Abstract: A dual compartment magnetic switch interposed between a hand held electrical appliance and its electrical power input. The magnetic switch enables electrical power to be totally insulated from the electrical components within the appliance so that when the appliance is in the off position, user safety is enhanced.

Abstract: A butterfly-type sponge mop with presser plates and an actuating member pivotal relative to a center block. The mop includes a top center block which when interlocked with a bottom center block forms a plurality of bearing surfaces to enable motion of the presser plates about a transverse axis and motion of the actuating member about a longitudinal axis. The mop utilizes a generally loop-shaped actuating member to facilitate assembly without compression of the actuating member. The actuating member is connected to a connecting link which is actuated by a slide handle. A novel connecting means is utilized to enable a predetermined amount of rotation between the actuating member and the connecting link without the need for additional parts to retain same together.

Abstract: A heatable hair brush capable of being utilized for either curling or straightening hair as desired. The hair brush is also capable of being molded with integral bristles in a relatively simple two-part mold. The hair brush has a hairwinding portion provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced bristles arranged in a pair of diametrically opposed sets of parallel bristle rows, the central row of each set being radially extended and the rows on either side of the central row being parallel thereto.

Abstract: An overflow or accumulator table for use with items to be processed to receive on its operating surface, and discharge therefrom, a plurality of containers or other items. The accumulator table is suitable for use with items being moved along a conveyor line. The accumulator table has a turntable surface and is capable of maximizing the number of containers or other items which may be supported on the turntable. A pair of spaced, spring-loaded, arcuate guiding members is supported above the turntable surface in a manner so as to occupy a negligible amount of space while providing a sufficiently strong, radially outwardly directed force to urge the containers or other items to the periphery of the turntable surface to assure that all items will be discharged therefrom.

Abstract: A capsule shaped tablet containing a pharmaceutically active ingredient in which the tablet has a cap portion and a body portion physically bound to each other; the cap portion having a larger outside diameter than the body; the tablet may be provided with a coating of a film forming polymer to simulate a hard gelatin capsule dosage form.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting various experiments on skin samples under simulated in vivo conditions. The apparatus includes, in one embodiment, a platform for supporting the skin sample over a chamber containing liquid at a controlled temperature. An activating probe is attached to the surface of the skin sample and is activated in a predetermined manner. The probe is also used to measure the resulting deformations of the skin sample to determine the visco-elastic properties of the skin under various temperature and humidity conditions. The apparatus also includes an access part for applying selected topical solutions to the skin sample. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes additional elements for enclosing the air space above a skin sample and for measuring the transepidermal water loss through the sample.

Abstract: An elongated flexible hair curler having a central core molded within a pliable viscoelastic polymer heat-retaining body. The hair curler comprises a generally elongated structure having rounded ends and is capable of being bent into a plurality of positions including being bent through an angle of substantially 180.degree. back upon itself in order to retain a hair tress wound thereon curler without the aid of hair clips. The heat retaining body is capable of being heated by an external means to a predetermined temperature and able to retain the heat for a predetermined time in order to facilitate the setting of curls in hair.

Abstract: A shock hazard protector for protecting small appliances from the presence of water. The shock hazard protector utilizes a fusible wire link mechanically connecting two opposing resilient electrical contacts. A triac is connected to a sensor circuit and, upon the occurrence of water in predetermined parts of the appliance, the triac fires and causes a current to be passed through the fusible link to melt the link, release the resilient electrical contacts and open both power line simultaneously.

Abstract: A hair appliance has a hair winding portion extending axially from the end of a handle covered by a flexible sleeve member adapted to be depressed in order to activate a movable part of the hair appliance. The hair appliance is of relatively uniform cross-section along its length and in the case of a curling iron provided with a hair retaining clip biased adjacent the barrel of the curling iron, the clip is provided with a longitudinal extension aligned with the body of the clip, with the extension overlying a recess in the handle and under the flexible sleeve member. The clip is opened by squeezing or depressing the flexible sleeve member to move the extension into the recess. In the case of a curling brush having a rotatable barrel, a similar construction results in the barrel locking mechanism being situated under the flexible sleeve member so that depression of the latter operates the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A vertically standing display package having a single vertical display panel for receiving, on one side thereof, a preformed blister pack structure having integrally formed therein a cup-shaped product enclosure and a support. The blister pack structure is in the form of a U-shaped planar base having two parallel, equal length legs extending downwardly on each side of the product enclosure. The support portion of the blister pack structure bridges the two legs and has a three-sided bottom edge coplanar with the ends of the legs. All surfaces of the display package are either parallel to its base plane or at a positive draft angle relative thereto in order to enable intimate stacking of a plurality of display packages and automatic feeding during manufacture.

Abstract: A spray head containing a gear pump for drawing liquid from a container and forcing same out of a nozzle. The gear pump comprises a pair of operatively engaged gears each rotatable about horizontal axes transverse to the axis of the nozzle. A ratchet wheel is axially secured to one of the gears and the ratchet and its gear are intermittently rotated about their common axis by a pawl member which is attached to a manually operable trigger which moves in a plane within the plane of the gears.

Abstract: A toilet tank dispenser for passively isolating the chemical solution in the dispenser from the tank during quiescent periods. The dispenser also provides means for releasing a chemical solution into the water in the tank at a release rate which may be easily varied. The isolation and release rate are achieved and controlled by a porous member inserted in the water flow path of the dispenser.

Abstract: A bristle broom is provided with a plurality of relatively flexible, soft bristles the ends of which form the majority of the broom's sweeping surface, and a smaller number of relatively inflexible, stiff bristles the ends of which form a small portion of the sweeping surface adjacent one end thereof. The stiff bristles improve the broom's sweeping efficiency in corners and edges or in removing stubborn dirt while the remainder of the bristles retain the conventional sweeping efficiency of flat bristle brooms.