Abstract: A V-shaped safety shield for a pair of handcuffs including a pair of wristlets interconnected with a flexible chain is provided. The safety shield includes a housing having a first end portion and a second end portion angularly disposed relative to the first end portion. The housing is positionable about the chain of the handcuffs such that the wristlets are extendable from the first and second end portions of the housing in an angular relationship to one another when the housing is positioned about the chain such that upon securing the wristlets about the wrists of an individual the wristlets are disposed substantially concentrically around the wrists of the individual when the individual's wrists are positioned in a substantially corresponding angular relationship.

Abstract: Retaining flaps for shipping cartons, with bonding material disposed on at least a portion of the flaps, are provided. The flaps are interposed between delicate items, such as, for example, floral grouping assemblies, to hold the delicate items essentially immobile within a shipping carton in order to prevent damage from internal movement of the delicate items when the shipping carton is transported. The bonding material disposed on the flaps releasably connects to portions of the floral grouping wrappings and to portions of the internal surface of the shipping carton.

Abstract: A merchant specific debit card verification system which includes a debit card having at least one ID property stored thereon and a merchant's terminal having at least one ID property stored thereon so that the ID property stored on the debit card relates to the ID properties stored on the merchant's terminal in a predetermined manner. The merchant's terminal retrieves the ID properties stored on the debit card so as to provide a retrieved ID property and then transmits to an intelligent network platform the retrieved ID property and the ID properties stored on the merchant's terminal. The intelligent network platform matches the ID properties stored on the terminal with the retrieved ID property and then transmits a validation whereby the debit card may be used at the merchant's terminal.

Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or for forming a flower pot, comprising a sheet of material, an extension of the sheet of material attached to the sheet of material, the extension having design indicia thereon, wherein the sheet of material is sized to wrap about and substantially surround and encompass a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or contain a floral arrangement or potted plant. Methods of using the wrapping material to wrap a floral arrangement, a flower pot, and to form a flower pot.

Abstract: A method of forming a decorative cover, a sleeve or a preformed pot cover for a floral grouping or flower pot from a sheet of material having a three-dimensional printed pattern thereon wherein the three-dimensional pattern is produced by application of a foamable ink composition to the sheet of material.

Abstract: A coiled tubing hanger including a hanger bowl, a slip bowl supported in the hanger body, a plurality of slip segments disposed in the slip bowl so as to be movable between a retracted position wherein the tubular member is able to pass through the coiled tubing hanger and an extended position wherein a serrated surface of the slip segments engages the coiled tubing and forces the slip segments along the slip bowl so as to wedge the slip segments between the slip bowl and the coiled tubing to hold the coiled tubing.

Abstract: A method for forming a decorative cover about a floral grouping from an optical effect material having a holographic design which constitutes at least a portion of the decor of the decorative cover. The optical effect material may include printed matter and/or embossed pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor of the decorative cover.

Abstract: A semiautomatic firearm having a rotating cylinder is provided. The cylinder has a plurality of chambers adapted to receive a cartridge and is rotatingly supported in a housing by a cylinder pin whereby each of the chambers of the cylinder is positionable in one of a loading position, a firing position, and an ejecting position. The cylinder pin is reciprocally movable between a retracted position wherein the cylinder pin is disengaged from a firing mechanism and an extended position wherein the cylinder pin engages the firing mechanism so as to cock the firing mechanism. The cylinder pin is movable from the retracted position to the extended position in response to gas pressure generated by the firing of a cartridge disposed in the chamber of the cylinder positioned in the firing position acting on the cylinder pin so as to move the cylinder pin from the retracted position to the extended position.

Abstract: A kissing shield comprised of a thin, flexible membrane and a frame or holder. The membrane is closed on three sides, a fourth side remaining open so that the membrane can be stretched over the frame or holder. The frame or holder consists of a supporting member and an elongated handle. The supporting member adapts over the bottom part of the user's face and has sufficient dimension to cover the lips and most of the cheeks and extends from under the nose to the bottom of the chin. The elongated handle extends laterally from the supporting member and is sized to be held in the hand of the user such that the hand is spaced apart from the supporting member and membrane. In use, the membrane is placed over the frame or holder. Using the handle portion of the frame or holder, the user places the kissing shield under his nose, so that it covers his lips, cheeks and chin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a sheet of material about a flower pot for providing a decorative cover to the flower pot, using a band applicator with an object opening. The sheet of material is held in place on the flower pot and the flower pot with the sheet of material held there about is inserted into the object opening of the band applicator. The band applicator applies a band about the sheet of material and the flower pot whereby the sheet of material is secured to the flower pot via the band.

Abstract: A male die, a female die, air pressure and vacuum are used to form a sheet of material into a flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover. A platform supports the female die which has an opening with flat surfaces for forming panels in the base and skirt of the flower pot or flower pot cover. The male die has forming surfaces which mate with the forming surfaces of the female die. The sheet of material is centered over the opening of the female die. A bracket having a plurality of legs which align with the panel-forming surfaces of the female die is placed on the sheet of material. Air pressure and vacuum lines communicating with the opening of the female die are used to control the sheet of material as the male die enters the opening of the female die. The top surface of the platform and the bracket legs provide additional control of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is pressed between forming surfaces of the male and female die to form the flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Abstract: A cutting attachment is provided having a first body member, a second body member and a plurality of pins spaced an equi-distance apart for connecting the first body member to the second body member to form a rigid body wherein at least a portion of the first and second body members are spatially disposed a distance apart, each of the pins having a bearing surface substantially corresponding in length to the distance between the first and second body members.

Abstract: A filtration system having a volume of positively buoyant particulate material and a volume of negatively buoyant particulate material. The system includes a vessel having an upper port, a lower port and an intermediate drain port. As contaminated liquid travels between the upper and lower ports, it is filtered through both volumes of particulate material. The system may be operated with the liquid flowing in either direction between the upper and lower ports. To clean the system, the drain port is opened and cleaning liquid is pumped into the upper port and/or the lower port and flushed out the drain port. An alternate embodiment of the filtration system includes a vessel, two tubular members, a volume of positively buoyant particulate and a volume of negatively buoyant material. The two tubular members extend into the vessel and have slotted areas for travel of liquid into and out of the tubular members.