Abstract: A framed storm window construction having a relatively thick, impact and penetration resistant panel surrounded by a frame for mounting either over or within an opening formed in a wall. The peripheral edges of the panel fit within interior channels formed in the frame members. The frame members each have exterior channels on its exterior peripheral edges which define outwardly opening channels. Connector members having tongue portions fitted and held within said channels extend outwardly of the channels and terminate in connector strip flanges which are adapted to be secured, by mechanical fasteners, to the edge portions defining a window opening in a building wall. The framed window resists penetration by forcefully applied objects, such as wind hurled debris.

Abstract: A sectional storm panel for covering an opening in a building is formed of a plurality of vertically elongated, narrow, corrugated panel sections that are manually assembled, in edge to edge relationship, from the interior of the building, from each side edge of the opening towards the opposite side edge to form a pair of co-planar panel portions that are spaced apart. The space between the panels is covered by a separate cover section that is inserted through the space, from the interior of the building to the outside of the building, and then positioned manually so that its vertical edges overlap the adjacent panel section vertical edges that define the space between the panel sections. The sections extend between a lower rail and an upper rail secured to the lower and upper edges of the opening, respectively.

Abstract: The opposite vertically elongated edges of a series of pivotly connected slats forming an accordion type folding shutter are provided with integral tubelike connector members. The slat integrally joins its outer member along a plane which is tangent to the outer surface of the outer member so that the extended adjacent pair of slats form a roughly ninety (90.degree.) degree angle when the shutter is extended. Thus, the forces of impact applied against the shutter is absorbed by the crushing of the outer member towards and against and then with the inner member, in engagement between the adjacent inner and outer member beads and the partial transmission of forces through the adjacent portions of the slats for resisting separation of the adjacent slats and penetration of the force applying object.

Abstract: A method of producing self-texturing filaments that exhibit a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig zag. The method includes directing a quenching fluid at extruded hollow filaments of a liquid polymer predominantly from one side of the hollow filaments to thereby produce hollow filaments with different orientations on each side. Thereafter the temperature of the hollow filaments is raised to a temperature sufficient for the filaments to relax, but less than the temperature at which the filaments would shrink. When the relaxed filaments are cut into staple lengths, they tend to assume a form that provides a favorable degree of mechanical entanglement that is useful in forming resilient solid structures.

Abstract: A roll-up shutter is formed of numerous, identical, horizontally elongated slats each having a pair of oppositely and downwardly extended hooks formed on its upper edge and a downwardly opening groove on its lower edge for receiving the hooks of the next adjacent slat. The lower edges of the walls forming the groove in each slat are bent inwardly and upwardly to provide inner channels. The pair of hooks of one slat are normally engaged within the corresponding pair of channels of the next adjacent slat. The hook and channel on one side of each slat are arranged at a higher level than the corresponding hook and channel on the other side of each slat. When the shutter is opened, to cover a window or doorway opening, the engaged hooks and slats, which extend substantially along the full width of the shutter, form horizontally arranged, bar-like reinforcements for the shutter.

Abstract: A process for producing industrial denier filaments of a thermoplastic polymer at higher rates of production than those using liquid quenching media is disclosed. Liquid polymer is extruded in the form of hollow filaments at a throughput and rate of take up that produces individual filaments of greater than about 30 denier. A flow of gas is then directed at the liquid filaments at a flow rate and temperature that are sufficient to quench and solidify the individual filaments in the absence of any other quenching fluid. The filaments formed by the disclosed process have larger diameters than solid filaments of the same denier.

Abstract: A process for producing industrial denier filaments of a thermoplastic polymer at higher rates of production than those using liquid quenching media is disclosed. Liquid polymer is extruded in the form of hollow filaments at a throughput and rate of take up that produces individual filaments of greater than about 30 denier. A flow of gas is then directed at the liquid filaments at a flow rate and temperature that are sufficient to quench and solidify the individual filaments in the absence of any other quenching fluid. The filaments formed by the disclosed process have larger diameters than solid filaments of the same denier.

