Abstract: An improved partition structure for a wrap-around beverage carrier is disclosed. The partition structure comprises an elongated longitudinal structure having at least two hinged butterfly elements formed thereon and the structure has at least one hinged tab formed on the bottom edge of the partition structure. The tab extends on opposite sides of the structure for engagement beneath the bottles contained in the carrier. As a result the partition does not have to be glued to the carrier.

Abstract: A coupling comprises a body of fiber glass reinforced plastic which has a rubber sleeve embedded therein. The rubber sleeve is a one piece unit which includes specially shaped sealing gaskets on either end and has a rubber liner spanning the area between these sealing gaskets. This rubber sleeve is stretched onto a steel and plastic molding mandrel. This stretching places the rubber liner under tension which reduces the cross-sectional area of the liner and compensates for thermal expansion of the liner during curing. The mandrel/sleeve combination is rotated in order to wind a thermosetting resin impregnated fiber glass roving around the outer circumference of the mandrel/sleeve combination, thus embedding the sleeve in the fiber glass reinforced resin matrix. The thermosetting resin is cured at elevated temperatures, hardening into a rigid coupling with the embedded rubber sleeve integral therewith.

Abstract: A picnic cooler container is disclosed which is utilized in packaging a plurality of multiple articles such as cans of beverage or the like. The cans are inserted into the container through the ends of the container package. The container is designed to be opened by the purchaser of the container with the container being designed to receive a quantity of bulk ice placed on top of the plurality of multiple articles. The container comprises a plurality of side and end panels which have hingedly connected thereto side and end flaps which are glued down for shipping and transporting without the ice. The side and end flaps may then be pulled up and formed into an upper water-proof well area which retains the bulk ice on top of the multiple articles packaged in the lower water-proof container area.

Abstract: Thin-walled metal duct particularly useful for heating and air-conditioning purposes is usually made by grooving, spiral wrapping, and seaming strips of thin metal sheet. The resultant tubular form provides the necessary rigidity to resist collapse of the tubular form. In the past, at least one end of the ribbed tubular ducts have been reformed to permit the ducts to be joined together. The end reforming techniques of the past have resulted in reformed ends having insufficient rigidity and strength to resist the abuse the ducts frequently receive in shipping, storing, handling, and installation.The present product, method, and apparatus provide a ribbed thin-walled tubular duct having reformed ends with rigidity and strength superior to the prior art products. This achievement is accomplished in the present invention by moving more metal into the end portion of the duct prior to reforming the end portion, thus reinforcing the end portion of the duct.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrothermally cured articles of manufacture and the processes for making the same. In the past, calcium carbonate has been included in such articles and processes a number inert filler materials to alter physical characteristics, appearance, etc. The present invention comprises incorporating crystalline calcium carbonate, preferably in the form of powdered marble, with the normal constituents to dilute the relative amounts of these constituents and thus make a more economic blend without substantial degradation to the physical characteristics of the article of manufacture incorporating such crystalline calcium carbonate.

Abstract: This invention relates to glass filament production. Conventionally the hollow cooling tubes and/or solid metal bars utilized in the making of continuous glass fibers have been constructed of high temperature corrosion resistant materials whose costs are exorbitant for extensive present day factory operations. The present invention dramatically reduces the price of cooling tubes 24 suitable for use in the making of glass filaments by coating or cladding a relatively inexpensive base or substrate metal 48 such as nickel, Inconel, molybdenum, copper, alloys thereof or a refractory material with a high temperature corrosion resistant material 50 such as the noble metals, e.g. platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, gold, silver or alloys thereof. Fins 52 which may be attached to the cooling tubes 24 may be made either of a solid noble metal or may also be coated or clad in the same manner as the cooling tubes 24.

