Abstract: A device for monitoring conditions within an environment in which an item is disposed includes a environment monitoring tag operably disposed adjacent an article to sense environment surrounding said article and store environmental data sensed, wherein said tag is equipped with software and hardware to communicate said data using Near Field Communication and a hand held communication device equipped with software and hardware to communicate using Near Field Communication to receive environmental data sensed by said tag and analyze said data.

Abstract: A coffee filter basket includes a filter retainer having an outer shell with an upper end having open top and a bottom including an opening, an insert having an upper collar of a less than the diameter than the upper end of the retainer to fit therein and having a lower extension which when a filter is disposed within the retainer and the insert is disposed within the filter, the insert press-fits within the retainer to retain the filter adjacent the retainer shell, and a removable top having an outer perimeter lip portion of at least that of the diameter of the upper end of the retainer and a lower collar portion of a diameter less than the diameter of the upper collar and configured to press-fit therein to secure the insert in the retainer, wherein the removable top has an opening. A method of use is provided.

Abstract: A grip device for use in one's hand includes a compressible member of a size to fit within one's hand and capable of being squeezed by the hand and a thermal element operably connected to the compressible member which is equipped for generating a non-ambient temperature for a sustained period during such period said device remains compressible. A sensor and transmitter circuitry is connected to the compressible member which when the grip device is compressed sends a signal indicative that compression is taking place. A computer with software receives and displays the signal to a recipient.

Abstract: A device for monitoring conditions within an environment in which an item is disposed includes a environment monitoring tag operably disposed adjacent an article to sense environment surrounding said article and store environmental data sensed, wherein said tag is equipped with software and hardware to communicate said data using Near Field Communication and a hand held communication device equipped with software and hardware to communicate using Near Field Communication to receive environmental data sensed by said tag and analyze said data.

Abstract: A range detector system includes an safety system, a first electronic object, and a second electronic object, wherein the first and second electronic objects are wirelessly communicably connected in a manner equipped such that when the first object and the second object are moved from a first predetermined distance range from each other to a second predetermined distance range from each other, the safety system is operably deployed on at least one the first and the second objects is activated.

Abstract: A ball mark includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion is generally non planar with respect to the first portion and when the first portion is disposed on a putting surface, the second portion extends above the first portion to more readily enable a player to view the ball mark on the putting surface for purposes of aligning one's putt and to aid in avoiding walking in one's line to a hole. The first portion and the second portion are movably associated with each other and can move in and out of a generally common plane.

Abstract: A phone call activation and billing system using the Internet, which includes a user's phone, a first CPU operably associated with said user's phone, the first CPU having operating hardware and software and web browser software operably connected to the Internet to permit communicating with search engine software to generate a listed telephone number at a search engine page and software for activating a call between a second phone associated with the listed telephone number and said user's phone associated with a user's number. Software is provided for billing time associated with the call.

Abstract: The present invention is a light string storage device that is used to easily wind and un-wind light strings, such as Christmas lights, and is used for storage of the strands. The device protects the light bulbs and sockets against damage; the electric cord, plug and connector and light bulbs stay in place and untangled; it keeps the cord and bulbs from twisting as they are placed on the device; and the plug and connectors are easily attainable for testing the lights prior to strand placement. The invention also includes a turntable with retaining means to easily attach and remove the storage device to the turntable. The lightweight turntable can either sit on the ground or table during use and allows the person to turn the storage device easily during installing or removing of the light strands.

Abstract: A credit card which includes a generally planar member which is configured occupy approximately one half of a predetermined space for a conventional credit card which is 2.125 (H)×3.375 (L) inches. The card is further characterized to enable mating with a substantially identically geometrically formed card such that when so mated the two cards substantially occupy the predetermined space of a conventional credit card.

Abstract: The present invention includes coating composition having magnetic properties for application to a substrate. The coating composition includes a plurality of strontium and or barium hexaferrite particles having a random magnetic pole alignment. The coating composition also includes a binder adhesive capable of suspending the strontium hexaferrite particles. The binder adhesive is a natural rubber capable of adhering in a substantially thin film to the substrate. The strontium hexaferrite particles are normally present between 50% to 98% of the coating composition's total weight when dried on the substrate. The thickness of the film of the coating composition ranges from 0.5 mils to 20 mils, and has 6 to 24 magnetic pole changes per linear inch. The binder adhesive allows for manipulation of the strontium hexaferrite particles to a non-random magnetic pole alignment after the ferromagnetic particles have dried in the binder adhesive on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is a light string storage device that is used to easily wind and un-wind light strings, such as Christmas lights, and is used for storage of the strands. The device protects the light bulbs and sockets against damage; the electric cord, plug and connector and light bulbs stay in place and untangled; it keeps the cord and bulbs from twisting as they are placed on the device; and the plug and connectors are easily attainable for testing the lights prior to strand placement. The invention also includes a turntable with retaining means to easily attach and remove the storage device to the turntable. The lightweight turntable can either sit on the ground or table during use and allows the person to turn the storage device easily during installing or removing of the light strands.

