Abstract: A cup includes a liquid-holding container having an open top. A sleeve is disposed about an exterior surface of the container for movement relative to the container. A sealing element is disposed adjacent to the container's open top for movement relative to the container. A link assembly is coupled to the sleeve and to the sealing element for causing movement of the sleeve and movement of the sealing element to be in opposing directions.

Abstract: A cup and lid combination includes a container having an open top and a closed bottom. A grip is disposed at an exterior surface of the container. At least one container magnet is disposed adjacent to the open top of the container. A link assembly, coupled to the grip, the container, and the container magnet(s), links movement of the grip to movement of the container magnet(s). A drinking lid on the open top of the container has a hole. A closure element is coupled to the lid for movement towards and away from the hole. The closure element has a sealing element and a lid magnet coupled thereto. The container magnet(s) and lid magnet are positioned for magnetic interaction that controls the position of the closure element based on the position of the grip relative to the container's closed bottom or open top.

Abstract: A cup/lid combination includes a sleeve disposed about an exterior surface of an open-top container for movement relative to the container. A first magnet is disposed adjacent to the open top for movement relative to the container. A link assembly coupled to the sleeve and to the first magnet causes the movement of the sleeve and the movement of the first magnet to be in opposing directions. A drinking lid disposed on the open top has a gravity-controlled closure element and a second magnet coupled to the closure element. The first and second magnets are positioned for magnetic interaction to thereby fix a position of the closure element when the sleeve is only subject to the force of gravity. The first and second magnets are positioned for no magnetic interaction when the movement of the sleeve opposes the force of gravity.

Abstract: A cup includes a liquid-holding container having an open top. A sleeve is disposed about an exterior surface of the container for movement relative to the container. A sealing element is disposed adjacent to the container's open top for movement relative to the container. A link assembly is coupled to the sleeve and to the sealing element for causing movement of the sleeve and movement of the sealing element to be in opposing directions.

Abstract: A cup/lid combination includes a sleeve disposed about an exterior surface of an open-top container for movement relative to the container. A first magnet is disposed adjacent to the open top for movement relative to the container. A link assembly coupled to the sleeve and to the first magnet causes the movement of the sleeve and the movement of the first magnet to be in opposing directions. A drinking lid disposed on the open top has a gravity-controlled closure element and a second magnet coupled to the closure element. The first and second magnets are positioned for magnetic interaction to thereby fix a position of the closure element when the sleeve is only subject to the force of gravity. The first and second magnets are positioned for no magnetic interaction when the movement of the sleeve opposes the force of gravity.

Abstract: A cap system for a container includes a cap that can be coupled to an open top of a container. The cap incorporates a hole that provides for fluid communication with an interior region of the container. A closure element movably coupled to the cap defines a solid region and an open region. The closure element is disposed at an angle with respect to a portion of the cap. At least one weight is coupled to the closure element such that the closure element moves as gravity acts thereon to align the closure element's solid region with the hole when the cap is in a first or upright orientation, and to align the open region with the hole when the cap is in a second or tipped orientation.

Abstract: A server-based system filters and distributes messages based on a user-supplied profile. The server receives data messages from registered users and stores the data messages on data storage. Each data message is tagged with a profile identifier. The data storage also stores a user profile for each of the registered users. The server's processor selects ones of the data messages for distribution to selected ones of the registered users based on a correspondence between the data message's profile identifier and the stored user profiles.

Abstract: A cap system for a container includes a cap that can be coupled to an open top of a container. The cap incorporates a hole that provides for fluid communication with an interior region of the container. A closure element movably coupled to the cap defines a solid region and an open region. The closure element is disposed at an angle with respect to a portion of the cap. At least one weight is coupled to the closure element such that the closure element moves as gravity acts thereon to align the closure element's solid region with the hole when the cap is in a first or upright orientation, and to align the open region with the hole when the cap is in a second or tipped orientation.

Abstract: A receiver system and audio processing method for use therewith are provided. The system includes pairs of receivers with each pair receiving broadcasts on a unique broadcast band. A decoder converts the received signal to a character representation thereof. A user selects a broadcast band and frequency as well as search criteria. One of the receivers is tuned to the user-selected frequency and outputs the program associated with the received broadcast signal to an audio output device. Simultaneously, the broadcast band associated with each of the remaining receivers is scanned with the character representation of each of these broadcast signals associated therewith being compared with the search criteria. A match with the search criteria is identified to allow the user to uncouple the tuned receiver from the audio output device and couple a designated one of the receivers that produced the match to the audio output device.

Abstract: A receiver system and audio processing method for use therewith are provided. The system includes pairs of receivers with each pair receiving broadcasts on a unique broadcast band. A decoder converts the received signal to a character representation thereof. Input controls include those for receiving a user-selected frequency on a selected broadcast band and search criteria. In foreground operations, a controller tunes one of the receivers to the user-selected frequency and couples this tuned receiver to an audio output device. In background operations, the controller scans the broadcast band associated with each of the receivers not coupled to the audio output device, compares the character representation of each of these broadcast signals with the search criteria, and generates a match signal when the search criteria is present to thereby define a match frequency on a match broadcast band indicating that the search criteria is present.

Abstract: A cap system for use with a beverage container that has automatic opening and closing capability is provided. A buoyant sliding cover is maintained partially within a casing or housing device in the cap and partially within the container itself. When the container is tilted to a drinking position, buoyancy forces act on the cover and force it to slide, thereby exposing an opening in the cap and allowing for the consumption of the liquid. When the container is returned to an upright, non-drinking position, a spring mechanism, built into the casing and attached to the sliding cover, acts to force the cover to a closed position, thereby covering the opening in the cap and preserving the integrity of the liquid inside.

Abstract: An RBDS compatible receiving method and system are provided. A broadcast receiver is tuned to a selected broadcast frequency. A first of two RBDS receivers operates in a locked mode to receive RBDS data associated with the selected broadcast frequency. Simultaneously, the second of the two RBDS receivers operates in a scanning mode to scan RBDS data associated with all broadcast frequencies. Match criteria corresponding with one or more categorical portions of RBDS data is compared with the RBDS signal associated with each broadcast frequency scanned by the RBDS receiver operating in the scanning mode. Each time a match occurs, the broadcast receiver can optionally be switched from the selected frequency to the broadcast frequency on which the match occurred while the first and second RBDS receivers switch operating modes.