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 1420.degree. C. and (b) thereafter, nitriding the silicon-containing material by heating the material in a nitriding atmosphere containing at least nitrogen gas in the temperature range of from about 1000.degree. C. to about 1450.degree. C.

Abstract: A multi-configurational display rack is disclosed which includes (a) a display rack body having two steps and (b) an angle rack attachable to the display rack body which transforms the display rack body from a two-step configuration to a sloped configuration. The angle rack may be horizontally hingeable into two portions so that, when hinged to an angle of less than 180.degree., the angle rack forms a step, thereby transforming the display rack body into a one-step configuration.Also disclosed is a display rack having two height-adjustable steps.

Abstract: A method for producing a selectively surface hardened cast iron part includes the steps of (a) heating the part to a desired austempering temperature of between about 450.degree. F. and about 800.degree. F. until the entire cast iron part possesses the desired austempering temperature substantially uniformly throughout it; (b) heating only the surface of the cast iron part to an austenitizing temperature of between about 1500.degree. F. and about 1800.degree. F. by immersing the cast iron part in a molten lead or tin bath until a desired thickness of an austenite layer is formed on the surface of the cast iron part, without substantial heating of the interior of the cast iron part; (c) quenching the surface-heated cast iron part in a non-liquid quenching bath atmosphere, i.e.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sulfonated compound with minimal or no waste products using a porous inorganic material absorber. The absorber is saturated with a compound to be sulfonated and then contacted with a sulfonating gas mixture to form a sulfonated product. After forming the sulfonated product, excess sulfonating gas is removed by contacting the sulfonated product with warm air. The sulfonated product is then neutralized and the product is removed with water from the inorganic material absorber. The absorber is then dried with hot air so that it may be reused for future sulfonation processes. The process results in preparation of a sulfonated compound having inorganic salts present in an amount less than about 1.0 percent by weight based on total sulfonated product weight. The process results in highly effective sulfonation of a compound with formation of little or no waste materials, particularly waste materials such as solvents and undesirable inorganic salts.

Abstract: An improved shopping cart brake for attachment to the rear leg of a shopping cart is disclosed, the brake for preventing the rotation of a non-inflatable tire on the rear leg of the shopping cart. The shopping cart brake includes a connecting arm, which is removably and adjustably attached to the rear leg of the shopping cart. The brake also includes a split yoke, which is pivotally connected to the connecting arm. The split yoke has two braking flanges which engage and apply frictional force to the sides of the non-inflatable tire to prevent the tire from rotating. An actuator is also included, the actuator being integral with the split yoke and for applying force to the split yoke to engage the braking flanges with the sides of the non-inflatable tire. The shopping cart brake also includes an adjustable tension bar between the braking flanges which may be used to increase or decrease the frictional force the braking flanges apply to the non-inflatable tire.

Abstract: An entertainment and feeding device for use by a child in the back seat of an automobile is provided. The device is preferably formed from a flexible sheet which can be readily cleaned and folded for convenience of storage, and is designed to be easily installed and removed from the back seat of an automobile. The device has a forward end and a rearward end with side portions intermediate the forward and rearward ends. The side portions extend upwardly to provide sidewalls. The forward and rearward ends are anchored within the car interior by fasteners, such as buttons, snaps or VELCRO. The rearward fastener is designed for fastening around a child's waist while the forward fastener is designed to be fastened to a front seat head rest. The device is provided on its upper surface with entertainment pieces, a food tray, and storage compartments of various sizes for the convenience of storing a child's toys and games.

Abstract: A hoisting cage for hoisting concrete forms and building materials in the general shape of a polygonal box with a top and a bottom, capable of holding concrete forms and building materials and having vertical bars at the edges of the cage and a plurality of horizontal bars attached to the vertical bars, at least two inverted V-shaped trusses positioned such that the apex of each truss is below the top of the cage, and a rotatable catch or hoisting bar for receiving the grasp of a lifting apparatus is disclosed. The hoisting cage is capable of being hoisted by the lifting apparatus because the mechanical stresses due to lifting the weight of the hoisting cage and its contents are transmitted through the trusses and distributed substantially to the vertical bars of the cage. The pivoting catch is capable of lying flat on top of the hoisting cage thereby reducing the overall height of the hositing cage in order to facilitate its transportation under low bridges.

Abstract: The invention is a multi-configurational display rack for displaying produce or other merchandise in a display counter having a front area and a back wall. The display rack includes a mounting support having an attachment means for mounting the support to the back wall of a display counter. The display rack also includes a base frame unit having first and second telescoping members for depth adjustment of the rack. The rack has a top step rack component which fits over the base frame unit in the location nearest the back wall. The middle step rack component fits in front of and below the top step rack component. A rectangular flat rack component fits in front of and below the middle step rack. The display rack also includes an adjustable angle rack component which may be used with or without the middle step rack component in place on the base frame. The adjustable angle rack has four interconnected rectangular shelves.

Abstract: An infrared heater for a fluid immersion apparatus such as a commercial deep fat fryer includes a burner whose burner element is made from woven ceramic fibers, preferably formed as a cloth. The burner can also include a wire mesh or screen for supporting the cloth; alternatively, the cloth can be made self-supporting through the wrapping or affixing of several cloth layers together. The burner element possesses a predetermined gas permeability adequate to avoid any significant backflash during the use of the burner. The gas permeability is selected to match the flow rate, composition and backpressure of the selected gas, and takes into account the insulative capacity of the fiber weave employed. The resulting burner construction is substantially more durable and resistant to damage during replacement or inspection than are burners having conventional ceramic elements, such as foams, felts, or the like.

