Abstract: A battery operated, hand-held fluid dispenser comprises a supply container having a body portion and a narrow neck extending upwardly therefrom. A pump and discharge unit is mounted on the upper end of the neck and comprises a pump diaphragm and pump chamber for pumping liquid from the container to a discharge nozzle. A battery powered pump drive unit is removably mounted on the container and comprises an electric motor having an output shaft coupled with the pump diaphragm to displace the latter through a pump stroke when the motor is energized. The pump drive unit is interconnected with the pump and discharge unit and with the body portion of the container and either alone or together with the neck provides a handle for holding the container during a dispensing operation. Removability of the pump drive unit provides for the latter to be usable with supply containers having different fluids to be dispensed.

Abstract: A manually operable sprayer mountable on a supply container comprises a pump cylinder supporting a cylindrical, rollable pump diaphragm having a closed end coaxial with the cylinder and linearly axially displaceable toward and away from the cylinder by a trigger and pump actuator assembly including a pivotal trigger interconnected with a pump actuator for pivotal displacement of the trigger to be translated into linear axial displacement of the actuator which is connected to the end wall of the pump diaphragm. The component parts are enclosed in a housing defined by a pair of hingedly connected housing members, and a retainer member by which the sprayer is mountable on a supply container by a threaded cap either supports the component parts as a unitary assembly or interengages with the housing to cooperatively support the component parts therewith.

Abstract: A portable lap desk and activity station is provided for use by a small child, middle aged children and even adults. The lap desk includes a front side wall, a rear side wall and edge walls extending therebetween which define a main compartment. The front side wall is substantially planar and rigid for use as a work or writing surface by the child. The rear side wall is flexible and padded for comfortably resting on the lap of a child.

Abstract: A convertible game table 10 which may be used to play a variety of games including foosball, basketball, and glide hockey. The game table 10 includes side walls 14 with recesses 42 for selectively retaining clip members 44. The clip members 44 provide support for rod assemblies 38 carrying miniature players 38 which extend crosswise between the side walls 14. The clip members 44 may be retained within the side wall recesses 42 when the locking member 62 adjacent to the side wall 14 is occupying a closed position. When the locking member 62 is occupying an open position, the clip members 44 may be easily removed from the side wall recesses 42. The clip members 44 and rod assemblies 36 may be easily stored when not in use to allow the convertible game table 10 to be utilized for a different game.

Abstract: A plant package for a live plant having a stem, roots and rooting medium surrounding the roots. The package comprises a self-supporting, light transmissive, sealed polymer shell having an internal surface defining a package interior. A shelf is provided on the internal surface, and defines first and second interior compartments for containing the roots and stem, respectively. An inner container is provided for the roots and rooting medium, and an outer container engaged with the internal surface is provided for the inner container. A divider is engaged with the stem and inner container and assists with the maintenance of the roots and rooting medium within the inner container.

Abstract: A finishing composition for restoring the appearance of the aged, painted surface of an automobile comprises an isobutyl methacrylate resin polymer dissolved in a solvent system comprising a low boiling organic solvent and a high boiling organic solvent.

Abstract: A transparent thermoplastic housing has an upper and a lower compartment divided by a ramp. The lower compartment houses a battery, motor and drive mechanism for turning a candy dispensing screw in communication with the upper compartment. The lower compartment is hidden by an outer opaque label. Candy pieces of like dimensions are stored in the upper compartment and fed serially to the screw by a first channel formed with the ramp. A second channel next to the screw along its length maintains the candy received from the first channel aligned serially. The screw displaces the candy from the first channel to the second channel and to a dispensing port at the top of the housing. A clutch in the drive mechanism permits the screw to be turned manually.

Abstract: A multi-part article of furniture, such as a chair or table, capable of being assembled without tools or glue is disclosed. The legs of the table or chair can be rigidly, but removably, attached to the table top or chair seat by slideably engaging an elongated dowel protruding from an upper side surface of the leg into a mating slot formed in the end wall of an apron attached to the underside of the table top or chair seat. Alternatively, the elongated dowel may protrude from the apron and the upper side surface of the leg may contain a mating slot. Fastening clips may provide additional attachment between the legs and aprons and a separate dowel protruding from the upper end surface of the leg may mate with a bore in the underside of the seat or table top. In one embodiment, the length of the legs is varied either by replacement with longer-length legs or by the addition of leg-extension members.

Abstract: A Christmas tree stand which comprises a receptacle and a two-piece base is provided. The receptacle is placed over the trunk of a tree and a clamping assembly is used to secure the tree within the receptacle. The receptacle is then inserted into a top portion of the base. The top portion of the base is moveable with respect to a bottom portion of the base. A movement assembly is provided which enables one person to easily move the top portion with respect to the bottom portion. Additionally, the top portion of the base includes a cavity for holding water.

Abstract: A structure and a technique for heating hot melt adhesive by means of microwaves, to place the hot melt adhesive in a tacky state in which it adheres to an object. A preferred structure according to the invention comprises an article of manufacture (e.g., a wall hook) having a mass of the hot melt adhesive and a susceptor thereon. The article, with the adhesive and susceptor thereon, can be subjected to microwaves for a predetermined period of time, to place the mass of adhesive in a tacky state which enables the article to be attached to an object (e.g., a wall). A special container for the article is placed with the article into a microwave oven as a unit, and removed as a unit from the oven. The container enables the article to be safely and efficiently attached to the object.

Abstract: A hand-actuated multiple-container trigger sprayer includes a sprayer head assembly removably connected to a plurality of fluid containers. The sprayer head assembly has an outer housing, a nozzle attached to the housing, pump mechanism enclosed within the housing, and tubing fluidly connecting each of the plurality of fluid containers with the pump mechanism in the housing. A trigger or lever actuates the pump mechanism to draw fluid through the tubing from each of the plurality of fluid containers and to discharge the fluid through the nozzle. A metering device is located between the fluid containers and the pump mechanism and is accessible externally from the housing to selectively control the amount of fluid drawn from the containers. The metering device includes flow paths to the pump mechanism for each of the fluid containers. The diameter and length of at least one of the flow paths can be controlled to selectively control the amount of fluid drawn from the fluid containers.