Abstract: A feminine menstrual hygiene product has an absorbent pad. The pad is in a folded condition. The pad is folded longitudinally and transversely and then folded diagonally presenting an interlabial insert and orthogonally opposed panels. The pad is tacked to retain the absorbent pad in the folded condition. The interlabial insert is positionable fully within the vestibule of a wearer to occlude menstrual fluids. The pad is covered by a hydrophobic web overlying the interlabial insert and opposed panels and an impermeable membrane underlying the opposed panels.

Abstract: A collapsible catwalk comprising a support frame having a base and a top section, trolley members mounted on the frame top section adapted to suspend the support frame for lateral linear travel on at least one horizontal support rail, at least one guide wheel extending rearwardly from the support frame for maintaining the support frame vertical and for facilitating and guiding the support frame during lateral linear travel, a platform pivotally mounted on the support frame at the base thereof for pivotal movement from a substantially vertical retracted position to a substantially horizontal extended forward position, and collapsible safety rails surrounding the platform pivotally mounted on the platform for collapse upon retraction of the platform and for erection upon extension of the platform. The collapsible catwalk may additionally comprise a brake extending rearwardly from the platform for stopping the lateral movement of the catwalk when the platform is mentioned to its horizontal position.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collecting plates from two rows of plates travelling side-by-side on a moving conveyor comprising inverting plates sequentially in one row of plates and merging said two rows of plates by depositing a plate from one row onto a plate in the other row to form a single row of double plates each having an inverted plate, and assembling a single row of said double plates into stacks. The double plates are assembled into stacks preferably by shingling the double plates to assemble a plurality of overlapped double plates, stacking shingled double plates to form horizontal stacks, turning each horizontal stack onto a side or end of the stack to form a vertically-stacked bundle, and rocking the vertically-stacked bundle on the side or end to align the plates on the side or end, rotating the bundle vertically through 90.degree.

Abstract: An adjustable socket for removing threaded fasteners has a split collet socket, a collet ring and an outer barrel. The split collet ring has at least two fingers. The collet ring is mounted about ends of the fingers. The outer barrel threadably engages the split collet socket and frictionally engages the collet ring. Rotating the barrel relative to the split collet socket in one sense urges the collet ring to close the fingers for gripping a head of the threaded fastener. Continued rotation of the barrel in the one sense increases the grip and applies a torque to the threaded fastener for removal thereof. Counter rotation of the barrel relative to the split collet socket relaxes the collet ring allowing removal of the head of the threaded fastener.

Abstract: A method for generating 3D data of an object using a laser projector uses the steps of calibrating at least two laser projectors to a known coordinate system relative to an object; projecting a first laser beam along a path to a point on the object; placing a reflection target at the point for reflecting the first laser beam for generating a first feedback signal indicative of the first laser beam hitting the reflective target; calculating first vector coordinates of the path of the first laser beam; projecting a second laser beam towards the point; moving the second laser beam in a predetermined pattern until the second laser beam reflects off of the reflective target generating a second feedback signal indicative of the second laser beam hitting the reflective target; calculating second vector coordinates of the path of the second laser beam; triangulating the first vector coordinates with the second vector coordinates establishing a digitized 3D coordinate of the point relative to the coordinate system; re

Abstract: A portable puzzle storage board provides an assembly surface for jigsaw type puzzles and a simple mechanism for securing the puzzle pieces in place. The pieces are secured with a flexible cover which may be easily engaged and disengaged with the retainer frame of the puzzle storage board to provide a simple and quick way of storing a completed puzzle or partially assembled puzzle. The puzzle storage board is comprised of a flexible cover, a retainer frame having a convex base for receiving the puzzle pieces, and a recess for securing the flexible cover to the retainer frame for retaining the puzzle pieces.

Abstract: There is provided a novel class of additives, specifically coals, which are useful in zinc extraction processes involving one or more pressure leach stages carried out at temperatures above the melting point of sulphur. Such processes may include those incorporating a single stage pressure leach, a process involving two stage countercurrent or cocurrent pressure leaches or a multistage leach process for recovering zinc, lead and silver from zinc bearing sulphidic materials which also contain lead and silver.

Abstract: A gas burner for use in gas fireplaces provides a yellow flickering flame such as that seen in a real wood fire while maintaining a low level of carbon monoxide production. The gas burner is simple in design and compact in size and may be used in either direct vent or gravity vent gas fireplaces. An air baffle plate may be affixed to the rear of the gas burner to maintain the critical balance between primary and secondary combustion air when using liquid propane gas.

Abstract: A fractionation apparatus has a displaceable piston operably mounted for displacing liquids from a centrifuge tube as the piston is inserted therein. The fractionation apparatus has a collection tip which has a seal for sealingly engaging an inner wall of the tube and has an axially extending passageway for passing liquids from within the tube to a collector as the piston is inserted into the tube. The passageway is generally a trumpet shape having a wide end and a narrow end. The wide end is presented to the liquids and the narrow end connects to the collector. The trumpet shape enhances laminar flow through the collection tip and reduced unwanted mixing between layers during fractionation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shot blast cleaning a workpiece. The method comprising the steps of applying a composite stream of a slurry consisting of carrier liquid and particulate abrasive material under high velocity to the workpiece in a blast cabinet, reclaiming spent slurry after undersized abrasive material have been removed, cleaning the carrier liquid for reuse and pumping the cleaned carrier liquid at the workpiece for washing and conditioning the workpiece or pumping the cleaned carrier liquid together with the reclaimed abrasive material as a composite stream at the workpiece. A nozzle which has a divider within it for separating the abrasive material and carrier liquid is used in combination with a slurry discharge head to discharge the abrasive material and carrier liquid in a substantially overlapping blast pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for forming a T-shaped slot a sheet of material. The sheet of material is clamped to a top surface of an arbor. The arbor has a uniform T-shaped cross section having two undersides of the T-shape. The sheet of material is first formed into an inverted U-shape and then the sheet of material is bent to conform to the undersides of the arbor forming the T-shaped slot. The arbor is withdrawn from an open end of the formed T-shaped slot.

