Abstract: A compact article for oral care comprises a housing and a tooth brush section. The housing has a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, a front end, a rear end, and a cavity communicating with the first, second and third openings. The first opening is formed through the front end and a conventional tooth paste tube having a neck is inserted through the third opening into the cavity. The tooth paste tube can be squeezed through the second opening to allow a desired amount of the tooth paste to flow out of the neck. The tooth brush section has a base, a first extension, a second extension, a connecting rod and a brush. The first extension is protruded in a decremental step from the base to a forward direction, and the second extension is protruded in a decremental step from the base to a rearward direction opposed to the first extension.

Abstract: A skylight system for use in the ceiling of a room in a structure having a roof. The skylight system includes a frame having a skylight opening and a ventilator opening, the frame being adapted for mounting to said ceiling; a light conduit having a proximal end attached to the skylight opening of the frame, and a distal end for mounting to said roof for guiding natural light from the roof to the skylight opening for naturally lighting the room; and a venting duct having a proximal end attached to the ventilator opening of the frame and a distal end for mounting to said roof for ventilating the room. The skylight system can also include a lighting fixture attached to a lighting opening in the frame for artificially lighting the room.

Abstract: The directional baton with a breath analyzer according to this invention is divided into three sections. Three sections are head, neck, and handle, such that the head is attached to the neck and the neck is attached to the handle. The head is made from a partially transparent material, and the head houses a means for lighting the head and a means for displaying the varying levels of the alcohol content in the person's breath. The neck houses an alcohol sensor, and the handle houses the power source.

Abstract: A multi-speed transmission for bicycles, comprising: a housing including spaced, opposing face plates, each face plate having a pedal shaft opening and a secondary shaft opening; a pedal shaft rotatably disposed within said pedal shaft openings; a secondary shaft disposed within said secondary shaft openings, wherein the secondary shaft is spaced from the pedal shaft and substantially parallel thereto; and a pedal shaft set of gears mounted on the pedal shaft between the face plates, comprising: (1) a first set of pedal shaft gears mounted on the pedal shaft, (2) a second set of pedal shaft gears rotatably mounted on the pedal shaft, and (3) a third set of pedal shaft gears rotatably mounted on the pedal shaft including first means for selective driving engagement with the second set of pedal shaft gears, the third set of pedal shaft gears including a drive gear means.

Abstract: The present invention is comprised of a headband 25 and one or more sound collectors (30, 75). The sound collectors (30, 75) collect sound waves and reflect toward the wearer's ears for louder reception. Some variations to the present invention can have one or more sound collectors (30, 75) that is parabolic in shape so the sound reflected off the collector surface is better focused toward the ear. Moreover, as an additional variation, one or more sound collectors (30, 75) can have one or more parabolic impressions (105) on the sound collector's inner surface (85) for better sound collection.

Abstract: A notification device for use with a plurality of barriers corresponding to a plurality of openings in a container having an interior space accessible through said openings. Each barrier having a closed position in which it closes a corresponding opening and an open position to provide access to said interior space. The notification device providing a notification signal when one or more of said barriers has been moved from the closed position toward said open position. The notification device comprises: a power supply; a sensor mounted adjacent each barrier and corresponding opening for sensing when that barrier is not in a closed position; and a signal generator having multiple signal generation modes for generating a unique notification signal in each mode in response to each sensor.

Abstract: A boot comprising: (a) a sole; and (b) a shell attached to the sole, the shell having: (i) a lower portion secured to the sole for enclosing a user's foot below the lower ankle, (ii) an upper portion extending upwardly from the lower portion for enclosing at least the user's ankle, and for providing lateral and medial flexing of the user's ankle, and (iii) a groove in a front outer segment of the upper portion of the shell to reduce pressure from the shell on substantially the tibialis anterior muscle when the muscle flexes.

Abstract: A garment having an elongated body of sheet material having a length at least equal to the length of a wearer's upper torso, and a width at least twice the width of said torso, the garment body including three arm receiving openings arranged longitudinally thereon, said openings including a center opening approximately on the transverse center at substantially a midpoint of the width of the garment body, and two side openings each to one side of the center opening, said three openings being separated by a distance approximately equal to the width of said torso.

Abstract: This present invention relates to a shoelace binder 10 that is designed to prevent a tied shoelace from coming loose. The present invention is comprised of a cover 16 and a base 18. The cover has a body 20 that has a front face 22 and a rear face 24. Two pins, a first pin 26 and a second pin 28, are attached to the front face and the rear face of the cover so that two ends 30 32 of each pin are attached to the front face and the rear face, respectively. The base has two flanges 34 36, each flange having a hole about the middle portion of the flange. Each of the flange holes 38 40 is used to grip a shoelace end 42 46 securely when a shoelace tip 44 48 is inserted into that flange hole, and reinserted into the flange hole from the opposite side after the shoelace has wrapped around one of the pins. An improvement to the invention can be made by the use of elastic materials for the cover.

Abstract: An adjustable tarpaulin (11) that can be adjusted to various predetermined lengths, and more securely fastened. The adjustability of the adjustable tarpaulin (11) is provided by having one or more sets of valances of the top layer (23, 41) and the valances of the bottom layer (27, 43). Because the valances are free on one end, the length of each of the valance side edges may be adjusted as desired and the valances provide two different pull angles to share the load of the tarpaulin. By doing so, the adjustable tarpaulin (11) enables the tarpaulin to be adjusted between two or more prefixed sizes. Moreover the adjustable tarpaulin (11) can provide the distribution of the load from more than one angle so stress and the load will be distributed over two different sets of tie points (33).

Abstract: The present invention has three essential parts. The first part is a head body comprised of a loop frame and a hosel. The second part is a plurality of horizontal plates set within the loop frame. The third part is a plurality of vertical supports affixed among the horizontal plates so that no part of the vertical supports form the part of the golf ball hitting surface referred to as the club front face.

Abstract: A paint roller protective device for a paint roller including a roller portion having a diameter, a handle and a shaft having an inner end connected to the handle and an outer end, the roller portion rotatably mounted on the shaft. The paint roller protective device includes (a) an elongated shell including an end wall, side walls extending from the end wall, an open end for receiving said roller portion, and an inner diameter selected to provide a clearance between the roller portion and the walls of the shell when the roller portion is inserted in the shell; (b) a cap for covering at least a portion of the open end of the shell, the cap including holder means for engaging and holding a portion of said handle when the roller portion is inserted in the shell and the cap is placed over said open end, such that the roller portion remains substantially free of the walls of the shell; and (c) attachment means for detachably attaching the cap to the shell.

Abstract: A glove, preferably for use by a golfer, including a front section, a back section, and a flexible knuckle section. The front section comprises a substantially inelastic material having good gripping qualities that substantially covers the palm, the front of the thumb and the front of the fingers. The back section comprises a substantially inelastic material having good gripping qualities that substantially covers the back of the hand, and preferably the back of the index finger and back of the thumb. The knuckle section comprises a substantially stretchable, resilient material that substantially covers a knuckle of the middle, ring, and/or little fingers. Preferably, the knuckle section covers the top knuckle of the ring and little fingers, thereby providing a comfortable, flexible glove that does not interfere with the golfer's grip on a golf club.