Abstract: An improved insect and rodent repellent device is thermo-electrically powered and provides a means for ultrasonically repelling insects and rodents. The insect and rodent repellent device is environmentally sound and may use a multiplicity of low-grade heat sources for its operation. A heat source activates a thermoelectric device which generates electricity for operating an ultrasonic generator to produce sound frequencies which repel insects and rodents.

Abstract: A slide way lubricant composition includes at least (a) a hydrotreated petroleum having a viscosity of from about 10 cSt to about 250 cSt as measured at 40° C. and consisting predominately of hydrocarbons having from about 15 to about 50 carbon atoms per molecule and (b) a polymeric synthetic ester having an average molecular weight of at least about 200,000. The hydrotreated petroleum may be employed in an amount of from about 97.8 to about 99.4 weight percent and the ester may be employed in the composition in an amount of from about 0.6 to about 2.2 weight percent. The ester may be derived from the reaction between a dicarboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. The composition may further include an adhesion additive having an average molecular weight of at least about 1,000,000 and a high pressure agent, such as a trisulfide. A demulsibility agent may also be employed.

Abstract: An electrical and/or an electrical and pneumatic lock-out device is disclosed for maintenance work crews to render their maintenance worksites more tamperproof and electrical “jumper”-proof, which provides more safety for their operations. The present lock-out device works with a safety interlock switch which either shuts off the electricity, or, if necessary, simultaneously shuts off the electricity and the pneumatic power system to work cell safety gate electrical systems, as well as electrical and pneumatic machinery and assembly line equipment. The present lock-out device acts to more reliably render work cells and manufacturing equipment inoperable for maintenance operations by maintenance crews as the key to the safety interlock switch is permanently attached to a safety pin to be used for closing a gate or to be inserted into a pneumatic or hydraulic device to prevent the pneumatics or the hydraulics from slipping once the power has been shut off.

Abstract: A light duty electric reciprocating handsaw includes a body assembly having a throat therein, a removably and reciprocally attached saw blade within the body assembly spanning the opening of the throat so that any workpiece that fits inside the throat can be cut across its width. The handsaw is either electrically or battery operated and includes an electric motor mounted within the body assembly, the weight of the motor being generally distributed over the saw blade. Preferably, the throat of the body assembly is generally defined by an upside down U-shaped configuration for receiving the workpiece therein after cutting with the saw blade. A balance of the weight is located generally over the saw blade, with the remainder of the weight of the unit being distributed generally evenly throughout the rest of the handsaw such that the operator will experience an aid in cutting the workpiece through the force of gravity.

Abstract: A cradle for holding a flashlight in a glovebox of an automobile and for facilitating the use of the flashlight as a light for the glovebox. The cradle has an opening to allow the flashlight to slide in and out of the cradle and a light opening to allow light from the flashlight to shine through the cradle. The cradle includes a reflector to cause light from the flashlight to be reflected in a different direction. The cradle can have a tapered inner surface on a side adjacent the insertion opening. The tapered inner surface is to increase the snugness of the fit of the flashlight and, when the flashlight has a push button switch, the tapered inner surface can serve to deactivate the flashlight when the flashlight is inserted into the cradle. A light assembly includes a flashlight and a cradle for holding the flashlight and for mounting the light assembly in a glovebox of an automobile.

Abstract: A finish-protective tool piece and a finish-protective tool piece collar are made from non-marring materials that circumferentially surround and secure a tool piece for rotating fasteners having driving heads. This collared tool piece or collar substantially protects against the marring and damaging of consumer item finishes during final stages of assembly by tool pieces skipping off the fastener heads during operation onto painted or otherwise finished surfaces. The collared tool piece or collar is being adapted for individual tool piece diameters or styles and rotates with the secured tool piece, said tool piece extending therethrough so as to be able to rotate the fastener. This invention has obvious cost advantages as it can prove useful in practically all aspects of consumer item manufacturing including automobiles, appliances, barbecues, furniture, bicycles, etc.

