Abstract: A flooring composition for mixing with water to produce a self-leveling slurry that quickly hydrates to form a high strength floor underlayment comprising a dry mixture of (1) beta gypsum produced by a continuous method; (2) Class C fly ash; (3) a conventional water reducing aid such as sulfonated melamines, sulfonated naphthalenes and their related formaldehyde condensates, and (4) a conventional set retarder.

Abstract: A combination shipping container and dispenser is described herein. A regular slotted container (RSC) is modified to include at least a first and second dispensing feature such that the RSC can dispense product when it is configured in either a horizontal or in a vertical orientation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a packaging assembly for securing an item in a carton. A top cap, a bottom pad and if desired, one or more middle pads, each include a board and a plurality of clips secured to the board. The clips are arranged to engage the item at spaced apart locations around the top and bottom portion of the item, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, one of the legs of one or more of the clips has a ledge projecting outwardly to engage a surface of the item. In yet another embodiment, only one of the top cap and bottom pad includes clips to position and retain the item in the carton. In addition, the multiple clips may be formed as an integral unit.

Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of evaporated scented material emitted from an air freshener device include generating a first control signal to induce the motor to rotate fan blades at a first rotational speed during a first time interval which urges air flow toward the aperture of the container to induce evaporation of the scented material in the container. The method further includes generating additional control signals to induce the motor to increase a rotational speed of the fan blades during a second time interval to increase air flow toward the aperture of the container, the second time interval being after the first time interval, such that first and second mass rates of evaporated scented material from the container during the first and second time intervals, respectively, are maintained within a predetermined mass rate range.

Abstract: A low reserve indicator mechanism for a supply of paper towels is disclosed. The mechanism includes a base, a pushplate, and an indicator. The pushplate is connected to the base with a translational degree of freedom therebetween, is biased in a first direction relative to the base, and is responsive to a first attribute of the supply of paper towels to translate opposite the first direction. The indicator is pivotally connected to the pushplate, and is movable between a retracted position and an indicating position in response to a second attribute of the supply of paper towels.

Abstract: A gravity-feed dispenser for a stack of sheets such as inter-folded napkins includes a generally rectangular housing provided with a front wall, a back wall, two sidewalls and a lower portion as well as a funnel portion coupled to the lower portion of the housing provided with a generally convergent profile such that a front wall of the funnel portion extends downwardly and inwardly with respect to the front wall of the housing, a rear wall of the funnel portion extends downwardly and inwardly with respect to the rear wall of the housing and two sidewalls of the funnel portion extend downwardly substantially in alignment with the sidewalls of the housing. A dispensing aperture defined by the funnel portion of the dispenser has an elongate portion extending substantially from one sidewall of the funnel portion to the other sidewall of the funnel portion thus defining an elongate axis of the aperture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispenser of rolls placed side by side, each held in rotation about a horizontal spindle (1), comprising a casing (10) surrounding the rolls, a cover (14) that complements the casing, at least one opening (2) in the lower part of the dispenser, and a sliding access panel (3) intended to partially close off the said opening so as to allow access to one of the rolls known as the roll in use, and at the same time, prevent access to the other roll known as the spare roll contained in the dispenser. According to the invention, the dispenser further comprises a mechanism intended to immobilize the access panel (3) under the spare roll and release it automatically and only when the roll in use is empty.

Abstract: A sheet product dispenser includes a housing adapted to house sheet products therein, the housing having an arching wall, a first planar wall disposed in contact with the arching wall, and a second planar wall disposed in contact with the arching wall and the first planar wall; an opening disposed in the first planar wall or the second planar wall, the opening having a size sufficient to allow dispensing of the sheet products there-through; and an access panel forming a portion of the arching wall.

Abstract: A cleaning system having pulverulent foaming cleanser (e.g., acid, alkali metal carbonate and surfactant) is sealed within a water soluble (e.g., PVOH) deformable pouch frictionally retainable within the core of a roll of bath tissue. Upon placement of the pouch in the bowl, water in the bowl penetrates the water soluble wall of the pouch, generating foam which provides cleaning action by activating and carrying cleansing chemicals, not only below the water line of the bowl, but also considerably above it. When used routinely with each change of bath tissue roll, such a cleaning can extend the time between required manual cleanings considerably.

