Abstract: A versatile by-pass humidifier assembly utilizes the flow of air therethrough as the driving force to rotate a fluid carrier subassembly, but may also be adapted for use with an electric motor as the driving force. The water carrier subassembly has a unique "drop-in" design which permits easy removal and replacement, all without the use of tools or fasteners. Similarly, the fluid reservoir is removable for maintenance and cleaning and the cover is removable for access to the humidifier assembly interior, both being removable and replaceable without the use of tools or fasteners of any sort.

Abstract: A single point resilient and adjustable mount for a derailler which allows the rear derailler unit which supports and moves the roller cage to be flexibly and adjustably attached to the holding bracket attached to the axle and frame of the bicycle and which has a single adjustment for allowing the derailler unit to be angularly moved relative to the bracket so as to prevent bending of the bracket and derailler and easy and simple adjustment of the derailler.

Abstract: A drain assembly for a sink or the like employs a plastic sleeve below a retaining flange, the periphery of the sleeve being provided with several groups of flexible fins extending out therefrom parallel to its axis, the fins of each group being located at successively increasing distances from the retaining flange. The assembly can be installed by one person from above the sink or the like simply by pushing it down into the drain aperture with a twisting motion until at least some of the fins in each group tightly engage the under surface of the drain aperture, the fins thereby readily accommodating both stainless steel and cast iron sinks or the like of various wall thicknesses.

Abstract: A fast conched candy coating is prepared by heating fat to above the melting point thereof and mixing the fat with sugar, optionally with milk solids, emulsifiers, flavoring, cocoa or cocoa butter. The mixture is maintained above the melting point of the fat but below 150.degree. F. The heated mixture is then conched in a high speed shearing and mixing device wherein the solid particles of the mixture are sheared to 40 microns or less and the mechanical energy imparted during the shearing and mixing raise the conching temperature to between 190.degree. F and 250.degree. F in less than 30 seconds.

Abstract: A bicycle derailler which provides for an actuating mechanism which prevents stretching and breaking of the actuating cable by allowing an actuating link to move when the cable is tightened at times when the wheels of the bicycle are not moving. Under these conditions, when the actuating link is moved by the cable it spring biases the derailler mechanism such that when the bicycle starts to move the spring bias causes shifting of the derailler.

Abstract: A container for low boiling liquefied gas formed of an inner and outer vessel spaced one from the other to provide an insulated space in between with the inner vessel being of cylindrical shape with the elongate axis horizontally disposed and means for supporting the inner vessel from the outer vessel by interconnection along the horizontal axis and in a manner to prevent relative rotational movement while permitting movement of the inner vessel relative to the outer vessel in the axial direction in response to expansions and contractions due to temperature change.

Abstract: A dry composition is capable of being instantly reconstituted with water to form a cheese-substitute. The composition is a mechanical mixture of co-dried particles of an alkali or alkaline earth neutralized casein and fat and an alkali or alkaline earth salt, oxide or hydroxide congealing agent. The pH of the composition is 4.5 to 6.6 and the moisture content is 10% by weight or less.

Abstract: A process for electrostatically applying a multilayered coating on a substrate in one operation or step is disclosed, wherein a mixture of powders of at least two different coating materials is used as the coating composition, each powder, in the case of non-conducting powders, differing from the others in dielectric constant by a factor of at least 0.1, and the powders being of substantially different specific gravities, with the components having the lowest dielectric constant value having the lowest specific gravity value.At least one of the powders will be a powder of a film-forming non-conductive organic or inorganic polymer. Upon electrostatically applying a coating of this powdered composition to a conductive substrate which has a neutral charge or a charge opposite from that of the coating composition powder particles, the powders stratify into distinct layers of different compositions.

Abstract: A device for the production of a food article, in which food material is extruded through a generally arcuate die opening so that a differential in the frictional forces between the center portion and the end portions of the arcuate opening causes the material to curl about an axis transverse to the die axis and thus assume the general shape of a shell. The device lends itself to the fabrication, in an automatic, consistent and simple way, of a food product of a unique structure which has a filling of meat within a covering of dough.

