Abstract: A dual-purpose one-piece plastic closure for surgical irrigation fluid containers. The closure may be removed from the neck of the container when liquid is to be dispensed by pouring or, alternatively, may be pierced by and sealingly coupled to the connector spike of an irrigation set when liquid is to be drained from the container for closed system irrigation. The closure includes a port sleeve which has a primary seaing zone at a level slightly below the closure's top wall. The disclosed embodiment also includes a secondary sealing zone between the primary zone and the dome-shaped bottom wall of the port sleeve. The connector spike, its construction, and its cooperative relationship with the closure, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A collapsible bicycle includes a rigid main frame and a collapsible rear frame movable between riding and storage positions. The rigid main frame supports the front wheel, pedals, handlebars, and seat, and the rear frame supports the rear wheel. The rear frame includes a first pair of struts which are pivotally connected to the main frame at the lower rear portion thereof and a second pair of struts which are pivotally connected to the first pair of struts. When the rear frame is in the riding position, the first pair of struts extends rearwardly from the main frame, and the second pair of struts extends upwardly and forwardly from the rear ends of the struts of the first pair to a connector on the upper rear portion of the main frame which connects the second pair of struts to the rear of the main frame.

Abstract: Mechanical damage to grain is measured by taking a small sample of the grain and applying a solution of a substance which will selectively adhere only to the exposed surface of the interior of the damaged grain and not to the seed coat. Excess solution is rinsed away; and thereafter a solvent which will dissolve the substance adhering to the exposed internal parts of the grain is applied. The amount of recovered material brought back into solution is then measured; and the measurement is representative of the mechanical damage to the grain.

Abstract: An improved composite material for use as a dental restorative in which the major component consists of a finely-divided reinforcing filler having a hardness no greater than about 5.0 on the Moh's scale. Despite the relative softness of such a filler, in contrast to fillers conventionally used in dental composites, the final restoration has superior resistance to abrasion and wear, can be finished more effectively and more aesthetically, and can be handled with metal dental instruments.

Abstract: A small thin console or pad has a metal proximity switch actuated by a control ring mounted on one surface, with a small light bulb within the ring. The pad is used for remote control of a load which may be a lamp, or some other electric appliance such as a radio or stereo. The pad is connected to a wall outlet unit containing a triac as a switching device for the load. The light bulb on the pad is normally at a low glow for a night light. When the metal ring is first touched the triac is turned on for the load; and when it is touched again the triac is turned off, thereby shutting off the load, while the light on the pad is brought up to full brilliance for a predetermined interval of time as a courtesy light, and then returns to the normal night light intensity.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling substacks of business forms to develop balanced stacks for packing wherein alternate substacks are rotated 90.degree. incident to the formation of a stack whereby the glued edges are alternately reversed.

Abstract: A strain of Bordetella bronchiseptica (ATCC No. 31123) is employed in the form of killed whole cells for parenteral administration to swine or other animals subject to Bordetella bronchiseptica infection. Swine can be effectively protected against development of the turbinate atrophy associated with Bordetella bronchiseptica infection by parenterally administering to young pigs from 1 to 3 doses of a vaccine containing from 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.11 cells of said strain. The vaccine can also be administered to breeding sows prior to farrowing for at least partial protection of the offspring.

Abstract: Method for continuous enzyme liquefaction of starch to produce cooked thinned starch pastes, in which an enzyme-containing suspension of raw starch is continuously added to an agitated body of heated converting starch in a single chamber tank, whereby the incoming starch is gelatinized and mixed with the partially converted material to maintain a blend within the tank, having a viscosity low enough to be readily agitated and pumped. A stream of the blend at an established pumpable viscosity is continuously removed from the conversion tank and treated to inactivate the enzyme. The process effectively eliminates problems resulting from the development of temporary peak viscosities in the usual enzyme liquefaction procedures, the equipment requirements are minimal, and the products as produced without further treatment are effective sizes and adhesives.

Abstract: A towel apparatus which handles an endless towel within a cabinet and subjects the same to cleaning and drawing, making use of a low vapor pressure chemical type solvent.

Abstract: A web dispenser wherein an elongated coated web is dispensed from a container by manually pulling the same through a closely confined rotatable ball closure whereby the coating is metered.

