Abstract: This invention concerns a protective body vest/vest/jersey for protecting against impact upon a human torso when worn by an athlete during sporting activities. The invention comprises a multi-layered, one-piece garment comprising a vest/jersey sized and shaped to be worn on the torso of an athlete with a protective padding that can be customized by the wearer based on safety, comfort and athletic performance concerns. The invention further comprises a pair of shoulder portions with a fastening means therein for attaching or accommodating the attaching of a shoulder pad type object, an anterior portion, a pair of lateral portions and a posterior portion. The invention further either utilizes an offset opening or offset openings located off set from the medial line of a human torso to protect the heart, or is donned/removed in an over-the-head, pullover manner. The invention may further utilize an overlap or flap to cover and protect the region of the offset opening.

Abstract: A self-squaring corrugated container employs alignment markings on and adjacent to the manufacturing joint to allow quick visual inspection of placement and orientation of the manufacturing joint, and employs interlocking contoured peripheral edges on the major bottom flaps to allow consistent, quick, and easy formation of a container which is square, non-skewed to within small, strict tolerances. Both the alignment markings and contoured bottom flaps are die cut into the carton blank to insure uniform container alignment. Additional container features include employment of a hinged, partially detached top flap to accommodate use of the container to packaged bottles. Method steps are provided for forming the self-squaring container using the innovative features.

Abstract: Spectacles having a ray shading visor preventing light rays from contacting an upper portion of the lens. The spectacles comprise at least one temple piece and at least one lens of predetermined thickness connected to the temple piece having an inner face, an outer face, and a center point centrally located on the outer face of the lens. A receiving structure integrally formed within the lens receives the ray shading visor. The visor structure is non-translucent and has an outer surface arcuately extending outwardly from the outer face of the lens toward the center point of the lens. An inner surface of the visor is shaped to matingly rest adjacent the outer face of the fens. The visor has a fastening structure integrally formed with the non-translucent visor and is sized and shaped to be matingly connected to the receiving structure of the lens.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ventable ski hat for enabling a skier to selectively vent body heat, the ventable ski hat essentially comprising a superficial insulative fabric layer, a deep moisture-wicking fabric layer, zipper structure, a mesh fabric layer, and an insulative head band member. Together the superficial fabric layer and the deep fabric layer define a superior vent portion and an inferior crown-receiving portion. The superior vent portion comprises an anterior-superior portion, a posterior-superior portion and a selectively-ventable vent aperture. The zipper structure is located at the vent aperture for selectively venting the vent aperture. The zipper structure is medially aligned along a wearer's head in superior adjacency to the wearer's superior head surface, thus defining an insulative air layer. The zipper structure thus enables the wearer to selectively vent body heat from the insulative air layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for concealing and covering a columnar jack for columnar supports and a method of concealing a columnar jack using a columnar jack concealing kit. The device comprises a strap member, a skirt sized and shaped for covering the columnar jack, and a band member for attaching the skirt to the strap member. The strap member is sized and shaped for folding over and enclosing the band member and a portion of the skirt. The adjustable clamp member can attach the adjustable shield member with the adjustable strap member to the columnar support. The adjustable shield member can conceal and shield the columnar jack and the adjustable strap member can enclose the adjustable clamp member.

Abstract: This invention concerns a pillow in combination with a hot/cold insulative drink holder, the combination comprising a center mounted insulative drink holder projecting into one side of the pillow, and stitching for securing the insulative drink holder in integral assembly with the pillow. The insulative drink holder thus defines beverage vessel-receiving socket structure with an inside surface of the socket being insulated to preserve preexisting temperature of fluid in a beverage vessel when the same is lodged in the beverage receiving socket structure.

Abstract: A pneumatic transfer system having a modular pneumatic shifting device. A teller conduit has a teller station and a customer conduit has a customer station. A housing having apertures connected to the teller conduit and the customer conduit has a teller gate and a customer gate intermittently obstructing the apertures. A differential pressure generating mechanism is connected to the housing. A plurality of sensors send signals to a programmable means when a carrier pass through the system actuating movement of the gates and operation of the differential pressure generating mechanism.

Abstract: A one-piece report cover and improved binding structure. The report cover has a front panel, spine and back panel. The improved binding structure comprises a male connector panel, female connector panel and binding element. The female panel has an aperture for receiving and retaining a tab shaped portion of the male panel located between fastening means fastening the female panel to the back panel and a plurality of integrally formed hinges for folding the panel about an edge of a document. The binding element fixes the relationship between the female panel, document and male panel thereby preventing disengagement of the tab portion from the female panel aperture during use. The document may be removed from the improved binding structure by removing the male panel tab portion from the female panel aperture allowing access to the binding element for disassembly. The improved binding structure allows reuse without damage to the components.

