Abstract: A sink station comprises a cabinet defining an interior space, a basin mounted to the cabinet, and a faucet for delivering fluid into the basin. A cover is provided for the sink station where the cover is movable over a range of motion between a closed position where the cover overlies the open top of the basin and a stored position where the cover is at least partially received in the basin. The cover can be operably coupled to the sink station through the range of motion. The cover can be connected to the basin through a multi-motion coupling that permits the cover to move in a first motion and a second motion different from the first motion to move the cover between the closed and stored positions. The sink station can further comprise at least one storage space.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises a laundry appliance and at least one unit horizontally arranged with the laundry appliance and selected from a group comprising a second laundry appliance, a vertical module, and a cabinet module. A laundry module for use with the modular laundry system comprises a housing defining an interior space and having a width greater than a width of a laundry appliance and a functional element disposed within the interior space and having an associated function other than storage.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises at least one laundry appliance with a top and a worksurface that extends over the top of the at least one laundry appliance and comprises a functional insert provided on the worksurface.

Abstract: A laundry system comprises a laundry appliance and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module comprises a backsplash that complements a backsplash on the laundry appliance and has an effective upper surface that is located at substantially the same height as an effective upper surface of the laundry appliance. The backsplash can further comprise a function element that can be a laundry care function or a non-laundry care function.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises at least two horizontally arranged laundry appliances. Each of the at least two laundry appliances have a top, and a worksurface extends over the tops of the at least two laundry appliances. The worksurface can form a continuous surface above the at least two laundry appliances.

Abstract: A household consumer product comprises a cabinet having a peripheral wall that partially defines an interior space for the cabinet and includes an opening that provides access to the interior space. A hanging element having a proximal end is mounted to the cabinet for movement through the opening between an extended position, where the proximal end extends beyond the peripheral wall, and a retracted position, where the proximal end does not extend beyond the peripheral wall. The hanging element can include a biasing device that biases the hanging element from the retracted position toward the extended position.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises at least one laundry appliance and a worksurface provided on the at least one laundry appliance. The worksurface defines a perimeter comprising a front, a back, and opposite sides and can comprise a functional element on the perimeter of the worksurface and configured to provide an associated functionality. The worksurface has an upper surface and can comprise a functional element located below the upper surface and configured to provide an associated functionality.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises first and second laundry appliances in one of a horizontal and vertical arrangement, a first vertical module horizontally arranged relative to the first and second laundry appliances, and a second vertical module horizontally arranged relative to the first and second laundry appliances and to the first vertical module.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises at least one laundry appliance and a module adjacent to the at least one laundry appliance. The module comprises a vertically oriented housing and a shelf assembly comprising a shelf and movably mounted to the housing. The shelf can move between a first position, where the shelf is vertically oriented and at least partially received within the housing, and a second position, where the shelf is horizontally oriented and located exteriorly of the housing.

Abstract: A laundry system comprises a laundry appliance and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module comprises one of a drawer that slidably opens from a face of the module and/or a door that opens from the face of the module and has an effective upper surface that is located at substantially the same height as an effective upper surface of the laundry appliance. The vertical laundry module can further comprise a functional element that can be a laundry care function or a non-laundry care function.

Abstract: An ironing station comprises a cabinet defining an interior space, an accessible storage area defined within the interior space of the cabinet, an ironing board stowably mounted in the cabinet for movement between a stowed position and a use position and a docking station provided on the top wall of the cabinet for receiving an iron. The ironing board can be at least partially stored within the interior space in the stowed position.

Abstract: A system for controlled freezing, storing and thawing a biopharmaceutical material includes a flexible container and a supporting structure. The flexible container is adapted to receive the biopharmaceutical material therein for freezing, storing and thawing. The container further includes a flange and the supporting structure is engageable with the flange to receive the container. The supporting structure may position the container for freezing and may protect it during transport and storage.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a hose including a weaving machine and a liner feeder for forming the hose by weaving a jacket about a liner as the liner is being fed into the weaving machine, where the liner is provided with an adhesive layer on an outer surface, the adhesive layer being doped with a radiation absorbing element. The apparatus includes a feeder for receiving and for flattening the hose and an oven located downstream from the feeder, including a bore through which the hose passes, the oven including a module for applying radiation to the hose so that the radiation absorbing element heats following the application of radiation for bonding the liner to the jacket. A winder is located downstream at a predetermined distance away from the oven for pulling and winding the hose and provided with a pressurizer for internally pressurizing a portion of the hose located between the winder and the feeder so that when the hose is in the oven, the pressurizer forces the liner against the jacket.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance horizontally or vertically arranged relative to the first laundry appliance, and a cabinet module horizontally arranged relative to the first and second laundry appliances.