Abstract: A fast conched candy coating is prepared by providing a mixture of fat and sugar, optionally with milk solids, emulsifiers, flavoring, cocoa or cocoa butter, heating the mixture to a temperature above the melting point of the fat but below 150.degree. F, and conching the mixture in a high speed shearing and mixing device. The mechanical energy imparted during the shearing and mixing raise the conching temperature to between 150.degree. and 250.degree. F in less than 30 seconds.

Abstract: A cheese extender comprised of a congealed mixture of a particular neutralized casein, fat and water. The weight ratios of neutralized casein to fat are from 1:2 to 2:1 and the weight ratios of water to the combination of neutralized casein and fat are from 1:2 to 3:1. The ingredients are heated to at least partially solvate the neutralized casein and then cooled to form the congealed mixture which closely resembles mozzarella cheese in texture, mouth-feel and blandness.

Abstract: Pitted olives are stuffed with a reconstituted pimento prepared by shaping an aqueous dispersion of macerated pimento having dissolved therein alginic acid or a salt thereof. The shaped dispersion is contacted with a solution of a divalent cation and a non-reversible gel is formed, which gel is cut and stuffed into pitted olives with a conventional olive-stuffing machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing semi-frozen beverages containing water, a flavoring syrup and carbon dioxide in which the water and flavoring syrup are delivered under a pre-set substantially constant pressure through respective water and syrup flow restrictors to a mixed beverage delivery line so that the proportions of the water and syrup in the mixed beverage are controlled by the water and beverage flow restrictors. The apparatus includes mechanism for selectively passing water under the gas pressure in a reverse direction through the syrup flow restrictor to back flush and clean the same. The apparatus also includes mechanism for automatically controlling the flow of mixed beverage to the freezing chamber and the venting of gas from the freezing chamber to maintain the liquid in the chamber at a preselected level and pressure.

Abstract: A sprinkler comprises a nozzle attached at one end of an elongated member, an earth-penetrating element attached at the other end of the member, and a foot-step. The nozzle is attached to a passage in the elongated member through a fluid communication means and receives fluid transmitted to it through the passage from a fluid source. The element is attached to the member by two element portions receiving a section at one end of the member therebetween and interengaging parts, such as a projection - recess combination, on each of the element portions and the member section. Adjacent to each member interengaging part is a groove running between, and bounded by the element portions. The foot-step is secured by securing it to those parts of the element portions bounding the groove, with the securing means being received within the groove.

Abstract: A hanger for a bicycle reflector so as to maintain the reflective face of the reflector in a generally vertical position and which includes means that prevent the reflector from being incorrectly mounted on the bicycle.

Abstract: The machine dispenses a ready-made milk shake. A freezing chamber has a dispensing valve having porting and a valve element so arranged that flow of the semi-frozen comestible and the flavoring material occurs simultaneously. A beater mixes the two during dispensing. A conduit for the flavoring material has a unique coupling to the valve block and a quick-release coupling intermediate its ends. Upon release of the latter, a manually operable sampling valve may be connected to the conduit to selectively draw a sample of the flavoring. A pump is provided for sucking in a liquid comestible and gas in a preselected proportion and delivering them to the bottom of the freezing chamber. A vent is located in the valve block to vent air from the freezing chamber upon start-up of the machine. The vent has an inlet located at a level so that the liquid and gas volumes in the chamber are about equal to the respective proportions pumped.

Abstract: Bracket supports for attaching the opposite ends of a vehicle top carrier bar to the top of a vehicle of the kind having a relatively high curvature between its sides, each bracket comprising a truncated structure having a horizontal bridge piece and at its ends downwardly extending, divergent legs, at the lower ends of which there are vertical extensions containing vertically spaced holes, clamp plates mounted on the bridge pieces for clamping engagement with the ends of the carrier bar, and rigid posts of U-shaped cross-section telescopically engaged with the vertical extensions of the brackets, said posts containing holes corresponding in spacing to the holes in the extensions for receiving bolts to enable adjusting the extensions heightwise on the posts, feet at the lower ends of the posts for engagement with the upper sides of the gutters at opposite sides of the top, and jaws mounted to the feet for clamping engagement with the lower sides of the gutters.