Abstract: A device and a method for measuring linear lengths has a tape housing, a flexible measuring tape, and a rigid rule movably fastened to the housing. The rule can by itself accurately and directly measure relatively small structures and the tape and rule are preferably deployed in opposition to each other to obtain inside measurement results by combining the length of the rule and the deployed length of tape. Angles between the housing and the rule can also be determined or transferred.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for filling vessels with liquid has a non-electric fill indicator having an air passageway leading up and out of the vessel to an air flow indicator, air escaping during filling causes the indicator to whistle and when the whistle stops, the vessel is filled and the user stops filling. The air flow is not stopped until the height level of opened air inlet port is covered by the vessel liquid. The funnel has a full height slot along one side and a vertically slidable air tube in the slot; air is admitted transversely into an aperture through the tube with the aperture being vertically movable along with the tube for easy adjustment of relative fill level.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser has a housing, a dispenser head with an electrically conductive combination beverage receptacle actuator lever and dispensed beverage level probe, a control circuit connected to the probe and to a start switch actuatable by the probe and to a solenoid for a beverage valve, and a drip tray and receptacle support wherein the receptacle support is tilted rearward toward the probe to support a tilted receptacle against the probe and keep the lowest part of a tilted receptacle rim against the probe; an improved probe assembly has dielectric journal piece isolating the probe from a body of the dispensing head, and a heater element is provided for the probe and either continuously or intermittently heats the probe to keep it insect free and sanitary.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus of scaffolding during building has a scaffold with folding hanger and work frames, storable bumpers on the work frame for propping the scaffold off of a wall, and a hanger structure in the hanger frame for suspending the scaffold from the cap or upper header of a building wall. The scaffold is also usable as a sawhorse and a ground/floor supported scaffold. The method of scaffolding provides the steps of hanging the scaffold from the header or cap, propping the scaffold off with storable bumpers, and folding the scaffold flat for storage and transportation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for maintaining cold carbonated water in a beverage dispensing device so that unacceptably warm water is not dispensed therefrom. A modified beverage dispensing apparatus is shown including a carbonated water supply, a cold plate, carbonated water supply line extending through the cold plate, and in fluid communication with a carbonated water plenum immediately adjacent and in fluid communication with a plurality of beverage dispensing valves. An electronic control device connected to a temperature sensing thermostat located in the plenum and to a solenoid discharge valve of the plenum. The control device is also connected to a temperature sensing thermostat in the cold plate and to a pressure sensor located in the line between the source of compressed carbon dioxide and the carbonated water reservoir.

Abstract: An improved pegbar has a double strength peg mounted therein. The new and improved peg for the pegbar has a generally U-shaped configuration with a pair of elongate adjacent bodies extending from a common front nose, and a key on the back end of each body. The nose is twisted 1/4 turn to rotate the keys from a normal lock to an unlocked position. Methods of making and using the double strength peg are presented.

Abstract: An ice cooled beverage dispenser with a cold plate and a tubular ice bin liner has an upstanding rim around a periphery of the cold plate. The bottom edge of the liner is pressed into and seated to the rim, and an L-shaped bracket is fastened to the outside of the liner and to the rim for positive securement of the liner to the cold plate in a sanitary and leak proof manner; a method of making the beverage cooler is also provided.

Abstract: A powered method and apparatus for raising and lowering a boat in a boat lift with quick connection to and use of the boat battery to power a DC electric motor on the lift. A method of converting a manual lift to a powered lift is provided. The lift drive has a tractive drive unit with a friction wheel and the motor and a reduction drive, a drive unit subframe, a drive unit mount adjustable on the frame of the lift, adjustment structure to locate the subframe in a desired position in any one of a variety of boat lifts and with respect to a variety of manually operable lift actuator wheels, structure to resiliently bias the friction wheel against the actuator wheel, structure to stably remove the friction wheel from the actuator wheel, a quick connector for connection to a boat battery, and a switch for selective control of motor operation and direction of rotation.

Abstract: An improved drip tray for a beverage dispenser, an improved cold carbonated beverage dispenser and a kit for retrofitting existing beverage dispensers into the improved beverage dispenser have a drip tray with a front nose which is extended and spaced upward of and forward of an original drip tray and cup rest, and wings which extend transversely outward beyond sides of the dispenser. An improved and enlarged receptacle rest extends to the nose and across both wings. The improved dispenser handles both standard sized cups and extra large beverage receptacles of at least one quart volume, specific examples of which are 44 oz. cups and pitchers, while providing automatic unattended shut off of dispensing in response to sensing of the level of beverage being adjacent to the upper rim of any of the standard or extra large receptacles, and complete and stable unattended support of the extra large receptacles during dispensing and shut off.

