Abstract: A method is disclosed of changing a tool on a programmable motion device. The method includes the steps of moving an attachment portion of an end effector of the programmable motion device in a continuous motion; while the attachment portion of the end effector moves in the continuous motion, engaging one of: the attachment portion of the end effector with the tool, or the tool attached to the attachment portion of the end effector with an exchange system, and continuing to move the attachment portion of the end effector in the continuous motion to change a connection status of the attachment portion of the end effector while the attachment portion of the end effector moves in the continuous motion.

Abstract: A lower deck for a watercraft is attached to and supported by an amidships hull, and an actuator slides the lower deck and amidships hull between a stowed position and an extended position on guide rails that are secured to the underside frame of the upper deck that is supported by abeam hulls. When fully extended, the lower deck remains attached to the watercraft while a portion of the lower deck's aft section and the aft end of the amidships hull remains beneath the upper deck. A pair of side beams respectively connect to a port side and a starboard side of the lower deck or the amidships hull. Sliding members, such as rollers and/or guide bars respectively connect to the guide rails, and the side beams respectively engage and slide on the sliding members.

Abstract: A lower deck for a watercraft is attached to and supported by an amidships hull, and an actuator slides the lower deck and amidships hull between a stowed position and an extended position on rails that are secured to the underside frame of the upper deck that is supported by abeam hulls. When fully extended, the lower deck remains attached to the watercraft while a portion of the lower deck's aft section remains beneath the upper deck. A hold within the amidships hull can store accessories used with the watercraft, such as live wells, tables, seats, a foldable slide and ladder assembly, and other items which can be accessed and deployed when the lower deck is extended. The holds are covered by panels which may be individual separable panels, a foldable set of connected panels, or laterally expandable panels. The lower deck can have foldable handrails and recessed cup holders.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable lower deck for a watercraft is attached to and supported by one or more amidships hulls. The lower deck and hulls slide between an extended position and a stowed position on rails that are secured to the underside frame of the main, upper deck that is supported by abeam hulls. When fully extended, the extendable deck remains attached to the watercraft. A rotatable gate positioned within the lower hull can be used for improved accessibility to and from the water; the gate is stowed when its distal end is in the raised position and is deployed when its distal end extends below the bottom side of the hull into the water in the lowered position. Laterally expandable panels in the lower deck provide increased width, and other accessories used with the watercraft can be contained in one or more storage holds in the amidships hull.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable lower deck is supported by one or more longitudinally extending hulls. The lower deck slides between an extended position and a stowed position on rails that are secured to the underside of an upper deck of a houseboat, pontoon boat, tritoon boat, catamaran, floating dock, pier-supported dock or other watercraft or dock. When fully extended, the floating deck remains attached to the watercraft, and additional width may be achieved with laterally expandable panels in the lower deck. Various accessories are connected to the lower deck or to a storage hold in the hull beneath the lower deck, such as a pool liner insert, a hot tub liner insert, a slide and ladder assembly, a seat and mounting bracket assembly, a volleyball net and pole assembly, an umbrella and pole assembly, a hammock and stand assembly, a seat lift, and an expandable deck insert.

Abstract: A bypass oil filter system, and a method of installing same, for a vehicle having an engine compartment, an oil lubrication system having a full flow oil filter attached to a free flow oil filter mount and an oil intake line having an oil filler cap comprising, a bypass filter, means to mount the bypass filter in the engine compartment, a sandwich adaptor placed between the full flow oil filter and the full flow oil filter mount, hose means to direct a portion of the oil from the oil lubrication system to the bypass filter and hose means to pass the oil from the bypass filter through the oil filler cap to the oil intake line.

Abstract: Various improvements can be made to the manner in which LNG is regasified. Specifically, geothermal heat from ground water (or another geothermally-heated fluid) is extracted from a subterranean aquifer (subterranean chamber) and used as a source of heat (possibly with other heat sources) to provide efficient and effective LNG regasification with minimal environmental impact. The cool ground water (fluid) that results from LNG regasification process is returned to the subterranean aquifer (subterranean chamber), where it is heated indirectly by geothermal heat produced by the core of the earth. In the preferred embodiment, the LNG regasification process is designed such that the geothermal heat produced by the core of the earth counterbalances the heat removed from the ground water (fluid) in heating the LNG during vaporization, which avoids significant changes to the normal temperature of the ground water (fluid) held in the subterranean aquifer (subterranean chamber).

Abstract: An accessory mountable to an ATV includes an extension rack that provides a substantially flat storage bed. A spreader assembly for storing and distributing granular material therefrom is supported in a position below the extension rack. In the preferred embodiment, the extension rack is mounted to the carrier rack of the ATV, and the spreader is mounted to the extension rack such that it is positioned under the extension rack. The extension rack preferably includes a door that provides a passageway to the spreader assembly and also includes side walls that are vertically disposed with respect to the substantially flat storage bed.