Abstract: A removable, insulated hand grip device for use with a closed loop lid handle includes a body formed of a flexible, compressible and low thermal conductivity material adapted to fill the first distance between the hand grip portion and the top surface of the lid, a lid handle engaging portion including a concave surface adapted to enclose at least partially the hand grip portion of the lid handle, a base portion including a surface adapted to engage the top surface of the lid under the hand grip portion, a finger grip portion including a concave surface formed on each longitudinal sides of the body adapted to receive the fingers of a user's hand. The body is removably attached to the lid handle and is secured between the bottom surface of the hand grip portion and the top surface of the lid by compression force.

Abstract: Launch vehicle systems and methods for landing and recovering a booster stage and/or other portions thereof on a platform at sea or on another body of water are disclosed. In one embodiment, a reusable space launch vehicle is launched from a coastal launch site in a trajectory over water. After booster engine cutoff and upper stage separation, the booster stage reenters the earth's atmosphere in a tail-first orientation. The booster engines are then restarted and the booster stage performs a vertical powered landing on the deck of a pre-positioned sea-going platform. In one embodiment, bidirectional aerodynamic control surfaces control the trajectory of the booster stage as it glides through the earth's atmosphere toward the sea-going platform. The sea-going platform can broadcast its real-time position to the booster stage so that the booster stage can compensate for errors in the position of the sea-going platform due to current drift and/or other factors.

Abstract: Multiple-use rocket engines and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes launching a two-stage vehicle have a first stage and a second stage carried by the first stage. The first stage can be powered with a first rocket engine having first rocket engine components, including a first combustion chamber, arranged in a first component configuration. The method can further include separating the second stage from the first stage, and powering the second stage with a second rocket engine having second engine components arranged in a second component configuration. The second rocket engine components can include a second combustion chamber that is interchangeable with the first combustion chamber. In further particular embodiments, recovered engine components from the first stage may be used to power the second stage of the same or a different two-stage vehicle.

Abstract: Vehicles with bidirectional control surfaces and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a rocket can include a plurality of bidirectional control surfaces positioned toward an aft portion of the rocket. In this embodiment, the bidirectional control surfaces can be operable to control the orientation and/or flight path of the rocket during both ascent, in a nose-first orientation, and descent, in a tail-first orientation for, e.g., a tail-down landing.

Abstract: Launch vehicles with fixed and deployable deceleration surfaces and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a launch vehicle that has a first end and a second end generally opposite the first end, and is elongated along a vehicle axis extending between the first and second ends. The vehicle carries an exposed outwardly facing surface having a first region positioned or positionable to have a first cross-sectional area generally normal to the vehicle axis toward the first end of the vehicle, and a second region positioned or positionable to have a second cross-sectional area generally normal to the vehicle axis toward the second end of the vehicle. The first cross-sectional area is less than the second cross-sectional area. The system can further include a propulsion system carried by the launch vehicle and having at least one nozzle positioned toward the first end of the vehicle to launch the launch vehicle.

Abstract: A toilet seat cover scale device for weighing a person or an object includes, in combination, a toilet seat cover including hinges for hinged attachment to a toilet seat, a scale mechanism connected to the toilet seat cover, the scale mechanism having at least two force sensors located on a bottom of the toilet seat cover for contact with a toilet seat when the toilet seat cover is attached to a toilet seat and is in a closed position. The force sensors transmit the weight force measurements to a processor, which converts the weight force measurements to an accurate total weight measurement, and the processor transmits the accurate total weight measurement to a display.

Abstract: An automatic positioning dispenser for paper rolls includes (a) a front section of a main housing including a reciprocating paper roll elevator shaft, and a rear section of the main housing including a paper roll storage and feeding mechanism; (b) the elevator shaft having a handle, a roll holder and a reciprocal track, the roll holder having a roll engaging position and a roll disengaging position, the handle and roll holder being moveably connected to one another so as to move together along the reciprocal track, so that when the handle is moved down, it first releases a spent roll, then travels to the bottom and locks onto a new roll, and when the handle is next pulled up, it moves the new roll to the top position for use; and, (c) the paper roll storage and feeding mechanism having sufficient storage area to store a plurality of paper rolls in sequential position, and having feeding means to move a paper roll from the storage area to the bottom of the elevator shaft.

Abstract: A cardboard display case for DVDs and the like has a box-like case of folded cardboard with a plurality of shelves on three sides for displaying goods. A retractable pop-up display header extends above the top face of the case near the back. There is a hollow inside the case so that the header can be retracted within the case for shipping. When at a retail store, for example, the header is pulled up to display graphics above the top of the case. A folded cardboard member within the case has a retractable shelf supporting the header when extended above the case. The shelf is folded out of the way when the header is retracted within the case.

Abstract: An iron cover for ski wax irons a heat resistant liner having a padded bottom segment shaped to cover and protect the sole of an iron and a plurality of side flaps with ends. The side flaps extend sufficiently around the sides of an iron placed within the liner, and are secured around the iron with an elastic cord associated with the side flaps. The side flaps are structured and separated to define a plurality of heat release vents to allow heat to escape from a hot iron placed in the cover for storage.

Abstract: An iron cover for ski wax irons a heat resistant liner having a padded bottom segment shaped to cover and protect the sole of an iron and a plurality of side flaps with ends. The side flaps extend sufficiently around the sides of an iron placed within the liner, and are secured around the iron with an elastic cord associated with the side flaps. The side flaps are structured and separated to define a plurality of heat release vents to allow heat to escape from a hot iron placed in the cover for storage.