Abstract: A device for measuring a height of a child standing on a floor includes a track member attached to a wall, a mirror to keep the attention of the child during the measuring process, and a visible scale and a carriage, each attached to the track member, with the carriage being vertically movable along the track member. When a measurement surface of the carriage is held against a top of the head of the child, an indicator on the carriage points to a location on the visible scale indicating the height of the child.

Abstract: A device for massaging either a human hand or a human foot includes a number of massage elements formed on a plate that is moved within a carriage adjacently below an opening in a housing. The sole of the foot or the palm of the hand is held in contact with the massage elements or in contact with a flexible sheet extending within the opening by an enclosure. In one version, separate enclosures are provided for the hand and for the foot; in another version, the enclosure is adjustable for use with either a hand or a foot.

Abstract: A bottle includes a track extending along a rear surface for the attachment of a clip to hold the bottle to a waistband, with the clip being attached to the bottle as the clip is moved upward along the bottle and released from the bottle as the clip is moved downward along the bottle. Preferably, the clip additionally includes a concave cylindrical surface for adhesive attachment to another type of bottle.

Abstract: An applicator for applying a lotion, such as a sunscreen, to the skin includes a handle attached to an axle and a roller mounted to turn on the axle. The roller includes a housing having a central cavity holding the lotion and a number of holes extending between the central cavity and a cylindrical peripheral surface of the housing, which is covered with a porous elastomeric material through which the lotion is evenly applied to the skin. A cover is provided to minimize evaporation and contamination of the lotion during storage of the roller. The roller may be removed from the applicator for storage in a cover formed as a canister, or a clamshell cover may be closed over the roller in place on the applicator.

Abstract: A device mixing ingredients for coloring hair includes a mixing bowl and a housing removably placed atop the mixing bowl so that a pair of agitators rotatably and coaxially mounted within the housing extend downward into the mixing bowl, being driven in opposite directions at the same speed by a mechanism powered by a hand crank, which can be turned in either direction to cause one of the agitators to move a liquid inward within the mixing bowl while the other agitator moves the liquid outward. In an alternative version of the device, the agitators are driven by an electric motor.

Abstract: An applicator, for a cosmetic liquid, such as nail polish, includes a reservoir and a removable cap sealing an opening in the reservoir. The applicator may be quite small, holding nail polish for a single application to a person's nails, having a number of legs that can opened so that the applicator can rest on a table. Alternately, the applicator may be built to be handled like a pen, with a piston that is driven to supply the liquid. Features are provided for the attachment of two or more such applicators to one another.

Abstract: A device for attachment to both porous and non-porous wall surfaces includes a suction cup of a first type having an elastomeric core and an elastomeric outer layer that is substantially softer than the inner layer. The outer layer includes material that fills pores within a porous surface against which the suction cup is held. The inner layer prevents tearing of the suction cup and causes a partial vacuum to be formed as the suction cup attempts to return to its original shape following depression against a wall surface. Alternately, the device may include a suction cup having a number of concentric ridges held against porous surface, with the suction cup being formed of a single elastomeric material or of elastomeric materials including a softer elastomeric outer layer.

Abstract: A device for attachment to both porous and non-porous wall surfaces includes a suction cup having an elastomeric core and an elastomeric outer layer that is substantially softer than the inner layer. The outer layer includes material that fills pores within a porous surface against which the suction cup is held. The inner layer prevents tearing of the suction cup and causes a partial vacuum to be formed as the suction cup attempts to return to its original shape following depression against a wall surface.

Abstract: A device for attachment to both porous and non-porous wall surfaces includes a suction cup of a first type having an elastomeric core and an elastomeric outer layer that is substantially softer than the inner layer. The outer layer includes material that fills pores within a porous surface against which the suction cup is held. The inner layer prevents tearing of the suction cup and causes a partial vacuum to be formed as the suction cup attempts to return to its original shape following depression against a wall surface. Alternately, the device may include a suction cup having a number of concentric ridges held against porous surface, with the suction cup being formed of a single elastomeric material or of elastomeric materials including a softer elastomeric outer layer.

Abstract: A device for attachment to both porous and non-porous wall surfaces includes a suction cup having an elastomeric core and an elastomeric outer layer that is substantially softer than the inner layer. The outer layer includes material that fills pores within a porous surface against which the suction cup is held. The inner layer prevents tearing of the suction cup and causes a partial vacuum to be formed as the suction cup attempts to return to its original shape following depression against a wall surface.

Abstract: A leash handle includes rigid housing including a generally cylindrical graspable portion having a cavity holding a drawer for holding items, such as bags for cleaning animal waste. The drawer can be slid between a closed position, within the housing, and an open position, extending outward from the housing. A member for holding one or more individual animal leashes is pivotally mounted on the housing.

Abstract: A container for plants includes an integral structure having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upward to an edge forming an open top, and an elongated member extending downward from an opening in the bottom wall for attachment of the container to the soil of a garden. In one version, the elongated member is removably attached to the container, and a plug is provided for the opening, so that the container can be placed on a flat surface for displaying a plant that is later placed in a garden area in the container with the elongated member extending into the soil.

Abstract: A stencil stamp includes a number of stencils having openings with various shapes, with the stencils being individually attached to a housing of the stencil stamp so that the stencils can be easily and cleanly changed. The stencil stamp also includes a cover for preventing the evaporation of ink from a pad within the stencil stamp. In a first version, a stencil and/or the cover is slid into a slot within the housing. In a second version, the housing includes a threaded surface for the attachment of a stencil and/or the cover.

Abstract: An attachment device for attaching an article to a wall surface includes a bracket with an outwardly extending plate having a hole through which an elongated portion of the article can be placed and an attachment plate, perpendicular to the outwardly extending plate, having at least one hole through which the bracket may be attached directly to the wall by a screw. The attachment device additionally includes a housing having a suction cup for attachment to the wall, a coupling for removably receiving the bracket, and an actuator for causing the suction cup to engage and release the wall surface.

Abstract: A bottle holder includes a first flexible strap that is clamped around a bottle, with an end of the strap being clamped by pivoting a locking lever in a locking block. A first version of the bottle holder has a clip for attachment to the belt or waistband of the user's clothing. A second version has a second belt for attachment to a stationary member, such as the rail of an exercise machine.

Abstract: A paint roller tool includes first and second paint rollers, mounted to extend from shaft portions of a frame and to turn about axes of rotation perpendicular to one another. Each of the paint rollers includes a peripheral cylindrical surface and a distal end covered with a material suitable for holding and applying wet paint. The paint rollers are separated from one another in a direction perpendicular to both of their axes of rotation and are aligned with one another so that the distal end of each roller is aligned with an outer edge of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the other roller, so that an “L”-shaped area at an interior corner can be painted.

Abstract: An appliance for applying a lotion, such as a sunscreen, to the skin includes a housing, from which a soft pad extends, and a elongated handle. The pad, which includes a flat application surface, is rotated by a motor in the handle about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the flat application surface. The surface of the pad may be formed of a porous material or of a solid elastomeric material having a texture providing spaces for holding lotion.