Abstract: An improved apparatus for producing snow is disclosed which includes a hollow water supply body having an integral water discharge throat formed therein at its front end and containing a needle valve assembly mounted at its rear end with an adjustable needle concentrically aligned with the orifice to control water flow through the orifice. A hollow air supply body is mounted on and receives the front end of the water supply body to receive water from the water supply body. The air supply body has an outlet orifice mounted thereon for discharging a mixture of air and water to a mixing tube for discharge to the atmosphere. Each of these components is clamped together in a single composite unitary construction with the bores and passage ways therein held in axially alignment by a plurality of clamping bolts.

Abstract: A regenerative room air exchanger for use in a house has a first vertically disposed conduit through which room air flows to be exhausted, the first conduit including a first set of vertically disposed channels, a second vertically disposed conduit through which fresh air flows to the room, the second conduit including a second set of vertically disposed channels with the first and second sets of channels being interdigitated and in counterflow heat exchange relationship with each other, and a jacket surrounding and spaced from the interdigitated channels to form a third vertically disposed conduit between the jacket and the channels, the third conduit being in fluid communication with the first conduit. An exhaust blower is in fluid communication with the first conduit and an inlet blower is in fluid communication with the second conduit.

Abstract: A fire escape device includes a housing with a reel journalled for rotational movement within the housing. A cable is fixed at one end thereof to the reel and is wound upon the reel with the other end thereof extending through an opening in the housing. The housing can be connected to a fixed position on an elevated structure and a harness which is carried at the free end of the cable is used for supporting a human body. A fluid pump is carried by the housing for pumping fluid from a sump reservoir through an orifice. The rotor of the pump is coupled with the reel for retarding and impeding free rotational movement of the reel so that the cable unwinds at a controlled rate of speed which is in direct proportion to the amount of fluid being pumped through the orifice.

Abstract: A bed which is movable between a horizontal open position and a vertical closed position wherein a counterbalancing mechanism comprising two levers and gas springs are placed at the foot of the bed in order to provide a lifting moment for help in closing the bed and a gravitational restraint when opening the bed.

Abstract: A folding bed mechanism, such as, for example, a convertible ottoman, has a plurality of pivotally connected bed sections, including a base section supported on rollers or the like. The bed sections are adapted to unfold into a straight line and to fold into a compact configuration. The improvement of the present invention comprises at least one anti-roll foot mounted in the base section for movement toward and away from the surface on which the base section is supported and a control mechanism responsive to the initiation of unfolding pivotal movement of one of the bed sections relative to the base section for urging the foot into contact with the support surface to resist rolling of the base frame during unfolding of the bed sections.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a water-powered toothbrush appliance or the like wherein the water-powered motor for driving the toothbrush is mounted in a hand held housing. A valve for controlling fluid flow to the water-powered motor is mounted in the housing and a valve control portion is rotatably mounted by the housing at an area thereof which generally underlies the thumb of a hand holding the appliance. The valve control portion is rotatable by the user's thumb to actuate the valve. In order to efficiently utilize the space within the housing, while maintaining optimum proportions thereof for convenient handling by the human hand, the valve is mounted within the housing on the side of the motor more distant from the valve control portion and the valve control portion is mechanically connected to the valve by an actuator which is arranged to pass directly through the nutating action motor.