Author: claimsbot

1. A computer-implemented method of tailoring marketing messaging for a customer, comprising:
analyzing purchase trends of the customer electronically using a software module configured to generate assumptions based on a user’s purchase transactions;
identifying changes in the purchase trends that signal a customer lifestyle change;
selecting a marketing messaging scheme to match the customer lifestyle change; and
transmitting computer-readable instructions to a mobile computing device of the customer, wherein the computer-readable instructions correspond to the marketing messaging scheme.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising electronically recording transactions between a retailer and the customer.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing purchase trends of the customer electronically using a software module configured to generate assumptions based on a user’s purchase transactions comprises analyzing products purchased by the customer.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing purchase trends of the customer electronically using a software module configured to generate assumptions based on a user’s purchase transactions comprises analyzing services purchased by the customer.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a marketing messaging scheme to match the customer lifestyle change comprises selecting one or more marketing assets to display on the mobile computing device.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more marketing assets comprise an image.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more marketing assets comprise a slogan.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more marketing assets comprise a page layout.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying changes in the purchase trends that signal a customer lifestyle change comprises analyzing spending trends of the customer.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a survey response from a surveyed customer;
analyzing a shopping history of the surveyed customer;
analyzing the survey response; and
identifying correlations between the shopping history and the survey response.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively emphasizing a marketing slogan in response to the customer lifestyle change.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein recording transactions between a retailer and the customer comprises recording at least one of a purchase price, a product identification, a transaction time, a transaction date, or a transaction payment method.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer lifestyle change comprises one selected from the group consisting of: graduation from secondary education, graduation from higher education, obtaining employment, losing employment, receiving a promotion, receiving a pay increase, receiving a pay decrease, getting married, entering into a relationship, birth of a child, adoption of a child, death of a family member, getting divorced, and ending a relationship.
14. A system for tailoring a marketing message for a customer, comprising:
at least one point of sale terminal adapted to receive a customer identification number;
a customer database adapted to record a purchase history of the customer;
a purchase habit tracking module adapted to review the purchase history to identify a detected lifestyle change of the customer;
a marketing message module adapted to selectively tailor marketing messaging for the customer in response to the detected lifestyle change; and
an application server adapted to transmit instructions to the customer related to the marketing messaging, wherein the instructions correspond to the marketing messaging.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the detected lifestyle change comprises one selected from the group consisting of: graduation from secondary education, graduation from higher education, obtaining employment, losing employment, receiving a promotion, receiving a pay increase, receiving a pay decrease, getting married, entering into a relationship, birth of a child, adoption of a child, death of a family member, getting divorced, and ending a relationship.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the marketing message module is adapted to selectively emphasize a marketing slogan in response to the detected lifestyle change.
17. The system of claim 14, wherein the marketing message module is adapted to select one or more marketing assets to display on a mobile computing device.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more marketing assets are selected from the group consisting of an image, a slogan, and a page layout.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. An absolute sensor comprising:
a high speed rotational shaft;
a planetary gear mechanism for reducing a high rotational speed delivered from the high speed rotational shaft;
a low speed rotational shaft which is aligned coaxially with the high speed rotational shaft and to which is delivered a reduced speed rotation from the planetary gear mechanism;
a high speed side encoder for detecting a rotational speed or rotational angle of the high speed rotational shaft; and
a low speed side encoder for detecting a rotational speed or rotational angle of the low speed rotational shaft;
the planetary gear mechanism has a fixed sun internal gear, a front stage planetary gear, a rear stage planetary gear which rotates integrally with the front stage planetary gear, and an output sun internal gear engaged with the rear stage planetary gear; and
the front stage and rear stage planetary gears are rotatably supported by an eccentric shaft portion formed on the high speed rotational shaft and are maintained in a condition engaged with the fixed sun and output sun internal gears, and the output sun internal gear is connected to the low speed rotational shaft,
whereby an absolute rotational angle of the low speed or high speed rotational shaft is detected based on outputs of the high speed side and low speed side encoders.
