Abstract: A microgravity agriculture device includes a root cylinder providing a growing medium for the plant and intended for root growth. The root cylinder will extend into a water tank, and the root cylinder will include apertures and wicking elements to draw water from the water tank into the root cylinder for availability to the plant roots. The geometries of the water tank, root cylinder, apertures and wicking elements are designed in a manner to ensure water surface tension will cause water in the tank to fill and stay in the proper areas to ensure water flow to the plant, no obstruction of vents during tank filling, and no egress of the water through the vents.

Abstract: A microgravity agriculture device includes a root cylinder providing a growing medium for the plant and intended for root growth. The root cylinder will extend into a water tank, and the root cylinder will include apertures and wicking elements to draw water from the water tank into the root cylinder for availability to the plant roots. The geometries of the water tank, root cylinder, apertures and wicking elements are designed in a manner to ensure water surface tension will cause water in the tank to fill and stay in the proper areas to ensure water flow to the plant, no obstruction of vents during tank filling, and no egress of the water through the vents.

Abstract: A training cup for children includes a cup body. A flow cap having an annular flow gap is selectively mounted to the cup body. A control ring is mounted to the flow cap for relative longitudinal movement toward and away from the cup body. The control ring includes an annular plug. In a first position the plug will block the flow gap to prevent flow from the training cup. In a second position the plug is spaced from the flow gap to allow restricted flow from the training cup. An infinite variation of positions and flow restriction are allowed between this first and second position. The control ring includes a drinking rim which has a minimum diameter of approximately 42 mm to force the child to engage the drinking rim with the lips and use it as a cup.

Abstract: A collapsible container having a rigid base, a rigid top ring, and rigid intermediate rings extending therebetween. A flexible peripheral wall is intimately bonded to the base, top ring, and intermediate rings, to form wall sections having alternating sections of flexible material and flexible material intimately bonded to the intermediate rings, whereby the container is adjustable between an expanded position with the top ring spaced upward from said base and forming a container interior, and a collapsed position with said top ring surrounding said base in outwardly spaced substantially concentric relation thereto.

Abstract: A training cup for children includes a cup body. A flow cap having an annular flow gap is selectively mounted to the cup body. A control ring is mounted to the flow cap for relative longitudinal movement toward and away from the cup body. The control ring includes an annular plug. In a first position the plug will block the flow gap to prevent flow from the training cup. In a second position the plug is spaced from the flow gap to allow restricted flow from the training cup. An infinite variation of positions and flow restriction are allowed between this first and second position. The control ring includes a drinking rim which has a minimum diameter of approximately 42 mm to force the child to engage the drinking rim with the lips and use it as a cup.

Abstract: A collapsible container having a rigid base, a rigid top ring, and rigid intermediate rings extending therebetween. A flexible peripheral wall is intimately bonded to the base, top ring, and intermediate rings, to form wall sections having alternating sections of flexible material and flexible material intimately bonded to the intermediate rings, whereby the container is adjustable between an expanded position with the top ring spaced upward from said base and forming a container interior, and a collapsed position with said top ring surrounding said base in outwardly spaced substantially concentric relation thereto.