Abstract: The present invention provides a method of displaying product search results, a software program for displaying product search results, and a computer system for use in marketing products.

Abstract: The system described herein allows a user to apply for a credit card on-line. If an electronic application is approved, a temporary credit card number is issued on-line for immediate use. The temporary credit card number may be used to purchase goods and/or services on-line until at least one of a plurality of deactivation conditions is detected. Deactivation conditions may include time limits expiring, the reception of certain messages from a client device, and/or purchasing limits being exceeded. If a deactivation condition is found, the temporary credit card number is deactivated. Purchase requests associated with a particular temporary credit card number are approved or denied based on the current activation status of the temporary credit card number and/or the purchasing history associated with the temporary credit card number.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for organizing product information online based on retail store purchases of the associated products are disclosed. The methods and apparatus described herein store product information, such as product identifiers, maintenance agreements, warranty information, and product manuals in a product information server database. Subsequently, actual product purchases are recorded by the product information server based on data from one or more point-of-sale terminals. Individual customers may then access product information associated with his purchases by going online, without the need to enter the product information or manually identify which products were purchased.

Abstract: A method of making a personalized financial transaction card having a customer-specified image on the card. The method includes providing a programming station for access by the customer. The programming station includes a data entry tool. The method also includes providing a card account management system connected to the programming station. The card account management system includes a database of account data relating to the customer. The method further includes entering data representing the customer-specified image into the programming station using the data entry tool, transmitting the data from the programming station to the card account management system, and generating a personalized financial transaction card related to the account data and bearing the customer-specified image on the personalized financial transaction card.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of displaying product search results, a software program for displaying product search results, and a computer system for use in marketing products.

Abstract: A shelving system for displaying audio visual components that may be configured into multiple positions is disclosed. The system includes a base that supports a center platform disposed between right and left platforms. The center platform and the right and left platforms all may assume multiple positions for displaying and demonstrating different audio visual components of varying sizes. In a first upright position, the right and left platforms provide an open three walled platform for holding a large speaker or other component in an inclined position. In second inverted positions, the right and left platforms are useful for supporting a component, such as a smaller speaker, in an elevated position above the base. In a first upright position, the center platform provides an elevated platform for a larger component, such as a monitor with or without other components such as a DVD player and a video cassette recorder.

Abstract: A mobile unloading apparatus for unloading items from a variety of heights is disclosed wherein the apparatus has a frame supporting a ramp for movement between a first position spaced above a conveyor for permitting items to be placed directly on the conveyor and a second, downwardly sloping ramp position for moving items down the ramp to the conveyor. The apparatus includes a first walkway section supported by the frame on a first conveyor side above a supporting surface, a second walkway section supported by the frame on a second conveyor side above the supporting surface and a third walkway section. The third walkway section can be moved from a first, use position bridging the first and second walkway sections to a second, storage position.

Abstract: An item processing kiosk is located in or near a pickup area and (i) displays selections allowing a customer to choose whether the customer is picking up or dropping off an item (ii) in response to the customer selecting one of the displayed selections, displays a request for the customer to enter a customer and item identification, and (iii) in response to the customer entering the customer and item identification, electronically transmits a message to a remote stock room terminal. The message designates whether an it is to be picked up or dropped off. The message is arranged to cause the stock room terminal to identify the customer and the item. A stock room attendant picks up the item from, or delivers the item to, the customer, as appropriate.

Abstract: In order to provide a portable room suited for human use, the room is provided with a plurality of walls including three solid wall panels and a fourth wall panel defining a door opening for receiving a door therein. The room also includes a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the fourth wall panel. Each of the wall panels has a wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof The room also includes hinge means joining each of the wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the wall panels relative to each other. With this arrangement, a removable ceiling is supported on the wall panels and, in a preferred embodiment, cooperates with the wall panels to maintain adjacent ones in substantially perpendicular relation.

Abstract: A product information system for selecting, monitoring and purchasing of products in a retail establishment includes a product selection device, a data processor, a registry retrieval device, a point-of-sale data input device, and a host computer. The product selection device identifies desired items selected by a registrant and routes the desired items to a registry database on a host computer. The data processor is adapted to communicate with the product selection device to thereby collect the desired items selected by the registrant and route the desired items to the host computer. The registry retrieval device is configured to retrieve updated registry data from the host computer in response to a request from a purchasing customer. The retrieval device has an output unit for displaying an updated list of items in the registry database. The point-of-sale data input device identifies desired items which have been purchased by a customer for routing to the host computer.