Abstract: A coating composition which forms a peelable coating for protecting surfaces of an object from the outside elements. The coating composition includes a latex of rubber particles and a UV absorber, wherein the rubber particles are present from about 35 to about 50 weight percent in the coating composition. The coating composition may also include from about 0.5 to about 4 weight percent of an antioxidant; from about 0.003 to about 0.03 weight percent of a biocide; from about 0.03 to about 0.08 weight percent of a defoamer; from about 0.07 to about 0.40 weight percent of a thixotropic agent; and a rust inhibitor, wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the coating composition. The method of using the composition includes coating the surface with a layer of the above-described coating composition and allowing the layer of coating composition to dry and form a coating which is capable of being peeled from the object.

Abstract: A process for nitriding materials containing silicon to form a silicon nitride material predominantly in the alpha phase is disclosed which includes nitriding the silicon-containing material by (a) heating the silicon-containing material in an atmosphere containing at least hydrogen in the temperature range of about 0.degree. C. to about 800.degree. C. and (b) thereafter, nitriding the silicon-containing material by subjecting the silicon-containing material to a nitriding atmosphere containing at least nitrogen gas in the temperature range of from about 1000.degree. C. to about 1450.degree. C. to effect nitriding.

Abstract: A new covered landfill or remediated waste containment cell having an excavated bottom surface, lined with a watertight liner and a leak detection system for determining whether or not leakage has occurred, either from the top, or from the bottom. The cover over the landfill containment cell substantially prevents rainwater from coming in the top, and the liner stops water from erupting up from the bottom. This containment cell allows a method of storing waste in an essentially non-contaminating manner, thereby providing an environmentally sound procedure and apparatus for storing toxic wastes. This containment cell is particularly suitable for remediating old leaking landfill sites within a short distance of the old site.

Abstract: A container includes two container members which, when together, form an interior which includes a cup sized and shaped to hold a cupcake. The cup has a bottom, sides, and at least one protrusion extending inwardly from at least one of the sides. The protrusion is positioned and protrudes inwardly enough such that, when a cupcake in a cupcake baking liner is placed in the cup, the protrusion is below the top of the cupcake baking liner and the protrusion holds the cupcake in a substantially stationary position. One of the members may be a top member and the other, a bottom member. The bottom member (the member with the cup(s)) may have vertical pleats in opposite sides of the cup(s). The pleats are spreadable at the top of the cup(s) to allow easier removal of a cupcake. The pleats are also compressible to allow the member to better hold a cupcake.

Abstract: An improved fastening device is flush-mountable and provides a means for flush-mount fastening a sheeted material to a surface. The flush-mounted fastening device minimizes distraction from an attractive exterior surface. A flush-mounted receiving means embedded in the surface receives a plunger pin which is attached to and extends through the sheeted material so that the sheeted material may be fastened by a means which is flush with the surface.

Abstract: The method includes inserting a first stopper into the tie reinforcement hole, inserting a polymeric sealing material into the hole; inserting a second stopper into the hole, and pushing the second stopper into the hole until it compresses the polymeric sealing material between the first and second stoppers. A plunger-type device includes a container; a sealed compartment in the container containing a hardenable polymeric component; and a sealed compartment in the container containing a hardener. Another device includes an elongated body having an outside surface and two stopping elements protruding from the outside surface of the elongated body. Another device includes a tube formed of porous material enclosing a) two frangible cells, one containing a hardenable polymeric component and the other containing a hardener and b) a breaking element for breaking open the frangible cells.

Abstract: A two-sided pocketed hand shield (10, 12, or 16) for protecting a hand from germs includes a sheet (18) of flexible material and a piece (28 or 48) of flexible material. The piece (28 or 48) of flexible material is shorter than the sheet (18) and attached to the front surface of the sheet (18) in a manner to form a pocket adapted to fit a hand and in a manner that (a) leaves an opening (60, 64, or 72) for the insertion of a hand and (b) allows the sheet (18) to extend beyond the opening (60, 64, or 72). The opening (60, 64, or 72) has two ends and is preferably angled from one end to the other end. The sheet (18) may be rectangular and the piece (28 or 48) may be mitten-shaped or trapezoidal, and either may be formed of absorbent material or plastic. The piece (28 or 48) is preferably attached to the sheet in a way which renders the pocket in the shape of a mitten. Another embodiment is an array (80) of pocketed sanitary hand shields (81).

