Abstract: A fluid filter is described, where a drain valve is configured to move back and forth into open and closed positions. The drain valve and a filter cartridge are in a structural arrangement such that the drain valve is put in an open position before the filter and/or a filter element therein can be serviced or replaced.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material.

Abstract: A strainer device (1) is described, which may be mounted on a pour-out of a container by way of fastening means (12) on a lower side (14) which may face the container (3). The strainer device (1) comprises a plurality of sieve elements (10) which are pivotably arranged on a sieve element holder (15) in a plane parallel to the lower side (14) of the strainer device (1), at least partly separated from one another by way of slots (11). As a whole a flexible, bendable comb-like strainer device (1) is formed, which is may be fastened with a fixation device (2) on the pour-out of the container in a simply releasable manner. The strainer device (1) is preferably designed of a heat-resistant plastic, wherein stainless steel may also be applied completely or partly for the design of the sieve elements (10) and/or the sieve element holder (15).

Abstract: Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material.

Abstract: A fluid filter module including an end cap assembly disposed about at least one end of a tubular-shaped housing. The end cap assembly includes a base, fluid port and handle which may optionally comprise an integrally molded structure.

Abstract: A cooking oil container has a filter cup retained at the upper end thereof. The filter cup retains a planar circular filter at the lower end and a seal between the filter holder and the bottom of the filter cup prevents oil from overflowing around the circumference of the filter holder to avoid the filter. The filter cup is spaced from the inner walls of the container to allow air to escape from the bottom of the container. The top of the container has a grip ring and the inverted top is useable as a drip tray for the filter cup while oil is being poured out of the container.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dipper to hold a cookie or other material to submerge the cookie or material into milk or other desired liquid. In one embodiment, the dipper includes a perforated top cover, a perforated bottom spoon structure, a handle, and a slide mechanism to open an close the perforated top cover of the dipper.

Abstract: The present invention provides a colander serving bowl having an outer shell with an open bottom, a movable sealing plate with upwardly extending support arms that ride on inclined surfaces on the rim of the outer shell, and a perforated inner shell supported on the sealing place. The sealing plate is movable between a lowered sealing position where the plate seals the open bottom of the outer shell, and a raised draining position where the plate is spaced above the open bottom to allow draining through the open bottom. As the support arms are moved, the support surfaces of the arms move from the lower end to the upper end of the inclined surfaces of the rim, thus moving the sealing plate from the sealing position to the draining position.

Abstract: A strainer is provided to facilitate the washing of an item in a conventional sink. The strainer includes a flexible sheet having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough. Handles project from the outer periphery of the flexible sheet to move the flexible sheet between a first position wherein the sheet is generally planer and a second position wherein the sheet forms a bag. A plurality of spacers extends from and are spaced along a first face of the sheet to space the sheet from the surface of the sink.

Abstract: A connector apparatus is provided which is configured to replace a separation module in a system for dispensing a fluid. When it is desired to purge the system of a dispensed fluid, the connector apparatus, having the same configuration of an inlet and an outlet as the separation module, replaces the separation module and a purging fluid is passed through the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tea strainer comprised of a perforated bowl with a cover. The bowl is connected to an elongated handle. The cover is connected to a cover shaft that is pivotally attached to the handle. The perimeter of the cover is slightly smaller than the perimeter of the bowl so that the cover can be extended into the bowl to strain the tea. A retention latch is attached to the front of the bowl to keep the cover from opening.

Abstract: A strainer assembly for a camp cooking kit has a strainer body having at least one rim for engaging a rim of a camp cooking pot and a plurality of openings for pouring liquid from the camp cooking pot while preventing egress of other contents from the pot. Strap guiding features formed in the strainer body provide for guiding a securing strap around both the strainer body and the camp cooking pot. The securing strap includes a fastening arrangement for securing the securing strap together for attaching the strainer body to the camp cooking pot. Handles, which can be formed in the strainer body or attached to the securing strap enable the strainer body to be tipped together with the camp cooking pot to strain the contents of the cooking pot.

