Abstract: A container and a method of making the container are disclosed. The process consists of arranging two sheets of material in face-to-face relationship with mating fastening elements carried by the sheets being disposed adjacent one another. Three sides of the sheets are sealed together to form an enclosure, a product is placed in the enclosure, the fastening elements are engaged to seal the fourth side of the sheets, the sealed enclosure is folded over on itself and a second product is placed between the now facing sides of the enclosure, and the folded over enclosure is sealed with a breakable seal disposed outside of the first seal such that the first and second products are captured and sealed within the so-formed container. An embodiment of the container is disclosed which comprises a diaper changing kit enclosing a diaper and at least one of a variety of baby changing accessories.

Abstract: An anti-theft system for a shopping cart includes a mounting structure for supporting anti-theft apparatus on the cart, the mounting structure being secured to the base frame of the cart. The anti-theft apparatus is removably carried by the mounting structure, with the anti-theft apparatus including a collapsible front suspension assembly having a housing; a first set of casters mounted to the housing, retractable pin elements carried by the housing and engagable with the mounting structure for maintaining the front suspension assembly in operative mode in which the first set of casters engage a supporting surface, a sensor assembly for detecting an activation signal and actuating the retractable pin elements to cause retraction of the pin elements and render the front suspension assembly inoperative, and a second set of casters fixed to the shopping cart base frame for preventing the cart from moving in a linear direction when the front suspension assembly is rendered inoperative.

Abstract: A new shopping cart includes a wheeled base having forward and rear portions, a pedestal formed on the base for supporting a container or basket thereon, where the pedestal is secured to the base at a location between the forward and rearward ends of the base, and the container is supported on the pedestal so that the rear of the container is disposed forwardly of the rear of the base, and the cart as a whole exhibits a lowered center of gravity. The cart also includes an upwardly extensive handle member, and the pedestal includes a surface for supporting the rear of the basket forwardly of the rear of the base. The basket is hung from the handle member at a location disposed a substantial distance from the upper part of the handle member. A pair of connecting rods attaches the handle member to the rear of the pedestal to support the latter against excessive longitudinal forces.

Abstract: A multi-level personal utility cart includes a frame including a vertical rear panel and a handle including latching structure on side portions of the handle, each latching structure being structurally engaged with a portion of the rear panel, a lower basket assembly carried by and pivotably attached to the frame, an upper basket assembly carried by and pivotably attached to the frame, where the upper and lower basket assemblies are pivotable in a direction toward the upper portion of the handle so that the upper and lower basket assemblies can be collapsed against a portion of the frame into a compact and substantially planar structure. The latching structure on the handle operatively cooperates with the rear panel to automatically lock the cart in an opened position. An access door to the lower basket assembly is provided.

Abstract: A package for consumable products includes an enclosure having a top, a bottom and opposing side portions, the enclosure containing one or more items chosen from a first set of consumable products, a first seal disposed about, and spaced inwardly from the periphery of, three adjacent side portions of the enclosure, a resealable closure adjacent the fourth side of the enclosure, the enclosure being folded so that the periphery of the fourth side is disposed adjacent to and parallel with the periphery of the side opposite to the fourth side, a second seal formed at the periphery of the folded sheets to form a second compartment of a size sufficient to house one or more items chosen from a second set of consumable products, and a third seal formed inwardly of the second seal and spaced outwardly of the first seal, the third seal being a perforated seal that enables detachment of a strip of material disposed between the periphery of the sheets and the third seal.

Abstract: A shopping cart having a lowered center of gravity and including a wheeled base having forward and rear portions, a pedestal formed on the base between the forward and rearward portions for supporting a container or basket thereon, so that the rear of the container is disposed forwardly of the rear of the base. The cart includes an upwardly extensive handle member, and the basket is hung from the handle member at a substantial distance from the upper part of the handle member. The pedestal is supported against excessive longitudinal forces by connecting rods attaching the rear of the pedestal to the handle member. Two horizontal hinge rods are mounted to the handle member, one above the other, with the lower hinge rod pivotably securing the rear pivoting gate of the basket. A child seat on the pivoting gate is disposed in the rear of the basket substantially below the upper end of the handle member.

Abstract: A composite article includes a plurality of plies of composite material arranged atop one another in a stack and bonded together with a resin material, in which the stack includes a layer disposed on at least one outer surface of the stack, the layer bearing an image applied, prior to curing of the composite article, by a sublimation printing process. The layer preferably comprises a polyester material. The image preferably comprises a logo, identification information or any other representation of information or image depiction desired. The application of the image to the layer via sublimation printing results in the image having no height above said sheet.

Abstract: A multi-level personal utility cart includes a handle having an upper portion, opposing side portions and a lower portion, a first basket assembly including panels at the front, sides, and bottom thereof, the first basket assembly being supported by the handle, a second basket assembly including panels at the front, sides, and bottom thereof, the second basket assembly being supported by the handle, the first basket assembly being positioned atop the second basket assembly, and the first and second basket assemblies being pivotally supported to the handle, so that the first and second basket assemblies are collapsible into a compact and substantially planar structure. An access door to the lower basket assembly is provided.