Abstract: A binding structure for binding together sheets of paper having multiple openings along a margin thereof is provided. The structure comprises a male connector panel having multiple openings along its edge and a female connector panel fastened to the back panel of a one-piece report cover by means of adhesive, extending adjacent and parallel to the second hinge and distanced to allow enough room for the tab-shape on the male connector panel to be inserted to the center opening of the female connector panel without interfering with the adhesion of the female connector panel to the back panel of the cover. An elongated binding element is provided extending adjacent and parallel to the margin of the sheets of paper and the male connector panel edge. The male connector panel is disposed on a bottom side of the elongated binding element. A one-piece report cover is provided having a front panel, a center spine panel, a back panel, a first hinge and a second hinge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bird feeder apparatus for providing a readily available supply of feed for birds. The apparatus comprises a telescopic-operational assemblage, a shroud assembly, and a hopper assembly. The telescopic-operational assemblage provides a nonlinear, geometrically-based closure mechanism for effectively closing the bird feeder when a large load is placed upon the shroud assembly such as when a squirrel attempts to gain access to feed outlets of the hopper assembly by positioning itself upon the apparatus. Further, the apparatus provides a partitioned, selectively removable (drop out-type) hopper for enabling easy refills; a feed-level status flag assembly for indicating to the user whether the hopper assembly is full or empty; and at least one surround perch assembly for accommodating birds of various sizes.

Abstract: A bed skirt for positioning between a mattress and a box springs of a bed. The bed skirt has a side fabric panel for covering a first side of the box springs with a corner cap fold at one end for covering a corner of the box springs during use. A foot fabric panel covers a second side of the box springs perpendicular to the first side of the box springs. A fabric cap connects an edge of the first panel to an edge of the second panel adjacent the corner cap of the first panel providing a convertible corner allowing the corner cap to optionally cover a corner of the box springs during use or straddle a bed frame member during use. A cord within the fabric cap frictionally holds the side panel and foot panel in place between the box springs and the mattress during use.

Abstract: A fastener with a reduced gear affect. The fastener of the present invention comprises a handle assembly having an end and an opening wherein a shaft assembly is positioned within the opening and extending from the opening. The fastener further comprises a switch assembly positioned between the handle assembly and the shaft assembly wherein the switch assembly reciprocates between a locked position and an unlocked position to control a ratio of revolutions between the handle assembly and the shaft assembly. A method of fastening comprising connecting a shaft assembly to a handle assembly and moving a switching assembly, connected to the handle assembly, to an unlocked position. Next, a gear assembly is connected to the switch assembly which engages the gear assembly to the handle assembly to increase a ratio of revolutions of the shaft assembly as compared to the handle assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel treatment apparatus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through a fuel conduit. The fuel treatment apparatus essentially comprises an upper magnet assembly, a lower magnet assembly, and a fastening assembly. The magnet assemblies each comprise a magnet positioning cradle, a magnet, and a magnet cover plate. Each cradle comprises a pair of seat flanges upon which the magnets seat. The cover plates maintain the magnets in seated engagement within the cradles and a uniform magnetic field is directed orthogonal to the planes in which the seat flanges lie. Each cradle further comprises a conduit-receiving groove. When the magnet assemblies are fastened to one another via the fastening assembly, the conduit-receiving grooves cooperatively form conduit-receiving apertures. The typically linear fuel conduit is receivable through the conduit-receiving apertures and thus the fuel treatment apparatus is designed to magnetically treat fuel flowing through the fuel conduit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a grounding bushing assembly essentially comprising a first bushing section, a second bushing section, select pivot structure, select latch structure, and select ground conductor attachment structure. The first bushing section, second bushing section, select pivot structure, select latch structure, and select ground conductor attachment structure are all preferably constructed from electrically conductive materials for allowing electric charges to migrate through the material. The first and second sections each comprise an arc length intermediate the section ends, which are lengths together function to cooperatively form an annular, dual-sectioned, grounding bushing. The resulting grounding bushing comprises an inner annular surface, an outer annular surface, a conductor inlet end, a conductor outlet end, and a bushing axis. The present invention enables an installer thereof to install the same either before or after electrical connections are finalized.

Abstract: A balustrade product including an elongated molded housing formed of a synthetic material is disclosed. An insert member is embedded within the molded housing to form a plurality of holes extending longitudinally through the molded housing. The insert member includes supports having openings and pipes extended through the openings. The supports each have a circumferentially spaced plurality of tabs that are sized to extend to an outer portion of the molded housing. The pipes are positioned in parallel relation to one another and in parallel relation to a longitudinal axis of the balustrade product. Each of the holes is configured to receive connecting pins for releasable connection with the support structure. The balustrade product is formed by centrifuge molding process with the insert member placed within the mold halves allowing the tabs to engage the mold halves to position and hold the insert member in place.

Abstract: The present invention provides a container assembly and method for maintaining container contents in a desired ambient temperature. The device comprises an outer bowl member, an inner vessel member and a lid member, all of which are constructed with porous materials. Critically-select portions of the outer bowl member, the inner vessel member and the lid member are glazed with a vapor-impervious coating while the remaining portions of the container assembly are left unglazed. The glazed portions thus provide an avenue for vapor or liquid media, emanating from temperature-maintaining matter, to permeate through the interstitial pores of the material by entering and exiting through the unglazed portions of the container assemblage. Container contents, housed in the lidded inner vessel member, are thus more efficiently maintained in a desired ambient temperature.