Abstract: A blind and pre-loaded mortise and tenon joint. The joint includes a first joint part, a second joint part, and at least one wedge. The first joint part has a tenon extending outwardly therefrom. The second joint part has a mortise extending therein. The at least one wedge is pre-loaded into the tenon of the first joint part before the tenon of the first joint part is inserted into the mortise of the second joint part so as to allow the tenon of the first joint part to expand against the mortise of the second joint part as the at least one wedge drives further into the tenon of the first joint part by engaging the mortise of the second joint part until the tenon of the first joint part bottoms out in the mortise of the second joint part at which time the tenon of the first joint part is blindly captured in the mortise of the second joint part.

Abstract: A method for product selection assistance includes receiving a product category selection, matching the product category selection against a product database to determine a plurality of matched products, and displaying a product matrix. The product matrix includes a product entry for each of the matched products. The product entries include a model identifier, a model price, and at least one product configuration parameter associated with the matched products. The method also includes presenting a product configuration question, receiving a product configuration answer, and responsively updating the product matrix based on the product configuration answer to eliminate at least one product entry in the product matrix.

Abstract: A vented toilet plunger that includes a cup and a handle. The cup has a vent valve assembly that extends through a high point of the cup. The vent valve assembly is a check valve that contains a ball that normally allows communication through the check valve. The ball of the check valve is of a weight that is not overcome by air, but is overcome by water, so as to allow communication through the check valve when the cup is first put into the water so as to allow the air trapped in the cup to be vented out, but once the air is vented out, the water fills the cup and moves the ball of the check valve to block communication through the check valve so as not to allow the water to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A book shelf support for standing on a floor and unattachably abutting against a wall. The book shelf support includes a pair of uprights and a pair of criss-cross braces. The pair of uprights stand on the floor and unattachably abut against the wall. The pair of criss-cross braces attach the pair of uprights to each other. Each upright of the pair of uprights has a lowermost end that extends inwardly away from the wall and downwardly onto the floor, and as a result thereof, allows the support to stand on the floor and unattachably abut against the wall. Each brace of the pair of criss-cross braces includes two pieces that telescope relative to each other so as to allow for length adjustment and relative orientation of the pair of criss-cross braces.

Abstract: A freestanding frame for supporting shelves that includes a pair of posts that extend upwardly from a carpeted horizontal surface and rest against a wall, and a pair of braces that extend from one post to the other post in an X configuration. Each post has an uppermost vertical member that rests against the wall, a horizontal member that extends forwardly from the uppermost vertical member, and a lowermost vertical member that depends from the horizontal member and sinks into the carpeted horizontal surface so as to prevent the post from sliding away from the wall while resting thereon. Each brace is either one piece or two-piece so as to be length adjustable. In a first embodiment, the two pieces are screwed together, and in a second embodiment, the two pieces slide relative to each other and are maintained at a desired length by first and second locking apparatuses.

Abstract: A bookend that is formed from a single piece of sheet metal that is folded into a base, an upright, and a brace that has a free end. The single piece of sheet metal has a pair of edges and a fold line. The fold line and one edge form the base therebetween and the fold line and the other edge form the upright therebetween. The upright is maintained upright relative to the base by the brace. The base is divided into an outer base and an inner base. The inner base is cut out of the outer base and is coplanar therewith when folded outwardly therefrom. The upright is maintained vertical relative to the base when the brace is folded diagonally outwardly from the upright and the free end of the brace is affixed to the inner base.

Abstract: A plunger for clearing a clogged drain. The plunger includes a cup, a user-gripping handle, and a water-shielding cap. The cup is resiliently collapsible and has an uppermost wall with air-escaping throughbores that allow air trapped in the cup to escape therethrough when the cup is driven downwardly over the clogged drain so as to increase hydraulic efficiency of water in the clogged drain. The user-gripping handle extends upwardly from the cup. The water-shielding cap is attached to the user-gripping handle, just above the cup. The diameter of the water-shielding cap is such so as to allow the water-shielding cap to extend radially outwardly past the air-escaping throughbores so as to shield a user from the water escaping with the air when the cup is driven downwardly over the clogged drain.

Abstract: A chair frame that includes a seat portion, a seat back portion extending upwardly from the seat portion, a plurality of legs depending from the seat portion, and bracing extending from the plurality of legs. The seat portion includes a front seat rail, a rear seat rail, and a pair of side seat rails that form a continuous rectilinear configuration for the seat portion. The seat back portion includes a pair of stiles and a back rail, and together with the rear seat rail, forms a continuous rectilinear configuration for the seat back portion. The plurality of legs include a pair of front legs and a pair of back legs. The bracing includes a rear stretcher and a pair of diagonal braces. Each diagonal brace extends from the free terminal end of an associated rear leg to the midpoint of the front seat rail, and together with the rear stretcher of the bracing, forms a triangular configuration for the bracing.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the in-line type which has sets of cylinders in which a full-sized chamber is aligned between a pair of half-sized power chambers. Sets of pistons movable in corresponding ones of the cylinders define the chambers within the cylinders respectively. Pistons are connected to a crankshaft so that the pistons which define the half-sized power chambers move together in unison in a direction which is opposite to that which the piston which defines the full-sized chamber moves. Each half-sized chamber defines a volumetric displacement which is substantially one half that of the full-sized chamber.