Abstract: A device is added to or built into a subject large vehicle, such as a large motorhome. The device provides for the driver's use either one or two retracting steps to facilitate the driver's entrance into or exit from the subject vehicle. Since these steps retract for travel, they are able to extend far enough beyond the side of the subject vehicle to allow the driver's weight to be directly above each step in stair step fashion rather than vertical ladder fashion. The device makes motorhome driver's side doors safer and more usable for less athletic people and the elderly.

Abstract: A dry cleaning system particularly suited for employing supercritical CO.sub.2 as the cleaning fluid consisting of a sealable cleaning vessel containing a rotatable drum adapted for holding soiled substrate, a cleaning fluid storage vessel, and a gas vaporizer vessel for recycling used cleaning fluid is provided. The drum is magnetically coupled to a motor so that it an be rotated during the cleaning process. The system is adapted for automation which permits increased energy efficiency as the heating and cooling effect associated with CO.sub.2 gas condensation and expansion can be channeled to heat and cool various parts of the system.

Abstract: A wash additive combination is provided which is loaded into a washing machine at the start of a wash cycle, and which releases a wash additive, such as a fabric softener, into the rinse solution. The combination comprises a wash additive packet of a foam substrate material having a first and a second stable conformation of differing surface area, and a wash additive deposited thereon. A dispenser is provided for mounting atop a washing machine agitator, and into which the packet may be releasably placed, after arranging the packet in its lesser surface area conformation. The packet is retained by the dispenser during initial phases of the wash cycle, and ejected during the spin phase, whereupon it regains its greater surface area conformation for rapid and complete dispersion of active. Embodiments are provided for dual, sequential release of active in the rinse and the dryer.