Abstract: A putting guide assembly and its associated method of use. The putting guide assembly attaches to the head of a putter. The putter head has a striking surface for striking a golf ball. The putting guide assembly is attached to the putter and presents a rod that extends forward of the putter's striking surface. The rod has a first end, a second end and at least one curved section in between those two ends. The rod can be rotated into different orientations while being attached to the putter. As the rod is rotated, the perceived curvature of the rod that is observed by a golfer holding the putter changes. A golfer can therefore selectively change the perceived curvature of the rod to match the natural curvature inherent in that golfer's putting swing.

Abstract: An expansion joint and the corresponding method of setting an expansion joint between adjacent slabs of poured concrete. To form the expansion joint a filler strip is provided. To protect the filler strip, a protective cap element is provided. The protective cap element has a top surface and opposing side surfaces. The structure of the protective cap element creates a long central groove. Pin corrals extend from the side surfaces of the protective cap element. The protective cap element is placed over the filler strip so that the filler strip is disposed within the groove. The protective cap element and the filler strip are anchored by driving anchor pins through at least some of the pin corrals. Concrete is then poured against the filler strip and the protective cap element, wherein the concrete envelops the pin corrals that are not engaging anchor pins.

Abstract: A measurement instrument and its associated method of use to record a pupil center position of a person's eye. The instrument has a chassis and a free swinging assembly that is pivotably attached to the chassis. The swinging assembly has alignment points that remain in a horizontal plane as the swinging assembly swings. The instrument is attached to a set of eyeglass that are worn on that person's head. While wearing the measuring instrument, a person is made to assume a natural head position for a specific activity. Once a natural head position is found, the swinging assembly is set into a locked position. The pupil center point can then be determined by observing the now locked alignment points from a predetermined vantage point.

Abstract: A neck assembly for a string instrument and the resulting string instrument. Resin reinforced fibers are shaped into the form of an instrument neck around a tubular structure. The tubular structure creates conduits within the neck. The conduits interconnect, thereby forming a single resonance chamber. The presence of the conduits decreases the weight of the neck. The result is a synthetic instrument neck that has a weight and acoustical properties comparable to a traditional wooden neck. The synthetic neck may also contains at least one mounting plate that enables the synthetic neck to be connected to many preexisting instrument bodies and tuning key heads. The synthetic instrument neck can therefore be retroactively added to existing instruments without the need for alterations.

Abstract: A mounting clip assembly for a portable consumer product. The mounting clip assembly has a clip body with a top surface and two ends. A hole is provided in a housing wall of the consumer product. The hole is sized to receive the clip body, wherein the clip body lays flush across the hole. A pivot pin extends across the hole. The pivot pin engages the clip body at a fulcrum point. A leaf spring is provided under the clip body. The leaf spring abuts against the clip body and applies a bias force that retains the clip body in a flush orientation with the top surface of the clip body. When a depression force is applied to one end of the clip body, the clip body pivots and causes the opposite end of the clip body to rise away from the exterior surface of the housing wall.

Abstract: A repair assembly for the skid plate of a circular saw and its associated method of repair. If a circular saw has a skid plate that is worn to a point where it needs replacement, this repair assembly is used to reinforce the worn skid plate so it can again be used. The repair assembly includes a flat plate structure having a sort extension and a long extension protruding from different sides. The long extension and the short extension mount directly onto the worn skid plate. The flat plate structure therefore covers the wear surfaces of the worn skid plate, therein providing new wear surfaces. The repair assembly attached over the worn skid plate so the worn skid plate does not have to be removed.

Abstract: A toy figure assembly and its method of manufacture. The toy figure has a plush body made from segments of fabric that are sewn together along seams. The plush body defines an interior region that can be accessed through at least one opening. At least one stretchable extremity is provided. The stretchable extremities serve as the limbs of the toy figure, or another body feature. Each of the stretchable extremities has a first end and a second end. Each stretchable extremity extends through at least one opening in the plush body. Accordingly, each of the stretchable extremities has a second end that is inside the plush body and a first end that extends outside the plush body. A fabric flap is bonded to each stretchable extremity proximate its second end. The fabric flap is sewn to at least one of the seams within the interior of the plush body.

Abstract: A vending machine system and its associated method of operation. In the vending machine system, customers are provided with identification cards having statistical information regarding the identity of the card owner. Also contained on the card is a digital data code corresponding to a biometric characteristic of the card owner. Vending machines are provided that contain card readers and biometric characteristic scanners. When a customer wants to use the vending machine, that customer inserts their identification card into the vending machine. That customer also subjects themselves to a biometric scan from the biometric characteristic verifier contained within the vending machine. The vending machine reads both the identification data and the biometric characteristic data from the card. A systems processor in the vending machine compares the biometric characteristic data on the identification card with the biometric characteristic data just gathered.

Abstract: A novelty device having a vibrating mechanism that is disposed at least partially within a housing. The vibrating mechanism causes the housing to vibrate when activated. A plurality of elongated elastomeric protrusions are provided that extend outwardly from the housing. The elastomeric protrusions undulate when the housing is vibrated by the vibrating mechanism. The housing can be shaped as a character having a head section. The elastomeric protrusions can be placed on the head section of the character so that the protrusions have the appearance of hair. When the vibrating mechanism is activated, the protrusions undulate wildly, thereby causing the character's hair to appear to be alive.