Abstract: An adjustable work stand has fixed and hinged legs connected to a leg bracket, a table having a table bracket connected to a fulcrum in the leg bracket and fixed leg, a lock bolt in the hinged leg indexes both legs and the tables in several configurations including a plurality of table angles and a collapsed storage configuration, and a single actuator operates the lock bolts for any and all adjustments of the work stand and its mechanism.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing head and a method of dispensing that provides increased carbonation in a dispensed fountain beverage. The dispensing head has a discrete carbonated water decompression chamber in-between an upstream volumetric flow control body and a downstream normally closed valve. The method includes the steps of propelling carbonated water through a flow control body and then decompressing the carbonated water before it reaches the normally closed valve.

Abstract: An ice cube makes has a generally upright gridded evaporator, a hot gas defrost for harvest of cubes, a storage bin below the evaporator, a hinged cube and water curtain between the evaporator and the bin, a new and improved control for the freeze cycle, and a new and improved control for the harvest cycle.

Abstract: A pegbar display device has a pegbar and a display sign, the sign is a decour frame around a perimeter of the pegbar and is formed of several lengths of an extruded plastic channel and discrete connectors, the decour frame is held in position and supported by carrier pegs attachable to the pegbar. A method of providing this display sign is also provided.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve primarily for post-mix has a valve body that will accept all known types of beverage flow controls, water and syrup valves that are interchangeable in either of two fluid ports, a reversible block between the valves and a nozzle that enables syrup to be used in either port and water to be used in either port, a positively sealing and easily removable nozzle for improved sanitation and mixing, and multiple fulcrums in the valve body that will respectively accept a manual actuator or a switch actuator and a solenoid driven actuator.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling the thickness of an ice bank as might typically be found in the beverage dispenser field, wherein the method has the steps of attaching an ice sensor to the cooling coils of the ice bank reservoir, selecting and setting an operatively fixed but user-selectable space between the sensor and the cooling coils, freezing a portion of water to form the ice bank, sensing the formation of ice at the sensor, and controlling the freezing responsive to the sensing of ice. The apparatus is usually flat and manufactured from a single piece of injection molded plastic. Included within a first region are a curved portion for interweaving between adjacent cooling coils, and a strap for wrapping around an additional cooling coil spaced from the adjacent coils. The apparatus bends to form a substantially triangular support for the sensor. The sensor is retained by clips to the second region and extends outside of the triangular area bounded by the three portions of the apparatus.

Abstract: A two flavor post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing head has a mounting block and valve body with a treble quick disconnect for water and two syrups, three flow controls in a first triangular structure, three valves and solenoids in a second triangular structure, sonic welded thermoplastic syrup tubes from the flow controls to the valves, and a unique mixing nozzle structure that brings either of the syrups and water convergently together.

Abstract: A combination food cooking and advertising machine has a deep fat fryer, mechanical food manipulators in the fryer for dispensing, flipping and removing the food product, and motionless advertising signs which are mechanically connected to and are given motion by operation of the food manipulators. This sign has a slip-on bracket, and sign plates and drive arm that can be driven by the food cooker. A method of operation and a method of converting an existing fryer into the cooking and advertising machine are provided. The method and apparatus are particularly useful in miniature donut making and selling.

Abstract: A rigid thermoplastic manifold for the distribution of pressurized carbonated water has an elongate tubular thermoplastic body with a plurality of apertures spaced along its length, a plurality of identical thermoplastic outlet fittings which each have at inlet spud with a sonic energy director and a pair of arcuate sonic energy directors spaced one on each side from the spud, each outlet fitting being fastened and sealed to the tube with three discrete sonic welds. A method of making the manifold is also provided.

Abstract: A weedless artificial fishing lure and method of fishing has a lure body, a floppy mounted hook, and a resiliently flexible hook holder mounted to the body, the hook holder has structure for normally holding the hook backwards as the lure is pulled through water and for releasing the hook to a typical trailing position upon engagement by a fish. The method has the steps of pulling the lure through water, holding a floppy mounted hook backwards, and instantly releasing the hook to a typical trailing position upon engagement with a fish. A novel lure accessory is fastenable into the leading line connection aperture of the lure.

Abstract: A DC to AC power inverter has an improved construction providing for substantially improved thermal disipation, reliability, and efficiency; the inverter has a unitary combination frame and heat diffuser with a pair of opposed U-shaped sections at right angles to each other and with a common base, a cover, a transformer, a primary internal heat sink inside of and on the frame, a plurality of power switches fastened on the internal heat sink, a printed circuit board fastened to and spaced from the heat sink with leads from the switches connected to the board, the transformer is fastened onto the frame in heat exchange relationship and part of the coil extends through the frame into an air passageway. All of the wiring access is on a field wiring end and the opposite end is a control end with the switches and circuit board; an improved arrangement of components and leads provides discrete separation of the high and low voltage components and leads.