Abstract: A windshield wiper blade assembly having a plurality of wiper strips on a support, one of the wiper strips being normally positioned to engage a windshield while leaving non-engaged the remainder of the plurality of wiper strips, and rotation means for moving the engaged strip to a non-engaging position and for individually moving another of the plurality of the wiper strips to an engaged position.

Abstract: A method of making a ceramic composite wherein a polymeric ceramic precursor or fiber reinforcement infiltrated with a polymeric ceramic precursor is associated with at least one metallic element to form a preceramic composite and the said composite is pyrolyzed by high frequency microwave radiation, preferably in the form of a beam, until the polymeric ceramic precursor is converted into a ceramic having the at least one metallic element integrally formed as part of said ceramic. The products obtained by such method comprising ceramic metal composites formed by pyrolyzing a preceramic composite to high frequency microwave radiation until the polymeric ceramic precursor is converted into a ceramic having at least one metallic element integrally formed as a part of said component.

Abstract: There are disclosed hydrating beverages for animals comprising water, glycerol, sodium, and potassium, with the potassium being present in an amount sufficient to provide in the blood plasma, when said beverage is ingested at rest, during exercise, and after exercise/dehydration, a potassium level of between about 5 to 8 meq/l and excretion of potassium in the urine. Also disclosed is the method of rehydrating animals by administering said beverage after dehydration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for scheduling appointments at any time with a professional, such as a doctor, dentist, veterinarian, or the like, or a professional service, such as a medical testing facility and the like, even when the office of the professional or professional service is closed. The system and method relate to an asynchronous Internet, intranet, and extranet-compatible 24-hour appointment scheduling interface for making such appointments. As such, they support open-standards architecture, provide an interface for proprietary system architecture, permit off-line review and posting, permit access controls and virus protection, allow central scheduling without loss of distributed control, support encrypted messaging to ensure privacy, and include context-sensitive help.

Abstract: A device for styling hair in which a plurality of spacers are slidably mounted on parallel, longitudinally-disposed elastic strands which, when not in use, are normally not under tension. In the preferred embodiment, the spacers (e.g., beads) preferably are of at least two significantly different sizes and are disposed in a pattern according to which each bead (other than the two end beads) is adjacent to two beads of a different size or color thus facilitating identification when the device is being mounted on the hair at the back of a person's head. The number of spacers preferably is at least equal to one plus the number of locks of hair selected for inclusion and retention in a particular geometric styling configuration.

Abstract: A biocidal film-forming composition, preferably a paint, is disclosed, comprising hydrated lime and a non-ionic polyolefinic latex resistant to hydrated-lime induced coagulation and phase separation. Also disclosed is the method of making certain such composition wherein hydrated lime is admixed with a non-ionic polyolefinic ester latex with agitation and continuing such agitation until hydrolysis of the ester is substantially completed and rheology of the composition is stabilized.

Abstract: Porous particles of MgCl2 having the form of essentially regular polyhedrons with six or eight faces in which the paired symmetrically opposite faces are essentially parallel, two of which faces are large and elongated and form the too face and the bottom face of a polyhedron such that on each of them the longest diagonal (D) is larger than the shortest distance (d) separating two opposite sides, which large elongated faces are surrounded essentially perpendicularly by the other essentially rectangular faces that form the sides of the said polyhedron, the length of the smaller side (e) of each of the said essentially rectangular faces being less than the shortest distance (d) separating the two opposite sides of the large elongated faces, catalytic components supported on the particles, catalyst systems utilizing the catalytic products, process for making the particles, and polyolefins obtained utilizing the catalytic systems.

Abstract: The present invention prolongs the biocidal activity of hydrated lime in a paint or coating by using a sufficient amount of a binder in the paint or coating to block carbon dioxide from reacting with the hydrated lime while still producing a coating that is durable and adhesive upon drying and not unduly friable due to the amount of hydrated lime in said coating.

Abstract: The present invention prolongs the biocidal activity of hydrated lime in a paint or coating by using a sufficient amount of a binder in the paint or coating to block carbon dioxide from reacting with the hydrated lime while still producing a coating that is durable and adhesive upon drying and not unduly friable due to the amount of hydrated lime in said coating

Abstract: Alkoxides with polymerizable groups are single source precursors for organic-inorganic hybrid composites possessing good mechanical properties. Additional function groups of the alkoxides provide enhanced adhesion to other surfaces, such as dentin. The selection of specific organic monomers having functional groups that are responsible for enhanced properties of the organic-inorganic hybrid composites is important. Single source precursors containing the desired functional groups are condensed and polymerized into the organic-inorganic hybrid composites with enhanced properties which are particularly useful as dental composites.

