Abstract: A microgravity agriculture device includes a root cylinder providing a growing medium for the plant and intended for root growth. The root cylinder will extend into a water tank, and the root cylinder will include apertures and wicking elements to draw water from the water tank into the root cylinder for availability to the plant roots. The geometries of the water tank, root cylinder, apertures and wicking elements are designed in a manner to ensure water surface tension will cause water in the tank to fill and stay in the proper areas to ensure water flow to the plant, no obstruction of vents during tank filling, and no egress of the water through the vents.

Abstract: A microgravity agriculture device includes a root cylinder providing a growing medium for the plant and intended for root growth. The root cylinder will extend into a water tank, and the root cylinder will include apertures and wicking elements to draw water from the water tank into the root cylinder for availability to the plant roots. The geometries of the water tank, root cylinder, apertures and wicking elements are designed in a manner to ensure water surface tension will cause water in the tank to fill and stay in the proper areas to ensure water flow to the plant, no obstruction of vents during tank filling, and no egress of the water through the vents.

Abstract: A microwave pressure cooker including safety interlock mechanisms. A blow vent is provided in cooker lid, and a lock bar is pivoted to cooker lid in a position to block blow vent when lock bar is resting under its own weight. Free end of lock bar includes a lock tab. Lock tab extends through slot at periphery of lid. Cooker base includes handle with a cam section ending in a lock wall. Cooker lid is placed on base in a release position and rotated to a locking position. During this rotation lock tab rides over cam section and then falls adjacent lock wall, thus sealing blow vent. After cooking cover is physically prevented from rotating back to release position by lock tab abutting lock wall. User must physically lift lock bar to unseal blow vent to ensure internal pressure is released. A spline may hold lock bar in raised position.

Abstract: A microwave pressure cooker including safety interlock mechanisms. A blow vent is provided in the cooker lid, and a lock bar is pivoted to the cooker lid in a position to block the blow vent when the lock bar is resting under its own weight. The free end of the lock bar includes a lock tab with a spline projecting outward. The lock tab extends through a slot at the periphery of the lid. The cooker base include a handle with a cam section ending in a lock wall. The cooker lid is placed on the base in a release position and rotated to a locking position. During this rotation the lock tab rides over the cam section and then falls adjacent the lock wall, thus sealing the blow vent. After cooking the cover is physically prevented from rotating back to the release position by the lock tab abutting the lock wall. The user must physically lift the lock bar which in turn unseals the blow vent to ensure internal pressure is released.

Abstract: A vented container for produce having a base and a cover which are at least substantially impervious to gas transfer. The base includes a base panel and side walls. Preferably two vent apertures are formed through the side wall, and a plug is provided for each vent aperture, to permit the vent apertures to be selectively opened. The plugs may be mounted upon vent toggles, such that manual pivoting of the vent toggles will open or close the associated vent aperture. The selective opening of the vent apertures permits gas exchange between the interior of the container and the ambient atmosphere, providing improve storage for produce. Maintaining the vent apertures closed permits the container to be used as a normal sealed food storage container. The base panel preferably includes an alternating series of hills and troughs to segregate condensate within the container. The troughs may be downward concave to further subdivide the condensate within each trough.

Abstract: A food storage container 10 includes a base 12 and lid 14. The base 12 has a sealing flange 22, and the lid 14 has a sealing lip 32 which seals against the sealing flange 22 as with a suction cup. The lid 14 may include resilient deformable sections 46, 50, to aid in maintaining reduced pressure within the container. The lid 14 may include latch prongs 54 to mechanically retain the lid 14 in position. The latch prongs 54 may be designed to automatically release during heating of the food, permitting venting. The sealing lip 32 may include seal spacers 60 which permit air to enter the food storage container 10 during serving of hot food to avoid creation of reduced pressure in the container. The seal spacers 60 do not interfere with normal creation of a seal when desired.

Abstract: A vented container for produce having a base and a cover which are at least substantially impervious to gas transfer. The base includes a base panel and side walls. Preferably two vent apertures are formed through the side wall, and a plug is provided for each vent aperture, to permit the vent apertures to be selectively opened. The plugs may be mounted upon vent toggles, such that manual pivoting of the vent toggles will open or close the associated vent aperture. The selective opening of the vent apertures permits gas exchange between the interior of the container and the ambient atmosphere, providing improve storage for produce. Maintaining the vent apertures closed permits the container to be used as a normal sealed food storage container. The base panel preferably includes an alternating series of hills and troughs to segregate condensate within the container. The troughs may be downward concave to further subdivide the condensate within each trough.