Abstract: A shredder having a pivoting top panel comprising a display which may reduce potential safety hazards.

Abstract: A shredder having a safety feature(s) that reduces potential safety hazards. The shredder may include a timer mechanism adapted to automatically prevent the shredder blades from being activated if the selectable control has been in the activated state for a predetermined amount of time without any material being detected for shredding.

Abstract: A shredder having a pivoting top panel comprising a display which may reduce potential safety hazards.

Abstract: A pencil sharpener that facilitates the sharpening of pencils by any one or more of the following: preventing injury; automatically sharpening pencils without manual manipulation; providing status indicators during sharpening; and/or allowing varying degrees of sharpness to be selected.

Abstract: A method of shredding bottles preferably, but not necessarily, including providing a major blade rotatably located about a common axis with at least some of the plurality of shredder blades. The major blade may have at least one shaft which extends radially outwardly from the common axis for a distance greater than the maximum radius of any of the plurality of shredder blades. Preferably engaging bottles via the major blade prior to the commencement of cutting by the plurality of shredder blades so that the major blade preferably at least one of cutting, deforming, and dragging bottles toward the plurality of shredder blades for shredding thereof.

Abstract: A shredder having a pivoting top panel which may include a display which may reduce potential safety hazards. The shredder may include a top panel thereon that is moveable between a first position, in which the top panel covers the slot, and a second position, in which the top panel is positioned to allow access to the slot.

Abstract: A shredder head adapted to shred data bearing documents and bottles.

Abstract: A shredder head adapted to indicate the thickness of the material to be shredded and to possibly deactivate the shredder if the thickness exceeds a predetermined maximum.

Abstract: A shredder head adapted to shred data bearing documents and/or bottles. The shredder head also includes a plurality of shredder blades which are disposed within the shredder head housing and are adapted to shred material inserted into the shredder cavity. The shredder head preferably includes at least one grate oriented below the plurality of shredder blades. A sorting section of each at least one grate may be configured to prevent larger pieces of shredded material from passing through the grate.