Abstract: A technique is provided for keeping rodents and other pests out of warehouses and other buildings. A pest control device or guard is provided which is attached or fixed near the bottom surface of a door, such as an overhead door. The pest control device can adjust to uneven ground surfaces so that a fence or guard is provided to prevent pests, such as rats from entering buildings. The pest control device may be comprised of first, second, and third brackets which are connected together and can be mounted to a door. The brackets may be L-shaped. A plurality of pins is connected to the first, second, and third brackets so that each of the plurality of pins can move with respect to the first, second, and third brackets.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an apron for a child care giver is provided. The apron may include a first attachment device having a plurality of shaped items attached to it and a second attachment device having a plurality of touchable items attached to it. The apron may be further comprised of a zipper device and a buttoning device connected so that they can be manipulated by a child. An upper pocket may be provided having a designation indicating that the upper pocket is to be used for storing medical supplies. A protective device may be connected to the apron for protection the wearer from untidy activities of children.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a device that attaches to sporting equipment for the purpose of generating an audible sound under predetermined conditions. The device 10 is selectively attached to hand held sporting equipment, such as a golf club 18 and tennis racquet 38, that travels through a sweeping motion. By attachment of the sound generating device to the aforementioned equipment it will be possible to cause audible sounds under abrupt increases in velocity. The device of the preferred embodiment is comprised of a sound generation element 12 such as a pliable material, and may include a means of attachment element 14. The sound generation element 12 can be permanently or semi-permanently fixed to the sporting equipment. In the permanent/semi-permanent state the sound generation element is fixedly positioned by means of adhesive 40, or any other bonding means known within the art, to the sporting equipment thereby having no need for a means of an attachment element 14.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing items of food to pets is disclosed comprising a container and a cord. The container has a first opening through which the cord is inserted. The container has a chamber in which at least one item of food can be placed. The first opening of the container is large enough to allow the at least one item of food to pass through the first opening while the cord is in the first opening of the container. The first opening may be located at a first end of the container and the cap portion may be located at a second end of the container. The cap portion can be removed to allow insertion of one or more items of food into the chamber of the container through a second opening of the container. A method is also provided comprising inserting a cord through a first opening of a container so that the cord lies partially in a chamber of the container, placing an item of food into the chamber; and preventing the cord from coming completely out of the container.

Abstract: A technique is provided for keeping rodents and other pests out of warehouses and other buildings. A pest control device or guard is provided which is attached or fixed near the bottom surface of a garage door. The pest control device can adjust to uneven ground surfaces so that a fence or guard is provided to prevent pests, such as rats from entering buildings. The pest control device may be comprised of first, second, and third brackets which are connected together and can be mounted to a garage door. The brackets may be L-shaped. A plurality of pins is connected to the first, second, and third brackets so that each of the plurality of pins can move with respect to the first, second, and third brackets.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a lamp which produces a first light which may be a white light; a first light valve, a second light valve, a first color separator, and a first aperture device. The first color separator receives the white light from the lamp, and separates the white light into a first color light and a first residual light. The first aperture device receives the first color light and the first aperture device can be controlled to modify a frequency of the first color light to the first light valve. The second light valve receives at least a portion of the first residual light. The first aperture device could also be controlled to substantially block at least a portion of the first color light.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a display device. The apparatus may also be comprised of a beverage pitcher onto which the display device can be placed. The display device can be placed in a first or a second state. In the first state the display device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage which is within the beverage pitcher. In the second state the display device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage which is within the beverage pitcher. The display device may be comprised of a sliding member for allowing or preventing a first or a second designation for a first or a second type of beverage to be displayed. The beverage pitcher in one embodiment is a coffee pot. The first type of beverage may be decaffeinated coffee and the second type of beverage may be caffeinated or regular coffee. In other embodiments, a coffee machine includes an indicator device which indicates whether coffee is decaffeinated or not.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a lamp which produces a first light which may be a white light; a first light valve, a second light valve, and a first aperture device, which may be a first electronically switchable filter. The first aperture device or the first electronically switchable filter function as selectively variable color separators. The first aperture device or the first electronically switchable filter each can be placed in a first state where the first light is separated into a first color light and a first residual light, and a second state where the first light is separated into a second color light and a second residual light. The first light valve receives the first light in the first state and the second light in the second state. The second light valve receives at least a portion of the first residual light in the first state or at least a portion of the second residual light in the second state.

Abstract: Built-in lamp apparatus for suspended ceilings is provided with a base fixed in the space provided in the suspended ceiling, wherein a reflection cover is installed on the base. A fixed seat and a bulb socket holder are installed inside and in the top of the reflection cover respectively. The bulb socket holder comprises a plurality of fixed plates provided on the periphery of a baseboard. One to four bulb sockets and bulbs can be installed on the plurality of fixed plates. On the center of the baseboard is placed a vertical center shaft, which extends upwardly. The center shaft extends further to the top of the reflection cover, wherein a heat-dissipating passage is provided on the top of the reflection cover. Pass the hollow sphere-shaped lampshade through the base hole of the above-described base and then connects the lampshade top with the described fixed seat. Consequently, the bulb socket holder, bulb sockets, and bulbs are contained inside the space of the lampshade.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are used to hang a purse from a piece of furniture, such as a table top. The apparatus comprises a base and a bracket having a first end and a second end. The base can be fixed to the first end of the bracket. The bracket can be positioned on the edge of a piece of furniture, such as a table top, so that the base sits on a top surface of the piece of furniture and a strap can be hung from the second end of the bracket. The base may have a base with a bottom surface which contacts the top surface of the table top when the bracket is positioned on the edge of the table top. The bracket may include a rim at the second end of the bracket and a portion connected to the rim, wherein the rim has a larger diameter than the portion, so that the strap placed over the portion will be prevented from falling off of the bracket.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for holding and carrying two or more receptacles. The apparatus may be comprised of first and second openings and first and second ridges, wherein a top portion of a first receptacle can be inserted into the first opening, slid along the first and second ridges, and slid into the second opening. In at least one embodiment, third and fourth ridges, and a third opening, may be provided wherein a top portion of a second receptacle can be inserted into the first opening, slid along the third and fourth ridges, and slid into the third opening. The apparatus may further comprise a first central portion and a second central portion, wherein the first and third ridges are connected to the first central portion, and the second and fourth ridges are connected to the second central portion. The first and second central portions may each include curved portions for allowing an individual's fingers to grip the first and second central portions.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an encryption processor and a signing processor is provided. The encryption processor takes a data message and provides an encryption using an encryption process. The signing processor takes the encryption and adds a signature to the encryption using a signing process. The encryption processor can employ EIGamal encryption. The encryption processor may use a function of the encryption to perform the signing process. The signing processor may perform a Schnorr signature process for the signing process. The signing processor uses part of the encryption process to perform the signing process, such as a random number used during the encryption process.

