Abstract: A suture package has a first panel and a second panel thermally bonded to form a suture compartment therebetween, the suture compartment including apertures adapted to allow pins to pass through for provisionally winding the suture around, the first panel including a stitch crosswisely produced, and the second panel has a cutaway portion which allows an upper portion of the first panel to protrude beyond the second panel as a tab whereby the user easily grasps the first panel and tears the same along the stitch. The suture is accommodated with its main portion being located within the suture compartment and with its end portions outside it.

Abstract: For sequentially dispensing individual closed loops of a narrow, easily tied, flexible material, such as dental floss, a chain having such closed loops as respective links thereof is made up by pressing a loop length of the flexible material into substantially rectilinear formation, loosely forming a knot in an end thereof, inserting a loop end of another so-pressed loop length into the loosely formed knot of the first loop length, tightening the knot to provide a slip-free-until-pulled-to-separate-loops joinder between the thus formed loop links and repeating this with additional loop lengths at either or both ends of the first-joined loop length until a chain of desired length is formed. Individual loop links are dispensed by grasping a terminal loop link of the chain and pulling it free of the chain while holding the knot that embraces the unknotted end of the next loop link of the chain.

Abstract: A tubular yarn package (10) is disclosed of the type held by at least one end on a rotatably mounted plate. The plate fits into one end of package (10) and traps across the end against an inner wall of the package a length of yarn. Short length of spirally extending grooves (15) are formed in the inner wall of the package (10) adjacent to the end of the package. The yarn fits into the closest adjacent groove (15) and grips the yarn sufficiently to prevent breakage of the yarn by relative movement between the package (10) and the plate occasioned by starting or stopping the rotation of the package (10).

Abstract: A suture winding card comprising a base panel and a plurality of flaps extending from and foldable over the base panel to cover and secure a suture thread coil disposed thereon. One of the flaps includes a plurality of triangularly shaped flap portions which can be selectively folded to form a pocket for receiving the end of a suture needle.

Abstract: A package (20, 40, 48, 56, 72) is sealed to enclose dental floss or other filament (22). The filament is sealed at its end portions (22b) within sealed ends (26b, 26d; 46b, 46d; 50b, 50d; 62b, 62d; 74b, 74d) of the package, and a bunched-up filament portion is sealed within the package. A notch (30) with a cut (30a and 30b), a tear line 54, a tear-away tab (64) or simply the package material which is easily tearable, enables the package to be opened, by using a greater or lesser sized segment (e.g., 34; 64; 72a or 72b) of the package as a handle to draw the filament untangled and unknotted from the package. The package is formed using instrumentation including a feed tube (114) and a mandrel (116) which are concentrically positioned and relatively movable with respect to one another in timed movements.

Abstract: A line and sack assembly providing for the storage of a continuous length of line. A sack is disclosed of mesh construction and line is stored within the sack formed as multiple collections of line following one another and serially located in the interior of the sack. The sack has a closable throat at one end through which line is payed out when needed and which is opened up when reloading the sack with line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a needle organizer having a generally longitudinally extending pin cushion with indicia along its length. These indicia allow a user to place needles in the cushion in accordance with pre-selected criteria, such as different shades of thread attached to the needles. The organizer has a frame attached to the cushion for carrying the indicia, and, in one embodiment, provides a stand-up base for the cushion. The indicia may be in the form of a ruler, a strip on which a user can write, or a window for receiving a pre-written strip.

Abstract: A threaded needle holder for needle craft projects is disclosed. The needle holder is made up of a rectangular card with a magnet parallel to one long edge of the card. A plurality of slits spaced along the long edge act to receive thread carried by needles received on the magnet. The needle will extend across the magnet to a line on the opposite side, the line receiving the number or the like for the color thread in the needle. The name of the project being worked on can also be placed on the card. Optionally, magnets can be fixed to the rear of the card to allow the needle holder to be mounted on a magnet board.

Abstract: An elongated flexible panel is provided and defines anchor loops spaced along its opposite side longitudinal marginal edges from which the looped ends of one or more serpentine folded rappel rope sections may be releaseably supported. The panel is rollable into a compact state and includes end straps at one end thereof which may be encircled and releaseably secured about the panel when in a rolled state. One end of the panel is weighted and when the rope portions at the other end of the panel are attached to a suitable elevated anchor point the rolled panel may be thrown out and will unroll to a vertical position with the weighted end thereof lowermost as the panel drops to a lower level and the rappel rope section or sections are deployed from the panel.

