Abstract: An appliance for evacuating a flexible container, the appliance including a base housing and a vacuum source disposed within the base housing. A drip retainer is removeably disposed in the base and is in communication with the vacuum source. The drip retainer includes a chamber for holding material. The drip retainer further including a nozzle projecting therefrom, the nozzle is engagable with an opening of the flexible container. A cover is rotatably connected to the base and movable to a closed position to cover the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making ice cream or other dessert through the use of a canister assembly containing a freezable material. The canister assembly includes at least two separable canister subassemblies. The subassemblies may be nestable so as to minimize storage space.

Abstract: An appliance for evacuating a flexible container, the appliance including a base housing and a vacuum source disposed within the base housing. A drip retainer is removeably disposed in the base and is in communication with the vacuum source. The drip retainer includes a chamber for holding material. The drip retainer further including a nozzle projecting therefrom, the nozzle is engagable with an opening of the flexible container. A cover is rotatably connected to the base and movable to a closed position to cover the nozzle.

Abstract: An appliance for evacuating a flexible container, the appliance including a base housing and a vacuum source disposed within the base housing. A drip retainer is removeably disposed in the base and is in communication with the vacuum source. The drip retainer includes a chamber for holding material. The drip retainer further including a nozzle projecting therefrom, the nozzle is engagable with an opening of the flexible container. A cover is rotatably connected to the base and movable to a closed position to cover the nozzle.

Abstract: An appliance for evacuating a flexible container, the appliance including a base housing and a vacuum source disposed within the base housing. A drip retainer is removeably disposed in the base and is in communication with the vacuum source. The drip retainer includes a chamber for holding material. The drip retainer further including a nozzle projecting therefrom, the nozzle is engagable with an opening of the flexible container. A cover is rotatably connected to the base and movable to a closed position to cover the nozzle.

Abstract: An appliance for evacuating a flexible container, the appliance including a base housing and a vacuum source disposed within the base housing. A drip retainer is removeably disposed in the base and is in communication with the vacuum source. The drip retainer includes a chamber for holding material. The drip retainer further including a nozzle projecting therefrom, the nozzle is engagable with an opening of the flexible container. A cover is rotatably connected to the base and movable to a closed position to cover the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making ice cream or other dessert through the use of a canister assembly containing a freezable material. The canister assembly includes at least two separable canister subassemblies. The subassemblies may be nestable so as to minimize storage space.

Abstract: An appliance for evacuating a flexible container, the appliance including a base housing and a vacuum source disposed within the base housing. A drip retainer is removeably disposed in the base and is in communication with the vacuum source. The drip retainer includes a chamber for holding material. The drip retainer further including a nozzle projecting therefrom, the nozzle is engagable with an opening of the flexible container. A cover is rotatably connected to the base and movable to a closed position to cover the nozzle.

Abstract: The decorative fixtures of the present invention enable azimuthal directivity of the infrared detector in order to adjust the directivity of the infrared detector about a vertical axis in a manner which is aesthetically compatible with the decorative nature of the fixture. In one embodiment, a hexagonal fixture is turnable about a horizontal axis to pivot not only the infrared detector, but the motion detection circuitry as well. In another embodiment, the motion detection circuitry and the infrared detector are physically separate within the decorative fixture, enabling the infrared detector to pivot within a circular portion of the decorative fixture.

Abstract: A dusk delay system for outdoor motion detection provides the benefits of dusk to dawn, timed, and motion detection control. A dusk to dawn type sensor detects the onset of darkness and turns on the lights for a predetermined duration of time. Once the duration of time expires, the lights will be shut off. Subsequently, motion within the monitored area will be detected by a motion detector and cause the light to be turned on for a selectably predetermined amount of time. The timer can randomize the actual time in which the lighting controller shuts off the light and goes into the motion detection mode. A latch mechanism disables the operation of the system upon momentary interruption of the power.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping a vehicle operator park or otherwise spot a vehicle at a pre-determined vehicle location. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic pulse generator and receiver which sends a succession of ultrasonic sound pulses into a target area and receives echoes reflected from the vehicle and the surrounding environment. A control circuit then determines from these echoes whether the vehicle has reached its pre-determined vehicle spot. If it has, then at least one alarm is sounded to alert the operator to this fact and allow the vehicle to be brought to a halt.

Abstract: A passive analog equalizer is connected to the output of an infrared detector to provide increasing pyroelectric detector sensitivity with increasing target frequency in order to provide a detection sensitivity which is substantially flat over the target velocity range of interest. An interruptable modulator is connected to the equalized pyroelectric detector signal to shift its frequency upwardly in order to provide negligible drift, fast recovery from transients, and the ability to quickly shut down the modulator when a transient occurs. A transient detector is operative in response to transients in the pyroelectric detector output signal to provide a window during which the modulator is interrupted in order to prevent transient induced false alarms.