Abstract: A device is utilized which connects a child safety seat, such as that used in an automobile, to an anchor bar installed in the automobile. The connector includes an anchor end adapted to engage the anchor bar, and a child seat end adapted for connecting to either flexible webbing or a solid connection point on a child safety seat. The anchor end has an inwardly beveled surface which forms a docking guide. The docking guide surrounds a rectangular area in the center of the anchor end, wherein a latch plate is located. In operation, the anchor end of the connector is positioned over and urged toward the anchor bar. The beveled front surface of the latch plate allows the anchor bar to urge the latch plate upward, against the resistance provided by a biasing spring. The connector is further urged onto the anchor bar until the anchor bar passes under the latch plate and into an anchor bar cavity, which retains the anchor bar within the connector.

Abstract: The invention is a hook fastener strip (10), having magnetically attractable wires (13a,b,c,&d) which are located between, and retained by, hook members (11) on the front face of the fastener strip (10). Each hook member (11) is comprised of a shaft (14) and a split-mushroom-shaped head (15). The outer edges of head (15) protrude beyond the sides of shaft (14), and the undersides of the outer edges form ledges (16a&b) which serve to retain the magnetically attractable wires (13a,b,c,&d) within the hook layer of the fastener strip (10). The magnetically attractable wires (13a,b,c,&d) within the fastener strip allow it to be secured to a correspondingly magnetically attractive object.

Abstract: The invention is a device which connects a child safety seat, such as that used in an automobile, to an anchor bar installed in the automobile. The connector includes an anchor end adapted to engage the anchor bar, and a child seat end adapted for connecting to either flexible webbing or a solid connection point on a child safety seat. The anchor end has an inwardly beveled surface which forms a docking guide. The docking guide surrounds a rectangular area in the center of the anchor end, wherein a latch plate is located. In operation, the anchor end of the connector is positioned over and urged toward the anchor bar. The beveled front surface of the latch plate allows the anchor bar to urge the latch plate upward, against the resistance provided by a biasing spring. The connector is further urged onto the anchor bar until the anchor bar passes under the latch plate and into an anchor bar cavity, which retains the anchor bar within the connector.

Abstract: The invention is a device which connects a child safety seat, such as that used in an automobile, to an anchor bar installed in the automobile. The connector includes an anchor end adapted to engage the anchor bar, and a child seat end adapted for connecting to either flexible webbing or a solid connection point on a child safety seat. The anchor end has an inwardly beveled surface which forms a docking guide. The docking guide surrounds a rectangular area in the center of the anchor end, wherein a latch plate is located. In operation, the anchor end of the connector is positioned over and urged toward the anchor bar. The beveled front surface of the latch plate allows the anchor bar to urge the latch plate upward, against the resistance provided by a biasing spring. The connector is further urged onto the anchor bar until the anchor bar passes under the latch plate and into an anchor bar cavity, which retains the anchor bar within the connector.

Abstract: The invention is a telephone answering device that permits the number of rings before the call is answered, and the speaker volume, to be programmed to vary depending on the time of day and day of the week, or to be set at desired levels for specific lengths of time. The device contains a timer 19 and a microcomputer 10, said microcomputer 10 having a programmable ring register 23 and a programmable speaker register 24. A program ring button 25, a program speaker button 26, a time ring button 27, a time speaker button 28, a plus button 29, and a minus button 30 located on a control module 14 enable the user to access programmable ring register 23 and programmable speaker register 24, to set the number of rings before answering and the speaker volume. Incoming telephone calls are handled by a ring detector circuit 13 and microcomputer 10. When the number of cumulative ring signals matches the appropriate programmed setting, the incoming call is sent to an answering apparatus 18.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of cleaning a paint roller. The cleaning tool used in this method includes a flat, disc-shaped main body (10) having cleaning apertures (11a,b,c,&d) located thereon. Cleaning apertures (11a,b,c,&d) have diameters suitably smaller than the outside diameter, including the nap covering, of various popular roller sizes and nap thicknesses, such that a friction fit between the nap covering of such a roller and a cleaning aperture (11a,b,c, or d) is provided. Four access notches (12a,b,c,&d) extend from the circumference of cleaning apertures (11a,b,c,&d) respectively, to the circumference of main body (10). In this method, a cleaning tool is placed over the handle end of a roller, with the wire portion of the handle passing through one of the access notches (12a,b,c, or d) and into the center of one of the cleaning apertures (11a,b,c, or d).