Abstract: The wire coil wound to a variable diameter which is packaged onto a display backing in the form of a card (3) has groups of turns of different diameters which are stacked by being overlapped according to an increasing or decreasing diameter pattern meeting the relation E=D.sub.o .+-.2 n .phi. where E is the increasing or decreasing winding, D.sub.o is the initial coil diameter, n is a positive integer and .phi. is the wire diameter.

Abstract: A workbox for a knitting project containing a plurality of small containers connected together, to house the individual yarns, each container having a loading door and a top aperture that is staggered with its neighbor apertures, from which the yarn issues for use in the project, a swivel supporting the box to allow it to be easily rotated to keep in phase with the knitter, a cover for placement over the box having a top higher than the containers so that partially finished projects may be stored therebetween, and a handle by which the box is carried from place to place.

Abstract: An open-faced frame supports and protects a continuous strand of garland. The strand is wound around a pair of spaced, oppositely oriented "V"-shaped strand support members. Each of the support members has two hingeably joined portions, each with a peripheral edge. A plurality of strand receiving recesses are situated along each peripheral edge. The support members are retained in parallel relation by two spaced, substantially planar elements. Openings on the ends of each element receive and retain the support members. A band encircles the elements and a portion of the strand therebetween. The frame is virtually hidden from view by the garland, but protects same from being flattened or crushed during handling, shipping, and display.

Abstract: A peripherally sealed package (20) contains a bunched up portion (22a) of dental floss or other filament (22) with the outer ends (22b) of the floss or filament being disposed within and secured by sealed ends (26b and 26d) of the package. A notch (30) whose cut (30a and 30b) enables the package to be opened, uses a segment (34) of the package as a handle to draw the filament untangled and unknotted from the package. The package is formed using instrumentation including a feed tube (84) and a mandrel (86) which are concentrically positioned and relatively movable with respect to one another in timed movements. These movements, in conjunction with an accompanying sealer (54), holders (58, 72) and cutter (74a, 74b), draw an uncut length of filament (22) between two films (52a, 52b) of wrapping material, and bunch up a measured amount (22a) of the filament for deposit into an open-ended compartment (28) formed from the wrapping material.

Abstract: An improved high density tow bale wrapped with a cardboard or the like covering and held in compressed condition by multiple strappings which extend around the bale, the tow bale having on its bottom a pattern of multiple pads for supporting the bale on a floor and unrelieved areas between the pads for receiving the strappings therealong; and the method for forming the improved high density tow bale.

Abstract: The invention provides a disposable suture package containing a curved surgical needle to which a suture is attached. A flattened envelope has a slot extending along part of its periphery through which a pull tab, fast with a needle carrier inside the envelope, projects outwardly from the interior of the envelope. The needle carrier is movable in the interior of the envelope towards the slot in response to a pull on the tab and has a needle-engaging formation for urging the needle towards the slot and into engagement with a cam formation fast with the envelope, to urge one end of the needle out of the slot and into a position in which it stands free of the envelope and tab.

Abstract: A method whereby patterned fabrics are knitted from plural sources of colored yarn without tangling of the yarn strands or need for repositioning the yarn sources during knitting by providing a yarn source holder for disposing a plurality of yarn balls in a linear array wherein the yarn strands are twisted during the knitting of the knit row and untwisted during the knitting of the purl row while maintaining the holder in a substantially stationary position.

Abstract: A folder and retainer for a plurality of sutures. The folder and retainer comprises a plurality of panels forming a compartment between adjacent panels with a single loop of sutures disposed in any single compartment to provide for removal of an individual suture from the folder and retainer without entanglement of the sutures.

Abstract: This is an improved mounting means which can be used on special occasions for holding and displaying items that may be given away to guests as a remembrance of the special occasion. The mounting means may be a flat board with circular holes and vertical slots drilled and cut through the board. A circular hole is located at the top of each vertical slot. Thin disks may be attached to the remembrance items in order to facilitate mounting of the items. The remembrance items are mounted by inserting each item into one of the circular holes in the board and then sliding it down the vertical slot below the hole.

Abstract: A container for a plurality of surgical patties having a recess for receiving a number of surgical patties and a plurality of count slots for receiving locating strings attached to the patties so that each pattie may be readily counted by surgical personnel. Additional slots are provided so that the locating strings can be wound back across the pattie recess to hold the patties in the recess during shipping. Wetting fluid may be introduced into the recesses to wet the patties before they are used in the body. If a plurality of pattie recesses are used, channel recesses are provided to provide fluid communication between the pattie recesses to that wetting fluid may be distributed among the multiple recesses.