Abstract: A gypsum wallboard suitable for Level 4 finishing having a coated non-woven first glass fiber mat facing material on one major surface and an optionally coated second glass fiber mat where on the other major surface. The first glass fiber mat has a majority of fibers of a nominal fiber diameter between 8 and 11 microns and a fiber length between ¼ and ¾ inch and has a basis weight between about 1.7 lb./100 ft.2 and about 2.0 lb./100; the second glass fiber mat has a majority of fibers of a nominal fiber diameter of at least 13 microns but no greater than about 16 microns and a fiber length between ¾ and 1 inch and has a basis weight between about 1.8 lb./100 ft.2 and about 2.2 lb./100, and wherein the fibers in both of the non-woven glass fiber mats are bound together with an acrylic-type adhesive binder.

Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual sheet segments from a continuous roll of sheet material provided with spaced tear lines comprises a powered feed mechanism, a releasable, powered drive mechanism, a powered transfer mechanism, a pair of web sensing sensors, a capacitive sensing system providing automatic sensitivity adjustment, and control circuitry. A dual power supply system provides a mechanical lock-out functionality, and the control system is protected from electrostatic build-up on the surface of the feed roller. The web sensor, and an antenna plate of the capacitive sensing system, are provided on respective printed circuit boards mounted in overlying relation. Utilizing signals received from the pair of web sensors and the capacitive sensing system, the control circuitry senses the presence of a user to activate the powered drive mechanism, and prevents further dispensing of the sheet material until a previously dispensed segment is separated from the roll.

Abstract: A napkin dispenser includes a housing defining a vertically extending dispensing magazine for receiving a stack of horizontally disposed sheet products as well as a dispensing opening vertically extending along the dispensing magazine such that edges of napkins horizontally disposed in the magazine are exposed for dispensing through the dispensing opening. An internal guide channel extends upwardly from the dispensing magazine and receives a guide member of a sheet product retention member slidingly mounted in the housing.

Abstract: A reinforced fiberboard bulk materials container is provided that has low-fiber content and is humidity resistant. According to one embodiment, a fiberboard bulk materials container includes a plurality of fiberboard sidewalls forming a storage cavity and having a compression strength of 4 to 5 times the combined weight of cartons expected to be stacked above the bulk materials container, and a moisture-resistant polymer film wrapped around the outside of the sidewalls. The polymer film may substantially cover the sidewalls and extend from the top of the container to the bottom of the container along the sidewalls. A method for forming the bulk materials container includes stretch-wrapping the polymer film around the container sidewalls.

Abstract: A method for measuring the rigidity of paper or other products made from cellulose fibers wherein the paper is torn and a digitized sound recording is made during the tearing process which is then analyzed to determine the percentage of time during which characteristic frequencies are present during the tearing process. It has been found that this percentage correlates well with rigidity.

Abstract: A fibrous mat faced gypsum panel having on at least one of the facing sheets a moisture resistant, cured coating of a radiation curable, e.g., UV curable, polymer.

Abstract: The transfer tool of this invention includes a handle, a substantially rigid rod extending from the handle, and a peg attachment end. The rod should be long enough to hold a plurality of packages to facilitate the quick transfer of a large number of packages from the shipping container to the display peg. The peg attachment end is configured to temporarily abut and align with the end of the display peg extending from the display case. Specially designed shipping containers are used to orient the packages in alignment to facilitate transfer of the packages to the display peg with the transfer tool A system and method of using the transfer tool and shipping container of this invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gravity-feed dispenser includes an internal blocker assembly to prevent folded sheet from falling away from the dispensing aperture. A preferred embodiment includes a spring biased blocker arm which cooperates with a spring biased guide plate to maintain the napkins in position throughout dispensing of the stack, especially when the stack is depleted and of insufficient weight to urge the remaining sheets into position. In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser is provided with a convertible support, suitable for mounting the dispenser on either a wall or a countertop with a quick release mounting bracket.