Abstract: A direct response mailing includes a response card and a set of stamps. The response card has a pressure sensitive adhesive patterned and applied to certain fields of the response card and has removable members placed on top of the pressure sensitive adhesive. The sheet of stamps is perforated into the individual stamps and are entirely unsupported with no adhesive applied to them. To formulate a response, a resident removes a desired set of stamps from the sheet and also detaches the removable members from the response card. The resident then places each stamp into a preferred one of the fields on the response card. Although the stamps have no adhesive, the pressure sensitive adhesive on the response card secures the stamps to the card. The direct response mailing does not have a remoistenable gummed sheet of stamps and thus benefits from not requiring the resident to lick the stamps and also has the benefit of being less prone to water damage during delivery in the mail.

Abstract: A method of harvesting sod using a sod harvester involves the formation of a series of discrete slabs of sod that are positioned end-to-end, and conveyed up a conveyor that is driven at ground speed so that the slabs stay together. Netting is introduced continuously below the series of slabs as they enter a roll-forming enclosure of the harvester. The netting keeps the slabs together and allows them to be formed into a roll in essentially the same fashion as a continuous strip of sod. Roll formation is continued until a large diameter roll has been formed comprising multiple layers of sod slabs. The large roll forms a unitary structure wrapped in netting that can be manipulated and transported to a laying site in the same manner as a large single strip roll. At the site, the roll can be tipped onto its side, exposing the netting for removal and permitting individual slabs of sod to be pulled away from the roll and carried off for laying.

Abstract: A sleever apparatus includes an inner member with a central passage through which an item to be sleeved is passed. An outer member surrounds the inner member and defines a space between the members for holding a supply of containment material, which is preferably plastic sleeving. The apparatus has a handle which allows a user to hold the apparatus and walk the apparatus along the length of the item to be sleeved. As the user passes the item through the sleever apparatus, the containment material exits through a slit at one end of the apparatus in order to contain the item. The sleever apparatus may be formed of disposable materials, such as cardboard, and may be intended for a single use application. Alternatively, the sleever apparatus may be comprised of more permanent materials such as PVC or fiberglass.

Abstract: A rechargeable device that stores and discharges hydrogen is described. The device stores hydrogen in a solid form and supplies hydrogen as a gas when needed. The solid storage medium may be metal hydride in a ground particle form that avoids the need for compaction or other treatment. Dividers partition a container into separate chambers, each provided with a matrix, formed from an appropriate material like a thermally-conductive aluminum foam, which forms a number of cells. For proper chamber size, the ratio of chamber length to container diameter should be between about 0.5 and 2. Metal hydride particles (or other hydrogen storage medium) may be placed within the cells, which help prevent excessive particle settling. The container is provided with a hydrogen transfer port through which hydrogen gas passes upon either discharging from or charging of the metal hydride particles. A filter may be placed within the port to allow hydrogen to flow but prevent particles from escaping.

Abstract: Inorganic fibers are disclosed, vacuum preforms of which have a shrinkage of 3.5% or less when exposed to 1260.degree. C. for 24 hours. The fibers have a composition comprising SrO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and sufficient fiber forming additive to allow fiber formation but not so much as to increase shrinkage beyond 3.5%. A preferred range of fibers has a shrinkage of 3.5% or less when exposed to 1500.degree. C. for 24 hours and may comprise (in weight percent): SrO 53.2%-57.6%, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 30.4-40.1%, SiO.sub.2 5.06-10.1%.

Abstract: A holographic image produced by the impression of a shim onto a metallic ink coating comprising a plurality of metallic particles suspended in a resinous ink binder. A resinous or substantially tactile and nonresilient undercoat can be applied to the substrate also to receive the impression of the shim and to create more distinct holographic imagery. A substantially clear overcoat can also be applied over the metallic ink coating to enhance the reflectivity of the image.

Abstract: A multi-ply promotional label having a detachable game piece according to the present invention includes peripheral and perforation geometry that reduces the likelihood of intentional or inadvertent premature viewing of game indicia on the detachable piece. The label, moreover, may include multiple detachable game pieces. Deleterious effects of increased tensile stress along perforations due to the presence of multiple detachable game pieces or other factors are overcome by applying an adhesive to removably couple a preselected region of a downwardly facing aspect of a detachable game piece to an underlying base ply. The upward face of the same base ply may be printed to increase the available printable area in order, for example, to further instruct players on game procedures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a water purification composition including silver metal and a second metal. The second metal is relatively reducing and helps control the overall silver cation concentration in solution. The composition effectively disinfects and removes toxic metal ions from water.

Abstract: A saline soluble fiber is disclosed that is highly refractory. A vacuum cast preform of the fiber has a shrinkage of 3.5% or less when exposed to 1260.degree. C. for 24 hours. The fiber may comprise CaO, SiO.sub.2, MgO, optionally ZrO.sub.2, optionally less than 0.75 mol % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, any incidental impurities amounting to less than 2 mol % in total, and in which the SiO.sub.2 excess (defined as the amount of SiO.sub.2 calculated as remaining after the above named constituents are crystallized as silicates) exceeds 21.8 mol %, with the proviso that, if the amount of CaO is greater than the sum of the amount of MgO and twice the amount of ZrO.sub.2 the calculated ratio of diopside to wollastonite does not lie in the range 0.1 to 5.22. Such fibers are usable at elevated temperatures where refractoriness is of importance and their solubility in saline solution may make the fibers safer than non-soluble fibers.

