Waddington North America, Inc.

Other

Nytell Software LLC

Mine Safety Appliances Company

Better Breathing Inc.

Ashish K Mithal

William A Gallop

Amad Tayebi

Matthew J Wichmann

David Gordon

Scott W Cormier

George S Saati

Thomas E Ellsworth

Raymond Chan

Curtis Heverly

Michael G Evans

Tanya A Kyslowsky

Raymond Chen

A cutlery dispensing system includes a base having a plurality of base compartments with identical retaining features and a plurality of dispensers having compatible retaining features allowing them to be installed in the base in any desired order and combination. In embodiments, individual dispensers remain vertically supported when they are horizontally slid part-way out of the base to access side features that enable cutlery refilling. The base can comprise a plurality of interlocking compartment base units, each of which having one or more base compartments, to allow flexible configuration and expansion of the base. End caps can be used to terminate the sides of the base. Compartment base units with only one base compartment can be less than six inches wide.

System with multiple cutlery dispensers interchangeable between identical base retaining features

A method of providing a preview version of a book over a computer network, the method comprising: apportioning the book into a plurality of content segments; modifying the book by rearranging at least a subset of the plurality of content segments to create a shuffled configuration of the book; initiating a preview session and displaying at least a first content segment from said shuffled configuration of the book in a preview window; displaying a next group of content segments from said shuffled configuration of the book during said preview session upon receiving a prompt from user to continue browsing; and controlling the availability of said shuffled configuration of the book during said preview session. A user may further customize preview version by providing a search input or by selecting a page range. Shuffled preview version may include one or more advertisements.

Method and system for offering books for preview in ecommerce

A system for easily refilling cutlery dispensers and other devices includes a stack of identical cutlery items maintained by a retaining structure that can be removed either before, during, or after installation, depending on the dispenser configuration. In a first aspect, the cutlery handles are nested and the retaining structure includes a single adhesive strip applied to only one side of the stack. In a second aspect, the retaining structure includes separate adhesive strips applied to each side of the stack. In a third aspect, the retaining structure comprises a band extending around the stack, removal of the band from the stack being facilitated by breaking of a frangible section of the band. In all aspects a pull-tab or other graspable element can be provided to facilitate removal of the support structure. The stacked cutlery may also be loaded into a caddy or into a tray.

Stacked cutlery system and method

An escapement mechanism of a cutlery dispenser causes a cutlery article to fall from a vertical stack onto a slide track that guides it to a dispensing position. A slide channel and head channel of the slide track can laterally confine the cutlery article. A dampening surface can reduce cutlery bouncing and skewing. The escapement mechanism can include at least three pivots and/or a coil return spring. Dispensers can be installed in a base in any desired combination and retained therein by compatible features such as flanges and slots that prevent dispenser tipping. In embodiments, individual dispensers can be horizontally slid part-way out of the base to access side features that would otherwise be obscured by a neighboring dispenser. A cutlery quantity indicator can laterally contact the cutlery stack and can pivot to display a low-cutlery signal when the cutlery stack falls below an indicator height.

Cutlery dispensing system

Cutlery dispensing system and method

A method for controlling the release of an as-rendered configuration of a digital work, comprising the steps of presenting said digital work as a composite of a plurality of layers comprising at least a first layer and a second layer; providing a rendering protocol interface which is adapted for defining said as-rendered configuration of the digital work by specifying a first rendering status of said first layer and a second rendering status of said second layer; providing a rendering protocol facility adapted for storing and controlling the release of said first and second rendering status of said first and second layers respectively in accordance with said as-rendered configuration; restricting unauthorized access to the rendering protocol interface, thereby preventing unauthorized modification of said as-rendered configuration; and releasing said digital work with said as-rendered configuration. The method has application in selling books, movies, software, music and other information products. A method of selling a preview version of an information product along with an option of purchase of the original version is described.

Enhanced security preview of digital content

A system for easily refilling cutlery dispensers or other devices includes a stack of identical cutlery items maintained by a retaining structure that can be removable either before, during, or after installation, depending on the configuration of the dispenser. In a first aspect, the retaining structure includes nested cutlery handles and a single adhesive strip applied to one side of the stack. In a second aspect, the retaining structure includes separate adhesive strips applied to each side of the stack. In a third aspect, the retaining structure is a band extending entirely around the stack and equipped with a pull-tab for opening and removing the retaining structure. In all aspects a pull-tab or other graspable element can be provided to facilitate removal of the support structure. The stacked cutlery may also be loaded into a caddy or into a tray.

