Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a container having an opening for receiving a liquid, and a dispenser subassembly having an outlet and a closing member cooperating with the outlet, the closing member being movable between a first closed position whereby the closing member engages the container opening and a second open position whereby the closing member is remote from the container opening. At least part of the dispensing subassembly is preformed on the container and the remaining part of the dispenser subassembly is connectable therewith.

Abstract: A golf clubhead containing a main body and a face member, the main body including a main shell portion having a hollow and a tubular inner extension of a hosel protruding in the hollow, and at least a part of the tubular inner extension separating from the inner surface of the main shell portion. A method of making the golf clubhead which includes making a first lost form corresponding to the main shell portion, making a second lost form corresponding to the tubular inner extension, fixing the second lost form to the first lost form to make a third lost form corresponding to the main body, making a casting mold using the third lost form, and casting a metallic material into the main body using the casting mold.

Abstract: In a linear motor coil assembly (12), and a method for manufacturing the same, a plurality of coils (14) are arranged in a line in a direction of movement and have respective coil axes perpendicular to the direction of movement of the motor. A flat cooling tube (20) is arranged to meander inside the plurality of coils. The cooling tube has a cross section elongated in a direction parallel to the coil axes, and a plurality of clearance holes (25) through which coolant flows are formed inside the cooling tube. The cooling tube has interleaved folds at least equal in number to the number of coils. The coils being fitted into these folds. At the time of manufacture of the coil assembly, the coils are wound around cores that are divided for each coil, and the cores are inserted into the folds of the cooling tube.

Abstract: A method for producing a flat commutator includes forming a metallic supporting body with segment supporting parts and forming a hub of an electrically insulating material. The supporting body is connected in an electrically conductive and mechanically fixed manner to an annular disc resistant in a reaction-promoting environment. The supporting body is divided into segment support parts. The annular disc is divided into annular segments. The surfaces of the metallic segment supporting parts which are bare as a result of the division of the supporting body are coated with a coating that is resistant to the environment. The coating is carried out by currentless deposition. The commutator produced according to this method has the hub adjacent to the supporting body in the vicinity of the division.

Abstract: Methods for aligning a satellite reflector with an antenna that has a feed/LNBF assembly. The feed/LNBF assembly is electronically coupled to a set top box which is electronically coupled to a television that has a television speaker. A transmitter is placed adjacent the television speaker. The speaker transmits the audio tones emitted by the television speaker which are indicative to the alignment of the antenna with a satellite to a speaker located adjacent to or attached to the antenna or antenna support structures.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flat antenna is composed of the steps of entirely applying Ni plating to the front and back surfaces of a long metal sheet, bonding masking tapes to the front surface of the metal sheet where the Ni plating has been applied except two stripe regions, applying Au plating to the two stripe regions by dipping the metal sheet into an Au plating solution, making a plurality of conductive flat sheets by punching the metal sheet to a plurality of regions along the lengthwise direction thereof after exfoliating the masking tapes, and bending the portions of each conductive flat sheet acting as a power feed terminal and a ground terminal. The metal sheet can be simply masked by bonding a plurality of the masking tapes thereto linearly except the regions where the plating is to be applied, thereby the productivity of the flat antenna can be increased.

Abstract: A self-piercing type rivet setting system 30 comprises: a rivet swaging assembly 35; a robot 6 which moves the rivet swaging assembly 35 to put it in position relative to a predetermined site on a workpiece to be riveted; a single integrated controller 31 made up by an integration of a controller for controlling a riveting operation of the rivet swaging assembly and a controller for controlling the motion of the robot; and a rivet feeder 9 for automatically feeding a self-piercing type rivet to the rivet swaging assembly. From the integrated controller 31, a interface cable 33 extends to the robot 6 and another interface cable 34 extends to the rivet feeder 9, and the rivet swaging assembly 35 is integrally incorporated into the robot 6.

