Abstract: A valve assembly, securable in an upper opening of a container for liquids, is simple and inexpensive to manufacture yet provides improved operability and is capable of relieving excess gas pressure within the container. The valve assembly preferably includes a stub and a riser pipe/valving unit detachably mounted in the stub. The valving unit substantially consists of a unified riser pipe having blockable gas and/or liquid portals, and movable members arranged co-axially within two upper reception areas in the riser pipe and including a single sealing ring and a dispensing tower. The sealing ring is axially displaceable against the pressure of a spring to move from a neutral closed position to a lower open position by way of external activation.

Abstract: A process and system are provided for the separation of a fermentation process byproduct into its constituent components and for the subsequent recovery of those constituent components. The process is remarkably simple--requiring only 1) heating of a mixture containing the byproduct so as to separate the oil from a base component of the byproduct to which the oil is bound, followed by 2) recovering the base product, oil, and possibly other substances such as molasses from the mixture. The process can be performed on a large scale and in a continuous fashion using a mechanical separator to recover fibers from a heated mixture to produce a solids stream and a liquor stream and by then removing oil and insoluble substances from the liquor stream in an evaporator assembly.

Abstract: A snowmobile steering ski has an elongated one-piece blow molded body formed of polyethylene, preferably ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The top wall of the body has raised portions defining hollow sections with the bottom wall and displays a central recessed area adapted to receive the lower end of a snowmobile steering component. A pair of fixation holes are provided in lateral sides of the recessed area for fixing the steering component to the ski while further fixation holes are provided in the bottom of the recessed area for fixing a wear bar to the under face of the body.

Abstract: A bird feeder having an apertured floor member which is slidably and selectively removable for easy cleaning. A bird feeder bin is defined by a set of walls, a floor and a roof. When a hinged portion of the roof is opened, at least one section of the walls is slidably removable, and the apertured floor member is also slidably removable. The apertured floor member, which consists of a perforated or expanded steel sheet, provides a combination of sheet material with a pattern of holes which is strong enough to support the weight of the feed, permits drainage to keep the feed dry, and is rugged for scraping and cleaning.

Abstract: An aerodynamic steering device for a bicycle includes a series of flat, non-hollow, planar surfaces, including of a first portion having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, a second portion extending laterally outward from the rearward end portion of the first portion and including first and second forearm support surfaces, and a third portion extending forwardly and upwardly from the forward end portion of the first portion to provide first and second forwardly tilted hand gripping surfaces. The device further includes a clamping mechanism for clamping the steering device directly to the steering post of a bicycle, or alternatively to an auxiliary set of handlebars. The steering device is comprised of flat structural sheet members which provide a minimum frontal silhouette, which is especially advantageous in bicycle racing.

Abstract: In a respiratory air flow measuring monitor, a tubing connector for connecting lumen tubing to the analyzer module includes a connector housing for attaching the tubing connector to the analyzer module, and a female socket in the connector housing for receiving the lumen tubing therein. A light-emitting diode and corresponding light detector detects the presence of the lumen tubing within the female socket. A second pair of light emitters and diodes discriminates different types of respiratory air flow sensors attached to the analyzer module. The female socket is configured to receive multiple lumen tubes, and to maintain polarity by discriminating different diameters of the lumen tubes.

Abstract: A solid state motor starter, commonly referred to as a soft starter, is constructed in a manner to be easily manufacturable while at the same time combining all the required components in a relatively small package. A solid state power switch is clamped between a pair of bus bars in an offset manner to accommodate a discrete switching relay mounted in an inverted manner between the line input and the bus bar in communication with the load outputs. When in a motor run node, current is shunted away from the solid state power switching device and through the switching relay, a substantially linear current path is achieved to reduce power loss and heat buildup. The arrangement allows for a heat sink mounted to one of the bus bars with adequate spacing between the heat sink and the discrete relay for insertion of a cooling fan. Current sensing is achieved with a Hall effect sensor mounted to the bus bar in a small current sensing region that is created by having a pair of slots in the bus bar to direct current.

Abstract: A billiard accessories combination and package construction is disclosed which is used to effectively display billiard or pool accessories. The billiard accessories include a billiard ball, a billiard table brush and a billiard ball rack, all of which may be marked by an indicating indicia or sports logo. The package may also include such accessories as billiard chalk. The package is designed to fittingly accommodate each of the accessories. The package has an upper section and a lower section each having a mating outer edge to allow closure and retention of the package about a hinge. The package is transparent such that any identifying indicia or sport logos located on the accessories are visible through the package. The package includes a lip section having an aperture to hang the billiard accessory combination, such as in a point of purchase display. The contents of the billiard accessory combination are prominently displayed within the package.

Abstract: A tool having an operating element that is driven by an integrated power drive for the percussive, pounding or vibratory loading of a material to be worked, in particular a tamper, a vibration plate or a vibration roll for ground compaction or a hammer for breaking and/or drilling operations, can be guided using a handle. This handle is actively vibration-damped by at least one actively controlled or regulated compensation element, which counteracts the transmission of a vibration to the handle and which, depending on the vibration that can be transmitted to it and is produced in and/or on the tool, produces a compensating force and/or movement in the potential vibration transmission path from the location of production of the vibration to the handle.

Abstract: A reclosable package and method having an integral reclosable door adjacent one end that permits article removal from the end of the package. The package is comprised of a thermoformed blister body joined to a thermoformed backing body. The blister body has sidewalls, endwalls and a peripheral flange broken into a first section adjacent the door where the height of the sidewalls decrease and a second section opposite the door with the first section angled relative to the second section. The backing body carries the door and has an integral peripheral rib inboard of a peripheral flange with the flange having a first section about the door and a second section disposed away from the door. The rib has a pair of longitudinally-extending sections divided by a notch that preferably is a transverse rib that causes the door to bend about a desired fold line that runs generally through or adjacent the ribs or notches when urged away from a closed position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic starter with an overload relay having magnetic flux shielding is disclosed for use in industrial contactor applications. The starter includes a multi-pole DC controlled contactor which is interlockingly coupled to an overload relay. The overload relay has a simplified interlocking connection to the contactor, which when made, corresponds to an abutting electrical connection between the contactor and the overload relay also being made. The contactor further has a guiding pin that promotes even contact closure within the contactor.

Abstract: A bicycle handlebar stem for attaching a handlebar to the steering tube on a bicycle includes a continuous wall section which extends continuously and completely around the steering tube from one side to the other of a tubular central portion of the stem without any gaps or spaces therebetween. A slot in the center of the tubular central portion of the stem provides a means for reducing the diameter of the central opening formed by the continuous wall section for attaching and tightening the stem onto the end of the steering fork. An arcuate-shaped cover member on the opposite end of the stem, the cover member and stem and having cooperating semi-cylindrical clamping surfaces, provides a means for attaching and tightening the handlebar onto the stem. The cover member is attached to the stem by virtue of a mechanical hinge and a single fastener.