Abstract: A device for storing substantially planar media comprises a base having sidewalls and a containing area located between the sidewalls, and a tile having a plurality of holders for storing the substantially planar media and having an outer shape designed so as to be received within the containing area of the base and further designed, in conjunction with the containing area of the base, such that the tile may be arranged within the containing area of the base in first and second orientations with the first orientation preferably being substantially orthogonal to the second orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a computer keyboard and mouse adjacent a table or similar structure is disclosed. The apparatus includes a mounting bracket and three rail brackets, two rail guides secured to the brackets, a keyboard drawer, and a mouse tray. The brackets are securable beneath the table. One of the rail guides is secured to the mounting bracket and to one of the rail brackets while the other rail guide is secured between two rail brackets. The keyboard drawer includes a rail on each side slidably coupleable to the rail guides. One of the rails also includes a gear rack attached along at least a portion thereof The rail has a forward portion and a rearward portion with the rack preferably attached to the forward portion. The mouse tray is pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket and includes a gear engageable with the rack. The mouse tray also includes a shoulder adjacent the gear.

Abstract: An adjustable holder (8) for supporting and positioning equipment is disclosed. The adjustable holder (8) includes a collar (22) which slides on a substantially upright support leg (20). The collar (22) is attached to one end of an arm (24). A tray (26) is attached to the other end of the arm (24). A cam (34) is pivotally secured to the collar (22) about an axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the leg (20). A cam face (54) of the cam (34) engages the leg (20) to hold the collar (22) and the tray (26) at variable positions along at least a portion of the length of the leg (20).

Abstract: A support rack for carrying articles behind a vehicle is disclosed. The rack includes a base member, a forward beam, a rearward beam, a top member, and lock arms. The base member is securable to the rearward end of the vehicle. The forward and rearward beams are pivotally connected to the base member and project upwardly therefrom. The beams are parallel to each other and together form a parallelogram with the base member and the top member. The top member is pivotally connected to the forward and rearward beams. The lock arms are for releasably locking the forward beam and the rearward beam in upright positions above the base member. Support arms are also slidably coupled to the top member for securing bicycles thereon. A crank clamp attachment structure is also provided, which fits on top of the top member to hold extra bicycles. The crank clamp attachment structure includes crank clamps and wheel rails.

Abstract: A support rack for carrying articles behind a vehicle is disclosed. The rack includes a base member, a forward beam, a rearward beam, a top member, and lock arms. The base member is securable to the rearward end of the vehicle. The forward and rearward beams are pivotally connected to the base member and project upwardly therefrom. The beams are parallel to each other and together form a parallelogram with the base member and the top member. The top member is pivotally connected to the forward and rearward beams. The lock arms are for releasably locking the forward beam and the rearward beam in upright positions above the base member. Support arms are also slidably coupled to the top member for securing bicycles thereon. A crank clamp attachment structure is also provided, which fits on top of the top member to hold extra bicycles. The crank clamp attachment structure includes crank clamps and wheel rails. A ski rack is also disclosed that may be pivotally coupled to the support rack.

Abstract: A bicycle handlebar assembly (25) for damping and reducing the shock to which a cyclist is normally exposed. The assembly includes a mounting block (256) attached to the head (12) of a bicycle front fork assembly. An upper linkage member (252) and a lower linkage member (254) that are parallel and spaced apart from each other are pivotally attached at their tail ends to the mounting block. A handlebar claim (258) for securing a set of handlebars (24) thereto is pivotally attached to the front ends of the upper and lower linkage members. The static angle of the linkage members may be adjusted by movement of an eccentric bearing pin. A damping element is disposed against one of the linkage members for slowing the downward movement of the linkage members and serving as a sink for a downward force applied to the linkage members when the handlebars are urged downward. A spring element (268) may be the damping member.

