Abstract: A box (1) for a pack of cigarettes has the shape of a hollow body dimensioned to receive a pack of cigarettes, the hollow body being delimited by at least four surfaces (2, 3, 4, 5) forming the walls of the body and a surface (6) forming a bottom constituted by a prolongation of one wall of the body and connected to that one wall by a bend line (7). The surface (6) forming the bottom of the body is prolonged by a flap (8) connected to the surface forming the bottom by a bend line (9) permitting positioning substantially at a right angle the flap relative to the surface (6) forming the bottom. The flap (8) has the form of a flexible dihedral with at least two legs (8A, 8B) of variable geometry, at least one (8B) of the legs (8A, 8B) of the dihedral being inserted within the body between a wall (17A) of the pack of cigarettes (17) and a wall (5) of the box so as to maintain the surface (6) forming the bottom of the body in closed position of the body.

Abstract: A computer carrying case has an outer receptacle with walls of flexible material joined to form a fully enclosed volume. The outer receptacle receives a computer receptacle having front and back walls that include substantially rigid panels and that are coupled together at the ends by devices that permit the width of the computer receptacle between the front and back walls to be adjusted so that laptop computers of different thicknesses can be accommodated reasonably snugly.

Abstract: A ski boot consisting essentially of a comfort liner (8), a lower shell (1) and a cuff (2) articulated to the lower shell. The cuff is provided with a strap (62) in its upper part and a lower-leg band (61) made of a material which is more rigid than the material of the cuff, these being rigidly connected to one another on the side of the boot corresponding to the inside of the foot.

Abstract: A container is provided comprising a transparent dome shaped enclosure having a lower open end forming a cover of the container, a seal member extending across the open end for defining within the transparent dome shape enclosure a chamber for containing and displaying a product, and a lower enclosure forming a base portion of the container and having an upper open end for receiving a cosmetic related product. The dome shaped cover preferably includes a partition or dividing wall which divides the dome shaped chamber into a first and second compartment for containing and displaying at least two different products (i.e. two types of cosmetic related products).

Abstract: There is provided a cassette case for holding a plurality of substrates therein, including a cassette case for holding a plurality of substrates therein, including (a) a three-dimensional, hollow frame, and (b) a pair of substrate support members spaced away from each other and carried at the frame with at least one substrate being supported therebetween in the frame. The substrate support members are fixedly carried at the frame at one of longitudinal ends thereof, and at the other of the longitudinal ends thereof so that so that the members are able to expand or contract in a length-wise direction thereof. The above mentioned cassette case ensures that even if the substrate support members thermally expand when the cassette case is thermally treated, there is nothing which obstructs thermal expansion of the substrate support members. Thus, it is possible to eliminate deformation of the substrate support members caused by obstruction to thermal expansion of the substrate support members.

Abstract: A balancing disc or appliance for use in with a shoe insole, or biomechanical device, such as an ankle or foot brace, for balancing the gait of a user is defined by a substantially circular disc or body element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface and the bottom surface are angularly inclined with respect to each other in an angle ranging from about 2.degree. to about 6.degree.. Optimally, an adhesive is deposited onto one of the surfaces for facilitating affixation of the disc to an insole or similar orthotic device. The disc is, preferably, formed from a flexible material. Since the device is substantially circular in nature, it may be rotated about a vertical axis through a 360.degree. arc to facilitate minute adjustments in the balance of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a goods hanging member for supporting by hanging a battery (including both dry battery and storage battery) or a dry battery unit made by integrating a plural number of dry batteries and other goods, on the occasion of their display and/or sales, which can be formed with a simple and single material constituting the main board, by forming a pair of slits in the main board at a certain interval, and forming creases between the end parts of the pair of slits to turn the portion surrounded by the pair of slits and the creases into a goods holding piece and form a holding space for holding goods between the main board and the goods holding piece, and is capable of securely holding goods in a holding space, and also capable of achieving a substantial simplification of manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A shoe pocket, formed within the sole of footware such as a shoe, for storing objects such as keys, credit cards, matches, cigarettes, money clips, change, or specialized inserts. The shoe pocket comprises one or more recesses formed anywhere on the sole of the shoe, but preferably under the arch of the shoe, and with an opening to one side of the sole of the shoe. In one embodiment the object to be stored is placed directly in the recess in the sole of the shoe. In another embodiment, a housing is permanently affixed within the recess to receive the objects desired to be stored. In further embodiment, the housing is configured to receive an insert. The insert may itself be an object desired to be stored, such as a pedometer, a small computer, a calculator or other similar device, or the insert may be used to hold smaller objects such as keys, credit cards, etc., before being placed in the housing. In another embodiment, the housing is formed of a rigid material and provides arch support for the shoe.

