Abstract: An instrument stand with variable ground contact positions of its supporting pods is disclosed. It has a standing post mounted with two positioning rings. One of them is fixed, and the other can slide relative to the former. The positioning rings have several supporting bases and several connecting elements that fix with the supporting bases after angle adjustment. The supporting pods are locked on the two positioning rings. Each supporting pod is controlled by the relative motion of the two positioning rings to expand and collapse. The ground contact positions of the supporting pods of the invention are thus variable.

Abstract: A heelless instrument pedal device includes a bottom board and a pedal board. The bottom board is in connection with an instrument support and has two pivotal connection elements protruding upwards with a ball shape. The rear bottom surface of the pedal board has a pivotal connection base corresponding to the pivotal connection elements. The pedal board is connected to the pivotal connection elements on the bottom board using the pivotal connection base. Thus, the pedal board can swing in the direction of the force applied by the user's foot. The front end of the pedal board has a linking element, so that the linking element moves as the pedal board swings with respect to the pivotal connection elements.

Abstract: An interactive, novelty bookmark device includes a composite frame having a front and back cover, a magnetic drawing screen mounted within the composite frame, wherein a portion of the drawing screen is accessible through a window in the front cover for receipt and persistent display of information input by a user of the device, a stylus having a magnetic tip and configured for use by the user to input information onto the magnetic drawing screen, an erase lever slidably mounted within the composite frame and having a magnet disposed thereon to selectively erase the magnetic drawing screen, and an engagement appendage mounted to and extending from the frame for releasably securing the interactive bookmark device to associated printed reading material which needs to be bookmarked.

Abstract: A musical instrument stand assembly with a foldable pedal includes a main stand body, and the main stand body includes a main rod, and the bottom of the main rod includes two support rods each with a recession, and the recession includes a first circular serration; two side frames, and a sidewall of each side frame includes a protrusion and a second circular serration at the protrusion, and each side frame is installed by engaging each protrusion with the recession of each support rod, such that the first and second circular serrations are engaged with each other. With the design of rotably engaging the two side frames and the two support rods, the main stand body of the musical instrument has the function of adjusting its inclination with respect to a vertical position, and the effect of conveniently folding the pedal of the musical instrument.

Abstract: The present method for designing a mask includes calculating the maximum layout number of patterns on a mask substrate, calculating a first mask cost and a second mask cost, calculating the total cost for fabricating a predetermined number of wafers using the first mask and the second mask, and selecting a lower total cost to design the pattern number on a mask substrate. Preferably, the pattern number on the first mask is equal to the maximum layout number, and the pattern number on the second mask is smaller than the maximum layout number. The present mask includes a mask substrate, a first pattern positioned on a first portion of the mask substrate for defining the shape of a first layer on a wafer, and a second pattern positioned on a second portion of the mask substrate for defining the shape of a second layer on the wafer.

Abstract: A drum bracket including an adjustment rod and three support bars pivotally connected with upper end of the adjustment rod at equal angular intervals. Each support bar has a swinging end. An L-shaped claw section is pivotally connected with the swinging end of each support bar and fixable with the support bar. A bush is axially movably fitted on the adjustment rod. Three links are pivotally connected with the bush at equal angular intervals. Each link is also pivotally connected with a middle section of each support bar. A bottom of the adjustment rod is formed with outer thread under the bush. An adjustment nut is screwed on the outer thread.

Abstract: An angle adjust device for a cymbal includes a connecting seat mounted to a free end of a cymbal stand. The connecting includes a hollow stub longitudinally extending through the connecting seat and a protrusion laterally extending from the connecting seat. A connector is mounted to the protrusion of the connecting seat and has a trough defined in the connector. The trough has an opening defined in one side of the connector facing the connecting seat. An actuated rod is limited in the connector. The actuated rod has a threaded section screwed into the threaded hole in the slider and a polygonal head co-axially extending from the threaded section through the connector for user to easily rotate the actuated rod and adjust a distance between the slider and the connecting seat.

Abstract: The present method for designing a mask includes calculating the maximum layout number of patterns on a mask substrate, calculating a first mask cost and a second mask cost, calculating the total cost for fabricating a predetermined number of wafers using the first mask and the second mask, and selecting a lower total cost to design the pattern number on a mask substrate. Preferably, the pattern number on the first mask is equal to the maximum layout number, and the pattern number on the second mask is smaller than the maximum layout number. The present mask includes a mask substrate, a first pattern positioned on a first portion of the mask substrate for defining the shape of a first layer on a wafer, and a second pattern positioned on a second portion of the mask substrate for defining the shape of a second layer on the wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus for extruding pencils and a method of using the apparatus. A core material (6) is extruded from an extruder (1) and forms a catenary loop in a cooling zone (4). The core material is carefully cooled at ambient temperature before being cooled and straightened at a cooling unit (5). The core material is coated in a crosshead and die assembly (8) with sheath material extruded from extruder (10). In a further cooling zone (12) the sheath material expands under the action of a blowing agent and the extrudate is sized by a calibrator (13).

Abstract: Input current from the automobile lighting circuitry is conducted to movable poles on a first relay. Normally open contacts in the first relay are connected through output conductors to corresponding lighting circuits on the boat trailer. The first relay contacts close when operating voltage is applied to the first relay coil via a normally closed contact in a second relay. When a float switch on the trailer enters water, it closes, thereby actuating a transistor which, in turn, actuates the second relay. Upon actuation, the normally closed second relay contact opens, thereby deactivating the first relay and arresting current flow to the trailer. The transistor is maintained in an "ON" state for a period of time after the trailer emerges from water by current from a capacitor. The capacitor receives a charge via the second relay upon application of the automobile brake pedal only when the transistor is in the "ON" state.