Abstract: A new plant variety of the Bromeliaceae family is related to the "Zebra plant", the "Pheasant Leaf plant" and the "Stiff Pheasant Leaf plant" and the like these varieties has irregular cross bands. However the new variety is primarily distinguished therefrom by achlorophyllous marginal areas.

Abstract: A litter package has a body of litter within a container of waterproof material and is for use by a pet animal after the package has been opened to expose the litter substantially throughout the area of the container when disposed for use. The litter body consists of particles of absorbent material or materials that are chemically neutral when wet. Testing means are associated with the litter and of an indicator type changing color if wetted by urine containing a color-changing reactant indicating an unfavorable health condition. The testing means may be incorporated in litter material, carried on the inner surface of the container or on inserts in any case when the package is open, the testing means includes at least one unitary portion under each position the animal may occupy while urinating and of an area such as to become wetted at least in part by contact with urine-wetted particles in the normal use thereof thus to be subject to the reactant throughout a predetermined time.

Abstract: A two-cycle crankcase compression internal combustion engine having extended and specially positioned intake porting and reed-type intake valves, with the porting and valves arranged to improve various of the operating characteristics of the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type with injection of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, provided with catalytic means for initiating the combustion of the air/fuel charge in the combustion chamber of the or each cylinder. The major part of the combustion chamber of each cylinder is afforded by a recess formed in the piston crown, and a catalytic element of mesh, grid, perforated or sintered or other construction, is carried by the piston in a position at least partly overlying the said recess, the fuel being injected into the said recess to contact and pass through the catalytic element, being ignited by its contact with the catalytic element.

Abstract: A maximum liquid level control valve for limiting the flow of liquid petroleum gas into a tank having a valve body, a float pivotally attached to the valve body, a closure flap, a spring acting between the valve body and the closure flap, and a cam device movable by the float. The control valve which is mounted to a flange welded to the side wall of the tank has a valve seat and a passage for liquid to flow through the valve body into the tank. The closure flap is movable toward the valve seat to a closed position and away from the valve seat to an open position. The closure flap is movable to the closed position under incoming liquid pressure. When the liquid level in the tank is below the maximum liquid level, the cam device acts on a stem which is attached to the closure flap. With the cam acting on the stem, the closure flap cannot be moved to the closed position in response to incoming liquid pressure.

Abstract: A viscous fluid clutch employing a magnetic field selectively actuatable by a heat sensing device to operate a valve arm to seal an inlet passage fluidly communicating an operating chamber with a storage chamber. The clutch includes a clutch and a housing member rotatably disposed relative to one another. Each member has a shear surface. The surfaces define therebetween the operating chamber. The storage chamber is located in the housing member and is in fluid communication with the operating chamber via a discharge passage and the inlet passage. Pump means in the operating chamber displace fluid through the discharge passage from the operating chamber to the storage chamber. The inlet passage directs fluid from the storage to the operating chamber. A movable valve arm selectively seals the inlet passage. The valve arm is moved via a solenoid action in response to actuation of the magnetic field.

Abstract: Spacecraft nutation caused by applying attitude and/or orbit control forces to a spacecraft along an axis which does not pass through the spacecraft's center of gravity is minimized by a signal responsive control system which first operates the attitude and/or orbit control forces for a predetermined time period and automatically after an appropriate non-operating time period, the attitude and/or orbit control forces are again operated for the same predetermined time period.

Abstract: Molybdenum - vanadium - oxygen oxidation catalyst for producing maleic anhydride from benzene is regenerated and stabilized by the addition of a compound of Mo, Ni, Co, Mn or U, preferably a volatile compound, to the catalyst, after a decline in activity.

Abstract: The impact strength of certain thermoplastic vinylic polymers is improved by polymerizing the corresponding monomers in an emulsion of a diorganosiloxane containing units of the formula HSR'SiR.sub.n O.sub.3--n/2. For example a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer containing 20 percent by weight of a dimethylsiloxane-3-mercaptopropylsiloxane copolymer having 1 mol percent mercaptosiloxane has an Izod notched impact strength of 10.8 foot pounds per inch.

