Abstract: A portable dispenser with which lengths of a sheet material may be manually dispensed from a supply roll of the sheet material. The dispenser has a frame including a bridging portion adapted to extend along a portion of the periphery of the roll of sheet material, and end wall portions fixed to the ends of the bridging portion and adapted to extend along the opposite end surfaces of the roll of sheet material on which the roll of sheet material is rotatably journaled. A resiliently flexible cantilevered portion of the frame has a proximal edge fixed to the bridging portion and has a sharp cutting edge along its opposite distal edge. A guard portion of the frame extends between its end wall portions and has an inner surface extending along the side of the cutting edge opposite the roll.

Abstract: An assemblage of laminates each including only a portion of a graphic, which graphic portion has a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive along its rear major surface. The graphic portions in the laminates are adapted to be adhered to a substrate by the layers of adhesive in a predetermined relative orientation to form a graphic having a predetermined shape. Each of the laminates further includes a separate polymeric cover sheet having opposite outer and inner major surfaces and overlaying the graphic portion, and a layer of removable pressure-sensitive adhesive having opposite front and rear major surfaces, which layer of removable pressure-sensitive adhesive is coextensive with and has its rear surface adhered to the inner major surface of the cover sheet and has its front surface adhered to the front surface of the graphic portion.

Abstract: A self-supporting, pleated filter, and method of making the same. The method includes forming a plurality of pleats in a filter media that extend along a front face and a rear face. The pleats include a plurality of pleat tips and sloping side surfaces generally perpendicular to the direction of pleating. At least one planar reinforcing strip oriented in the direction of pleating is bonded to the pleat tips on the front face. At least one reinforcing member is positioned along the rear face of the filter media. The filter media is then cut to size. Frame members are applied for some applications. The reinforcing member may be a reinforcing strip oriented in the direction of pleating and bonded to the rear face of the filter media prior to the step of forming the plurality of pleats. A second planar reinforcing strip may optionally be bonded to the reinforcing strip pleat tips. The reinforcing member, the first reinforcing strip and the second reinforcing strip can be aligned to form a truss structure.

Abstract: A self-supporting, pleated filter, and method of making the same. The method includes forming a plurality of pleats in a filter media that extend along a front face and a rear face. The pleats include a plurality of pleat tips and sloping side surfaces generally perpendicular to the direction of pleating. At least one planar reinforcing strip oriented in the direction of pleating is bonded to the pleat tips on the front face. At least one reinforcing member is positioned along the rear face of the filter media. The filter media is then cut to size. Frame members are applied for some applications. The reinforcing member may be a reinforcing strip oriented in the direction of pleating and bonded to the rear face of the filter media prior to the step of forming the plurality of pleats. A second planar reinforcing strip may optionally be bonded to the reinforcing strip pleat tips. The reinforcing member, the first reinforcing strip and the second reinforcing strip can be aligned to form a truss structure.

Abstract: A tape laminate adapted to support or locate an object along a substrate. The tape laminate comprises a support layer of strong, flexible, conformable, essentially non stretchable material having firmly attached thereto an attachment strip comprising a layer of stretch release adhesive defining an exposed major surface that is adapted to adhere the attachment strip to the substrate. In one embodiment, consisting only of the conformable support layer and the attachment strip, the tape laminate can be used to support or locate an object along a substrate (e.g., along a vertical wall) by conforming the tape laminate to the contour of portions of the object and of the wall and adhering a part of the layer of stretch release adhesive to each of those portions. In other embodiments, the tape laminate further includes means such as separable fasteners, twist ties, cable ties, elastic bands, or hooks for facilitating engagement of objects to be supported or located by the tape laminate.

Abstract: A self-supporting, pleated filter, and method of making the same. The method includes forming a plurality of pleats in a filter media that extend along a front face and a rear face. The pleats include a plurality of pleat tips and sloping side surfaces generally perpendicular to the direction of pleating. At least one planar reinforcing strip oriented in the direction of pleating is bonded to the pleat tips on the front face. At least one reinforcing member is positioned along the rear face of the filter media. The filter media is then cut to size. Frame members are applied for some applications. The reinforcing member may be a reinforcing strip oriented in the direction of pleating and bonded to the rear face of the filter media prior to the step of forming the plurality of pleats. A second planar reinforcing strip may optionally be bonded to the reinforcing strip pleat tips. The reinforcing member, the first reinforcing strip and the second reinforcing strip can be aligned to form a truss structure.

