Abstract: A hinge stile gap blocking apparatus and a method designed to prevent hand and finger injuries resulting from inadvertent door closures. The apparatus includes a hinge gap cover for use with an existing hinged door and door surround configured to continuously occlude the hinge stile gap between a door jamb and the outer facing edge of a door hinge stile. The hinge stile gap blocking apparatus has a curved portion that is shaped to track the arc of an inner edge of the door hinge stile when the door is pivoted from an open to closed position and from the closed to the open position. The apparatus is sufficiently rigid so that fingers cannot pry around the curved portion and thus risk exposure to the hinge stile gap of the door. When the door is pivoted on the hinges of the door, the inner edge of the door hinge stile traces a curved path and follows the curved portion so that the hinge stile gap is occluded at all times.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and to a method designed to prevent hand and finger injuries resulting from inadvertent door closures. The apparatus for use with an existing door and door surround includes a door latching mechanism mountable to the door having a reversibly extendable bolt actuated by a turning member, a striker member mountable to the door surround wherein a portion of the striker member projects beyond the door surround, and when the bolt is extended, complete door closure is impeded by the projecting portion of the striker member with a gap width created between the leading edge of the door and the door surround sufficient to protect human hands and fingers from being crushed, injured, or amputated. When the bolt is intentionally retracted complete door closure is permitted. The apparatus is designed to be interchangeable with standard sized door knobs, latching mechanisms, lock assemblies, and striker plates.

Abstract: A method for replacing a tag tool needle includes securing at least a portion of a tag tool needle coupled to a tag tool in a needle container; and removing the tag tool needle from the tag tool with the needle container. A tag tool needle container includes a first tubular aperture adapted to receive at least a portion of a first tag tool needle therein, where the first tubular aperture has a compression-fit adapted to securely enclose the portion of the first tag tool needle when urged over the first tag tool needle; and a second tubular aperture coupled to the first tubular aperture and adapted to receive at least a portion of a second tag tool needle therein, where the second tubular aperture has a compression-fit adapted to adapted to securely enclose the portion of the second tag tool needle when urged over the second tag tool needle.

Abstract: A shelving apparatus includes a frame structure formed with vertical members and horizontal members and a shelf adjustable between positions and supported, at each position, by the vertical members. The vertical members and horizontal members define a volume therebetween, and each of the vertical members include notches formed on a vertical surface of the vertical member. The shelf includes a frame; a product surface coupled with the frame; a first rod coupled to the frame and insertable into at least a portion of a respective notch of one of the vertical members; and a second rod coupled to the frame and insertable into at least a portion of a respective notch of another of the vertical members. The second rod is forcibly biased, by a biasing member coupled with the frame, against at least one of the vertical members.

Abstract: A knife includes a handle that includes a gripping surface; a blade slide positioned in a recess of the handle that extends from an opening of the handle through a cavity within the handle; a blade coupled to the blade slide near a proximal end of the blade and extending through the recess and into the opening when the blade slide is in the retracted position; and a guide coupled to the blade near a distal end of the blade opposite the proximal end, the guide including a contoured surface configured to engage a workpiece to extend the blade slide a distance from the retracted position to an extended position such that the blade is extended from the opening of the handle, the blade slide biased to move from the extended position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A hinge stile gap blocking apparatus to prevent hand and finger injuries resulting from inadvertent door closings. The apparatus includes a hinge gap cover for use with an existing door and door jamb and configured to continuously occlude a gap between the door jamb and the outer facing edge of a hinge stile of the door. The hinge stile gap blocking apparatus has a curved portion that is shaped such that the door edge tracks the curve when the door is pivoted between an open and a closed position and from the closed to the open position. A method of installing the hinge stile gap blocking apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cleaning pad including a sanitary material; a head coupled to the cleaning pad, the head movable together with the cleaning pad; and a handle coupled to the head on a front end of the handle, a back end of the handle being separated away from the head with a distance substantially identical to a length of the handle.

Abstract: A shelving apparatus includes a frame structure formed with vertical members and horizontal members and a shelf adjustable between positions and supported, at each position, by the vertical members. The vertical members and horizontal members define a volume therebetween, and each of the vertical members include notches formed on a vertical surface of the vertical member. The shelf includes a frame; a product surface coupled with the frame; a first rod coupled to the frame and insertable into at least a portion of a respective notch of one of the vertical members; and a second rod coupled to the frame and insertable into at least a portion of a respective notch of another of the vertical members. The second rod is forcibly biased, by a biasing member coupled with the frame, against at least one of the vertical members.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for inductively charging a sport ball. An embodiment operates by transmitting from a resonant circuit a calibration signal in response to detecting a charging base, and transmitting from the resonant circuit a charging state in response to receiving power at the resonant circuit.