Abstract: An elongated, multi-paneled, foldable retainer for sterile sutures. Sutures are wound about a winding panel so as to be disposed inwardly from the edges of the retainer and the sutures are held in that position by a suture retaining panel.

Abstract: A display and storage package for an elongated flat article embodies a generally rectangular pocket defined by superimposed flexible sheets of a width greater than the width of the elongated article. The flexible sheets are joined to each other along spaced apart, longitudinal side edges and along one end edge, with the other end of the pocket being open for receiving the elongated article. An intermediate projection extends inwardly from one longitudinal side of the pocket and longitudinally spaced end projections extend inwardly from the other longitudinal sides of the pocket. The projections are so positioned relative to each other that the elongated article is movable inwardly of the intermediate projection as one end of the elongated article is moved inwardly relative to its end projection and the other end of the elongated article is moved outwardly relative to its end projection.

Abstract: A retainer for surgical sutures comprising three panels which provide for a separate needle compartment and a separate suture compartment. The panels are aligned so that once the needle has been placed in position, the winding of a suture maintains the needle in the desired position.

Abstract: A holder for ends of skeins of embroidery floss is disclosed. The holder is defined by a substantially planar member (10) having a plurality of apertures (12) formed therein. A plurality of tabs (14) are formed or associated with the planar member. The color-coded end of a skein of embroidery floss is projected through an aperture and mounted onto an associated tab. The planar member has a plurality of dimensional demarcations (16) formed along one linear edge thereof.

Abstract: The invention comprises a circular, transparent, plastic disc having a plurality of circular holes located equidistant from the center of the disc and being substantially equidistant from each other. A plurality of radial tabs equal in number to the number of holes and located on radii corresponding to respective holes provides a device wherein a plurality of strands of yarn are cut into substantially equal lengths and divided by color. The yarn of like color is inserted through a hole, and a central portion of the yarn is pulled over a tab corresponding with the hole on its radius, thus locking the strands in place relative to each other and the disc. The disc can be mounted on posts extending from a "lazy-Susan" base.

Abstract: A package is provided of wound strand of filaments coiled in layers, into a tubular configuration, with a sheet material covering of ionic polymer that has a surface attraction to the strand, for keeping the strand against the sheet material or film during unwinding of the strand from the package, completely through to the end of strand removal from the package. Electrostatic charge is induced on the strand and sheet material, to create electrostatic attraction at their common interface, for holding the strand to the sheet material and preventing the last portion of a strand package that is being unwound, from becoming tangled. Accordingly, this electrostatic attraction causes the film to support the outer strand coils in the package as the strand is withdrawn from the package, thereby preventing coils from slumping or falling together and becoming tangled.

Abstract: A dental floss dispenser in a credit card format permitting the dispenser to be conveniently carried in a wallet. The dispenser comprises a base panel having a peripheral ridge to define a shallow well within which is nested a supply of dental floss in flattened coil form. The leading end of the coil passes out of the well through an aperture and is caught by a lug adjacent an edge notch cut in the base panel. Anchored in the well is a blade whose cutting edge is exposed by the notch, whereby when floss is pulled out of the well to provide a usable length, the trailing end thereof may be cut by the blade. The dispenser is completed by a face panel bonded to the ridge to encapsulate the floss supply, the face panel having a corresponding notch.

Abstract: A ring notebook carries a flexible, rectangular, opaque base sheet provided along one longitudinal side with spaced holes through which the rings of the notebook protrude. One surface of the base sheet is provided with a smaller, transparent, rectangular yarn retaining sheet secured to the base sheet along the upper and lower borders of the retaining sheet by a pair of straight, parallel, heat sealed, transversely extending end securing strips. Between the end securing strips are a plurality of equally spaced, transversely extending parallel, heat sealed divider strips, the divider strips and the end strips separating the retaining sheet into a plurality of transversely disposed, open ended pockets which receive skeins of yarn.

Abstract: A thread storage apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of storage cards having holes along one edge for receiving loops of thread, and holes along the opposite edge for holding the cards in an expandable binder. The loops of yarn extend into a pocket to secure the free ends of the loops of thread, and the pocket is foldable over the back panel of the binder. Top and bottom end flaps may be provided to close the ends of the binder, and a front panel is provided as a front closure. An index card may be provided to assist in locating threads, and a use card may be provided for separating thread required for one project.