2. The absolute sensor of claim 1, wherein the rear stage planetary gear and the output sun internal gear are a scissors-type composite gear.
3. The absolute sensor of claim 1, further comprising an annular body, and the fixed sun internal gear is fixed to an internal surface of the annular body.
4. The absolute sensor of claim 3, further comprising a bearing between the internal surface of the annular body and the output sun internal gear, and the output sun internal gear is rotatably supported by the bearing.
5. The absolute sensor of claim 1, wherein the planetary gear mechanism has a reduction ration of 256.
6. The absolute sensor of claim 1, wherein the planetary gear mechanism has a reduction ration of 512.
7. The absolute sensor of claim 1, wherein the planetary gear mechanism has a reduction ration of 1024.
8. The absolute sensor of claim 1, wherein the planetary gear mechanism has a reduction ration which is a power of 2.
9. The absolute sensor of claim 1, wherein the high speed side encoder is for detecting a rotational speed of the high speed rotational shaft.
10. The absolute sensor of claim 9, wherein the low speed side encoder is for detecting a rotational speed of the low speed rotational shaft.
11. The absolute sensor of claim 1, wherein the high speed side encoder is for detecting a rotational angle of the high speed rotational shaft.
12. The absolute sensor of claim 9, wherein the low speed side encoder is for detecting a rotational angle of the low speed rotational shaft.
13. The absolute sensor of claim 10, further comprising an annular body, and the fixed sun internal gear is fixed to an internal surface of the annular body.
14. The absolute sensor of claim 13, further comprising a bearing between the internal surface of the annular body and the output sun internal gear, and the output sun internal gear is rotatably supported by the bearing.
15. The absolute sensor of claim 10, wherein the planetary gear mechanism has a reduction ration of 256.
16. The absolute sensor of claim 10, wherein the planetary gear mechanism has a reduction ration of 512.
17. The absolute sensor of claim 10, wherein the planetary gear mechanism has a reduction ration of 1024.
18. The absolute sensor of claim 10, wherein the planetary gear mechanism has a reduction ration which is a power of 2.
19. The absolute sensor of claim 12, wherein the planetary gear mechanism has a reduction ration which is a power of 2.
20. A method of determining an absolute rotational angle, the method comprising the steps of:
delivering a rotational force to a high speed rotational shaft;
transferring the rotational force from the high speed rotational shaft to a low speed rotational shaft with a planetary gear mechanism, wherein the low speed rotational shaft is aligned coaxially with the high speed rotational shaft;
detecting a rotational speed or rotational angle of the high speed rotational shaft with a high speed side encoder;
detecting a rotational speed or rotational angle of the low speed rotational shaft with a low speed side encoder; and
determining an absolute rotational angle of the low speed or high speed rotational shaft based on outputs of the high speed side and low speed side encoders.

1. A system for loading and transporting a load on a vehicle including a vehicle frame and a vehicle longitudinal axis, which system comprises:
a longitudinal structural member including a proximal end and a distal end;
a vertical structural member including a top end and a bottom end;
a lift assembly connected to said vertical structural member;
said lift assembly being vertically movable relative to said vertical structural member;
a load connector connected to said lift assembly and adapted for connection to said load; and
said lift assembly being configured for lifting said load to a transport height.
2. The system according to claim 1 which further comprises:
a pair of binders, each binder including a binder linkage and a connection plate;
said binder connection plate affixed to said transport system body; and
wherein said binders are capable of connecting said transport system body to the vehicle frame.
3. The system according to claim 1 which further comprises:
a kingpin connection assembly including a kingpin and a structure, said structure being affixed to said transport system body;
wherein the vehicle includes a fifth wheel; and
wherein said kingpin connection is capable of connecting said transport system body to said fifth wheel.
4. The system according to claim 1 which further comprises:
said plurality of receiver slots of said vertical plate of said lift assembly includes a first pair of slots and a second pair of slots;
wherein said first pair of slots is spaced to accommodate a Cat. II two-point hitch; and
wherein said second pair of slots is spaced to accommodate a Cat. III two-point hitch.