Abstract: A multipole magnetic well for plasma confinement includes a plurality of current-carrying coils placed on planes corresponding to the facets of a regular polyhedron that can be symmetrically circumscribed about a sphere. The direction of current in the coils is such as to minimize the flux density at the center of the polyhedron, thereby providing a confinement well with three-dimensional symmetry having an increasing flux density in all directions from the center.

Abstract: A pad of sterile bags wherein each bag is made of flexible thermoplastic sheets. The bags are heat-fused together along the open edge to provide a book-like pad. The weld forms a binding for the individual bags, which are without perforation, and it also forms a solid margin for gripping and handling and provides a line of weakness along which the bags may be separated for use. When a bag is thus separated from the pad it is also opened.

Abstract: A bed canopy frame having channel shaped resilient plastic longitudinal members and hollow metal cross rods wherein the plastic members have integral receptacles equipped with projections to stabilize the connection between the cross and longitudinal members.

Abstract: A device for bending wire rope into an eye which includes opposed spaced apart L-shaped arms spaced apart for pivotal movement in a common plane and means for pulling an intermediate portion of the rope between the L-shaped arms to cause them to pivot and force the rope into an eye configuration.

Abstract: A sleeper sofa includes an inner spring mattress which has hingedly connected head and foot sections. The hinge permits the mattress to be folded between a sleeping position in which the two sections extend horizontally and a sitting position in which the foot section is folded on top of the head section. The springs of the head section have less compressibility than the springs of the foot section so that the head section is relatively firm and the foot section is relatively soft. When the foot and head sections are in their sleeping positions, the relatively firm head section supports the torso of a person resting on the mattress and provides firm, comfortable sleeping support. When the foot section is folded to the sitting position, the relatively soft foot section provides good sitting comfort.

Abstract: A wall hanging device having a ring-like member for connection to picture wire or the like and a relatively flat, elongated member having a looped end capturing the ring-like member.

Abstract: A tent structure includes a covering which has four upright triangular walls laid out in rectilinear relation to each other. A pair of transverse ridges are formed at the top of the tent covering. A rigid ridge pole assembly supports the covering along one of the ridges; and a flexible spreader bar assembly supports the covering along the other ridge. Four top/corner pieces of covering material are provided--one for each quadrant defined by the cross ridges. Each top/corner piece extends between adjacent ridge sections and between the inclined edges of adjacent ones of the triangular walls to complete the enclosure. The spreader bar assembly overlies and is carried by the rigid ridge pole assembly; and the tent covering is tensioned by lengthening upright support poles which support the rigid ridge pole assembly.

Abstract: A compact, portable, self-contained unit includes a resistive strain gauge transducer for sensing blood pressure from an indwelling catheter to generate a signal representative of instantaneous pressure. This pressure signal is coupled to the signal inputs of a bank of comparator circuits having their outputs connected to associated ones of a string of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) connected in series across a source. The other inputs of the comparators are connected to associated nodes of a progressive reference voltage divider network. At any given time, all comparators having their signal inputs at a higher potential than their associated reference voltages will have their outputs "LOW," and those comparators having their signal inputs at a lower potential than their associated reference voltages will have their outputs "HIGH." Hence, a single LED is energized at any given time, and it represents the instantaneous pressure value.

Abstract: Digoxin solutions are disclosed which are compatible with gelatin and which are of relatively high concentration, thereby permitting encapsulation of therapeutic amounts of digoxin in soft gelatin capsules of moderate size. The digoxin is first micronized and then dissolved in a vehicle consisting predominately of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight no greater than about one thousand and having a melting temperature no greater than about 35.degree. C., to provide a digoxin concentration of at least one-half milligram per milliliter and preferably one milligram per milliliter. Solutions composed of various solvent blends are disclosed, including solutions which are highly viscous (semi-solid) at room temperature.

Abstract: A method of measuring mechanical damage to a grain, such as corn, includes applying a reacting solution to a sample of corn. The solution contains a material, such as 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid, that reacts selectively with the damaged portion of the corn kernels, i.e., the internal protein that is exposed when the outer shell is penetrated or breached. Excess solution is washed off; and the kernels are dried for convenience of handling. The dried corn is ground to a uniform fineness and then spread over a predetermined area. What is inherently a three-dimensional or volume phenomena (damage) is converted to a two-dimensional or area measurement. The sample is exposed to ultraviolet light; and induced fluorescence is measured. The output of the measuring system is linearly related to, and thus a measure of the mechanical damage of the sample.