Abstract: A shears upper finger grip has a lower substantially flat inner surface arranged in a transverse plane substantially normal to a cutting plane and dimensioned and configured to enable substantially full insertion of a thumb metacarpal bone from a right lateral side and for receiving the ball of the thumb to enable the thumb to be moved to a position on a left lateral side to an orientation substantially parallel to the cutting plane and to position the hand's thenar eminence into abutment against the flat inner surface while positioning at least exterior right lateral portions of the upper finger grip in abutment against the palm beyond the hand's thenar crease and into the region of at least one of the hand's palmar creases to enable the thenar eminence and palm of the hand to oppose the forces applied by the fingers acting on the lower finger grip.

Abstract: A device is disclosed including a reloadable utility knife having a blade magazine with one or more compartments for storing multiple cutting blades. The blade magazine has a reloading compartment for new blades, and a storage compartment to keep additional blades. The blade magazine is loaded from the rear of the knife body and is locked inside. A working blade may be released before reloaded a fresh blade. The working blade can be extended or retracted multiple times via a blade transport mechanism. The blade magazine may be extracted via the lock mechanism and pushed out by a spring designed for this purpose. The blade transport mechanism, the blade release mechanism, and a blade lock mechanism work in cooperation to allow extension and retraction of a blade, disposing of a blade, and reloading of a blade.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed including a dual laser measurement device (DLMD) coupled with a mobile computing device to measure dimensions of a building or other structure, calculate other quantities based on the measured dimensions, select building construction or finishing material, order the material, and save the list of the measured dimensions and ordered materials in a data storage device. All steps of this process from measurement to ordering material may be performed using a DLMD app running on the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A level apparatus is disclosed including a body with a slide channel, a slider coupled with the body via the slide channel to slide parallel with respect to the body to extend a length of the level apparatus, a planar base surface on a side of the body to allow the level apparatus to rest on a work surface the orientation of which is to be measured, and a non-coplanar contact member at an endcap of the slider to rest on the work surface when the slider is in an extended position, wherein a tip of the non-coplanar contact member resting on the work surface is coplanar with the planar base surface.

Abstract: a device and a method are disclosed to detect obstructed objects, usually behind a wall or other similar surface. The device may be used by dragging it across the surface of the wall to scan, detect and display the objects behind the wall. The types of hidden objects and materials they are made of vary and may include wooden or metal studs used in building construction, electrical AC or DC wires and conduits, metal rebar and the like. Each type of material may need a different type of sensor to be detected. In some examples, the device may include memory to record the objects detected and display them on the screen in a persistent manner. The objects may be displayed via graphics that are similar to the real objects that were detected. In effect, the device may display a picture of what is hidden behind the wall.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed including a dual laser measurement device (DLMD) coupled with a mobile computing device to measure dimensions of a building or other structure, calculate other quantities based on the measured dimensions, select building construction or finishing material, order the material, and save the list of the measured dimensions and ordered materials in a data storage device. All steps of this process from measurement to ordering material may be performed using a DLMD app running on the mobile computing device.

