Abstract: A snowmobile hitch has a pintle hitch portion and a flapper hitch portion. A hitch body has a rearward projection pintle hitch horn and a portion that pivotally supports a pintle hook movable toward and away from the horn for opening and closing the pintle hitch portion. The hitch further having a V-shaped flapper that is pivotally engaged with the hitch body by way of one or may polymeric spacers providing friction reduction and noise attenuation when moving the flapper, as well as positional fixation. The spacers having a detent for engaging with respective projection on the hitch body. The hitch further having a latch with a pivot pin, a locking pin portion, and a handle. Manipulating the handle can unlock the pintle hitch hook from one of the open and closed positions and move the hook to the other of the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A lift attachment to be used on motorcycles is disclosed herein. The lift attachment includes floor jacks comprising a horizontal central cycle support section having a vertical member on each end which terminate in horizontal jack attachment members, where the device can be a single piece or composed of multiple pieces removably attached to one another. The lift attachment is then placed underneath a motorcycle. A jack lift is then mounted on the horizontal jack attachment members. The jack maybe a hydraulic jack or an automatic jack. A user may then actuate each of the jacks placed on the ends of the lift attachment. The lift attachment is then raised a predetermined height, thereby lifting the motorcycle a predetermined amount. The lift attachments raise a motorcycle the necessary height needed for working on a motorcycle.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for textual analysis by generating models of the progression of writing and writing abilities are provided. A set of examinee-generated responses for one or more test items may be identified based upon at least one index. One or more data-based profiles may be assembled from the identified set of examinee-generated responses. Writing characteristics may be quantified from the assembled one or more data-based profiles based on the at least one index.

Abstract: A battery-free wireless network is provided with one or more series or parallel capacitive networks. One or more solar panels are used to charge the capacitive networks and one or more charging circuits are used to control the charging of the capacitive networks. One or more DC-DC converters maybe used to provide a voltage to a wireless router, switch or other network device, the timer/clock circuitry, and a user interface. In those instances when it is desired that the timer/clock circuitry remain powered at all times, the timer/clock circuitry is preferentially preserved at the expense of the network device such that if, for any reason, the capacitive network is drained after running the network device, there will still be sufficient power stored in the capacitive network to maintain the timer/clock circuitry.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for textual analysis by generating models of the progression of writing and writing abilities are provided. A set of examinee-generated responses for one or more test items may be identified based upon at least one index. One or more data-based profiles may be assembled from the identified set of examinee-generated responses. Writing characteristics may be quantified from the assembled one or more data-based profiles based on the at least one index.

Abstract: A battery-free security system is provided with one or more series or parallel capacitive networks. One or more solar panels are used to charge the capacitive networks and one or more charging circuits are used to control the charging of the capacitive networks. One or more DC-DC converters maybe used to provide a voltage to a load, the timer/clock circuitry, and a user interface. In those instances when it is desired that the timer/clock circuitry remain powered at all times, the timer/clock circuitry is preferentially preserved at the expense of the load such that if, for any reason, the capacitive network is drained after running the load, there will still be sufficient power stored in the capacitive network to maintain the timer/clock circuitry.

Abstract: A battery-free device is provided with one or more series or parallel capacitive networks. One or more solar panels are used to charge the capacitive networks and one or more charging circuits are used to control the charging of the capacitive networks. One or more DC-DC converters maybe used to provide a voltage to the device, a remote monitoring or controlling function, and, optionally, a user interface. In those instances when it is desired that the monitoring or controlling function remain powered at all times, the control circuitry is preferentially preserved at the expense of the other features of the device such that if, for any reason, the capacitive network is drained after running the other features, there will still be sufficient power stored in capacitive network to maintain the monitoring or controlling function.

Abstract: A battery-free wireless network is provided with one or more series or parallel capacitive networks. One or more solar panels are used to charge the capacitive networks and one or more charging circuits are used to control the charging of the capacitive networks. One or more DC-DC converters maybe used to provide a voltage to a wireless router, switch or other network device, the timer/clock circuitry, and a user interface. In those instances when it is desired that the timer/clock circuitry remain powered at all times, the timer/clock circuitry is preferentially preserved at the expense of the network device such that if, for any reason, the capacitive network is drained after running the network device, there will still be sufficient power stored in the capacitive network to maintain the timer/clock circuitry.

Abstract: A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.

Abstract: A battery-free wireless network is provided with one or more series or parallel capacitive networks. One or more solar panels are used to charge the capacitive networks and one or more charging circuits are used to control the charging of the capacitive networks. One or more DC-DC converters maybe used to provide a voltage to a wireless router, switch or other network device, the timer/clock circuitry, and a user interface. In those instances when it is desired that the timer/clock circuitry remain powered at all times, the timer/clock circuitry is preferentially preserved at the expense of the network device such that if, for any reason, the capacitive network is drained after running the network device, there will still be sufficient power stored in the capacitive network to maintain the timer/clock circuitry.

