Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a L-theanine for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (e.g., heartburn) in a human or animal, including useful methods and compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a L-theanine for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (e.g., heart-burn) in a human or animal, including useful methods and compositions.

Abstract: A vacuum activated switch for use in or with a drinking container and straw. The switch includes a flexible membrane, a traveling contact which rests on the flexible membrane, and a fixed contact which is mounted on an integrated circuit board. Suction upon the straw creates a partial vacuum, causing the membrane to deflect, thereby carrying with it the traveling contact. This motion will cause the traveling contact to come into electrical contact with the fixed contact, thereby completing a circuit. The integrated circuit board is programmed to initiate an action upon completion of the circuit, such as, preferably, the production of a preselected melody or other sound.

Abstract: A capacitive element is introduced in series with the gate of a switching element in an automatic turn on/off circuit which automatically provides artificial light depending on the ambient light incident on a photo sensitive element of the circuit wherein the capacitive element holds an offset voltage which aids in turning on the switching element and provides a hysteresis in the system which counteracts a flickering effect common to automatic turn on/off circuits controlling an artificial light which employ a photo sensitive device.

Abstract: An oral irrigator device is formed of an adapter mountable in interposed relation between a supply pipe of treatment liquid, generally water, and a shower head, a user-graspable handpiece, and a flexible liquid-communicating hose connecting the adapter and handpiece. A rotatable turbine within the adapter generates, from the continuous-flow stream of treatment liquid from the supply pipe, a pulsating stream of the liquid for delivery to the handpiece through a normalizing flow regulator and the flexible connecting hose. In the handpiece, the pulsating stream is separated into a primary stream for discharge through an appliance head carried on the handpiece and a secondary stream that is directed into an expansion chamber partially bounded by an elastic diaphragm which separates the chamber from a storage reservoir for a flowable medicament.

Abstract: An automated drinkmaker system which is designed to accept an input drink order, as from a cash register, and deliver the drink order, for different sizes and different flavors, with or without ice, completely finished in lidded containers to an output station. The automated drinkmaker system is designed for labor free processing of drink orders in high volume quick service or fast food establishments. The machine is designed around a carousel type of drink transporter which intermittently carries each drink to and from four circularly spaced stations, cup dispensing, ice dispensing, soda dispensing, lid application and marking. The carousel design allows a cup to be dispensed at one station while another cup is being filled with ice at a second station, and yet another is being filled with soda at a third station, etc. The use of carousels is extended to both cup and lid dispensing.

Abstract: An automatic lid dispensing and applicator arrangement for an automated drinkmaker machine. The lidding arrangement automatically separates lids from a stack of lids and applies the separated lids onto cups. A large supply of lids is maintained in a rotatable lid supply carousel. A lid shuttle is positioned adjacent the bottom of a lid dispenser, and is supported for linear translating and reciprocating movement between retracted and extended positions. The lid shuttle supports a lid engaging member designed to engage a first bottommost lid of the stack of lids and to retain the first bottommost lid in a first intermediate position in the lid shuttle while the lid shuttle is moved in translation to its extended position. The lid shuttle is then moved in translation to its retracted position, during which the first lid is moved within the lid shuttle to a second loaded position therein beneath a lid applicator supported by the lid shuttle.