Abstract: Ergonomic snips have a pair of pivoted levers each having a forward end formed as a cutting blade and a rearward end forming a hand portion. A first handgrip on one hand portion includes a first anti-slip ear suitable for engaging a user's thumb. A second handgrip on the other hand portion includes a second anti-slip ear to form a finger receiving portion to accommodate one or both of the index and middle fingers of a user to allow a user to either place the second anti-slip ear between the user's index and middle fingers to maximize torque or place the second anti-slip ear between said middle and ring fingers to provide greater cutting control or precision. The distances between a user's thumb and the user's index and middle fingers remain substantially the same in both positions of the hand.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed including a dual laser measurement device (DLMD) coupled with a mobile computing device to measure dimensions of a building or other structure, calculate other quantities based on the measured dimensions, select building construction or finishing material, order the material, and save the list of the measured dimensions and ordered materials in a data storage device. All steps of this process from measurement to ordering material may be performed using a DLMD app running on the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A level apparatus is disclosed including a body with a slide channel, a slider coupled with the body via the slide channel to slide parallel with respect to the body to extend a length of the level apparatus, a planar base surface on a side of the body to allow the level apparatus to rest on a work surface the orientation of which is to be measured, and a non-coplanar contact member at an endcap of the slider to rest on the work surface when the slider is in an extended position, wherein a tip of the non-coplanar contact member resting on the work surface is coplanar with the planar base surface.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed including a dual laser measurement device (DLMD) coupled with a mobile computing device to measure dimensions of a building or other structure, calculate other quantities based on the measured dimensions, select building construction or finishing material, order the material, and save the list of the measured dimensions and ordered materials in a data storage device. All steps of this process from measurement to ordering material may be performed using a DLMD app running on the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A spill-resistant pouch is attachable to a belt and has a pocket having spaced proximal and distal walls when worn on the belt of a user. The pocket has an upper opening for receiving objects within the pouch. The upper opening, when not subjected to loading stresses, normally defines a predetermined dimension extending between the proximal and distal walls, the pocket normally being deformable along the predetermined direction in response to forces applied by objects within the pocket on the distal wall. A rigidifying structure is provided within the pocket for substantially maintaining the predetermined dimension of the upper opening by preventing relative movements between the proximal and distal walls, whereby objects within the pocket are prevented from falling out through the upper opening due to excessive deformation of the distal wall relative to the proximal wall while providing unhindered access to items within the pouch.

Abstract: An extendable grade rod receiver includes a plurality of elongate telescoping rods provided with elongate channels along their lateral edges. A receiver receives a reference beam from a remote transmitter includes a carriage movable along the rods and coupled to the receiver for sharing axial movements. The carriage is provided with wheels moveable in directions generally normal to the axis. The wheels are receivable within the elongate channels of all of the rods and are inwardly biased towards the axis to retain the wheels within the channels or grooves of any of the rods as the carriage moves over the steps or discontinuities as it moves from one rod to a next adjacent rod. Visual and machine-readable indicia are provided on the elongate front surfaces of the telescoping rods that can be encoded by a reader module on the receiver. Other mating rolling or sliding profiles can be used.

Abstract: A leveling instrument includes a generally elongate carrier defining a carrier axis. A first liquid-filled bubble vial is mounted on the carrier and defines a first vial axis and an internal generally barrel-shaped surface of revolution about the first vial axis formed by a curve having a predetermined curvature to exhibit a first sensitivity. A second liquid-filled bubble vial defines a second vial axis and has a generally barrel-shaped surface of revolution about the second vial axis and formed by a curve having a curvature less pronounced than the predetermined curvature of the first vial to exhibit a second sensitivity greater than the first sensitivity, the first and second vial axes being generally parallel to each other. If the vials are curved they are similarly oriented and have different curvatures to exhibit different sensitivities. A method of using the multi-vial leveling instrument is described.

Abstract: A laser measurer comprising a housing defining a direction along which a linear measurement is to be made; first and second lasers within said housing for generating two laser beams emanating from said housing in opposite or opposing directions along said measurement direction; level compensation within said housing; and an app for performing computations to provide linear, surface and volume data.

Abstract: A customizable knee pad includes a foam main body having an anterior surface A and a posterior surface molded to the shape of the knee. The anterior surface is formed with an array of spaced recesses covering the knee to be protected. Each recess defines a negative incremental area and, cumulatively, define an area Ar. The effective area Aeff of the anterior surface is equal to Aeff=A?Ar. A fabric sheet covers the posterior surface. A gel pad is provided within the main body in close proximity to the fabric sheet. The main body of the knee pad is injection molded with the gel pad and fabric sheet in place to bond the fabric sheet and gel pad to the molded main body to be effectively integrated therewith. Changing the recesses' shape and spacing alters the flexibility of the knee pad and renders it harder or softer.