Abstract: An improved paint cup for a suction feed hand held spray gun having a jar and a removable cap. A resilient unitary molded check valve either is positioned within or is positioned to cover a vent opening extending through the cap to allow exterior air to flow into the jar while inhibiting paint flow from the jar through the vent opening when the spray gun is tilted.

Abstract: A safety device for an electrode-type steam vaporizer having an electrode assembly enclosed in a protective housing allows access to the electrodes for cleaning or adjustment only when a key, preferably the electric plug for the vaporizer, is inserted through an opening in the protective housing to release an interlock mechanism normally precluding removal of the protective housing from the electrode assembly. When the protective housing is removed, the key is automatically locked in the opening in the protective housing by a spring-biased lock pin and cannot be removed until the electrode assembly is again repositioned in the housing with the electrode assembly and housing properly assembled relative to each other. The safety device can be used in other electrical appliances, such as a toaster, that have electrical elements enclosed in a protective housing.

Abstract: An improved electric steam vaporizer having a container defining a liquid reservoir and a removable cover for the container. Two parallel electrodes depend into the liquid reservoir from a cap attached to the cover. The electrodes are attached to the cap by inserting into electrode-receiving openings formed in the cap, welding the conductor ends on a line cord to tabs which project through the cap, bending the tab to mechanically lock the electrodes to the cap and in one embodiment potting the tabs and line cord conductor ends with a sealing material. An electrode housing attached to the cap surrounds the electrodes to define an inner-boiling chamber, an outer water-filled insulating chamber, and a small volume annular surge chamber which surrounds the lower end of the boiling chamber.