Abstract: A subsurface irrigation apparatus and method, the apparatus including an underlayment of water resistant material which also serves as a mounting surface for the remaining elements of the subsurface irrigation apparatus. Water is supplied to the subsurface irrigation apparatus through a water supply conduit and distributed through a plurality of water distribution conduits. Each water distribution conduit includes a plurality of spaced holes through which the irrigation water distributed by the water distribution conduits. A diffuser is mounted across each hole to diffuse the water into the surrounding soil. Each diffuser includes a layer of fibrous material partially covered by a water resistant overlayment. The fibrous layer diffuses the water outwardly from the hole while simultaneously inhibiting root encroachment into the hole.

Abstract: A novel craft art form product, system and method including patterns, paint, and applicators enables craft paint to form three-dimensional color bead matrix patterns having high degree of visual resolution and color saturation. Precisely located and closely spaced geometric shapes associated with a set of color symbols are used to form matrix designs in patterns. Each symbol represents an artistic expression which is assigned to a particular color. Each color symbol has a color darkness value which may also correspond to the darkness value of the assigned color. The craft paint material has the characteristics of forming a discrete substantially uniform and homogeneous, three-dimensional bead to overlay the color symbol associated with each geometric shape. The craft paint material can form discrete beads placed closely together without running together, yet retain sufficient fluidity to settle into smooth, substantially uniform beads.

Abstract: An auxiliary handle for use on a hand held implement such as a shovel advantageously provides a molded, unitary frame having hinges molded therein. The auxiliary handle can be precisely positioned for a particular user/implement combination. The frame provides a location where the user grasps the apparatus. The frame is a unitary piece of material which is free from any fasteners, such as nuts and bolts, and which is preferably injection molded from a polypropylene material. The frame includes a middle hinge at substantially at its midpoint so that the frame can assume a any angular orientation between a fully extended linear orientation or can be folded upon itself for shipping and storage. Also provided are end hinges at each end of the frame. Attached to the end hinges, and preferably partially molded therein, are metallic circular clamps which grip the original handle of the implement. The hinges used in the apparatus are molded from a polypropylene material and are of the type known as "living hinges.

Abstract: A fluid-driven proportioning pump for dispensing precise volumes of at least three different fluids includes a drive cylinder housing a correspondingly formed drive piston which divides the drive cylinder into first and second drive fluid chambers and is propelled in a reciprocating motion by a pressurized drive fluid. The housing for the drive cylinder is comprised of two identical hollow housings mutually matingly engaged at the open ends thereof. The face of the drive piston is provided with projecting proportioning pistons which extend into proportioning cylinders that open into each drive fluid chamber. An over-center mechanism triggered by movement of the drive piston at the extremes of the strokes of the reciprocating motion thereof operates valving that admits the pressurized drive fluid into turn it of the drive fluid chambers. The over-center mechanism is activated by hoop springs and is housed entirely within the drive cylinder.

Abstract: A fine applicator tip for a craft paint applicator for use in creating stylized textured designs. In a preferred embodiment, the applicator tip includes a parabolically-shaped inner passage to deliver the craft paint in a laminar flow with minimal flow resistance. This permits easy flow of the craft paint from the applicator with minimum hand fatigue. The size of the outside diameter of the surface of the dispensing end is critical for fine point application and for the craft paint flow to be uniform without adhering to the end surface of the dispensing end of the applicator tip. The thin sidewall thickness allows the dispensing end to be formed with a fine-tip and still have adequate rigidity. The applicator tip is formed with a reverse-threaded portion to affix the applicator tip onto an applictator. This allows the applicator to be easily removable for cleaning or replacement while prevents the applicator tip from being inadvertently removed.

Abstract: A craft art form product, system and method including patterns, paint, and applicators enables craft paint to form three-dimensional color bead matrix patterns having high degree of visual resolution and color saturation. Precisely located and closely spaced geometric shapes associated with a set of color symbols are used to form matrix designs in patterns. Each symbol represents an artistic expression which is assigned to a particular color. Each color symbol has a color darkness value which may also correspond to the darkness value of the assigned color. The craft paint material has the characteristics of forming a discrete substantially uniform and homogeneous, three-dimensional bead to overlay the color symbol associated with each geometric shape. The craft paint material can form discrete beads placed closely together without running together, yet retain sufficient fluidity to settle into smooth, substantially uniform beads. A fine tip applicator applies the craft paint material to each geometric shape.