Abstract: A gift package simulating a baby nursing bottle, the package being composed of a cylindrical container housing a miniature doll or other gift and a molded plastic cap that fits on the open mouth of the container. The container is formed of transparent plastic material, the rim of the mouth being rolled to define an annular bead. The cap has an upper section shaped to simulate the nipple-cap ring of a baby bottle, a lower section in the form of a cylindrical stopper that fits into the mouth of the container, and a circular flange at the junction of these sections. Formed on the stopper section is a circumferential array of ledges which are shaped to permit the ledges to slide into the mouth of the container, the upper ends of the ledges being spaced from the flange to define a circular socket therebetween. To put the cap on, the stopper section is pressed into the mouth of the container to cause the annular bead to snap into the socket, thereby latching the cap in place.

Abstract: A sole for footwear comprises an outer sole (12; 22; 31) housing a plurality of pressure-stimulation elements (15; 24; 33) movable perpendicularly, relative to the bearing surface of the outer sole, through the thickness of the outer sole and, in the absence of stresses, extending below the bearing surface of the outer sole by a predetermined distance in order, when the sole is pressed against a bearing surface, to exert, through a resilient intermediate element (17; 27; 35) comprising a soft inner sole of the footwear, a pressure localized at predetermined nerve centers in the sole of a foot on which the therapeutic footwear is worn.

Abstract: Disclosed is a golf shoe which comprises spikes provided in a lower surface of a sole. Each of the spikes is composed of a spike pin provided projectingly in the lower surface of the sole and projecting catches arranged around the spike pin. The spike pin is caused to be retractable in its axial direction and pressed to be protruded more than a tip position of each of the projecting catches. Also disclosed is a spike for a golf shoe, which comprises a spike pin and projecting catches arranged around the spike pin. The spike pin is caused to be retractable in its axial direction and pressed to be protruded more than a tip position of each of the projecting catches.

Abstract: A boot for the practice of a sliding sport, such as snowboarding. The boot includes, in particular, a relatively rigid shell and a relatively rigid collar, the collar being articulated to the shell about an axis extending in a substantially longitudinal plane of the boot. A relatively flexible upper is received in the shell and has an upper part enclosing the lower leg.

Abstract: A forced-ventilation shoe includes a midsole or insole provided with a plurality of through-holes, resilient support means arranged between the outsole and the midsole or insole to form an air chamber between the elements, and devices for occluding the holes, apt to close off individually the holes themselves during pressing of the foot on the insole, where the occluding devices may include a plurality of reliefs projecting from the upper surface of the outsole and matching the holes.

Abstract: A pouch for holding liquids includes a pre-inserted straw within the pouch. A top end of the straw is exposed by removing a portion of the pouch. For manufacture, a web of flexible packaging material, suitable for forming a pouch or bag for storing liquids, is advanced forward in a pouch forming direction. A single straw of suitable length to fit within the confines of a resulting pouch is cut from a continuous length of straw material. The single straw is placed onto the web of packaging material in a location that will be on the inside surface of a single wall of the pouch and there it is secured in place preferably by a heat seal between one side of the straw and the inside surface of the pouch wall. The resulting pouch web material, having a plurality of straws positioned along its length provides a feedstock for forming pouches with pre-inserted straws when using a so called form and fill method of forming pouches or when making pre-made pouches.

