Abstract: A practice ball includes a ball having a hole bored partially therein. A flaccid material has a portion thereof disposed in the hole. A retainer is disposed in the hole along with the portion of the flaccid material to restrain the portion of the flaccid material in the hole of the ball.

Abstract: A plastic, blow-molded, disposable water bottle adapted for use with a dispenser, said bottle having a basically spherical or elliptical shape, a footed base portion, and a unique neck geometry.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical conductor formed from a plurality of elongate filaments, at least a portion of which have a non-circular cross section, the filaments arranged such that the conductor has a substantially smooth exterior surface and high density of material of the filaments in a cross section through the conductor perpendicular to its axis. A preferred method for forming such an electrical conductor involves the continuous electroforming of a plurality of elongate conductive filaments. After such filaments are stripped from a cathode track upon which they are deposited, a number of them are bunched and/or twisted together to form an electrically conductive strand. Finally, that strand is compacted to reduce its cross sectional area to provide it with a smooth exterior surface.

Abstract: A composite wire of a metal, a metal oxide or carbide of a metal, metal oxide or metal carbide powder and a mixture of a phenolic resin and a thermoplastic resin cured in a suitable shape for use in metallizing or coating a surface by flame spraying.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved cathode arrangement for use in the electroformation of metallic filaments. The cathode includes a plurality of closed-loop plating surfaces that are congruent to, and interleaved with, each other. This pattern of plating surfaces facilitates the simultaneous stripping of a number of filaments reducing the likelihood of mutual interference among the filaments being stripped.

Abstract: A building product, such as a roofing shingle or the like, is provided with flame resistance and protected against actinic degradation, and fouling by algae and micro-organisms by flame-spraying a metal coating on at least one side of the product and thereafter applying a second flame-sprayed coating, of copper, on the first layer to cover completely at least the one side of the product.

Abstract: A composite wire of a metal, a metal oxide or carbide of a metal, metal oxide or metal carbide powder and a mixture of a phenolic resin and a thermoplastic resin cured in a suitable shape for use in metallizing or coating a surface by flame spraying.