Abstract: A coin sorting apparatus includes a coin receiving area, a coin sorting ramp, and a coin stripper. The coin stripper includes an inlet and a backing plate located adjacent said inlet to support a stack of associated unsorted coins received from the inlet with a face of a lowermost coin of the stack abutting the backing plate. The coin stripper further includes a pushing member located adjacent said backing plate and adapted for reciprocal sliding movement relative to said backing plate between an extended position and a retracted position. The pushing member, when moving from the retracted position to the extended position, engages the lowermost coin of the stack and moves the lowermost coin onto the coin sorting ramp.

Abstract: A cash box includes a housing with a bill storage compartment located in the housing. A coin sorter mechanism is supported by the housing for sorting coins of different denominations. A plurality of coin storage compartments are located in the housing for storing sorted coins. Each coin storage compartment stores coins of a common denomination. The plurality of coin storage compartments communicate with the coin sorter mechanism. The bill storage compartment includes a plurality of sections, each intended to hold a bill of a particular denomination. The housing preferably includes a base which accommodates the plurality of coin storage compartments as well as the coin sorter, and a door which accommodates the several sections of the bill storage compartment. A lift out bill tray may also be accommodated in the door.

Abstract: A machine for making ice cream bars is provided with a receptacle for holding a refrigerant, preferably an ice and brine bath, a lower lid movably mountable over the receptacle, and an upper lid mountable over the lower lid, the lower and upper lids rotatable together about a vertical axis. The machine further includes four containers for receiving and holding an ice cream bar mix, the containers configured to be coupled to the upper lid and the lower lid with a portion of the container immerged in the bath. A user can turn a handle on the receptacle to rotate the lids, and thus the containers relative to the bath in order to promote freezing of the ice cream mix into an ice cream bar.

Abstract: A candy dispensing apparatus is provided with a housing having an opening formed therein, a reservoir disposed in the housing and shaped to hold a plurality of pieces of candy, and an animated figure having a hand that is shaped to hold a piece of candy. The animated figure is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, and a dispensing mechanism disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the animated figure. The hand of the animated figure is movable from a retracted position in which the hand is positioned within the housing to an extended position in which the hand extends out of the housing through the opening in the housing. The hand moves from the retracted position to the extended position upon the animated figure being moved from its first position to its second position.

Abstract: An improved elevated animal feeder apparatus that provides food at an elevated position to provide a more comfortable and healthy feeding position for animals. The animal feeder apparatus includes a support structure having removable feeder vessels. The support structure is of a unitary molded plastic construction and is configured for nested stacking with like feeder assemblies for convenient and compact storage and handling. The base of the top surface of the support structure is generally oblong in shape with flared side surfaces to provide support. The top surface has openings for receiving feeding vessels. A preferred feeding vessel has a raised back surface to act as a back splash. The raised back splash may also include a notch for easily removing the feeding vessel form the support structure for filling and cleaning the vessel.

Abstract: Capless retractable sealed marking instruments have a single piece elastomeric seal incorporated in a marker casing. The seal includes an annular rim and a concave disk with cooperative sealing disk halves having lateral sealing surfaces which are moved out of contact by a linearly advanced marker nib to open the seal for extension of the marker nib. The concave configuration of the disk provides maximum sealing force between the lateral sealing surfaces of the disk halves. Retraction of the marker nib draws the disk halves back into the concave sealed configuration to protect the marker nib and cartridge from atmospheric degradation.

Abstract: A tree stand for receiving and supporting a tree, such as a live, cut Christmas tree, comprises a receptacle for receiving the trunk of the tree and a base for supporting the receptacle when the tree is received therein. The receptacle includes a clamping assembly for securing the trunk of the tree in the receptacle, while the base includes a locking assembly for locking the tree in place once it is moved to the desired vertical position. An actuator such as a foot pedal is provided for operating the locking assembly so that the user can position the tree by hand while standing on his feet with the foot pedal depressed and then lock the tree in place simply by releasing the pedal.

Abstract: A transparent thermoplastic housing has an upper and a lower compartment divided by a ramp. The lower compartment houses a battery, motor and drive mechanism for turning a candy dispensing screw in communication with the upper compartment. The lower compartment is hidden by an outer opaque label. Candy pieces of like dimensions are stored in the upper compartment and fed serially to the screw by a first channel formed with the ramp. A second channel next to the screw along its length maintains the candy received from the first channel aligned serially. The screw displaces the candy from the first channel to the second channel and to a dispensing port at the top of the housing. A clutch in the drive mechanism permits the screw to be turned manually.

Abstract: A wax craft product which comprises a bendable extruded rod of wax having a textured surface is provided. The textured surface enables the rod of wax to adhere to itself and to other surfaces when the rod of wax is pressed into contact with itself and other surfaces. The wax comprises petroleum-derived paraffins, microcrystalline waxes, and hydrocarbon resins. In an alternative embodiment, the wax craft product comprises a bendable extruded rod of wax having a coating which has adhesive properties. In this embodiment, the adhesive coating enables the rod of wax to adhere to itself and to other surfaces when the rod of wax is pressed into contact with itself and other surfaces. As with the textured rod of wax, the wax comprises petroleum-derived paraffins, microcrystalline waxes, and hydrocarbon resins.