Abstract: There is provided a plurality of component mounting apparatuses for sucking a plurality of components by a mounting head section and successively mounting the components onto a board located at a board positioning section. The component mounting apparatuses are arranged in parallel to one another, and a board transfer path is provided so that it penetrates the component mounting apparatuses. Even when the number of components to be mounted onto the board increases, the components are mounted on the component supply tables of the component mounting apparatuses as distributed thereto, and therefore, the whole apparatus is not dimensionally increased. The component supply tables are fixedly installed so as to become free of vibration, and the mounting head section executes the suction and the mounting of the plurality of components. Therefore, the component mounting operation speed can be remarkably increased.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wire includes pressing a lacquer-coated wire having a round cross-section into a wire having a long cross-sectional axis and a short cross-sectional axis, wherein the ratio of the axes is at most 3:1.

Abstract: A bolster plate is attached to a printed circuit board and acts as a stiffener that reduces bending in the overall assembly during the attachment of an integrated circuit chip to the printed circuit board under a heavy applied load. The bolster plate is provided with a shim that compensates for bending of the bolster plate under load, thereby preventing damage to the integrated circuit chip. The dimensions of the shim may be selected according to computer model results representing bow deformation in the bolster plate without the shim.

Abstract: A piston-pin lock-ring-insertion tool has a ring-insertion tube (1) in ring-insertion relationship to a ring pusher (2). The ring-insertion tube has an inside periphery with a press-close taper (8) that is tapered inwardly from a ring-feeder end (6) to a ring-guide bore (9) that is cylindrical uniformly intermediate the press-close taper and a ring-insertion end of the ring-insertion tube. The ring-insertion end (7) of the ring-insertion tube has a perpendicularity surface (10) that is adapted for alignment of the ring-guide bore and a piston-pin bore (4) in a crankshaft-engine piston (5). The ring pusher has a pusher taper (26) with a pusher head (12) adapted for being buttressed against a side of lock ring (3) for pushing the lock ring from a major diameter to a minor diameter of the press-close taper proximate a circumferential entrance to the ring-guide bore. The ring pusher has a slide rod (13) that is oppositely disposed end-to-end from the pusher head.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for connecting two shafts which may be of dissimilar materials from each other. A stub shaft of ceramic material is attached to an impeller shaft via a support hub and a steady bearing radially restrains the stub shaft.

Abstract: A final throat area of a gas turbine nozzle circumferential structure is established by providing at least two gas turbine nozzle vanes, and determining a pairwise initial throat area between each pair of gas turbine nozzle vanes. For each pair of gas turbine nozzle vanes whose pairwise initial throat area is not within the final pairwise throat area target range, a trailing edge of at least one of the gas turbine nozzle vanes is extended responsive to the step of determining the initial pairwise throat area, so that a final pairwise throat area is within a final pairwise throat area target range. A nozzle plurality of pairs of gas turbine nozzle vanes that together comprise the gas turbine nozzle circumferential structure may be selected so that a sum of their final pairwise throat areas is within a final total throat area target range.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for manufacturing an outlet nozzle (10) for use in a liquid fuel rocket engine. The nozzle forms a body of revolution having an axis of revolution and a cross section that varies in diameter along said axis. The nozzle has a wall structure comprising a plurality of mutually adjacent cooling channels extending substantially in parallel from the inlet end (12) of the nozzle to its outlet end (13). The method includes providing a plurality of preprocessed profile members, each having a web and flanges in opposite directions from said web. Each profile member is machined to present a longitudinally gradually tapering width. The member is curved to conform with the wall section of the nozzle, and members are joined by welding the flanges to form a bell-shaped nozzle structure with cooling channels (11) formed by adjacent webs and adjacent pairs of flanges.

Abstract: A system for and method of manufacturing a finned tube for a heat exchanger is disclosed herein. A continuous fin strip is provided with at least one pair of vortex generators. A tube is rotated and linearly displaced while the continuous fin strip with vortex generators is spirally wrapped around the tube.