Abstract: The invention is a food processor with a blade that moves up and down while rotating, for improved comminuting action. An additional, more general field of this invention is in the area of transmission mechanisms, specifically a mechanism that adds up-and-down motion to rotational motion. The mechanism includes a lifting element which is coupled to the drive shaft and which is also free to move up and down along the shaft. The blade is attached to the lifting element. A cylinder is fixed to the main body of the processor. A thread forms a continuous loop inside the cylinder, beginning at the bottom of the cylinder, extending in a spiral fashion to the top of the cylinder, and returning in a reverse spiral fashion to the bottom of the cylinder. The lifting element fits inside the cylinder, and has a post and a member located thereon. The post and member on the lifting element fit into the thread on the cylinder.

Abstract: The device is a snap buckle with a safety feature--a blocking element 16 which blocks the action of the side catch arms 11a&b and prevents the buckle from being inadvertently disengaged.A male plug 10, having side catch arms 11a&b and a central member 12, forms one part of the device. A female socket 13, having openings 14a&b, a depressible member 15, and a blocking element 16 forms the other part of the device.To engage, plug 10 and socket 13 are urged together. Side catch arms 11a&b ride over blocking element 16 to engage openings 14a&b, and are then blocked from disengagement by blocking element 16. To disengage, depressible member 15 is depressed to disable the blocking action of blocking element 16, and side catch arms 11a&b are then pressed inward to disengage said side catch arms 11a&b from socket 13.

Abstract: The device comprises a flat, disc-shaped main body 10 having cleaning apertures 11a,b,c, and d located thereon. Cleaning apertures 11a,b,c, and d have diameters suitably smaller than the outside diameter, including the nap covering, of various popular roller sizes and nap thicknesses, such that a friction fit between the nap covering of such a roller and a cleaning aperture 11a,b,c, or d is provided. Four access notches 12a,b,c, and d extend from the circumference of cleaning apertures 11a,b,c, and d respectively, to the circumference of main body 10. To operate the device is placed over the handle end of a roller, with the wire portion of the handle passing through one of the access notches 12a,b,c, or d and into the center of one of the cleaning apertures 11a,b,c, or d. The device is then drawn down over the nap surface of the roller, and the friction fit between the cleaning aperture 11a,b,c, or d and the nap surface of the roller acts to wipe paint or solvent from the roller.

Abstract: The device is a strap retainer having a generally arcuate retainer body 10 and a generally straight, cylindrical post 11. One end of retainer body 10 is integrally connected to one end of post 11. Two catch arms 12a&b are located on the free end of retainer body 10, and a post catch element 13 is located on the free end of post 11. Catch arms 12a&b and post catch element 13 correspond with one another, and adapt the free ends of retainer body 10 and post 11 for closure. To install the retainer, a strap loop is first placed over post 11. The object that will serve to anchor the strap, such as a post or a portion of a shopping cart frame, is passed between the open ends of retainer body 10 and post 11. The open end of post 11 is then urged toward the open end of retainer body 10 until post catch element 13 contacts catch arms 12a&b. Post catch element 13 urges catch arms 12a&b outward, and then post catch element 13 passes between and is retained by catch arms 12a&b.

Abstract: The device is a snap buckle with a safety feature--an additional catch which prevents the buckle from being inadvertently disengaged. A male plug, having side catch arms and a central member with an additional catch, forms one part of the device. A female socket having a depressible member forms the other part of the device. To engage, plug and socket are urged together until the side catch arms, and the additional catch on the central member, both engage the socket. To disengage, the depressible member is depressed to disengage the additional catch on the central member, while simultaneously the side catch arms are depressed to disengage them from the socket.

Abstract: The invention is a car seat with a feature to hold an abdominal shield and/or shoulder straps out of the way while a child enters or exits the seat. A shield, integrally formed with the shoulder straps, has a male element located thereon. A female element, located on the seatback surface of the car seat, forms the other part of the holding feature.To place a child into the seat, the shield and straps are pulled up and out of the body of the car seat. The shield is placed against the seatback surface of the car seat, such that the male element engages the female element. The shield and straps are thus held out of the way of an entering child. Once the child is suitably positioned in the car seat, the shield is pulled apart from the seatback surface of the car seat, disengaging the male element from the female element. The shield and straps may then be placed over the child's head and shoulders, and buckled in the normal manner.