Abstract: A joystick includes a handle, a base shaft having opposite upper and lower ends, and a curvilinear housing. The handle is mounted on the upper end of the base shaft. The lower end of the base shaft is mounted into the curvilinear housing. The curvilinear housing has an outer curvilinear surface formed so as to include at least a clamp support portion of a zone of a spheroid between two generally horizontal and parallel planes. The zone includes a portion of the spheroid having the maximum circumference of the spheroid so that the curvilinear housing may be braced by clamped support of the portion. A releasable clamp having at least two cooperating clamp members is releasably mountable by releasable fasteners onto the clamp support portion along a clamp-member interface so as to support and clamp therebetween the portion of the spheroid having the maximum circumference of the spheroid.

Abstract: A switch actuator includes a separate cap and connector which are assembled through an aperture formed in a resilient membrane which provides a switch cover. The resilient membrane has an exposed exterior surface and an opposite interior surface. The membrane is mountable, by gluing or the like of the interior surface to a switch plate having one or more pressure actuated electrical switches mounted thereto. The switch cover has one or more button-receiving apertures. A portion of the membrane immediately surrounding the button receiving apertures may be outwardly deformed as a circular frusto-conical dome.

Abstract: The proportioning valve apparatus includes a cylindrical valve body having a first inlet for receipt of a first fluid, a second inlet for receipt of a second fluid, a mixing chamber and an outlet for releasing a mixture of the two respective inputs. A rotary barrier element is positioned adjacent to the first and second inlets and operates to selectively impede the flow of fluids through first and second inlets and into the valve chamber. Rotation of the rotary valve barrier in a first direction is operative to close the first inlet while simultaneously opening the second inlet. The present invention further includes a closed loop control system utilizing measurement of the density of the output mixture to control the activation of the proportioning valve.

Abstract: A switch cover includes a resilient flexible membrane having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface for mounting onto a switch plate. The flexible membrane has at least one aperture therethrough, and may have a plurality of aperture corresponding to the member of switch controls desired. Each aperture has a switch actuator button snugly journalled therethrough and mounted to the membrane so as to leave an outer portion of the button protruding above the outer surface of the membrane for tactile feedback to an operator. An inner portion of the button extends generally perpendicularly from the inner surface of the membrane for actuating engagement with a corresponding switch actuator on the switch plate.