Abstract: A tent for human or animal habitation with a separate pet entrance which offers pets separate entry and exit to and from the interior of the tent at will. The pet entrance offers freedom of movement therethrough in either direction at the pet's discretion followed by automatic closure and sealing of a pet entry door panel against planar panels at the side of the pet entrance.

Abstract: A slide assembly for use with a door of a furniture piece is disclosed. The slide assembly includes a pair of cambered slides and an alignment element. The pair of slides is for slidably mounting the door. The alignment element is for aligning the movement of the pair of slides. The camber is for compensating for the weight of the door to maintain the movement of the door substantially true relative to the furniture piece. Preferably, the pair of cambered slides is universally cambered. The universal camber is for permitting one design to be used without having to be concerned about the handedness of the cambered slide assembly.

Abstract: A slide assembly is for use with a door of a furniture piece is disclosed. The slide assembly includes a pair of slides, an alignment element and a spacer that preferably is a spacer block. The pair of slides are for slidably mounting the door to the furniture piece. The alignment element is for aligning the movement of the pair of slides. The spacer, which preferably is a spacer block, is for setting off the door to permit the door to be both hingibly and slidably mounted to the furniture piece.

Abstract: A rotary position sensing assembly (10) includes a sensor (12) that monitors angular position, and which is fixedly attached to a first member (14), and a first arm (16) having a first end (18) pivotally attached to the sensor (12) and a second end (22) including a first portion (24) of a universal joint (26). The rotary position sensing assembly (10) also includes a second arm (28) having a first end (30) that includes a second portion (32) of the first universal joint (26) pivotally attached to the first portion (24) of the first universal joint (26), and a second end (34), including a first portion (36) of a second universal joint (38). The rotary position sensor assembly (10) further includes a second portion (40) of the second universal joint (38) fixedly attached to a second member (42) and pivotally attached to the first portion (40) of the second universal joint (38).

Abstract: An electro-mechanical lock on the coin vault of a parking device is controlled by the electronic components of the parking meter. Combining the electro-mechanical lock with a standard mechanical lock provides additional security in that two devices must be employed to open the meter. This provides greater security for coin collection without the need to provide separate circuitry to control the lock. Additionally, the electro-mechanical lock can be triggered by a smart card which also triggers an audit of the meters activity, providing an audit trail for coin collection.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical lock on the coin vault of a parking device is controlled by the electronic components of the parking meter. Combining the electro-mechanical lock with a standard mechanical lock provides additional security in that two devices must be employed to open the meter. This provides greater security for coin collection without the need to provide separate circuitry to control the lock. Additionally, the electro-mechanical lock can be triggered by a smart card which also triggers an audit of the meters activity, providing an audit trail for coin collection.

Abstract: A sensor-responsive control method for use on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring a vehicle yaw rate; measuring a vehicle lateral acceleration; responsive to the measured yaw rate and lateral acceleration, estimating a steering wheel angle; determining an error signal responsive to the difference between the estimated steering wheel angle and an adaptive steering position signal; and updating the adaptive steering position signal responsive to the error signal, wherein the adaptive steering position signal is quickly determined after the vehicle begins to move.

Abstract: A low power parking meter to control two or four parking bays. A display, either by a flag-wheel or a digital display will normally indicate the status of each bay. When funds are deposited without indicating the bay to be credited, the meter will escrow the amount until a bay is chosen. The meter normally operates in an idle loop unless an individual bay is being checked or vended.

Abstract: An auditing system for vending machines, preferably parking meters, that facilitates external exchange of digital information. The instant auditing system provides for electronic interrogation of the parking meter circuitry from portable, hand-held apparatus. The auditor is capable of processing and storing data derived from parking meters. In one form of the invention, communication is derived through the meter debit card payment slot. In an alternative embodiment data is optically exchanged and communicated between the auditor and the parking meter through infrared light. The auditor of the present invention can be interfaced with a personal computer through a standard RS232 serial port and appropriate interfacing software.

Abstract: A low power parking meter to control two or four parking bays. A display, either by a flag-wheel or a digital display will normally indicate the status of each bay. When funds are deposited without indicating the bay to be credited, the meter will escrow the amount until a bay is chosen. The meter normally operates in an idle loop unless an individual bay is being checked or vended.