Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100164249 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle or, in other embodiments, at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position in which the air deflection elements intersect with the air flowing around the top and sides, and preferably also the bottom, of the vehicle, and in which they divert that airflow in a manner that enhances the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle and thereby improves its fuel economy, resulting in a reduction in fuel cost. The air deflection elements may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control, with the latter allowing for optimal positioning of the air deflection elements based either on pre-stored values, or on values derived, utilizing an optional feedback mechanism, from real-time vehicular speed and fuel consumption data. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 07-01-2010 |
20120025565 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle or, in other embodiments, at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. Each air deflection element comprises a housing member and an elongating member, and the elongating members are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position. The elongating members may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
20120139291 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least one air deflection element coupled to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. Each air deflection element is coupled to a respective portion of the rear-facing surface of the vehicle that is arranged above, below or on either side of the rear door, and each air deflection element is associated with a frame in which it is substantially disposed when in the retracted position. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 06-07-2012 |
20120292945 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle, the vehicle having no rear-facing door(s). The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. The air deflection elements are preferably arranged above, below and on either side of the rear-facing surface of the vehicle. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 11-22-2012 |
20140021741 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least two air deflection elements coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle or, in other embodiments, at least two air deflection elements coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. The air deflection elements are preferably arranged above, below and on either side of the rear-facing surface of the vehicle, with at least the latter two air deflection elements having matching configurations, and in some embodiments, with one or more of the air deflection elements being associated with a frame within which it is substantially disposed when in the retracted position. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 01-23-2014 |
20140021743 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least two air deflection elements coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle or, in other embodiments, at least two air deflection elements coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. The air deflection elements are preferably arranged above, below and on either side of the rear-facing surface of the vehicle, with at least the latter two air deflection elements having matching configurations, and in some embodiments, with one or more of the air deflection elements being associated with a frame within which it is substantially disposed when in the retracted position. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 01-23-2014 |
20150054303 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least two air deflection elements each coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door that the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. The air deflection elements are preferably arranged above, below and on either side of the rear-facing door of the vehicle, with at least the latter two air deflection elements having matching configurations. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 02-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140214446 | MOBILE COMPUTING WEIGHT, DIET, NUTRITION, AND EXERCISE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED FEEDBACK AND GOAL ACHIEVING FUNCTIONALITY - An illustrative mobile computing device executing weight, nutrition, health, behavior and exercise application software serves as a simulated combination personal trainer and dietician/nutritionist for the user using comprehensive databases storing personalized health, nutrition and exercise information. A mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, executing such software monitors, tracks and/or adjusts caloric intake, energy expenditure taking into account nutritional information and behavioral factors. The mobile computing device receives food consumption, exercise-related, behavior and other input using speech input and the device's GPS subsystem to ease data entry burden on users and to promote continued long-term usage. The system rewards user goal achievement in an automatic, seamless manner, through, for example, downloading music, books, or other media. In illustrative implementations, the system assists users to make healthy food and exercise choices by using a comprehensive color code system to identify good choices, bad choices and those in between. | 07-31-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110237344 | Electronically controlled golf swing analyzing/training mat system with ball striking-related feedback - A golf practice mat includes an impact sensor disposed in a vicinity bounding the location of where a golf ball would be placed for striking. The golf practice mat may also include, for example, a “crosshair” target imprint that is disposed on a golf club impact sensor portion of the practice surface and indicates the point/line of contact that the club face should hit the ground after the ball has been struck with the club head in a descending blow. A microcontroller receives and analyzes the output of the impact sensor and generates a display/output message that is coupled to a display that is, for example, embodied on the golf practice mat to provide user shot-related feedback. The display may indicate, for example, the user's golf club, the estimated distance the ball will travel depending upon the impact data analyzed, the club chosen by the user, input backswing data and/or a three-dimensional simulation of the resulting golf stroke. | 09-29-2011 |
20120236178 | DIGITAL CAMERA WITH REAL-TIME PICTURE IDENTIFICATION FUNCTIONALITY - A unique digital camera electronics and software associates substantially in real-time the image captured with a description of a photograph during the time frame when the photograph is first taken. After a photograph is taken, a user generates an audio description of the photograph including a set of image characterization data. For example, such image characterization data may identify “who” is in the photograph, “what” the photograph depicts (e.g., the Jefferson Memorial), “where” the photograph was taken, and “when” it was taken. Such an audio input is coupled to a speech recognition and processing subsystem in which the decoded voice data is transcribed into textual data that describes the picture and that is associated with its corresponding captured image data file. Such descriptive text is displayed at, for example, a location at a desired border of the photograph. | 09-20-2012 |
20120246563 | WORD PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH AUTOMATIC UNDO OPERATION MONITORING AND ANALYSIS - A word processing system includes an undo function monitor that monitors the history of a user's use of the undo operation. Depending upon the pattern detected, the system disables the particular auto-formatting feature that triggered the undesired automatic operation. In an illustrative embodiment, the system tracks whether a number of undo operations that exceed a programmable threshold. In one illustrative implementation the system also tracks the number of times a user has undone, i.e., reversed, an automatic formatting operation compared with the number of instances where the user has permitted the subject automatic formatting operation to take place. | 09-27-2012 |
20140106893 | ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED GOLF SWING ANALYSIS AND PRACTICE SYSTEM WITH TYPE OF GOLF SHOT PROJECTION - A golf practice mat includes an impact sensor disposed in a vicinity bounding the location of where a golf ball would be placed for striking. The golf practice mat may also include, for example, a “crosshair” target imprint that is disposed on a golf club impact sensor portion of the practice surface and indicates the point/line of contact that the club face should hit the ground after the ball has been struck with the club head in a descending blow. A microcontroller receives and analyzes the output of the impact sensor and generates a display/output message that is coupled to a display that is, for example, embodied on the golf practice mat to provide user shot-related feedback. The display may indicate, for example, the user's golf club, the estimated distance the ball will travel depending upon the impact data analyzed, the club chosen by the user, input backswing data and/or a three-dimensional simulation of the resulting golf stroke. | 04-17-2014 |
20140214446 | MOBILE COMPUTING WEIGHT, DIET, NUTRITION, AND EXERCISE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED FEEDBACK AND GOAL ACHIEVING FUNCTIONALITY - An illustrative mobile computing device executing weight, nutrition, health, behavior and exercise application software serves as a simulated combination personal trainer and dietician/nutritionist for the user using comprehensive databases storing personalized health, nutrition and exercise information. A mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, executing such software monitors, tracks and/or adjusts caloric intake, energy expenditure taking into account nutritional information and behavioral factors. The mobile computing device receives food consumption, exercise-related, behavior and other input using speech input and the device's GPS subsystem to ease data entry burden on users and to promote continued long-term usage. The system rewards user goal achievement in an automatic, seamless manner, through, for example, downloading music, books, or other media. In illustrative implementations, the system assists users to make healthy food and exercise choices by using a comprehensive color code system to identify good choices, bad choices and those in between. | 07-31-2014 |