5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said pair of hooks is capable of receiving a drawbar attached to an implement.
6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the angle formed between said longitudinal structural member and said vertical structural member is approximately 90\xb0.
7. A method for loading and towing an implement by a vehicle including a frame and a fifth wheel, and a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps:
providing a towing apparatus including a towing apparatus structure, said structure including a longitudinal structural member joined to a vertical structural member forming a 90\xb0 angle;
providing a lift assembly, said lift assembly being moveably connected to said vertical structural member;
providing a kingpin affixed to said towing apparatus structure, said kingpin capable of mounting onto the vehicle’s fifth wheel;
providing a mounting frame affixed to said towing apparatus structure, said mounting frame capable of mounting onto the vehicle’s frame;
mounting said towing apparatus to the vehicle, wherein said longitudinal structural member is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;
positioning the truck relative to an implement;
vertically lowering said lift assembly to a height capable of receiving said implement;
connecting said lift assembly to said implement;
vertically raising said lift assembly to a towing height; and
transporting said implement to a new location using said vehicle and said towing apparatus.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said lift assembly includes a pair of mounting hooks capable of receiving an implement hitch, the method including the step:
spacing the mounting hooks to receive a Cat. II two-point hitch.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein said lift assembly includes a pair of mounting hooks capable of receiving an implement hitch, the method including the step:
spacing the mounting hooks to receive a Cat. III two-point hitch.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein said lift assembly includes a pair of mounting hooks capable of receiving an implement hitch, the method including the step:
spacing the mounting hooks to receive a drawbar.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A pool jet fitting configured to direct flow of water, the pool jet fitting comprising:
a housing including a housing body and a bore that extends through the housing body along a central axis, the housing body including a coupler that is configured to be releasably coupled to a wall mount, the bore configured to receive a flow of water from a water pump when the housing is coupled to the wall mount and the water pump pumps the water flow; and
a valve positioned in the bore of the housing, the valve defining an adjustable opening configured to permit the flow of water to pass therethrough, the adjustable opening defining a dimension that is centered along the central axis and is unobstructed along an entirety of the dimension so that water is flowable therethrough, and the adjustable opening is capable of automatically adjusting between a first dimension and a second dimension so as to facilitate a predetermined outflow velocity of the water from the valve received from the pump, wherein the adjustable opening is unobstructed in the first dimension and the second dimension so as to permit the flow of water to pass therethrough.
2. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined outflow velocity is a range of velocities.
3. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, whereby the predetermined outflow velocity corresponds to a minimum velocity at which the water flow through the valve is visible on the surface of the pool.
4. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, wherein the dimension of the adjustable opening is capable of automatically adjusting in response to a change in water pump output.
5. The pool jet fitting according to claim 2, wherein (i) the water pump is a variable flow water pump that is capable of pumping the water at different flow rates, and (ii) the predetermined outflow velocity is maintained within a predetermined range of velocities as the flow rate of the variable flow water pump changes.
6. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, wherein the wall mount is a pre-existing wall mount of a pre-existing pool.
7. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, wherein the first dimension is about 0.25 inches and the second dimension is about 1.25 inches.
8. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, wherein the valve includes a valve body and at least one flexible member that extends distally relative to the valve body, the at least one flexible member defining a distal end that defines the adjustable opening.
9. The pool jet fitting according to claim 8, wherein the at least one flexible member is configured to flex outwardly to thereby increase the dimension of the adjustable opening.
10. The pool jet fitting according to claim 9, wherein the at least one flexible member includes a coupling portion that is coupled to the valve body, and a flexing portion that is attached to the coupling portion by a hinge.
11. The pool jet fitting according to claim 10, wherein the coupling portion, the flexing portion, and the hinge of each member are integrally formed as a single unit.