Abstract: A method for producing longitudinally welded helically corrugated metal tubing, wherein a metal strip pulled from a strip supply is formed into tubing with a longitudinal slit, the longitudinal slit is sealed by welding and the corrugation is produced by a corrugation tool that is supported eccentrically and at an angle to the tubing axis, is freely rotatable in a rotationally driven corrugator head, and rolls off the surface of the tubing. The metal strip as well as the uncorrugated metal tubing are advanced by a feed device that is provided between the welding point and the corrugation unit. A second feed device (8) engages the corrugated tubing (7) directly behind the corrugation unit (6), and the feed rate of the second feed device is slower than the forward feed rate of the corrugated tubing (7) which results from the pitch of the corrugator disk and the rotational speed of the corrugator head.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ink jet print head includes forming a fluid passage forming substrate. The substrate has pressure generating chambers that are trapezoidal in shape and are formed by anisotropically etching a silicon monocrystalline substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a sintered oil retaining bearing that secures the stability of an oil film and achieves high running accuracy through management to exclude a variation in the size of surface openings in the bearing surface, particularly the presence of large holes, while making use of such advantages as the mass productivity, low noise and low cost features of sintered oil retaining bearings. In a sintered oil retaining bearing 11 having a bearing body 19 that is composed of a porous body formed of a sintered metal, that is formed with a bearing surface 18 opposed to the outer peripheral surface of a rotary shaft 1 through a bearing clearance and that is impregnated with lubricating oil or lubricating grease, it is arranged that surface openings in said bearing surface 18 are substantially uniform in size and that when the area of a single such surface opening is converted into the area of a circle, the diameter of such circle does not exceed 0.05 mm.

Abstract: In a safety razor a blade unit (1) is mounted on a carrying structure (2) for pivotal movement, and a delivery system (25,32,44) for conducting from a reservoir (21) a fluid, e.g. a lubricating fluid, which is to be applied to the skin during shaving, discharges the fluid at a port (45) which opens at or close to the pivot axis. The delivery system incorporates a valve (22,24) to control the supply of fluid to the blade unit (1) and the blade unit carrying structure (2) is coupled to the valve for the valve to eb actuated in response to the blade unit (1) being pressed against the skin during shaving. The blade unit carrying structured (2) is connected to a support structure (35) by a hinged coupling (36) and the valve is operated by a hinged movement of the blade unit carrying structure (2).

Abstract: An electric shaver having a cutter head that includes a movable cutter unit. With a single switching operation of a mode-switching dial that switches the operating mode of the shaver and is installed on the shaver main body, the movable cutter unit is moved upward or downward from a normal position, and the angle of inclination of the cutter head with respect to the shaver main body 1 is varied as well.

Abstract: A folding tool such as a knife or multitool has a handle defined by opposed side walls with a slot therebetween. An implement such as a blade is pivotally connected to the handle. A spring such as a liner disposed between the implement and one side wall has a longitudinal slot cut therein and opening on the end adjacent the implement attachment to define a spring arm. The slot includes a constricted zone that is preferably substantially V shaped and has an apex aligned with the pivot axis of the implement. A pin on the implement rides in the slot. When the pin is on the rearward side of the apex the spring arm applies pressure to the implement and prevents it from moving into the open position. The implement is thus safely and securely locked into the handle.

Abstract: A hedge having two opposing cutting blades connected to handles. Both of the cutting blades and both of the handles have gear elements formed as part of the blade or handle. The gear element of one handle engages the gear element of one of the cutting blades, while the gear element of the other handle engages the gear element of the other cutting blade so that a variable force is provided throughout the cutting stroke.

Abstract: A can opener has a first and a second handle member pivotably connected to be moveable between an open disposition and a closed disposition. They can be squeezed together in one hand of the operator to rotate a drive wheel. A cutting wheel is mounted onto the first handle member. A radially facing aperture is formed through a part of said first handle member so that the drive wheel may partly protrude to engage the rim of the can and press it against the cutting wheel. The drive wheel is mounted rotatably onto a rivet which is held slideably in a slot in the main plate of the first handle member to be moveable towards and away from the cutting wheel.

Abstract: A structure of handle for mini-handsaw includes a handle having a gap to engage a saw blade therein, a slider in cooperation with a locking member slidably engaged within a rectangular opening of the handle for releasably gripping the inner end of the blade and a swivel arrester fastening the middle portion of the blade through a slot and a depression of the handle. This handle is characterized in a convenient embedment or disengagement of the saw blade and the engagement is very stable.