Abstract: A hand-held device for cleaning data-bearing cards includes a housing, a fluid applicator pad, a scrubber pad, a drying pad, and a removable panel. The housing includes a first surface to oppose the portion of the card to be cleaned. A first recess is disposed within the first surface. The first recess has an aperture extending through the housing. A second recess is also disposed adjacent the first recess within the first surface. A third recess is disposed adjacent the second recess within the first surface of the housing. The first, second, and third recesses are generally linearly aligned. The fluid applicator pad is disposed within the first recess. The scrubber pad is disposed within the second recess. The drying pad is disposed within the third recess. Each of the pads is thicker than the depth of its corresponding recess such that the pads project partially above the first surface of the housing. The panel is removably coupled to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a video cassette player/recorder machine is disclosed. The apparatus is for cleaning a machine that has a recess to receive a tape cassette, a rotating head drum, a plurality of guide members movable between a nonoperating position and an operating position, and a spool-brake deactivator pin. The apparatus of the invention includes a housing, an activation mechanism, and a cleaning element. The housing is adapted to be positioned in the recess of the machine. The activation mechanism is engaged and moved by the spool-brake deactivator pin when the housing is positioned in the recess of the machine. Engagement with the spool-brake deactivator pin causes the activation mechanism to move the cleaning element into contact with the video head drum. The apparatus also includes two spools rotatably coupled within the housing and a cleaning ribbon attached to the spools.

Abstract: A glare filter for use with a visual display terminal having a display screen on its forward side is disclosed. The glare filter includes a filter screen, a mount, and couplings. The filter screen has lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge. A mount is secured to the terminal and includes two lateral guides that form channels. The distance between the channels is slightly larger than the width of the filter screen to slidably receive the lateral edges of the filter screen. The channels are oriented generally transverse to the surface of the display screen, such that the filter screen may be held above the terminal and above the display screen. The couplings extend from the filter screen and slidably and pivotally engage within the channels of the lateral guides. The couplings are pivotally movable relative to the mount when the filter screen is extended to a forwardmost position relative to the mount. This allows the filter screen to be pivoted downwardly to a position overlying the display screen.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette for cleaning a tape drive unit having a capstan and a read/write head is disclosed. The cleaning cassette includes a housing, a reciprocating head cleaner, and a capstan cleaner. The housing is arranged and configured to be received within the tape drive unit. The housing has a forward side to oppose the capstan and head once the cleaning cassette is placed within the unit, and a rearward side opposite the forward side. The reciprocating head cleaner is coupled within the housing and includes a drive mechanism that is engageable with the capstan of the drive unit. The capstan cleaner is also engageable with the capstan of the drive unit and is coupled to the housing. The capstan cleaner includes a capstan-cleaning element and a cleaning activation mechanism. The cleaning activation mechanism is for selecting a capstan-cleaning configuration, wherein the capstan-cleaning element abuts the capstan, or a head-cleaning configuration wherein the drive mechanism engages the capstan.

Abstract: A storage apparatus for holding containers such as those in which compact discs or tape cassettes are stored. The storage device of this invention includes a bottom member, a top member that is spaced from the bottom member, and a pair of side wails used to couple the top member to the bottom member. A retaining member with a number of downwardly extending flexible fingers is attached to the bottom surface of the top member. The flexible fingers extend downward and are dimensioned so that the distance between the surface of the bottom member and the fingers is less than the height of the containers that the device is intended to store. The bottom member is formed with a main surface directed toward the rear of the device and is formed with small ribs and a smooth surface that slopes downwardly from the main surface toward the front edge of the device. The storage apparatus is dimensioned such that the front ends of the containers which it is designed to hold extend out in front of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a head assembly (12) of a magnetic tape player and/or recorder with a cleaning solution. The apparatus includes a housing (14) adapted to be inserted in the player and/or recorder in a cleaning position, a drive mechanism (18) and wiper arm (16) connected within the housing (14) for providing oscillating movement, and a cleaning head (20) connected to the wiper arm (16) for cleaning the head assembly (12). The cleaning head (20) comprises a rigid body (82) having a plurality of cleaning materials (84, 86, 88) extending forwardly out of the rigid body (82). One of the cleaning materials is a solution-holding material (84) characterized by its ability to absorb a cleaning solution, for spreading the cleaning solution on the head assembly (12). Another cleaning material (86, 88) comprising a relatively stiffer material for scrubbing the head assembly, is positioned on both sides of the solution-holding material (84).