Abstract: For sealing a fine point applicator tip of a craft paint applicator with a cap without damage to the dispensing end of the applicator tip. The cap includes an abutment shoulder for engaging a corresponding abutment shoulder on the applicator tip to form a first seal. A flexible shoulder is formed in the interior cavity of the cap spaced from the cap abutment shoulder. The interior cavity terminates in an end wall portion spaced from the flexible shoulder. The cap is threaded onto the applicator causing the dispensing end of the applicator tip to engage the cap end wall portion. The flexible shoulder of the interior cavity of the cap resiliently yields as the dispensing end is forced against the cap end wall portion during the continued rotation of the cap until the applicator abutment shoulder engages the abutment shoulder in the cap. The cap thus seals the applicator tip in at least two positions.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus which is compact and easy to use and maintain. The apparatus can dispense hot water, chilled water, carbonated water, a first mixed carbonated beverage, and a second mixed carbonated beverage at a single beverage dispensing station. The apparatus receives culinary water from an external source and includes structures for purifying the culinary water. All of the beverages dispensed from the apparatus utilize the purified water. The purified water is stored and chilled in a water holding tank. A carbon dioxide tank, a carbonation receptacle configured to carbonate water, and beverage concentrate receptacles holding soft drink syrups and the like, are all located in the chilled water so that the carbonated water and the beverage concentrates are chilled also.

Abstract: A fluid-driven proportioning pump for dispensing precise volumes of at least three different fluids includes a drive cylinder housing a correspondingly formed drive piston which divides the drive cylinder into first and second drive fluid chambers and is propelled in a reciprocating motion by a pressurized drive fluid. Each face of the drive piston is provided with projecting porportioning pistons which extend into proportioning cylinders that open into each drive fluid chamber and being directed toward the drive piston. An over-center mechanis triggered by movement of the drive piston at the extremes of the strokes for its reciprocating motion operates valving which admits the pressurized drive fluid into alternate of the drive fluid chambers. The over-center mechanism is activated by loop springs or preferably by pairs of C-shaped springs, and is housed entirely within the drive cylinder.

Abstract: A safety spray wand for use in car wash units, and the like, having selected valve units, each with a single moving valve part to provide controlled flow through a valve housing; a break-away, variable length barrel assembly connected to the valve housing and with the housing structure made to withstand even severe vandalism and to accommodate swivel coupling of a supply line to the wand.

Abstract: A self-service system for refilling customer furnished bottles from bulk storage. The system is designed for small neck bottles and includes a nozzle or an attachment that is too large to be received in a bottle neck and a detachable funnel that is loosely suspended below the nozzle. The apex discharge of the funnel is sized to be received in the bottle neck.

Abstract: A safety spray wand with a selectively adjustable or interchangeable tip. The wand will selectively provide a high pressure or a low pressure discharge from a discharge tube. The wand has a handle with a pistol grip in combination with a large squeeze trigger. The pistol grip is extended and is molded around a receiving tube that projects downwardly from a discharge tube to thereby form a safety protection guard for an operator's hand while protecting the trigger from accidently being actuated. The receiving tube not only serves as a guard but also as a conduit to which a pressure source is attached and through which the fluid is directed to the discharge tube.

Abstract: A toothpick for cleaning teeth and for gingival stimulation consists of a four-sided sheet of thin polymeric material curled back upon itself to form a hollow body having a forwardly tapering layered front end with spiraling ridges and either an enlarged central and rear portion or an enlarged central portion and a backwardly tapered layered rear end portion.

Abstract: A method and tool for making tapered, layered plastic toothpicks from a solid plastic slab wherein a rapidly rotating tool having a single cutting edge configured to simultaneously cut and roll a thin film of plastic into a toothpick of the desired shape with each complete revolution is brought into contact with the plastic slab at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A grinding mill having a feeding chamber for directing grain between grinding stones where it is ground into flour and from where it is discharged into a turbine chamber. Means are provided for directing cooling air into the turbine chamber, across the rotating grinding stone, and centrifugally out of the housing through a tangential discharge nozzle. The relative position of the grinding stones is easily varied by using a control handle to move the drive shaft of the motor, on which the rotating grinding stone is mounted. The position of the control handle is fixed by wedging it to a portion of the mill housing.