Abstract: A hand-held drinking apparatus including a vessel having an open end and a closed end, a handle associated with the vessel and extending outwardly therefrom, and an object, such as a bead, mounted for rotation on the vessel or the handle.

Abstract: An applicator for, and a method of, selectively applying a color layer to a toner image formed on a substrate. The applicator is adapted to be removably secured to the substrate without the aid of additional implements such as adhesive tabs. After heat has been applied to the applicator, it will leave a color layer on the toner image, but not on the substrate.

Abstract: A utility knife/box cutter includes an ergonomically-shaped handle portion with exterior stippling to provide a good grasp upon the knife. Within the handle portion, a channel member is received in a forwardly extending cavity and movably receives a cutting blade carrier for longitudinal movement relative to the handle portion. A cutter blade carried in the blade carrier is moveable between a storage position entirely within the handle portion and successively further forward use and replacement positions. Also received into the handle portion is a spare blade holder member pivotal between a blade retaining position entirely within the handle portion and a blade releasing position in which a forward part of the spare blade holder member is pivoted out of the handle portion to present spare blades for removal and transfer to the cutting blade carrier.

Abstract: A connector assembly for use with a sealed housing, such as a hard disk drive housing, including a bulkhead adapted to cooperate with a connector slot, the bulkhead supporting a plurality of electrical connection pins, a flex circuit including electrical leads operably connected to respective electrical connection pins and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive formed substantially between the flex circuit and the bulkhead. The present invention may also include a seal which rests substantially between a base portion of the bulkhead and the outer surface of the housing to prevent contaminants from entering the housing through the bulkhead/slot interface.

Abstract: An offshore apparatus and method for oil operations at a deep water well site wherein a lower hull includes a pontoon portion providing a large water plane area and also includes an upwardly facing body opening, an upper hull is fabricated within said body opening in fully telescoped relation therewith, said upper hull and lower hull being vertically relatively movable, and a deck carried by the upper hull. The pontoon portion has suffient displacement to support the apparatus in towing draft mode. The lower hull and upper hull include floodable compartments for selective ballasting and deballasting to raise and lower the hulls relative to each other in order to submerge the apparatus under stable conditions and to change the draft from towing mode to operating mode in which the hulls are in extended nontelescopic relation at a selected draft. Support lines interconnecting the lower hull and deck are selectively tensioned to aid in the transition from towing draft to operating draft.

Abstract: A self-wringing mop includes a powered actuator device operably connected to a cleaning element assembly for moving the cleaning element assembly from a use position to a wringing position. A cleaning element, which may be used with a self-wringing mop, includes a main body defining a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one aperture associated with the main body and passing completely through the main body from the top surface to the bottom surface. A bracket, which may be used with the cleaning element, includes a holding member and at least one bracket attachment member extending through the at least one aperture and adapted to be secured to a mop's cleaning element assembly attachment member. A wringer head assembly, which may be used with the self-wringing mop, includes a mounting rod, a roller mounted on the mid-portion of the mounting rod, and an end cap mounted on each of the ends of the mounting rod.

Abstract: A single cup disposable coffee brewing device foldable from a generally flat position to an unfolded position. The device has a coffee filter on the interior and a cardboard main body portion on the exterior and can be placed on top of a cup or mug. Coffee grounds are disposed in the filter and hot or cold water is poured into the unfolded device. The main body portion has a hole at bottom normally closed by a sealing element which dissolves after a predetermined period of time and allows brewed coffee to drip out into the mug or cup.

Abstract: A product advance mechanism is described and includes a product contact element for contacting a product and for moving so as to push the product. A track is included for supporting and guiding the product contact element as the contact element moves. A bias element biases the product contact element in a direction along the track, and a brake mechanism controls the amount of bias applied to the product element.

Abstract: An expandable modular data storage system including a plurality of data storage devices, a plurality of substantially identical, vertically stackable storage device housings adapted to slidably receive a data storage device, and mechanical connection elements for releasably connecting the top of one storage device housing to the bottom of a storage device housing stacked thereon.

Abstract: A method for forming thin films of cubic boron nitride on substrates at low pressures and temperatures. A substrate is first coated with polycrystalline diamond to provide a uniform surface upon which cubic boron nitride can be deposited by chemical vapor deposition.The cubic boron nitride film is useful as a substitute for diamond coatings for a variety of applications in which diamond is not suitable. any tetragonal or hexagonal boron nitride.The cubic boron nitride produced in accordance with the preceding example is particularly well-suited for use as a coating for ultra hard tool bits and abrasives, especially those intended to use in cutting or otherwise fabricating iron.