Abstract: A putting training system for practicing putting outdoors on a putting green or indoors on a carpeted surface comprising of a circular toroid putting target which by design has the ability to distinguish between a correctly or incorrectly struck putt with the rule that all putts should be struck hard enough force to leave the golf ball approximately seventeen inches past the hole if the hole was not there. The training aid target is a visually realistic, 360 degree, three dimensional depiction of a real hole on a putting green. This is accomplished by distinguishing the color of the outer half of the target from the inner half of the target. By coloring the outer half of the training aid target green and the inner half of the target black, one sees relatively the same view as a real hole when viewed from a distance.

Abstract: A protected device is provided which may normally operate in a first state of normal operation. A first event may cause the protected device to go into a second state of alert where the protected device still operates normally but additionally provides warnings to a user. For example, during the second state of alert a user may be warned that an access code needs to be entered to prevent degradation or altering of the operation of the protected device. The first event may be triggered or may depend on one or more sub-events some of which may occur with some probability and some of which may automatically occur or may be deterministic. If a second event occurs prior to the user providing an access code then the protected device would transition from the second state (normal operation with warnings) to a third state in which the operation of the protected device would be altered or degraded.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to decelerate printed product in a stacking process is provided. The printed product may be a product such as printed paper, foil, or plastic. A continuous web of product may be cut into single items, one item at a time, and then the items may be stacked on top of one another. The apparatus may be comprised of a cylinder, which is comprised of a vacuum chamber having perforations and a blowing chamber having perforations. A first slow delivery tape, and first and second fast delivery tapes may also be provided. Each of the delivery tapes may have perforations to allow air to pass through and from or to the cylinder. The first slow delivery tape is wrapped around the cylinder. The first and second fast delivery tapes are wrapped around rollers and may help to create separation between individual cut items and may control moving items. The first slow delivery tape may slow down items to allow stacking of items.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed incorporating a plurality of light sources, such as a plurality of lighting emitting diodes, and a beam altering mechanism for altering the light projected by the plurality of light sources. Several mechanisms for altering the beam produced by the plurality of light emitting diodes are disclosed. The present invention can be used in for example hand held flashlights and theatrical lighting. The present invention in one embodiment discloses a hand held flashlight incorporating a plurality of light sources and a beam altering mechanism capable of changing the color of the emitted light beam produced by the flashlight. The beam altering mechanism may be comprised of an aperture device, which may be an aperture plate, provided with a plurality of apertures that are strategically aligned with the individual light beams emitted from each of the plurality of light sources.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a first cover and an attachment device to which the first cover is connected, wherein the attachment device can be used to attach the first cover to a fire hydrant such that the first cover covers the first nozzle cap. The apparatus may also be comprised of second and third covers which are also attached to the attachment device and which can be used to cover second and third nozzle caps of the fire hydrant. The attachment device may be comprised of a first portion, the first portion substantially in the form of a ring. The attachment device may be comprised of a second portion, and the second portion can be connected to the first portion so that the first portion and the second portion provide a closed ring.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first identification device, which is attached to a suspect vehicle and a suspect vehicle detection device which is attached to a police vehicle is disclosed. The first identification device contains a first set of data concerning the insurance coverage for the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle detection device obtains the first set of data from the first identification device. The first identification device may be comprised memory in which the first set of data is stored. The first identification device may be attached to a front windshield of the suspect vehicle and a similar second identification device may be attached to a rear windshield of the suspect vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided comprising a plurality of sections together forming a connected object, which may be a sphere. One half of the sphere can be rotated with respect to another half of the sphere in various planes or along various circular paths. In one embodiment the sphere has eight sections and can be rotated along any one of three different circular paths, A, B, and C. The plurality of sections may include first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sections. Each section may be joined to an adjacent section by a connector or in one embodiment by two connectors. Each connector may allow each section to rotate with respect to other sections. A plurality of connectors including twenty-four connectors for connecting eight sections may be provided. Each connector may be comprised of first and second curved rails and a first gear.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a plurality of liquid containers and a corresponding plurality of tubes. Each liquid container has an opening into which is inserted the first end of a corresponding tube. The second end of each tube is connected to a pumping device. A processor, connected to the pumping device, in response to a first signal, selects a first liquid container of the plurality of liquid containers and causes the pumping device to cause liquid to be pumped out of the first liquid container through its opening through the first end of the corresponding tube and out the second end of the corresponding tube. The plurality of liquid containers may be comprised of a first set of liquid containers which contains wine, second set which contains hard liquor, a third set which contains beer, a fourth set which includes chasers, and a fifth set which includes a keg of beer. The apparatus may include a housing wherein the plurality of liquid containers are stored in the housing.