Abstract: A sectional storm panel is made of numerous corrugated sections arranged edge to edge, with their adjacent edges overlapped. The sections are substantially identical in size and shape and are formed of a thin sheet which is corrugated in the vertical direction. The corrugations are each formed in the shape of truncated triangles, which alternatingly, open towards an outer face and an inner face of the panel. The opposite edges of each panel are provided with integral flanges of approximately the size of the corrugation small bases. The flange on one section overlaps the adjacent flange of the next section. Each of these flanges are provided with a centrally located, V-shaped groove which extends vertically along the flange. The grooves on each pair of overlapped flanges open in the direction towards the inner face of the panel and are vertically aligned.

Abstract: The opposite, vertically elongated edges of a series of pivotly connected slats forming an accordion-type folding shutter are provided with integral tube-like connector members. One of the connector members is of a smaller diameter than the other to form an inner member which co-axially fits within the next adjacent outer member of the next slat. The inner members are connected to their respective slat edges by a narrow strip, extending the full length of their respective slats and arranged at an obtuse angle to the remainder of their slats, with the narrow members fitting through a slot in the adjacent outer member. The strip pivots within the slot of its outer member and engages beads integrally formed on the edges defining the slot in the outer member.

Abstract: A method of producing self-texturing filaments that exhibit a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig zag. The method includes directing a quenching fluid at extruded hollow filaments of a liquid polymer predominantly from one side of the hollow filaments to thereby produce hollow filaments with different orientations on each side. Thereafter the temperature of the hollow filaments is raised to a temperature sufficient for the filaments to relax, but less than the temperature at which the filaments would shrink. When the relaxed filaments are cut into staple lengths, they tend to assume a form that provides a favorable degree of mechanical entanglement that is useful in forming resilient solid structures.

Abstract: An accordion fold panel closure, formed of numerous, vertically extending, narrow, hingedly connected blades is suspended from an upper track and has its lower edge engaged within a lower guide track. An extruded channel is formed to function either as an upper or lower track. The channel includes a base, integral side walls, and opposing flanges which partially cover the mouth of the channel. One of the flanges is provided with a laterally opening groove. The lower edges of the panel, at the hinge points, are provided with guide pins that extend into the lower track. The guide pins have laterally extending washers which fit into the groove of one of the flanges and are overlapped by the opposite flange. The track also includes interior wheels receiving channels so that support members having a pair of wheels may be arranged within the upper track for suspending the panel therefrom.

Abstract: A shutter is formed of a number of horizontally elongated slats which are pivotally connected together along their adjacent elongated edges so that shutter may be rolled up to expose, or rolled down, to form a panel covering an opening in a building wall. The slats are formed of roughly rectangular in cross-section hollow extrusions having upper and lower edges. Notches are formed in the upper and lower edges to provide upperwardly and downwardly extending tongues on each of the slats. The tongues fit into the notches of the next adjacent slat for overlapping the adjacent tongues. An upwardly extending flange having a hook formation on its end, is formed on the upper edge of each slat and fits into the notch of the lower edge of the next upper slat and pivotally engages a corresponding hook formed on the upper slat. A rigid, elongated insert, formed of a substantially stronger material than the slat material, is snugly fitted within the hollow interior of the slat.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of producing self-texturing filaments that exhibit a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig zag. The method comprises directing a quenching fluid at extruded hollow filaments of a liquid polymer predominantly from one side of the hollow filaments to thereby produce hollow filaments with different orientations on each side. Thereafter the temperature of the hollow filaments is raised to a temperature sufficient for the filaments to relax, but less than the temperature at which the filaments would shrink.

Abstract: A roll-type shutter is formed of a number of horizontally elongated shutters, arranged one above the other, hingedly connected together along their adjacent edges for rolling the shutter up or extending it downwardly to form a panel. Each shutter is provided with an upper and lower cavity or channel within which a separate connector member is inserted. The connector members in each cavity are provided with generally L-shaped or hook-like internal portions which engage correspondingly shaped projections formed integrally within the interior of the respective channels so that the connectors are snugly fitted within and engaged against the interior walls of their channels. Each connector has an outer, that is, an upwardly or downwardly, respectively, arranged bent hook portion for engaging the corresponding hook portion of the next connector. The separate connectors extend substantially the full length of each of the slats and reinforce and rigidify the upper and lower edges of each of the slats.

