Abstract: A gas operated lantern includes a control mechanism whereby a user may start gas flow through the lantern, operate a choke, and ignite the lantern. The user may perform these operations using the same control in an easy, simple series of motions. The user may rotate a knob, rotating a stem, to start gas flow and press the knob axially inward along the stem to operate a choke and an igniter.

Abstract: A unitary airflow diffuser for use with a forced-air space heater has a plurality of spurs radially extending from a hub. The spurs include one or more vanes for deflecting the airflow generated by fan blades within the space heater. A nozzle assembly is secured through an aperture in the hub of the diffuser for supplying fuel within a combustion chamber. Brackets can be provided for securing an igniter and a sensor to the airflow diffuser. Mounting tabs are provided on each vane to secure the airflow diffuser to a mounting plate disposed at the input of the combustion chamber. The nozzle ejects the fuel through a central aperture in the mounting plate into the combustion chamber. The mounting plate can have secondary apertures through which air can be diverted, and vanes can be provided on the mounting plates to direct air through the secondary apertures.

Abstract: A lantern includes a housing, a fuel inlet, and a flame guard surrounding the region in which the fuel is burned. A shield is hingedly connected to the housing to allow movement between a closed position in which the shield protects the flame guard and blocks access to the fuel inlet, and an open position. The shield may be made of two parts, and a crenulated bail may be used to hang the lantern.

Abstract: A collapsible fuel-burning stove includes a burner assembly and a collapsible frame for supporting the burner assembly, the frame including a plurality of support members, the support members being pivotal relative to one another about a common axis on which the burner assembly is supported.

Abstract: A connector is provided for securing a conduit to a fluid source, which source includes a noncircular cylindrical pedestal having a fluid source outlet extending therethrough and an annular groove surrounding the pedestal. The connector includes an inlet port engageable with the fluid source outlet and an outlet port in fluid communication with the inlet port and engageable with the conduit. A collet includes a base, and a plurality of fingers extending from the base substantially parallel to an axis of the inlet port, each finger being disposed a common radial distance from the axis of the inlet port and including a radially extending pawl spaced from the base. An annular cam has a noncircular cylindrical receptacle correspondingly engageable with the noncircular cylindrical pedestal of the fluid source and having an axis coincident with the axis of the inlet port.

Abstract: A automatic ignition gas lantern includes baffle positioned near the outside of a mantle, so that gas flowing out of the mantle will be disturbed by the baffle. This sets up a region with a fuel/air mixture that can be easily and reliably ignited. A spark is then generated in this region, which ignites the gas and causes the mantle to glow brightly.

Abstract: An LPG canister connector for a combustion appliance having a flow path from a canister containing liquid fuel and having a cap with outlet means at the upstream end of the flow path, a valve assembly adapted to be connected to the cap and equipped with a conduit adapted to be connected to a combustion appliance at the downstream end of the flow path, and promoters for vaporization of said fuel being located intermediate the ends of the flow path.

Abstract: A portable forced air heater includes a base, an outer tubular housing mounted on the base which includes front and rear ends, and a burner assembly mounted within the outer housing. The burner assembly includes an inner housing, and support brackets on the inner housing include tabs which extend through slots in the outer housing. A fan is mounted within the outer housing behind the inner housing. The outer housing is provided with an air opening rearwardly of the inner housing, and an air scoop below the air opening guides air from the fan toward the front of the outer housing for cooling the support surface of the heater. An air diffuser plate on the rear end-of the inner housing is provided with radially extending tapered slots which include radially outwardly diverging side edges. The diffuser plate includes a vane for each slot which partially obstructs the slot. A fuel valve is mounted on the base, and a fuel tube extends between the fuel valve and the burner assembly.

Abstract: A lantern includes an elongated tubular mantle which is attached to a burner assembly by a spring clip and an electronic ignitor for igniting fuel which flows into the mantle. The mantle is surrounded by a globe, and a wire guard surrounds the globe. A ventilator cap is removably attached to the burner assembly and to the wire guard so that the cap, wire guard, and globe can be removed as a unit from the burner assembly. A nut is rotatably captured on the ventilator cap for attaching the ventilator cap to the burner assembly. The fuel tank includes a wide, molded base which provides stable support. An air pump for the fuel tank includes a check valve which automatically opens and closes as air is pumped and a pressure indicator to indicate when the fuel tank reaches operating pressure. The pump is automatically lubricated on each stroke.