Abstract: A label according to the invention reduces waste, has a lower cost, yet maintains a high level of consumer friendliness. In one embodiment, a label according to the invention uses adhesive rails in order to reduce the amount of adhesive and also places a confusion on a release layer in order to eliminate a downsheet. According to another embodiment, a label has a first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive for securing the label to a substrate but has a second layer of adhesive formed of a remoistenable gum to allow the consumer to later secure a collectable component to another substrate. In a further embodiment of the invention, a collectable component of a label has a release placed on one portion of its outer side and a repositionable adhesive placed on a second portion of its outer side. This label is consumer friendly in that it uses a pressure sensitive adhesive and since it allows a consumer to fold the collectable component in half before securing it to another substrate.

Abstract: A method of purifying water includes contacting water containing an oxide of chlorine, such as chlorine dioxide, chlorite, or chlorate, with a water purification composition that includes a Group 11 or Group 12 metal such as silver, copper, or zinc.

Abstract: A process for determining one or more leachate concentrations of one or more components of a glass composition in an aqueous solution of the glass composition by identifying the components of the glass composition, including associated oxides, determining a preliminary glass dissolution estimator, .DELTA.G.sub.p, based upon the free energies of hydration for the component reactant species, determining an accelerated glass dissolution function, .DELTA.G.sub.a, based upon the free energy associated with weak acid dissociation, .DELTA.G.sub.a.sup.WA, and accelerated matrix dissolution at high pH, .DELTA.G.sub.a.sup.SB associated with solution strong base formation, and determining a final hydration free energy, .DELTA.G.sub.f. This final hydration free energy is then used to determine leachate concentrations for elements of interest using a regression analysis and the formula log.sub.10 (N C.sub.i (g/L))=a.sub.i +b.sub.i .DELTA.G.sub.f.

Abstract: A saline soluble fibre is disclosed that is highly refractory. A vacuum cast preform of the fibre has a shrinkage of 3.5% or less when exposed to 1260.degree. C. for 24 hours. The fibre may comprise CaO, SiO.sub.2, MgO optionally ZrO.sub.2, optionally less than 0.75 mol % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, any incidental impurities amounting to less than 2 mol % in total, and in which the SiO.sub.2, excess (defined as the amount of SiO.sub.2 calculated as remaining after the above named constituents are crystallised as silicates) exceeds 21.8 mol %, with the proviso that, if the amount of CaO is greater than the sum of the amount of MgO and twice the amount of ZrO.sub.2 the calculated ratio of diopside to wollastonite does not lie in the range 1.8 to 5.25. Such fibres are usable at elevated temperatures where refractoriness is of importance and their solubility in saline solution may make the fibres safer than non-soluble fibres.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing assessments of field of vision that is portable, does not require the patient to adopt a particular posture or position relative to the testing device and may be operated so as to require minimal active responses from the patient is disclosed. The invention includes a patch, cover, or other device designed to occlude from ambient light and visually stimulate the subject eye. The interior of the patch facing the occluded eye includes an array of light sources, such as LEDs or LCD pixels, selective and sequential illumination of each source being controlled electrically by the practitioner, either manually or via a computer controller. The close proximity of the light sources to the eye being tested also minimizes anomalous results arising from poor visual acuity.

Abstract: Indicators and methods of indicating are disclosed. Intended primarily for use with medicine containers, the devices typically indicate the number of doses of medication ingested or remaining to be taken by a patient during a particular period. These devices additionally provide tactile assistance to patients in appropriately repositioning the indicator arms and, when used correctly, may reduce the possibility of patient overdose by restricting improper attempts to advance the indicator arm.

Abstract: The swivel assembly of the present invention employs a thrust bearing configuration that provides smooth operation under non-axial and axial load conditions. The assembly comprises two opposing bearing surfaces, one on the end of a hose pipe and the other on a bearing race. A cylindrical housing interlocks with the bearing race and includes a flange to keep the bearing surface of the hose pipe in contact with the bearings. Thus, the hose pipe may rotate freely relative to the bearing race and housing. Because only the end of the hose pipe is in contact with the housing or bearings, non-axial bending loads centered in the bearing are resolved through relatively short moment arms thereby reducing friction creating by the non-axial loading condition. A sealing and lubricating thrust washer may be introduced between the flange in the housing and the hose pipe to seal the swivel assembly and to reduce further the friction between the hose pipe and the housing flange and bearing race.

Abstract: Alternative benday patterns for cards and tickets and methods of producing such patterns are disclosed. The alternative patterns enhance the effectiveness of conventional devices by avoiding use of rotating print cylinders, with fixed repeats, in their creation. The attendant reduction in, or elimination of, benday repetition inhibits vertical ticket splitting and other manner of compromise. Desired images, including play indicia, promotional content, or both, can also be visibly encoded in the benday patterns, if desired.

Abstract: A label comprised of at least two coupled plies is disclosed that can incorporate a removable game on the inside face of the centerpiece region of an outer ply. An edge region on the outer ply, which circumscribes the centerpiece region, is adhered to an inner ply. A weakened region separates the edge region from the centerpiece region so that the centerpiece region is removable from the label by first decoupling a segment of the centerpiece region from the edge region of the outer ply, and then grasping and pulling the centerpiece region from the label to decouple it completely from the label.

Abstract: Inorganic fibers which have a silicon extraction of greater than about 0.02 wt % Si/day in physiological saline solutions. The fiber contains SiO.sub.2, MgO, CaO, and at least one of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, B.sub.2 O.sub.3, iron oxides, or mixtures thereof. Also disclosed are inorganic fibers which have diameters of less than 3.5 microns and which pass the ASTM E-119 two hour fire test when processed into a fiber blanket having a bulk density in the range of about 1.5 to 3 pcf.

Abstract: A relatively thick shelf covering for use with wire-frame shelves. The material is sufficiently thick to prevent objects from falling through or tilting into the spaces between the gratings of a wire-frame shelf. The material is also flexible enough to be sold in rolls. The material is also impervious to water and most common household chemicals.