Abstract: A material application system for applying a panel of material to a framework with a shoe for retaining the framework, a nest, opposed mechanisms for retaining opposite portions of the panel of material traversing between the shoe and the nest, an arrangement for selectively moving the shoe and the nest into and out of an engaged position wherein the panel of material is sandwiched between the shoe and the nest and a disengaged position, and an arrangement for inducing an attachment of the panel of material to the framework. The opposed mechanisms can be clamping mechanisms, which can be segmented and individually moveable to enable variable pretensioning. A contoured deflection control member can alternatively produce variable pretensioning. A pressing arrangement with a tooth member can press a locking spline into a groove in the framework to secure the material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for retaining an article of clothing, such as a jacket or coat, relative to a wearer. The apparatus can have a central portion, a first shoulder loop with first and second ends coupled to the central portion, a second shoulder loop with first and second ends coupled to the central portion, and a mechanism, such as a pair of jaws or a coupling flap, for retaining and supporting an article of clothing relative to the central portion. The method can have the wearer dispose his or her arms through the shoulder loops and retain an article of clothing using the retaining and supporting mechanism.

Abstract: A method for three-dimensional shape and size measurement of a three-dimensional body surface comprising providing a three-dimensional scanner, providing a processor, providing a three-dimensional Computer Aided Design system, scanning in three dimensions with the three-dimensional scanner at least a portion of the three-dimensional body surface, creating a data file representative of the three-dimensional body surface, processing the data file with the processor, importing the data file into the three-dimensional Computer Aided Design System, employing the three-dimensional Computer Aided Design System relative to the data file to define and record three-dimensional measuring data relative to at least a portion of the three-dimensional body surface, A and employing the three-dimensional Computer Aided Design System to exploit the three-dimensional measuring data.

Abstract: A self-defense wearable with a body portion, an electrically conductive pathway applied over the body portion, an electrically charged seam construction for producing an electric charge relative to an outer surface of the body portion, a power source, an activating switch for inducing the self-defense wearable into a charged condition, and a wiring network for producing an electrical association between the electrically conductive pathway, the power source, and the at least one activating switch. The self-defense wearable can be an upper body covering, and the activating switch can be a compression activated switch disposed on a tongue disposed at a distal end of an arm of the self-defense wearable to underlie the wearer's palm whereby the self-defense wearable can be induced into a charged condition by a clenching of the wearer's hand.

Abstract: A prosthetic brassiere with first and second brassiere cups for retaining a prosthetic breast relative to the first cup, the second cup, or both cups. At least one back strap can traverse from outboard sides of the brassiere cups to form a body-encircling portion by use of a front-closure or rear-closure fastening arrangement. The fastening arrangement can have first and second jaw panels, a tongue panel, and hook and loop material for selectively retaining the first and second jaw panels relative to the tongue panel. The brassiere can have removable shoulder straps enabling conversion between strapped and strapless configurations. The shoulder straps can be coupled to the brassiere cups by retaining flaps that can be tucked into open inner volumes in the brassiere cups when the brassiere is in a strapless configuration. A privacy panel can be fixedly or removably retained relative to the brassiere cups traversing between upper portions thereof.

Abstract: An equipoise arm assembly for supporting an article in equipoise with a support arm, a proximal arm joint, a distal arm joint for supporting an article either directly or through a second support arm, a spring arrangement including a spring member with a distal end coupled to a body portion of the support arm and a proximal end pivotally retained to pivot about an effective pivot axis to create a spring force moment arm of a given length whereby the spring arrangement will tend to provide a resistive torque in support to the support arm, and an arrangement for altering the effective pivot axis of the spring arrangement to change the length of the spring force moment arm.

Abstract: A game projectile dispensing device with a dispensing housing, a game projectile retaining member for retaining a plurality of game projectiles in a stack, first and second game projectile emission chutes, an actuating lever with a first arm for being engaged by a player and a second arm for engaging a game projectile whereby a player can press on the first arm of the actuating lever to induce the actuating lever to drive the lower-most projectile from the stack of game projectiles. A game projectile supply ramp can enable a player to select between emitting the game projectile from the first and second game projectile emission chutes. The game projectile supply ramp can be disposed below the game projectile retaining member whereby, when driven from the stack of game projectiles, a game projectile will drop onto the game projectile supply ramp for being dispensed.

Abstract: A skate with a main skate frame, a skate boot, and a carriage frame pivotally coupled to the main skate frame. At least one ground engaging member, such as a wheel or a runner blade, is coupled to the carriage frame for pivoting therewith. The main skate frame can pivot laterally, dorsally, or both laterally and dorsally relative to the carriage frame. Lateral pivoting can be achieved, for example, with a lateral pivot shaft or with an arcuate passage with a plurality of axles that also enable dorsal pivoting.

Abstract: High powered lasers of substantially any wavelength produced by certain processes including the process of providing a structure comprising a substrate with an epi structure thereon comprising a gain region with multiple quantum wells, a mirror stack coupled to the gain region, and a conductive layer coupled to the mirror stack; dividing the conductive layer into a conductive, central area and one or more dielectric, peripheral areas; attaching a conductive plate to the conductive layer; thinning the substrate to improve the passage of light therethrough to produce a substrate remnant; and attaching an electrode to the substrate remnant.