Abstract: An energy-saving process for the calcination of diatomite is described. Diatomite particles and water are mixed to form a mixture with a moisture content in the range of 15 to 50 weight percent and then balled to form generally spherical balls, preferably with diameters of 1.5 to 20 mm. The balled diatomite, which may also contain a flux or whitening agent, is then calcined at about 1700.degree. F. to 2350.degree. F. (923.degree. C. to 1290.degree. C.). The process reduces the time required for calcination to about 0.75 to 30 minutes from the 30 to 90 minutes required in prior art processes, and thus also reduces the amount of thermal energy required to calcine a given unit of diatomite. The balls enable calcination to be performed using an externally heated tube furnace a fluid bed or a travelling grate. Calcination is highly uniform and little attrition of balls is observed. Fine dusts of good purity as well as materials heretofore considered waste can be processed to usable products by this invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a feeder 10 for glass fibers useful in feeding glass fibers to a wet-mat process. Previous fiber feeders were unreliable and caused process disruptions primarily due to fiber conveying belt breakage. Belt breakage in the present fiber feeder is substantially eliminated by providing a belt pulley comprising an open-ended cylindrical drum 52 having a plurality of staggered waste fiber intake openings 54 longitudinally and circumferentially distributed over the drum. The intake openings 54 are staggered and sized to eliminate interference with the motion of slats 60 which comprise the fiber conveying belt 50, to ensure sufficient flow of waste fiber 36' out of the drum 52 and to eliminate any potential accumulation of waste fiber 36' between the belt 50 and the belt pulley 48.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for assessing the quality of illumination provided by a lighting environment to a task location in terms of the ability of that illumination to render the contrast of a visual task at the task location. Past systems have been inaccurate, inflexible, or required trained personnel and bulky equipment to make such an assessment. The present system accomplishes this assessment by generating a series of electrical signals, each such signal corresponding to the luminous flux impinging at the task location provided by a discrete, substantially non-overlapping zone of the lighting environment. These signals, when associated with the position of the corresponding zones, accurately describe the flux distribution of the lighting environment, and are used to calculate Equivalent Sphere Illumination, a figure of merit for that lighting environment.

Abstract: Mandrel for making a coupling which coupling comprises a body of fiber glass reinforced plastic which has a rubber sleeve embedded therein. The rubber sleeve is a one piece unit which includes specially shaped sealing gaskets on either end and has a rubber liner spanning the area between these sealing gaskets. This rubber sleeve is stretched onto a steel and plastic molding mandrel. This stretching places the rubber liner under tension which reduces the cross-sectional area of the liner and compensates for thermal expansion of the liner during curing. The mandrel/sleeve combination is rotated in order to wind a thermosetting resin impregnated fiber glass roving around the outer circumference of the mandrel/sleeve combination, thus embedding the sleeve in the fiber glass reinforced resin matrix. The thermosetting resin is cured at elevated temperatures, hardening into a rigid coupling with the embedded rubber sleeve integral therewith.

Abstract: An improved traffic channeling device for positioning on a highway in a normal traffic flow pattern. The improved device comprises a generally paperboard shell structure which has formed on its lower portion an inwardly folded flap structure. An inner cap like structure is positioned within the device and is positioned in contact with the lower inner periphery of the shell and the inwardly folded flap structure to act as a means to aid in the forming of the device in its predetermined shape. The inner cap like structure serves also as the means to support an object positioned over the flap structure to hold the shell structure in a predetermined position on the highway. The outside of the shell structure contains warning means for warning the traffic flow that the device has been positioned on the highway with the warning means comprising in the preferred embodiment an adhesive reflecting tape being applied to at least a portion of the outside of the shell structure.

Abstract: Joints for thermoplastic pipe. The necessity of providing a sealing ring between the socket and spigot of such a joint results in forming a ring groove in the socket and affixing the sealing ring within this ring groove. The present invention contemplates forming a sealing ring groove 6 so configured around a sealing ring 11 with a substantially axially incompressible portion 12 to lock the sealing ring in place and also to enhance the ease of assembly and ability of the thus assembled joint to structurally withstand elevated hydrostatic pressures. Also disclosed is an apparatus 20 and 44 for forming the preferred socket configuration.

Abstract: An improved crown support carrier production blank and erected carrier for use with a plurality of beverage bottles. The production blank and the erected carrier are formed with a plurality of inclined upper side and end panels hingedly attached to a central panel and hingedly attached to a plurality of vertical lower side and end panels. A plurality of T-shaped corner glue tabs are formed in the corners of the production blank and are adhesively secured to the lower side and end panels when the production blank is erected to a completed carrier. The T-shaped glue tabs act as an exceptional reinforcing strip on the corners while their shape and placement are designed to round out or soften the corners rather than have sharp piercing corners typical in prior art carriers. Sunburst bottle receiving openings are positioned in the central panel along with at least one opening for use in carrying the package.

Abstract: A paperboard carton formed of a tray with a top fitting thereover. The top has tabs formed in opposing side panels preferably by locating spaced tear lines, which tabs can be glued to the tray to hold the top in place. The top is removed from the tray by pulling the tabs outward and upward.

Abstract: A method of vacuum packaging compressible material in a sealed flexible fluid impervious container, such as a poly bag, is disclosed. One or more slits are made in the container and air in the container is withdrawn through the slits. This creates a partial vacuum in the container that results in compression of the compressible material. When the desired compression has been obtained, restraining means are placed around the flexible container to maintain the package in a compressed state when the partial vacuum is eventually lost. A novel apparatus for use in this method is also disclosed.