Abstract: A storage and display tower assembly transported and distributed in a compact and disassembled kit form in a box. The components thereof are easily and readily assembled to the configuration selected by the user to provide the desired appearance and use. The shelves, pinch clamps, weighted base and first and second sets of rods of the kit are removed from the box. The rods of the first set are threaded into upright securement to the base; a first shelf is slid through its openings on the rods; the lower ends of the second set of rods are threaded on top of the top ends of the respective rods of the first set with a stabilizing and article display shelf sandwiched and fixed between them; and a second shelf is slid through its openings onto the rods of the second set. Using the support clamps, the first and second shelves are mounted at the desired heights to the first and second sets of rods, respectively. Decorative balls, plates and/or lamps can be attached at the top of the tower thereby defined.

Abstract: An air bag mounting system for mounting an air bag module in the preexisting steering wheel air bag receiving pocket of a vehicle. The system includes a mounting plate having a plurality of spaced bolt assemblies extending therefrom receivable in a like plurality of aligned spaced holes in the pocket. The bolt assemblies are non-rotational with respect to the mounting plate and snap into the holes in a locking relationship. The module can be thus mounted from the access side of the pocket, automatically locked thereto, then released by unthreading of a threaded lock portion of the bolt assemblies from the blind side of the pocket.

Abstract: A children's book has a number of slidable pages. Each slidable page has a inner page assembly bound between a pair of cover by a binding and linked to an outer page assembly by a linking member. A handle is secured to each outer page assembly and extends beyond the covers. The page assemblies and the linking member have text and/or illustrations printed thereon. The linking member is slidably received within each page assembly and retained therein by a retention member. As a child pulls outwardly on the handle, the page assemblies separate and expose the linking member and illustrations printed thereon. The handles may, alternatively, actuated other movable structural features mounted in or on the pages.

Abstract: A removable orthodontic appliance repositions misaligned anterior teeth with a plurality of springs and a labial wire each secured to an acrylic palatal fitting. Each spring has a head portion in the shape of an eyelet which is positioned on the lingual side of an anterior tooth and a foot portion secured to the fitting. The springs provide lingual-to-labial force to the teeth, and the labial wire provides labial-to-lingual force to the teeth. A spring may engage the lingual surface of a tooth to provide active force to urge the tooth labially into a proper position, or may be spaced away from a tooth at a desired position to engage the tooth as it move lingually. The springs may be positioned on a mesial or a distal surface of a tooth to induce rotation. Further, the springs may provide passive resistance to maintain a properly positioned tooth in place. Each spring is made of a single strand of wire which has one end terminating at the head portion and the other end terminating at the foot portion.

Abstract: A backpack which may be used to carry a folding chair including front and rear members, a connecting device for releasably connecting the front and rear members to one another thereby forming an internal cavity, and a fastening device, associated with the internal cavity, for releasably securing the foldable chair within the cavity. The backpack may also include a plurality of storage compartments, including an insulated storage compartment for food and beverages.

Abstract: Sheetstock including a relatively thin portion on at least one of the longitudinal edges for facilitating use of the sheetstock in an ink jet or laser printer. The relatively thin portion may be easily removed after printing. Also, the sheetstock may be divided into a number of portions which may be easily separated from one another after printing.

Abstract: A self-propelled cleaning machine for cleaning a floor of a room enclosed by a wall perimeter includes a body having first and second sides and a front. A motor drive causes the body to move over the floor. A cleaning unit is carried by the body for cleaning the floor. First, second and third sensors are carried by the body for sensing distances from the first and second sides and the front thereof to the wall perimeter and producing first, second and third sensor signals in response thereto respectively. A fuzzy logic computer receives the first, second and third sensor signals and controls the motor drive to move the body in accordance therewith adjacently parallel to and store data representing the wall perimeter, and subsequently controls the motor drive to move the body in a computed pattern within the wall perimeter as represented by the data such that the cleaning unit cleans the floor.

Abstract: A collapsible structure which is quickly and easily collapsed to a multi-ply planar structure, then quickly and easily erectable to a self supporting three-dimensional erect structure. The structure, when erected, has a plurality of levels and enclosed areas to provide play and amusement for a child or for other suitable use.