Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting side-by-side recumbent bicycles to form a quadracycle. The apparatus includes a pair of recumbent bicycles having front wheels and rear wheels. The bicycles have substantially rigid frame members supporting the front wheels and the rear wheels, and the frame members are aligned substantially upright and parallel. The apparatus also includes a single rigid connecting member located between the frame members and attached thereto such that substantially upright planes defined by the frame members always remain substantially parallel. The connecting member has an attachment means to at least one of the frame members such that the frame member rotates relative to the connecting member within a substantially upright plane about the attachment means in order to maintain the front wheels and the rear wheels in contact with an uneven road surface as the quadracycle moves over it.

Abstract: A delivery system for an oral care substance includes a strip of material having a yield point and thickness such that the strip of material substantially conforms to a shape of a tooth and its adjoining soft tissue via permanent deformation under a pressure less than about 250,000 Pascals when the delivery system is placed thereagainst. The delivery system also includes an oral care substance applied to the strip of material such that when the delivery system is placed on a surface of the tooth and its adjoining soft tissue, the substance contacts the surface providing an active onto the surface. The substance also provides adhesive attachment between the strip of material and the surface to hold the delivery system in place for a sufficient time to allow the active to act upon the surface.

Abstract: A delivery system for an oral care substance includes a strip of material having a yield point and thickness such that the strip of material substantially conforms to a shape of a tooth via permanent deformation under a pressure less than about 250,000 Pascals when the delivery system is placed thereagainst. The delivery system also includes an oral care substance applied to the strip of material such that when the delivery system is placed on a surface of the tooth, the substance contacts the surface providing an active onto the surface. The substance also provides adhesive attachment between the strip of material and the surface to hold the delivery system in place for a sufficient time to allow the active to act upon the surface. The substance has an extrusion resistance sufficient to withstand a normal force applied to deform the strip of material so that the substance is not substantially extruded from between the strip of material and the surface during manual deformation of the strip of material.

Abstract: A plastic container for multiple side-by-side stacks of fragile articles has a single blow molded body. The body has side walls and at least one internal partition extending from near a continuously rimmed open top to near a closed bottom end of the body. The partition has two spaced apart walls connected in a longitudinal plane substantially perpendicular to said at least one partition. The partition forms at least two separated compartments within the body for supporting the stacks of fragile articles. It provides resistance to squeezing the side walls so as to protect the stacks of fragile articles, and the two spaced apart walls are adapted to deform in the presence of vacuum and pressure in the compartments such that an outer perimeter dimension of the body remains substantially constant. The container also has a reclosable closure located at the continuously rimmed top end of the body.

Abstract: A device and method of use for reducing knee bend, and therefore knee stress, when climbing and descending stairs. The method includes a first step of removably securing to a first foot of a user a device having an elevation of approximately half a step rise. A second method step includes lifting a second foot of the user onto a first stair step while applying full body weight to the first knee. A third method step includes lifting the first foot and the device while applying full body weight to a second knee in order to place the first foot and the device on the first step adjacent to the second foot. Lifting the second foot and lifting the first foot and the device are achieved while the first and second knees are bent no more than an angle necessary to climb approximately half a step rise. The sequential foot lifting is repeated until the user has climbed the stairs. The device includes a foot securing portion for removably attaching it to only one of a user's feet.

Abstract: A delivery system for an oral care substance includes a strip of material having a flexural stiffness less than about 50 grams/centimeter as measured on a Handle-O-Meter per ASTM test method D2923-95. The strip of material is readily conformable without permanent deformation to a shape of a tooth and its adjoining soft tissue when the delivery system is placed thereagainst. The delivery system also includes an oral care substance applied to the strip of material such that when the delivery system is placed on a surface of the tooth and its adjoining soft tissue, the substance contacts the surface providing an active onto the surface. The substance also provides adhesive attachment between the strip of material and the surface to hold the delivery system in place for a sufficient time to allow the active to act upon the surface.

Abstract: The present invention is a venting cap (1) with a hole (4) and a semi-permeable membrane (7). The membrane is fitted in a housing (6) of particular dimensions which is in turn fitted in a protrusion (5) corresponding to the hole in the cap. The present invention further encompasses a process for the manufacture of the cap.

