Abstract: An auto-feed paper shredder is configured for placement below the surface of a desk. The auto-feeder consists of a drawer located on the front surface of the shredder. This drawer is slid out to insert a stack of documents to be shredded. When the door is slid back into the shredder and the shredding system is activated, feed rollers draw sheets of paper either from the top or the bottom surface of the stack and feed the sheets into a conventional paper shredding mechanism. An input slot is provided to insert single sheets of paper when the auto-feeder is not being used.

Abstract: The paper shredder simultaneously shreds both manually inserted sheets of paper and sheets of paper that are placed in an auto-feeder input tray. Immediately above the shredding mechanism the input path is bifurcated. One branch extends essentially straight up from the blades and leads to a manual input slot. A second branch extends at an angle towards the rear of the shredder where an auto-feed roller lies at the bottom of an auto-feed slot. When a stack of paper is placed into the slot, the bottom of the stack rests against the auto-feed roller which grasps the top sheet and pulls it under the roller. The roller then pushes the sheet down the angled throat where a curved surface bends the sheet downwards and into the shredding mechanism.

Abstract: A lamp shade or cover that can be readily switched from a translucent-opaque mode to a transparent mode if the shade or cover from a material with transparency properties that can be modulated. A layer of liquid crystals encapsulated between transparent electrodes is included in the shade. Normally, the liquid crystals are randomly oriented and diffuse light so as to create a translucent state. When a direct current voltage is applied across the transparent electrodes, the liquid crystals become oriented and essentially transparent. Application of a pulsed or alternating current voltage can be used to modulate the degree of transparency.

Abstract: An adjustable lamp includes a base, a riser configured to be attached to the base, and an adjustment arm including a lamp head. The adjustment arm is configured to be removably engaged to the riser. The adjustment arm is slidably moveable relative to the riser along a longitudinal length of the adjustment arm such that the distance between the lamp head and the riser can be increased or decreased. The adjustment arm includes a plurality of electrical buses configured for electrical-mechanical engagement with the riser when the adjustment arm is attached to the riser, and the LED lamp head is configured for electrical communication with the plurality of electrical buses.

Abstract: An auto-feed paper shredder is configured for placement below the surface of a desk. The auto-feeder consists of a drawer located on the front surface of the shredder. This drawer is slid out to insert a stack of documents to be shredded. When the door is slid back into the shredder and the shredding system is activated, feed rollers draw sheets of paper either from the top or the bottom surface of the stack and feed the sheets into a conventional paper shredding mechanism. An input slot is provided to insert single sheets of paper when the auto-feeder is not being used.

Abstract: The paper shredder simultaneously shreds both manually inserted sheets of paper and sheets of paper that are placed in an auto-feeder input tray. Immediately above the shredding mechanism the input path is bifurcated. One branch extends essentially straight up from the blades and leads to a manual input slot. A second branch extends at an angle towards the rear of the shredder where an auto-feed roller lies at the bottom of an auto-feed slot. When a stack of paper is placed into the slot, the bottom of the stack rests against the auto-feed roller which grasps the top sheet and pulls it under the roller. The roller then pushes the sheet down the angled throat where a curved surface bends the sheet downwards and into the shredding mechanism.

Abstract: A lamp shade or cover that can be readily switched from a translucent-opaque mode to a transparent mode if the shade or cover from a material with transparency properties that can be modulated. A layer of liquid crystals encapsulated between transparent electrodes is included in the shade. Normally, the liquid crystals are randomly oriented and diffuse light so as to create a translucent state. When a direct current voltage is applied across the transparent electrodes, the liquid crystals become oriented and essentially transparent. Application of a pulsed or alternating current voltage can be used to modulate the degree of transparency.

Abstract: An adjustable lamp includes a base, a riser configured to be attached to the base, and an adjustment arm including a lamp head. The adjustment arm is configured to be removably engaged to the riser. The adjustment arm is slidably moveable relative to the riser along a longitudinal length of the adjustment arm such that the distance between the lamp head and the riser can be increased or decreased. The adjustment arm includes a plurality of electrical buses configured for electrical-mechanical engagement with the riser when the adjustment arm is attached to the riser, and the LED lamp head is configured for electrical communication with the plurality of electrical buses.

Abstract: A dual auto-feed paper shredder provides a housing open at a top side to allow access to a paper compartment disposed within the housing. The paper compartment includes a bottom surface defining two side-by-side paper stations and a centrally located input slot extending across the bottom surface. Each paper station is configured to accommodate one stack of paper disposed above the input slot. Two sets of counter-rotating spaced apart rollers disposed on either side of the input slot. Each set is associated with a particular one of the paper stations. The housing includes an internal compartment configured to hold a shredding mechanism disposed below the input slot such that sheets of paper pass through the input slot into the shredding mechanism. At least one lid is hingedly connected to the housing, and is rotatable between fully open and fully closed configurations. The at least one lid is disposed over the paper compartment in the fully closed configuration.

