Abstract: A dispenser includes a self-righting housing having an interior cavity for holding one or more items to be dispensed, a curved bottom surface, and a dispensing aperture disposed in a lower portion of the housing and in communication with the interior cavity.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier system has a predetermined output impedance and input impedance and includes an input transmission circuit; an output transmission circuit; at least two amplifiers connected between the input and output transmission circuits; an input termination on the input transmission circuit; and a feedback output termination on the output transmission circuit connected back to the input transmission circuit for reducing low frequency loss while maintaining the predetermined output impedance and input impedance.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an animal treat dispenser includes a treat container having an aperture, an aperture adjustment mechanism that is capable of varying an effective size of the aperture to regulate passage of animal treats through the aperture, and a plush toy at least partially covering the treat container.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier system has a predetermined output impedance and input impedance and includes an input transmission circuit; an output transmission circuit; at least two amplifiers connected between the input and output transmission circuits; an input termination on the input transmission circuit; and a feedback output termination on the output transmission circuit connected back to the input transmission circuit for reducing low frequency loss while maintaining the predetermined output impedance and input impedance.

Abstract: A container apparatus and method includes an exterior form, with an outside and an inside, the exterior form surrounding an interior form with a compartment wherein the exterior form includes at least one space for containing items on the inside and wherein the compartment includes at least one space for containing items. At least one opening is provided in the interior form and at least one opening is provided in the exterior form.

Abstract: An animal treat method includes placing at least one animal treat into an interior compartment of a container having an opening through which the at least one animal treat can be dispensed. A first interlocking closure member is inserted at least partially within the interior compartment and extends through the opening to an exterior of the container. A second interlocking closure member is removably secured to the first interlocking closure member and over the opening, such that dispensing of animal treats from the interior compartment via the opening is impeded.

Abstract: A flying disc has a radially symmetric form having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface includes a raised central portion, a flat annular ring encompassing the raised central portion, and a raised rim extending above and encompassing the flat annular ring. A maximum height of the central raised portion above the flat annular ring is no greater than a height of the raised rim.

Abstract: A closure apparatus for restricting access to an opening of a container includes a first interlocking closure member having an elongate body having at least one external thread and an edible second interlocking closure member having a body sized to restrict access to an opening in a container. The body has a threaded recess having at least one internal thread formed therein to removably couple the second interlocking closure member to the first interlocking closure member by engaging the external thread of the first interlocking closure member.

Abstract: A container apparatus includes a container having an interior compartment and an opening communicating with the interior compartment. A first interlocking closure member extends at least partially within the compartment through the opening to an exterior of the container. A second interlocking closure member is removably secured to the first interlocking closure member and covering the opening, such that items placed within the interior compartment are restricted from being dispensed via the opening.

Abstract: A remote communication apparatus such as a mobile digital telephone adapted to receive interrogation from time to time with respect to the identification of a user of the apparatus from a network provider and including means to hold an identification module within the apparatus which can provide for that authentication of the user to an external interrogation from time to time, with an appropriate identification module means to receive any interrogation signals and adapted in the case that the identification signals are appropriate for seeking identification of a network providers subscriber identification module, then effecting a direction of such incoming inquiry signals to information being stored whereby the appropriate identification can be provided in reply, and in the event of an interrogation other than from the network provider, then, as appropriate, directing such further interrogation to other memory means the further memory means including either passive memory or memory contained on removable mea

Abstract: An interlocking collar element (10) apparatus and method includes a collar element (12) with a base section (14), the base section (14) including a first end (16), a second end (18) and a mid section (20). An attachment end (22) is connected to the first end (16), the attachment end (22) including a transverse locking arm (24). A receiving end (26) is connected to the second end (18) of the base section (14), the receiving end including a transverse locking bar (24). A projection (32) is attached to the mid section (20). In other aspects of the invention, a plurality of interlocking collar elements (12) are connected together to form a collar.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a digital mobile phone of a type using a subscriber identification module, the improvement being that there is an externally attached holder for at least two subscriber identification modules so that either can be readily selected by a switch for use in the same phone. There are also described flexible circuits that are used to connect the electrical contacts used conventionally for reading a subscriber identification module by the phone inside the phone that are able to slip through gaps that are naturally occurring between protective covers of the phone because of necessary manufacturing tolerances so that the external subscriber identification modules can be connected without prejudicing manufacturers warranties on any phone.

Abstract: A remote communication apparatus such as a mobile digital telephone adapted to receive interrogation from time to time with respect to the identification of a user of the apparatus from a network provider and including means to hold an identification module within the apparatus which can provide for that authentication of the user to an external interrogation from time to time, with an appropriate identification module means to receive any interrogation signals and adapted in the case that the identification signals are appropriate for seeking identification of a network providers subscriber identification module, then effecting a direction of such incoming inquiry signals to information being stored whereby the appropriate identification can be provided in reply, and in the event of an interrogation other than from the network provider, then, as appropriate, directing such further interrogation to other memory means the further memory means including either passive memory or memory contained on removable mea

Abstract: The invention is directed to a digital mobile phone of a type using a subscriber identification module, the improvement being that there is an externally attached holder for at least two subscriber identification modules so that either can be readily selected by a switch for use in the same phone. There are also described flexible circuits that are used to connect the electrical contacts used conventionally for reading a subscriber identification module by the phone inside the phone that are able to slip through gaps that are naturally occurring between protective covers of the phone because of necessary manufacturing tolerances so that the external subscriber identification modules can be connected without prejudicing manufacturers warranties on any phone.

Abstract: A portraiture printer system receives portrait film which carries portrait images provided by a portraiture camera. A frame grabber receives portrait images carried on the film and converts them into digitized images. An edit station processes the digitized images. The edit station manipulates the sequence of the images and their composition. A printer receives the digitized images and prints the digitized images on an image recording medium.

Abstract: A production control system is provided, especially for use in a works environment, in which a microsequencer controlled by a Z80 microcomputer board (MUXC) performs continuous high-speed scanning of a multiplicity of operator input devices (OIDs) located at the work stations of individual human operatives. The microsequencer is essentially a single-level pipelined microprocessor communicating with the OIDs via channels and sub-channels, each OID being connected to a respective sub-channel by a single twisted-pair cable. The cable lines are maintained at 24 volts d.c. to supply power to the OID, and the OID, which has a card-reader for reading bar code on cards or tickets passed through it by the operative, transmits data to its sub-channel, and hence the microsequencer, over the same cable by shorting out the two cable lines for short and long pulse periods.