Abstract: A cast veneer wall panel includes a backing panel having a rear face and a front face. The front face includes a boundary wall and a continuous abutment extending around a perimeter of a casting field. The cast veneer wall panel further includes a facing panel formed from a cast material that is received and held within the casting field. The facing panel includes at least one design element.

Abstract: A cast veneer wall panel includes a backing panel having a rear face and a front face. The front face includes a boundary wall and a continuous abutment extending around a perimeter of a casting field. The cast veneer wall panel further includes a facing panel formed from a cast material that is received and held within the casting field. The facing panel includes at least one design element.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a hanging frame, such as a picture frame, to a wall. A plate with radially outwardly-facing substantially circular cylindrical surfaces attaches to a wall. A hanger mounts to the frame and has radially inwardly-facing substantially circular cylindrical surfaces seating against the cylindrical surfaces of the plate. The plate has a first lip extending radially outwardly of the cylindrical surfaces of the plate and the hanger has a second lip extending radially outwardly of the cylindrical surfaces of the hanger. The first and second lips seat against one another when the hanger is on the plate for resisting plate movement away from the wall. The lips require the hanger to be lifted off of the plate. The contacting substantially circular cylindrical surfaces facilitate rotation of the hanger relative to the plate.

Abstract: A disposable staple cartridge for a surgical cutting and fastening instrument. Various embodiments include a disposable anvil that is supported relative to the cartridge body and movable between open and closed positions. At least one tissue stop is provided on the disposable anvil for orienting the tissue to be cut and stapled relative to the staples supported within the cartridge body. Other embodiments relate to end effectors for surgical cutting and fastening instruments that can be used in connection with a plurality of staple cartridge bodies that each have a common length but which may different lengths of staple lines.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations may include a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material may be dispensed. The device may also include a perforation sensor configured to sense perforations in the sheet material, disposed in the interior of the housing. The perforation sensor may include at least one light receptor, and at least a portion of the perforation sensor may be positioned in the housing to contact sheet material traveling from the source to the outlet, thereby spreading perforations in the sheet material.

Abstract: A method of grounding a dispenser. A low impedance path is connected to elements internal to the dispenser. The low impedance path is also connected to a surface contact spring which is adapted to contact an external mounting surface when the dispenser is affixed thereto. Static electrical charge accumulated on the elements is discharged through the low impedance path and the surface contact spring to the external mounting surface.

Abstract: A method for providing an intensity or brightness measurement using a digital image-capturing device comprising: selecting a target area within a field of view of the image-capturing device, the target area containing pixels; determining the brightness of pixels in the target area; accumulating the brightness values of the pixels in the target area; and determining a pixel value representative of the pixels in the target area. A device for making color measurements comprising an image-capture device, a processor or logic device, and a memory location for accumulating color data, and the processor or logic device is programmed to perform color measurements by accumulating the data for pixels located in the target area in memory, and determining a representative color value.

Abstract: A dispenser for rolled absorbent web material is disclosed. A carriage is rotatable between at least two orientations. The carriage includes a first roll holder, which holds a first roll of absorbent web material in a primary position when the carriage is in a first orientation and in a secondary position when the carriage is in a second orientation, and a second roll holder, which holds a second roll of absorbent web material in the secondary position when the carriage is in the first orientation and in the primary position when the carriage is in the second orientation. A roll sensor senses the amount of absorbent web material remaining on the roll in the primary position. A feed mechanism dispenses absorbent web material from at least one of the rolls. A transfer mechanism feeds absorbent web material from the roll in the secondary position into the feed mechanism when the absorbent web material on the roll in the primary position is nearly depleted.

Abstract: A rake including a head, an elongate handle extending from the head, and a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, flexible tines extending from the head opposite the handle. A brace is movable along the tines between first and second positions and limits a range of motion of the tines to change the effective length and thus the effective stiffness of the flexible tines. A locking device releasably secures the brace to the head in the first and second positions and preferably at locations between the first and second positions. Spacing between the tines remains unchanged as the brace moves between the first and second positions. The handle extends past the head to the tines improving stiffness of the head so that the rake is lightweight with a low profile.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing paper from rolls which feeds continuously, roll to roll, and does not require extra procedure to bring stub roll into position. The apparatus has means for holding and positioning at least first and second rolls of paper with respect to each other; means for dispensing paper from the first roll; means for dispensing paper from the first and second rolls simultaneously when the first roll reduces to a predetermined diameter of paper, means for positioning the depleted first roll for replacement without the necessity of removing the second roll; and means for dispensing from the second and replacement rolls simultaneously when the second roll reduces to a predetermined diameter of paper. The apparatus also has a proximity sensor, which senses when a hand is placed near the dispenser, and thereupon dispenses a set amount of towel. The dispenser incorporates means for dissipating static charges to a local ground.

Abstract: A dispenser having a transfer mechanism for transferring between a first source and a second source of sheet material, and a method for transferring between the first source and the second source. Dispensing is transferred from a first source to a second source upon an absence of sheet material from the first source. The transfer mechanism includes a transfer roller with a slot to receive a free end of sheet material from the second source. The transfer roller also includes a plurality of raised portions, the raised portions are free to rotate through a dispensing roller when there is an absence of sheet material from the first source. This rotation introduces the free end of sheet material from the second source to the dispensing roller, and allows dispensing from the second source. Afterwards, the transfer roller is set to receive sheet material from a new source of sheet material.

Abstract: A food chiller includes a container into which cool air is moved over the cold sink of a Peltier effect thermoelectric device and directly into the container. Return air from the container exits the bottom of the container directly into the fan for recirculation. Elimination of a long air duct system simplifies the construction and reduces heat loss.