Abstract: A target ball game kit is provided that is easily carried and readily assembled to facilitate play in recreational areas such as parks or beaches. The kit includes a container housing a plurality of paddles, a plurality of balls having varying weights, and at least one target assembly. The target assembly is appointed to be set-up on a ground surface and secured thereto by way of securing means. Concentric rings having assigned point values are constructed within the target assembly. The target assembly preferably is constructed of a continuous rope or cord-like member. The kit can be readily and accurately adjusted for singles to doubles play by including at least two target assemblies therein. Glow in the dark properties may be provided to the target assembly, paddles, and/or balls for play in dimly lit or foggy conditions.

Abstract: A credit transaction enabled cell phone has its back removably attached to a plate by a double-sided tape or clamps. The plate is attached to a hinge, which carries a U shaped credit card retainer second element. A credit card is carried by the credit card retainer second element in between the two arms of the U shape. The interior surfaces of the arms of the U shape are rubberized, and apply compressive forces to the credit card, securing the card by friction. The hinge may be opened from the closed transpiration position to extend the credit card from the cell phone, and swiped in a swiping credit card reader, using the cell phone as a handle. The credit card may be extracted from the U shaped credit card retainer and used for manual imprint or with an automatic credit card reader, and replaced after use.

Abstract: A wearable lightweight fire fighter's personal escape system and method includes a rope, having a distal and proximal end, organized in parallel segments disposed in an inner pouch. The inner pouch is entirely contained in an outer pouch that is appointed to be removably attached to a belt or harness, worn by a fire fighter. The proximal end of the rope exits through an opening in the inner pouch and outer pouch and is attached directly to a lightweight hook, or optionally enters a belay device. The hook has a sharp point for creating a purchase point on soft surfaces, a hook opening having sufficient diameter to surround radiators, steam pipe and the like, and capture rope that surrounds substantial objects. The hook has a central opening appointed for holding a firefighting tool to aid in creating a substantial object. The fire fighter escapes by creating a purchase point and repelling at a high speed or at a controlled speed by adjusting belay friction.

Abstract: A Tradesman's Card system issues a Tradesman's Card to qualifying tradesman selected from the group consisting of plumbers, electricians, carpenters, masons, mechanics, repair shop professionals, contractors, or related construction or trade companies and professions upon payment of an initiation fee and payment of periodic maintenance fees. The card is issued by a bank or a credit card issuing authority that has contracted with pre-selected wholesalers, jobbers and businesses to provide pre-negotiated discount levels for tradesmen within the group. The tradesman's Card has unique identification features, which identify the card holder as a professional tradesman that is entitled to pre-negotiated discounts. A number visible on the Tradesman's card serves as the system identification number and a credit card number. Professional purchases by the tradesman are tracked by the system, analyzed and reported to sponsoring manufacturers of goods, jobbers or wholesalers for a fee.

Abstract: A fishing rod carrier and holder device holds a plurality of fishing rods during fishing activity and houses the fishing rods when the device is being carried. The fishing rod carrier and holder device includes a support member having a spiked portion appointed for insertion into a ground surface. The support member includes a first horizontal plate having at least two rod holder apertures that define an aperture housing interrupted by an entry port. Additionally, the support member is provided with a second horizontal plate having at least two rod receiving cavities arranged in parallel longitudinal relation to the rod holder apertures of the first horizontal plate. The fishing rod carrier and holder device has at least one handle portion arranged to allow the fishing rod carrier and holder device to be carried with the fishing rods therein housed.

Abstract: A safety helmet system for motorcycle and bicycle riders includes a lightweight impact resistant helmet having an on/off switch. A power supply lights an electroluminescent strip surrounding the outer periphery of the helmet, signaling at eye level the presence of the rider to all drivers in the vicinity. The power supply also powers a single axis accelerometer having its sensitive axis oriented along the Cycle's travel direction. A microprocessor captures maximum deceleration in a braking cycle. The captured deceleration is segmented into low, medium and high values. A plurality of LED lights are mounted on the back face of the helmet. The microprocessor turns on LED arrays to create progressively increasing LED lit areas in direct proportion with the Cycle deceleration rate.

