Abstract: A candle assembly includes a support base with a melting plate upon which a meltable solid fuel rests and a wick holder to hold a wick and engage the meltable solid fuel. The candle assembly further includes a control unit having at least one electrical component to control a light emitting system.

Abstract: An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container. At least one gear is disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing. A drive motor is in association with the at least one gear. An actuator arm is also provided. Activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a path that has a directional component parallel to a longitudinal axis of the recess.

Abstract: A melting plate candle assembly includes a melting plate with a locating protrusion, which engages a fuel element in a predefined orientation when in a preferred operative position. In one operative position, the bottom surface of the fuel element is disposed on the melting plate, and a capillary space is formed between a capillary pedestal on the melting plate and a capillary recess in the bottom surface of the fuel element. The locating protrusion provides positive indication that the fuel element is properly disposed in the operative position.

Abstract: A device for applying controlled unitized doses of a flowable material to a surface is disclosed. The device includes a tubular body and a plunger. The body has a wall defining a cavity, and the body has a first open end and an opposite second end having a dispensing orifice. A flowable material is contained in the cavity of the body. The plunger has an outer sleeve dimensioned for surrounding at least a section the body and an inner pushing structure dimensioned for axial movement in the cavity of the body. The device has means for indexed positioning of the second end of the body and an inner end of the inner pushing structure of the plunger relative to each other to provide controlled unitized doses of the flowable material to a surface when the plunger is moved toward the body by a user's hand.

Abstract: An active material and light emitting device comprises an ultrasonic atomizer assembly and a light emission device. The active material and light emitting device further includes a housing containing the atomizer assembly and the light emission device such that the atomizer assembly is disposed above the light emission device. The light emission device emits light that is transmitted through a medial portion of the housing.

Abstract: A candleholder for a fuel element, such as a votive candle, includes a melting plate carried by a base portion. The melting plate is generally dish-shaped and disposed within a generally complementarily shaped recess in a top end of the base portion. An alignment mechanism including an inner peripheral step protruding into the recess and a complementary ledge in a bottom surface of the melting plate helps ensure that the melting plate is disposed at a predetermined position in the recess. The ledge rests on the peripheral step with an adhesive disposed therebetween when the melting plate is in the predetermined position. A ring protrusion from the base portion is disposed under a cavity defined under a capillary lobe in the melting plate. The ring protrusion helps retain a magnet in a predetermined location in the cavity and may also serve as part of the alignment mechanism. The magnet may be used to help retain a ferro-magnetic wick holder of the votive candle on the capillary lobe.

Abstract: An automatic discharge device comprises a housing adapted to receive a container therein. An actuator arm is attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. The actuator arm includes a dispensing bore therein. A drive unit is provided for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch. The actuator arm is adapted to engage and actuate a nozzle of the container in the first position and allow a fluid disposed in an interior of the container to be dispensed through the nozzle and the dispensing bore of the actuator arm.

Abstract: A valve assembly can automatically dispense aerosol content from an aerosol container at predetermined intervals without the use of electric power. A diaphragm at least partially defines an accumulation chamber that receives gas propellant from a portion of the can during an accumulation phase. Once the internal pressure of the accumulation chamber reaches a predetermined threshold, the diaphragm moves, carrying with it a seal so as to unseal an outlet channel, and thereby initiate a spray burst of the main active chemical. The diaphragm assumes its original position when the pressure within the accumulation chamber falls below a threshold pressure.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is disclosed which can dispense chemicals, such as insect control ingredients, from an aerosol container. The actuator assembly is mountable to the aerosol container and includes a burstable barrier and an extrudable (e.g. paste) plug. Upon initial activation, the pressure from inside of the container presses the burstable barrier which in turn presses the paste plug to cause at least a portion of the plug to move to a position where it is visible and provides a cue that a delay period has started. The device can be manually activated, but is designed so that thereafter it does not need to be manually held open. The user has time to leave the room before spraying begins, and does not need to be present in the room before spraying has finished.

Abstract: The present invention provides an animal test chamber that has one or more side walls, a ceiling, and a floor to define an internal space in which animals can be housed and exposed to a chemical agent, a door, a port for introducing animals, an exhaust port, and one or more of the following four features. The first feature is a projector for projecting an image onto the chamber floor to assist in the counting of the knocked-down animals. The second feature is the capability of automatically washing/cleaning the chamber after a test. The third feature is the capability of simulating real life insecticide application conditions. The fourth feature is the capability of automatically dispensing the contents of an aerosol can into the chamber.

Abstract: Detachable tube assemblies, such as those useful in remote spraying devices, are disclosed. Tube segments are interconnected using radial extensions interfit with alignable radial holes on tubes to be coupled together. An actuator rod is provided with flexible barbs and a disk guide. The rod can be used to remotely actuate a spray.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is disclosed which can dispense chemicals, such as insect control ingredients, from an aerosol container. The actuator assembly is mountable to the aerosol container and includes a solid plug that, upon initial activation, will be caused by the pressure of the chemical in the aerosol container to move to an unsealed position. Movement of the plug is retarded by a frictional engagement of the plug with an associated passage/conduit. The device can be manually activated, but is designed so that thereafter it does not need to be manually held open. The consumer has time to leave the room before spraying begins, and does not need to be present in the room before spraying has finished.

Abstract: Detachable tube assemblies, such as those useful in remote spraying devices, are disclosed. The assemblies use a U-shaped coupling device having a base with a central aperture, flexible arms, and radial extensions. The radial extensions interfit with alignable radial holes on tubes to be coupled together. The central aperture guides and aligns an actuator rod. The rod can be used to remotely actuate a spray.

Abstract: A combination includes a container of product having a longitudinal dimension and a valve oriented to discharge product generally longitudinally from the container. A housing includes a first wall portion enclosing a main body of the container and a second tapered wall portion adjacent the first wall portion tapering to a discharge opening. The discharge opening has a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container. Valve actuating apparatus extends laterally from the valve and has an interfering relationship with the first wall portion. Relative movement of the container toward the discharge opening causes the valve actuating apparatus to be displaced against the first wall portion to actuate the valve and dispense product from the housing.

Abstract: A combination includes a product container having a longitudinal dimension and a valve oriented to discharge product generally longitudinally therefrom. Valve actuating apparatus extends laterally from the valve in a direction transverse to the longitudinal dimension and terminates at an outer peripheral surface. A housing has a wall that tapers to a discharge opening, and the discharge opening has a size larger than a radius of the container but smaller than the greatest lateral extent of the valve actuating apparatus. The outer peripheral surface is disposed in interfering relationship with the wall when the container is disposed in the housing.

Abstract: A bait station for crawling insects includes a base and a cover fastened to the base. The base includes a bait cup bisected by a divider wall so that different baits may be offered to the insects. The cover has a roof that is spaced above and spans over the bait cup so that insects may crawl through doorways formed in the cover to access the bait in the bait cup. A support rib extends downwardly from the roof to engage the bait cup and divider wall to not only provide crush resistance and support for the roof but also to provide a bait retention feature. The support rib may also be configured to serve as a reservoir for water or other insect attractant.