Abstract: An improved cooking device is intended for multi-functional cooking processes, providing function not only as a conventional cooking pot, but also as a strainer, colander and steamer. The improved cooking device comprises a pot with at least one handle, a lid with at least one handle, and a multi-functional reversible top, including a hoop with at least one handle rigidly connected to the hoop, a rim, and a hemispherical body rigidly connected by its cross-section to the hoop. The hemispherical body has at least one aperture to drain the liquid, and the pot's rim has an outside diameter that is less than the inside diameter of the top's rim.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved cooking system having a conventional style pot using a reversible multi-function top. The system comprises a pot, a reversible top and lid, which can be used individually and collectively, to function as a cooking pot, colander, steamer and strainer. One of the improvements consists of the top and pot each having two handles to enable the top to be held securely with two hands when placed up-side-down on top of the pot. This way, the handles do not have to engage and/or mate with one another, standard off-the-shelf handles can be used, and a new top can be retrofitted to fit an existing pot with matching handles (since the handles do not have to be specially designed). A specially designed lid can also be used that is self-centering on the pot and top.

Abstract: The invention is a kitchen utensil that aids in the removal of grease or oil from soups, sauces, etc. Specifically, the device is a ladle with an inverted funnel that when dipped into soup or sauce, it effectively removes the fat from the top of the soup or sauce. The invention works on the notion that oil and water do not mix, and as a result, the oil will float on the top of the water. When dipped into the soup, the fat is forced through the inverted funnel until it is forced out and then falls into the ladle device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for isolating nucleic acids from biological fluids and suspensions containing nucleic acids, a reaction compartment 17 for receiving an adsorption medium 100 being connected to a removal compartment 50, and the nucleic acids being able to be moved and enriched from the reaction compartment 17 into the removal compartment 50 by an electrophoresis apparatus 20a, 20b.

Abstract: A pool scoop for providing a rigid scoop for lifting items off of the bottom of a pool. The pool scoop includes a pole with tubular attachment sleeve at a distal end of the pole. A scoop member is provided having a bottom wall, a pair of spaced apart side walls upwardly extending from the bottom wall, and an end wall upwardly extending from the bottom wall between the side walls. The scoop member has a front edge extending along the bottom wall between the side walls opposite the end wall. The bottom wall also has a plurality of apertures of a predetermined size therethrough. An extent extends from the end wall of the scoop member and is inserted into a second end of the attachment sleeve.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for the contamination-free isolation of nucleic acids from biological fluids and suspensions containing nucleic acids comprising: a reaction compartment for holding an adsorption medium laden with nucleic acids; connected via a channel to a removal compartment; wherein the nucleic acids can be moved by an electrophoresis device from the reaction compartment into the removal compartment and enriched there; and the reaction compartment can be charged via a charging orifice and drained via a draining orifice being located essentially opposite of the charging orifice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking system having a conventional style pot with a multi-function reversible top. The system comprises two pieces, a pot and top (with a lid), that can be used individually and collectively to function as a cooking pot, colander, steamer and strainer. The pot functions by itself as a conventional cooking pot. The top functions by itself right-side-up as a colander. The pot and top with a lid functions as a steamer. And, the top, when positioned up-side-down on top of the pot, functions as a strainer. When used as a strainer, the top and pot preferably have engaging handles that allow the top and pot to be held together with one hand, to help avoid dropping food and steam burns.

Abstract: A filter apparatus includes a cylindrical reservoir with a pistol grip handle. A conical funnel is releasably mounted on the reservoir by quick release threads. A plurality of radially extending support ribs within the funnel support a porous filter disk secured between the reservoir and the funnel. A depending annular seal ring on the reservoir defines a sealing edge which engages the filter disk and seals it against a seal surface and seat on the interior surface of the funnel.

Abstract: A filter vessel including a vessel body having a bottom outlet opening; a carrying handle mounted on the vessel body; a closing rod extending alongside the vessel body and being longitudinally movably supported thereby between first and second positions; a valve mounted on the closing rod for maintaining the outlet opening open or closed in the respective first or second position of the closing rod; a spring urging the closing rod into the first position; an engagement face carried on the closing rod; an operating lever pivotally supported by the vessel body in an upper zone of the carrying handle and having a depressed position and a raised position; and a clamping cam carried by the operating lever. The clamping cam is in contact with the engagement face and displaces the closing rod toward the second position upon manual movement of the operating lever into the depressed position.

Abstract: Filter for cooking oil formed of polyester or polytetrafluoroethylene having specific characteristics. The filter is removably supported on a frame which permits easy replacement of the filter.