Abstract: Portable Vacuum Food Storage System with a housing that contains a vacuum pump, an on off power switch, a vacuum pressure switch and a plurality of rechargeable DC batteries. The top of the housing has a gripping member help the user to twist and fasten the housing onto a mating container lid. The housing has a bayonet type fastener at its lower center portion that mates to a receptacle located on the lid, the lid has a vacuum releasing member that can be pressed by the user to relieve the vacuum in the container. The vacuum housing is capable of resting on the lid in a stable manner so that the vacuum operation can take place unattended by the user. The vacuum lid is capable of fitting on standard TupperWare or Rubber Maid containers.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic and phosphorescent toys are disclosed. A photo-chromic and phosphorescent toy includes both photo-chromic and phosphorescent materials applied to the toy such as through an ink, paint, plastic, or dye. The photo-chromic and phosphorescent materials may be supplied within a material of the toy or applied-to a surface of the toy at the factory. The photo-chromic and phosphorescent materials may be activated in various ways with various light activating devices that can generate an activating light with appropriate wavelengths.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic applicators are disclosed. The photo-chromic applicator may include a liquid photo-chromic material such as a photo-chromic ink or paint. The photo-chromic material is applied to a surface of a toy, a page, or other object by a child user. The photo-chromic material may be activated in various ways with various light activating devices that can generate the activating light with appropriate wavelengths.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic light drawing sets are disclosed including a photo-chromic page and a light pen. The photo-chromic page includes a flat transparent substrate having a page-like shape and one or more layers of photo-chromic ink applied onto the substrate. The flat transparent substrate to display an object underneath, and the one of more layers of photo-chromic ink are substantially transparent in an inactive state. The light pen selectively generates an activating light to shine onto the photo-chromic page and activate a portion of the one of more layers of photo-chromic ink. The activated portion of the one or more layers of photo-chromic ink is temporarily transformed from the inactive state to an active state in response to the activating light.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic toys are disclosed. A photo-chromic toy includes a photo-chromic material such as a photo-chromic ink, paint, plastic, or dye. The photo-chromic material may be supplied in a material of the toy or applied to a surface of the toy at the factory. The photo-chromic material may be activated in various ways with various light activating devices that can generate the activating light with appropriate wavelengths.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic doll playsets are disclosed. A photo-chromic doll playset includes a doll having a substrate; a photo-chromic material applied to the substrate; a light pen to selectively apply a tightly focused activating light output on the photo-chromic material to create narrow lines of activated photo-chromic material. In response to the activating light, the activated photo-chromic material temporarily transforms from a first color to a second color for a period of time before gradually decaying back to the first color.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a doubled ended light pen for photo-chromic toys is disclosed. A doubled ended light pen includes a housing having a first end and a second end, a first ultraviolet light emitting diode (UVLED) mounted near the first end of the housing, a second UVLED mounted near the second end of the housing, and first and second switches mounted in the housing. The housing holds one or more batteries to provide power. The first switch and the second switch respectively switch ON and OFF the power supplied by the one or more batteries to the first UVLED and the second UVLED. When powered on, the first UVLED applies a wide angle activation light while the second UVLED applies a point source activation light to a photo-chromic surface.

Abstract: An oscillating hair dryer nozzle assembly attaches to a hand held electric hair dryer. An oscillating nozzle is pivoted back and forth by forced air generated by an electric motorized fan within the hair dryer. A propeller receives the forced air and rotates a propeller shaft which is coupled to a gear reduction assembly. The gear reduction assembly converts the rotational motion of the propeller shaft into repetitive pivotal movement of the oscillating nozzle. The oscillating nozzle automatically redirects the air flow in a plane. In one embodiment, the nozzle assembly is rotatably attached to the output barrel of a hair dryer body so that the oscillating nozzle can be rotated to pivot and redirect air flow in a different plane.

Abstract: Portable Vacuum Food Storage System with a housing that contains a vacuum pump, an on off power switch, a vacuum pressure switch and a plurality of rechargeable DC batteries. The top of the housing has a gripping member help the user to twist and fasten the housing onto a mating container lid. The housing has a bayonet type fastener at its lower center portion that mates to a receptacle located on the lid, the lid has a vacuum releasing member that can be pressed by the user to relieve the vacuum in the container. The vacuum housing is capable of resting on the lid in a stable manner so that the vacuum operation can take place unattended by the user. The vacuum lid is capable of fitting on standard TupperWare or Rubber Maid containers.

Abstract: A pencil has a fixed non-replaceable eraser and a moveable sleeve. The fixed non-replaceable eraser is elongated to provide a larger eraser to pencil ratio in order to have more erase cycles per write cycles. The moveable sleeve can be moved to selectively expose a portion of the eraser. A ferrule couples the pencil body and the eraser together and provides an outer surface to engage an inner surface of the moveable sleeve. In one embodiment, a threaded female slot in the outer surface of the ferrule engages a male threaded tab in the inner surface of the sleeve. In another embodiment, a plurality of concentric slots in the outer surface of the ferrule engage a tab in the inner surface of the sleeve.