperature settings due to seasonal changes or other reasons, the thermostat continues learning and will adapt to those changes as well. For ease of use, the thermostat does not require an onscreen menu as a user interface. In some embodiments, the thermostat can effectively program itself for temperature settings that are set to occur at particular times daily or just on weekends, yet the user is not required to enter the time of day or the day of the week.

Abstract: A test method that helps identify foods that may be causing a reaction in an individual involves the individual entering into a computer a daily log of all the foods they routinely eat and any reactions that they may experience. The reactions may be headaches, fatigue, physical pain, depression, etc. The test method can be done without the individual having to follow any prescribed diet. After recording several weeks or months of data, the computer analyzes the data to determine if any significant mathematical correlations exist between a reaction and any of the foods, whereby a high positive correlation may suggest that the food is perhaps related to the reaction. In addition to food items, the method can analyze the correlation of other influencing agents such as environmental exposures, inhalants, menses, and stress.

Abstract: An adjustable wrench for gripping hexagonal and other shaped heads includes two slightly non-parallel jaw faces, wherein one face is smoother than the other. The angle between the two jaw faces is extremely shallow to create a “snap-action” geometry. Combining that geometry with jaw faces of unequal roughness can result in a desirable binding action that causes the wrench to tightly grip the head. In some cases, the wrench will continue clinging to the head even after the user releases the handle of the wrench.

Abstract: A portable watering device includes a resiliently expandable bladder and a limit valve that prevents the bladder from being overfilled. A string or some other flexible elongate actuator is disposed within the bladder and is used to pull the limit valve between an open and closed position. In some embodiments, the limit valve is a fill-and-discharge valve that is normally open, but the string pulls the valve closed when the bladder reaches a predetermined expanded state. In other embodiments, the limit valve is a volume-release valve that is normally closed, but the string pulls the valve open to release excess fluid when the bladder reaches the predetermined expanded state. A pulling action, rather than a pushing action, actuates the limit valve so that the valve and actuator can be completely contained within the interior of watering device rather than be exposed on the exterior of the device.

Abstract: A fluid-handling device, such as a lawn-and-garden water sprayer, includes a plurality of elastic bladders that are filled via a common manifold. To ensure that all the bladders can be filled without one bladder over expanding or emptying into another one, the fluid-handling device includes a plurality of limit valves in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of bladders. When filling the bladders, the limit valves are open to convey fluid from the manifold to the bladders. In some examples of the invention, each individual limit valve will close automatically in response to its respective bladder having reached a predetermined expanded length.

Abstract: A carwash includes a single thru-beam or retroreflective photoelectric sensor that can determine the position of a vehicle's left side, right side, front end and back end. To accomplish this, the sensor is coupled to a spray arch that travels around the vehicle while spray washing the vehicle's exterior. In some embodiments, the sensor responds to a beam projected from an emitter that also travels with the spray arch, whereby the emitter, the sensor and the spray arch move in unison. The beam is preferably projected at an acute angle to a horizontal plane so that the sensor can detect the presence of the vehicle without the spray arch having to get too close. To avoid over twisting the sensor's electrical cable, the arch alternately rotates CW and CCW to limit cumulative rotation in any one direction. In some cases, the single sensor responds to beams from multiple emitters.

Abstract: A hybrid manual/programmable thermostat for a furnace or air conditioner offers the simplicity of a manual thermostat while providing the convenience and versatility of a programmable one. Initially, the hybrid thermostat appears to function as an ordinary manual thermostat; however, it privately observes and learns a user's manual temperature setting habits and eventually programs itself accordingly. If users begin changing their preferred temperature settings due to seasonal changes or other reasons, the thermostat continues learning and will adapt to those changes as well. For ease of use, the thermostat does not require an onscreen menu as a user interface. In some embodiments, the thermostat can effectively program itself for temperature settings that are set to occur at particular times daily or just on weekends, yet the user is not required to enter the time of day or the day of the week.

Abstract: A dental tool for guiding a drill bit during a dental implant procedure includes a pivotal drill bushing attached to a bushing holder. The bushing holder, in turn, is attached to a surgical dental stent that fits a patient's jaw. The bushing holder attaches to the stent by extending into a hole or bore of the stent. In some cases, the bushing holder snaps into the hole.

Abstract: A method for a dental implant process involves creating an overall image that shows a trajectory of a drill bushing in relation to a patient's jaw. The overall image shows a trajectory image that represents the trajectory of the drill bushing and a jaw image that represents the jaw. The method allows a user to move the trajectory image relative to the jaw image, which can be useful when adjusting the angular position of the actual drill bushing.

Abstract: A fabric air duct of an HVAC system includes a discharge air register with an air deflector that extends along the length of the duct. Rotating or twisting the deflector adjusts the volume and/or direction of the air being discharged from the register. Even though the deflector is disposed inside the duct, the deflector can be twisted or rotated by manipulating the exterior fabric wall of the duct.

Abstract: A fabric air duct of an HVAC system includes a discharge air register with an air deflector that extends along the length of the duct. Rotating or twisting the deflector adjusts the volume and/or direction of the air being discharged from the register. Even though the deflector is disposed inside the duct, the deflector can be twisted or rotated by manipulating the exterior fabric wall of the duct.

Abstract: A hybrid manual/programmable thermostat for a furnace or air conditioner offers the simplicity of a manual thermostat while providing the convenience and versatility of a programmable one. Initially, the hybrid thermostat appears to function as an ordinary manual thermostat; however, it privately observes and learns that is configured to learn from a user's manual temperature setting habits settings and eventually programs program itself accordingly. If users begin changing their preferred temperature settings due to seasonal changes or other reasons, the thermostat continues learning The thermostat may be configured to learn and will adapt to those changes as well. For ease of use, the thermostat does not require an onscreen menu as a user interface.