Abstract: A reinforced, accordion-type folding shutter is formed of a substantial number of generally flat, narrow slats that are pivotally joined together, edge-to-edge, for folding and opening the shutter. The adjacent edges of the slats are formed with integral tubes extending substantially their full lengths, but with each of the tubes being notched to form relatively short, co-axially aligned, spaced apart loops. The loops of each pair of adjacent slat edges are interfitted and co-axially aligned and a rigid rod is extended through the aligned loops to form a hinge pin for pivoting each pair of slats relative to each other and, simultaneously, to form, with the surrounding tube loops, a rigid, composite reinforcing bar. A bar is formed at each of the adjacent edges of the slats so that a series of relatively closely spaced bars are formed along the width of the shutter. The bars reinforce the shutter against penetration by wind hurled objects or other forcibly applied impacts.

Abstract: A storm panel is formed of a large number of elongated, narrow, thin panel sections that are arranged along a common plane and are connected together edge-to-edge. Each section has an integral flange forming a tongue extending along one of its longitudinal edges. Also, each panel has a pair of approximately parallel spaced apart flanges formed integral with its opposite edge to provide a channel of a depth and width for tightly receiving a tongue. The tongue of each section is manually fitted within and tightly held within the channel of the next adjacent section. The overlapping, narrow flanges forming the tongues and grooves at each adjacent pair of section edges provide a three-layer, narrow, bar-like reinforcement strip extending the full length of the panel. The series of reinforcement strips formed along the assembled panel, stiffen, strengthen and increase the resistance of the panel to penetration by forcefully applied objects, such as wind hurled debris during storms.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of producing self-texturing filaments that exhibit a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig zag. The method comprises directing a quenching fluid at extruded hollow filaments of a liquid polymer predominantly from one side of the hollow filaments to thereby produce hollow filaments with different orientations on each side. Thereafter the temperature of the hollow filaments is raised to a temperature sufficient for the filaments to relax, but less than the temperature at which the filaments would shrink.

Abstract: A roll-up, horizontally elongated, slat-type blind is formed of elongated slats which are hingedly connected together along their longitudinal edges. The slats are formed with upper flanges that are bent into downwardly opening flange hooks which extend into channels formed on the lower edges of the next adjacent slats. Each channel has an upwardly opening hook formed on one wall of the channel, and an opposite wall portion adjacent the hook. The flange hooks are notched at their opposite ends and the portions of the channel wall which overlap the notches are bent into tabs which extend inwardly to close the channel and to engage the opposite ends of the notches of the hook portions. Thus, the flange hooks are precluded from shifting endwise by the tabs to, thereby, maintain the slats in alignment at all times.

Abstract: A two-section slat for use in a roll-type shutter is formed of a channel-shaped extrusion section having a hook formation at its upper end and a receiving channel for the next slat hook along its lower edge. The channel is overlapped by a cover section which is engaged and interlocked with the channel section at the upper edge, lower edge and in the central portion of the cover section. The two sections are formed with interlocking means which hold the two sections together under resilient pressure to form a hollow, substantially rigid, flat bar. The cover section may have a preselected color or texture which differs from the color and texture of the channel section. Thus, the slat, having two different colors or textures can match the decor of a interior room of a dwelling while also matching the appearances of numerous shutters exposed to view on the exterior of the building.

Abstract: The mounting for a motor-pump housing in the bottom opening of a dishwasher chamber consisting of a one-piece elastomer sleeve formed by a large diameter radially outwardly directed top gasket portion, a frusto-conical medial portion and a smaller diameter bottom cylindrical portion. The sleeve medial portion defines with the pump housing a sump for receiving and directing water exiting the chamber and wherein the medial portion is free to flex to substantially obviate the transmission of vibrational energy to the dishwasher casing.