Abstract: A liquid aerator includes (i) a porous diffuser; (ii) a stem connected to the porous diffuser; (iii) an insert connected to the stem; and (iv) a manual air pump connected sealingly to the insert, the manual air pump configured such that the aerator can be set onto a supporting structure with the stem and the porous diffuser extending upwardly from the manual air pump.

Abstract: A two-way fastener includes a first member threaded for being screwed into a first workpiece; a polygonal wall for receiving a tool to screw the first member into the first workpiece, the polygonal wall located at a base end of the first member; and a second member extending in an opposite fastening direction from the first member, the second member configured to be fastened to a second workpiece. A fastening method includes enabling the threading of a first member of a fastener into a first workpiece; and enabling the threading of a second workpiece to a second member extending outwardly from the first member and the first workpiece.

Abstract: A liquid aerator includes (i) a porous diffuser; (ii) a stem connected to the porous diffuser; (iii) an insert connected to the stem; and (iv) a manual air pump connected sealingly to the insert, the manual air pump configured such that the aerator can be set onto a supporting structure with the stem and the porous diffuser extending upwardly from the manual air pump.

Abstract: A two-way fastener includes a first member configured to be attached to a first workpiece via a tool selected from the group consisting of: a pair of pliers, a screwdriver, a nutdriver and a hammer; and a second member configured to be attached to a second workpiece such that the second workpiece comes together with the first workpiece and at least substantially hides the entire two-way fastener, the second member extending in an opposite direction as the first member.

Abstract: A wine and spirit aerator includes a tube, a diffuser and an air pump attached to opposing ends of the tube. The aerator may include a stopper sized and shaped to be inserted into a lip of a wine or spirit bottle. The tube and diffuser can extend to the bottom of the bottle. The tube can have telescoping sections or be sized for single glass operation where the pump can be set on a structure between uses. The diffuser can be porous or sintered metal. The pump can be removed and replaced with a carbon dioxide injector to turn the aerator into a carbonated beverage preparation apparatus or a plant feeding apparatus. A method of marketing wine and spirits is also provided in which videos of same aerated by the disclosed aerators are posted to a website that offers both the aerators and the wine or spirit for purchase.

Abstract: In an embodiment a microwave oven includes (i) a housing including two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation; (ii) a magnetron located inside the housing; a door hinged along a hinged surface of the housing; and (iii) a user interface located on a surface of the housing opposing the hinged surface.

Abstract: A sports practicing system includes: a lever arm including an aperture; at least one ball secured to the lever arm; a pivot about which the lever arm rotates; an upper member to which the pivot is connected, the upper member including first and second ends; a base for placement on a ground, the base supporting the upper member; and an elastic strap stretched from the first end of the upper member to the second end of the upper member, an inner portion of the strap intersecting the pivot so the strap deflects the lever arm and the ball when the lever arm rotates about the pivot due to the ball being struck.

Abstract: An improved universal affinity system and method is uniquely configured to be implemented and operated with a reduced impact on existing merchant point of sale and affinity systems. The improved system and method also enables merchants to provide highly targeted incentives and advertising to users of the universal affinity system.

Abstract: A content changeable system for navigable venues includes (i) a software application folder for storage at a software application storage area, the software application folder including a plurality of software applications, each software application individually downloadable to a user's communication and data transfer device (“cdd”), each software application corresponding to a venue that can be physically navigated by the user, each application including at least one changeable content corresponding to a content station of the venue; and (ii) at least one server computer server configured to (a) upload the software applications to the software application storage area; and (b) receive information from at least one of the venues indicating that a particular changeable content corresponding to a particular content station of the at least one venue needs to be changed.

Abstract: A two-way fastener includes a first member configured to be attached to a first workpiece via a tool selected from the group consisting of: a pair of pliers, a screwdriver, a nutdriver and a hammer; and a second member configured to be attached to a second workpiece such that the second workpiece comes together with the first workpiece and at least substantially hides the entire two-way fastener, the second member extending in an opposite direction as the first member.

Abstract: An improved universal affinity system and method is uniquely configured to be implemented and operated with a reduced impact on existing merchant point of sale and affinity systems. The improved system and method also enables merchants to provide highly targeted incentives and advertising to users of the universal affinity system.