Abstract: A battery-free security system is provided with one or more series or parallel capacitive networks. One or more solar panels are used to charge the capacitive networks and one or more charging circuits are used to control the charging of the capacitive networks. One or more DC-DC converters may be used to provide a voltage to a load, the timer/clock circuitry, and a user interface. In those instances when it is desired that the timer/clock circuitry remain powered at all times, the timer/clock circuitry is preferentially preserved at the expense of the load such that if, for any reason, the capacitive network is drained after running the load, there will still be sufficient power stored in the capacitive network to maintain the timer/clock circuitry.

Abstract: A battery-free device is provided with one or more series or parallel capacitive networks. One or more solar panels are used to charge the capacitive networks and one or more charging circuits are used to control the charging of the capacitive networks. One or more DC-DC converters maybe used to provide a voltage to the device, a remote monitoring or controlling function, and, optionally, a user interface. In those instances when it is desired that the monitoring or controlling function remain powered at all times, the control circuitry is preferentially preserved at the expense of the other features of the device such that if, for any reason, the capacitive network is drained after running the other features, there will still be sufficient power stored in capacitive network to maintain the monitoring or controlling function.

Abstract: A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.

Abstract: The brushhead, which has a rotating action, includes a bristle plate and three separate sets of bristle tufts. A first set of bristle tufts extends longitudinally down the approximate center of the brushhead and is arranged to extend vertically from the base plate. The second and third sets of bristle tufts are arranged on opposing sides of the first set of bristle tufts, with the second and third sets of bristle tufts being arranged at an angle outwardly, in opposing directions, from the first set of bristle tufts, the angle being in the range of 5°-45°. The length of all the bristle tufts is established so that the tips of the bristles in the first, second and third sets of bristle tufts form a shallow arc.

Abstract: An oral care system using a stream of fluid droplets for cleaning teeth includes a hand-held portable oral care device having a handle portion with a nozzle at a forward end thereof, a source of dental fluid and a source of pressurized gas, between 10-30 bar, both located in the handle portion. The system also includes a base unit which includes a reservoir tank for pressurized air, a reservoir tank for fluid, and a compressor connected to the gas reservoir. The handle includes valves for controlling the release of pressurized gas and fluid from the handle to the nozzle. Connecting ducts are arranged from the fluid and pressurized gas source to the nozzle such as to accelerate the pressurized gas droplets from the nozzle to a desired velocity.

Abstract: The apparatus for converting side-to-side to rotational motion for a workpiece includes a spring assembly with a movable base mounting element which is driven in a slightly arcuate reciprocal side-to-side motion and a fixed mounting element spaced apart from the base element and mounted in the appliance so that it does not rotate or move in operation of the apparatus. A spring member, such as two planar leaf springs positioned at an angle to each other, is mounted between the movable base element and the fixed mounting element. A drive shaft member extends from the movable base element through the fixed mounting element and beyond. A workpiece such as a brushhead is mounted on the distal end of the drive shaft. The spring member is configured so that it is substantially less resistant to twisting action than bending action, such that the side-to-side motion of the base element results in rotation of the workpiece.

Abstract: A user can customize use of a payment card, which can be an electronic card, by selecting a customization variable for any given transaction. The customization variable involves at least one of the following steps: (1) customizing generation of a one-time card number; (2) customizing a user identifier; or (3) inclusion of a customization variable with information transmitted to a verification agency for validation of the given use. Multiple payment card transactions can be processed differently depending upon which customization variable is chosen for a given transaction. Different customization variables can be used for different accounts, different types of transactions, or to classify the transactions. A user can receive one bill, or multiple bills. Different levels of privacy can be accorded to transactions that use different customization variables. A user may pay the issuer for increased security, or the user may be paid by the issuer to allow transaction data to be distributed to third parties.

Abstract: Multiple secure transactions are provided through use of a method that uses customer one-time unique purchase order numbers (“Coupons”) generated by an algorithm that uses a permutated user key and a user insertion key as input variables. A user key (such as a Personal Identification Number, or “PIN”) is combined with a permutation variable that is correlated with a customer sequence number to create the permutated user key. A random number generator is used to generate the user insertion key correlated with the customer sequence number. The algorithm can insert the permutated user key into a user account number through use of the user insertion key. A Coupon is validated by confirming that it is contained in a set of money source Coupons generated by a money source using the user key and a random number generator that is synchronized with the random number used to generate Coupons.

Abstract: The apparatus for converting side-to-side to rotational motion for a workpiece includes a spring assembly with a movable base mounting element which is driven in a slightly arcuate reciprocal side-to-side motion and a fixed mounting element spaced apart from the base element and mounted in the appliance so that it does not rotate or move in operation of the apparatus. A spring member, such as two planar leaf springs positioned at an angle to each other, is mounted between the movable base element and the fixed mounting element. A drive shaft member extends from the movable base element through the fixed mounting element and beyond. A workpiece such as a brushhead is mounted on the distal end of the drive shaft. The spring member is configured so that it is substantially less resistant to twisting action than bending action, such that the side-to-side motion of the base element results in rotation of the workpiece.