Abstract: An automatic discharge device comprises a housing adapted to receive a container therein. An actuator arm is attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. The actuator arm includes a dispensing bore therein. A drive unit is provided for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch. The actuator arm is adapted to engage and actuate a nozzle of the container in the first position and allow a fluid disposed in an interior of the container to be dispensed through the nozzle and the dispensing bore of the actuator arm.

Abstract: A candle assembly includes a melting plate having a capillary pedestal, a wick holder that fits over the capillary pedestal, a wick that is carried by the wick holder, and a fuel element that fits over the wick and wick holder and rests on the melting plate. The fuel element includes a duct therethrough for receiving the wick holder. The fuel element is adapted to prevent improper insertion of the wick holder into the duct. The duct is adapted to facilitate successful initial ignition and sustained burn of the wick by having a width that is selected to ensure that melted fuel material engages the wick when dripping down the duct. A capillary well disposed between the wick holder and the capillary pedestal may be adapted to promote a successful relight after an initial burn of the candle assembly. A candle holder, such as including the melting plate supported by a base, may be adapted to promote laminar air flow thereacross during a burn in a substantially calm atmospheric environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to melting plate candles which employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a support plate for a solid fuel and to the body of said solid fuel, so as to more rapidly liquefy the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to increase the efficiency of consumption thereof and to more rapidly release volatile materials contained within said fuels. The heat conductive support plate is configured so as to have a capillary pedestal upon the surface thereof, which magnetically engages a wick holder comprising a preferably consumable wick and heat conductive fins which conduct heat from a flame upon said wick to said support plate, said magnetic engagement of said wick holder preventing accidental removal thereof from said pedestal. The fuel may be provided in various forms, configured to cooperatively engage said wick holder and support plate, and may comprise various volatile materials.

Abstract: A candle assembly includes a support base, a melting plate having a capillary pedestal, a wick holder that fits onto the capillary pedestal, and a fuel element that fits over the wick holder. The wick holder includes a sleeve having first and second open ends. A wick fits into the sleeve and extends between the open ends. The sleeve has a constricted portion, which is disposed between the open ends and has a cross-sectional area less than any other cross-sectional area between the open ends. The constricted portion reduces an effective capillary fluid flow capacity of the wick between the open ends, which may thereby regulate how quickly fuel is consumed when the candle assembly is burning. A capillary well disposed between the wick holder and the capillary pedestal may be adapted to promote a successful relight after an initial burn of the candle assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to melting plate candles which employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a support plate for a solid fuel and to the body of said solid fuel, so as to more rapidly liquefy the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to increase the efficiency of consumption thereof and to more rapidly release volatile materials contained within said fuels. The heat conductive support plate is configured so as to have a capillary pedestal upon the surface thereof, which cooperatively engages a wick holder comprising a preferably consumable wick and heat conductive fins which conduct heat from a flame upon said wick to said support plate, said wick holder further engaging said capillary pedestal in such a locking manner as to resist accidental removal from said pedestal.

Abstract: A candle assembly includes a support base, a melting plate having a capillary pedestal, a wick holder that fits onto the capillary pedestal, and a fuel element that fits over the wick holder. The wick holder includes a sleeve having first and second open ends. A wick fits into the sleeve and extends between the open ends. The sleeve has a constricted portion, which is disposed between the open ends and has a cross-sectional area less than any other cross-sectional area between the open ends. The constricted portion reduces an effective capillary fluid flow capacity of the wick between the open ends, which may thereby regulate how quickly fuel is consumed when the candle assembly is burning. A capillary well disposed between the wick holder and the capillary pedestal may be adapted to promote a successful relight after an initial burn of the candle assembly.

Abstract: A candle assembly is disclosed including a melting plate and a fuel element. The melting plate includes a bottom wall and a capillary lobe having a peaked apex protruding upwardly therefrom. The fuel element includes a bottom surface having a depression therein for receiving the peaked apex. The peaked apex may take many forms, such as hemispherical, conical, egg shaped, pyramidal, etc., and may have a pointed apex or a rounded apex. The depression in the fuel element may be complementary to the capillary lobe such that a capillary space is disposed therebetween and a portion of the bottom surface of the fuel element is in thermal communication with a portion of the bottom wall surrounding the capillary lobe.

Abstract: A blister pack and package including such blister pack is described which provides for package stability and self-indexing in relation to adjacently aligned packages. The blister pack is configured to include at least one compartment for enclosing an article, and an outward projecting portion or foot in the bottom portion of the blister pack. The foot is configured to have a width, depth and height sufficient to allow the package to be freestanding and self-indexing. The package is especially suited for use in a merchandise point-of-sale display including a pressure applicator for maintaining displayed packages in a forwardmost position in the display when one or more packages are removed from the display. The foot provides for a predetermined stable spacing during packaging and while in storage and on display, and provides for self-indexing, i.e. maintenance of proper spacing, when a pressure applicator moves the aligned packages forward in a display.

Abstract: A decision support computer system, according to various aspects of the present invention, is used by a plurality of users to learn principles of personal finance by competing. The system includes an engine for central processing; a network for communication between each user and the engine for central processing; an engine for identifying to a particular competition a subset of the plurality of users; an engine for modeling financial consequences of a respective series of decisions made by each user of the subset; a graphical user interface engine operative by each user for indicating a decision after associating values of an opportunity to portions of a financial statement; and an engine for recognizing a particular user of the subset as succeeding in the particular competition in response to determining that the particular user's decisions result in the accumulation of recurring passive income exceeding recurring expenses.