Abstract: A suction device suitable for gripping porous sacks filled with free-flowing particulate materials is disclosed. The device comprises a vacuum chamber with a porous base and a rigid wall extending continuously around the periphery of the base on the side remote from the chamber. In use the device is placed on the sack and suction is applied until the sack and its contents rigidify as the air is drawn out from between the particles, through the porous sack. With the suction device attached to a robot arm, crane hoist or other lifting means, the rigidified sacks can be readily handled, e.g. during palletizing and depalletizing operations. The device may also be adapted for gripping filled sacks which are not naturally porous, for instance polyethylene sacks, by incorporating means, such as a knife, for piercing the sack within the area bounded by the rigid wall. For safety reasons, the piercing means preferably has associated protection which permits piercing of the sack but which shields it at other times.

Abstract: A helmet assembly which accurately positions a portable visual display unit carried by the helmet shell thereof in a predetermined position relative to the eye of the wearer. The outer shell and an inner helmet assembly adapted to fit relatively closely over the wearer's head each have portions overlying the wearer's forehead which are maintained in predetermined spaced relationship with each other by readily releasable adjustable fasteners.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a head and face protecting hood which includes a cover body having front and rear walls each being having an outer layer of a laminate of non-flammable polyvinyl chloride sheet and non-flammable fiber sheet and an inner layer of adiabatic non-woven fiber sheet which is adhered to only the edges of the outer layer of each of the front and rear walls so as to cover a whole head and face. An eye facing body is provided which is adhered to the front wall of the cover body and is made of a non-flammable transparent polyvinyl chloride layer. A mouthpiece facing the front wall of body may be also provided which is mounted on the front wall of the cover body and has a front composite layer, a rear composite layer and a poison absorption agent covered with an adiabatic fiber layer disposed therebetween.

Abstract: An adjustable apron is disclosed which is made of three separate pieces of vinyl fabric, namely a body member and two identical crescent-shaped arm cut-out strips. The vinyl fabric is a soft and flexible vinyl laminate formed by bonding poly(vinyl chloride) to a woven cotton cloth. The apron is so constructed as to provide a neck loop which is adjustable for wearers having a wide variety of body shapes and sizes. The apron is provided with a pair of arcuate arm cut-outs having seams each of which has a critical radius in the range from 25 cm to about 40 cm. With this radius, when the apron is worn, with its vinyl surface exteriorly disposed, the cotton cloth inner surface of the laminate frictionally engages the clothing of the wearer and provides a good fit with a relatively large contact surface which allows the wearer to secure the apron in a comfortable position on his body.

Abstract: The securement of an endoprosthetic orthopaedic member of plastics material in cancellous bone involves the provision of a relieved configuration on the member, the upstanding elements of such configuration flexing to afford an interference fit upon translation of the member into a substantially complementary, but slightly undersized recess in the bone. The member is suitably of stem or other elongated form with an annular or helical finned configuration as the upstanding elements. Preferably each such fin configuration includes a sequence of longitudinally separated fins individually extending over a minor circumferential portion of the member. The member will commonly be formed as a one-piece projection from a prosthetic bone joint component.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a two-part prosthesis which is particularly designed and intended for intramedullary implantation in substitution for the metacarpophalangeal (MP), phalangeal-interphalangeal (PIP) or distal-interphalangeal (DIP) joints.

Abstract: A prosthesis for knees and other joints comprises two portions which are disposed side by side and which are at least partially spaced apart from one another. Each portion of the prosthesis includes a pair of spaced apart, relatively inextensible primary components. Disposed between and spaced from the primary components in each portion of the prosthesis is a pivot member. Each pivot member is resiliently secured to the two corresponding primary components of its portion of the prosthesis so as to permit and accommodate relative rotation between the pivot member and the primary components. As a result, the two primary components of each portion of the joint prosthesis can rotate toward and away from one another about an axis that is disposed at least adjacent to and at least approximately parallel to a central axis of the corresponding pivot member. The pivot member and the primary components of each portion of the prosthesis are preferably secured together by one or more bodies of elastomer.

Abstract: This invention relates to water basins and valves and valve controls therefore. The basin has interior water supply and overflow lines communicating with the interior peripheral surface and is provided with valves and push button controls to control the flow of water into and out of the basin.