Abstract: A horse and/or livestock brush assembly releases a fluid and/or liquid solution directly onto the coat of an animal during brushing. The brush assembly includes a brush base attached to a hose and flow regulator. The brush base comprises a flexible deformable membrane with a plurality of apertures that are, optionally, aligned with apertures in brush bristles for delivery of the fluid and/or liquid solution, and is fitted within a first opening of an internal cavity in a brush base. Delivery of the fluid or liquid solution is controlled by way of the flow regulator. An optional mixing chamber housing a water soluble compound containing active ingredients may be attached to the flow regulator to form a liquid solution. The liquid solution includes perfumes, fragrances and other active compositions including insect repellant, hair conditioners, dyes, moisturizers, or antibacterial compounds. The fluid and/liquid is delivered directly to the animal's fur or hair while brushing the coat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing interactive audience participation at live entertainment events. The method includes providing audience members with an interactive device that presents a promotional message and includes a user interface, broadcasting audio programming to the audience member through the interactive device, querying the audience members, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by the audience member via the user interface of the interactive device, transmitting the answers to a central processor, storing the answers as audience data, processing the audience data into results, storing the results of the processing of the audience data and broadcasting the results of the processing of the audience data.

Abstract: A double diaper package includes adhesively attached, similarly sized inner and outer diapers. Each of the diapers has a liquid permeable skin contacting net and a liquid impermeable polymeric back sheet edge bonded to each other so as to surround and encase a super-absorber in a fibrous matrix. The inner diaper has an adhesive coated edge flap of the liquid impermeable sheet extending from the edge bond. This edge flap secures the outer diaper to the inner diaper, forming a double diaper package that is attached to the baby using waist-securing tabs connected to the inner diaper. When soiled, the inner diaper is pulled away by releasing the waist-securing tabs and the adhesive edge flap attachment. The fresh, clean, outer diaper is attached using the waist-securing tabs of the outer diaper. The inner soiled diaper is then discarded.

Abstract: A humidifier utilizes a plurality of disposable filters and air from a source of heated air flow emanating from a floor, wall, or ceiling. The humidifier provides an energy efficient device comprising a container having a water reservoir formed from an inner support portion, a plurality of tunnels for transporting heated air throughout the container, and a plurality of evaporation filters. The evaporation filters extend into the water reservoir so that water is absorbed onto the filters by way of capillary action. The humidifier is appointed to be placed proximate to a source of heated air so that water absorbed by the evaporation filters evaporates into the heated air and is diffused into a room.

Abstract: An amphibious shoe has a sole with a fin compartment integrated therein retractably houses of a lightweight fin that converts the shoe from a walking shoe to a swimming shoe. The amphibious shoe includes a fin comprising ridges intermittent between material arranged in an accordion construction. The fin is capable of being ejected from the compartment and expanded to a fan configuration. The shoe is further provided with a pivotal stabilizing strap for enhanced stability during swimming. In one embodiment the fin is removed by a release button in communication with a spring. Other embodiments provide for manual deployment by pulling on the fin from the fin compartment. In operation, the wearer can comfortably run or walk swiftly along the land as the integrated fin has a thin lightweight construction. Upon reaching the water's edge, the shoe is readily converted for swimming by ejecting and positioning the fin.

Abstract: An add-on hairbrush for people, pets and livestock comprises a brush base with an internal cavity that includes a connection means. A vessel that houses a composition, liquid or powder, containing active ingredients is attached to the brush base. The composition containing active ingredients is transferred to the internal cavity of the brush base for release directly onto the hair during brushing. Delivery of the liquid/powder is activated during brushing through automatic deformation of a flexible deformable membrane or through manual depression of a deformable brush cover. The flexible deformable membrane includes bristle elements and delivery apertures or spray elements that carry and align with central spray apertures of spray elements for delivery of the composition containing active ingredients onto the hair. The vessel can act as a handle, and is a separate tube or container, that is preferably squeezable for transfer of the composition to the brush base.