Abstract: A touch probe 9 for a coordinate measuring apparatus is proposed which includes a touch probe chassis 29 adapted to be attached to the coordinate measuring apparatus, a support for the sensing stylus 39 which is mounted on the touch probe chassis 29 so as to be deflectable from a rest position and on which a sensing stylus 47 is mountable for contacting a workpiece 17, a deflection measuring system 55, 57 for detecting a deflection of the support for the sensing stylus 39 with respect to the touch probe chassis 29 and an inspection optics 61 for inspecting a tip 49 of the sensing stylus 47. The touch probe 1 is characterized in that at least one of the components support for the sensing stylus 39 and touch probe chassis 29 comprises a transverse support 39 which extends transversely to a direction of extension of the sensing stylus 47 and which is transparent to light in at least a portion thereof and which is disposed in a beam path 69 of the inspection optics 61.

Abstract: A semiconductor load port alignment device has a housing with a registration face and an alignment measurement face. A plurality of sensors are contained in the housing near the alignment measurement face. A processor is connected to the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A combination retractable tape measure/chalk line device for incorporating both a taper measure and a chalk line in one unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly drying solutions in one or more arrays of vessels includes a manifold that receives gas and a base plate that receives the one or more arrays of vessels. The manifold includes one or more hollow tubes that direct the gas into the vessels, where the gas evaporates the solutions. A variety of types of hollow tubes are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the gas is filtered, pressurized and/or heated. In an exemplary embodiment, the solutions are heated. The base plate is hingeably coupled to the manifold so that the base plate has an open position and a closed position. The open position permits users to place and remove the vessels that contain solutions to be dried. In the closed position, the base plate and the manifold are in sealing engagement with one another, wherein the one or more of the hollow tubes extend into the vessels.

Abstract: In its simplest conceptual form, this invention relates to variations in the structure of such shoes having a sole contour which follows a theoretically ideal stability plane as a basic concept, but which deviates substantially therefrom outwardly, to provide greater than natural stability, so that joint motion of the wearer is restricted, especially the ankle joint; or, alternately, which deviates substantially therefrom inwardly, to provide less than natural stability, so that a greater freedom of joint motion is allowed. Alternately, substantial density variations or bottom sole designs are used instead of, or in combination with, substantial thickness variations for the same purpose. These shoe sole modifications are research indicating that they are necessary and useful to correct important interrelated anatomical/biomechanical imbalances or deformities of surprising large magnitude in both individuals or major population groups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sole for a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe with a support plate, at least one damping element arranged below the support plate and at least one spring element mounted to the support plate, where the spring element is essentially L-shaped and thereby encompasses the damping element from the side and from below.

Abstract: A midsole includes a thick plate-shaped or column-shaped cushioning portion. A plurality of grooves is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cushioning portion. The respective grooves are helically formed around a substantially vertical line. The respective grooves are arranged substantially parallel with each other. A range &agr; in which each of the grooves is formed is larger than a range of 15 degrees around the axial line and is smaller than a range of 180 degrees around the axial line.

Abstract: A punch-to-fix structure of steel-head shoes comprises a vamp, a steel head, and a sole, in which a covering portion and a wearing entrance are formed at a front and a rear end of the vamp, respectively. The bottom end of the vamp is an upper jointing mouth having a plurality of peripherally punched through holes, and there is also a plurality of through holes formed surrounding the steel head. The top end of the sole is a lower jointing mouth surrounded by a plurality of protruding dots corresponding to the through holes in the steel head and the upper jointing mouth of the vamp. When assembling, the protruding dots along the perimeter in the lower jointing mouth of the sole are squeezed into the through holes of the covering portion in the upper jointing mouth and into the through holes of the steel head to thereby combine the steel head, the vamp, and the sole solidly together.

Abstract: An excavator in which a generator is driven by an engine as a power source. Electric motors are driven by electric power supplied from the generator, and a lower traveling body, an upper turning body, and operating parts of an excavation attachment are operated by the electric motors.

Abstract: A trench-digging machine is provided that includes a digging implement capable of being laterally offset beyond the bounds of the transport machine, thereby enabling the trench-digging machine to dig trenches that are laterally offset from the transport machine. The trench-digging machine also generally includes an attachment plate and frame to operably connect the digging implement to the transport machine. The attachment plate may be disposed at an angle offset from vertical such that the attachment plate faces downwardly. As such, the frame and, in turn, the digging implement may be operably connected to the transport machine at a position closer to the ground, thereby reducing the clearance required for access by the digging implement.

