Abstract: An improved sock or slipper sock comprising a toe portion for covering the toes of a foot, a continuous calf portion for surrounding a calf, and a slit, slot or opening located between the toe portion and the calf portion is disclosed. The slot terminates, at one end, adjacent to the toe portion and terminates at the other end, adjacent to the calf portion. In a preferred embodiment, the slit is buttonhole stitched for durability. When the sock is first put on a foot, the calf portion is held open and gently slid over the toes, the foot and up the calf where it is released and gently grips the calf. The toe portion is then manipulated to cover the toes of the foot. The slit opens, as necessary, to accommodate any dressing that might be anywhere on the foot. When the dressing needs to be changed, the calf portion remains in its position around the calf, or is adjusted downwardly somewhat, and the toe portion of the sock is removed from toes, leaving the sock attached to the person, about his or her calf.

Abstract: Methods and materials for producing microfibers, and methods or collecting the formed fibers as mats, either by themselves or with various additive, are disclosed. The mats are masses of intermeshed glass or other fibers produced by suspending the fibers in a gaseous medium, and collecting the suspended fibers on a foraminous material. The fibers suspended in the gaseous medium have a BET surface area of from 0.2 to 5 m2 per gram. A method for adding additional materials to the mats is also disclosed; this method involves suspending the additives in the gaseous medium with the fibers.

Abstract: A Dyligomer is disclosed. The Dyligomer has the structure OCN—B—NCO and the active hydrogens of OH groups of compounds having the formulas A—OH and D—OH and A and D are chemical moieties formed by the reactions which formed B, and wherein A and D include, in their structures, at least two active hydrogens which are parts of OH groups and at least one ethylenic double bond. A preferred family of Dyligomers has the structure of Formula I, below: where R is an alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, dihydroxy alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxy alkenyl group having from 2 to 6 carbons. Also disclosed are a method for producing a thermoset article which involves using the Dyligomer and a composition comprising a filler, a catalyst for the reaction of an isocyanate with an active hydrogen, an addition cross-linking material which has at least one ethylenic double bond in its molecule, a free radical addition polymerization catalyst, and the Dyligomer.

Abstract: A chain link is disclosed. The link is composed of two abutting link parts, one of which has an end which is slidably received within a correspondingly shaped end of the other link part, and a connector, preferably a retaining snap ring. The ring is received in cooperating grooves in, and locks, the two link parts in their abutting positions. The grooves, the ring, and the link parts are so shaped and positioned that, when the ring is received within the grooves, the link parts constitute a complete link of a desired configurations, and are securely locked to one another by the ring. The link parts may initially be separate and have second ends corresponding with the first ends. Alternatively, the free ends of the link parts may be connected to or integral with a link body which connects them. At least a portion of the link body is flexible or malleable.

Abstract: An improved bicycle wheel is disclosed in which spokes (22) and spoke bores (18) are paired at the flanges of the hub (12) and the circumferential distance between adjacent pairs is grater than the distance between the spokes and the bores in a given pair, providing improved torque transmission and reduced spoke stresses at spoke crossover points. Such a wheel may be constructed to have reduced dish by comparison with a conventionally laced wheel. In this case, the wheel is one which, when laced conventionally, would be dished such as a rear wheel with at least one sprocket or a front wheel with a brake disk. In a rear wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside, through a proximate hub flange and along the outside to inside through the opposed hub flange. In a front wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside through the proximate hub flange along an inside or disk surface thereof.

Abstract: A method for burying pipe or tile and, especially, double walled drainage tile. The method comprises the steps of digging a relatively wide trench having a bottom with a desired grade and loosening the soil in a central portion of the trench bottom by pulling a groove cutter which is attached to an excavating bucket along the trench bottom so that the bucket rides on the trench bottom and the groove cutter extends below the bottom surface of the trench. After the groove cutter loosens the soil, a modified trench shield or trench box is advanced along the trench bottom. The trench shield is provided, at its leading end, with a groove shaper which removes loosened soil from the central portion of the trench and forms a relatively narrow groove in the bottom of the trench. The width of the groove, adjacent the floor of the trench, may be a little larger or smaller or equal to the drain tile diameter.

Abstract: A device for lifting and moving a load having apertures in a lower portion of the load. The device comprises a frame having first and second ends and a load facing surface. First and second jaws are supported on the frame and the jaws are receivable in the apertures of a load. A jaw positioner is provided for moving the jaws towards or away from each other to a position where they lock the frame of the device to the load with the load facing surface in contact with the load. The device further comprises a first frame lifter and a connector for connecting it to the first end of the frame, and a second frame lifter and a connector for connecting it to the second end of the frame.

Abstract: Improvements in torque transmitting wheels are disclosed. The improvements afford more balanced torque transmission as between the proximal spokes, adjacent to a torque transmitting member, such as a sprocket, sprocket cluster or disc for a brake, and the distal spokes which are opposite from the torque transmitting member. A wheel according to the present invention is provided with radially oriented proximal spokes and tangentially oriented distal spokes. This shifts the majority of the torque transmission task to the distal spokes which, in a torque transmitting wheel, are under less tension than proximal spokes under static conditions. A torque transmitting member is mounted on the hub, adjacent the proximal hub flange, and the distance from the proximal hub flange to a plane through the proximal edge of the rim is substantially less than the corresponding distance from the distal hub flange.

