Abstract: The present invention provides a face guard connector assembly for a sports helmet, such as a football, hockey or lacrosse helmet. The face guard includes a plurality of elongated bar members that intersect to define a grid. The connector assembly removably connects the face guard to the helmet shell. The connector assembly includes a bracket having at least one channel configured to receive a portion of the face guard. The connector assembly further includes a shock absorber assembly that distributes an impact force at the face guard to the shell in an omni-directional manner. The shock absorber assembly includes an elastomeric grommet, a bushing, and a nut, each have an opening. When aligned, the openings collectively define a passageway configured to receive a fastener that secures the connector assembly to the sports helmet. The helmet shell has opposed side portions with each side portion having a mounting aperture that receives an extent of the shock absorber assembly.

Abstract: A lid for a container holding a flowable substance has an annular top wall. A side wall depends from the top wall, and has a mounting portion for connecting the lid on the container. The top wall has an opening that is adapted to permit the flow of the substance through the lid. The top wall also has a retaining member. The lid further has a closure member positioned on the mounting portion. The closure member is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein at least a portion of the closure member is received in the opening in the first position and at least a portion of the closure member is received in the retaining member in the second position. The opening and the closure member are cooperatively dimensioned such that the closure member is removably inserted in the opening. The retaining member and the closure member are cooperatively dimensioned such that the closure member is removably inserted in the retaining member.

Abstract: A jig saw for more precise movement during cutting with a laser alignment system for projecting a marker onto a workpiece to align with a target line to be cut. The laser alignment system comprises a housing, a laser generator within the housing, an internal battery supplying the laser generator, a switch which is positioned within the housing and independent of the main switch to turn on and turn off the laser generator. By turning on the switch, the laser generator projects a laser beam onto the workpiece ahead of the blade in alignment with the plane of the blade. The operator only needs to align the projected laser line along a target line on the workpiece to attain the more precise cutting without concentrating his observation exactly ahead of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A lid for a container holding a flowable substance wherein the lid has a body with a top wall, a side wall, and a mounting portion for connecting the lid on the container. The body has a drink opening and at least one retaining member positioned in the top wall in various positions with respect to the drink opening. The lid further has a closure member that is movable between a first position wherein a portion of the closure member is received in the opening, and a second position wherein a portion of the closure member is received in the retaining member. The opening and the closure member are cooperatively dimensioned such that the closure member is removably inserted in the opening. The retaining member and the closure member are cooperatively dimensioned such that the closure member is removably inserted in the retaining member.

Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for laser engraving a plurality of data subrasters into a substrate to form a raster of engraved data defining an image on the substrate. Each subraster has a length dimension and a width dimension. The system includes a transport assembly having an objective lens and a mirror, the mirror capable of reflecting a substantially collimated scanning beam incident thereon in a direction transverse to an axis of the incident beam such that it is directed to the objective lens. The objective lens is capable of focusing the scanning beam on the substrate to engrave a set of data in the width dimension of the subraster and the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of moving along the axis of the incident beam to allow subsequent engraving of other sets of data in the width dimension until a complete subraster is formed along its length dimension.

Abstract: A bottom sealing workstation is provided for a cup forming machine. The bottom sealing workstation has a linear motion assembly, a rotation assembly, a phase change assembly. A first motor is mechanically connected to a linear motion assembly of the bottom sealing workstation to linearly move the linear motion assembly toward a mandrel, a second motor is mechanically connected to a rotation assembly of the bottom sealing workstation to rotate a forming tool in a circle having a radius, and a third motor is mechanically connected to the phase change assembly to adjust the radius of the circle in which the forming tool rotates. Additionally, a controller may be electrically connected to the bottom sealing workstation to send electronic signals to the first and third motors to quantitatively control various assemblies of the bottom sealing workstation.

Abstract: A disposable plate for carrying and serving food is disclosed. One particular aspect of the invention includes a plate with a substantially circular food-contact area with a substantially oval rim periphery. The rim is formed to make the plate easy to hold, with grooves adapted to accommodate fingers and/or thumbs. The present invention may be designed to segment the food storage areas of the plate into multiple compartments by using a divider wall. Also, the food-contact area can be slightly domed to force food to shift to the outer portion of the food-contact area and inhibit the food from slipping to the middle of the plate, thus keeping the plate center from sagging.

Abstract: A computer controlled cup forming machine is provided. The computer controlled cup forming machine has a main motor, a main controller, and a plurality of workstations having individual motors electrically connected to the main motor and the main controller. The main controller develops electrical signals of a drive or motion profile that are sent to the individual motors, and the main motor sends additional electrical signals to the individual motors to initiate the drive profiles at the individual motors. The main controller also has an input station to quantitatively control each of the individual motors.