Abstract: A mower includes a cutting deck supporting a cutting blade having a fixed blade sail and a door having a first position in which the door covers an opening through which grass clippings can pass, and a second position in which the door does not cover the opening. The mower also has a switch configured to send a mode signal indicating that the door is in the first position or the second position. The mower also has a controller configured to receive the mode signal and adjust the cutting blade to rotate at a first speed when the mode signal indicates that the door is in the first position, and a second speed when the mode signal indicates that the door is in the second position. The mower also includes an electric battery to power rotation of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A mower includes a cutting deck supporting a cutting blade having a fixed blade sail and a door having a first position in which the door covers an opening through which grass clippings can pass, and a second position in which the door does not cover the opening. The mower also has a switch configured to send a mode signal indicating that the door is in the first position or the second position. The mower also has a controller configured to receive the mode signal and adjust the cutting blade to rotate at a first speed when the mode signal indicates that the door is in the first position, and a second speed when the mode signal indicates that the door is in the second position. The mower also includes an electric battery to power rotation of the cutting blade.

Abstract: The containment of plants and seedlings as such plants or seedlings are grown, transported, displayed and planted is provided. Containers are comprised of biodegradable materials that have the advantage of being formed into containers with various features, such as by an injection molding process, but that can be buried within the soil along with a plant's roots. Such containers allow for plant or seedling transplanting without having to separate the container from the plant's root system. More preferably, biodegradable plastics utilized in accordance with the present invention have properties such that the plastic can be injection molded and yet provide a stable structural container that will last in accordance with predetermined set needs, which needs may include environmental aspects, timing aspects and decompositional aspects. By utilizing injection molding, containers can be formed with many advantageous features.

Abstract: The containment of plants and seedlings as such plants or seedlings are grown, transported, displayed and planted is provided. Containers are comprised of biodegradable materials that have the advantage of being formed into containers with various features, such as by an injection molding process, but that can be buried within the soil along with a plant's roots. Such containers allow for plant or seedling transplanting without having to separate the container from the plant's root system. More preferably, biodegradable plastics utilized in accordance with the present invention have properties such that the plastic can be injection molded and yet provide a stable structural container that will last in accordance with predetermined set needs, which needs may include environmental aspects, timing aspects and decompositional aspects. By utilizing injection molding, containers can be formed with many advantageous features.

Abstract: Service items and utensil combinations are provided for efficiency of food service and for selective presentation of foods. Service items include at least a side wall defining an inside surface for receiving food, wherein the side wall is provided with an indentation that extends at least partially over a width of the sidewall for defining a utensil receiving recess along an outside surface of the sidewall, and a recessed edge portion provided along a peripheral edge of the sidewall providing access to the utensil receiving recess. The recessed edge portion can be defined by an edge portion of the peripheral edge and a plurality of opposed capture points. One or more utensils are provided in combination with the service item, wherein each utensil has a portion thereof that is dimensioned to be supported on the edge portion defining the recessed edge portion adjacent to the opposed capture points.

Abstract: Shielding for the protection of plants and seedlings from ground pests is provided. Shields can be comprised of materials including biodegradable materials that have the advantage of being formed into plant protection shields with various features, such as by an injection molding process, but that can be buried within the soil along with a plant's roots. Plant shields are provided for being partially buried in soil to surround a plant and for providing above-ground protection from ground travelling pests. Such shields can comprise a walled structure surrounding and creating an open-ended enclosure with the shield comprising an above the ground portion and a below the ground portion. The shield may comprises a Biodegradable Plastic that includes plant nutrients within the Biodegradable Plastic.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for displaying social presence information associated with content, the method including identifying content being provided for display, determining an entity associated with the content, determining one or more social presence scores for the content based on social activity at one or more pages belonging to the entity at one or more social networking services, the social presence score being determined based on one or more indications of the quantity or quality of the social activity, determining, based on at least one score of the one or more social presence scores, whether the content should be annotated with social presence information regarding the social activity and providing the content and social presence information for display if it is determined that the content should be annotated with social presence information.

