Abstract: A mailbox includes a body and a door pivotally attached to the body. A signal device is attached to the mailbox by a connecting member. The signal device is secured in a number of positions between the door and body of the mailbox when the door is in a closed position and the signal device is unsupported and free to fall in a downward direction by gravity when the door is opened.

Abstract: A one-piece upright hollow vending cabinet is formed by rotomolding a thermoplastics material and includes an upper portion supported by an integrally connected lower portion. The upper portion has internal walls defining a first chamber for receiving a stack of paper publications, and a pivotal front door provides access to the chamber and publications. The lower portion of the cabinet defines a second chamber for receiving a flowable ballast material such as sand or gravel, and includes a flared base portion having a bottom wall with an inverted funnel portion. The funnel portion has a top port for pouring the ballast material into the second chamber when the box is inverted, and a removable plug closes the port.

Abstract: A hinge trim system including a covering portion overlying at least a portion of at least one of the exposed surfaces of a hinge, wherein the covering portion can include one or more covering surfaces overlying the hinge so as to maintain a barrier surface between one or more pivot points and the covering portion. Additionally, selected portions of the covering portion move as the hinge moves so as to maintain a barrier surface over a substantial portion of the hinge as the hinge moves from one position to another.

Abstract: An aluminum drive shaft includes an aluminum alloy torque tube and aluminum alloy yokes that are pressed into each end section of the torque tube and welded to the end of the torque tube. Each end section is reduced in diameter and joined to a larger central section by a transition section. The end sections and transition sections are formed by swaging the ends of an aluminum alloy tube blank radially inwardly in two stages. The transition sections include an annular rib in the form of a concentric circular band located midway between inner and outer conical portions. The annular ribs stiffen the transition sections to reduce oil canning and noise.

Abstract: A single-door locking mailbox that includes a housing having an open end and a door pivotally mounted to the housing for closing and opening the end. The door can be fully open, near closed but not locked or fully closed. A locking assembly, with a latch which can be placed in either the locked or unlocked position with a key, is attached to the door. A catch is attached at one end to the inside of the enclosure and has a camming surface and a hole at the free end. The camming surface deflects the catch over the latch when the door is pushed closed. The hole in the catch is positioned and configured so that it captures the locked latch when the door is pushed fully closed. The catch is resilient enough to be elastically deflected over the latch. A guard over the catch shields it from being deflected by a finger or tool inserted through the mail slot by a thief.

Abstract: A funeral casket of box-like form which includes a body-receiving portion and a lid portion for covering the body-receiving portion, the body-receiving portion being of foldable construction.

Abstract: An interchangeable and rotatable jewelry display for beads or ornaments, and a method of displaying and rotating interchangeable ornaments.

Abstract: A casket comprises a shell including a floor, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls. A pair of caps are closable upon the shell. At least one of the walls is constructed of at least two panels having adjacent abutting edges forming a joint between the panels. A decorative feature disguises the joint to create the appearance of the two panels being a single panel. Each cap has a crown, a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, and is constructed of a plurality of boards extending parallel to the longer dimension and including a center spine board. The center spine board is fabricated from a single full-length board sawed in two; remaining ones of thee cap crown boards are non-full length boards. The gap between the head and foot end caps when closed in combination with the matching grain of the spine boards creates the appearance of the cap crowns being constructed of full length boards. Also, by utilizing at least one full length board in the cap, current tooling may be used.

Abstract: A collapsible stackable casket, having: a base member; a plurality of end members and side members removably secured to the base member to form a casket body. A lid assembly is removably mounted to the casket body, the lid assembly defining a lid chamber capable of receiving the base member and end members when the casket is in an unassembled mode.

Abstract: Electronic alpha-numeric or symbol sectional display system featuring readily accessible access to internally located modular display and other components for quick changeout of modular and other components. Display panels, which are modular, having side-by-side display module/nested frame assemblies which include outer and inner nested frameworks, fine mesh screen, display circuit boards with LED character block displays, and driver circuit boards, are readily and quickly secured in stackable enclosure cabinets by the use of ¼ turn or other quick fastening hardware. Other changeout friendly hardware is incorporated within to promote economy of manufacturing and changeout functions. Viewability of alpha-numeric or other symbol information is preserved and enhanced by the use of small panel fine mesh screens which maintain planar attributes and which are located at the front of each modular display panel residing in close proximity to the LED character block displays.