12. The pool jet fitting according to claim 8, wherein each member is substantially triangular in shape.
13. The pool jet fitting according to claim 8, wherein the valve further includes a plurality of extendable sections, each extendable section being coupled to a respective pair of adjacent members of the plurality of members.
14. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, further comprising a cap that is configured to be attached to the housing to thereby retain the valve in the bore of the housing.
15. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, further comprising a rotatable insert positioned within the bore of the housing, the rotatable insert defining a passage configured to direct the flow of water, wherein the valve is positioned within the passage of the rotatable insert such that the valve rotates along with the rotatable insert, when the rotatable insert is rotated.
16. The pool jet fitting according to claim 15, wherein the passage of the rotatable insert has a diameter of about 1.5 inches.
17. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a length between about 0.875 inches and about 1.125 inches, and a diameter between about 1.75 inches and about 2.0 inches.
18. The pool jet fitting according to claim 1, wherein the valve defines an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, wherein impingement of the flow of water against the inner surface of the valve causes the adjustable opening to increase from the first dimension to the second dimension along a direction that is perpendicular to the central axis.
19. A pool jet fitting configured to direct a flow of water from a variable flow water pump configured to pump the water at different flow rates into a pool, the pool jet fitting comprising:
a valve configured to receive the flow of water flow the variable flow water pump when the valve is disposed in line with the variable flow water pump, the valve including an input end and an output end spaced from the input end along a central axis in a first direction, the valve including a valve body, a plurality of flexible members that extend from the valve body and that converge toward a central axis, and an adjustable opening disposed at the output end, each flexible member including a proximal end disposed at the valve body, and a distal end opposed to the proximal end, each distal end being spaced apart from the central axis along a second direction that is perpendicular to the central axis so as to define the adjustable opening, the adjustable opening defining a dimension that extends along the second direction, and an entirety of the adjustable opening is unobstructed so as to permit water to flow through the valve,
wherein the valve is configured such that water impinging the plurality of flexible members in the first direction adjusts the dimension of the adjustable opening between a first dimension and a second dimension that is greater than the first dimension so as to maintain a predetermined outflow velocity of the water as the flow rate of the water flow from the variable speed water pump changes.
20. The pool jet fitting according to claim 19, wherein the adjustable opening defines a dimension that is centered about the central axis and is capable of automatically increasing from a nonzero first dimension to a second dimension that is greater than the first dimension.
21. The pool jet fitting according to claim 20, wherein the dimension extends along the second direction from a first distal end of a first one of the plurality of flexible members to a second distal end of a second one of the plurality of flexible members that is opposite to the first one of the plurality of flexible members.
22. The pool jet fitting according to claim 19, wherein the flexible members include an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, wherein the plurality of flexible members are configured to flex in response to impingement of the flow of water on the inner surfaces, such that when the flow rate of the water flow from the water pump increases, the flexible members flex outwardly away from the central axis to thereby increase the dimension of the adjustable opening.
23. The pool jet fitting according to claim 19, wherein the valve further includes a plurality of extendable sections, each extendable section being coupled to a respective pair of adjacent members of the plurality of members.
24. The pool jet fitting according to claim 19, further comprising a cap that is configured to be attached to the housing.
25. The pool jet fitting according to claim 19, further comprising a rotatable insert positioned within the bore of the housing, the rotatable insert defining a passage configured to direct the water flow, wherein the valve is positioned within the passage of the rotatable insert such that the valve rotates along with the rotatable insert, when the rotatable insert is rotated.
26. The pool jet fitting according to claim 25, wherein the passage of the rotatable insert has a diameter of about 1.5 inches.
27. The pool jet fitting according to claim 19, wherein the housing has a length between about 0.875 inches and about 1.125 inches, and a diameter between about 1.75 inches and about 2.0 inches.
28. The pool jet fitting according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined outflow velocity is a range of velocities.
29. The pool jet fitting according to claim 19, further comprising a housing including a body a bore that extends through the body along the central axis, the housing body configured to be coupled to a wall mount, the valve configured to be disposed in the bore.