Abstract: Systems and methods for brewing beverages in accordance with the present invention can improve the flavor of brewed beverages and reduce the vertical space required for a system using suction. One such assembly comprises a brewing chamber adapted to hold a filter having an intake duct for receiving fluid for brewing, and an output duct for expelling a brewed beverage. The brewing chamber is positioned above a pressurizable container, or carafe, having an adjustable standpipe and containing the fluid. The carafe has a heated base, which when heated causes pressure to build up, forcing the fluid up the standpipe, through a check valve, through the intake duct and into the filter. Once substantially all of the fluid has been urged into the brew chamber, the heat is removed, creating a partial vacuum that pulls the brewed beverage back into the carafe. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: Systems and methods for brewing beverages in accordance with the present invention can improve the flavor of brewed beverages and reduce the vertical space required for a system using suction. One such assembly comprises a brewing chamber adapted to hold a filter having an intake duct for receiving fluid for brewing, and an output duct for expelling a brewed beverage. The brewing chamber is positioned above a pressurizable container, or carafe, having an adjustable standpipe and containing the fluid. The carafe has a heated base, which when heated causes pressure to build up, forcing the fluid up the standpipe, through a check valve, through the intake duct and into the filter. Once substantially all of the fluid has been urged into the brew chamber, the heat is removed, creating a partial vacuum that pulls the brewed beverage back into the carafe. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: A distributed concentrated chemical dispensing system 300 and method include a central station 302, one or more permanently mounted satellite stations 304, and one or more portable satellite stations 306. Local concentrated chemicals can be distributed from the central station 302 without being diluted to the satellite stations 304, 306 for final dilution. An information storage device 318 is provided for tracking and keeping records of the utilization of the concentrated chemicals.

Abstract: A one-piece housing holds an image sensing module having a transparent image sensing surface and a document drive roller in close alignment. A cover closely fits around the housing and is positioned in close alignment with respect to the housing. The cover and housing cooperate to define a document entry path in which a plurality of sensors are located: a set of document-skew-detecting sensors and a set of document-insertion-detecting sensors, the sets of sensors acting independently of each other. The number and spacing of the sensors is the set of document-insertion-detecting sensors is such that the narrowest expected document encounters at least one such sensor. The cover and housing also cooperated to define a document scanning path and one or more document exit paths.

Abstract: A laptop computer (10) with a tiltable and swivelable display (12) is connected to case (29) by a pivot mechanism (20) and a swivel mechanism (33). In the pivot mechanism (20), a first pivot (22) connects display (12) to a pivot plate (50), and the second pivot (24) connects the pivot plate (50) to base (32) of the display (12). The first pivot (22) consists of a pair of pivot pins (52) on each end of the pivot plate (50). The second pivot (24) consists of split pivot pins (54) at each end of the pivot plate (50). The pivot pins (54) and inboard shafts (58) are fastened together and inboard shafts (58) rotate within outboard shafts (56). The outboard shafts (56) and the inboard shafts (58) are surrounded by clutch springs (60), which are connected so that the clutches are in their free rotating direction, i.e.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for measuring the electrochemical characteristics of a sample is disclosed. A disposable cartridge, including a plurality of interconnected flow chambers, houses a printed circuit board substrate upon which reference and indicating electrodes are formed. The electrodes are employed in the presence of chemical reagents to aid in the electrochemical determination of a sample undergoing analysis. A thermal sensing element is in close proximity to the electrodes to permit the correction of the measurement for variations in temperature. After a pH value has been determined, the used cartridge can be mechanically ejected thus eliminating user exposure to the blood sample being measured. In this way, the pH of a blood sample can be determined quickly, effectively, inexpensively and with a minimum amount of sample and reagent preparation.