Abstract: A disposable lid for mounting upon the substantially circular lip of a personal beverage container and a method for making the same, the lid having an annular mounting portion for anchoring upon the circular cup lip; a top plate portion coupled to the annular mounting portion; a drink-through opening within the top plate portion and adjacent to an outer portion thereof adjacent to the annular mounting portion and enabling drinking from the cup without removal of the lid and permitting the lips of a user drinking from the cup to substantially encompass the drink-through opening, the drink-through opening further including a liquid permeable membrane formed of a first plurality of perforations; and a vent opening within the top plate portion spaced away from the drink-through opening, the vent opening further including an air permeable membrane formed of a second plurality of perforations.

Abstract: A quick release device holder for portable electronics devices that protects soft and impressionable housing materials from damage during insertion and removal. The quick release device holder includes a backing plane formed with a substantially rigid spine portion and a receiver pocket adjacent to a first end thereof. One or more latching arms extend from the backing plane spaced away from the receiver pocket, each of the one or more latching arms further including a resiliently flexible stem portion coupled to the backing plane and having a head portion spaced away from the backing plane. The head portion further includes one or more rollers coupled thereto in a position spaced away from an interior surface of the backing plane, and a retention tongue between the one or more rollers and the interior surface of the backing plane and being set back from a circumference of the one or more rollers.

Abstract: An anchor mount formed of a stopper having a thrust flange joined to a first end of a stem portion with an axial bore extending there through and a centering portion inclined between an overhanging portion of the flange and the stem portion; a part-spherical coupler presented on the stopper thrust flange opposite from the stem portion; a substantially resiliently deformable plug having an axial bore extended there through; an elongated shaft extendable through the respective axial bores of the stopper and the plug and having a threaded portion thereof extendable from a second end of the plug; an end cap having with an axial bore there through and being structured with an anti-rotation mechanism operable for resisting rotation of the end cap relative to the plug; and a mechanism for reversibly moving the end cap along the elongated shaft relative to the stem portion of the stopper.

Abstract: An anchor mount formed of: a mounting device; a laterally expandable locking mechanism coupled to the base of the mounting device, the laterally expandable locking mechanism including first and second cooperating wedges, the first wedge being coupled to the base of the mounting device, and the second wedge being movable along an inclined plane of mutual contact with the first wedge and substantially laterally expandable relative thereto; a reaction surface fixed relative to the first wedge; an actuator having an actuation surface that is positioned adjacent to the reaction surface and movable relative thereto; and the second wedge being responsive to motion of the actuation surface of the actuator relative to the reaction surface for moving along the inclined plane of mutual contact with the first wedge and substantially laterally expanding relative thereto.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a device that effectively mounts and secures objects to nonplanar surfaces, and in particular effectively mounts and secures objects in a quick and efficient manner to complex contours of different automotive vehicle dashboard and other interior vehicle surfaces having differing coverings of differing textures. By example and without limitation, this novel adaptive mounting device includes a substantially flexible container forming a vacuum chamber containing and substantially filled with a substantially granular substance. A mounting structure having a frame supporting a presentation structure is joined to the bladder with at least a coupler or other presentation structure external of the bladder. A substantially air impermeable seal is formed between the bladder and a portion of the frame, and at least a partial vacuum is formed within the bladder. The disclosure also describes a method for manufacturing the device described herein.

Abstract: A sleeved composite pipe or piling structure formed of an elongated polyethylene pipe or tube of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or another polyethylene material installed over a substantially rigid and incompressible hollow metal pipe or solid wood core having an outer diameter that is the same or slightly larger than a normal inside diameter of the polyethylene pipe or tube when measured in a relaxed state at ambient temperature. The polyethylene pipe or tube is, for example, a HDPE 3408 material formed of virgin PE 3408 resin as specified in ASTM D3350 with UV protection, and the pipe is produced to ASTM A-3408. The metal pipe core can be ferrous or nonferrous pipe.

Abstract: A novel adaptive mounting device that effectively mounts and secures objects to nonplanar surfaces, and in particular effectively mounts and secures objects in a quick and efficient manner to complex contours of different automotive vehicle dashboard and other interior vehicle surfaces having differing coverings of differing textures. By example and without limitation, this novel adaptive mounting device includes a substantially flexible container containing a substantially plastically formable composition; a frame at least partially embedded in the plastically formable composition; and a presentation structure substantially supported on the frame external of the container. A method for manufacturing the novel adaptive mounting device is also provided.

Abstract: A suction cup holding device that effectively conforms to soft surfaces and complex curves which may be present in the target surfaces such as a dash board of a modern automobile. The suction cup device includes a housing having a recess therein with an opening formed in a first surface, wherein a first portion of the housing adjacent to the first surface is substantially flexible and a second substantially inflexible portion thereof is structured for mounting thereto; a low durometer suction cup having a resiliently deformable central portion that is structured to be drawn into the recess of the housing; and means for drawing the central portion of the suction cup into the recess.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying floors and carpets using a fan for generating a pressurized air stream within a vertical cylindrical shroud that is spaced two to five inches away from the floor on a set of legs such that an opening is formed between the shroud and the floor. The air stream is directed along the cylindrical shroud vertically toward the floor. At least a peripheral portion of the air stream is exhausted from the shroud in a substantially laminar flow at an angle that is inclined from the vertical and is exhausted radially into ambient air as a substantially laminar air stream.

