Abstract: The use of a frictional engagement with the top and/or side of a lifter ring on the neck of a bottle for controlling the rotation of the bottle during the capping process. The frictional engagement may be used to hold the bottle steady during the capping process or may be utilized to cause counter rotation of the bottle during the capping process. A method and apparatus for using counter rotation of the bottle to apply a cap to a bottle is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for vacuum sealing a food item package. Compressed air forces air out of a food item package such that there is substantially no air within the package after it is sealed.

Abstract: A planing pontoon hull is described including a bow section with separate steep and shallow bow planes separated by left and right displacement guides extending upward from a planar bottom. Forward bow angle, steep deflections angles, displacement angles, and shallow planing angles are described for water movement over a range of water speeds and depths.

Abstract: A paintball marker utilizing fiber optic cables and quick disconnects to create an isolated electrical circuit which is more robust to environmental effects while improving marker balance by relocating the sensor weight. A paintball marker is provided using a frame structure defining a mounting area and a distal sensing area with an optical sensor connected to the frame at the mounting area and a fiber optic cable connected between the optical sensor and the distal sensing area. Both reflective and broken beams sensors are taught for use with the present invention as well as a light source providing light through an optic supply line connected between the light source and the distal sensing area.

Abstract: An integrated paintball marker having an integrated hopper in the marker body. The integrated hopper is connected by a sliding mechanism and provides for a center of gravity closer to the user's hand as well as reduced extremities for targeting by other players or for catching on foreign objects. The hopper is removable from the body using a connector and lock system that is separate from the exit port and which allows positioning on the marker while blocking the exit port from the hopper compartment.

Abstract: There is disclosed chuck configurations for internally engaging the hollow core element of a roll of packaging or printing sheet or other web material in which a generally cylindrical chuck body insertable in a web core has at least one hole through the chuck body at an acute angle with the tangent to the chuck body at the outer entrance point of the hole and at an acute angle with the plane perpendicular to the chuck cylindrical axis. At least one elongated element is configured to engage rotatably in each of the holes and having on a distal end thereof one or more pointed or toothed extensions for engagement with the interior of a hollow web whereby chuck engagement with a hollow core may be made by manipulating such elongated elements to extend outside the periphery of said chuck body. The chuck may also be provided with means for securing it on a spindle or shaft for rotation therewith which is separate and independent of the holes and elongated elements for engaging the hollow core.