Abstract: Hot-melt silicone pressure sensitive adhesive compositions, methods of using the compositions, articles made using the compositions, and methods of making articles using the compositions. The hot-melt silicone pressure sensitive adhesive compositions include a mixture of (i) a silicone resin, (ii) a polyolimethylsiloxane fluid, and (iii) from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of the silicone resin and the polydimethylsiloxane fluid, of a polyphenylmethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity at 25.degree. C. of from about 5 to about 60,000 centistokes so that the adhesive will be in a generally flowing state at temperatures above about 100.degree. C., as well as being capable of transdermal drug delivery.

Abstract: Hot-melt silicone pressure sensitive adhesive composition, methods of using the composition, article made using the composition, and methods of making articles using the composition. The hot-melt silicone pressure sensitive adhesive composition includes a mixture of (i) a silicone resin, (ii) a silicone fluid, and (iii) from about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the silicone resin and the silicone fluid, of a non-flammable hydrocarbon having a weight-average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 1500 as measured by gel permeation chromatography calibrated with narrow distribution polydimethylsiloxane standards.

Abstract: A method for preparing an austempered cast iron which includes an ausferritic matrix, the cast iron having a silicon content of from about 1.6 to about 2.4 weight percent, and a carbon content of from about 1.6 to about 2.2 weight percent, such that the carbon equivalent of the cast iron is from about 2.1 to about 3.0 weight percent. The method includes (a) melting the cast iron composition; (b) pouring the melt into a mold to form a casting having eutectic carbide particles; (c) altering the temperature of the casting to about 1650.degree.-1900.degree. F. and maintaining the temperature of the casting at about 1650.degree.-1900.degree. F. until substantially all of the eutectic carbide particles convert to temper graphite nodules to form a temper graphite-containing casting; (d) cooling the temper graphite-containing casting to about 1500.degree.-1750.degree. F. and maintaining the temperature of the tempered graphite-containing casting at about 1500.degree.-1750.degree. F.

Abstract: A protective disk case comprises a thin box having a rigid top shell and a rigid bottom shell which cooperatively fit together to define an enclosed area which is sized to receive a recording disk. The top and bottom shells are separatable so that the front and back side of the disk case are separatable into two parts. Furthermore, there is included a locking means and a hinge means for connecting and locking the top and bottom shells together. One embodiment describes a circular bevelled edge within the enclosed area for supporting the recording disk without having the sides of the disk contacting the inside of the protective disk case. A hook may be attached to the top of the protective disk case to allow hanging of the case from a support rod. Furthermore, there is disclosed a second, thin box having an open side to allow for insertion of the protective disk case to facilitate in the storage and handling of individual recording disks.

Abstract: A removably mountable multiple effects device for an electronic signal processor for an electric guitar having an output socket is disclosed which includes a selection panel for accessing and selecting multiple effects from the signal processor contained therein, a jack for plugging into the output socket of the guitar, a power source for supplying power to the signal processor and an output signal device for communicating the signals. The selection panel may be a keyboard which is mounted on the guitar face having easy accessibility to the fingers of the guitar player. The keyboard provides the guitar player with access to any multiple effect accessible by the signal processor, such as tremelo, echoing, and many others, on the face of the guitar rather than having an access to such multiple effects in a remote location.

Abstract: A manicure shield for restraining loose sculptured nail chips to protect a manicurist and a customer which includes a free-standing enclosure having a first opening in the rear of the enclosure sized to allow the passage of the customer's hand and a second opening in the front of the enclosure sized to permit manicuring of the customer's fingernails by the manicurist, where the free-standing enclosure is structured such that free-flying chips produced during the manicuring operation are shielded from the faces and bodies of the customer and manicurist. The manicure shield can be, for example, an accordion-like collapsible design or a box-like foldable design.

Abstract: A thermal insulation packet for fitting into the space above a basement wall between floor joists adjacent the outside wall of a building structure includes a substantially enclosed, discrete packet containing a body of insulation material. The insulation packet is sized to fit in a space defined, on the bottom, by the top of the basement wall, on the sides, by a first floor joist and an immediately consecutive second floor joist and, in the back, by the outside wall of the building structure. The thermal insulation packet is also capable of being installed by an installer without physically contacting the body of insulation material contained with the packet.

Abstract: A rotatable stand-up wheelchair or invalid mobility device which includes a main drive chassis having front and rear wheels. A means for raising and lowering the seat and back portion of the wheelchair raises and lowers the invalid from a substantially seated position on the seat to a substantially standing position supported by a foot plate attached to the base of the wheelchair. Stability of the wheelchair device is maintained by two triangular wheel configurations intercepting at their apex. In operation, the invalid can move while standing in such a fashion as the foot plate may be lowered to a close proximity to the ground so that the invalids hand approximates the level of a hand height of a non-handicapped person. This simulated normal motion and enables direct contact with countertops and other work surfaces.

Abstract: This invention discloses a novelty golf club having a bendable shaft made of a special, non-tempered aluminum with a plastic sheath thereabout for allowing hot tempered golfers to take out their frustrations on a golf club. The golf club can remain bent and placed in the golf bag as a joke or novelty.