Abstract: A kiosk for selling frozen confections such as shaved ice or ice cream may include with a liquid-topping dispenser assembly having liquid-dispensing faucets which are operable by a customer outside the kiosk to dispense liquid toppings onto the frozen confections.

Abstract: A customizable powder bed containment system for use with a direct metal laser melting (DMLM) system includes a plurality of interlinkable containment walls mechanically couplable on a build plate of the DMLM system as well as mechanically coupleable to another interlinkable containment wall of the plurality of interlinkable containment walls, and at least one actuator mechanically coupled to at least one interlinkable containment wall of the plurality of interlinkable containment walls. The at least one actuator is operable to selectively raise the at least one interlinkable containment wall of the plurality of interlinkable containment walls axially relative to a build surface of the build plate.

Abstract: Waste transfer system for a toilet of a public transport vehicle that discharges into an on-board waste aerated storage tank, comprising a waste intermediate tank (1), means for generating negative or positive pressure inside said waste intermediate tank (1), and a discharge valve means (3,5,6,7) to regulate the flow through a first waste passage (8) between a toilet bowl (2) and said waste intermediate tank (1) and through a second waste passage (11) between said waste intermediate tank (1) and said waste storage tank, characterized in that said discharge valve means comprise a multi-port discharge valve (3) connectable to an inlet/outlet port (4) of the waste intermediate tank (1), said multi-port discharge valve (3) being configured to provide, in a first working position, direct communication between said toilet bowl (2) and said waste intermediate tank (1) when negative pressure is supplied inside said waste intermediate tank (1) and to provide, in a second working position, direct communication between

Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are provided for dispensing fluid from a dispenser that includes a flexible membrane having different levels of pliability according to a voltage applied to the flexible membrane. According to some embodiments, a biasing device, such as a spring, is disposed on a first side of the flexible membrane and is configured to apply pressure to the flexible membrane. When a first voltage is applied to the flexible membrane, the flexible membrane becomes sufficiently pliable to enable the spring to flex the flexible membrane, pushing the flexible membrane into a pumping chamber disposed on the opposite side of the flexible membrane relative to the spring. The fluid is stored in the pumping chamber and the flexing of the flexible membrane causes the pumping chamber to compress. Such compression of the pumping chamber forces the pumping chamber to dispense the fluid through a pump outlet.

Abstract: A piston pump for dispensing fluid from a reservoir, an improved vacuum relief arrangement in which a passageway for flow of air from the atmosphere into the reservoir is provided at least in part through a piston-forming element of the piston pump.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device (10) for dispensing a mixture (S) constituted by a first fluid (F1) and a second fluid (F2), suited to be applied to a container (C). The device comprises: an outlet duct (20) for the mixture (S); a reception and/or transit chamber (43); means (50, 60) for generating the mixture (S); first valve means comprising a first movable element (32); second valve means comprising a second movable element (32); third valve means comprising a third movable element (31a, 31b). Two among the first movable element (32), the second movable element (32) and the third movable element (31a, 31b) belong to a single valve element (30; 130). The invention concerns also a system for dispensing a mixture (S) constituted by a first fluid (F1) and a second fluid (F2) comprising a container (C) and a device (10) as described above.

Abstract: A spice dispensing device is provided for an automatic meal preparation apparatus. The device uses a replaceable cartridge containing a volume of spice for dispensing in predetermined volumetric doses. A dispensing mechanism is built in to the cartridge for isolating the predetermined volumetric dose and moving it toward an opening in the bottom of the cartridge. The cartridge is sized and shaped to be placed into the automatic meal preparation apparatus in a rack for containing a plurality of such cartridges. The cartridge is alignable with a position in the rack in which the spice dose can be dispensed directly into a cooking vessel of the apparatus.

Abstract: An aerosol dispenser, an outer container for an aerosol dispenser and a preform for an outer container. The aerosol dispenser, outer container and preform each have a neck, which in turn has a crimp ring, to receive a valve cup clinched thereto. The crimp ring has slots which act as vents therethrough. The vents may be exposed to pressurized propellant and product due to deformation of the neck during undue internal pressurization. The cross section of the vents diverge in the downward direction to provide both flow area and for product and propellant and adequate area for the valve cup to be corrugatedly clinched to the crimp ring.

Abstract: A scoop with a spring action handle comprising a half spherical shaped bottom cup, a funnel shaped top lid having a broad base with a lip to fit over the flat mouth of the bottom cup and an opening at the narrow top end of the lid to dispense ground coffee scooped into the bottom cup. The spring action handle is comprised of an alligator clip front end attached to the bottom cup and the top lid, a pair of hand clasp structures that when flexed together with a single hand separates the bottom cup from the top lid so that ground coffee can be scooped into the bottom cup. When the hand clasp structures are released, the lip of the top lid, covers the mouth of the bottom cup to create a tight seal between the two sections to prevent spillage of the coffee.

Abstract: The tool for clearing a clog includes a tool shaft, a nozzle body, and a handle portion. The tool shaft includes an outer tube, an inner tube, and radial supports for the inner tube. The outer tube can be symmetrical so that the nozzle body can be aimed according to alignment of the outer tube. The nozzle body includes a nozzle connector, a sealing member with a hardness less than the nozzle connector and a diameter greater than the nozzle connector, and a nozzle tip. The sealing member can create the seal. The handle portion includes a handle body, handles, a handle chamber with a pin member, air cartridge, and a button member, and a handle body cover. The attachment of the handle body cover sets the button member in a sealed position to release the blast of air from the air cartridge, when moved to the released position.

