Abstract: A system and method for making an enhanced cheese product includes a milk processing system for developing cheese curd, and a mixing means which mixes the cheese curd and the enhancing agent. By applying negative pressure to a mixture of cheese curd and enhancing agent, the enhancing agent can be drawn into the cheese curds. The enhancing agent may include whey protein to increase product. Likewise, probotics, fat substitute, enzymes and flavorings may be added to the cheese curds to produce cheese products with reduced spoilage, decreased fat, accelerated ripening or new flavors.

Abstract: A universal ironing board cover is provided having two separate and independent anchoring systems for anchoring the ironing board cover to the ironing board and a multifunctional nose pocket. The first independent anchoring system includes an independent drawstring for tensioning the ironing board cover to the ironing board, while the second independent anchoring system includes a plurality of alternative openings in at least two independent straps for engaging the plurality of alternative openings and anchoring the ironing board cover to the ironing board to accommodate a variety of shapes, configurations and mechanical arrangements for the support structure of the ironing board.

Abstract: Structures and apparatuses such as tank cars that have ladders associated therewith are disclosed which have, at the ladder top, two arrays of a plurality of horizontal rungs suitable for a climber using a ladder to horizontally grip by hand. The arrays form an opening through which a climber can leave or access the ladder while gripping the horizontal handgrip rungs of the arrays. The cross-section of the horizontal handgrip rungs is substantially round and should not exceed 2 inches in diameter. The preferred cross-section of the rungs is within the range of from about ¾″-1″ in diameter.

Abstract: A laundry center has a plurality of grooved vertical posts connecting together a top storage shelf and a middle snake wire frame. Plural sorting sacks are attached to the middle snake wire frame by ties. A height-adjustable, downwardly foldable ironing board is secured to two of the grooved vertical posts. Because the ironing board must be pulled up to be used, no one is injured when the ironing board is disengaged from its stored position.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a hygienic vacuum valve for use in sterile environments such as food processing, medical and pharmaceutical applications where a vacuum valve is advantageously utilized in situ on processing equipment to eliminate multiple vacuum lines and valves remotely located from the processing equipment. The novel evacuation valve and method for evacuating, providing a sterilized environment and then sealing the package is accomplished by utilizing a vacuum valve having a housing which accommodates a first piston for opening and closing a vacuum inlet ported to a vacuum outlet and a second piston disposed between the housing and the vacuum outlet for rapidly releasing the vacuum after the package has been sealed. The first and second pistons each preferably include a sealing head which seats in a tapered frusto-conical shaped seat for positively sealing the vacuum inlet and the vent port in the operation of the valve.

Abstract: A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a slanted, perforated, interior panel located near a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Lips are applied and extended from the edges of vertical sides of the access opening to reduce the loss of coolant air through the air curtain. Thus, relative flows of coolant air and the air curtain are maintained inside the showcase.

Abstract: An automated container production line for automatically removing, orienting, filling, sealing and providing a label and applying a straw to the outside of the labeled container is provided which utilizes a novel orienting conveyor for receiving unoriented containers from a supply bin and orienting the containers for a plurality of novel short production lines having a positioning screw conveyor which intermittently starts and stops the advancement of the containers as groups of containers in which various groups of containers are simultaneously filled, sealed, inspected and then subsequently transported to a sleeving device for adding labels, a heat shrink tunnel for fastening the sleeve to the container and then to a novel straw applicator for subsequently attaching a straw to the outside of the container.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a hygienic three way valve for dispensing medicinal, pharmaceutical and food products or other fluid materials which require the processing of fill products without contamination while providing a positive control over the the fill product. The novel hygienic three way valve provides a positive control over fill products by utilizing a fluid activated piston having a positive shut off provided by a substantially cylindrical sealing head in combination with tapered sealing seats that receive the upper and lower sealing surfaces of the substantially cylindrical sealing head. A pneumatic or fluid means is provided for activating the piston and a leak detection port is disposed through the wall of the main valve body communicating with the piston.

