Abstract: A variable grip structure has a shaft body formed of plural shaft portions that are rotatable relative to one another. An elastic finger-grip member encircles the shaft body and has its forward and rearward ends fixed to different shaft portions so that relative rotation of the shaft portions elastically twists the finger-grip member about the longitudinal axis of the shaft body. This construction makes it possible to adapt the shape of the finger-grip member to the hand size and shape and the preference of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a headlamp having a detachable LED flashlight and having a strap and a main body made of a flexible material and is designed to fit easily and comfortably over a user's head. The main body of the headlamp has a housing with a cavity formed therein, and the detachable flashlight is configured to have a snug-fit in the cavity. The flashlight comprises a body and a cap, the cap being attached to the body by a flexible strap. The body of the flashlight has a battery compartment and a circuit board.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system and method for dispensing a beverage comprising water from a water source. Some embodiments of the beverage system can include a housing, an inlet adapted to be coupled to the water source, a concentrate source containing concentrate, a dispensing outlet, a fluid line, and a valve. The dispensing outlet can dispense at least one of water and the concentrate. The fluid line can fluidly couple the water source and the dispensing outlet. The valve can be positioned to supply any desired amount of concentrate in a range of concentrate amounts from the concentrate source to the fluid line. The range of concentrate amounts can correspond to a range of water amounts flowing through the fluid line to produce a corresponding range of beverage amounts dispensed from the dispensing outlet.

Abstract: A writing instrument has a main body having front and rear ends and a writing tip at the front end, and a cap detachably attachable to a front portion of the main body to cover the writing tip and detachably attachable to a rear portion of the main body. A first opening is provided in the rear portion of the main body, and a second opening is provided in the cap. The first and second openings are alignable with one another when the cap is detachably attached to the rear portion of the main body to enable a tether to be threaded through the aligned openings for tethering the writing instrument to an object. Alternatively, the tether may be threaded through only the first opening at the rear portion of the main body for tethering the main body to an object. The cap may have a third opening at or near an end thereof, and the tether may alternatively be threaded through the third opening for tethering the cap to an object.

Abstract: A cooler apparatus for storing and insulating hot or cold items. The cooler apparatus can include a main body having a base and sidewalls and a storage cavity defined in the main body and having an open end. The cooler apparatus can further include a lid coupled to the main body and movable with respect to the main body between a first position in which the lid substantially covers the open end of the storage cavity and a second position in which the lid does not substantially cover the open end of the storage cavity. The lid can be positioned substantially horizontally in movement between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A relatively rotational engagement is made between an elastic member and a shaft body to which the elastic member is fixed, and means for keeping their relative rotating actions is provided. This configuration makes it possible the adaptation of the shape to the hand size and preference of each of users, which may individually vary from one user to the other, by the relative rotation of those shaft body and elastic member and also makes it possible to keep that shape. There is an additional advantage of allowing an appropriate degree of hardness to be selected and maintained. Moreover, these can be achieved by a relatively simple component configuration.