Abstract: An electric power generator has a housing having an inner cavity having a center and an inner circumferential surface spaced at a varying radial extent from the center. A magnetic flux generator has a body offset from a point of rotation. The magnetic flux generator is rotatable at the center. The magnetic flux generator has a central passageway for slidably receiving a shaft with a magnet. The magnetic flux generator has a coil mounted about the central passageway in an inductive relation with the magnet. A spring is disposed between the shaft and magnetic flux generator for urging the shaft into contact with the inner circumferential surface whereby as the housing rotates, the magnetic flux generator rotates relative to the housing urging the shaft to travel along the inner circumferential surface causing relative back and forth motion of the shaft through the passageway inducing a voltage in the coil.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning an object includes a fixed vertical frame and a carriage to support the object. The carriage includes a first end with rollers to engage the frame and a second end with a bearing to engage a floor or other surface. Also at the second end is a gate which can be moved from a position wherein it is parallel to said carriage to a position wherein it is perpendicular to said carriage. A drive operates a cable linkage to move the first end of the carriage along the frame and to rotate driven wheels in the bearing to move the carriage between vertical and horizontal positions.

Abstract: A drill bit assembly has a housing having a central passageway including a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber. The pressure chamber is connectable with a pressure source and the vacuum chamber is connectable with a vacuum source. The pressure chamber and vacuum chamber are in fluid communication with each other. A bearing assembly has an outer race rigidly mounted within the pressure chamber and an inner race for frictionally engaging the drill bit. A bracket mounts the housing with the drill bit extending through the central passageway. A seal is formed between the pressure chamber and the vacuum chamber as fluid, such as air, from the pressure source flows into the pressure chamber to the vacuum chamber for exhausting to the vacuum source.

Abstract: Selective demetallization of an etchable metal layer supported on a polymeric material or other microwave transparent material, or a self-supporting etchable metal layer, particularly aluminum of thickness at least about 1 micron adhesively joined to a flexible polymeric material substrate, is described. A web of polymeric material bearing the etchable metal layer, or an unsupported etchable metal layer, has a pattern of etchant-resistant material first applied and then the web is immersed in and passed through a bath aqueous etchant, particularly hot aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, for a time at least sufficient completely remove the etchable metal from non-protected areas of the web. The demetallized web is washed and dried. Specific structure incorporating the selectively demetallized etchable metal layer also are described.

Abstract: A sealing ring for fitting between and sealing an annular space between a spigot end of a length of pipe and a bell-shaped end of another length of pipe which are slid into each other to form a pipe joint. The sealing ring comprises an annular main body having a first surface for engaging the spigot end and a second surface for engaging the bell-shaped end during the formation of the pipe joint. A thin rupturable membrane of a thickness less than 0.008 inches is attached to the second surface about the circumference of the annular main body defining an annular cavity. A lubricant is disposed in the annular cavity, either between the second surface and the rupturable membrane or in an encapsulated cavity formed by the membrane whereby, when the spigot end and the bell-shaped end are slid into each other to form a pipe joint, the rupturable membrane is ruptured and the lubricant is released.

Abstract: A device for controlling an AC output with an AC load from an AC supply comprises a power amplifier module connected to the AC supply and a control module in communication with the AC supply and the power amplifier module. The power amplifier module converts an AC supply to DC and then converts the DC to an AC output. The control module extracts predetermined characteristics, such as current, voltage and frequency from the AC supply and compares the predetermined characteristics with stored load characteristics of the AC load. The control module responsively triggers the power amplifier module to generate an output waveform of the AC output substantially in phase with respect to the AC supply.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fusing a bell connector to the end of a corrugated thermoplastic pipe are disclosed in which an expandable mandrel grips a preformed bell and a pipe support grips a pipe co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the bell. A pipe trimmer for facing the pipe end may be moved into and out of the axis of the pipe if necessary for trimming the pipe end to provide a uniform planar face and a heater moved sequentially into and out of the axis of the pipe and bell for heating the opposed faces of the trimmed end of the pipe and the end of the bell to a desired fusing temperature. Upon heating of the opposed faces of the bell and the pipe to a predetermined fusing temperature, the said faces of the bell and the pipe are abutted against each other at a predetermined pressure for a time sufficient to fuse the bell and pipe together.

Abstract: A transit packaging having a reduced content includes a blank of a corrugated cardboard having flutes in a longitudinal direction. A first and second transverse score are made at opposite end regions of the blank defining side panels of the packaging. A plurality of longitudinally aligned pairs of notches are at opposite ends of the blank. A retainer releasably retains like containers onto the blank preventing relative sliding movement. A plurality of straps, each positioned in one of the aligned pairs of notches, wraps about the blank when the like containers are retained on the blank.