Abstract: Containers for storing and/or transporting sulfur-containing compounds, and methods of deodorizing headspace gases containing sulfur-containing compounds, are disclosed. The containers include a body and a lid. In one embodiment, copper or another sulfur-deodorizing substance is attached to either the lid or upper sides of the container or is suspended in the headspace. The sulfur-deodorizing substance reacts with or adsorbs or absorbs any sulfur-containing compounds present in the headspace volume to reduce the odor in the headspace. In another embodiment, when the container include a solid or viscous liquid sulfur-containing compound, a pouch containing a sulfur-deodorizing substance is placed on top of the sulfur-containing compound.

Abstract: Footwear and its method of manufacture are provided. The footwear includes an upper having a vamp lining with a toe part disposed along an inner surface of the upper is provided. A relatively rigid insole forepart member is attached to a sock liner, the length of the insole forepart being less than the length of the sock liner. The toe part of the vamp lining is then stitched to a peripheral edge of the insole forepart, the vamp lining and insole forepart defining a cavity for receiving a portion of a wearer's foot. A steel toe is then positioned substantially around the toe part of the vamp lining.

Abstract: A shoe having improved sole component composed of a closed cell foam mid-sole which is adhered to at least a portion of the shoe's upper component. The mid-sole component has multiple thickened zones which are separated by multiple flex grooves between the zones. The thickened zones are provided in a fore foot and rear foot portions and underlie only the high impact regions of a wearer's foot during a wearer's gait cycle. An outer sole is attached to the outer bottom surface of the thickened zones of the mid-sole with the thickened zones being between the out sole and a portion of the upper component.

Abstract: An article holding tray adapted to retain and stabilize a wide variety of articles during their use such as dishware, drinking glasses, eating utensils, video game joy sticks and other articles which are typically usable on a tray or lap tray. The device includes a generally flat tray or board which includes one or more connected elongated slots formed orthogonally through the tray and sized in width for slidable translation of an elongated threaded fastener therealong. Each threaded fastener releasably retains an elongated movable retaining block in a selected position against an upper support surface defined by the tray. Each movable retaining block has at least one side surface, and preferably all of the side surfaces, which is sloped at an angle substantially greater than 90 degrees, and preferably about 105 degrees, with respect to the lower flat surface of the retaining block and the support surface.

Abstract: An article carrier, comprising a first side panel and an opposite second side panel connected to a top panel, a bottom panel, a first end panel, and an opposite second end panel. The top panel is comprised of a first top panel flap foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel flap foldably connected to the second side panel. At least a portion of the first top panel flap overlaps and is adhered to at least a portion of the second top panel flap. Opposing first upper end panel flaps are connected by a fold line to opposite ends of the first top panel flaps, and opposing second upper end panel flaps are connected by a fold line to opposite ends of the second top panel flaps. Means for defining a handle strap is included in the first top panel flap, wherein the handle strap overlies the second top panel flap. The handle strap has opposite ends and spans across the first top panel flap. The handle strap ends are connected to the first upper end panel flaps.

Abstract: A multi-pack carrier for holding a plurality of bottles includes a top panel, side panels depending from the top panel, and a bottom panel. The top panel has at least a top ply, a middle ply, and a bottom ply. The top ply includes a plurality of apertures with a plurality slits radiating outwardly from an edge of the each of the apertures to define a plurality of top ply tabs around the top ply apertures. The top ply apertures having a diameter less than a diameter of the bottle where the carrier intersects the bottle when a bottle is placed in the carrier so that the top ply tabs will be angled upwardly to engage the take-out bead of the bottle. The second ply has a plurality of apertures substantially coaxial with the top-ply apertures and a plurality of slits radiating outwardly from the second ply apertures defining a plurality of second ply tabs.