Abstract: A toy water gun has an energizable linear-drive piston mechanism selectively operable between anterior translational movement and posterior translational movement. The mechanism drives a piston assembly including a piston head within a piston housing to pressurize a piston chamber for impelling fluid therefrom. A discharge structure is in fluid-flow communication with the piston chamber. The mechanism includes a reversible, electric motor and an actuator switch for selectively actuating the reversible, electric motor.

Abstract: A nanomachined and micromachined electrode (10) is disclosed that is produced by providing a layer of aluminum (11) positioned upon a conductive substrate (12), anodizing the layer of aluminum to produce a layer of aluminum oxide (13) having an array of pores (14), depositing a sacrificial metal (17) within the pores of the aluminum oxide layer, etching the aluminum oxide layer so as to leave an array of sacrificial metal rods (18), depositing a layer of electrode material (19) between the array of sacrificial metal rods, and etching the sacrificial metal rods so that a layer of copper remains having an array of pores (20) where the sacrificial metal rods had existed. The layer of copper is the electrode (10).

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting plasticizer from polymer structures includes, in one embodiment, a evacuation chamber, a heat source and a cooling chamber are all coupled to a conduit having a motorized fan for cycling gases through the components. The plasticizer is evaporated within the evacuation chamber by the heat source and entrained in a gaseous stream passing through the evacuation chamber. The plasticizer enriched gases are then passed through the cooling chamber wherein the plasticizer is condensed prior to being cycled back to the evacuation chamber. A gas heater aid in maintaining a constant gas flow temperature within the evacuation chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting plasticizer from polymer structures includes, in one embodiment, a vacuum chamber, a heating member and a condenser, the plasticizer being vaporized from the polymer structure by a combination of low temperature and heat, and in another embodiment, an evaporation chamber, a conveyer belt, and a plasticizer removal system, the plasticizer removal system including a duct having mounted therein a heating member, a fan and a condenser so that plasticizer may be extracted by forced air convection.