Abstract: A double-purpose earlobe ornament usable as stud and earring comfortable to wear comprises an earlobe-support 1 adapted to come in contact with the outer side 9 of the earlobe that is provided in the upper part of an ornamental piece 7, an earlobe-holder 6 adapted to elastically come in contact with a spot on the inner side of the earlobe corresponding to the earlobe-support 1 that is provided in the lower part of the ornamental piece 7 so as to be elastically turned upright, the earlobe-support 1 being shaped flat in the upper portion thereof and gently curved away from the outer side of the earlobe in the lower portion thereof and having an opening 5 extending over part or the whole of the gently curved portion, a piercing pin 3 provided at the back of the opening 5 so as to be rotatable when passed through the opening 5, the piercing pin 3 being adapted to pass through the earlobe-holder 6 turned upright and extend from the outer side to the inner side of the earlobe substantially at right angles to the ea

Abstract: A connector for connecting a hose to a fluid handling device having a first bore defining a fluid path and a second bore. The connector comprises a connector housing and a retaining mechanism. The connector housing has a first bore, a second bore and a third bore. The first bore has an entrance and a terminal end. The second bore has an entrance and a terminal end. The third bore has an entrance. The terminal end of the first bore intersects the terminal end of the second bore. The entrance of the first bore communicates with the hose. The entrance of the second bore communicates with the fluid path within the first bore of the fluid handling system. The third bore of the connector housing is parallel to the second bore and the entrance of the third bore of the connector housing is located longitudinally between the entrance of the first bore and the entrance of the second bore. The retaining mechanism retains the connector housing to the fluid handling device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pipe coupling having a sleeve-shaped outer body for accommodating a sealing arrangement and at least one pair of clamping elements, which is arranged adjacent to one side of the sealing arrangement inside the sleeve-shaped outer body and serves to clamp the end of an inserted pipe in place, in which case the pair of clamping elements can be restrained against the end of an inserted pipe transversely to the axis of the pipe coupling via a clamping screw passed through the sleeve-shaped outer body and is pressed apart by of a spring, and the clamping elements are guided in the restraining direction in the sleeve-shaped outer body.

Abstract: A vending machine (10) having a coin receiver (14) for actuating a water spray nozzle (16) in a self-serve car wash. A coin tray (18) is disposed adjacent the coin receiver (14). The machine is characterized by a heater (20) for heating the coin tray (18) to heat coins disposed in the coin tray (18) to prevent moisture from freezing on the coins.

Abstract: A gemstone includes a pavilion portion, a crown portion and a girdle portion provided between the pavilion portion and the crown portion. The crown portion includes a plurality of facets provided on a surface thereof. The crown portion can have eight longitudinal sections which collectively define it. At least one of the longitudinal sections includes a predetermined number of particular facets of the plurality of facets. Each of the particular facets has at least one edge that borders the girdle portion. A single facet of the particular facets is formed from cutting at least portions of at least two further facets of the particular facets. The gemstone can also be subdivided into two longitudinal half sections, with the crown portion of which having 12 facets that border the girdle portion of the longitudinal half section.

Abstract: A button for front panel of a personal computer comprises a pair of tabs provided on a side of an opening of front panel, one of tabs having an aperture, and a groove provided on a side of button having a latched member therein. By utilizing this, an easy engagement and disengagement of button and front panel is carried out.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for increasing piercing safety are provided. An ear piercing system that includes a piercing post having a magnet and an alignment target, and ornamental earring elements that may also include a magnet (of opposing polarity) and alignment target. The natural attraction of the magnets (or ferromagnetic material), in conjunction with the alignment targets, permits individuals to easily remove and replace ornamental earring elements without risk of inadvertent or intentional premature removal of the piercing post subsequent to ear piercing procedures.

Abstract: An access opening closure device is provided for enabling passage of food or medication into a confined spaced without providing direct access from within the confined space to outside of the confined space. The device includes a housing defining a receptacle, an access door and a top cover. The top cover and the access door are independently movable between open and closed positions to provide access to within the receptacle.

Abstract: A articulated air mattress for maneuvering bed-ridden patients. The articulated air mattress includes a base portion. The base portion has a top wall, a bottom wall, and a peripheral side wall. At least one lifting member comprises a top surface, and a bottom surface. A perimeter wall is integrally coupled to and extends between the top and bottom surfaces. The lifting member is generally wedge-shaped such that the bottom surface and the top surface each have a first edge positioned generally adjacent to each other and a second edge spaced from each other. The first edges define a proximal edge and the second edges defined a distal edge. The lifting member is comprises of a flexible and air impervious material. The lifting member has an opening therein adapted for receiving and expelling air. The opening is adapted to be selectively opened and closed. The proximal edge is hingedly coupled to the top wall.

Abstract: A security mailbox for preventing theft of mail from one's mailbox. The security mailbox includes a container having side walls, a top wall, front and back walls, and a bottom wall and including a compartment inside thereof, and a slot extending in the front wall near the top wall for depositing mail into the container, and an opening in a side wall thereof, and also includes a flag member pivotally mounted to the container, a door member lockingly attached over the opening, and further includes a door member being pivotally mounted inside the container proximate to the slot and having at least one door member which swingingly closes access to the compartment through the slot.