Abstract: A water dispenser is provided for dispensing hot water, cold water, and carbonated water, all of which is filtered. The dispenser includes a housing defining a front dispensing face, a rear face, opposite side walls and a bottom wall. A filter is mounted in the housing and has a rear end connectable to a source of water and a front end accessible at the front face of the housing to facilitate replacing the filter. A dispensing faucet is disposed at the front face of the housing. A hot water tank is located at one side of the housing and has an inlet for receiving filtered water from the filter and a hot water outlet near the dispensing faucet for delivering hot water thereto. An ice bank assembly is located at an opposite side of the housing and has an inlet for receiving filtered water from the filter and a cold water outlet near the dispensing faucet for delivering cold water thereto. A compressor is mounted on the bottom wall of the housing and is coupled to one end of the ice bank evaporator.

Abstract: A collapsible cargo container assembly includes a collapsible skeleton framework defining a front, rear and opposite sides of the container assembly and includes a plurality of generally parallel ribs spaced from and generally planar to each other when the container assembly is in an open condition. A plurality of articulated braces are connected to and extend between the ribs to hold the ribs in spaced relationship in the open condition of the container assembly. The articulated braces are foldable to position the ribs in juxtaposition alongside each other in a collapsed condition of the container assembly. A flexible cover is positioned substantially about the collapsible framework and is fixed thereto for folding therewith as the framework moves back-and-forth between the open and collapsed conditions thereof.

Abstract: A water dispenser is provided for dispensing hot water, cold water, and carbonated water, all of which is filtered. The dispenser includes a housing defining a front dispensing face, a rear face, opposite side walls and a bottom wall. A filter is mounted in the housing and has a rear end connectable to a source of water and a front end accessible at the front face of the housing to facilitate replacing the filter. A dispensing faucet is disposed at the front face of the housing. A hot water tank is located at one side of the housing and has an inlet for receiving filtered water from the filter and a hot water outlet near the dispensing faucet for delivering hot water thereto. An ice bank assembly is located at an opposite side of the housing and has an inlet for receiving filtered water from the filter and a cold water outlet near the dispensing faucet for delivering cold water thereto. A compressor is mounted on the bottom wall of the housing and is coupled to one end of the ice bank evaporator.

Abstract: A toaster for bread-type food products includes a housing defining at least one toasting cavity having an upper mouth for depositing the food products into the cavity and a lower opening from which toasted food products exit the cavity. A perforate rack is provided beneath the lower opening and onto which the toasted food products are deposited as they exit the cavity. The rack is perforated to significantly reduce the surface area of the rack which might otherwise stick to the toasted food products. An imperforate plate is juxtaposed behind the perforate rack to prevent crumbs from the toasted food products from falling into the bottom of the toaster. The plate is spaced from the rack a sufficient distance to prevent any portions of the toasted food products from projecting through the perforate rack and touching the plate and sticking thereto. As disclosed herein, the perforate rack is provided as a wire form structure.

Abstract: A brushless electric motor includes a housing with a pair of disc-shaped end plates fixed relative to the housing in a spaced, generally parallel relationship to each other. A pair of bearings are respectively positioned in the end discs. A motor shaft is rotatably journalled in the bearings for rotation about its axis. A stator assembly is supported by the housing intermediate the end plates and through which the motor shaft passes. The stator assembly includes a plurality of individual wire-wound coils in a toroidal array around the axis of the shaft. The stator assembly has recesses in opposite faces thereof. A pair of disc-shaped rotor assemblies are respectively disposed within the recesses in the opposite faces of the stator assembly inside the end plates.

Abstract: An irradiating apparatus includes a support member and a reflector supported by the support member to define a concave light energy reflector surface. A light source of radiating energy is disposed generally at the source focal point of the reflector. The support member has a passage for cooling air to flow therethrough and openings for distributing the cooling air to the apparatus. The support member, thereby, performs a dual function of supporting the reflector as well as providing a manifold for the cooling air.

Abstract: A carbonating apparatus includes an elongated carbonation chamber defining a longitudinal axis and having an inlet end and an outlet end. A manifold assembly is provided at the inlet end of the carbonation chamber. The manifold assembly includes a manifold body having an outlet end connected to the inlet end of the carbonation chamber and an inlet end. A liquid passage and a carbon dioxide passage extend in a direction between the inlet and outlet ends of the manifold body in communication with the inlet end of the carbonation chamber. At least one check valve is disposed inside the liquid passage within the manifold body. At least one check valve is disposed inside the carbon dioxide passage within the manifold body.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for curing a curable coating on a three-dimensional object having at least a top surface and a side surface, with the object being advanced along a generally horizontal path. The apparatus includes an elongated light source of radiating curing energy for curing the coating on the surfaces of the object. An open-sided, elongated concave reflector is positioned behind the elongated light source to provide a focus for the radiated curing energy onto the object. The reflector has a generally elliptical cross-section for radiating the curing energy along an energy concentration line generally coincident with the object. The elongated light source is generally at the source focal point of the elongated reflector. The reflector is angled such that a line that runs between the source focal point of the reflector and the energy concentration line extends on the order of 55°-77° from vertical.

Abstract: A dual function heating and toasting apparatus is provided for radiantly heating or surface toasting bread-type food products. The apparatus includes a housing defining a heating/toasting chamber. A generally vertically oriented, center fixed heating platen is disposed in the chamber. A pair of generally vertically oriented, movable heating platens are disposed on opposite sides of the center fixed platen. A gate is movably mounted on the housing near the bottoms of the platens for movement between a closed position to hold a product between the platens and an open position allowing a finished product to exit the chamber. A product such as a bagel can be placed into the chamber onto the gate between one of the movable platens and the fixed platen and spaced therefrom to heat the bagel by radiant heat. Alternatively, a product such as a bun can be placed in the chamber onto the gate and the movable platen moved to bias the bun against the fixed platen to surface toast the bun.

Abstract: A modular shelving system includes a plurality of modular upright support units spaced from each other in the length direction of the system. Each unit includes a plurality of generally horizontal through passages for receiving and respectively supporting a plurality of elongated shelf-supporting rails of varying lengths to allow for varying the length of the shelving system as well as varying the spacing between the support units. Some of the through passages are located at lower areas of the support units to position some of the supporting rails for supporting an appropriate lower shelf. Other of the through passages are located at upper areas of the support units to position other of the supporting rails for supporting an appropriate upper shelf.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for spray coating an article and includes a housing defining a spray chamber. A spray gun is mounted on the housing for spray coating the article in the spray chamber. A shroud is disposed about the spray gun and defines an air passage between an inside of the shroud and an outside of the spray gun. Heated air is passed through the passage to heat the spray gun and, thereby, heat a coating material passing through the spray gun. A system includes a curing apparatus whereat the article, with the spray coating thereon, is finished by curing the spray coating. The curing apparatus creates an amount of heated air which is fed to the shroud.

Abstract: A steamer apparatus for steaming bread-type food products includes a housing defining a steam chamber having a heated platen therein. A water conduit delivers water onto the heated platen to convert the water into steam in the steam chamber. The water in the conduit is preheated by the heated platen, itself, prior to delivering the water to the heated platen.

Abstract: A grill scraper is provided for scraping the surface of a cooking grill or the like. The scraper includes an elongated frame defining a longitudinal axis which extends between a front head end of the frame and a rear handle end of the frame. A blade head is mounted at the head end of the frame for mounting a scraping blade thereon. A first handle is mounted at the handle end of the frame and extends downwardly therefrom. A second handle is mounted on the frame rearwardly of the head end but remote from the first handle.