Abstract: A system and method of dispensing volatile material near the edge of a garment, such as a hat or shirt. A dispensing element is provided that contains volatile material and slowly releases the volatile material into a surrounding environment. The dispensing element is thin and unobtrusive. The dispensing element is affixed to the edge of a garment, preferably along a hemline or collar. These are the areas on a person wear there is typically exposed skin. The dispensing element dispenses the volatile material into the environment surrounding the edge of the garment. This protects areas of exposed skin without having to treat the skin or garments directly. Furthermore, the dispensing element itself appears to be part of the structure of the garment and therefore is not unsightly.

Abstract: A system and method of prescribing and conveying regulated pharmaceuticals. Prepackaged pharmaceuticals are kept in a vending machine. Upon the completion of a patient's diagnosis, a physician may prescribe a regulated pharmaceutical. The physician enters the prescription into a terminal. The prescription is read by a central processing unit that controls the vending machine. The central processing unit identifies the location of the pharmaceutical in the vending machine and awaits a proper vending code. Once a physician enters a prescription into the system, the physician hands the patient an electronic key card. The key card is encoded with the vending code needed to activate the vending machine. The patient carries the key card to the vending machine. If the code on the key card matches the prescription code previously entered by a physician, the vending machine vends the prepackaged pharmaceutical.

Abstract: A mounting assembly that is used to attach an alternate material railing system to an underlying flat surface. The mounting assembly attaches to the underlying flat surface so that the mounting assembly extends vertically upwardly from the flat surface. A hollow post from the railing system is then placed over the mounting assembly and is attached to the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly therefore acts as an intermediate connector that joins a hollow post to an underlying flat surface. The mounting assembly itself has a base plate and a vertical structure extending upwardly from the base plate. The base plate is attached to the underlying flat surface with a mechanical fastener. The hollow post of the synthetic railing system is placed over the mounting assembly, wherein the vertical structure engages the inside of the hollow post and holds the hollow post in a vertical orientation.

Abstract: A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver and associated method for the reception and processing of GNSS signals. The GNSS receiver includes an antenna and an analog front-end to intercept the incoming radio-frequency signal and to convert it to an appropriate intermediate frequency for digital sampling. A baseband signal processor is organized into functionally identical channels, each dynamically assigned to a different satellite visible. The baseband signal processor processes the signal samples to generate the satellite signal channel impulse response for a number of Doppler frequency shifts. This results in a two-dimensional delay-Doppler map of satellite signal responses from which the baseband signal processor extracts the code time and carrier phase and frequency parameters as well as navigation data for timing, positioning, and environment mapping in the data processor.

Abstract: A rack and container assembly and the associated method of holding the containers in the rack. The rack has frame elements that define at least one slot of a first width. The frame elements are rounded in cross-section having a first radius of curvature. Each of the containers has an exterior surface of a second width that is greater than the width of the slots in the rack. An arcuate groove is formed in the exterior surface of each container. The arcuate grooves enable the containers to pass into the slots. Each arcuate groove has a cross-section with a second radius of curvature that is at least as large as the first radius of curvature of the frame elements that form the slot. When the containers are placed in the slots, the only area of the containers that physically contacts the rack is the shallow area of the arcuate groove.

Abstract: A clipper assembly for clipping the claw nail of an animal and its associated method of use. The clipper assembly has a set of opposing cutting edges. The cutting edges are part of a clipping mechanism that selectively biases the cutting edges toward each other with enough force to cut an animal's claw nail. A light source is provided adjacent one of the cutting edges. The light source is oriented to shine light through a claw nail. The light has a frequency and intensity that enables some of the light to travel through the claw nail. As the light travels through the claw nail, it causes the features within the claw nail to come into contrast. The position of the blood vessels within the claw nail can therefore be observed. The claw nail can then be liberally clipped without cutting the blood vessels.

Abstract: A toy system that utilizes a vehicle that rides upon a track using a unique propulsion system. The track used by the toy has an external surface upon which the toy rides. The track also defines an internal conduit that extends the length of the track. A primary magnet is provided that is free moving within the internal conduit. The primary magnet is moved by a flow of fluid. The toy that rides along the track contains a secondary magnet. The secondary magnet and the primary magnet attract through the structure of the track, thereby causing the secondary magnet and the toy to move along the exterior surface of the track as the primary magnet travels through the conduit.

Abstract: A feeder tube and method for dispensing a selected compound to the roots of a specifically targeted plant. The feeder tube contains a tubular body having an open top end and an open bottom end. A plurality of perforations are formed through the tubular body that communicates with a central conduit. A penetration cap is provided that protrudes below the bottom end of the tubular body. The penetration cap has a pointed tip and a wide base that is wider than the tubular body. As the plant feeder tube is driven into the ground, the penetration cap advances into the ground and creates an opening in the ground that is wider than the tubular body. Consequently, dirt does not press against the perforations in the tubular body as it is driven below ground level.

Abstract: A reusable piñata system having a hollow body with an open bottom end. Slots are disposed in the hollow body. An end cap is provided to obstruct the open bottom end of hollow body. A support element is coupled to the end cap. The support element extends into the hollow body through the open bottom end. The support element is selectively positionable between a closed position, where the support element holds the end cap element in obstruction of the open bottom end, and an open position where the support element holds the end cap element away from the open bottom end. Removable pull pins are inserted through the slots in the hollow body. The pull pins extend into the hollow body where some of the pull pins engage the support element. The pull pins that do engage the support element hold the support element in the closed position.