Abstract: A billing system for a service provider-client environment, which includes a service provider site, a first computer-based device disposed at the service provider site having billing software operably associated with the first computer-based device for enabling logging of client data and service provider data. The billing software prompts a service provider to select one of a logging and no logging of time for one of a matter and a call and can accrue an amount of time and associate the time with a client upon selection of the logging. The billing software also prompts a service provider to select one of a logging and no logging of print cost and postage cost in response to a printer job being initiated for one of a print document and an envelope document and associate the time with a client upon selection of the logging.

Abstract: The present invention includes coating composition having magnetic properties for application to a substrate. The coating composition includes a plurality of strontium and or barium hexaferrite particles having a random magnetic pole alignment. The coating composition also includes a binder adhesive capable of suspending the strontium hexaferrite particles. The binder adhesive is a natural rubber capable of adhering in a substantially thin film to the substrate. The strontium hexaferrite particles are normally present between 50% to 98% of the coating composition's total weight when dried on the substrate. The thickness of the film of the coating composition ranges from 0.5 mils to 20 mils, and has 6 to 24 magnetic pole changes per linear inch. The binder adhesive allows for manipulation of the strontium hexaferrite particles to a non-random magnetic pole alignment after the ferromagnetic particles have dried in the binder adhesive on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and device are described for mixing an oil-containing liquid stored in an oil storage tank to determine the monetary value of said oil-containing liquid contained therein. The method comprises rotating an agitating device in the oil-containing liquid; providing a mixed oil-containing liquid; and determining the monetary value of the oil in said oil-containing liquid. The device includes a shaft disposed in the tank and extending along a central axis of the tank. The shaft includes at least one arm structure extending outward from the shaft so that when the shaft is rotated, the arm structure causes the liquid components to be mixed. The shaft is rotated by a power actuating device which may be a fuel powered motor, an electric powered motor a wind turbine or a manual hand crank.

Abstract: The present invention includes magnetizable coating composition for application to a substrate. The coating composition includes a plurality of strontium and or barium hexaferrite particles having a random magnetic pole alignment. The coating composition also includes a binder adhesive capable of suspending the strontium hexaferrite particles. The binder adhesive is a latex capable of adhering in a substantially thin film to the substrate. The strontium hexaferrite particles are normally present between 50% to 98% of the coating composition's total weight when dried on the substrate. The thickness of the film of the coating composition is at least about 0.5 mils thick, and has 6 to 24 magnetic pole changes per linear inch. The binder adhesive allows for manipulation of the strontium hexaferrite particles to a non-random magnetic pole alignment after the ferromagnetic particles have dried in the binder adhesive on the substrate.

Abstract: A billing system for a service provider-client environment, which includes a service provider suite, a first CPU disposed at the service provider site having billing software resident on the first CPU for enabling logging of client data and service provider data. The billing software prompts a service provider to select one of a logging and no logging of time for one of a matter and a call can accrue an amount of time and associate the time with a client upon selection of the logging. The billing software manipulates the data corresponding to the amount of time and said client in a manner to produce a billing data file and accounts for crediting and debiting the billing data file. Additionally, billing software produces invoice indicia corresponding to billing data file. A printer is operably associated with said first CPU for printing an invoice having the corresponding billing data file and indicia thereon.

Abstract: A billing system includes a telephone, a detector operably associated with said telephone for detecting when the telephone is in use and generating a signal in response to the use, a first cpu operably associated with said detector and having billing software resident on the first cpu for enabling logging of client data, user data, wherein the billing software is automatically initiated in response to the signal and prompts a user to select one of a logging and no logging of the use, the billing software includes an accrual associating device for accruing an amount of time of the use and associating the time with one client upon selection of the logging and the billing software includes a writing storing component for writing and storing data corresponding to the amount of time and the client in a memory associated with the first cpu.