Abstract: A blender for home or commercial use that is rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing with a front housing door that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen food or beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, the cup and cupholder will be lifted together for blending in a balanced, linear motion by an elevator assembly. Dual lead screws or a dual belt drive are preferably used in the elevator assembly to achieve this balanced, linear motion. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly continues to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen food or beverage.

Abstract: A method for blending food or beverages, preferably using a blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door, that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder up. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.

Abstract: A blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door; that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.

Abstract: The invention is generally applicable to a composting container. More specifically, a compositing container is provided that includes a body defining a cavity for receiving material to be composted and an agitator mechanism for agitating or otherwise moving, stirring, shifting, disturbing, disrupting or displacing the material in the cavity. In various additional embodiments, a grating is situated in the cavity that divides the cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion.

Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a first cylindrical structure having a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, a first rotation-inhibiting structure, and a securing structure; (b) a second cylindrical structure having a borehole for receiving the first cylindrical structure, and a second rotation-inhibiting structure that engages the first rotation-inhibiting structure and (c) a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure. The shaft may extend at an angle from the shaft connection assembly so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head by rotating the first cylindrical structure or exchanging the second cylindrical structure.

Abstract: The invention is generally applicable to a composting container. More specifically, a compositing container is provided that includes a body defining a cavity for receiving material to be composted and an agitator mechanism for agitating or otherwise moving, stirring, shifting, disturbing, disrupting or displacing the material in the cavity. In various additional embodiments, a grating is situated in the cavity that divides the cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion.

Abstract: A blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door; that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.

Abstract: A blender for home or commercial use that is rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing with a front housing door that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen food or beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, the cup and cupholder will be lifted together for blending in a balanced, linear motion by an elevator assembly. Dual lead screws or a dual belt drive are preferably used in the elevator assembly to achieve this balanced, linear motion. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly continues to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen food or beverage.

Abstract: A method for blending food or beverages, preferably using a blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door, that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder up. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.

Abstract: A retrofit or new installation kit or apparatus has a junction box, a supply pipe that attaches to a quick-connect fitting inside the junction box that attaches to a valve within the junction box. The valve within the junction box has a stub-out that connects to the quick-connect fitting.

Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a first cylindrical structure having a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, a first rotation-inhibiting structure, and a securing structure; (b) a second cylindrical structure having a borehole for receiving the first cylindrical structure, and a second rotation-inhibiting structure that engages the first rotation-inhibiting structure and (c) a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure. The shaft may extend at an angle from the shaft connection assembly so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head by rotating the first cylindrical structure or exchanging the second cylindrical structure.

Abstract: A towable baggage item is provided. The towable baggage item includes a body defining a storage compartment, the storage compartment configured to receive and carry objects. The towable baggage item also includes a retractable towing member coupled to the body. Furthermore, the towable baggage item also includes a retractable wheel assembly responsive to a position of the retractable towing member, wherein the retractable wheel assembly comprises at least one wheel and an actuator operatively coupled to each the wheel, wherein the actuator is movable along a first linear axis to extend and retract the wheel along a second linear axis different from the first linear axis.

Abstract: A towable baggage item is provided. The towable baggage item includes a body defining a storage compartment, the storage compartment configured to receive and carry objects. The towable baggage item also includes a retractable towing member coupled to the body. Furthermore, the towable baggage item also includes a retractable wheel assembly responsive to a position of the retractable towing member, wherein the retractable wheel assembly comprises at least one wheel and an actuator operatively coupled to each the wheel, wherein the actuator is movable along a first linear axis to extend and retract the wheel along a second linear axis different from the first linear axis.

Abstract: A device for heating a first article and cooling a second article. The device may include an enclosure with a hot compartment and a cold compartment. The device also may include a Stirling cooler with a hot end and a cold end. The hot end may be positioned in communication with the hot compartment so as to heat the first article and the cold end may be positioned in communication with the cold compartment so as to cool the second article.

Abstract: A device for heating a first article and cooling a second article. The device may include an enclosure with a hot compartment and a cold compartment. The device also may include a Stirling cooler with a hot end and a cold end. The hot end may be positioned in communication with the hot compartment so as to heat the first article and the cold end may be positioned in communication with the cold compartment so as to cool the second article.

Abstract: A device for heating a first article and cooling a second article. The device may include an enclosure with a hot compartment and a cold compartment. The device also may include a Stirling cooler with a hot end and a cold end. The hot end may be positioned in communication with the hot compartment so as to heat the first article and the cold end may be positioned in communication with the cold compartment so as to cool the second article.

Abstract: A training manikin for use in connection with cardio-pulmonary resuscitation procedure training is provided with an airway tube element insert that is automatically folded to restrict the flow of air from a mouth/nose element insert unless the manikin head face and chin with included mouth/nose element insert is initially properly pivoted to clear the airway tube element for the passage of air.