Abstract: A toy water gun having a water supply tank which can be filled with water, and a water pump located on the housing for pumping water from the supply tank to at least one water pressure chamber. The water pressure chamber includes a fixed wall, and a moveable wall which substantially sealingly engages the fixed wall and is slidable away from a first end wall as water is pumped into the water pressure chamber and toward it as water is discharged. An air pressure chamber is located on an opposite side of the moveable wall from the water pressure chamber and is pressurizable with compressed air to bias the moveable wall toward the first end wall. A pump is connected to a selector valve assembly which, in a first state, allows air to be pumped into the air pressure chamber for pressurizing it with compressed air and, in a second state, places the pump in communication between the water supply tank and the water pressure chamber to allow water to be pumped from the supply tank to the water pressure chamber.

Abstract: A toy water gun having a water supply tank which can be filled with water, and a water pump located on the housing for pumping water from the supply tank to at least one water pressure chamber. The water pressure chamber includes at least one fixed wall, and a moveable wall which substantially sealingly engages the at least one fixed wall and is slidable away from a first end wall as water is pumped into the water pressure chamber and toward the first end wall as water is discharged. An air pressure chamber located on an opposite side of the moveable wall from the water pressure chamber and is pressurizable with compressed air to bias the moveable wall toward the first end wall. An air pump is connected to the air pressure chamber for pressurizing the air pressure chamber with a user desired air pressure. Upon actuation of the release valve, the air pressure acts on the moveable wall to force water under pressure from the water pressure chamber so that a stream of water is ejected from the nozzle.

Abstract: A toy water gun with a housing and a water tank located thereon is provided. An electric pump located on the housing forces compressed air into the water tank to provide a motive force for releasing water under pressure from the water gun. The water tank includes an outlet connected via an avenue of release to a nozzle. A valve is located along the avenue of release and is connected to a trigger so that upon actuation of the trigger by a user, the valve is opened and water under pressure from within the tank travels through the avenue of release and the valve and exits the water gun through the nozzle.

Abstract: A water softener and a method of operating the same are provided to allow for the efficient use of either NaCl or KCl as the regenerant salt. A user interface is provided to allow the user to indicate to the computer controlling the water softener whether NaCl or KCl is being used. The computer controller adjusts the fill time and brine time, depending on the type of regenerant salt used and on the temperature of the brine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system of anticipating salt depletion in a brine tank of a water softener system, the system including a controller having a user interface and display, the method comprising the steps of tracking salt usage; determining the amount of salt remaining in the brine tank; calculating the number of days before salt is required in the brine tank based on salt usage and the amount of salt remaining in the brine tank; and providing an indication of the number of days to empty, whereby a user is able to anticipate the need to replenish the salt supply and plan accordingly to assure continuous satisfactory operation of the water softener system.

Abstract: A spring-controlled snap action valve assembly and an apparatus for dispensing pressurized liquid using the valve assembly, the apparatus including a connection to a source of pressurized liquid, the spring-controlled snap action ball valve assembly including a snap action ball valve and an inlet and an outlet, a conduit in fluid communication from the connection to the valve assembly inlet, a nozzle in fluid communication with the valve assembly outlet, and an actuator connected to the valve assembly to actuate the snap action ball valve from a closed position to an open position and from an open position to a closed position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system of anticipating salt depletion in a brine tank of a water softener system, the system including a controller having a user interface and display, the method comprising the steps of tracking salt usage; determining the amount of salt remaining in the brine tank; calculating the number of days before salt is required in the brine tank based on salt usage and the amount of salt remaining in the brine tank; and providing an indication of the number of days to empty, whereby a user is able to anticipate the need to replenish the salt supply and plan accordingly to assure continuous satisfactory operation of the water softener system.

