Abstract: A lockable articulated joint comprises a first member having a ball shaped attachment further having a recess on its periphery. A rotationally symmetric conforming plunger is for movably nesting into the recess. A second member pivotally receives the ball shaped attachment and comprises a plunger holding portion. User alignment of the recess with the plunger holding portion allows configuring the joint in one of at least two selectable locked positions. The articulated joint is usable in a multi-axis articulated implement, in which one member is an elongated end effecter having a working face and the other member is an elongated handle portion. A user may configure the implement in various locked attitudes, wherein a working face's longitudinal axis extends parallel or perpendicular to the handle, or wherein the working face's normal axis extends parallel to the handle. The implement may be embodied into a multi-axis snow brush.

Abstract: There is provided a childproof knife support for supporting at least one knife having a blade. The knife support is provided with a frame having a hole extending therein for receiving the blade of the knife. The support is also provided with a clamp mounted in the hole and having first and second adjacent jaws for clamping the blade inside the frame once the blade is introduced in the hole. The support also has a spring for urging the second jaw against the first jaw to prevent a movement of the blade away from the hole by clamping the blade. The support also has a releasing mechanism preventing an action of the spring on the second jaw, thereby allowing the movement of the blade away from the hole.

Abstract: There is provided a childproof knife support for supporting at least one knife having a blade. The knife support is provided with a frame having a hole extending therein for receiving the blade of the knife. The support is also provided with a clamp mounted in the hole and having first and second adjacent jaws for clamping the blade inside the frame once the blade is introduced in the hole. The support also has a spring for urging the second jaw against the first jaw to prevent a movement of the blade away from the hole by clamping the blade. The support also has a releasing mechanism preventing an action of the spring on the second jaw, thereby allowing the movement of the blade away from the hole.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hand-held foot activated extractor useful for removing weed or turf aeration. The extractor comprises a stick with a top handle and an extractor assembly at the bottom which comprises a hollow tine defining i) a distal hollow frustoconical cutter portion defining a circular inlet provided with a cutting edge and a larger diameter outlet, ii) a hollow intermediate portion defining an arcuate wall extending longitudinally from the outlet of the cutter portion, an elongated opening facing the wall and a deflector sloping between the wall and the elongated opening, and iii) a proximal stick connecting portion. The extractor assembly also comprises a step projecting from the stick connecting portion. In use, a material forced at the inlet of the cutter portion loses frictional contact therein as it reaches the outlet, and is directed by the deflector from the outlet toward the opening for ejection of the material.

Abstract: A snow tool for removing snow from vehicles having a telescopic handle and a brush disposable either longitudinally or transversally. The telescopic handle has first and second members connected in a sliding relationship and providing retracted and extended states of the handle. The snow tool has a pair of arms provided with bristles and movable between a closed position where the arms extend along the handle and an open position where the arms extend transversally thereto. The snow tool is provided with a compression spring for urging the first and second members into the extended state, and first and second locking devices for locking the first and second members with respect to each other in the retracted state and in the extended state respectively. The snow tool also has third and fourth locking devices for locking the arms in the open position and in the closed position respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating greasy waste fluids comprises a fluid inlet which receives the waste fluids, and a waste filtering device positioned downstream from the fluid inlet; the waste filtering device is so configured as to retain at least a portion of the particulate matters contained in the waste fluids. The apparatus further comprises a compartment which is so configured as to receive a slow-releasing grease treating formulation. Also, the apparatus comprises a fluid outlet positioned downstream from the compartment. Furthermore, the compartment is so positioned in a flow path defined between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet as to contact the waste fluids.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a suspension-type file folder that may include label holding clamping index tabs. The file folder is so designed as to enable a user to insert and retrieve documents or files in the folder from a side thereof in a side-loading mode of operation, which provides storage space savings and simplifies file cabinet structures. Therefore, index tabs are designed for attachment to either sides of the file folder.

Abstract: A snow tool for removing snow from vehicles having a telescopic handle and a brush disposable either longitudinally or transversally. The telescopic handle has first and second members connected in a sliding relationship and providing retracted and extended states of the handle. The snow tool also has a pair of arms provided with bristles and means for moving the arms between a closed position where the arms extend along the handle and an open position where the arms extend transversally to the handle. The snow tool is also provided with first locking means for locking the first and second members with respect to each other in the retracted state and second locking means for locking the first and second members with respect to each other in the extended state. The snow tool is also provided with a compression spring for urging the first and second members into the extended state, third locking means for locking the arms in the open position and fourth locking means for locking the arms in the closed position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a case for storing and retrieving a disk such as an optical compact disk and accompanying printed material. More particularly, the invention relates to a compact disk case (CD case) from which the disk can be extracted using only one hand without opening the lid, although the case can be made out of a single part.

Abstract: A floor mat comprising a substantially flat body having an inner, downwardly recessed area for receiving drainage liquids, and peripheral drainage channels extending from peripheral portions of the recessed area for channelling liquids into the recessed area. The floor mat also comprises a first substantially flat element for absorbing liquids, sized for fitting in the recessed area of the body; and a second substantially flat element pervious to liquid, sized for fitting in the recessed area of the body and disposable over the first element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a case for storing and retrieving a disk such as an optical compact disk and accompanying printed material. More particularly, the invention relates to a compact disk case (CD case) from which the disk can be extracted using only one hand without opening the lid, although the case can be made out of a single part.

Abstract: The dry printing apparatus comprises a housing defining a handle portion, a dry printing unit mounted to an open lower end of the housing, an air convection passage, and a guide member. The air convection passage extends through a space between the dry printing unit and side walls of the housing as well as through openings in a top wall of this housing. Convection air flows through the air convection passage to prevent the handle portion from being heated by the dry printing unit. The guide member is telescopically mounted in the open lower end of the housing between extended and retracted positions and is spring-biased toward the extended position. In operation, the guide member is applied to the surface to be dry printed and pressure is manually applied to the handle portion to telescopically move the housing and dry printing unit about the guide member until the dry printing unit reaches the surface to be dry printed.

Abstract: A security apparatus for preventing theft and/or tampering of an equipment or a part of this equipment, comprises a base member having a front wall, two opposite side walls and a rear wall. First and second elongated bent rods each include a first end section secured to the rear wall, a second end section secured to one of the two opposite side walls, a third rod section extending along a rear face of the equipment, and a fourth rod section extending along a top face of the equipment. The first and second elongated bent rods further comprise respective fifth rod sections extending along two opposite side faces of the equipment, respectively. A movement-restraining member extends along a front face of the equipment, this movement-restraining member comprising a key or combination lock for removably locking this movement-restraining member to the base member to thereby lock the equipment in the security apparatus.

Abstract: The dryer comprises a plurality of extendible air conducting tubes each of which is independently pivotally connected to the hot air supply, in order to dry footwear while the footwear is resting on the floor and being partly supported by the tube, and the tubes may be directed upwardly to support handwear. The tubes are provided with air flow controlling nozzles which adjust the flow of air by rotating a cap member. The cap member has air outlet slits on diametrically opposed sides with more slits blowing air towards a toe of the footwear than towards a heel. Turning the cap to block the air flow is done when any given tube is not required for footwear or handwear drying.