A beverage container comprising a stem having an upper and a lower end, a cup having an upper opening and a lower bowl portion, and a base having a tapered upper end with a diameter that widens evenly along its length towards a lower end until the diameter is at least equal to a diameter of the upper opening of the cup. The upper end of the stem is attached to the cup at a point centered on the bowl portion of the cup. The upper end of the base is removably attached at to the lower end of the stem, the lower end of the base being capable of securely covering the upper opening when not attached to the stem.

A beverage container comprising a stem having an upper and a lower end, a cup having an upper opening and a lower bowl portion, and a base having a tapered upper end with a diameter that widens evenly along its length towards a lower end until the diameter is at least equal to a diameter of the upper opening of the cup. The upper end of the stem is attached to the cup at a point centered on the bowl portion of the cup. The upper end of the base is removably attached at to the lower end of the stem, the lower end of the base being capable of securely covering the upper opening when not attached to the stem.

A protective article is disclosed including a sheet with a first surface, and at least one adhesive portion arranged on the first surface. The adhesive is a water-based adhesive, such as a water-based acrylic adhesive, that allows the sheet to be non-permanently adhered to an object. The adhesive may be sprayed, rolled, printed, or stamped onto the first surface.

A protective article is disclosed including a sheet with a first surface, and at least one adhesive portion arranged on the first surface. The adhesive is a water-based adhesive, such as a water-based acrylic adhesive, that allows the sheet to be non-permanently adhered to an object. The adhesive may be sprayed, rolled, printed, or stamped onto the first surface.

A method for occupying a toddler may include providing a flexible mat; affixing the flexible mat to a vertical surface; providing an elongated tether; affixing the elongated tether to at least one of the vertical surface and the flexible mat; coupling an object to the elongated tether. In some embodiments, the elongated tether has an anchor end and a retention end. The retention end may have one or more retention apertures, each characterized by a retention-aperture diameter, and a retention terminus characterized by a retention diameter being greater than the retention-aperture diameter. Coupling an object to the elongated tether may include disposing the retention end around or through the object and disposing the retention terminus through one of the one or more retention apertures to form a compression fit.

A folding tray includes a hygienic surface within the internal portion that is shielded from contamination in a folded configuration. The folding tray includes two symmetrical halves joined by a spine that allows the folding tray to close. The folding tray can include one or more inserted surfaces overlapping at least a portion of the two symmetrical halves on one side of the folding tray. The inserted surfaces can be folded into the folding tray in a folded state. The inserted surfaces can be removable or include a plurality of stacked sheets that are individually removable. The folding tray can be used to isolate materials on the tray from contaminants under the tray, or protect a material beneath the tray from contaminants on the tray.

An insert for a cup holder or similar orifice with an inner wall has a plurality of arcuate legs. The legs arc outward from a proximal end to a distal end and are flexible inward via application of a force. The legs return flex outward when the force is released thereby forming a pressure fit against the wall of a cup holder or insert to rigidly maintain the insert within the wall.

Systems and methods are provided to detect a developed bad word-line of a flash memory. Embodiments provide an improved Background media scan (BGMS) process that can predict at the end of a block read if a word-line will potentially become bad with the use of the flash memory. Accordingly, data from the potentially bad block can be recovered and the block can be retired. The embodiments can minimize the need for the expensive chip-kill method.

A self-sealing integrated tablewear and dining mat including a rubberlike planar portion having a raised perimeter delimiting at least one concavity above an upper surface and a suffuse undersurface disposed for sealable contact with an underlying surface upon which said mat is disposed, said sealable contact preventative of lateral displacement of the planar portion across the underlying surface, wherein said sealable contact creates a partial vacuum when attempts to separate the undersurface from the underlying surface are made except at an outer edge of the planar portion, whereby io removal of the planar portion from the underlying surface is effective only by peeling the undersurface from the underlying surface starting first at the outer edge.

A beverage container coaster with a coaster housing having a substantially horizontal palm portion that contains a beverage area for supporting a beverage container in a substantially level fashion. At least one finger extension extends from an edge of the palm portion of said coaster housing such that a tip of such finger extension is fixed at, or may be moved to and from, an elevated height with respect to the height of the beverage area. Fingers of the beverage container coaster may be moveable and pliable for changing their position and shape. Sound and/or light generators may also be incorporated into the beverage container coaster and used under the control of an electronic controller contained within the coaster housing.