Abstract: A universal abrasive article adapted to mount on a mounting surface of a sanding machine having a plurality of dust extraction holes that define an open area. The abrasive article includes a plurality of discrete apertures that are sized and positioned so as to expose a majority of the open area of the dust extraction holes independent of the angular orientation of the abrasive article when the abrasive article is in registration with the mounting surface. The discrete apertures may include elongated, arcuate slots that may be symmetrically positioned about a center point of the abrasive article. In one embodiment, the discrete apertures may include seven arcuate slots. These embodiments also include sufficient abrasive material to provide adequate sanding cut rate and structural integrity during use and removal.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a length of sheet material from a roll of the sheet material. The dispenser includes a first rotatable hub mounted on a dispenser frame that receives the roll of sheet material around its periphery. A first end of an elongate cut-off blade is attached to the frame so that a user of the dispenser can manually tension sheet material being pulled from the roll around a cutting edge on the blade to sequentially transversely sever the sheet material. A locating hub rotatably mounted on one end of a spacing arm is adapted to be received in the roll of sheet material from its end opposite the first hub. An end of the spacing arm opposite the locating hub is mounted on the cut-off blade to space the cutting edge a predetermined distance from the axis of the roll of sheet material at the second end of the roll of sheet material as the sheet material is sequentially transversely cut along the cutting edge on the blade.

Abstract: A method for making a laminate adapted for decorating a substrate including providing (1) a sheet of pre-mask material including a cover layer and a layer of removable adhesive on one surface of the cover layer having an exposed surface defining a first major surface for the sheet of pre-mask material; (2) a supply length of decorative film tape comprising a length of decorative film having opposite first and second major surfaces, and a layer of adhesive along its second major surface; (3) a sheet of release liner having a first major surface adapted to be releasably adhered to by the removable adhesive on the cover layer and by the adhesive on the decorative film; and (4) a tape applicator.

Abstract: A dispenser from which sheet material may be manually pulled from a supply of the sheet material carried on the dispenser through a passageway defined by a frame of the dispenser. The dispenser includes a cutting member having a sharp cutting edge adapted for transversely cutting the sheet material and an elongate contact surface generally parallel to and spaced from the cutting edge. The cutting member is mounted on the frame for movement between (1) a retracted position to which it is biased at which the cutting edge is positioned to restrict contact between a person using the dispenser and the cutting edge and at which the contact surface extends along the one side of the passageway—and (2) a cutting position to which the cutting member can be moved from its retracted position by manually tensioning sheet material being pulled from the dispenser around the contact surface of the cutting member.

Abstract: A portable dispenser with which lengths of a sheet material may be manually dispensed from a supply roll of the sheet material. The dispenser has a frame including a bridging portion adapted to extend along a portion of the periphery of the roll of sheet material, and end wall portions fixed to the ends of the bridging portion and adapted to extend along the opposite end surfaces of the roll of sheet material on which the roll of sheet material is rotatably journaled. A resiliently flexible cantilevered portion of the frame has a proximal edge fixed to the bridging portion and has a sharp cutting edge along its opposite distal edge. A guard portion of the frame extends between its end wall portions and has an inner surface extending along the side of the cutting edge opposite the roll.

Abstract: A cut-off blade assembly including a thin metal blade having an attachment portion by which the cut-off blade assembly can be attached to a dispenser, and a plurality of projecting similarly shaped triangular primary teeth. The triangular primary teeth each have two sides terminating in points and have bases adjacent the attachment portion that are aligned in a first direction along the blade so that their points project generally at right angles to that first direction. Edge surfaces on the sides and at the points of the primary teeth intersect a major surface of the primary teeth at an included angle of no greater than about 90 degrees to define a cutting edge at that intersection. The cut-off blade assembly further includes projections along one major surface of the primary teeth.

Abstract: A disposable air filter comprising a sheet of filter media, at least portions of the major surfaces of which are disposed to define parallel planes along those opposite major surfaces of the sheet intended to be placed normal to the direction of movement of air through the filter; and a frame.

Abstract: A cordless drive assembly for driving various orthopedic surgical instruments is described. The drive assembly is battery powered and includes tracks in the handle portion of its housing for receiving the battery. A latch locks the battery to the housing.

Abstract: A cordless drive assembly for driving various orthopedic surgical instruments is described. The drive assembly is battery powered and includes tracks in the handle portion of its housing for receiving the battery. A latch locks the battery to the housing.

Abstract: A dispenser for liquids including a cartridge containing a liquid, a nozzle, and a hollow flexible bladder between the cartridge and the nozzle. An assembly can be manually rotated to provide a high mechanical advantage and incrementally drive a piston through the cartridge to thereby fill the bladder with liquid from the cartridge and discharge any plug of solidified material (e.g., diluted phosphoric acid) that may be present in the nozzle; and manually operated button can be pressed to quickly and controllably collapse the bladder to thereafter dispel liquid within the bladder through the nozzle.

Abstract: A cleaning wiper adapted to automatically maintain a fresh cleaning surface upon each utilization. Supply and take-up holders are mounted in a body for holding rolls of a cleaning web. The cleaning web, intermediate the supply and take-up holders, passes over a support member movably mounted within and accessible through a slot in one side of the body. Utilization of the cleaning wiper causes the support member to be moved from its resiliently biased position within the slot and activates an advance linkage. The advance linkage advances the rotation of the take-up holder a predetermined amount.