Abstract: A warming drawer for a domestic range which is disposed within a heating chamber located relatively beneath the oven. The heating chamber is surrounded by a series of panels, and has a heating element disposed therein. The heating element is energized in accordance with a user-determined duty cycle such that temperature within the heating chamber is maintained between a predetermined minimum temperature and a predetermined maximum temperature. The range of temperatures between the predetermined minimum and predetermined maximum correspond to a range of desired food serving temperatures at the warmer drawer.

Abstract: A free-standing warming appliance includes an outer enclosure and an inner liner which cooperate together to form a heating chamber. A warmer drawer forming a receptacle for precooked food stuffs is selectively inserted into and withdrawn out of the heating chamber. A heating element is secured to the inner liner within the heating chamber to warm the food stuffs within the warmer drawer receptacle. A control panel has an indicator light and infinite switch for controlling the heating element. The control panel is located within the enclosure and covered by a front panel of the warmer drawer so that access to the control components of the control panel is provided only when the warmer drawer is withdrawn from the heating chamber. Oven support members are secured to the outer enclosure to support a cooking appliance, such as a built-in oven, above the free-standing warming appliance. The cooking appliance rests directly on the oven support members of the warming appliance.

Abstract: A returnable and reusable packaging and storage system for elongated members, such as awnings. The system includes a container upon which a series of tubular members are stacked. Each tubular member is adapted to slidably receive an elongated member and allows individual elongated members to be removed from the stack of tubular members regardless of their vertical position within the stack. Spacers are attached to the elongated members that are shorter than the tubular member holding the elongated member, so that the combined spacer-elongated members are accessible from either end of the tubular member. The tubular members project in a cantilever fashion from the container, the projecting ends being protected and supported by end bags. The end bags preclude the tubular members, as well as the elongated members therein, from moving longitudinally, and thereby prevent the awnings from sliding out of the tubular members during the shipment and storage thereof.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle includes an exterior wall, a floor, a roof, and a refrigerator having a front door, side walls, a rear wall, an absorber located at the rear wall, and a condenser located at the rear wall. The rear wall of the refrigerator is substantially perpendicular to the exterior wall. The recreational vehicle further includes an air passage in which the absorber and the condenser are located. An enclosure extends between one of the side walls and the exterior wall to partially form a side portion of the air passage located between the exterior wall and one of the side walls of the refrigerator. A side intake vent extends through the exterior wall below the enclosure and communicates the side portion of the air passage with air surrounding the recreational vehicle. At least one half of the side intake vent is located forward of the rear wall toward the front door of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively predicting the air flows from a duct system that would be produced by environment conditioning plants. The apparatus includes a measurement duct connected to a blower. A restrictor plate is movably mounted over an inlet to the blower to vary the air flow produced by the blower so as to correspond to the air flow generated by a selected environment conditioning plant. A manometer is connected to the measurement duct and is operable to measure static pressure in the measurement duct when the measurement duct is in air flow communication with the duct system. Performance curves for the environment conditioning plants are used to convert static pressures to air flows.

Abstract: A guide and a method of using the guide to install a spline of a canopy in a channel formed in a side wall of a roller tube having an end with a circumferential edge. The guide has an interior groove formed therein for receiving a portion of the circumferential edge so as to mount the guide to the roller tube. A wall of the guide covers the circumferential edge and defines a mounting opening. When the guide is mounted to the roller tube, the mounting opening is disposed over an end of the channel so as to permit the spline to be moved through the mounting opening and into the channel. The wall may define a second mounting opening for disposal over an end of a second channel formed in the side wall of the roller tube.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly including a motor housing, a motor and fan assembly mounted in the motor housing, and a dirt containment chamber having an air intake at one end. An apertured wall is provided at one end of the motor housing so that the fan is closely adjacent the aperture. A planar filter is provided within the containment chamber and extends from a distal end to a proximal end of the chamber to separate the chamber into an air flow chamber and a dirt chamber. The aperture is separated from air flow communication with said intake opening by the filter.

Abstract: A retractable awning for mounting to a wall such as the side of a recreational vehicle. The awning includes a roller, a flexible canopy having an inner edge connected to the wall and an outer edge secured to the roller, a pair of arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller and operable to move the roller between a retracted position adjacent the wall and an extended position spaced from the wall, and a travel latch for securing the arm assemblies in the retracted position. Each of the arm assemblies includes a vertically extending base arm connected to the wall, a bottom arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm, an extended arm having a first end pivotally connected to the bottom arm and a second end connected to and supporting the roller, and a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm above the bottom arm and a second end pivotally connected to the extended arm.

Abstract: A ventilation system for an absorption refrigerator having a condenser and an absorber and located in a slide-out room of a recreational vehicle. The ventilation system includes a generally vertical air passage in which the condenser and the absorber are located, a lower vent for the intake of ambient air into the air passage, an upper vent for exhausting heated air from the air passage, and an air assist system for forcing air flow through the air passage only when the temperature of the ambient air is too high for an efficient natural draft. Both the lower and upper vents are in the side wall of the slide-out room.

Abstract: An awning includes a roller assembly having a torsion spring, a canopy connected between a wall the roller assembly, and a pair of "four-bar" arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller assembly. The arm assemblies move the roller assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, where the torsion spring biases the roller assembly toward the retracted position. Each arm assembly includes a vertically extending base arm secured to the wall, a bottom arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm, an extended arm having a first end pivotally connected to the bottom arm and a second end supporting the roller assembly, and a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm and a second end pivotally connected to the extended arm. The base arm has a telescoping extension so that the effective length of the base arm is variable.

Abstract: A hub provided at an end of a roller rotates with the roller. A stationary cap mounted to an axle of the roller is positioned adjacent the hub. A pawl pivots on the cap and is movable to engage gears on the hub. The pawl has two abutment surfaces mounted. The pawl pivots between a first position wherein one of the abutment surfaces engages the geared surface to prevent rotation of the hub in a first direction and a second position wherein the other abutment surfaces engages the geared surface to prevent rotation of the hub in a second direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unique and novel air filtrating, self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner. The filtration system utilizes a HEPA-rated air filter as a final filtering element. The disclosed vacuum cleaner contains numerous other features including a self-propelled drive mechanism.

Abstract: A method for operating an upright wet extractor having a base and a handle. The base includes a floor cleaning tool and has a hand held cleaning tool permanently attached thereto. A motor fan unit is operated to generate a suction force and this suction force is selectively communicated to a suction inlet of one of the hand held cleaning tool and the floor cleaning tool. When the suction force is communicated to the hand held cleaning tool suction inlet, pressurized cleaning fluid is also supplied to that tool, and when the suction force is supplied to the suction inlet of the floor cleaning tool, a brush unit is rotated in the floor cleaning tool.

Abstract: A central vacuum cleaner having an air flow exhaust pipe is provided with a muffler comprising an elongated muffler pipe having a reduced diameter inlet and a reduced diameter outlet and a noise reducing foam liner disposed in the muffler pipe between the inlet and outlet. The foam liner includes a smooth inner surface that is generally flush with inner surfaces of the inlet and outlet. The foam liner comprises a combustion modified polyether polyurethane foam tube inserted in the muffler pipe between the inlet and outlet.