Abstract: A multi-layer sheet useful as a separator (10) in a lead acid battery is disclosed. The sheet comprises at least a first layer (12) and a second layer (14) and having been produced by the method consisting of the steps of forming the first layer (12) by depositing a first, substantially binder free furnish consisting essentially of glass fibers onto the wire (36) of a paper making machine (30) and forming the second layer (14) by depositing a second, substantially binder free furnish consisting essentially of glass fibers and silica powder or another suitable silicate powder onto the first layer (12) on the wire (36) of the paper making machine (30). The silica or silicate powder has a particle size and being present in the second layer (14) in an amount such that, if the second substantially binder free furnish was deposited directly on the wire (36) of the paper making machine (30) a significant portion of the silica or silicate powder would pass through the wire (36).

Abstract: A tufting needle is disclosed. The needle consists of a butt (3) and a shank (7). The butt can be integrally formed at least partially in a needle module (1), while the shank has a needle tip, provided with an eye (9), and a thread guide groove (8) on one side as well as a chamfer (10) at one edge of the side (11) which is located opposite the thread guide groove (8). A chamfer (10) is likewise provided at a second edge of the side (11) opposite the guide groove (8), and the tufting needle is symmetric relative to a plane centrally dividing the thread groove (8) and the side (11) opposite the guide groove (8).

Abstract: A needle module and needle bar is disclosed in which tufting tools are cast at one end into a plate-shaped module basic body having a plane face bearing on a plane bearing face of the bar and at least one perforation, through which a fastening screw can engage and be screwed into the bar, wherein the module is secured positively to the bar in the vertical direction by means of a first groove-and-tongue joint and in the horizontal direction by means of a second groove-and-tongue joint and is held non-positively in the direction of the bar by means of the fastening screw.

Abstract: A lead acid battery having a glass fiber separator material is disclosed. The separator material is a mass of intermeshed glass fibers produced by suspending glass fibers in a gaseous medium, and collecting the suspended glass fibers on a foraminous material. The mass of fibers suspended in the gaseous medium has a BET surface area of from 0.2 to 5 m.sup.2 per gram. A battery having a glass fiber separator material with added cellulose fibrils is also disclosed, as is a battery having a glass fiber separator material with added particulate material such as silica.

Abstract: A method for lubricating glass contacting surfaces of glass forming equipment is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of delivering MAPD gas to a venturi at a low pressure, preferably below 10 p.s.i., and delivering oxygen to the venturi at a lower pressure, usually half or less than half of the pressure at which the MAPD gas is delivered to the venturi. The MAPD gas and the oxygen are mixed in the venturi and delivered to and through a nozzle which is directed toward a glass contacting surface. The mixture is ignited as it leaves the nozzle; its flow is controlled so that the temperature of the flame is between approximately 1500 and 1800 degrees K. By controlling the temperature of the flame, the method is operable to deposit on the glass contacting surface a lubricating coating of graphite including a substantial percentage of flat plate graphite.

Abstract: A tufting needle is disclosed. The needle has a shank (1) and a stem (2). The needle has a lower eye (4) in the stem (2) which is close to the tip (3) and an upper eye (6 in FIG. 1, and 15 in FIG. 2), and a thread-guiding groove (7) on one side running along the stem (2) and connecting the eyes (4 and 6 in FIGS. 1, and 4 and 15 in FIG. 2). The needle also has a transitional segment (5 in FIG. 1, and 14 in FIG. 2) between the lower end of the shank (1) and the upper end of the stem (2). The stem is offset with respect to the shank (1) but runs parallel thereto; the upper eye (6 in FIG. 1, and 15 in FIG. 2) is in the transitional segment (5 in FIG. 1 and 14 in FIG. 2) and is aligned with the thread-guiding groove (7).

Abstract: Families of Diels Alder adducts and of metal complexes of Diels Alder adducts, which are useful as particularly active compounds for use in photodynamic therapy, are disclosed. The Diels Alder adducts and a preferred family of metal complexes have the structures of Formulas 3 and 4, below: ##STR1## where R1, R2, R3 and R4 can be the same or different, and each is methyl, ethyl, an amino acid moiety which is a part of an amide produced by reaction between an amine function of a naturally occurring amino acid and a carbonyl function of the adduct, or a monoclonal antibody moiety which is attached to the adduct moiety through a carbonyl which is a part of an amide produced by reaction between an amine function of a monoclonal antibody and a CO.sub.2 R', CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 R' or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CO.sub.

Abstract: An improved bicycle wheel is disclosed which has reduced dish by comparison with a conventionally laced wheel. The wheel is one which, when laced conventionally, would be dished such as a rear wheel with at least one sprocket or a front wheel with a brake disk. In a rear wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside, through a proximate hub flange and along the outside or sprocket surface of the proximate hub flange and from outside to inside through the opposed hub flange and along the inside or sprocket surface of the opposed hub flange. In a front wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside through the proximate hub flange along an inside or disk surface thereof and from outside to inside through the opposite hub flange and along the inside or disk surface thereof.

Abstract: An improved baseball glove, including a heel pocket is disclosed. The heel pocket opens and closes when the glove is manipulated between open and closed positions. The heel pocket comprises a web, first and second end flaps, each having an upper edge and a base edge. The base edges are secured to the heel of the glove and the end flaps are secured to the thumb stall and the little finger stall.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a water treatment chemical to a water intake in a water system is disclosed. The water system has a water inlet and a pump for withdrawing water from a natural body of water, such as an underground aquifer, a river, a lake or the like. In a water system that draws water from a body of water that is inhabited by zebra mussels, the apparatus is operable, when water is being drawn into the system, to deliver a zebra mussel control agent to the inlet of the system to eliminate zebra mussels, if present, from the water system and to prevent the infestation of the water system by zebra mussels. In a water system that draws water from an underground aquifer, the apparatus is operable, when the system is drawing water, to deliver a water treatment chemical to or near the water inlet for the system and to cause thorough mixing of the water treatment chemical with the water, before it reaches a reservoir in the system, whereby undesired impurities are controlled or removed from the water.