Abstract: A shoe sole cleaning device may include a fluid reservoir having an inner chamber, a trough fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir, a brush having bristles and operably connected to an axial shaft, the brush disposed partially within or above the trough, and a motor operably connected to the axial shaft and configured to cause the brush to rotate about the axial shaft.

Abstract: A standing desk mat includes a base having a thickness dimension within which a cushioning material resides for supporting a bottom of a shoe of a standing user off a floor when the user is standing on the standing desk mat, and a strap operably connected to the base to form a bridge spanning a portion of the base for an upper portion of the shoe to engage a bottom portion of the strap upon the user raising the shoe above the base to raise at least a portion of the standing desk mat therewith and disengage the bottom portion of the strap upon the user lowering the shoe to lower the base to the floor therewith.

Abstract: A standing desk mat includes a base having a thickness dimension within which a cushioning material resides for supporting a bottom of a shoe of a standing user off a floor when the user is standing on the standing desk mat, and a strap operably connected to the base to form a bridge spanning a portion of the base for an upper portion of the shoe to engage a bottom portion of the strap upon the user raising the shoe above the base to raise at least a portion of the standing desk mat therewith and disengage the bottom portion of the strap upon the user lowering the shoe to lower the base to the floor therewith.

Abstract: A steaming device for shaving includes a base configured to rest on a counter surface and including a steam producing mechanism for producing a stream of steam, a steam outlet disposed distal the base along a longitudinal axis of the steaming device and configured to output the stream of steam, the steam outlet including at least one orifice from which the stream of steam flows, and a steam delivery conduit comprising a receiving end and a discharge end, the receiving end operably connected to the base, the discharge end operably connected to the steam outlet for delivering the stream of steam from the base to the steam outlet.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for configuring and training neural networks. The method includes models of individual neurons in a network that avoid certain biologically impossible or implausible features of conventional artificial neural networks. Exemplary networks may use patterns of local connections between excitatory and inhibitory neurons to provide desirable computational properties. A network configured in this manner is shown to solve a digit classification problem.

Abstract: A drumming system includes a percussion instrument and an inserting/retracting mechanism operably connected to the first percussion instrument and configured to move the first percussion instrument along an arch relative to a second percussion instrument from a retracted position to an inserted position and from the inserted position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A drumming system includes a percussion instrument and an inserting/retracting mechanism operably connected to the first percussion instrument and configured to move the first percussion instrument along an arch relative to a second percussion instrument from a retracted position to an inserted position and from the inserted position to the retracted position.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for configuring and training neural networks. The method includes models of individual neurons in a network that avoid certain biologically impossible or implausible features of conventional artificial neural networks. Exemplary networks may use patterns of local connections between excitatory and inhibitory neurons to provide desirable computational properties. A network configured in this manner is shown to solve a digit classification problem.

Abstract: A shoe sole cleaning device may include a fluid reservoir capsule having an inner chamber for containing a cleaning solution. The shoe cleaning device may also include a trough and a fluid pump operably connected to a fluid exit port of the fluid reservoir capsule to pump the cleaning solution from the fluid exit port to the trough. A brush may be disposed partially within the trough such that some of its bristles are at least partially submersible in the cleaning solution in the trough. A motor may cause the brush to rotate about an axial shaft picking up the cleaning solution from the trough to clean a shoe's sole. A fluid recycle conduit may transport the cleaning solution from the trough back to the inner chamber of the fluid reservoir capsule when the cleaning solution in the trough reaches a predetermined height.

Abstract: A dynamometer may include a grip portion extending along a longitudinal axis for gripping by at least a portion of a human hand or foot, and a sensor or plurality of sensors distributed along or below a surface of the grip portion. The sensor or plurality of sensors are configured to detect force exerted by the portion of the human hand or foot in directions radial and tangential to the grip portion such that grip strength and wrist strength of the human may be sensed by the sensor or plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A shoe sole cleaning device may include a fluid reservoir having an inner chamber, a trough fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir, a brush having bristles and operably connected to an axial shaft, the brush disposed partially within or above the trough, and a motor operably connected to the axial shaft and configured to cause the brush to rotate about the axial shaft.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for configuring and training neural networks. The method includes models of individual neurons in a network that avoid certain biologically impossible or implausible features of conventional artificial neural networks. Exemplary networks may use patterns of local connections between excitatory and inhibitory neurons to provide desirable computational properties. A network configured in this manner is shown to solve a digit classification problem.

Abstract: A dynamometer may include a sensor embedded within and distributed uniformly within a pad. The pad may be configured for gripping by a human hand or foot such that grip force of particular elements of the human hand or foot may be sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: A method for cardiopulmonary resuscitation training includes sensing a chest compression force via a distributed sensor, measuring a depth of the chest compression via an accelerometer, calculating depth of the chest compression based at least in part on the sensed chest compression force and, in some cases, on the measured depth of the chest compression.

Abstract: A cardiopulmonary resuscitation training apparatus includes a distributed sensor uniformly distributed on a pad and configured to sense chest compression force throughout the surface area; a controller operatively coupled to the distributed sensor and configured to receive the sensed chest compression force throughout the surface area from the distributed sensor, calculate a chest compression parameter including location or angle of the sensed chest compression force based at least in part on the sensed chest compression force throughout the surface area, compare the calculated chest compression parameter with a predefined value for the chest compression parameter, and produce a performance information which is based on the comparison; and a prompting device operatively coupled to the controller and configured to provide the performance information.

Abstract: A drumming system includes a percussion instrument; an inserting/retracting coupled to the percussion instrument for moving the first percussion instrument to a desired position with respect to a second percussion instrument; the inserting/retracting mechanism including a motor, an input device for receiving an operation instruction and generating an operation signal based on the operation instruction, a feedback mechanism for obtaining position information of the first percussion instrument and generating a feedback signal representative of the position information, and a controller electrically coupled to the input device, the motor, and the feedback mechanism for actuating the motor based on the operation signal and the feedback signal.

Abstract: A percussion system comprising a pedal and an inserting/retracting mechanism operably connected to a percussion instrument and the pedal from moving the percussion instrument horizontally from a first position to a second position and from the second position to the first position by operation of the pedal.

Abstract: A shoe sole cleaning device may include a fluid reservoir capsule having an inner chamber for containing a cleaning solution. The shoe cleaning device may also include a trough and a fluid pump operably connected to a fluid exit port of the fluid reservoir capsule to pump the cleaning solution from the fluid exit port to the trough. A brush may be disposed partially within the trough such that some of its bristles are at least partially submersible in the cleaning solution in the trough. A motor may cause the brush to rotate about an axial shaft picking up the cleaning solution from the trough to clean a shoe's sole. A fluid recycle conduit may transport the cleaning solution from the trough back to the inner chamber of the fluid reservoir capsule when the cleaning solution in the trough reaches a predetermined height.

Abstract: A percussion system comprising a pedal and an inserting/retracting mechanism operably connected to a percussion instrument and the pedal from moving the percussion instrument horizontally from a first position to a second position and from the second position to the first position by operation of the pedal.

Abstract: A theft deterrent display package for at least one article comprises a product cradle having an interior space with a perimeter. A peripheral flange extends outwardly from the perimeter of the interior space. A locking slot is configured along the perimeter of the interior space. At least one self-standing leg extends downwardly from the interior space upon which the display package stands alone. A backboard is defined by a front face and a back face. A locking tab comprises a free end extends outwardly from one edge of the back face. The locking tab includes two angled fold lines used in assisting the free end of the locking tab to be inserted into the locking slot to securely enclose the display package.