Abstract: Taste-improving agents which are basic neutral salts of citric acid and a basic amino acid reacting with citric acid to yield an essentially tasteless salt and preferably selected from the group consisting of arginine, lysine and ornithine. These basic neutral salts are tasteless in themselves but have the capability of when associated in small amounts with any of a broad variety of foods of modifying the taste characteristics of food in enhancing saltiness, reducing bitterness and ofttimes reducing sourness, increasing sweetness or the sensation of sweetness, increasing Umami and improving neutral salt taste. They are free of sodium and hence especially suitable for sodium-restricted diets by elevating the perception of saltiness in a sodium-free manner and without increasing bitterness. They can also be combined with pharmaceuticals or drugs intended for oral administration to counteract an unpleasant taste.

Abstract: A spindle and a position-limiting ridge protrude from an inner surface of a cover to rotatably support a follower made of an electrically conductive metal plate. A cylindrical engaging portion of the follower slidably engages the spindle. A toothed washer is fitted around the spindle to clamp a contact portion of the follower between the position-limiting ridge and the toothed washer in a rotatable manner. A switching pattern is provided in the inner surface of the cover. Contact terminals that engage and disengage with the switching pattern based on rotation of the follower are integrally formed in the follower. An engaging hole penetrates through the follower. An engaging protrusion on a carrier is received within the engaging hole. The follower is rotated through engagement between the engaging protrusion and the engaging hole when the carrier rotates in a forward rotational direction.

Abstract: A spindle and a position-limiting ridge protrude from an inner surface of a cover to rotatably support a follower made of an electrically conductive metal plate. A cylindrical engaging portion of the follower slidably engages the spindle. A toothed washer is fitted around the spindle to clamp a contact portion of the follower between the position-limiting ridge and the toothed washer in a rotatable manner. A switching pattern is provided in the inner surface of the cover. Contact terminals that engage and disengage with the switching pattern based on rotation of the follower are integrally formed in the follower. An engaging hole penetrates through the follower. An engaging protrusion on a carrier is received within the engaging hole. The follower is rotated through engagement between the engaging protrusion and the engaging hole when the carrier rotates in a forward rotational direction.