Abstract: Methods of controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A method of producing a melted food or beverage liquid product includes receiving a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents in a chamber of a dispenser and identifying a characteristic of the receptacle and/or the contents. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the contents by selectively performing at least one of: heating the receptacle and/or the contents, supplying a dilution liquid to an interior of the receptacle, and/or applying motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle. The selectively performing at least one of heating, supplying dilution liquid, and/or applying motion is based on the identified characteristic. The method further includes perforating the receptacle and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle.

Abstract: Systems for and methods of agitation in the production of beverage and food receptacles from frozen contents are provided. A method of producing a melted food or beverage liquid product from a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents includes receiving a receptacle in a chamber of a dispenser. The receptacle defines an enclosed inner volume containing a frozen liquid contents. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the frozen liquid contents to generate a melted food or beverage liquid product by applying motion to at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, perforating the receptacle, and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle.

Abstract: Systems for and methods of controlling liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle includes a chamber configured to hold the receptacle and a non-diluting heater configured to heat the receptacle and/or the frozen contents within the receptacle; the non-diluting heater does not add liquid to an interior of the receptacle. The dispenser also includes a reservoir configured to contain a liquid. The reservoir includes a reservoir outlet configured to withdraw liquid from the reservoir. The dispenser further includes a product outlet configured to withdraw a food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle and a controller that causes the dispenser to selectively perform at least one of: heating at least one of the receptacle and the frozen contents using the non-diluting heater and withdrawing liquid from the reservoir through the reservoir outlet.

Abstract: Methods of controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A method of producing a melted food or beverage liquid product includes receiving a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents in a chamber of a dispenser and identifying a characteristic of the receptacle and/or the contents. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the contents by selectively performing at least one of: heating the receptacle and/or the contents, supplying a dilution liquid to an interior of the receptacle, and/or applying motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle. The selectively performing at least one of heating, supplying dilution liquid, and/or applying motion is based on the identified characteristic. The method further includes perforating the receptacle and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle.

Abstract: Systems for controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle includes a chamber configured to hold a receptacle containing the contents and a dilution liquid inlet configured to supply a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle. The dispenser also includes a perforator configured to perforate the receptacle and form a product outlet from the receptacle for the liquid product and an agitator configured to impart motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle that increases a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by at least a portion of dilution liquid, when supplied, relative to a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by the portion of dilution liquid without the imparted motion.

Abstract: A heated insole for a shoe has an insole body, a heating element, and a removable assembly. The insole body has a recess, and the heating element delivers heat to at least a portion of the insole body. The removable assembly is removable from and insertable into the recess of the insole body, and includes a battery and a control circuit that is configured to control heating of the heating element.

Abstract: Systems for and methods of agitation in the production of beverage and food receptacles from frozen contents are provided. A method of producing a melted food or beverage liquid product from a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents includes receiving a receptacle in a chamber of a dispenser. The receptacle defines an enclosed inner volume containing a frozen liquid contents. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the frozen liquid contents to generate a melted food or beverage liquid product by applying motion to at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, perforating the receptacle, and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle.

Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for providing support for displaceable frozen contents in beverage and food receptacles are provided. A receptacle includes a sidewall extending from a first end of the receptacle to a second end of the receptacle, an end layer disposed at the first end of the receptacle, and a closure disposed at the second end of the receptacle. The sidewall, the end layer, and the closure define a sealed cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle includes a frozen content disposed in the sealed cavity of the receptacle and a movable platform disposed in the sealed cavity of the receptacle and in contact with at least a portion of the frozen content proximate to the end layer.

Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents is provided. A receptacle is configured for insertion into an apparatus. The receptacle includes a tapered sidewall, an end layer, and a closure defining a cavity; a frozen content is disposed within the cavity. The cavity has empty space not occupied by the frozen content. The receptacle is perforable, and the frozen content is displaceable from a first position in contact with the end layer into a second position in the empty space. When melted and/or diluted with a liquid, the frozen content provides a final food or beverage product.

Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for providing support for displaceable frozen contents in beverage and food receptacles are provided. A receptacle includes a sidewall extending from a first end of the receptacle to a second end of the receptacle, an end layer disposed at the first end of the receptacle, and a closure disposed at the second end of the receptacle. The sidewall, the end layer, and the closure define a sealed cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle includes a frozen content disposed in the sealed cavity of the receptacle and a movable platform disposed in the sealed cavity of the receptacle and in contact with at least a portion of the frozen content proximate to the end layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to portable heating systems that utilize a portable fuel source. Portable heating systems of the invention generally include a regulator that is configured to vaporize fuel released from a cartridge and to transfer the vaporized fuel to a burner for ignition.

Abstract: A heated insole for a shoe has an insole body, a heating element, and a removable assembly. The insole body has a recess, and the heating element delivers heat to at least a portion of the insole body. The removable assembly is removable from and insertable into the recess of the insole body, and includes a battery and a control circuit that is configured to control heating of the heating element.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a frozen food product in a chamber having a tubular refrigerated wall and a partition which is movable along the chamber between upper and lower positions include multiple steps. First, after positioning the partition at its upper position, a liquid food product mix is introduced into the chamber above the partition so that the mix forms a pool of a selected depth atop the partition. The partition is then moved downward towards its lower position at a selected rate which causes the mix in the pool to flow outward under gravity into contact with the wall where it at least partially freezes to form an adherent uniform frozen mix layer on progressively lower segments of that wall. Then, the frozen mix layer is scraped from the wall to form a multiplicity of frozen scrapings, which are collected in a receptacle and dispensed as a frozen food product.

Abstract: In an insect lure and trap, a system for generating a carbon dioxide attractant has a combustion chamber in which carbon dioxide is generated by means of an exothermic reaction from a gaseous fuel rich in carbon. A container contains a pressurized supply of said fuel and a supply line connects said container to said combustion chamber. A normally closed valve is included in said supply line. The system includes means for sensing the temperature in said combustion chamber and for generating a control signal representative of said temperature. A controller responsive to said control signal compares said temperature to a reference temperature and opens said valve during selected segments of successive equal time intervals.

Abstract: In an insect lure and trap, a system for generating a carbon dioxide attractant has a combustion chamber in which carbon dioxide is generated by means of an exothermic reaction from a gaseous fuel rich in carbon. A container contains a pressurized supply of said fuel and a supply line connects said container to said combustion chamber. A normally closed valve is included in said supply line. The system includes means for sensing the temperature in said combustion chamber and for generating a control signal representative of said temperature. A controller responsive to said control signal compares said temperature to a reference temperature and opens said valve during selected segments of successive equal time intervals.

Abstract: A lamp having a hydrocarbon fuel source is provided. The lamp includes a housing and a fuel source containing hydrocarbon fuel. A mantle is disposed inside the housing and is in communication with the exit of the fuel source. A cover is attached to the housing in thermal communication with the interior housing. The cover has a slot and a replaceable pad is disposable in the slot; the pad preferably contains a volatilizable substance. When the fuel egresses the fuel source and is ignited and burns, heat generated from the fuel is conducted through the cover to the pad so that the volatilizable substance is volatilized. The volatilizable substance is preferably an insect repellent. The lamp may be portable such as a flashlight. A separately attachable cover that may retrofit an existing lamp is also provided.