Abstract: An improved home canning closure system is provided for a home canning jar featuring a plastic ring and a metal lid combination which is adapted to allow excess pressure to escape while preventing the escape of the contents from the container. The plastic ring includes an annular top panel portion and a skirt portion depending downwardly from the outer periphery of the top panel portion. The skirt portion incorporates threads on its inner surface to engage threads on the external neck of the home canning jar. The plastic ring features a downwardly and inwardly directed annular sealing flange depending from its lower surface which forms a spring member to maintain a constant force to bias the metal lid into sealing engagement with the upper rim on the home canning jar.

Abstract: A reinforced form-fitting shipping container formed from a single blank of generally rectangular outline and particularly suited for the shipping and storing of upholstered furniture. As used for upholstered chairs of the type having a relatively low seat and a backrest, the container comprises an intermediate horizontal wall overlying a front portion of the chair, a horizontal top wall extending over the top of the backrest, and an inclined upper front wall extending between the intermediate horizontal wall and top wall. The container is reinforced at areas of increased stress by integral reinforcing elements providing a multi-ply construction of the inclined upper front wall and preferably also of the intermediate horizontal wall and top wall. In the preferred embodiments, the inclined upper front wall is reinforced and stabilized by overlapping cut portions formed thereunder and extending from a pair of sidewalls.

Abstract: A method of sorting articles having major and minor surfaces such that they normally assume a position presenting one major surface against a support surface and an opposed major surface spaced from said support surface wherein the articles are aligned on a support surface and advanced in a guided single file past a discriminating means which alters the path of advance of those articles having a first given orientation of its major surface relative to the guide means. The articles of the opposite major surface orientation relative to the guide means support surface are thus segregated. Both segregated groups of articles can be merged following their orientation to a like major surface relationship to a reference support surface.A turntable imposes centrifugal forces on the articles to be sorted to pass them to a tangential guide chute in single file.

Abstract: An improved home canning closure system is provided for a home canning jar featuring a plastic ring and a metal lid combination which is adapted to allow excess pressure to escape while preventing the escape of the contents from the container. The plastic ring includes an annular top panel portion and a skirt portion depending downwardly from the outer periphery of the top panel portion. The skirt portion incorporates buttress threads on its inner surface to engage threads on the external neck of the home canning jar. The plastic ring features an upwardly and outwardly inclined ramp portion on its lower surface and a thin section at the junction of the top panel and skirt portions which combine to form a spring member to maintain a constant force to bias the metal lid into sealing engagement with the upper rim on the home canning jar.

Abstract: Apparatus for testing pressurized sealed containers for leakage including a fluid filled tank for receiving the container to be tested. The tank is comprised of a transparent side wall, a bottom wall and a top wall. Means are provided for piercing the container to be tested. Means are further provided for attachment to the piercing means for providing communication between the interior of the container and a source of pressure fluid operable to pressurize the container being tested only when the top wall of the tank is in a closed position.

Abstract: Disclosed are pH responsive glass compositions which contain specified proportions of LiO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5. In some embodiments, the glasses also contain a small proportion of Cs.sub.2 O. The glasses have very low electrical resistivity, are stable against devitrification, and are readily melted and formed into shapes which are suitable for glass electrodes.