Abstract: A multi-level personal utility cart includes a handle having an upper portion, opposing side portions and a lower portion, a first basket assembly including panels at the front, sides, and bottom thereof, the first basket assembly being supported by the handle, a second basket assembly including panels at the front, sides, and bottom thereof, the second basket assembly being supported by the handle, the first basket assembly being positioned atop the second basket assembly, and the first and second basket assemblies being pivotally supported to the handle, so that the first and second basket assemblies are collapsible into a compact and substantially planar structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for generating energy, and in particular electrical energy, using fluid supported bodies, each disposed in one of a plurality of chambers filled with a fluid. The fluid, which issues from a fluid source, has a density which is greater than the body so that the bodies are all buoyant, and therefore float, in the fluid. A rotatable shaft is supported above the chambers, with each of said bodies being coupled to the shaft through a clutch mechanism for driving the shaft in rotation. An electrical energy-generating device may be coupled to the shaft for generating electrical energy when the shaft rotates. Conduits interconnect the chambers with the fluid source, and fluid level sensors and valve means communicating with the conduit means and the chambers for regulating ingress and egress of fluid from the chambers. The fluid in each of the chambers is selectively evacuated whenever the body in the respective chamber has been lifted to a preselected height within the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively connecting different types of devices at a customer's premises to an incoming telephone call. A database of usage codes includes caller ID values and prioritization values for each type of device. A determination is made whether the outside line is being accessed by two or more of devices at the same time. If so, the prioritization values of the devices accessing the outside line are compared. The device with a higher prioritization value is then connected to the outside line. The devices can include telephones, modems, and data collection devices such as are used in the utility meter reading industry. A processor makes determinations, and connections to the devices are made via relays actuated by the processor. The apparatus detects, duplicates and uses an initial sequence of signal indicia associated with the incoming call representing a targeted call receiving device.

Abstract: A skateboard having a board on which a skateboarder stands or sits and a pair of truck assemblies, each truck assembly including a base member for attachment to one side of the board, a roller bracket for supporting a roller on the base member, and apparatus for pivotably coupling the roller bracket to the base member, including apparatus for normally urging the bracket to a centered position relative to the coupling apparatus. The base member further includes a pair of projections arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart a distance which is sufficient to accept the thickness of the roller bracket. The roller bracket includes opposing arm portions and a connecting bight portion.

Abstract: An anti-theft system for a shopping cart comprises a collapsible front suspension mounted between the front side members of a base frame of the shopping cart, the front suspension including a support, a first set of casters mounted to the support, retractable pin means carried by the support and engagable with the side members of the base frame for maintaining the front suspension in an operative mode in which the first set of casters engage a supporting surface, a sensor for detecting a first external signal, apparatus functionally coupled to the sensor for transmitting an activation signal to the retractable pin means to cause retraction of the pin means and render the front suspension inoperative, and a second set of casters fixed to the base frame for preventing the cart from moving in a linear direction, when the front suspension is rendered inoperative.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a multipurpose glueless securement means for fastening/sealing applications which traditionally are accomplished by the use of a disposable adhesive bearing tape/or a disposable tape utilizing mechanical fastening devices. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of a high tensile strength polyvinyl chloride (PVC) strip which possesses self-adhesive properties and can be reused virtually indefinitely. Due to the unique chemical properties of the invention it has a wide range of useful applications from traditional sealing or binding applications to applications involving contact or application with external skin surfaces.

Abstract: A drive slot guard device for the drive slot of an electronic apparatus includes a first planar portion attachable to media cartridge and insertable with the media cartridge into the drive slot of an electronic device, and a second portion for blocking access to the slot when the first portion of the slot guard device has been inserted into the drive slot. The first portion extends normal to and laterally of the second portion. The first portion of the slot guard is preferably secured to a disk or cartridge member that can be secured in the drive slot of the electronic device. The disk or cartridge member can be a functional disk or cartridge or a dummy, non-functional, disk or cartridge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a coating composition to a surface on at least one panel member using a fastener having the composition on its exterior. The fastener, which has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion, is fitted within the panel member, and during thermally-induced expansion, acts to facilitate diffusion of the composition into the panel surface. The coating composition is applied to the fastener via conventional methods to the fastener, and is engineered to react with the material of the panel member to form, via a diffusion process, an intermediate coating in the region of the panel member and coating materials.

Abstract: An anti-theft shopping cart with a collapsible front suspension that is triggered by a magnetic field or an audio frequency.

Abstract: An infrared-sensitive switching apparatus for use with typical household electic appliances, and an adaptor for supporting the switching apparatus. In one application, the apparatus is used with a lamp, and the adaptor includes a first housing member configured as a female socket for receiving and making electrical contact with a conventional light bulb base, a second housing member configured as a male lamp base which can screw into and make electrical contact with a conventional lamp socket, and a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a photodiode, a power supply, an infrared amplifier, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The sensor assembly electrically couples the first and second housing members. The ASIC includes a rectifying circuit, a filter circuit, a switching circuit, and a current-limiting circuit between the filter circuit and the switching circuit. The switching circuit generates a regulated pulsed, high frequency, current at predetermined intervals.