Abstract: Prefabricated, lightweight, modular, concrete structures, such as columns and a variety of end caps, have a strong, chip resistant surface exhibiting ornamental designs that include projections and impressions. The high strength of the surface layer is due to reinforcement of the concrete with alkali resistant short length (0.125-0.25 inch) glass fibers that allow replication of fine surface details in the column surface. The surface layer is supported by a second glass fiber reinforced concrete layer that incorporates long length (0.5-1.5 inch) alkali resistant glass fibers. In combination, the first and second layers are about 0.25 to 0.5 inches thick, and the lightweight column is readily handled by forklift trucks or economically transported on flat bed trucks without surface chipping or breakage. The modular concrete structures include concrete columns, end caps and arches, as well as other geometrically decorative assemblies.

Abstract: An inter-dental brush device has a handle with a cartridge removably housed therein. The cartridge has a plurality of chambers each appointed for housing at least one replaceable inter-dental brush. The cartridge is appointed to be rotated to align and select one of the chambers for feed out of the selected inter-dental brush. A base portion is removably attached to the handle, which includes rotation engagement means adapted to interact with the cartridge for rotational engagement, alignment and selection of the chamber and visa vie the inter-dental brush housed therein. An oral portion is removably attached to the other end of the handle, and includes an aperture for feeding out the selected inter-dental brush. A delivery means in association with the handle and the oral portion is provided and is adapted to feed out the selected inter-dental brush. Used, worn out brush is removed or cut off by an optional slidable cutter provided on the brush device.

Abstract: A method and system provide interactive participation during activity occurring at a college campus venue. Enjoyment for a plurality of enrolled participants is enhanced. Participants employ wireless interactive devices that present a promotional message and include user input and output interfaces. Participants are queried, and enter answers via the user input interface. The promotional messages are preferably related to businesses and other organizations associated with the college campus venue.

Abstract: A method and system provide interactive participation during activity occurring at a college campus venue. Enjoyment for a plurality of enrolled participants is enhanced. Participants employ wireless interactive devices that present a promotional message and include user input and output interfaces. Participants are queried, and enter answers via the user input interface. The promotional messages are preferably related to businesses and other organizations associated with the college campus venue.

Abstract: Surgical implements used during an operating procedure are detected in human or animal tissue. Markers attached to the surgical implements change their impedance at a preselected frequency in the presence of an electromagnetic field. Each of the markers is thereby provided with signal-identifying characteristics. The signal-identifying characteristics are detected by a freely movable, portable detection unit from a first location proximate the patient in an accurate, reliable manner. Potential cross-interference with operating room electronic instrumentation is minimized by shielding. System cost and space requirements are substantially lowered. An accidentally retained surgical implement is discovered in a timely manner, prior to completion of surgery and before the patient has been removed from the operating room.

Abstract: Surgical implements used during an operating procedure are detected in human tissue. Markers attached to the surgical implements change their impedance at a preselected frequency in the presence of an electromagnetic field. Each of the markers is thereby provided with signal-identifying characteristics. The signal-identifying characteristics are detected outside the operating room in an accurate, reliable manner. Potential interference with operating room electronic instrumentation is avoided, the possibility of operator error is reduced and system cost and space requirements are substantially lowered.

Abstract: A fabrication process produces markers for a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system. The marker includes a magnetomechanical element comprising one or more resonator strips of magnetostrictive amorphous metal alloy; a housing having a cavity sized and shaped to accommodate the resonator strips for free mechanical vibration therewithin; and a non-deactivatable bias magnet adapted to magnetically bias the magnetomechanical element. The process employs adaptive control of the cut length of the resonator strips, correction of the length being based on deviation of the actual marker resonant frequency from a preselected, target marker frequency. Use of adaptive, feedback control advantageously results in a much tighter distribution of actual resonant frequencies. Also provided is a web-fed press for continuously producing such markers with adaptive control of the resonator strip length.

Abstract: A semi-flexible insecticide strip is removably attached to the belt of a pelt collar to regenerate a pest-killing medicament and increase its efficacy. The strip is secured to the belt surface that faces the animal skin or fur by attachment loops or edged retainers that are generally perpendicular to the length direction of the belt. Due to the geometry and elasticity of the semi-flexible insecticide strip, and its attachment method, the strip contacts the skin or fur of the animal despite movement of the pet collar when the animal is being exercised with a pet leash attached thereto. The contact effectively transfers the insecticide and kills ticks and fleas or retards development of mature flea adults. The insecticide is contained within a plurality of plastic pores of the insecticide strip or in a sponge affixed thereto.