Abstract: A burner assembly includes an outer housing having a generally cylindrical internal bore and a generally cylindrical inner housing within the bore of the outer housing. The inner housing is thermally insulated from the outer housing by a pair of axially spaced flanges on the inner housing and by a generally conical bottom wall on the outer housing. The inner housing has a fuel inlet opening and a fuel outlet which communicates with a burner. A generator tube has a fuel inlet end, an intermediate portion which is positioned adjacent the burner, and a fuel outlet end which extends through the outer housing to the fuel inlet opening of the inner housing.

Abstract: A fuel control assembly for a campstove includes a valve stem which is rotatable 180.degree. within a valve body between open and closed positions. A pin on the valve body extends into a helical slot in the stem for moving the valve stem axially as the valve stem rotates. The stem includes first and second side surface portions which are engageable with a follower member which extends perpendicularly to the rotational axis of the stem. The second side surface portion extends radially outwardly beyond the first side surface portion. The follower member is engageable with a valve for opening the valve as the follower pin is engaged by the second side surface portion of the stem.

Abstract: A radiant heater which burns LPG fuel is provided with an improved burner assembly and an improved support assembly for mounting the heater on a propane tank. The heater includes a frame, a reflector mounted on the frame, and a burner assembly which is removably mounted within the reflector and the frame. The burner assembly includes a burner tube having an inlet end mounted within the frame and an outlet end positioned within the reflector. A generally dome-shaped screen is mounted on the outlet end of the burner tube, and a generally circular screen is attached to the dome-shaped screen substantially in alignment with the burner tube. A burner pan is mounted on the burner tube and surrounds the dome-shaped screen, and an outer screen extends across the burner pan. A thermocouple sensor and/or an igniter electrode on the frame extends through one or more openings in the burner pan.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting a radiant heater on an LPG tank includes an elongated rigid support tube, a hook on the lower end of the support tube, and a generally U-shaped clamp is mounted on the tube for pivoting and transverse movement. The clamp includes a pair of legs which terminate in hooked ends and a cross piece which connects the legs. A stud is threadedly engaged with the cross piece and is engageable with the tube. When the stud is tightened against the tube, the hooked ends of the clamp legs pivot toward the hook on the bottom of the tube to clamp a collar of an LPG tank between the hook ends of the leg and the hook on the tube, and the tube moves transversely relative to the legs and is forced against the collar.

Abstract: A liquid fuel lantern having a catalytic mantle includes a pilot tube for conveying fuel to a point adjacent the mantle. An ignition device is mounted near the pilot tube for igniting the fuel which flows from the pilot tube.

Abstract: A fuel control mechanism for a liquid fuel burner includes a fuel regulating valve which is responsive to flow of liquid fuel through a fuel feed tube for movement between a starting position and a running position. When a fuel control valve for the burner is opened, flow of liquid fuel through the fuel feed tube moves the fuel regulating valve to a starting position in which the fuel regulating valve restricts flow of fuel through a fuel inlet. Air is thereby drawn through an air inlet and mixes with the fuel. After the burner is started and liquid fuel is vaporized within the generator, flow of fuel through the fuel feed tube slows, and the fuel regulating valve falls by virtue of its weight to the running position in which the fuel regulating valve does not restrict flow of fuel through the fuel inlet. Air flow through the air inlet is thereby discontinued, and only liquid fuel flows through the fuel feed tube.

Abstract: A liquid fuel campstove is provided with a piezoelectric ignition system. The campstove includes a liquid fuel tank, a burner assembly having a fuel inlet and fuel outlet orifices, a generator tube which is connected to the fuel tank and extends adjacent the burner assembly, and a U-shaped venturi tube which extends from the generator to the fuel inlet of the burner assembly. A pilot tube is inserted into the venturi tube and extends to adjacent the fuel outlet orifices of the burner assembly. The electrode of the piezoelectric ignition system is positioned adjacent the end of the pilot tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the optical power of soft contact lenses having a lens holding apparatus which is mountable on known prior art lensmeter structures. The lens holding apparatus includes a basic support housing means, a lens holder assembly mounted on the basic support housing means, and a lens conditioner means connected to the basic support housing means and operably engagable with the lens holder assembly. The lens holder assembly includes a contoured lens support member having a transparent lens support surface to substantially duplicate the outer contour and size of a person's eye. The lens conditioner means includes a lens wiper assembly operable through an actuator linkage assembly to move a wiper blade member over the contoured lens support member with a soft contact lens mounted thereon to provide a wetting action on both sides of the soft contact lens to duplicate the conditions when worn on the cornea of a person's eye.