Abstract: A pool cover anchor system, for use on deck boards surrounding the pool, includes first and second anchor parts. The first anchor part includes: a first portion having an opening; a second portion that extends away from the first portion; and an anchor member that extends away from the first portion for a hook of the pool cover to be mounted thereto. The second anchor part includes: a first portion pivotally received in the opening in the first anchor part; and a second portion that extends away from the first portion of the second anchor part. The opening in the first anchor part is positioned a distance away from the second portion of the first anchor part for each of the second portion of the first anchor part and the second, portion of the second anchor part to respectively bear against two different deck boards simultaneously, and distribute loads therebetween.

Abstract: An oven may include a door movable between an open position and a closed position, a cooking chamber configured to receive a food product, an RF energy source and an RF choke. The cooking chamber may be defined at least in part by a top wall, a bottom wall, a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and may define an opening that interfaces with the door. The RF energy source may be configured to apply RF energy to the food product. The RF choke may be disposed at a portion of the door facing the cooking chamber when the door is in the closed position. The door may include a handle disposed on a side of the door opposite the RF choke. The handle may be attached to a front face of the door at an angle relative to the front face of the door such that the handle extends beyond a top of the door along a direction extending from a pivot axis of the door toward the top of the door.

Abstract: A multilayer photonic stack comprising a lower plurality of alternating layers comprising at least A and B and an upper plurality of alternating layers comprising at least C and D, layer A comprises at least one of Al, Au, W, Ag, Ni, Ti, Pt, and Cr, layer B comprises at least one of Al2O3, AlN, MgO, SiO2, TiO2, Si3N4, MgF2, Ta2O5, SiC, Si, Ge, and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), and layers C and D comprise at least one of Al2O3, AlN, MgO, SiO2, TiO2, Si3N4, MgF2, Ta2O5, SiC, Si, Ge, and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO).

Abstract: A dispenser can prevent leakage of contents from a nozzle tip when stopping discharging the contents. A dispenser includes: a syringe body that has a filled space of contents, and has a discharge hole at a tip thereof; a plunger that is slid in the syringe body by application of a pushing force, to discharge the contents in the filled space from the discharge hole; and a piston that is formed of an elastic material and located at a tip part of the plunger, wherein a gap is formed between an inner peripheral surface of the syringe body and an outer peripheral surface of the piston, when the plunger is pushed, the piston deforms to narrow the gap, and a back leakage risk (=(gap area/final discharge hole area)) after the deformation of the piston is 0 or more and less than 1.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multi-purpose instant chiller-heater apparatus (100) having a housing (102) with a top portion, a bottom portion and a number of side portions. The multi-purpose instant chiller-heater apparatus (100) further includes a hollow tube structure (104) positioned within the housing (102) for passing the liquid to be heated or cooled through it. The hollow tube structure (104) is provided with an inlet (112) at one end of the hollow tube structure (104) for receiving the liquid and an outlet (114) at another end of the hollow tube structure (104) for providing chilled or heated liquid. The housing (102) is configured to store a heating or cooling means to heat or cool the liquid passing through the hollow tube structure (104) positioned inside the housing (102). The housing (102) is provided with an insulator layer for preventing heat exchange between its interior and exterior.

Abstract: A pump system (100) including an overtube adapter (140) and an overtube (150) attached to the overtube adapter (140), the overtube (150) capable of being selectively attached to the overtube adapter (140) to provide different overtube (150) aesthetics for pump systems and fragrance products.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a dispensing container includes a closure body detachably coupled to a co-injected valve. The closure body includes a main closure body coupled to a closure cap via a flexible hinge. The co-injected valve includes a valve head and a valve frame. The valve head includes a valve head portion with multiple valve head slits, a sleeve portion, and a peripheral sealing flange. The valve frame is permanently coupled to the valve head and includes a radial ledge and a radial wall that support the peripheral sealing flange of the valve head. The co-injected valve is fabricated via a two-step injection molding process. The first step includes fabricating the valve frame from a first injection material, and the second step includes fabricating the valve member from a second injection material.

Abstract: A welding apparatus includes: a laser beam irradiation section that emits a laser beam; a spectroscopic apparatus that receives plasma emission from a molten pool formed by laser beam irradiation, and acquires optical spectral information; and an estimation section that estimates material components of a weld zone on the basis of the optical spectral information, and estimates a property of the weld zone on the basis of the material components.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus may include a beverage dispenser and associated stopper. The stopper may be used to replace a cork, cap or other closure of a beverage container, such as a wine bottle. A needle of the beverage dispenser may be inserted through a passageway of the stopper so that pressurized gas can be introduced into the container to force beverage liquid to exit the container via the needle. The stopper may suitably seal the container after dispensing is complete, e.g., to resist exposing the beverage to oxygen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dropper-type cosmetic container, which is configured so that in a process of releasing screw-coupling to a container main body by rotating a closing cap, by frictional force between an inner circumferential surface of a content inflow tube and an outer circumferential surface of a dropper pipe, the contents stored in the container main body pass through a content inflow hole forming a narrow channel, are dispersed, and are sucked into the dropper pipe, thereby allowing the contents to be drawn into the interior of the dropper pipe through a simple sucking structure to be used.