Other

The Little Tikes Company

Premium Balloon Accessories, Inc.

John J Andrisin

David C Nelson

Robert L Quinlan

David D Hayes

Martin A Meluch

G Stewart Lenox

Douglas Zlatic

Brent G Anderson

A lid support including a support platform and support legs extending downwardly from the support platform is configured such that a plurality of lid supports may be intimately stacked for efficient storage. A serrated leg may be provided extending downwardly and outwardly from the support platform, and particularly preferred modes of practicing the invention include providing a hole in the support platform in order to allow the support platform to be employed as a handle for the serrated leg, by inserting a finger through the hole. The hole also serves to reduce the overall material costs of the lid support.

Pizza box lid support and serving aid

A balloon weight and ribbon assembly includes a spool having a length of ribbon wound thereabout, the ribbon being secured at one end to the spool and at the other end to a lightweight breakaway tab which initially comprises a part and parcel of the spool. A slot in the tab accommodates receipt of a double knot at one end of the ribbon, while a slot in the spool accommodates receipt of a double knot of the ribbon at the opposite end. A piece of double backed adhesive tape is provided on the breakaway tab to allow for securement of the tab to the neck or tail of an inflated balloon.

Balloon weight and ribbon assembly

A balloon locking cup and securing system includes a cup having a latch interposed between a funnel shaped cup portion and a tube extension. The balloon cup is placed over a reciprocating needle hook rod in a securing system. The tail of the balloon is received by a hook at the end of the hook rod and a first pneumatic cylinder is actuated to pull the needle hook rod in such a manner as to pull the balloon into nesting engagement with the balloon cup. At the end of travel of the first pneumatic cylinder, a second pneumatic cylinder is automatically actuated, causing a knife blade to separate the end of the balloon tail just beneath the tubular member of the balloon cup assembly. The drawing of the balloon into the cup assembly actuates the latch which engages the balloon tail near the neck of the balloon and secures the balloon in the cup assembly.

Balloon locking cup and securing system

A dual-function balloon weight is provided having a base member that provides first and second attachment points for securing balloons to the base member. A first attachment point is provided at one position on the base member for tying individual balloons to the base member at this first position. The second attachment point is provided at a second position on the base member for securing a multitude of balloons thereto to provide a balloon bouquet. At the second attachment point, a multitude of balloons can be secured to a retention member that couples with the base member of the balloon weight. Thus, the balloon weight of the present invention is a dual-function balloon weight in that individual balloons may be secured thereto as with common balloon weights and, additionally or alternatively, a multitude of balloons can be attached thereto to provide a balloon bouquet.

Dual-function balloon weight

A crayon sharpening assembly is disclosed comprising an axially rotating cartridge block (106) having an axial bore (178) for axial receipt of a crayon with a forward end of the crayon positioned within a cutting station (152). A pair of convergent sharpening blades (158, 160) carve a conical nose into the forward crayon end; a secondary horizontal blade (180) engages the forward crayon end and cuts an annular stepped shoulder surrounding the conical nose; and a preparatory vertical blade (188) makes a vertical circumscribing cut through the jacket of the crayon proximate the forward end, whereby restoring the forward crayon end into its manufactured form. A carrying case (12, 14) is provided having a pivotal lid (16), with the sharpener drive assembly (20, 22) built into one end wall. A drawer assembly (100) is removable from the end wall and contains the cartridge block (106) and a housing (102) for collecting shavings generated in the sharpening procedure. A bottom housing door (104) opens to allow expulsion of the shavings. Rotation of the cartridge block (106) is facilitated by an electrically driven drive assembly that is automatically engaged and disengaged by the respective insertion and removal of the crayon and disengaged by the removal of the drawer housing assembly. Rotation of the cartridge block (106) is defeated by a clutch member (230) whenever an article that has a hardness greater than that of a crayon is inserted into the cartridge block cutting station (152).

Crayon sharpener assembly

A crayon sharpening assembly is disclosed comprising an axially rotating cartridge block (106) having an axial bore (178) for axial receipt of a crayon with a forward end of the crayon positioned within a cutting station (152). A pair of convergent sharpening blades (158, 160) carve a conical nose into the forward crayon end; a secondary horizontal blade (180) engages the forward crayon end and cuts an annular stepped shoulder surrounding the conical nose; and a preparatory vertical blade (188) makes a vertical circumscribing cut through the jacket of the crayon proximate the forward end, whereby restoring the forward crayon end into its manufactured form. A carrying case (12, 14) is provided having a pivotal lid (16), with the sharpener drive assembly (20, 22) built into one end wall. A drawer assembly (100) is removable from the end wall and contains the cartridge block (106) and a housing (102) for collecting shavings generated in the sharpening procedure. A bottom housing door (104) opens to allow expulsion of the shavings. Rotation of the cartridge block (106) is facilitated by an electrically driven drive assembly that is automatically engaged and disengaged by the respective insertion and removal of the crayon and disengaged by the removal of the drawer housing assembly. Rotation of the cartridge block (106) is defeated by clutch member (230) whenever an article that has a hardness greater than that of a crayon is inserted into the cartridge block cutting station (152).

Growing community of inventors

Cuyahoga Falls, OH, United States of America

John J Andrisin