Abstract: Device for cleaning a head assembly (12) of a magnetic tape player and/or recorder with a cleaning solution. The device includes a housing (14) adapted to be inserted in the player/recorder in a cleaning position, a drive mechanism (18) and wiper and (16) connected within the housing (14) for providing oscillating movement, and a cleaning head (20) connected to the wiper arm (16) for cleaning the head assembly (12). The cleaning head (20) comprises a rigid body (82) having a plurality of cleaning materials (84, 86, 88) extending forwardly out of the rigid body (82). One of the cleaning materials is a solution-holding material (84) characterized by its ability to absorb a cleaning solution, for spreading the cleaning solution on the head assembly (12). Another cleaning material (86, 88) comprising a relatively stiffer material for scrubbing the head assembly, is positioned on both sides of the solution-holding material (84).

Abstract: A ski rack (120) for attachment to an articulated support rack (10) is disclosed. The ski rack includes a vertically oriented mainframe (124) to which a set of mounting arms (132) is attached for securing the ski rack to frame members (30, 32) integral with the support rack. A support frame (126) is secured to the top of the mainframe; a locking frame (130) is secured to the bottom of the mainframe. Skis are placed in a support rack in vertical orientation such that the top clips of the skis are suspended by the support frame. The tail ends of the skis are disposed inside the locking frame (130) to prevent the skis from swaying. The mounting arms, the support frame, and the locking frame are all hingedly secured to the mainframe so that when the ski rack is not used it may be folded flat for storage.

Abstract: A bicycle handlebar assembly (25) for damping and reducing the shock to which a cyclist is normally exposed is disclosed. The assembly includes a mounting block (256) attached to the head (12) of a bicycle front fork assembly. An upper linkage member (252) and a lower linkage member (254) that are parallel and spaced apart from each other are pivotally attached at their tail ends to the mounting block. A handlebar clamp (258) for securing a set of handlebars (24) thereto is pivotally attached to the front ends of the upper and lower linkage members. A damping element is disposed against one of the linkage members for slowing the downward movement of the linkage members and serving as a sink for a downward force applied to the linkage members when the handlebars are urged downward. In some preferred embodiments of the invention the damping member is a spring element (268).

Abstract: A bicycle handlebar assembly for dampening and reducing the shock to which a cyclist is normally exposed is disclosed. The assembly includes a mounting block attached to the head of a bicycle front fork assembly. An upper linkage member and a lower linkage member that are parallel and spaced apart from each other are pivotally attached at their tail ends to the mounting block. A handlebar clamp for securing a handlebar thereto is pivotally attached to the front ends of the upper and lower linkage members. A dampening element is disposed against one of the linkage members for slowing the downward movement of the linkage members and serving as a sink for a downward force applied to the linkage members when the handlebars are urged downwards. In some preferred embodiments of the invention the dampening member is a layer of elastomeric material disposed between the upper and lower linkage members. In other embodiments of the invention the dampening members include a spring element.

Abstract: An articulated support rack (10) for a vehicle (12) having a trailer hitch sleeve (20). The support rack (10) includes a base member (28) having a tongue portion (41) slidably engaged with the trailer hitch sleeve (20). First and second frame members (30, 32) are pivotally mounted in spaced parallel relationship on the base member (28). A pair of arms (34) are pivotally attached to the top rail (54) of the frame members (30, 32) to remain in a substantially horizontal position as the frame members (30, 32) pivot between a substantially raised position and a substantially lowered position. A pair of lock plates (36) are pivotally mounted to the base member (28) and have notches (74) formed thereon to positively engage and lock the frame members (30, 32) in the raised position.

Abstract: A lubricating and cleaning device adapted to be mounted to a pressurized can of lubricating oil and used to lubricate and clean a drive chain of a bicycle or motorcycle. The device has a generally cylindrical housing with an open slot to receive the chain. A plurality of brushes are positioned within the housing to engage the chain. A tube extends from the pressurized container to the housing to transmit the lubricating oil to one of the brushes so that the chain can be lubricated.