Abstract: A flushing mechanism for flushing a toilet bowl with a reduced amount of water. The flushing mechanism includes a containment vessel adapted to fit in a standard-sized toilet tank and means within the containment vessel for forcing water out of the vessel into the bowl to be flushed. In a first embodiment, the containment vessel includes an elastic bladder which is filled with the liquid and expands to provide the additional pressure. In a second embodiment, a piston spring system forces liquid out of the containment vessel to flush the bowl. A hydraulic actuation system is also provided for actuating the flushing mechanisms.

Abstract: A flushing mechanism using a phase change fluid for flushing a toilet bowl with a reduced amount of water. The flushing mechanism includes a containment vessel adapted to fit in a standard-sized toilet tank and means within the containment vessel for forcing water out of the vessel into the bowl to be flushed. The containment vessel includes a collapsible bladder which is loaded with a phase change fluid. Water in the containment vessel is forced into the toilet bowl when the phase change fluid changes from a liquid to a vapor state. A hydraulic actuation system is also provided for actuating the flushing mechanism.

Abstract: A thermal printing device or the like and a tape or tape-ribbon cartridge designed for operative insertion into and use with such device. The device and cartridge of the present invention includes a tape drive system for driving the tape or tape and ribbon through the thermal printing device including a drive roller connected with the machine and a corresponding drive roller mounted within the cartridge and biased toward the machine drive roller. The device and cartridge of the present invention also includes an alignment system comprising a floating alignment member for insuring proper transfer alignment between the platen and the printhead.

Abstract: A thermal transfer device or the like and a tape-ribbon cartridge designed for operative insertion into and use with such device. The device and cartridge of the present invention includes a tape-ribbon drive system for driving the tape and ribbon through the thermal transfer device including a drive roller connected with the machine and a corresponding drive roller mounted within the cartridge and biased toward the machine drive roller. The device and cartridge of the present invention also includes an alignment system comprising a floating alignment member for insuring proper transfer alignment between the platen and the printhead.

Abstract: An in-line switch and mixer control including a first restriction adjacent the outlet of a mixing device having a cleaning fluid and water inlet for controlling the flow rate from the mixer and a second restriction connected to the water inlet for varying the restriction of the water inlet to determine the mixing ratio. Initially, the first restriction is totally closed preventing any flow from the mixer and the second restriction is initially unrestricted. The first and second restrictions include a common actuator for sequentially operating the first and second restrictions to various intermediate restrictive positions.

Abstract: A separator for a cleaning device having the air-liquid mixture introduced tangentially about the periphery of the conical shroud and the air outlet being interior the shroud.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable locking mounting arrangement is provided for a box-like structure to secure the structure, such as a drip coffeemaker, to an overhead support as the bottom of kitchen cabinetry to support the coffeemaker off the counter space. The mounting comprises a horizontal channel in each vertical end wall of the coffeemaker and a pair of spaced identical brackets opposite each channel to secure to the overhead support. Each bracket has a rail-like horizontal hanger removably secured thereon and the hangers are formed to slidingly nest in the channels carrying the coffeemaker structure on the cabinet support. Releasable mechanism locks each hanger to its bracket in only one but multiple selected vertical positions and locks the hanger in the channels to variably and releasably vertically position the coffeemaker structure on the cabinet support in a suspended position off the counter. The brackets are formed of plastic in the shape of open-faced trays with equally spaced honeycomb cells.

Abstract: A device for storing and dispensing mercury and tablets comprising:(a) a housing having a main discharge port;(b) a normally closed mercury reservoir extending from the housing, the reservoir including a discharge port;(c) a tablet container extending from the housing, the container having a discharge port;(d) a passageway within the housing, part being below the mercury discharge port and another being above the main discharge port, the passageway being adapted to receive a slidable member, the slidable member being adapted to slide within the passageway between first and second positions;(e) a vent including a passage communicating with the interior of the mercury reservoir near the top and with the passageway when the slidable member is not in the first position, but is sealed from the passageway when the slidable member is in the first position;(f) a mercury metering cavity within the slidable member to receive mercury from the reservoir through the discharge port when the slidable member is in one of the

Abstract: A separation means is disclosed which effectively isolates the resultant salts of a carbonation reaction while permitting the transfer of gaseous carbon dioxide in a substantially pure, non-contaminated form to a liquid to be carbonated. The separation means comprises a passageway with a plurality of restricted gas communicating apertures and a one-way valve attached to the end of the passageway which is proximate to the liquid to be carbonated. The gas communicating apertures and one-way valve function to retain the chemical by-products of the reaction from the carbonated beverage.