Abstract: A novel cross-plied material is formed of portions of a ply of a ballistic-resistant structure composed of unidirectionally-oriented bundles of high strength filaments laminated between opposing thermoplastic films which portions are cross-plied with portions of a continuous ply of a similar ballistic-resistant structure with a plurality of yarns laterally spaced into a linear array corresponding to the width of the continuous ply along the ply direction. Substantially continuous coatings or deposits of a bonding or coupling agent on the yarns cause a plurality of substantially continuous bonding strips to be formed between the continuous ply and the portions of cross-ply, with the bonding strips being laid in a laterally spaced linear array corresponding to the yarns. The bonding strips couple the cross-ply portions with consecutive portions of the continuous ply, whereby the continuous ply and the cross-ply portions are adhered sufficiently to prevent their being pulled apart.

Abstract: A novel salon chair having a novel movable footrest assembly with a sliding or pivoting footrest which replaces a conventional rigid tubular one-piece footrest typical of salon chairs. The salon chair includes a chair portion structured for being elevated above a floor surface, the chair portion having a seat portion elevated on a support portion and a seat back portion. A footrest portion has a foot support portion that is movable between an extended configuration relative to the seat portion of the chair portion, and a retracted configuration relative thereto. An actuator mechanism coupled between the chair portion and the footrest portion is structured for moving the foot support portion between the extended and retracted configurations.

Abstract: A multiply configurable tripodal mounting bracket having multiple permanently bendable solid metal support rods, means for clamping a first end of each support rod in a fixed tripodal arrangement, and means for securing a second end of each support rod relative to an external surface, such as a vehicle floorboard. The mounting bracket also includes means for fixing an external device, such as a portable desk or laptop computer, to the clamp portion of the bracket.

Abstract: A positionable platform for use with a beverage holder, the positionable platform including a monolithic body sized similarly to a standard twelve (12) ounce beverage container, the body having an upper platform portion positioned adjacent to a first end of a wall portion thereof, with a plurality of slotted retention apertures distributed about the body and substantially aligned therewith. A resiliently pliable member resides in each of the slotted retention apertures, each of the resiliently pliable members being having a fin portion positioned partially within a slot portion and extended from the outer surface of the wall portion outwardly of the body and extending along the wall portion between the first and second ends thereof, and a spine portion positioned substantially within a recessed keyhole portion. A mounting platform is positioned adjacent to one of the first and second ends of the body.

Abstract: A reconfigurable vehicle console having a plurality of interchangeable overlapping blank and equipment mounting face plates, including both tongue-and-groove joints between adjacent face plates, as well as optional lap joints.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant laminate assembly having a pair of films and a pair of first and second interlinear arrays of unidirectionally-oriented bundles of high strength filaments therebetween with filament bundles of the first array each being arranged substantially interlinear with adjacent filament bundles of the second array and further being in at least intermittent contact therewith. Respective surfaces the filament bundles of the second array are coupled to the first film with substantially continuous thin linear deposits of a coupling agent, and respective surfaces of the filament bundles of the first array are coupled to the second film with substantially continuous thin linear deposits of a coupling agent.

Abstract: An external expanding apparatus or “docking station” operable with a portable computer device of a type having a display unit having a display screen on an inner surface thereof and a hard shell backing surface opposite thereof and pivotally mounted on a substantially rigid casing having a pair of locating holes adjacent to opposite corners of a substantially planar bottom surface thereof, and an input/output (I/O) connector positioned on a back plane thereof with a pair of positioning apertures provided on opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: A reconfigurable vehicle console having a plurality of interchangeable overlapping face plates and a single piece cup holder that is structured for coupling to the console. The cup holder is either interchangeable with one of the face plates, or is connectable to an outside surface of the console proper. The cup holder includes one or more beverage receptacle receivers each molded continuous with a top plate thereof with an opening contiguous with an external surface thereof and sized to receive a beverage receptacle, and a plurality of accessory receivers each molded continuous with the top plate with an opening contiguous with the external surface thereof, wherein at least one of the accessory receivers is molded with a different shape than the beverage receptacle receivers.

Abstract: A convertible clamp device including a C-shaped frame having first and second substantially opposing interconnected arms; a clamping rod carried by the first arm for longitudinal movement in a first clamping direction toward an internal face of the second arm and in a second opposite direction away from the second arm; different first and second movable clamping jaws removably coupleable to a portion of the clamping rod between the arms of the frame; and different first and second stationary clamping anvils being disposable on the internal face of the second arm.

Abstract: A novel adaptive mounting device that effectively mounts and secures objects to nonplanar surfaces, and in particular effectively mounts and secures objects in a quick and efficient manner to complex contours of different automotive vehicle dashboard and other interior vehicle surfaces having differing coverings of differing textures. By example and without limitation, this novel adaptive mounting device includes a substantially flexible container forming a vacuum chamber containing and substantially filled with a substantially granular substance. A mounting structure having a frame supporting a presentation structure is joined to the bladder with at least a coupler or other presentation structure external of the bladder. A substantially air impermeable seal is formed between the bladder and a portion of the frame, and at least a partial vacuum is formed within the bladder. A method for manufacturing the novel adaptive mounting device is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet of ballistic-resistant fiber strands includes a bi-directional array of bonding fibers interwoven with the ballistic-resistant fibers to form a fiber panel. In one embodiment, a sheet of laminated ballistic-resistant fibers is joined to the first sheet of laminated ballistic-resistant fibers with the ballistic-resistant fibers running in a second direction as compared to the first fibers. In yet another embodiment, individual laminated sheets of ballistic-resistant fibers are stitched together to form packets of sheets that may be used singularly or bundled together.