Abstract: A dispensing device for release of a volatile material includes a base, a drive arm coupled to a pendulum based drive mechanism, and a refill coupled to the drive arm. The refill includes a support base, at least one flange, a substrate coupled with the at least one flange, and a use-up cue.

Abstract: A dispensing device for release of a volatile material includes a base, a drive arm coupled to a pendulum based drive mechanism, and a refill coupled to the drive arm. The refill includes a support base, at least one flange, a substrate coupled with the at least one flange, and a use-up cue.

Abstract: A system for mixing and dispensing solution, such as a cleaning solution, includes a body with a first flow passage extending between a diluent inlet and an outlet, and a second flow passage extending between a concentrate inlet and the first flow passage. The system further includes a container for concentrate, with a container including a container valve. Moving the body axially toward the container to seat the body on the container opens the container valve for a flow of concentrate from the container to the first flow passage via the second flow passage. Further, moving the body axially away from the container to unseat the body from the container closes the container valve to the flow of concentrate.

Abstract: Wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human are disclosed. They are of the type that are clipped onto a belt or the like, and use a powered fan to dispense active. They are configured with a first timer to account for a passive release rate of the active and a second timer to account for an active release rate of the active. The first time and second timer are in communication with a useful life indicator to provide a signal to a user of the device to indicate when the substrate in the device for containing the active should be replaced.

Abstract: A container includes a reservoir holding a non-pressurized product. A metering device and valve assembly are within the reservoir. The valve assembly includes a product intake conduit and a spring biased valve stem. The valve stem is at least one of an upwardly extending conduit or reciprocating conduit, which is in fluid communication with the product intake conduit.

Abstract: Wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human are disclosed. They are of the type that are clipped onto a belt or the like, and use a powered fan to dispense active. They are configured with a first timer to account for a passive release rate of the active and a second timer to account for an active release rate of the active. The first time and second timer are in communication with a useful life indicator to provide a signal to a user of the device to indicate when the substrate in the device for containing the active should be replaced.

Abstract: A fluid application system includes a diluent reservoir, a chemical container, a sprayer housing, a manifold located in the sprayer housing, and a pump assembly in fluid communication with an outlet of the manifold. The manifold includes a diluent inlet in fluid communication with the diluent reservoir, a chemical inlet in fluid communication with the container, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the diluent inlet and the chemical inlet and the outlet of the manifold. The pump assembly draws a mixture of the chemical and the diluent from the manifold and sprays the mixture of the chemical and the diluent from the nozzle.

Abstract: Disclosed, in one general aspect, is a computer-based method and apparatus for extracting predictive information from a collection of stored, machine-readable electronic documents. The method includes accessing at least a subset of the electronic documents each including different machine-readable predictive information about one or more future facts occurring after a publication time for that document. The method also includes extracting the predictive information about the one or more future facts from the accessed documents, and deriving one or more predicted query information items based on the predictive information extracted in the step of extracting.

Abstract: Disclosed, in one general aspect, is a computer-based method and apparatus for extracting predictive information from a collection of stored, machine-readable electronic documents. The method includes accessing at least a subset of the electronic documents each including different machine-readable predictive information about one or more future facts occurring after a publication time for that document. The method also includes extracting the predictive information about the one or more future facts from the accessed documents, acquiring verified information about one or more of the facts, and evaluating a measure of quality of the predictive information extracted from the documents based on the verified information about the facts.

Abstract: A fluid application system includes a diluent reservoir, a chemical container, a sprayer housing, a manifold located in the sprayer housing, and a pump assembly in fluid communication with an outlet of the manifold. The manifold includes a diluent inlet in fluid communication with the diluent reservoir, a chemical inlet in fluid communication with the container, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the diluent inlet and the chemical inlet and the outlet of the manifold. The pump assembly draws a mixture of the chemical and the diluent from the manifold and sprays the mixture of the chemical and the diluent from the nozzle.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a base having a first side and a second side. A first deployment element pivotally connects to the first side of the base and is pivotable from a stowed position to a deployed position. A second deployment element pivotally connects to the second side of the base and is pivotable from the stowed position to the deployed position. In the stowed position the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially rectangular perimeter. In the deployed position, the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially trapezoidal perimeter.

Abstract: A device for spraying an inner surface of an enclosure with a cleaning and/or deodorizing chemical is disclosed. The device can include a container for the chemical, a container holder, a sprayer through which the chemical can be sprayed laterally at least halfway around a perimeter of the sprayer, a clip attaching the sprayer near a rim of the toilet bowl, a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the container and the sprayer, and a retention mechanism retaining the container in the container holder. One form of the retention mechanism includes a retainer having a plurality of flexing tabs that engage a flange on the holder. In another form, the retention mechanism can include inwardly directed flanges on an inner wall of the holder, a projection spaced apart from each flange, and a retainer with a plurality of fins. A refill for a dispensing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Portable wipe dispensers are provided. In one form the wipe dispenser can be used to spray a cleaning liquid onto a wipe being dispensed from the device. Alternatively the outlet may be directed against a surface external to the dispenser.