Abstract: A pump driver, a disposable pump cartridge for use with the pump driver and a beverage dispenser employing the pump drive are disclosed. The disposable pump cartridge comprises at least one barrel 20 having an inlet valve 24 and an outlet valve 26 associated therewith. A piston 28 movable within the barrel 20 is retained in a minimum volume position during transit by a protrusion 22 on the internal surface of the barrel 20. The piston 20 has a piston shaft 28 with a hollow end arranged, in use, to releasably engage a piston driver to drive the piston 28 from its minimum volume position to an operative position, and to reciprocate the piston 28 within the barrel 20 in its operative position to draw fluid into and pump fluid from the barrel 20 via the inlet valve 24 and outlet valve 26 respectively. Methods of engaging, disengaging and changing the disposable pump cartridge are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pump driver, a disposable pump cartridge for use with the pump driver and a beverage dispenser employing the pump drive are disclosed. The disposable pump cartridge comprises at least one barrel 20 having an inlet valve 24 and an outlet valve 26 associated therewith. A piston 28 movable within the barrel 20 is retained in a minimum volume position during transit by a protrusion 22 on the internal surface of the barrel 20. The piston 20 has a piston shaft 28 with a hollow end arranged, in use, to releasably engage a piston driver to drive the piston 28 from its minimum volume position to an operative position, and to reciprocate the piston 28 within the barrel 20 in its operative position to draw fluid into and pump fluid from the barrel 20 via the inlet valve 24 and outlet valve 26 respectively. Methods of engaging, disengaging and changing the disposable pump cartridge are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pair of thin-walled hollow partially liquid-filled cushions are enclosed in cavities formed in the sole of a shoe. The first cushion is positioned to coincide with the plantar pads on the lower sides of the wearer's metatarsals; the second to coincide with the tuberosity of the wearer's calcaneum.

Abstract: A thin-walled hollow partially liquid-filled cushion is permanently enclosed in a cavity formed in the sole of a shoe. Preferably, the cushion is produced by vacuum-forming a pan, having a continuous circumferential lip, from a sheet of durable, flexible, resilient, non-porous thermoplastic material, heat sealing a sheet of similar material to all but a small region of the lip, partially filling the pan with a low-viscosity liquid by means of a fine tube inserted between the unsealed lip and sheet, and sealing the sheet to the previously unsealed region of the lip. A critical feature of the invention resides in the formation of the cavity in the shoe sole to contain the cushion with the cushion walls, top and bottom in intimate contact with, and the contents of the cushion under pressure exerted by, the walls, top and bottom of the cavity.