Abstract: A positive control fill valve for dispensing fillable materials which eliminates dripping, splashing, sloshing and contamination of fill materials is provided with a fluid activiated fill piston having a substantially cylindrical piston sealing head cooperating with a tapered seat for receiving the piston filling head in combination with a leak detection port for positively detecting potential leaks between the fluid activated fill piston and the product fill chamber. The novel fill valve preferably includes at one end, a pneumatic means for opening and closing the fill valve piston and at the other end, a fill chamber having a tapered seat for positively seating the sealing head of the pneumatically activated piston with a product inlet means disposed therebetween and a two seal arrangement separating the pneumatic chamber at one end from the product dispensing chamber at the other end and a leak detection port disposed intermediate the two seals.

Abstract: A multiple shoe rack bag has a plurality of panels, at least one of which has an opening formed therein. The panels form a space enclosing at least one rack capable of containing at least one pair of shoes therein. A pocket is installed in the opening and is configured to hold a chemical composition in an interior thereof. A zipper provides access into the interior of the pocket. The pocket has a gas-impermeable front surface and a back surface perforated with vents to allow vapor from the chemical composition to pass therethrough to treat the multiple pairs of shoes enclosed in the space formed by the panels. The back surface of the pocket may be gas-impermeable. The shoe rack bag may be a rectangular hanging bag for a single pair of shoes, a rectangular hanging bag for multiple pairs of shoes, an underbed storage box or a portable shoe rack closet.

Abstract: A storage unit has a lower flexible rack configured to hold resiliently at least one piece of luggage and an upper horseshoe-shaped hanging bar configured to suspend clothes therefrom. A removable, horizontally oriented, stabilizing bar is secured at a junction above the lower flexible rack but below the upper horseshoe-shaped hanging bar. The storage unit also includes a pair of replaceable, vertically extending tubes connected to the lower flexible rack and a pair of inverted L-shaped tubes connected to the upper horseshoe-shaped hanging bar. The pair of replaceable, vertically extending tubes and the pair of inverted L-shaped tubes are connected to each other. Also, the pair of vertically extending tubes is replaceable by another pair of vertically extending tubes of a different length.

Abstract: An automatic bulk filling machine is provided having a container input end which includes a fill station for filling a container in accordance with weight or volume requirements followed by a lid dispensing and attachment station wherein the lids of the container are placed over the container in registry with the lip of the container and closed onto the bulk container by a piston cylinder combination having a lid pad for pressing and deforming the center of the lid onto the bulk container before press fitting the bulk container lid onto the bulk container which filled and sealed bulk container is then transferred to an optional labeling station and subsequently transferred to the output end of the conveyor to complete the automated filling, sealing and labeling operations for removal of the container from the automated bulk filling machine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling termite infestation. The apparatus is comprised of a termite resistant housing having (1) a bottom, (2) sidewalls having an interior and exterior surface and (3) a top. The top includes an opening for accessing the interior of the housing to identify the presence of termites and to introduce toxic bait into the housing when the presence of termites is observed through an opening for accessing the housing interior. The housing has at least one sidewall opening large enough to permit termites to pass through and nontoxic termite bait fixedly attached to the interior and/or exterior of one or more of the housing sidewalls. A number of alternative architectures are provided which have in common the feature of allowing termites to transition from nontoxic bait to toxic bait that is introduced in a manner that minimizes disturbance to the termite habitat at, without or within the apparatus.

Abstract: A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Dual evaporator coils are arranged in housings on different sides of a plurality of fan motors. Condensate water produced by the dual evaporator coils is pumped to a primary dissipater pan arranged on top of the showcase. Because of the large amount of condensate water produced by the dual evaporator coils, a secondary dissipater pan is provided as a back-up system for any excess condensate water. A three-way solenoid valve diverts the excess condensate water to the secondary dissipater pan when the primary dissipater pan is full.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling termite infestation. The apparatus is comprised of a termite resistant housing having (1) a bottom, (2) sidewalls having an interior and exterior surface and (3) a top. The top includes an opening for accessing the interior of the housing to identify the presence of termites and to introduce toxic bait into the housing when the presence of termites is observed through the opening for accessing the housing interior. The housing has at least one sidewall opening large enough to permit termites to pass through and nontoxic termite bait fixedly attached to the interior and/or exterior of one or more of the housing sidewalls. A number of alternative architectures are provided which have in common the feature of allowing termites to transition from nontoxic bait to toxic bait that is introduced in a manner that minimizes disturbance to the termite habitat at, without or within the apparatus.