Abstract: A monitoring system such as a septic tank monitoring system for distinguishing between and identifying the location of a sedimentary layer, a scum layer, and any intervening liquid zone in a septic tank with an elongate sensing probe for being disposed in the septic tank, a plurality of sensors disposed along the sensing probe, and a remote monitor operably associated with the plurality of sensors, such as thermistors, for providing a remote indication to a septic tank operator of the location of the sedimentary layer, the scum layer, and any intervening liquid zone in the septic tank based on the signals from the plurality of sensors so that a septic tank operator can monitor the contents and condition of the septic tank without a need for excavating and physically inspecting the septic tank.

Abstract: A modular wall component with an insulative thermal break for preventing the creation of a continuous thermal path across the modular wall component. The modular wall component may be formed with an insulated frame structure that is fixed to an open frame structure with an insulative thermal break interposed therebetween. The insulated frame structure may be formed with a plurality of vertical track members coupled to an upper track member and a lower track member. At least one sheet of insulative material is interposed into the insulated frame structure. The open frame structure may have a plurality of vertical framing studs coupled to an upper framing track and a lower framing track.

Abstract: A beach wave playset for simulating an approach of a wave toward a shoreline. The playset can have a beach member, a wave member, and a pivot axle for enabling the wave member to pivot into and out of proximity with the beach member. Decorative elements, such as surfboards, dolls, and inner tubes, can be retained relative to the wave member and can be moved, such as by a drive wheel and motion conversion assembly combination, during a pivoting of the wave member to enable a realistic wave riding simulation. A plurality of water panels can simulate an underlying water surface. The wave member could be moved manually or by a motor arrangement, and electronic play effects could be induced in response to a movement of the wave member.

Abstract: A phallus retention harness for retaining a phallus with a base portion and an elongate body portion relative to a wearer with a pocket member for receiving and retaining the phallus wherein the pocket member has a first panel and a second panel with an inner volume between the front panel and the rear panel, an aperture in the front panel of the pocket member for enabling the elongate body portion of the phallus to extend therethrough, and an arrangement for retaining the pocket member relative to the wearer's body.

Abstract: A spring board construction in one embodiment with a board member, first and second bindings, and first and second spring units coupled to the board member. The spring units can have resiliently deflectable upper and lower arcuate spring members joined in an opposing relationship. The spring units can be disposed generally parallel to one another and perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the board member. The first and second ends of the upper and lower arcuate spring members can be fixed together by being mutually enveloped in first and second encasements. The spring members can be crafted from a composite of plastic and fiberglass. Traction members can be fixed to mid-portions of the lower spring members.

Abstract: A visor construction with inverted display material for enabling the visor to be worn of a head of a wearer in an upside down orientation while providing an upright disposition of display material. The visor has a header panel with a first, outwardly facing surface and a second surface for being disposed adjacent to the head of the wearer. An arcuate bill is fixed to the header projecting transversely from the first, outwardly facing surface of the header panel. A strap, resiliently deflectable legs, or any other appropriate arrangements can be employed to retain the header panel and the arcuate bill relative to the wearer's head. Display material is oriented oppositely to the visor construction thereby enabling the visor construction to be worn upside down while retaining the display material in an upright orientation.

Abstract: A centrifugal dispensing apparatus with a centrifugal dispensing drum that can be divided into compartments and that has at least one open inner volume for retaining a volume of flowable material, an exit aperture for each open inner volume for allowing flowable material to pass during a rotation of the centrifugal dispensing drum, and a drive shaft. A catch shield or a cam operated plunger arrangement for sealing off the exit aperture in a directionally sensitive manner can be provided. Flowable material can be deposited in lines onto flat surfaces, curved surfaces, and non-flat surfaces that can be rendered flat after the application of flowable material thereto.

Abstract: An acrobatic doll and accessory combination with an acrobatic doll body, an engaging member coupled to the doll body, a doll accessory, and an engaging member coupled to the doll accessory wherein the engaging member coupled to the doll body and the engaging member coupled to the doll accessory can engage one another in a mating relationship. The acrobatic doll can have a torso, a head, first and second arms hingedly coupled to the torso, and first and second legs hingedly coupled to the torso. The doll accessory can take many forms including a tumble baton, a tumble garment, a tumble bar arrangement, a dancing stand, a balance wand, a vertical stand, a rocker unit, a swing arrangement, a propeller driven arrangement.

Abstract: A travel wrap with a central portion for covering a seat structure, first and second wing members for selectively blanketing a seat occupant, and a cap portion for retaining the central portion relative to a seat. First and second apertures can receive seat belt straps to enable the seat occupant to be secured relative to the seat structure. Third and fourth apertures can enable the seat belt straps to be threaded through the travel wrap to allow the seat belt arrangement to be fastened exterior to a blanketed configuration of the wing members. The cap portion can have first and, possibly, second pockets for receiving the upper end of the seat back, and a pillow can be associated with one face of the travel wrap for enabling the travel wrap to be applied reversibly and to enable the selective provision of a pillow.

Abstract: A method for forming larger shrimp, seafood, and meat products from plural smaller products and the products of that method. A butterflied larger shrimp product formed from plural smaller food products can be created with a first child shrimp interposed between first and second butterfly halves of a mother shrimp. A peeled-round larger shrimp product formed from plural smaller products can be created with a distal end of a peeled-round mother shrimp joined to a proximal end of a peeled-round first child shrimp. In such a case, the joined ends of the mother and first child shrimp can be sloped at complementary angles. A shell-on larger shrimp product formed from plural smaller products can be created with a distal end of a shell-on mother shrimp joined to a proximal end of a shell-on first child shrimp.