Abstract: A dispenser for granular materials and a method of seasoning using the dispenser is provided. The dispenser has multiple deflectors. The deflectors can deflect granular materials in tangential and radial directions. The dispenser has a dispensing mechanism actuated by a user-manipulable lever connected to a yoke in which a pin is received for rotating a member of the dispenser. The dispenser achieves consistent quantities with each dispense with three different features. One feature is having a rim partially raised around the first member aperture. Another feature is pushing elements that cooperate with the partially raised rim. A third feature is radially staggered dispensing apertures.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is provided having a resilient handle, a guide on one end of the handle and a cutter body on the opposite end. The guide includes two spaced members forming an outwardly facing slot with a stop formed therein. The handle is flexed into an assembled position to form a close loop, with the cutter body positioned within the guide slot and in contact with the stop. A cutting edge is movable along with cutter body to an activated position, with the cutting edge extending outwardly of the slot and the guide. The movement of the cutter body is caused by an activation force applied to the closed loop of the resilient handle member.

Abstract: A dispenser for granular materials and a method of seasoning using the dispenser is provided. The dispenser has multiple deflectors. The deflectors can deflect granular materials in tangential and radial directions. The dispenser has a dispensing mechanism actuated by a user-manipulable lever connected to a yoke in which a pin is received for rotating a member of the dispenser. The dispenser achieves consistent quantities with each dispense with three different features. One feature is having a rim partially raised around the first member aperture. Another feature is pushing elements that cooperate with the partially raised rim. A third feature is radially staggered dispensing apertures.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for delivering a controlled quantity of a granular material. The dispenser includes a reservoir that retains granular material. The reservoir is supported in the dispenser with a passageway defined between opposing ends. A nozzle is provided for the outflow of material from the reservoir to a metering cup. A control plug is provided within the metering cup to adjust the controlled volume to be received within the cup from the reservoir. Once the metering cup is filled, the dispenser is inverted and the volume of material is directed from the cup, through the passageway and out of an opening adjacent a diffuser. The control plug is removable from the cup to vary the charge of material to be dispensed.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is provided having a resilient handle, a guide on one end of the handle and a cutter body on the opposite end. The guide includes two spaced members forming an outwardly facing slot with a stop formed therein. The handle is flexed into an assembled position to form a close loop, with the cutter body positioned within the guide slot and in contact with the stop. A cutting edge is movable along with cutter body to an activated position, with the cutting edge extending outwardly of the slot and the guide. The movement of the cutter body is caused by an activation force applied to the closed loop of the resilient handle member.

Abstract: A device is provided for dispensing a length of elongate material wound on the barrel of a spool. A support is provided for the spool including first and second end plates. The end plates are positioned in a spaced relationship. A support hub extends from each plate and is engaged within an opening in the spool on opposite sides thereof, such that the spool may rotate about the support hub. The support hub includes a peripheral dimension that permits a dynamic, pivoting motion of the spool about the contact with the hub. The support hub normally positions the spool in a radially offset position and engages a friction member formed adjacent the periphery of the flange of the spool. During unwinding, pulling of the end of the elongate material causes the spool to pivot in the direction of the pulling force and away from the friction member. Once the pulling force is removed, the spool pivots about the hub, back into frictional engagement with the friction member.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for delivering a controlled quantity of a granular material. The dispenser includes a reservoir that retains granular material. The reservoir is supported in the dispenser with a passageway defined between opposing ends. A nozzle is provided for the outflow of material from the reservoir to a metering cup. A control plug is provided within the metering cup to adjust the controlled volume to be received within the cup from the reservoir. Once the metering cup is filled, the dispenser is inverted and the volume of material is directed from the cup, through the passageway and out of an opening adjacent a diffuser. The control plug is removable from the cup to vary the charge of material to be dispensed.

Abstract: A fitting is provided for connecting and disconnecting a system or the like to a hose. The fitting includes a hollow. A barb is located proximate a first end. The barb includes a frusto-conical profile and a helical trailing edge. A rib connects an offset portion of the helical edge forming a sharp axial transition. The axial rib expands the diameter of the hose while the fitting is twisted to facilitate extraction.

Abstract: A device is provided for dispensing a length of elongate material wound on the barrel of a spool. A support is provided for the spool including first and second end plates. The end plates are positioned in a spaced relationship. A support hub extends from each plate and is engaged within an opening in the spool on opposite sides thereof, such that the spool may rotate about the support hub. The support hub includes a peripheral dimension that permits a dynamic, pivoting motion of the spool about the contact with the hub. The support hub normally positions the spool in a radially offset position and engages a friction member formed adjacent the periphery of the flange of the spool. During unwinding, pulling of the end of the elongate material causes the spool to pivot in the direction of the pulling force and away from the friction member. Once the pulling force is removed, the spool pivots about the hub, back into frictional engagement with the friction member.

