Abstract: A vacuum packaging appliance with a sealing sub-assembly including a latching mechanism and release mechanism is described. According to certain embodiments, the release mechanism, latch and sealing sub-assembly operate in an integrated fashion such that the vacuum packaging appliance can be easily opened or sealed.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging appliance with a sealing sub-assembly including a latching mechanism and release mechanism is described. According to certain embodiments, the release mechanism, latch and sealing sub-assembly operate in an integrated fashion such that the vacuum packaging appliance can be easily opened or sealed.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed. The valve includes at least two valve bodies that each have an annular chamber for operably supporting a flow control member. An adjoining member is attached between the valve bodies and houses an adaptor for engaging a portion of each flow control member such that rotation of one flow control member rotates the other flow control member. Each flow control member can engage the adaptor at a plurality of orientations about an actuation axis that extends through the valve. A method for reorienting to interconnected valve bodies relative to each other is disclosed.

Abstract: The several unassembled parts of a door lock assembly, nested axially within one another, are secured by axial retainer means which engage an aperture in the door lock assembly that is not used to secure inner and outer door lock assemblies to one another.

Abstract: A drive-in housing for mounting a latch assembly in a bore formed in a door comprises two identical housing parts each having a slot therein. When the housing parts are brought together they form an opening for receiving a bolt casing of the latch assembly. Tabs on the casing are captured in the slots as the housing parts are moved normal to the axis of the casing. Movement of the casing relative to the housing parts is then limited by direct engagement of the housing parts with the tabs. The housing parts each have two abutment surfaces facing in a circumferential direction, the abutment surfaces of one housing part having a projection and a recess, respectively, for mating with a corresponding recess and projection on the abutment surfaces of the other housing part. The housing parts, when brought together, form a faceplate having an opening therein for accommodating a bolt.

Abstract: A method is provided for attaching separable mounting tabs to a mortise lock housing, including the steps of providing a hollow mortise lock housing in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with a first side adapted to lie in a door edge and to provide at least one opening for a bolt, providing one slot at each of top and bottom edges, as installed, of the first side of the lock housing, the slots providing narrow openings for capturing mounting tabs at top and bottom corners of the lock housing, providing two mounting tabs, each having a first end portion for mounting an end of the faceplate and a second end for capturable insertion in the slots in the lock housing, the tabs further having a substantially right angle bend between the first end and the second end, orienting the mounting tabs such that the first ends are substantially parallel to the first side of the lock housing and project above and below the top and bottom corners of the first side of the lock housing, respectively, and the second ends

Abstract: A device used to reclaim shower waste water for flushing toilets and watering gardens. During the course of a shower, several shallow-plastic molded reservoirs are situated intermediately between the shower basin and the feet of the person standing upon them. The top surface forms a sloped recess for collecting water and an open inlet port at the recessed end allows the water to drain into the reservoir. The weight of a person standing upon the top surface is supported by an internal array of posts projecting upwardly from the bottom surface. A dispenser is used in conjuction with an outlet to retain and release the collected water. When the full reservoir is placed in an upright position on top of a toilet set with the outlet at the lowermost position, the dispenser is manually actuated thus releasing water through the outlet with sufficient flow rate to flush the toilet. A shoulder strap and sprinkler accessory may be attached for use as a portable watering container in the garden.