Abstract: An automatically retractable utility knife includes a housing and a blade carrier having a molded return spring, which may be integral with the blade carrier. The return spring is serpentine shaped and constructed of a resilient thermoplastic. The housing includes front and rear guide slots, with the blade carrier having a thumb piece extending through the front guide slot and a thumb piece extending through the rear guide slot for enabling the cutting device to be used by right or left-handed persons. The blade carrier may include a snap-off extension for limiting forward travel of the blade carrier with the snap-off extension in place. A method of manufacturing a utility knife includes the steps of providing a housing having an interior adapted to receive either an indexed blade carrier or an automatically retractable blade carrier, and assembling the housing with either an indexed blade carrier or an automatically retractable blade carrier therein.

Abstract: A play system floor includes a frame defining the periphery of an area to be floored and a webbed flooring constructed of a webbing material extending between the frame members. The webbing material has an optimal predetermined stretch coefficient at which it retains its resiliency, while resisting sagging. The webbed flooring is sized using the stretch coefficient whereby the dimensions of the webbed flooring when stretched substantially correspond to the dimensions of the area to be floored. The webbed flooring is stretched to the dimensions of the area to be floored and secured to the frame. The floor is stretched to the dimensions of the area to be floored by positioning a bar through loops on each side of the weaved flooring, and applying tension to each bar. The webbed flooring is secured to the frame by attaching each bar to the frame using clamps, bands, or other attaching devices. Tension to each bar is applied by operating a screw-actuated clamping member to tighten the bar against the frame.

Abstract: A coupling for preventing the buildup of static electricity between adjacent conduits includes a sleeve enclosed by pivotally connected semicircular segments. The semicircular segments are in electrical contact with first and second conduits via bonding wires. The semicircular segments, bonding wires, and/or flanges are coated with a hard metallic ductile conductive coating, which is preferably a boron-nickel coating, to provide electrical conductivity between the conduits. The coupling may be entirely coated with the boron-nickel coating, or selectively coated to provide the required electrical conductivity between the conduits. The conduits include flanges mounted on the ends thereof. Each flange is selectively coated with a hard anodized, dry-lube, thin-film non-conductive, or other insulating coating to reduce or prevent arcing on the interior of the coupling under lighting strike or other hazardous electrical conditions.

Abstract: A display against inventory verification apparatus and method that is operable to compare the display of items in a store to the inventory of the store to ensure that all items in inventory are on display and to ensure that all items on display are in inventory. Each item on display includes a bar code label and a bar code label reader is used to read and store all of the bar codes on display. A computer controller, which communicates with the bar code label reader compares the items on display with an inventory of the items for determining those items on display with inventory below a predetermined threshold. The computer controller also compares the items on display with an inventory of available items for determining those available items not on display. The computer generates reports of the items on display with inventory below the predetermined threshold and of the items available in inventory that are not on display.

Abstract: A display apparatus for an object to be displayed, e.g., a brush, in which the object includes a slot on its external surface. A display card is sized to be inserted into the slot and is removably retained within the slot. Adhesive, or a friction fit, is preferably used to removably attach the display card to the object. In one embodiment, the object to be displayed includes at least one protuberance extending partially into the slot. The display card is sized to be frictionally retained in the slot by the protuberance. The display card may include a folded over portion for increasing the thickness of the display card when it is inserted into the slot. The display card is shaped to correspond to a shape of the object to be displayed when the display card is inserted into the slot, and includes a hole therethrough for enabling the display card to be hung from a display rack.

Abstract: A voice recognition interactive conversational apparatus employs temporally related data storage tracks containing interactive conversational content. The conversational content is stored on each track in information segments. Each of the segments forms a complete message reproducible in response to the selection of the track upon which the segments are stored. Each information segment includes interrogatories having vocal responses, responsive messages, informational messages, or combinations thereof related in time and content to information contained on at least one other track. The information is stored on the tracks in a predetermined timed sequence for providing interactive conversation dependent on the verbal responses. A playback device facilitates playback of the conversational content. A track selector randomly accesses the tracks for retrieving and play back the information stored thereon via the playback device.

