Abstract: A tag for RFID applications and the like comprises an antenna supported on a dielectric substrate and having a first electrical length suitable for communication as a transponder. A selectively removable conductive shunt causes the antenna to assume a second electrical length which impedes transponder communication. Applications of the tag include tag-bearing products that are non-transmissive beneath surrounding packaging, and state machines that change between transmissive and non-transmissive states with selective shunting of the antenna. A method for enhancing an RFID tag for selective operation is also provided.

Abstract: A machine for toasting a marshmallow loaded on a pick and concurrently melting at least a portion of a chocolate bar provided on a separate support. A housing has an internal heat source, a rotatable pick holder shaped to removably and securely receive a pick and support the marshmallow in proximity to the heat source, and a coupling to rotate a so engaged pick. The coupling can be a manual control gearingly coupled to the pick holder. A moveable cover can support the heat source and place it in proximity with a marshmallow-bearing portion of the pick when in a closed position yet move aside for loading and unloading ingredients. A method for making s'mores toasts marshmallows while actively melting chocolate and provides for selective rotation of the marshmallow within the housing during the toasting step by moving a control that is safely disposed exterior of the housing.

Abstract: Code processing for promotional games and the like. In a preferred application, a lottery ticket holder who has purchased a lottery ticket is encouraged to access a designated Internet site by rewarding access thereat on the condition that information visibly supported on the lottery ticket from a given drawing is input at an Internet site and a test indicates that the information so-input matches lottery numbers that were picked for that drawing. Access to predetermined Internet-based services or sites can also be had as an award to an individual for inputting an iconic code at a machine connected to the Internet if the input code tests as valid, with the code being marked so as to be usable only once. Preferably, the iconic code is input by click-selecting displayed icons one after another in an order that corresponds to that of a code provided to the individual. POS methods for code processing are also described.

Abstract: Code processing for promotional games and the like. In a preferred application, a lottery ticket holder who has purchased a lottery ticket is encouraged to access a designated Internet site by rewarding access thereat on the condition that information visibly supported on the lottery ticket from a given drawing is input at an Internet site and a test indicates that the information so-input matches lottery numbers that were picked for that drawing. Access to predetermined Internet-based services or sites can also be had as an award to an individual for inputting an iconic code at a machine connected to the Internet if the input code tests as valid, with the code being marked so as to be usable only once. Preferably, the iconic code is input by click-selecting displayed icons one after another in an order that corresponds to that of a code provided to the individual. POS methods for code processing are also described.

Abstract: A hair decoration such as a kit comprises a series of beads connectable to one another and a set of appliqués. At least a portion of the beads contains one or more lights inside which are in electrical communication with one another to permit power to be commonly supplied to the lights from a battery. One or more beads includes a mechanism for attaching the beads to hair. A light circuit is coupled to the light-containing beads to drive the lights. Appliqués in the set of appliqués are selectively applicable to the beads by a user, have a transmissivity, and are in a path of illumination of the lights. As a result, when the lights are driven by the light circuit, the lights shine and provide illumination in the path. The illumination can be direct or backlit. A method of decorating hair is also provided.

Abstract: A zoom in/out interface to a ratings system provides navigation to users for inspection and interaction with prescribed indicators underlying an integrated rating of a company's performance. The interface presents at various different depths in a hierarchy of the prescribed indicators the multivariate relationships that exist among the indicators, expressed as variable values, as well as the basis for the underlying values of each indicator down to the source of the data.

Abstract: Tiered-access to data from which integrated ratings on companies is derived to users at machines connected to a distributed computer network. All users are presented with a name of a particular company in association with a computed integrated rating through a first interface component. Only a subset of the users is permited to interact with prescribed indicators from which the integrated rating is derived. A rating system accessible through connections to the network executes on a host machine and includes the first interface component. A processor computes each integrated rating as a single rating value by application of a formula to prescribed indicators contained in a database. A second interface component permits only selected users to interact with the prescribed indicators. Optionally, a third interface component enables further specific interactions in response to any permission established by the second interface component.

Abstract: Multivariate graphs specific to a company's performance, alone or in relation to a benchmark, and methods for producing same include defining on a display screen an origin having a first value, extending from the origin at least three axes on the display screen, the axes being generally equidistant from each other and representing a respective variable, plotting on the display screen a value of each variable concerning the company as a point on a respective axis, and using the plotted points to interpolate first segments between the axes on the display screen. Benchmark information, extrinsic to the company, can be obtained, processed into a rating in the same manner as the company data, and superimposed for ready visual comparison of the company's performance to the obtained benchmark. The benchmark information, if shown, is distinguished from the company's performance graph.

Abstract: A communication system and methods are disclosed for use with vehicles. The communication system permits toll-free, local communication between people in two different vehicles using communicators that are synchronizable to a common operative channel or frequency with low-noise.

Abstract: A handheld appliance suitable for skin treatment and/or personal care operations comprises an applicator structure having a thermally conductive element supported so as to be exposable to controlled release of pressurized fluid within a gas-expansion chamber. The just-expanded gas causes an endothermic reaction in which heat is removed from the applicator. The applicator is usable to then draw heat energy from skin, etc. When applied to skin, a numbing effect is experienced which can ease pain associated with depilation, discomfort associated with exfoliation, be useful in treating wounds, etc.