Abstract: A screening apparatus is removably connected to a prime mover having an excavating bucket or loading shovel. The screening apparatus includes a material feed conveyor that feeds material to a screening device. A mounting mechanism and associated adjustment mechanism are used to detachably and movably mount the screening apparatus to support structure on the prime mover, with the conveyor being located adjacent the bucket or loading shovel for receiving unscreened material into the screening apparatus from the bucket or loading shovel during use.

Abstract: A remote controller for a biped robot is of a simple arrangement capable of remotely controlling movement of the biped robot while taking into account the stability of the attitude of the robot. A manipulation unit 23 outputs, to a robot A, signals representative of manipulated positions of manipulator levers 26, 26 which correspond respectively to both legs 2, 2 of the robot A. A control unit 19 mounted in the robot A generates a motion command (desired gait) for determining motions of the legs for at least two steps of a walking action of the robot A depending on the manipulated positions of manipulator levers 26, 26 which are represented by output signal data from the manipulation unit 23, and controls motions of the legs 2, 2 based on the motion command.

Abstract: The apparatus is an internally illuminated message display, predominantly for an automobile, and is readily adaptable for any window display. The apparatus comprises of a cylindrical lightweight molded plastic housing, with an interior reflective paint or reflective material, a light socket and light bulb. A snap on sleeve contains a slot for the insertion of a translucent disk. Said disk contains various messages and/or art symbols. The sleeve has a hinge connecting it to an adjustable oval transparent suction cup frame. The oval transparent suction cup attaches to the frame and spans the face of the display with the lip of the suction cup circumnavigating the outer edge of the frame. Hinged adjustment is made for attachment to an aerodynamic sloping automobile rear window, and is stabilized with a snap on rod from sleeve to suction cup frame. The gap created from adjustment between the sleeve and frame is covered with an opaque thin snap on plastic sock.

Abstract: A display device for flat surfaces preserves the integrity of both the display item and the mounting surface by enabling the placing the display item in the polypropylene pocket, thereby eliminating the need to tape or tack the display item to the mounting surface and either pierce the display item with a tack or remove a portion of the display item when removing the tape, and similarly, the integrity of the mounting surface is preserved because the attachment member simply grabs on to the surface, instead of being pierced by a tack or taped.

Abstract: A firearm safety device including a stop tab, a locking strap and a lock tab. The stop tab has an inner end adapted to abut against the muzzle of a firearm. The locking strap is attached to the stop tab and is adapted to be insertable into and through the barrel of a firearm. The locking strap has a plurality of transverse teeth located on an outer surface thereof. The lock tab is removably attached to the stop tab and has a lock housing with a transverse aperture extending therethrough that is adapted to receive the locking strap. The lock housing is adapted to allow the teeth of the locking strap to pass through the transverse aperture as the lock tab is being inserted onto the locking strap, but to prevent removal of the lock tab from the locking strap once insertion has started.

Abstract: A fire arm, especially a small caliber pistol, having a grip, a frame connected to the grip, a barrel unit fixed on the frame in the operating state of the fire arm, with a barrel tube and a bolt which can move relative to the frame and barrel unit such that when a shot is fired it can move to the rear against the direction of firing, the barrel unit and/or the frame having fastening means which allow detachable mounting of the barrel unit on the frame.

Abstract: An automatic choke system for automatically adjusting the amount of choke applied to a series of shots discharged from shotgun. The automatic choke system includes a tube assembly with a plurality of longitudinal slits within the distal end thereof, a collar unit attached about the tube assembly, and a swedge assembly slidably positioned between the tube assembly and the collar unit. A latch unit attached to the collar unit selectively allows the swedge assembly to move forwardly one position after each shot fired. The latch unit is operated by gas flow from the interior of the barrel of the shotgun during a shot.

Abstract: An arm rest and support for aiming. The arm rest and support consists of an upper member hingedly attached to a lower member. A pair of straps attached to the lower member wrap around the torso of the user for support. A third strap attached to the upper member is adapted to wrap around the aiming arm of the user. When not in use, the arm rest and support may be folded, allowing the user to move about. When the support is needed, the user simply raises his or her arm, causing the upper member to pivot and lock at an approximate right angle in relation to the lower member, providing the user with support for aiming resulting in greater accuracy and reduced fatigue.