Abstract: A quick disconnect that enables a drummer to quickly remove and apply tension to a drumhead of a drum is provided. The disconnect is operable with many types of drums, such as a conga drum. The disconnect allows a drummer at the end of a playing session to quickly release tension from the drumhead and thereby preserve the head and the barrel portion of the drum. Further, when the drummer wants to use the drum again, the quick disconnect allows the drummer to quickly reapply tension to the drumhead, wherein the tension reapplied is substantially the same as the tension applied immediately prior to the previous release of the disconnect.

Abstract: A variety of electronic payment solutions and user affinity system and methods are provided. The electronic payment solutions allow participating customers to exploit legacy transaction systems and provide a basis to electronically establish user affinities that may be employed as part of one or more targeted marketing efforts. In an illustrative implementation, a participating user is issued a UPC bar code ID that is storable on a variety of media ranging from print medium to electronic media (FOB wand, stored in a cell phone, SIM Card, or other mobile computing device). The UPC bar code ID may be linked to the participating user's bank and/or credit card accounts. In operation, when the participating user purchases a product and/or service, the participating user offers the UPC bar code ID to the retailer to pay for the product and/or service.

Abstract: The cleaning process according to the present invention includes three main steps including supercritical extraction of soluble contaminants with a solvent composition, subcritical removal of particulate material with agitation, and solvent recovery and recycle. The supercritical extraction of soluble contaminants is performed by pumping a solvent composition into a cleaning vessel containing articles to be cleaned and pressurizing and heating the fluid in the vessel to a supercritical state. Then the subcritical phase is begun to remove particulate material from the articles by reducing the pressure and temperature of the solvent composition in the cleaning vessel to a subcritical state and reforming the liquid/gas interface. Agitation of the articles in the cleaning vessel is provided by recirculation of the solvent composition or by motion of a mechanical device within the cleaning vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wave soldering process wherein an inert gas atmosphere is injected inside the wave soldering machine, the inert gas atmosphere having a temperature which might be controlled. Particularly, the atmosphere can be heated at the same or different temperatures before injection, for example in the preheating zones, in the machine. The atmosphere can also be cooled (or injected at ambient temperature) e.g. in the cooling zone. Various atmospheres can be used (similar or different from one zone to another). Also, maintaining the atmosphere under forced laminer flow conditions improves the quality of the solder joints. The thermal efficiency of the heat transfer between the atmosphere and the printed circuit boards is thus greatly enhanced, which means less solder defects, higher components density and decrease of energy consumption and inert gas flow rate.

Abstract: A circuit board is wave soldered as it is carried by a conveyor through a solder wave established in a solder reservoir. Disposed on both sides of the solder wave are gas plenums which discharge shield gas. The gas plenums include orifices for directing shield gas (i) at high velocity toward the solder wave to protect the solder wave with an atmosphere of shield gas, and/or (ii) upwardly toward an underside of the circuit board to strip entrained air therefrom. The solder wave is generated by a pump driven by a drive shaft that extends downwardly into the solder reservoir. An upper portion of the drive shaft is surrounded by a stationary hollow sleeve which projects into the solder reservoir to restrict the churning of the solder during rotation of the drive shaft. A shield gas is introduced into the sleeve to inert the solder being churned. An enclosure is positioned above the solder reservoir having an inlet and an outlet through which the circuit boards are conveyed.

Abstract: A circuit board is wave soldered as it is carried by a conveyor through a solder wave established in a solder reservoir. Disposed on both sides of the solder wave are gas plenums which discharge shield gas. Each gas plenum includes a top wall, a side wall, and a bottom wall. The side wall is spaced horizontally from the wave, and the bottom wall is submerged within the solder. The side and (optionally) top walls include orifices for directing shield gas (i) at high velocity toward the solder wave to protect the solder wave with an atmosphere of shield gas, and (ii) upwardly toward an underside of the circuit board to strip entrained air therefrom. Instead of being submerged within the solder, the bottom wall could be spaced above the solder and provided with orifices to emit shield gas downwardly between the plenum and solder reservoir to create an inert atmosphere above the solder.