A lid for a drinking cup enables drinking while inhibiting splashing and spilling. The lid features a drinking spout having an outer wall, an inner wall and a top wall. A dispensing well formed in the spout includes a bottom wall, two end walls, and at least two opposed sidewall openings. Nearly all vertical beverage splashes impinge upon the underside of the bottom wall, while the opposed openings allow splashes entering the dispensing well to be drained through the opposite opening. A plurality of vent holes can be provided to allow air to enter the cup as beverage is consumed. Vent holes near the dispensing well can be blocked during drinking, when the cup is full and the beverage is hot, but unblocked as the beverage cools and is consumed. Interior baffle walls around the dispensing well can inhibit swirling or laterally-splashing beverage from entering the dispensing well.

Lid featuring improved splash and spill resistance and ease of flow

A 2-piece disposable lid assembly for a drinking cup enables unhindered drinking while inhibiting splashing and spilling. The assembly includes a dispensing well formed in a drinking spout, and a flat insert supported by a plurality of baffles within the spout so as to form a horizontal channel through which beverage flows in a circuitous path around the baffles and into the dispensing well. A plurality of vent holes can allow air to enter the cup as beverage is consumed. Vent holes located near the dispensing well can be blocked during drinking when the cup is full and the beverage is hot, but unblocked as the beverage cools and is consumed. Embodiments of the lid can also be used separately as a low-cost, 1-piece lid that reduces splashing. The flat insert is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and installation of the insert in the lid can be automated.

Two-piece splash and spill resistant lid assembly and method therefor

A lid and tray assembly includes at least two lift tabs and/or indentations at separated but not directly opposing locations about the lid periphery that can be actuated simultaneously or sequentially to provide two distinct locations from which initial disengagements can extend and merge to enable easy removal of the entire lid. Embodiments further include locations that can be pressed while corresponding tabs are lifted. Some embodiments include a peripheral skirt that is short enough to allow a user's fingers to pass beneath and support the tray sidewalls when lifting the tray-lid assembly from a horizontal surface, avoiding any need for the lid engagement to bear the weight of the tray and its contents. Lid-tray engagement can be by means of inserting a lid peripheral rim into a tray lip groove, or by engaging a lid rim undercut with a tray lip undercut.

Lid featuring ease of use and improved release from a tray or container

A lid for a drinking cup enables drinking while inhibiting splashing and spilling. The lid features a dispensing well formed in a drinking spout. The dispensing well includes a plurality of openings in a sidewall proximate a spout front wall. All direct liquid paths out of the cup are substantially blocked. A plurality of baffles around the openings direct beverage flow in a plurality of channels before the beverage reaches the dispensing well. Beverage splashes larger than the channels are deflected or broken up, before passing through. The placement of the openings directs splashed liquid away from the user. A plurality of vent holes is provided to allow air to enter the cup as beverage is consumed. Vent holes located near the dispensing well can be blocked during drinking when the cup is full and the beverage is hot, but unblocked as the beverage cools and is consumed.

Splash and spill resistant lid

A lid is reliably engagable with a tray while being easily releasable without disturbing tray contents and without undue lid stress. At least two lift tabs or indentations are provided at separated locations about the lid periphery, thereby providing two distinct initial disengagement locations and overcoming any tendency of the elastic lid to reactively grip the tray when disengagement is initiated. Initial disengagement at the two locations thereby enables easy removal of the entire lid. Lid release can require simultaneous and/or sequential actuation of tabs and/or indentations. Embodiments further include locations that can be pressed while corresponding tabs are lifted. Some embodiments include a peripheral skirt that is short enough to allow a user's fingers to pass beneath and support the tray sidewalls when lifting the tray-lid assembly from a horizontal surface, avoiding any need for the lid engagement to bear the weight of the tray and its contents.

A plastic cutlery item molded from a plastic material, such as polystyrene, having a metallic coating that imparts to this cutlery item the appearance of metal cutlery or silverware. In one embodiment the plastic cutlery or tableware items are molded using injection molding techniques, and subjected to a vacuum metallizing process in an individualized non-contiguous manner, where a thin metallic layer is deposited on at least one of their surfaces. The resultant items simulate the appearance of metal cutlery or tableware. In one embodiment of the invention the plastic cutlery or tableware articles are molded from a clear polystyrene resin and are coated with a thin stainless steel layer through vacuum sputtering deposition on only one of the sides. The abrasion resistance of the metallic coating can be enhanced by subjecting the articles to a post-metallizing holding period or by applying a clear protective overcoat.

Growing community of inventors

North Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

Ashish K Mithal