Abstract: A knife includes a handle that includes a gripping surface; a blade slide positioned in a recess of the handle that extends from an opening of the handle through a cavity within the handle; a blade coupled to the blade slide near a proximal end of the blade and extending through the recess and into the opening when the blade slide is in the retracted position; and a guide coupled to the blade near a distal end of the blade opposite the proximal end, the guide including a contoured surface configured to engage a workpiece to extend the blade slide a distance from the retracted position to an extended position such that the blade is extended from the opening of the handle, the blade slide biased to move from the extended position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A method for replacing a tag tool needle includes securing at least a portion of a tag tool needle coupled to a tag tool in a needle container; and removing the tag tool needle from the tag tool with the needle container. A tag tool needle container includes a first tubular aperture adapted to receive at least a portion of a first tag tool needle therein, where the first tubular aperture has a compression-fit adapted to securely enclose the portion of the first tag tool needle when urged over the first tag tool needle; and a second tubular aperture coupled to the first tubular aperture and adapted to receive at least a portion of a second tag tool needle therein, where the second tubular aperture has a compression-fit adapted to adapted to securely enclose the portion of the second tag tool needle when urged over the second tag tool needle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hinge stile gap blocking apparatus designed to prevent hand and finger injuries resulting from inadvertent door closures. The apparatus includes a hinge gap blocker for use with an existing door and door surround configured to continuously occlude a gap between the door jamb and the outer facing edge of a door hinge stile. The hinge stile gap blocking apparatus has a vaulted portion that is shaped to cover the exposed hinge barrels of a door. When installed, the hinge gap blocker covers exposed hinge barrels and continuously occludes the outside hinge gap between the door and door jamb when the door is pivoted.

Abstract: A roller grill includes a housing structure adapted to support the roller grill; a plurality of tubular heating surfaces mounted between a first end of the housing structure and a second end of the housing structure; a first side housing coupled to the first end of the housing structure; a second side housing coupled to the second end of the housing structure, at least one of the first side housing or the second housing including a pressurized plenum maintainable at a plenum air pressure that is greater than a tubular air pressure of an inner volume of the plurality of tubular heating surfaces; and a drive assembly at least partially enclosed in the first side housing or the second side housing, the drive assembly configured to rotatably drive the plurality of tubular heating surfaces.

Abstract: A device for supporting consumer products includes a transmission, a first end plate, a second end plate, and a shelf. The transmission includes a worm wheel coupled to a socket; a worm gear engaged to the worm wheel and coupled to a back axle shaft; a first pinion gear coupled to a first end of the back axle shaft; and a second pinion gear coupled to a second end of the back axle shaft. The first end plate is coupled to a first end of a back axle shaft shroud, where the back axle shaft shroud includes a first shelf hook and a second shelf hook. The second end plate coupled to the second end of the back axle shaft. The shelf is coupled to the first and second end plates and includes a first and a second shelf pin.

Abstract: A knife according to the present disclosure includes a housing and a blade. The blade includes a blade edge adapted to engage a material, and the blade is coupled to a blade shuttle. The blade and blade shuttle are substantially enclosed within the housing when the blade shuttle is in a retracted position, and the blade is extended from the housing when the blade shuttle is in an extended position. The blade shuttle is adapted to be conveyed to the retracted position based on the blade receiving a force directed substantially perpendicular to the blade edge.

Abstract: A knife includes a handle that includes a gripping surface; a blade slide positioned in a recess of the handle that extends from an opening of the handle through a cavity within the handle; a blade coupled to the blade slide near a proximal end of the blade and extending through the recess and into the opening when the blade slide is in the retracted position; and a guide coupled to the blade near a distal end of the blade opposite the proximal end, the guide including a contoured surface configured to engage a workpiece to extend the blade slide a distance from the retracted position to an extended position such that the blade is extended from the opening of the handle, the blade slide biased to move from the extended position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A roller grill includes a housing structure adapted to support the roller grill; a plurality of tubes having outer surfaces adapted to transfer heat to a pre-cooked food product; a plurality of rollers mounted in a row, each roller mounted on an end of a corresponding tube and including a plurality of detented projections extending from a circumferential surface of the roller; and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a continuous looped surface coupled to a motor shaft and contactingly engaged with the detented projections of the plurality of rollers. The roller grill further includes a protrusion mounted to the housing structure and in contacting engagement with the continuous looped surface, such that the continuous looped surface is contactingly engaged with at least two detented projections of each roller of the plurality of rollers mounted in the row.

Abstract: A roller grill for heating a pre-cooked food product includes a housing structure adapted to support the roller grill; a plurality of tubes having outer surfaces adapted to transfer heat to the pre-cooked food product; a plurality of non-metallic gears, each non-metallic gear mounted on an end of a corresponding tube; a motor including a motor shaft and adapted to generate a rotational power through the motor shaft at a first rotational speed; and a drive sub-assembly adapted to transfer the rotational power from the shaft to the plurality of non-metallic gears at a second rotational speed.

Abstract: A roller grill for heating a pre-cooked food product includes a housing structure adapted to support the roller grill; a plurality of tubes having outer surfaces adapted to transfer heat to a pre-cooked food product; a plurality of tube gears, at least one tube gear mounted on an end of a corresponding tube; and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor having a shaft adapted to rotate at a first rotational speed; and a plurality of idler gears mounted to a portion of the housing structure and contactingly engaged with the plurality of tube gears, the idler gears adapted to transfer a rotational power from the motor to the plurality of tube gears at a second rotational speed.

Abstract: A roller grill for heating a pre-cooked food product includes a plurality of tubes having outer surfaces adapted to transfer heat to the pre-cooked food product; a plurality of spur gears, each spur gear mounted on an end of a corresponding tube; and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor; a timing pulley coupled to a shaft having a plurality of worm gears mounted thereon; and a timing belt coupled to the motor and the timing pulley and adapted to transfer rotary motion generated by the motor into rotary motion of the tubes through contacting engagement of the worm gears with the spur gears.