Abstract: A Zn--Cu based alloy is disclosed including from about 11 to about 50 wt. % of Cu, from about 0.1 to about 10 wt. % of Al, from about 0.01 to about 1.0 wt. % of Mg, and from about 0.001 to about 0.1 wt. % of at least one member of the group consisting of Ti, Pb, Sn, Cd, Ni, Mn, Cr, Fe and mixtures thereof; and the balance being Zn. The Ti component may be added via an Al--Ti alloy. This alloy yields high-part-number castings especially useful in the automotive parts field.

Abstract: A mobile beverage station includes a trailer booth and wheels. The front of the trailer booth is curved and formed at least in part by a plurality of flat windows. The station may have an escape hatch in the roof, and the wheels may be out from under the trailer booth. The wheels may be detachable and the trailer booth may be adapted so that, when the wheels are detached, the trailer booth can rest on a support structure and appear as a permanent building structure. Another mobile beverage station includes a trailer booth and a sink set inside the trailer booth. The sink set includes a mop sink, a grey-water storage tank, a vent pipe, a mop sink drainage pipe, a hand sink, a hand sink drainage pipe, and an open-cup drain connector. The vent pipe leads from a side of the grey-water storage tank near the top of the grey-water storage tank to outside the trailer booth.

Abstract: Grooved friction materials (12 or 14) each include a single-layer pyrolytic-carbon fabric material formed of woven or nonwoven yarn strands (20 and 22). The pyrolytic-carbon fabric material (12 or 14) has a top surface (16) and a bottom surface (18), the top surface (16) having molded grooves (28) therein. The yarn strands (20 and 22) at the grooves (28) exhibit superior integrity because they are generally whole, undamaged yarn strands. Wet friction members for friction engaging mechanisms include a support member (54, 56, or 58) and at least one piece (48, 50, or 52) of grooved friction material (14) adhered to a surface of the support member. The bulk grooved friction material (14), from which the individual pieces (48, 50, or 52) are cut, is a single-layer pyrolytic-carbon fabric material formed of yarn strands (20 and 22) and has a top surface (16) with grooves (28) therein. The yarn strands (20 and 22) at the grooves (28) are generally whole and undamaged.

Abstract: A method for making a carbon composite material includes coating a carbon-fiber meshed cloth substrate with a liquid form of a carbon source and carbonizing the coating on the coated substrate by heating the coated substrate to a carbonizing temperature. The thickness of the coating on the substrate is such that, upon carbonization of the coating, the carbonized coated substrate retains porosity and a discernible surface texture.

Abstract: One embodiment is a height-adjustable, angle-adjustable display rack which includes a base frame having a front end and a rear end; an angle-adjustable uniplanar tilt top having a top end, a bottom end, and two sides connecting the top end and the bottom end; and a tilt bar attachable to the tilt top and attachable to the base frame at various distances from the front end of the base frame.Another embodiment is a height-adjustable, angle-adjustable display rack which includes a base frame having a front end and a rear end; a tilt top having a top end, a bottom end, and two sides connecting the top end and the bottom end, the tilt top being attachable to the base frame at various distances from the front end of the base frame; and a tilt bar attachable to the tilt top and the base frame in such a way that the tilt top may be supported at various angles. The tilt top may be expandable to expand its height from the top end to the bottom end.

Abstract: A silicon-nitride beta-phase material including a non-densified structure of beta silicon nitride crystals having appreciable strength without any significant amount of liquid forming agents is made by comminuting a slurry including a mixture of silicon powder and water to form non-oxidized surfaces on the silicon powder and to allow chemical reaction between the silicon and the water, reducing the water content of the reacted slurry to a degree sufficient to form a resultant dry mass, nitriding the dry mass by exposure to a nitriding gas including at least nitrogen to form a mass of alpha-phase silicon nitride, and converting the resultant silicon nitride mass at a conversion temperature of from about 1450.degree. C. to about 2100.degree. C. to convert the silicon nitride from an alpha-phase material to a non-densified beta phase silicon nitride material.

Abstract: A method of converting non-densified alpha-phase silicon nitride to beta-phase silicon nitride which includes heating a walled container enclosing a non-densified alpha-phase silicon nitride mass to an elevated temperature for a sufficient length of time so that the non-densified alpha-phase silicon nitride mass converts to a beta-phase silicon nitride mass. The walled container is formed of a silicon nitride-containing material which is stable at temperatures of at least 1700.degree. C. and is compatible with silicon nitride. Additionally, the walled container has an opening therein to allow placement of the non-densified alpha-phase silicon nitride mass therein.