Abstract: A fastener strip is disclosed having permanently sealed, airtight portion and a reclosable portion capable of maintaining an airtight seal when closed. The permanently sealed portion is generally planar and essentially impervious to air flow. The reclosable portion includes a ridge and a trough, joined at their adjacent ends to a plug, which prevents air from leaking from the adjacent end of the reclosable portion. Additionally, a dam joins the plug to the first backing in an essentially airtight seal, and joins the plug to the second backing in an essentially airtight seal. A method and apparatus for sealing portions of a thermoplastic fastener strip are also disclosed. A method is additionally disclosed for vibrating and molding thermoplastic materials, in which a flow of malleable thermoplastic material is initiated and molded with an effectively dimensioned vibrator that is unitary, with a first matrix for guiding and molding the malleable polymer.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises at least two horizontally arranged laundry appliances, each having a top, and a worksurface extending over the tops of the at least two laundry appliance and formed by multiple interconnected pieces laterally connected to each other to define a width of the worksurface.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises first and second laundry appliances in one of a horizontal and vertical arrangement and a cabinet module. The cabinet module can be arranged relative to the first and second laundry appliances to form a configuration having a footprint with a width substantially equal to a combined width of any two of the first laundry appliance, the second laundry appliance, and the cabinet module. The cabinet module can be vertically arranged with the first laundry appliance.

Abstract: A fastener strip is disclosed having a permanently sealed, airtight portion and a reclosable portion capable of maintaining an airtight seal when closed. The permanently sealed portion is generally planar and essentially impervious to air flow. The reclosable portion includes a ridge and a trough joined at their adjacent ends to a plug, which prevents air from leaking from the adjacent end of the reclosable portion. Additionally, a dam joins the plug to the first backing in an essentially airtight seal, and joins the plug to the second backing in an essentially airtight seal. A method and apparatus for sealing portions of a thermoplastic fastener strip are also disclosed. A method is additionally disclosed for vibrating and molding thermoplastic materials in which a flow of malleable thermoplastic material is initiated and molded with an effectively dimensioned vibrator that is unitary with a first matrix for guiding and molding the malleable polymer.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a hose including a weaving machine and a liner feeder for forming the hose by weaving a jacket about a liner as the liner is being fed into the weaving machine, where the liner is provided with an adhesive layer on an outer surface, the adhesive layer being doped with a radiation absorbing element. The apparatus includes a feeder for receiving and for flattening the hose and an oven located downstream from the feeder, including a bore through which the hose passes, the oven including a module for applying radiation to the hose so that the radiation absorbing element heats following the application of radiation for bonding the liner to the jacket. A winder is located downstream at a predetermined distance away from the oven for pulling and winding the hose and provided with a pressurizer for internally pressurizing a portion of the hose located between the winder-and the feeder so that when the hose is in the oven, the pressurizer forces the liner against the jacket.

Abstract: A fastener strip is disclosed having a permanently sealed, airtight portion and a reclosable portion capable of maintaining an airtight seal when closed. The permanently sealed portion is generally planar and essentially impervious to air flow. The reclosable portion includes a ridge and a trough joined at their adjacent ends to a plug, which prevents air from leaking from the adjacent end of the reclosable portion. Additionally, a dam joins the plug to the first backing in an essentially airtight seal, and joins the plug to the second backing in an essentially airtight seal. A method and apparatus for sealing portions of a thermoplastic fastener strip are also disclosed. A method is additionally disclosed for vibrating and molding thermoplastic materials in which a flow of malleable thermoplastic material is initiated and molded with an effectively dimensioned vibrator that is unitary with a first matrix for guiding and molding the malleable polymer.