Abstract: An audio delay and feedback apparatus includes i) a microphone for receiving an input audio signal and for generating a first electrical signal corresponding to the input audio signal, ii) a delay circuit for receiving the first electrical signal and for generating a second electrical signal corresponding to but delayed from the first electrical signal by a predetermined amount of time, and iii) earphones or a speaker for receiving the second audio signal and for generating an audio output signal corresponding thereto. An audio signal input to the microphone is delayed and fed back to the earphones so as to make speech difficult, humorous, discombobulated, and often unintelligible. The microphone, earphones and delay circuit are mounted on a headset. In one embodiment, the first electrical signal is digital and the delay circuit includes a digital memory. An A/D converter digitizes the first electrical signal and a D/A converter converts the second electrical signal to an analog signal.

Abstract: A disposal system for cutting a needle/syringe (22) into small pieces. One or more motor driven rotating cutting blades (6) are located inside of a housing for cutting the needle/syringe (2) into small pieces. The pieces are deposited in a disposal tray (10) filled with a disinfecting solution, with the parts of the needle/syringe (2) automatically separating for recycling due to the specific gravity of the pieces. A pump (16) is provided for pumping the disinfecting solution, preferably a mixture of chlorine bleach and water, to the needle/syringe inlet (8) and cutting area. The disinfecting solution continuously disinfects the inlet (8), the needle/syringe pieces, the cutting blade (6) and the disposal tray (10). An automatic timer deeps the cutting blades (6) rotating and the pump (16) operating for a sufficient time to cut the needle/syringe (2) and disinfect the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus that displays alternative items for items that are out of stock in a store or the like. A request for an item is entered into a sales computer. The computer determines from a database whether the requested item is available. If the item is unavailable, the computer determines alternative items that are available for sale. These available alternative items are interactively displayed for the customer. The alternative items are determined from an alternative item database wherein each item is categorized with alternative items. A mass data storage device stores an image of each alternative item. A method of determining and displaying alternative items includes the steps of: inputting a request for an item; determining the availability of the requested item and alternative items for the requested item if it is unavailable; and interactively displaying the alternative items.

Abstract: An automatic story-telling apparatus includes a storage media having temporally parallel data storage tracks containing story content. The story content is stored on each of the temporally parallel tracks in successive information segments. The information is stored on the tracks in a predetermined timed sequence for providing story content varying dependent upon the temporally parallel tracks that are automatically selected during playback. A controller reads random switching control code information from the media and randomly switches between the tracks of the storage media for enabling automatic random playback of the story content. The command codes may also include memory storage commands and memory switching commands so as to maintain continuity of story characters, plot-lines, etc., once they are randomly chosen.

Abstract: An automatically retractable utility knife includes a housing and a blade carrier having an integrally molded return spring. The return spring is serpentine shaped and constructed of a resilient thermoplastic. A method of manufacturing a utility knife includes the steps of providing a housing having an interior adapted to receive either an indexed blade carrier or an automatically retractable blade carrier, and assembling the housing with either an indexed blade carrier or an automatically retractable blade carrier therein.

Abstract: A squeegee assembly includes i) a handle having a male blade-mounting portion; and ii) a dual-extruded squeegee blade having a resilient squeegee portion and a channel. The channel is constructed of a generally semi-rigid material and is sized and shaped to be slidably mounted to the male blade-mounting portion of the handle. The handle is constructed of a molded thermoplastic or a stamped metal and includes a gripping area. The dual-extruded squeegee blade is constructed of compatible vinyls, elastomers, or other thermoplastics. The squeegee portion is chevroned, with the chevron defining a pair of cleaning members, so that the squeegee blade is reversible. In an alternative embodiment, the squeegee blade includes a sponge extruded therewith. In a further alternative embodiment, the squeegee blade includes a second channel extruded therewith and an extruded sponge adapted to be slidably insertable into the second channel.

Abstract: A coupling for preventing the buildup of static electricity between adjacent conduits includes first and second threadably engageable coupling members in electrical contact with the adjacent conduits. The threads are coated with a hard metallic ductile conductive coating which is preferably a boron-nickel coating, to provide electrical conductivity between the coupling members. The coating has a relatively low co-efficient of friction so as to prevent binding of the threads during threading. In one embodiment, a detent spring, which includes one or more resilient detents, is rotatable with one coupling member and engages with a notch or notches on the other coupling member to provide a frictional force against relative rotation between the coupling members as the coupling members threadably engage. The coupling members may be entirely coated with the boron-nickel coating, or selectively coated to provide the required electrical conductivity between the coupling members.