Abstract: An improvement in a pressurizable container used to prepare a carbonated beverage from a water-based liquid and carbon dioxide generating chemical reactants comprises the use of a carbonation chamber having an upper compartment for holding the chemical couple and a lower compartment with a bottom sparger surface for releasing, as uniformly small bubbles, the generated carbon dioxide into a beverage to be carbonated. The bottom sparger surface permits the rapid carbonation of a beverage without agitation and also minimizes the transfer of the resultant products of the chemical reaction to the beverage.

Abstract: A substantially salt-free carbonated beverage is produced using a pressurizable container comprising a carbonation chamber having an upper compartment for holding the chemical reactants, a means for separating gaseous carbon dioxide and solid or liquid reaction by-products and a lower compartment having a bottom sparger surface for releasing, as uniformly small bubbles, the generated carbon dioxide into a liquid to be carbonated. The separation means and sparger surface function to retain the chemical by-products of the reaction from the carbonated beverage.

Abstract: A closed pressurized container for producing a carbonated beverage of superior quality by providing for contact therein of water and a solid carbonation source. The pressurized container is designed to withstand the pressures and temperatures generated during the preparation of a carbonated beverage from a solid carbonation source. In a preferred embodiment, the container is a rigid receptacle in the shape of a wide mouth bottle adapted to receive a large cap or cover. A perforated basket is mounted inside the cover, and is accessible to water in the bottle when that vessel is turned upside down to an inverted position. A spring loaded, manually operated valve is provided in the cover to permit venting of carbon dioxide from the interior thereof after the water-based mixture within the container has become sufficiently carbonated by absorbing carbon dioxide released by contact of water with the solid carbonation source.

Abstract: A manually actuatable fluid dispenser comprises a plastic bottle container which includes an upstanding bottle neck portion having a flexible bellows formed integrally on one side thereof operable by a reciprocal trigger member which engages the bellows through a trigger spring for exerting a sustained but limited force on the bellows, and reaction force on the trigger member, over extensive trigger actuation travel and speed. The upper end of the cylindrical neck of the container is closed by a dispenser body which includes a fluid passage having a check valve disposed therein for controlling the flow of fluid in the fluid passage. A fluid tube disposed in the bottle neck includes a seal for fluid isolation of the bottle neck from the bottle, and a check valve for allowing flow of fluid from the bottle into the bottle neck.

Abstract: A manually charged fluid dispenser includes a charging cylinder disposed in the mouth of a bottle and a manually reciprocable piston carried on a charging rod which extends out each end of the cylinder. The charging rod has a differential diameter for providing hydraulic return thereof by fluid pressure in the charging tube after manual charging of the tube. The charging tube is in fluid communication with a spray nozzle mounted on the bottle and tube through a ball valve which is selectively unseatable by a cam actuated by a slidable trigger, which is hydraulically biased by a piston which is in connection with pressurized fluid at the ball valve. An alternative embodiment of the charging cylinder provides a charging rod slidable in a draw tube disposed above an end of a charging cylinder and a piston slidable therein so that fluid pressure in the cylinder will return the rod to its rest position.

Abstract: An access panel fastener in which a threaded fastener element is captured within an annular retainer affixed to the access panel and is movable axially relative to the retainer between a securing position and a hold-out position. A plurality of jaws in the retainer are resiliently biased radially inwardly by a surrounding cochlear spring to retain the fastener element in the hold-out position and enable ready movement of the fastener element past the jaws to the securing position. The access panel fastener includes a complementary threaded fastener having a self-locking mechanism which utilizes a collar of synthetic resin material.

Abstract: A retainer for securing an operating knob to a control shaft comprised of an elongate member having a hollow interior and respective ends each having a periphery in first part arcuate and in second part substantially straight includes a slit extending longitudinally in the periphery first part to provide opposed arcuate sections for resiliently engaging the interior walls of the knob and the periphery second part embodies spring fingers for engaging the control shaft. In its preferred form, the retainer includes longitudinally extending spring fingers joined to one another interiorly of the retainer, one spring finger having a greater average section modulus than that of the other spring finger.