Abstract: A dispenser package for vessel occluding bands used in surgical procedures. A thin rectangular plastic card or sheet is provided with winding notches or grooves along opposed edges thereof, such that one or more bands or strands of elastic material may be wound on the card with the individual turns of the strand being spaced from one another. To keep the elastic band from unraveling from the card, slits are formed on the remaining opposed edges of the card and a tongue slit is formed centrally of the card such that one free end of the band can be retained in one of the edge slits and the other free end is retained in the tongue slit. An outer sleeve of transparent plastic film material is adapted to surround the card with the bands wound thereon to help ensure cleanliness of the bands, while allowing them to be dispensed from the card without removal of the card from the sleeve.

Abstract: Apparatus including a substantially flat teardrop shaped holder with an opening at the broad end through which lengths of yarn may be looped, an aperture at the other end for suspending the device from a collection device, and a sleeve holder intermediate the two ends for receiving identification indicia. The shape of the holder is particularly advantageous when a plurality of holders are placed on the same collection device.

Abstract: Substantially flat modified hourglass shaped holders around which yarn may be wound, and having slits at one end for retaining the ends of the yarn, an aperture at the other end for suspending the device from a support, and a sleeve holder intermediate the two ends for identification indicia, may be used in multiple for organizing and storing yarn of varying colors and shades.

Abstract: A surgical suture retaining label for needled and for non-needled multiple sutures is disclosed which permits direct dispensing of the suture. An envelope having a tearing notch and a tear angle guideline across the face of the envelope is also disclosed. When the envelope is torn from the tear notch along the guideline, the label is exposed. The needled and non-needled sutures are held together by a tab. When the tab is pulled, the multiple sutures are directly dispensed from the label.

Abstract: A package for multiple strands of surgical sutures which provides for delivery of individual suture strands. The several sutures are contained within a single compartment of the package, with each suture being individually wound in the form of a coil comprising a series of convolutions, each convolution being laterally displaced from adjacent convolutions and disposed in sequence over the length of the suture. Each individual suture within the package compartment is laterally displaced from adjacent sutures in a contiguous, partially overlapping relationship. The desired suture coil configuration and positioning within the package compartment is conveniently obtained by sequentially winding individual sutures around two vertical winding pins in an upwardly spiraling pattern, with successive loops of each suture and successive sutures being displaced laterally along the pins.

Abstract: A pack for an endless ink ribbon cartridge for high speed printer enabling easy loading and replacement of endless ink ribbon.

Abstract: A package for multiple strands of surgical sutures which provides for delivery of individual suture strands. The sutures are aligned into a bundle of substantially parallel strands and the bundle is wound in the form of a coil comprising a series of contiguous, overlapping convolutions, each convolution being laterally displaced from adjacent convolutions and disposed in sequence from one end of the suture to the other. The desired suture coil configuration is conveniently obtained by winding the suture bundle around two vertical winding pins in an upwardly spiraling pattern with successive loops being displaced laterally along the pins. The wound suture is packaged in a suture folder which is adapted to maintain the suture bundle in its wound configuration with one end of the suture bundle extending from the folder whereby individual suture strands may be grasped and withdrawn from the package.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing fibers for use in the making of fibrous concrete is disclosed in which the fibers are dispensed from an elongated web which has been coiled with the fibers placed within the layers of the coils. The individual concrete reinforcing fibers are deposited in a uniform layer on an elongated web, which is then coiled to form a package. The dispensing device supports a spindle on which the coiled package is placed. The end of the coil of the package is wound around a second spindle which is driven by a rotary motor, and as the web is progressively uncoiled and wound around this second spindle, the fibers are discharged from between the convolutions of the coil.

Abstract: A device for the sorting, storage and transportation of yarn-like materials including a sack for containing the bulk of the yarn-like material and a sorting member placed in a portion of the bag to allow the free ends of the yarn to pass from the interior to the exterior of the bag separated from each other and readily available to the user.

Abstract: Package for the storage and shipment of acrylic tow comprising a substantially filled container wherein the acrylic tow is in the form of a self-supporting block having a density of at least 22 lbs./ft..sup.3.

Abstract: A filamentary tow package in which the tow is in layers of substantially vertical folds and has adjacent layers impacted with one another. Sections of the tow are twisted and vary in helix angle from greater than 45.degree. in an S direction to greater than 45 degrees in a Z direction. The helix angle of the tow is increased by impacting it into layers of tow previously laid down.