Abstract: A hospital bed is described having a twin canting plate mechanical jack for raising the top of the bed relative to the base or chassis, for holding the top in any elevated position, and for permitting descent, in which the jack comprises a horizontally arranged main shaft which extends through the canting plates, with opposite ends of the shaft being connected to respective bell cranks of a linkage system which carries the bed top. A main shaft passes through a locking plate and a raising plate, and it is an important feature that a pedal shaft which effects displacement of the locking plate to allow the top to be lowered is also connected to the raising plate so that the raising plate locks the bed during the time that the locking plate is being moved to the release position so that subsequent descent of the bed top can be without jerk.

Abstract: A beach towel or the like for use with a pillow, and characterized by simplicity and economy of construction, and the use of elements substantially impervious to corrosion by salt and damage from sand. The beach towel comprises an elongate, substantially rectangular fabric piece defining opposing, laterally extending top and bottom end edges and opposing, longitudinally extending side edges. A pair of longitudinally spaced-apart and laterally extending attachment members are secured to the fabric piece proximate its top end for permitting the top end of the fabric piece to be folded over itself and releasably attached in such position to form a tube for enclosing a pillow. One of the attachment members comprises a patch having numerous rows of hook-like projections, and the other of the pair of attachment members comprises a patch of loose, fibrous, non-woven material for releasably interlocking with the hook-like projections.

Abstract: A pad mounted for resting on the top surface of a water bed reciprocates vertically to displace water forming waves in the water of the water bed, for relaxing a user. The speed, amplitude and time of operation of the pad is variable to the desires of the user.

Abstract: At least a pair of separate cushioning members are interconnected by an overlying face of a cover and disposed side by side at the side regions, border strips are secured each along one of their edges to a corresponding inner skin overlying one main face of a cushioning member, at the opposite main faces corresponding cover sheets are secured at the other edges of the border strips; the interconnecting cover overlies the inner skins and is secured along its periphery to them and to the first-mentioned edges of the border strips.The method includes joining two border strips each to one edge of an inner skin, drawing them round a cushioning member and securing a cover sheet to each, over laying an additional cover sheet over both skins and securing it peripherally to them and the adjacent edges of the border strips forming two pouches one to both sides of a hingeable fold zone of the overlying cover sheet.

Abstract: A cooking utensil or tool basically characterized as having a handle end, a working end, and an intermediate shank portion extending between said handle and working ends. Attaching means is formed about the intermediate shank portion of the cooking tool that enables the cooking tool to be secured or rested in a firm and stationary position about the upper edge of practically all cooking pots and pans known. In addition, an associated wall hanger assembly is provided for supporting a plurality of said cooking utensils in side-by-side relationship when not in use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for impregnation of a dry fabric is disclosed including a purging device which is provided immediately upstream of a supply of liquid within an impregnation tank. The purging device urges a condensable gas through the dry fabric immediately prior to entry of the fabric into the liquid with the purging device providing a pressure differential across the fabric. The fabric is preferably conveyed by a first endless conveyor belt through a passageway of the purging device and subsequently into the impregnating liquid and beneath a first squeeze roller. The purging device displaces the non-condensable gas or air within the fabric with a condensable gas preferably steam.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine capable of automatically carrying out a programmed sequence of a washing operation, a rinsing operation and/or a spinning or extracting operation, and a method for operating such a washing machine, in which a newly selected operation program is compared with an already selected operation program, and when the already selected operation program includes an operation included in the newly selected operation program, the operation in the already selected operation program corresponding to that in the newly selected operation program is only continuously carried out for improving the utility of the automatic washing machine.

Abstract: A collapsible, inflatable boat is provided having two large inflatable tubes as hulls connected together by a floor raised above the midpoint of the hull tubes and supported by spaced-apart, laterally-extending rigid members flexible connected thereto. An inflatable, semi-tubular chamber is disposed beneath the floor and extends longitudinally of the boat midway between the hull tubes. A hinged, rigid transom is provided at the rear of the boat, and a forward end member closes the front of the boat to permit collapsing of the boat to a relatively small package without having to remove any parts from the boat.