Abstract: Shielding for the protection of plants and seedlings from ground pests is provided. Shields can be comprised of materials including biodegradable materials that have the advantage of being formed into plant protection shields with various features, such as by an injection molding process, but that can be buried within the soil along with a plant's roots. Plant shields are provided for being partially buried in soil to surround a plant and for providing above-ground protection from ground travelling pests. Such shields can comprise a walled structure surrounding and creating an open-ended enclosure with the shield comprising an above the ground portion and a below the ground portion. The shield may comprises a Biodegradable Plastic that includes plant nutrients within the Biodegradable Plastic.

Abstract: Service items and utensil combinations are provided for efficiency of food service and for selective presentation of foods. Service items include at least a side wall defining an inside surface for receiving food, wherein the side wall is provided with an indentation that extends at least partially over a width of the sidewall for defining a utensil receiving recess along an outside surface of the sidewall, and a recessed edge portion provided along a peripheral edge of the sidewall providing access to the utensil receiving recess. The recessed edge portion can be defined by an edge portion of the peripheral edge and a plurality of opposed capture points. One or more utensils are provided in combination with the service item, wherein each utensil has a portion thereof that is dimensioned to be supported on the edge portion defining the recessed edge portion adjacent to the opposed capture points.

Abstract: The containment of plants and seedlings as such plants or seedlings are grown, transported, displayed and planted is provided. Containers are comprised of biodegradable materials that have the advantage of being formed into containers with various features, such as by an injection molding process, but that can be buried within the soil along with a plant's roots. Such containers allow for plant or seedling transplanting without having to separate the container from the plant's root system. More preferably, biodegradable plastics utilized in accordance with the present invention have properties such that the plastic can be injection molded and yet provide a stable structural container that will last in accordance with predetermined set needs, which needs may include environmental aspects, timing aspects and decompositional aspects. By utilizing injection molding, containers can be formed with many advantageous features.

Abstract: A foot-actuated mower deck lift mechanism for a riding lawnmower comprising first and second foot pedals for adjusting the cutting height of the mower deck. The foot pedals are suitable for engagement by an operator's foot to raise, latch and lower the cutting deck. The first pedal is connected to a lift linkage to adjust the height of the cutting deck upon actuation of the first pedal by the operator's foot. The second pedal is configured to automatically latch the mower deck into a raised transport position when the first pedal is depressed a preset amount, and to unlatch the mower deck upon actuation by the operator's foot. An adjustable pin-actuated height index mechanism is implemented to provide a plurality of predetermined cutting heights for the mower deck.

Abstract: A toy vehicle (10) comprising a part (12) resembling a truck tractor, a part (14) resembling a truck trailer and a pivotal connection (16) therebetween. The pivotal connection (16) is positioned between a platform portion (20) of the tractor part (12) and a front portion (22) of the trailer part (14) that extend over the tractor's platform portion (20). The pivotal connection (16) includes a recess-and-projection arrangement allowing pivotal movement between the tractor part (12) and the trailer part (14), and a groove-projection arrangement limiting the maximum turning radius between the tractor part (12) and the trailer part (14).

Abstract: An apparatus for producing shavings of a solid volume of frozen beverage includes a hollow body, a blade assembly, and a drive mechanism. The hollow body defines a cavity having an axis and a substantially constant non-circular cross-section perpendicular to the axis. The body has a first end and a second end. The non-circular cross-section is configured to engage the solid volume and to prevent rotational movement of the solid volume about the axis while allowing for axial movement of the solid volume along the axis. The blade assembly is rotatably mounted in the cavity near the second end of the body. The drive mechanism is operably coupled to the blade assembly. A refreshment stand for dispensing snacks, drinks and snow cones using a solid volume of frozen beverage produced in a conventional home freezer includes a cart, an ice shaving apparatus, means for removably connecting the apparatus to the cart, and at least one mold.