Abstract: Hair styling accessories including a puffing member specially adapted for shaping hair into a puffed condition. Also included is a specially shaped barrette which is adapted for cooperative combination with the puffing member to position and retain the puffing member in a desired location as well as to provide for separating and manipulating hair in strands as may be desired for a variety of coiffures. The puffing member includes a main section having generally symmetrically convex front and back surfaces to present a puffed appearance. Essentially centrally positioned within the main section there is disposed a thin sheet of malleable or deformable material (e.g., 0.006 inch thick tin foil such as is used for fins in air conditioners) it adapted for manipulation so that the shape of the main section can be altered within a range suitable for a variety of hair styling applications.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of filtering semen comprising admixing Sephadex beads of about 40 to 120 microns in diameter in the column of a semen filtering device having openings at both ends with a media, permitting the beads to hydrate, expand, and settle in the column to form a multi-layer filter having passages of predetermined sizes therebetween permitting passage therethrough of motile spermatozoa, adding to the multi-layer filter a washed semen specimen suspended in a liquid media suitable for use with semen, and recovering the semen that pass through the filter.

Abstract: A method of forming polymer beads comprising forming an aqueous solution comprising a cross-linkable water soluble polymer and a water-soluble crosslinking agent, adding said solution with mixing to a thixotropic oil gel comprising an oil in which said polymer is insoluble and a silica or silicate, continuing said mixing for a time sufficient and under conditions sufficient to form a water-in-oil dispersion having individual water/polymer droplets dispersed in said thixotropic oil gel, stopping mixing, and when the droplets are in the form of solid beads recovering the beads from the thixotropic oil gel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making dibasic amino acid monoesters useful in repair of teeth in which a dibasic amino acid is partially esterified with an allylic acrylic compound in the presence of an acidic ion-exchange resin at ambient temperature. The invention also comprises cyclicizing the amino groups of the monoesters.

Abstract: Controlled release coated agricultural products comprising agricultural chemicals, seed, or mixtures thereof coated with an environmentally degradable amorphous alkene-sulfur copolymer are disclosed. Also disclosed is the process of making such products, preferably by coating with a molten copolymer and then cooling to harden the coating of copolymer about the agricultural products.

Abstract: There are disclosed novel roofing composites comprising a glass-filter fiber roofing mat and a coating containing elastomeric polysulfide and crumb rubber particles distributed substantially uniformly therethrough. The invention also comprises the methods of forming such roofing composites.

Abstract: An improved ear muff that is snappably engageable with the ear of the wearer. It includes an outer cover and an inner snappable annular actuating element form-fitted within said outer cover, the inner annular actuating element comprising a semi oval generally c-shaped closable ribbon-like member having closing projections and mating apertures to change the shape from that of a "c" to essentially that of an "o". When in the open, or "c" shape, the two ends of the ribbon which are opposed are non- parallel thus forming a truncated V-shaped space leading into the interior of the c, and the ribbon is essentially planar or partially curved. When in the closed, or "o" shape, the closing projections mate within the mating apertures thereby eliminating the truncated V-shaped space and causing the ribbon to assume or increase an arcuate shape. Provision is additionally made for optional inclusion of one or more electrical-to-audio transducers mounted within the muffs.

Abstract: Hair styling accessories including a puffing member specially adapted for shaping hair into a puffed condition. Also included is a specially shaped barrette which is adapted for cooperative combination with the puffing member to position and retain the puffing member in a desired location as well as to provide for separating and manipulating hair in strands as may be desired for a variety of coiffures. The puffing member includes a main section having generally symmetrically convex front and back surfaces to present a puffed appearance. Essentially centrally positioned within the main section there is disposed a thin sheet of malleable or deformable material (e.g., 0.006 inch thick tin foil such as is used for fins in air conditioners) adapted for manipulation so that the shape of the main section can be altered within a range suitable for a variety of hair styling applications.

Abstract: A cautery instrument having a first predetermined region for contact with flesh or tissue, the instrument being coated with flesh or tissue, the instrument being coated over at least a portion of the predetermined region by a coating consisting essentially of diamond of a thickness permitting transmission of radio-frequency electrical energy from the first predetermined region through the diamond coating to flesh or tissue by capactive coupling.

Abstract: An electrosurgical electrode connector instrument for use in rapidly and easily connecting/disconnecting a disposable electrosurgical tip to and from a non-disposable mounting body. The non-disposable body includes a rod-like extension equipped with a pair of specially shaped projecting pins each having ramps and a curved surface. These pins are positioned on opposite sides of the rod-shaped extension. The disposable electrosurgical tip is provided at its proximal end with a tunnel-like recess having a pair of longitudinally disposed slots to define a pair of bifurcated cantilevered springy wall members each fitted with a small pin-locking aperture, thus adapting the disposable tip for telescopic engagement with the rod-like extension so that the recess of the disposable tip can be slid onto the rod-like extension with the specially shaped pins spreading the springy wall members slightly.