The present invention relates to a plant caddy comprising a first molded thermoplastic member having a top planar surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a plurality of downward facing wheel pedestals. The first molded thermoplastic member also includes a plurality of pocket members, each having an upper section set within the top planar surface and a lower section set within the bottom surface. Each pocket member has at least one aperture allowing a flow of thermoplastic material between the upper and lower sections. The plant caddy further includes a plurality of thermoplastic over-mold members, with each over-mold member having a first portion disposed within the upper section of a dedicated pocket and a second portion disposed within the lower section of the dedicated pocket. Additionally, the plant caddy includes a plurality of wheel members, each attached to a dedicated downward facing wheel pedestal.

The present invention relates to biodegradable and compostable granules consisting of natural ingredients comprising starch and thickening and gelling agents and does not comprise bioplastics. According to the invention, the granules are used for producing biodegradable and preferably compostable products and articles of daily use. The present invention also relates to methods for producing the granules according to the invention, as well as methods for producing different products by using the granules according to the invention.

A fabric for regulating temperature of an adjacent surface comprises at least one layer, for instance, a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. At least one of the layers is comprised of a first material which comprises copper and phase change material for providing strength and structure to the fabric. At least one of the layers also comprises a cooling material, a heating material and/or a temperature-regulating material. A plurality of stitches comprising yarn can run throughout the layers, holding them together. The fabric can be used in a mattress, pillow, furniture item, garment or other item designed to be placed adjacent a user's body. When used in a mattress or pillow, the fabric may improve a person's sleep and in turn daily functioning.

Tubular conduits are provided which have an outer surface and/or an inner surface functionalized with at least one antimicrobial peptide having the sequence X.sub.1X.sub.2WVX.sub.3IWVX.sub.4X.sub.5, wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, X.sub.4 and X.sub.5 are independently selected from K and R and wherein each amino acid is independently in the D or L configuration, or a salt or solvate thereof. The tubular conduits are preferably made of biodegradable polymeric material. The functionalization of the tubular conduits with the at least one antimicrobial peptide prevents contamination caused by Gram negative bacteria, Gram positive bacteria, fungi, yeasts and/or viruses.

A system and method for making degradable drinking straws made of ice (or other frozen liquid(s)). The system may comprise one or more tubes configured to extend into a reservoir. The tubes may each be in fluid communication with a connecting bar, wherein fluid (e.g., a liquid and/or a gas) within the connecting bar may be directed into the tubes. The system may comprise a source of cold fluid and a source of hot fluid in fluid communication with the connecting bar. The degradable straw may comprise a wall (or thickness) made of ice with a hollow, cavity, and/or void space through the straw. The degradable straw may serve to cool the drink (as any other piece of ice within the drinking liquid) via placement in a drink and/or via the drink passing through the void space into a user's mouth.

Provided herein are compositions comprising substrates that contain polymeric materials or non-magnetic, paramagnetic, or diamagnetic metal objects, and films or inks that contain ferromagnetic materials in which the films or the ferromagnetic materials are transparent. Also provided herein are methods of fabricating the substrates. Further provided herein are ferromagnetic material films containing transparent or translucent films that comprises ferromagnetic materials. The coating imparts functionality to the film such that the film is capable of being mechanically separated from the polymeric materials or non-magnetic, paramagnetic, or diamagnetic metal objects using a commercial magnetic separator. The transparent, food-safe ink composition, which can be printed using high-speed flexographic, gravure, intaglio, offset printing or pad printing consists of an ingestible magnetically susceptible pigment capable of rendering the printed template with magnetically active properties.

A tubular implement, such as a container, in particular a container (pipe for transport) for food or beverages such as a drinking straw, includes a first part having a sheet of wood veneer rolled to form the tubular implement in the form of a cylinder.

A system and method for making degradable drinking straws made of ice (or other frozen liquid(s)). The system may comprise one or more tubes configured to extend into a reservoir. The tubes may each be in fluid communication with a connecting bar, wherein fluid (e.g., a liquid and/or a gas) within the connecting bar may be directed into the tubes. The system may comprise a source of cold fluid and a source of hot fluid in fluid communication with the connecting bar. The degradable straw may comprise a wall (or thickness) made of ice with a hollow, cavity, and/or void space through the straw. The degradable straw may serve to cool the drink (as any other piece of ice within the drinking liquid) via placement in a drink and/or via the drink passing through the void space into a user's mouth.

A melamine utensil made from melamine composite material and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. Stir and mix 60-70 weight percentage (wt %) of a primary powder-like melamine material, 20-30 wt % of shards of a secondary melamine material, and 5-15 wt % of melamine resin glazing powder, or 49-59 wt % of the primary powder-like melamine material, 16-26 wt % of shards of the secondary melamine material, 12-22 wt % of pulp, and 6-10 wt % of the melamine resin glazing powder evenly to form a composite material. The composite material is pre-heated and mounted into a mold to produce the melamine utensil by hot pressing. The shards of the secondary melamine material with different shapes, sizes or colors are formed by crushing of the hot-pressed secondary melamine material. During the hot-pressing, the primary melamine material and the melamine resin glazing powder are melted and attached to the secondary melamine material.

Systems and methods for using an intelligent conductive floor mat and sensors to improve the performance of a practice is provided herein. The conductive floor mat may be electrically grounded. One or more sensors may be used to sense environmental data regarding the environment surrounding the conductive floor mat. One or more other sensors may be used to sense physiological data of a user that performs a practice. A computing device may use the sensors to evaluate the suitability of an environment around the conductive floor mat for performing the practice. The computing device may also identify changes in the physiological state of the user while the user performs the practice in the environment.