Abstract: A clip assembly securably affixable to the body of a variety of hand-held implements, including writing devices, which is capable of clasping objects substantially thicker that a garment pocket, such as notepads, books, and backpacks. The clip assembly comprises a pin securably engaged to the body of the hand-held implement, a rigid member having a first end for clasping an article, and a second end for manually operating the clip assembly, and a spring biasing the first end of the rigid member towards the body of said hand-held writing implement. The rigid member operably engages the pin in a manner that permits the rigid member to rotate relative to the body of the hand-held implement when a yielding pressure is applied to the second end of the rigid member.

Abstract: A composite material for use as a skateboard deck or other sports board. The composite skateboard deck of the preferred embodiment is comprised of two structural layers bonded to and on either side of a light, flexible core. The structural layers made of a strong, resilient material comprised of a natural fiber-embedded-matrix, this class of materials including grasses such as bamboo, hemp and kanaf. The composite skateboard deck of the present invention is strong, light, durable, resilient, environmentally friendly, and derived from a more renewable resource with no loss of pop or memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display assembly comprising a graphical or alphanumeric display and display source such as a clock or other timepiece; a display housing for retaining the display; self-righting means rotatably coupled to the display and display housing with a predetermined bias; a body; and a connecting means operatively engaging the display housing and body. The connecting means in the form of a Cassegrain assembly allows the display housing to swivel with respect to the body over 360 degrees through a vertical plane and horizontal plane independently. The display, when operatively coupled to the self-righting means, is automatically maintained in a substantially upright position independent of the orientation display housing, thereby allowing the display to be turned to face a viewer at any angle without repositioning the body or leveling the display.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing individual sheets of stack of adhesive coated sheets is disclosed. The apparatus is comprised of a carriage for receiving the stack of adhesive coated sheets; reciprocating means for intermittently driving the carriage from a first rest position to a second rest position and vice versa; and guiding means for directing the distal edge of a sheet from a guide input to a guide output as the carriage is driven by the reciprocating means from the first rest position to the second rest position or vice versa. The invention is useful for dispensing said sheets without requiring that each sheet be pulled through or drawn out the guide output under the force of the releasable adhesive bond between adjacent sheets. Using the invention, one may cause a sheet to be dispensed to a position where it is accessible to the user only when the sheet is actually needed.

Abstract: A fluid flow regulator of a smoke evacuation system for use with laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery is disclosed. The fluid flow regulator is comprised of a flow regulating means and a conduit connecting means. The flow regulating means in one embodiment includes a diaphragm and one or more orifices of predetermined diameter to provide a significant obstruction to the flow of fluid through the evacuation system. When operatively coupled to the pressurized surgical site, the fluid flow regulator makes possible the continuous evacuation of surgical smoke while simultaneously maintaining the pneumoperitoneum in a distended position for the duration of the laparoscopic procedure. Also disclosed is a method of using the fluid flow regulator to continually evacuate surgical smoke in the course of laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures without deflating the pneumoperitoneum, which hereto for has been used by prior art systems to evacuate surgical smoke.