Abstract: A lamp shade or cover that can be readily switched from a translucent-opaque mode to a transparent mode if the shade or cover from a material with transparency properties that can be modulated. A layer of liquid crystals encapsulated between transparent electrodes is included in the shade. Normally, the liquid crystals are randomly oriented and diffuse light so as to create a translucent state. When a direct current voltage is applied across the transparent electrodes, the liquid crystals become oriented and essentially transparent. Application of a pulsed or alternating current voltage can be used to modulate the degree of transparency.

Abstract: A paper shredder is configured like a conventional paper shredder except that the shredding mechanism is located in a removable cartridge. This allows a single paper shredder housing to be rapidly converted from one shredding pattern to another by simply changing the shredding cartridge. Furthermore, shredding cartridges can be readily replaced whenever the shredding mechanism jams or fails in some other manner. This simplifies repair and servicing of the paper shredder.

Abstract: Inventive cleaning sheets contact the rollers of paper shredder autofeed mechanisms with cleaning material that is either moistened with a solvent or treated with a low tack adhesive—either of which remove dirt and contaminants from the rollers. In one embodiment the moistened cleaning material is attached to a rigid sheet sized to fit into the paper compartment of the shredder where the cleaning material is brought into contact with the feed roller. The shredder is operated which causes dirt to be transferred from the rollers to the cleaning material. Alternatively, the cleaning material can be attached to a flexible but impermeable sheet which is placed into the shredder. The shredder is operated and after the rollers are cleaned, they may grab the entire flexible sheet and shred it, thereby additionally cleaning the shredding mechanism.

Abstract: The paper shredder simultaneously shreds both manually inserted sheets of paper and sheets of paper that are placed in an auto-feeder input tray. Immediately above the shredding mechanism the input path is bifurcated. One branch extends essentially straight up from the blades and leads to a manual input slot. A second branch extends at an angle towards the rear of the shredder where an auto-feed roller lies at the bottom of an auto-feed slot. When a stack of paper is placed into the slot, the bottom of the stack rests against the auto-feed roller which grasps the top sheet and pulls it under the roller. The roller then pushes the sheet down the angled throat where a curved surface bends the sheet downwards and into the shredding mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention involves a collapsible and disposable container that is inserted into a paper shredder to catch the shredded paper fragments. The disposable container has a relatively narrow slot-shaped opening having a length less than the longest dimension of the top of the container. A pair of counter-rotating rollers is supplied to compact the paper fragments and feed them through the slot and into the waste container. Various sensor systems, some constructed from conductive ink are used with and within the disposable container.

Abstract: The present invention involves a collapsible and disposable container that is inserted into a paper shredder to catch the shredded paper fragments. The disposable container has a relatively narrow slot-shaped opening having a length less than the longest dimension of the top of the container. A pair of counter-rotating rollers is supplied to compact the paper fragments and feed them through the slot and into the waste container. Various sensor systems, some constructed from conductive ink are used with and within the disposable container.

Abstract: Auto-feeding paper shredders use auto-feed mechanisms to remove sheets of paper from a large stack and shred them without human assistance or intervention. Once the document owner inserts the stack of confidential documents and leaves the scene, others are free to access the stack and read or remove confidential documents. This problem by providing a locked shredding compartment to hold the stack while shredding is taking place. An electronically operated lock that can be locked and unlocked by entering a PIN (personal identification number) through a key pad or a series of buttons or switches. Fingerprints or other biometric factors can also be used to control the lock.

Abstract: An auto-feed paper shredder is configured for placement below the surface of a desk. The auto-feeder consists of a drawer located on the front surface of the shredder. This drawer is slid out to insert a stack of documents to be shredded. When the door is slid back into the shredder and the shredding system is activated, feed rollers draw sheets of paper either from the top or the bottom surface of the stack and feed the sheets into a conventional paper shredding mechanism. An input slot is provided to insert single sheets of paper when the auto-feeder is not being used.

Abstract: The paper shredder simultaneously shreds both manually inserted sheets of paper and sheets of paper that are placed in an auto-feeder input tray. Immediately above the shredding mechanism the input path is bifurcated. One branch extends essentially straight up from the blades and leads to a manual input slot. A second branch extends at an angle towards the rear of the shredder where an auto-feed roller lies at the bottom of an auto-feed slot. When a stack of paper is placed into the slot, the bottom of the stack rests against the auto-feed roller which grasps the top sheet and pulls it under the roller. The roller then pushes the sheet down the angled throat where a curved surface bends the sheet downwards and into the shredding mechanism.