Abstract: A delivery system for a tooth whitening substance includes a strip of material having a flexural stiffness less than about 50 grams/centimeter as measured on a Handle-O-Meter per ASTM test method D2923-95. The strip of material is readily conformable without permanent deformation to a shape of a tooth when the delivery system is placed thereagainst. The tooth whitening substance is applied to the strip of material such that when the delivery system is placed on a surface of the tooth, the substance contacts the surface providing an active onto the surface. The substance also provides adhesive attachment between the strip of material and the surface to hold the delivery system in place for a sufficient time to allow the active to act upon the surface. A method of delivery includes pre-coating the strip of material, having the wearer apply substance to the strip of material, or having the wearer apply the substance directly to the surface before applying a strip of material.

Abstract: A hand sanitizing apparatus which uses at least two electrostatic emitters to dispense germicidal fluid to substantially all the surfaces of a user's hands when both hands are placed in proximity to the electrostatic emitters. The apparatus comprises a frame on which are mounted electrostatic emitters in preferably two cells which separate spray directed at one hand from spray directed at the other hand, a reservoir of germicidal fluid in fluid communication with the electrostatic emitters, a power source adapted to supply electrostatic energy to the electrostatic emitters, and a dispensing cycle actuator which is operated by the user to distribute electrostatic energy from the power source to the electrostatic emitters so that a predetermined quantity of germicidal fluid is directed from each electrostatic emitter toward each of the user's hands during the dispensing cycle. In one embodiment each hand is sprayed with an opposite charge.

Abstract: A replacement fluid cartridge for a dispenser has three parts: an injection molded nozzle, a thermoformed reservoir portion, and a cover sheet. The nozzle has a substantially flat top portion, an outer portion adjacent to the flat top portion, an outermost end, and a plurality of orifices extending through the nozzle. The second part is a piece of flexible film having a plurality of depressions surrounded by a flange. The flange is continuous and in a plane except at a nozzle-fitting portion. The nozzle-fitting portion is shaped to wrap around the outer portion of the nozzle where it is bonded to the nozzle in a fluid-tight manner. The flat top portion of the nozzle resides substantially within the plane of the flange. Each of the plurality of depressions has an inside, a continuous sidewall, and a closed bottom. The third part is a substantially flat cover sheet bonded to the flange and to the flat top portion of the nozzle such that the plurality of depressions are sealed closed by the cover sheet.

Abstract: A container supporting French fries to be heated in a toaster. The toaster has an article receiving slot. The container comprises an upright structure having a closed bottom and a front and a back parallel to the front which are held together along adjacent side edges by mechanical means. The upright structure has an openable top for access to heated French fries. The front and back have apertures located above the closed bottom. The apertures provide an open area in the front and the back to pass toaster radiation heat into the container to heat the food article and for steam from heated French fries to exit the container. The upright structure has a portion extending sufficiently above the toaster which is cool-to-the-touch and electrically non-conductive to enable a user to lift the container from the toaster without a finger burn or electrical shock. The closed bottom of the container forms a drip trough.

Abstract: A dispenser comprises an upper portion having an annular member depending therefrom and a bottom portion having a base and an upright post connected to the base. It also includes a flexible bag capable of containing fluid suspended from the upper portion and located inside the annular member. The flexible bag has a nozzle connected to it such that the flexible bag is closed except at the nozzle. The nozzle has a discharge orifice in fluid communication with the flexible bag. The upper portion telescopingly engages the bottom portion such that the upright post is located substantially aligned with the flexible bag. The upright post is sized to cause the flexible bag to invert when the upper portion and the bottom portion are pressed together. An openable closure closes the discharge orifice so that a fluid-containing flexible bag may be easily handled for replacement of the emptied flexible bag in the dispenser.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing rainwater overflow protection for a roof gutter. The method includes removing rainwater under the force of gravity from the gutter via a conduit connected at an opening in a substantially vertical wall at one end of the gutter. A further step includes directing the rainwater from the opening through a downward turning transition section in the conduit such that a substantially horizontal rainwater flow direction is gradually converted to a downward flow direction. A portion of the rainwater may be further directed via the conduit from the gutter to a conventional downspout connected to a bottom surface of the gutter. In this alternative, the conduit joins the conventional downspout at a location at least six inches below the bottom surface of the gutter and serves as a bypass for a plugged conventional downspout opening.