Abstract: A fish lure making system for making a fishing lures for fish eggs and other baits. The fish lure making system includes a tying means for making the fishing lures. A spool is provided for holding the tying means. A sack is provided having an access opening designed for holding fish eggs. A housing having an interior is provided for selectively receiving and holding the sack. The housing includes a pair of clip portions and a securing portion. The spool is rotatably mounted between the pair of clip portions of the housing. The securing portion of the housing includes an aperture extending through the housing for receiving the sack. A securing assembly is slidably positioned in the interior of the housing for cinching the sack positioned through the aperture while user ties the sack blocking the access opening of the sack.

Abstract: A harpoon includes a handle to be grasped by a user for placing the harpoon and a shaft having a proximal end connected to the handle. A distal end of the shaft has a pin receiving passageway formed therein. The pin receiving passageway may include a releasing portion and a retaining portion in communication therewith. The manual harpoon may also include a harpoon tip having an open proximal end for being received over the distal end of the shaft, and a pin carried by the open proximal end of the harpoon tip. The pin may cooperate with the pin receiving passageway to retain the harpoon tip on the shaft when the pin is in the retaining portion of the pin receiving passageway, and to release the harpoon tip from the shaft when the pin is in the releasing portion of the pin receiving passageway.

Abstract: A vibrating fishing lure provides a circuit board to control application of power from a battery to an electric motor within a cavity of the lure body. The circuit board includes pin receptacles that receive conductor pins of one or more of the various components to allow the components to be plugged in and frictionally fixed to the circuit board to establish electrical connection. Furthermore, the conductor pins frictionally fixed to the circuit board may be non-corrosive so that they may be exposed to the water without corroding.

Abstract: An illuminated two-piece fiber glass fishing rod having a light emitting diode (LED) or a light bulb proximate its tip encased in an extended transparent tubular plastic portion as part of a hollow tip segment of the rod. The illumination is energized by battery encased in the handle of the hollow butt segment. The hollow tip and the butt segments are connected by a male-female electrical connection in the ferrules and rod segments. The segments are disassembled for portage.

Abstract: A fishing lure has an attachment for a fishing line to pull the lure through a body of water to attract and catch fish. One or more hooks are attached to the body of the lure. A refillable chamber enclosed within the lure body is arranged to hold a liquid fish attractant. An elongate wick made of a material that absorbs the liquid attractant is immersed in the liquid in the chamber. One end of the wick extends from the chamber through a passage in the body of the lure to be in communication with the body of water. The liquid attractant is thereby eluted from the end of the wick in very small amounts as the lure is pulled through the water to attract fish to the lure.

Abstract: A trolling planer board made of lightweight translucent material has a continuous light source for night fishing and a day or night easily perceptible strike indicator. The light, indicator, and their power supply are housed in a watertight compartment away from the elements and fishing lines. The strike indicator may comprise a blinking light, a strobe light, a sound, or any other alerting mechanism. Fishing line releases comprise only three moldable pieces, made of weather impervious material and can be used to maintain a hold on the fishing line or to release it, as desired. The planer, made of weather impervious material and having no exposed accessory parts that are sensitive to the elements, can be used in fresh or salt water. The planer's hydrodynamic design eliminates the need for planning board rods and heavy test lines and the weight of the power supply eliminates any need for additional weights.

Abstract: A yellow jacket and fly trap. The main body of the trap is produced from a screen and has a narrowing inlet passage with a passage defining an oblong inlet from the passage into a holding chamber. A bait receptacle is removably mounted within the passage. The inlet is formed by an interior side wall having a lower circular opening and an elliptical or oblong inlet leading into the trap.

Abstract: A pest bait station includes a disposable carrier disposed in a reusable housing. Pest bait is securely affixed to the carrier such that movement of the station does not dislodge the bait from the carrier. A first bait affixed to a lower surface of the carrier exterminates smaller pests while a second bait affixed to an upper surface of the carrier exterminates larger pests. The carrier is shaped, such as a cone, to provide a lower space and an upper space for receiving differently sized pests. A lid of the housing is shaped to accommodate the shape of the cone. The lid is removably coupled to a base to form a water-tight seal. Openings formed in the base allow for entry of pests. A magnet or adhesive may be placed on a bottom side of the base to enable the station to be coupled to any surface.