Abstract: A spring-controlled snap action valve assembly and an apparatus for dispensing pressurized liquid using the valve assembly, the apparatus including a connection to a source of pressurized liquid, a spring-controlled snap action ball valve assembly including a snap action ball valve, an inlet and an outlet, a conduit in fluid communication from the connection to the valve assembly inlet, a nozzle in fluid communication with the valve assembly outlet, and an actuator connected to the valve assembly to actuate the snap action ball valve from a closed position to an open position and from an open position to a closed position.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for wire bonding circuit pads of large scale integrated design. The bonding process employs a capillary tool that applies heat and pressure to the wires in order to bond them to the circuit pad. The circuit pad is supported upon a closed woven, fiberglass mesh, which supports the circuit pad during the bonding process.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the status of a water softener at a remote location. The system includes a water softener controller with a control processing unit for determining the status of the water softener. The system also includes a water softener transmitter and a water softener indicator. The transmitter is coupled to the controller and transmits the status of the water softener to the indicator. The water softener indicator receives and displays the status message. The system is capable of determining whether the water softener is operating normally, whether the salt level is low or whether the water softener needs servicing.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip carrier assembly is provided by joining a substrate having electrically conductive regions on at least one major surface thereof to a stiffener by a bonding film. The bonding film comprises a dielectric substrate having a thermoset adhesive on both of its major surfaces. The thermoset adhesive prior to the bonding is a B-stage adhesive, is tack-free at normal room temperatures and is solvent free.

Abstract: A toy gun for discharging a shaped stream of liquid under pressure is provided. The toy gun includes an expandable bladder located in a housing, and the expandable bladder is adapted to provide a generally constant pressure discharge of liquid contained therein. A release valve is connected to a trigger for regulating a discharge of liquid from the expandable bladder to a discharge outlet. A turret mounted rotatable nozzle assembly having a plurality of nozzles is connected to the housing. Each nozzle is selectively rotatable to a position in fluid communication with the discharge outlet. At least two of the plurality of nozzles include different shaped, non-circular stream nozzle orifice arrangements. Actuation of the trigger regulating the release of pressurized liquid through the discharge outlet and the selected one of the plurality of nozzles results in the liquid being discharged in a shaped stream having a generally constant form defined by the shape of the selected nozzle orifice arrangement.

Abstract: Toy water guns having removable pre-pressurizable water cartridges and the pre-pressurizable cartridges themselves and water charging systems for them. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a toy water gun having a pre-pressurizable water cartridge which can be charged using a pump located on the water gun or an auxiliary adapter connected to an external pressurized water source for quickly charging the pre-pressurizable water cartridge either installed in the water gun or separately, the pre-pressurizable water cartridges, recharge adapters and methods of filling the pre-pressurizable cartridges when installed in a water gun and when removed from a water gun.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the status of a water softener at a remote location. The system includes a water softener controller with a control processing unit for determining the status of the water softener. The system also includes a water softener transmitter and a water softener indicator. The transmitter is coupled to the controller and transmits the status of the water softener to the indicator. The water softener indicator receives and displays the status message. The system is capable of determining whether the water softener is operating normally, whether the salt level is low or whether the water softener needs servicing.

Abstract: A water softener and a method of operating the same are provided to allow for the efficient use of either NaCl or KCl as the regenerant salt. A user interface is provided to allow the user to indicate to the computer controlling the water softener whether NaCl or KCl is being used. The computer controller adjusts the fill time and brine time, depending on the type of regenerant salt used and on the temperature of the brine.

Abstract: A water softener and a method of operating the same are provided to allow for the efficient use of either NaCl or KCl as the regenerant salt. A user interface is provided to allow the user to indicate to the computer controlling the water softener whether NaCl or KCl is being used. The computer controller adjusts the fill time and brine time, depending on the type of regenerant salt used and on the temperature of the brine.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for wire bonding circuit devices of large scale integrated design. The bonding process employs a capillary tool that applies heat and pressure to the wires in order to bond them to the circuit device. The circuit device, or pad, is supported upon a closed woven, fiberglass mesh, which supports the circuit device during the bonding process.