Abstract: An improved rinse water additive dispenser for an automatic washer has a substantially rigid body having a resilient portion and an internal volume. The dispenser further includes an opening therein and a valve for sealing the opening closed so that the rinse water additive is maintained within the dispenser until the valve is acted upon by centrifugal force applied to the dispenser during a spin cycle of the automatic washer to unseat the valve. The resilient portion provides for volumetric expansion and contraction of the dispenser when the dispenser is placed in variable temperature water. The volumetric expansion and contraction substantially relieves an air pressure differential between ambient and the internal volume so that the centrifugal force unseats the valve without interference from the pressure differential. The opening may be in the resilient portion or in the substantially rigid body.

Abstract: A substantially annular toilet seat having a lifting surface which remains sanitary throughout a range of toilet seat positions between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank. The seat has a hinged end and an outer perimeter wall. The outer perimeter wall has a cavity therein which has a smooth inner surface and an open end facing outwardly from the toilet bowl. The seat has a hinging means connecting the hinged end the seat to the toilet bowl such that a user placing a finger in the cavity and pressing against the smooth inner surface may pivot the annular seat about the hinging means. This may be done without contamination of the finger because the cavity is shielded from urine splash and bacteria laden toilet water spraying outward from the toilet bowl when the toilet bowl is flushed. Alternatively, the toilet seat has a protrusion extending outwardly from the outer perimeter wall and having the cavity therein. The smooth inner surface of the cavity gradually converges from the open end to a closed end.

Abstract: A substantially rectangular piece of flexible web having a first end and a second end and an elastic portion therebetween, stretchable along a longitudinal axis of the piece of web. The piece of web has a length great enough to encircle a user's waist such that the first and second ends overlap. The first end has a reclosable fastening system for attaching the first end to the piece of web near the second end in order to hold the piece of web around the user's waist when the piece of web is stretched. The back wrap further comprises a plurality of individual thermal elements embedded in the piece of web. The plurality of thermal elements have a substantially planar diamond-shaped pattern which approximates the shape of erector muscles in the user's back. The pattern has a gap transverse to the longitudinal axis which corresponds to the user's spine.

Abstract: A piece of flexible material forms a neck wrap having a first wing portion, a second wing portion, a central body portion therebetween, and a body-facing side. The neck wrap also has a plurality of individual thermal elements embedded therein. The plurality of thermal elements have a pattern which approximates the shape and location of muscles in the user's upper back, lower neck, and shoulders. The pattern has a gap bisecting the central portion corresponding to the user's spine. The neck wrap also has means for maintaining the piece of flexible material in a desired position once the piece of flexible material has been draped over the user's shoulders. The central portion is centered at the user's upper back and lower neck and the first and second wing portions lay across the user's shoulders and rest on the user's chest. One means for maintaining the piece of flexible material in position includes adhesive patches attached to the first and second wing portions on said body-facing side thereof.

Abstract: A substantially rectangular piece of flexible web having a first end and a second end and an elastic portion therebetween stretchable along a longitudinal axis of the piece of flexible web. The piece of flexible web has a length great enough to encircle a user's knee such that the first and second ends overlap. The first end has a reclosable fastening system for attaching the first end to the piece of flexible web near the second end in order to hold the piece of flexible web around the user's knee when the piece of web is stretched. The piece of flexible web also has an aperture therein. The aperture is aligned with the user's patella to establish a convenient locating point for wrapping the knee wrap around the user's knee. The piece of flexible web further includes a means for extending the piece of flexible web transverse to said longitudinal axis at the aperture in order to accommodate bending of the user's knee.

Abstract: A container for heating frozen French fries in a toaster. The frozen French fries preferably have a moisture content by weight ranging from 35% to 55% prior to heating in the toaster. The container comprises an upright structure adapted to removably fit into a vertical slot of a conventional toaster and be supported by the toaster during a toaster heating cycle. The upright structure has a front and back connected to a closed bottom. The front and back have side edges and apertures through the front and back for passing heat from the toaster to frozen French fries located inside the container and for passing steam from heated French fries to outside of the container. The container has an openable end to permit removal of the French fries after heating. The closed bottom forms a drip trough for collecting drippings from the French fries.