Abstract: A method for selectively shunting an acoustic driver within an electronic device detects the presence of a squelch signal from a local emitter and automatically shunts the acoustic driver in response to the detection, free of any communication back to the emitter. The squelch signal originates from an emitter which is positioned extrinsic to the device, and can be broadcast so as to define a zone of influence within which the acoustic drivers of electronic devices will be squelched. In lieu of an acoustic driver, a vibrator can be activated to quietly alert the user of the incoming message while the squelch signal is present. As a result, the invention enables a proprietor to a greater degree of control over ringing and beeping noises generated by such devices when positioned within a designated space. A broadcast system for defining the zone of influence and electronic devices that include circuitry that implement the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Opening a blister or clam shell package with a continuous linear cut includes positioning the package between jaws, at least one of which includes a cutting surface, moving the jaws to a compressed position in which the cutting surface penetrates the package, and sliding the jaws relative to the package while maintaining the jaws in the compressed position. Several handheld devices to implement the method are described, including variations in which the handheld device has fixed jaws and in which the device is an appliance. Devices include at least one bearing surface which reduces the risk of cutting users and things other than the package to be opened.

Abstract: A base for warming massage nodes of a hand-held therapeutic device includes a housing, terminals connectable to a power supply, a seat for seating the massage nodes, and a heating circuit positioned to provide heat proximate to the massage nodes when the massage nodes are seated in the seat. The massage nodes can comprise an outer layer of stainless steel or iron and a core of material other than or in addition to air. The core absorbs or retains heat for a preferably gradual release over time. A method for warming such massage nodes includes selectively disposing the massage nodes in the housing adjacent to a heater, energizing the heater, permitting the heater to warm the massage nodes, and separating the massage nodes from the heater. The massage nodes can be separated from the heater by a magnetic extraction using the hand-held therapeutic device.

Abstract: Disclosed are improvements in digital copier machines and methods for controlling an output job to issue onto a removable digital storage media. A drive unit is provided and configured to removably receive a removable digital storage medium such as an optical disc. A picker mechanism is configured to deliver the removable digital storage medium to the drive unit from a supply of a plurality of removable digital storage media in response to a load drive unit signal. A selector is provided on the interface and operational logic is provided which is responsive to a user selection of the selector to issue the load drive unit signal and to convey the digital data between the control unit of the digital copier machine and the drive unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying massage, accupressure and biomagnetic therapy to a subject is provided and the apparatus includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a motor disposed within the housing and having a shaft; and a magnet disposed within the housing about the shaft. The apparatus further includes a rotor rotatably supported by the shaft at the distal end of the housing. The rotor has an exterior face which is remote from the magnet and which defines a plurality of entrances, an opposing interior face proximate to the magnet, and a seat more proximate to the magnet than the interior face which is in communication with each of the entrances. Each seat is affixed relative to the rotor at one or more locations proximal to the exterior face. A plurality of metal balls are provided and which are seatable against the seat and retained within the entrances of the rotor by a magnetic field emanating from the magnet. Each ball has a center and is universally rotatable about its center.

Abstract: Code processing for promotional games and the like. In a preferred application, a lottery ticket holder who has purchased a lottery ticket is encouraged to access a designated Internet site by rewarding access thereat on the condition that information visibly supported on the lottery ticket from a given drawing is input at an Internet site and a test indicates that the information so-input matches lottery numbers that were picked for that drawing. Access to predetermined Internet-based services or sites can also be had as an award to an individual for inputting an iconic code at a machine connected to the Internet if the input code tests as valid, with the code being marked so as to be usable only once. Preferably, the iconic code is input by click-selecting displayed icons one after another in an order that corresponds to that of a code provided to the individual. POS methods for code processing are also described.

Abstract: A hair decoration such as a kit comprises a series of beads connectable to one another and a set of appliqués. At least a portion of the beads contains one or more lights inside which are in electrical communication with one another to permit power to be commonly supplied to the lights from a battery. One or more beads includes a mechanism for attaching the beads to hair. A light circuit is coupled to the light-containing beads to drive the lights. Appliqués in the set of appliqués are selectively applicable to the beads by a user, have a transmissivity, and are in a path of illumination of the lights. As a result, when the lights are driven by the light circuit, the lights shine and provide illumination in the path. The illumination can be direct or backlit. A method of decorating hair is also provided.

Abstract: A communication system and methods are disclosed for use with vehicles. The communication system includes a first communicator attached to the car and a second communicator that is selectively mounted to a harness in the car. When the second communicator is disengaged from the harness, the communicators are synchronized to a common operative channel or frequency with low-noise, and are ready to be put in service. One disclosed method provides a simple to use communication system that provides toll-free, local communication between a person within the vehicle and a passenger who has left the vehicle. Another disclosed method permits toll-free, local communication between people in two different vehicles.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping hair with a cord is provided and includes a housing; a main spindle operatively coupled to the housing and defining a main spindle bore for receiving cord and hair; a rotatable spool carrier and at least one spool. The spool carrier has a platform and a drive spindle operatively coupled to the main spindle so that rotation of the main spindle is translated into rotation of the platform. The drive spindle has guides for receiving cord and permitting the cord to be disposed through a bore extending through the drive spindle. The rotation of the main spindle causes cord to be dispensed through the one guide and the drive spindle bore and the main spindle bore, hair is disposed through the drive spindle bore and the main spindle bore, and the main spindle is rotated to wrap the hair with cord.

Abstract: A method for conducting a promotional game or lottery in which the awards are access to one or more predetermined internet-based services or sites. Validation codes are entered into a computer which is communicatively connected to the Internet and registered at a designated Internet site. Rewards and benefits are thereafter available to the individual at retail stores and Internet sites if the code previously had been registered at the designated Internet site.