Abstract: A tray is provided for retaining food stuffs or the like. The tray includes a dish portion and a rim portion. The dish includes a base portion and a sidewall portion surrounding the base portion and extending upwardly therefrom to define a retaining area. The rim includes an inner wall positioned around the perimeter of the dish sidewall. A retaining member engages the dish sidewall to the rim inner wall to removeably secure the dish to the rim.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tray plug that includes a base portion; a plurality of towers extending upwardly away from the base portion; a secondary base portion contiguous with the underside of the base portion; and a means for securing the plug to a display structure, whereby the tray plug can be quickly secured and subsequently removed from a display such as a point-of-purchase display.

Abstract: A metering dispenser for flowable materials is provided having a reservoir defined in part by a pair of opposing, flexible side walls. The side walls are associated with at least one stop. The stop is structured to permit the side walls of the dispenser to be squeezed together for only a predetermined distance, so that a predetermined volume of flowable material is dispensed from the dispenser.

Abstract: A display for retail items is provided with a pusher for moving items on the display towards the front of the display. The pusher is biased towards the front portion of the display by an elastic band stretched around at least three attachment points. One attachment point is secured to the display. Another attachment point is secured to the pusher. Additional attachment points may be secured in either location.

Abstract: A shipping base for washers, dryers, and the like appliances. The base is in the form of a frame having top surfaces of outer parts thereof which are set relatively lower than the top surfaces of relative inner portions of the frame. Sockets are provided at the corners, to grip and receive the feet of the appliance. The sockets having radial ribs that deflect to grip the feet of the appliance.

Abstract: An end cap is attached to a container body to form a liquid media package for dispensing liquid media. The end cap includes an aperture in fluid communication with the liquid media in the package. The end cap also includes at least one radial arm extending outwardly from the aperture, each radial arm being in fluid communication with the aperture. Each radial arm includes at least one flexible wiper in a closed position, and one orifice corresponding to each of the at least one flexible wipers. When pressure is exerted on the liquid media, the liquid media travels through the aperture and then through the radial arms. The pressure of the liquid media displaces the flexible wiper so as to enable flow of the liquid media through an orifice in the bottom of the end cap. The flexible wiper returns to the closed position when exertion of pressure ceases.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for delivering a controlled quantity of a granular material. The dispenser includes a container assembly, a diffuser and a metering cup. The container includes a reservoir which supports a disposable cartridge of granular material. The cartridge is supported in the reservoir so as to define a passageway therebetween. A nozzle is defined for the outflow of material from the cartridge. The diffuser is disposed on one end of the container and includes a plurality of apertures. The metering cup is disposed on the opposite end of the container and has an open end adapted to receive granular material. Adjustment of the axial spacing between the nozzle and metering cup varies the quantity of granular material collected in the cup. The granular material is dispensed by inverting the container to a second orientation, such that material flows out of the metering cup, through the passageway and out of the diffuser.

Abstract: A cartridge filter is provided having a housing body, a sump releasably attached to the housing body, and a filter cartridge within the housing body releasably attached to the housing body by a screw connection. The sump is attached to the housing body by a separate screw connection. The screw connection includes a first screw formation on the sump having a sloped screw surface and, at the leading end, a lug projecting above the sloped screw surface. A second screw formation is also provided on the housing body having a sloped screw surface along which the lug can run. A further projection is positioned on the housing body to engage the leading end of said first screw formation and to deflect the lug so that the first screw formation hooks over the trailing end of the second screw formation, when the connection is fully tightened.

Abstract: A frame for packaging goods consists essentially of long, extruded edge pieces, and corner pieces. Each corner piece has projections that fit into the ends of two edge pieces, to form a rectangular frame, or three edge pieces, to form a cuboidal frame. The edge pieces are preferably L-shaped, and oriented to cradle the edges of a rectangular object fitted within the frame. In one embodiment, the projections may be in the form of three round pins in an L shape to fit into one L-shaped edge piece. In another embodiment, the corner pieces consist of two halves hinged together, so that the sides of the frame can be folded out into a straight line without being separated.

Abstract: A reinforcing member made of unitary construction is described. The reinforcing member has an outer face connected to an inner face by a middle frame. The inner face includes a first flange extending in a first direction from a first portion of the frame and a resiliently flexible second flange extending in an opposite direction from a flexible second portion of the frame. In use, an installer flexes the second flange and second frame portion so that the inner face will pass through the hand hole. Flexation may involve movement of the first flange toward the second flange, rotation of the second flange away from the outer face, or a combination of both. Once flexed, the inner face is inserted through the hand hole and the second flange is allowed to resume its unflexed position.

Abstract: A pressure-activated flexible valve for use with a container for dispensing fluid material. The valve has a single sealing surface and comprises an inner component having a sealing portion and an outer component having an annular rim that seats against the sealing portion. The outer component also has a flexible portion that changes shape in response to pressure from the container material, thereby opening and closing the valve.