Systems for dispensing chocolate, in one aspect including a generally fluid-tight exterior housing with first volume; a vertical support member; a base support member; a dispenser guiding member within the first volume; an extruder connection member extending through the housing and having a first end within the housing and a second end outside of the housing, defining a pivot axis; an extruder member connected to the first end; a lever connected to the second end; at least one extruder guide member within the first volume and connected to the extruder member; and at least one extruder guide rail connected to the housing within the first volume and capable of receiving the at least one extruder guide member; and where manual actuation of the lever pivots the extruder member in cooperation with the at least one extruder guide member.

Methods for treating and preparing chocolate. In one aspect, a method includes heating a quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 46 degrees Celsius; decreasing the pressure of in a pressure-controllable environment to about 25 Torr; holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 25 Torr for a first predetermined period of time; decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr; and holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 5 Torr for a second predetermined period of time. Other aspects include ceasing heating the quantity of chocolate; decreasing pressure occurs at an average rate of about 150 Torr per minute; decreasing pressure occurs at an average rate of about 4 Torr per minute; and others.

Apparatus and systems for melting and liquefying chocolate. In one aspect, a system includes a generally fluid-tight exterior housing defining a first volume; a bulkhead positioned within the housing and dividing the first volume into separate second and third volumes; at least one vertical support member operationally connected to the exterior housing; a base support member operationally connected to the vertical support member; a dispenser guiding member disposed within the first volume and operationally connected to the exterior housing; and a heating element in thermal communication with the first volume, wherein energization heats the first volume to 37 to 46 degrees Celsius. Other aspects include where the liquid chocolate contains less than 3% water; where the liquid chocolate is solid at room temperature; a multiple pivot hinge; and a noninterfering interdigitating hinge.

A toothpaste transfer device for transferring toothpaste from a larger home-size toothpaste tube to a smaller travel-size toothpaste tube, enabling one to fill and refill travel-size toothpaste tubes.

A dispenser machine for storing and dispensing viscous foods and beverages and provides for the efficient and safe dispensation of a viscous food or beverage product that is contained in a flexible product container and which does not come into direct contact with the dispenser equipment. The dispenser includes an evacuation system which includes a weighted roller or slidable weight in contact with one or more sides of the product container and which operates by force of gravity to pressure and direct the food or beverage product contained in the container toward and out of the bag or container tube spout. A pump unit, which is configurable to provide for the dispensation of both food and beverage products with different viscosities by the addition or removal of one or pump pins, draws product from the container as desired and the pump unit pins operate to pinch and prevent the flow of product from the container tube spout after the pump is shut off.

Provided is a connector including a plug to be fixed to an inner peripheral surface of an opening of a liquid storing container, and a socket to be detachably attached to the plug. The plug includes a plug body in which a first liquid outflow passage, a first liquid inflow passage, and a first gas passage are formed. The socket includes a socket body including, formed therein, a second liquid outflow passage, a second liquid inflow passage), and a second gas passage; a rotary valve having an outflow through-hole and an inflow through-hole; and a switching mechanism for switching between an open state and a closed state when the rotary valve is rotated.

A refill dispensing container is disclosed that includes a body portion for containing a flowable substance, a neck portion that is connected to the body portion, a lid that is connected to the neck portion and that defines a hole, a dip tube that is connected to the lid and the hole and that is positioned within the body portion. The container can also include a transfer tube and a transfer nozzle connected to the transfer tube. The transfer tube can be deployed by sliding the transfer tube out of the dip tube, extending the transfer tube, or removing the transfer nozzle from a holder connected to the body portion. When the transfer tube is deployed and pressure is applied to the body portion, the flowable substance can flow from the container into an interior of the transfer tube and can be discharged via the transfer nozzle.

A flexible tank is used to transport bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials inside of a multi-modal shipping container. It has water proof inner layers and an outer layer, which are formed and welded together to have seams at both ends of the flexible tank. A discharge valve is provided at one end of the flexible tank and an additional piece of material, referred to as a cape, is attached at the other end of the flexible tank. The flexitable tank is situated in the container so that the end with the discharge valve is at the container opening and the end with the attached cape is at the rear of the container. The cape can be used by equipment positionable at the opening of the container to completely discharge the bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials from the flexible tank by pulling and winding up the cape and the layers of the flexible tank from the rear of the container.

An apparatus for a universal child car seat cover is provided for use with a child car seat. The child car seat cover comprises an absorbent material joined with a waterproof lining that covers the child car seat and receives a seated child. The absorbent material protects the child car seat from spills and contaminants, and covers any potentially dangerous or uncomfortable surfaces on the underlying child car seat. Seat belt openings may be closed around seat belts of the child car seat to prevent passage of spills onto the child car seat. A pocket permits an entirety of the child car seat cover to be rolled and tucked into the pocket. Cup holder openings provide access to cup holders of the child car seat. A drawstring within a peripheral channel may be cinched to fixate the child car seat cover on the child car seat.

A dispenser for dispensing a viscous liquid in a pliable container includes a housing having at least one sidewall and a bottom portion to define an interior enclosure for receiving the pliable container. The bottom portion has an opening configured to align with at least a portion of an opening of the pliable container. A compression assembly includes a compression member moveably positioned within the enclosure and a handle extending externally from the housing and coupled to the compression member to cause movement of the compression member about an axis, wherein manual movement of the handle moves the compression member about the axis and provides a lateral force on the pliable container such that the pliable container is compressed by the compression member and forces the viscous liquid to flow from the opening of the pliable container.