Abstract: A system for transporting a plurality of hangers on which a plurality of garments may be hung, having a hook transport system with at least a hook conveyor and a plurality of hooks disposed along the hook conveyor, the hooks being moved by the hook conveyor along a conveyance direction at a first rate, a hanger supply member on which the plurality of hangers may be disposed, and a hanger feed apparatus adapted to periodically feed one of the hangers from the hanger supply member to a hanger pickup position. The hanger feed apparatus is adapted to cause a plurality of physical contacts to be made between the hook transport system and the hanger feed apparatus, the physical contacts occurring at a second rate substantially equal to the first rate. Each of the physical contacts causes one of the hangers to be fed from the hanger supply member to the hanger pickup position, and the hooks of the hook transport system periodically pick up the hangers from the hanger pickup position.

Abstract: In order to prevent injury to the back, a lumbar supporting belt includes a relatively wide inner belt and a relatively narrow outer belt. The inner belt is adapted to extend about the waist of a person. It has a middle region adapted to be positioned in the lumbar region of the back and has opposing ends adapted to be placed in proximity to one another. The inner belt is formed of a soft, flexible material which can have its opposing ends releasably connected. The outer belt is also adapted to extend about the waist of a person. It overlies the inner belt and has opposing ends corresponding to the opposing ends of the inner belt which are adapted to be placed in proximity to one another. The outer belt is formed of a flexible, non-stretchable material which can have its opposing ends releasably connected. In addition, the lumbar supporting belt may have a tool pouch which is supported in position by at least the outer belt thereof.

Abstract: A register system for facilitating point of sale transactions of any of a plurality of products, each of the products having a bar code encoded product identification associated therewith, is disclosed. The register system comprises a central computer for storing data representing a sales price for each of the products, a plurality of distributed point of sale registers coupled to the central computer, a bar code reader, operatively associated with each of the registers, for scanning the bar code encoded product identification from the products. Each register is responsive to the scanned product identification and communicates with the central computer for transferring to the register associated with the bar code reader the sales price for the selected one of the products. The register system includes a bidirectional card reader for reading data stored as a plurality of sequential multi-bit characters on a magnetic stripe on a card.

Abstract: A measuring tape device which includes a casing having an aperture through which a coilable measuring tape can be extracted and retracted. A coilable measuring tape is disposed in the casing with a distal end projecting from the aperture. A first brake mechanism is mounted on the casing for normally applying a controlled drag on the tape which allows the tape to be extracted or retracted against the drag to any given length and held at that length. A second brake mechanism is mounted on the casing and is selectively operable for applying a positive lock on the tape greater in magnitude than the drag of the first brake mechanism, to prevent accidental extraction or retraction of the tape.

Abstract: An automatic can opener is described which is operable using a single hand to complete the opening of a can merely by positioning the can in an opening position. Particularly, the can opener senses when a can has been placed in a position to be opened, and automatically retains the can in this position and begins cutting the top thereof. Subsequently, when the cutting is completed, the can opener automatically terminates the cutting operation while retaining the can in position. Thereafter, when a user begins to remove the can, such action is automatically sensed, and the can is automatically released for removal.

Abstract: A foldable garment container formed of sheet material comprising a single blank. The container is defined by a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a top wall and is of a size and configuration to hold at least one garment disposed on a garment hanger. At least one of the end walls has top and bottom flaps. The container also includes a hanger retainer integral therewith proximate an inner surface of the one of the end walls. At least one of the top and bottom flaps is die cut to form the hanger retainer as an integral hanger support. The container includes a fold line in closely spaced relation to the one of the end walls along which the integral hanger support is foldably joined to the remainder of the one of the top and bottom flaps. Additionally, the garment container includes integral retaining members for maintaining the integral hanger support in generally parallel relation to the one of the end walls.

Abstract: A tool having a laterally slidable adjustment structure including a corresponding track and guide slidable thereon. The tool also includes a mechanism for releasably securing the guide on the track in a selected position of adjustment. Additionally, the tool is provided with a friction drive arrangement operatively associated with the guide and in engagement with the track.