Abstract: A sandshell umbrella is selectively collapsible and foldable so as to form in an erect position a generally sandshell-shaped shelter which is supported by struts at any desired height. The sandshell side walls are formed by a sheet of material which is relatively flexible and is supported by S-shaped struts formed generally of two similarly shaped and sized curved members, which are attached by a foldable joint so that the overall structure can be folded. An upper cross bar separates the two pairs of S-shaped struts at a top portion at an end of each of the S-shaped struts, and a lower cross bar separates the bottom ends of the S-shaped struts; the upper bar being generally shorter than the lower cross bar. Also, a cross support is disposed intermediate the upper and lower cross bars, so as to support the S-shaped strut members at their mid-sections. Each of the cross bars and the cross support member are foldable about a middle portion thereof.

Abstract: A process for preparing reticular crosslinked copolymer beads by suspension copolymerization in an aqueous medium a polyvinylidene monomer and a monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer in a liquid precipitant which has a low solubility in the aqueous medium, is a solvent for the monomer mixture and does not appreciably swell the copolymer, the liquid precipitant and said polyvinylidene monomer each being present in an amount exceeding the critical concentration of each needed for phase separation of the copolymer from the monomer phase, and the products produced by said process.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping articles in heat sealed thermoplastic stretchable film consists of a first conveyor for carrying an article forward while progressively enclosing it with film drawn from a film supply, joining the margins of the film together to enclose the article in an elongated tube of film, cutting the film so as to provide equal amounts of excess film at each end of the article, using a vacuum inlet to pull the trailing portion of film to one side of the article so that a transverse rod, moving faster than the article, can fold the trailing portion against one side of the article, folding the leading portion of film against the same side by means of a roller, and finally moving the article into contact with a heated belt to seal the film.

Abstract: A pipette having an axially displaceable piston is provided with a transversely displaceable stopping device for limiting the displacement of the piston in accordance with a volumetric scale marked on the stopping device. Operation of the piston and stopping device can be done with one hand.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing quick-cooking food products which are palatable, bland, light colored, meat-like in texture, chewable chunks when hydrated. Plant protein material such as, solvent-extracted soybean meal or flakes, or peanuts, sesame seeds, cotton seeds, lentil beans, etc. containing 30 percent or higher protein, 5 to 10 percent moisture and and NSI of about 30 to 70 is fed into a press having means therein for adjusting the press and subjected to a pressure of at least 1,800 pounds per square inch for a time and at a temperature sufficient to convert the moisture into steam. As a result, the plant protein material is rendered partially or substantially bland, e.g., disembittered, toasted without scorching, and compacted into a hard and substantially fused mass which is textured or meat-like when hydrated. The mass is fragmented into chunks which are preferably graded.

Abstract: Process for the production of acrylamide or methacrylamide wherein acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile is reacted with water and/or water donor in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of Raney copper, Ullman copper, reduced copper catalyst, copper with a carrier, silver, gold, cobalt, palladium and/or platinum.

Abstract: Chemically stable p-isopropenyl phenol is produced in the form of a solution by contacting p-isopropenyl phenol, in the form of a gas or a liquid obtained immediately after condensation of said gas, with a polar solvent such as an alcohol, an ester, or an acid amide. The resultant solution of p-isopropenyl phenol can be used as the starting material for subsequent reaction to obtain useful compounds such as hydroquinone. Alternatively, p-isopropenyl phenol may be isolated in crystalline form by adding to the solution a poor solvent for the phenol such as water, or by cooling the solution.

Abstract: Urea synthesis effluent obtained by reacting carbon dioxide with ammonia is subjected to a plurality of decomposition stages, e.g., three stages, to decompose and recover the unreacted ammonium carbamate with stepwise reduction of pressure, and the off-gas is absorbed in an absorbent in each stage and is recovered. The aqueous urea solution from the final decomposition stage is concentrated, water vapor generated upon said concentration is condensed, and the condensate containing small amounts of ammonia and carbon dioxide is stripped with steam recovered from the high pressure absorption zone. The steam discharged from the stripping step is introduced into the final decomposition stage to directly heat the urea synthesis effluent.

Abstract: Articles such as containers made of a highly crystalline olefin polymer having improved transparency and impact strength are obtained by biaxially extending an extruded tubular body of said polymer at an orientation temperature below the melting point thereof to attain an extension magnification ratio of at least 1.5 for each of the longitudinal and lateral directions. The polymer is a statistical random copolymer of propylene and from 1.5% to 5.0%, and preferably from 3.0% to 5.0%, by weight ethylene having a melt index of 0.6 - 3.0 g/10 min. Optionally, from 0.03 to 0.20 part by weight of p-tert. butyl benzoic acid, benzoic acid or sodium benzoate are added to 100 parts by weight of said copolymer.

Abstract: Solid copolymers are produced by copolymerizing a mixture of: (A) at least 30% by weight of a monomer having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is H or CH.sub.3 and R.sub.2 is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms; (B) from 3 to 20% by weight of an ethylenic .alpha., .beta. unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof, or from 3 to 40% by weight of glycidyl acrylate or glycidyl methacrylate; and (C) from 0 to 67% by weight of a monomer copolymerizable with said monomers (A) and (B). Preferably, the mixture is first bulk-polymerized until conversion to the copolymer is from 10 to 80% by weight and the polymerization is completed by suspension-polymerization. Thermosetting solid coating compositions are produced by mixing a major proportion of a solid copolymer so produced with a minor proportion of a cross-linking compound or with an epoxy resin containing at least 2 epoxy radicals in the molecule in presence of a tertiary amine curing accelerator.

Abstract: The invention relates to sheet-like plastic packaging particles formed with a normally curved configuration having two spaced apart, curved coextensive surfaces, one of said surfaces being a substantially unfoamed skin and the remainder of said particle including the other surface being foamed, and to methods for producing packaging particles which comprise warped or distorted, foamed sheet particles suitable for use as packaging particles from an extrudable, expandable synthetic plastic material, such as, a polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer, e.g.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a package and dispensing device for a spool having material wound thereon to prevent inadvertent unwinding of the material yet permit easy access to the material for dispensing when desired. The device comprises first and second main panels connected to each other along the top and bottom thereof, a closing flap at each side of each main panel and connected thereto by arcuate fold lines, the outer edge of each flap being arcuate, one said flat at each side being folded inwardly on one said arcuate fold line and having its outer arcuate edge engaged against the inside surface of the opposite main panel, and the other flap at said side overlying the last mentioned flap whereby said flaps form concave side walls, one of said main panels having a window therein, and a spool having material wound thereon positioned between said main panels and between said concave side walls, adjacent said window which permits removal of said material from said spool.