Abstract: A hitch-mountable table and umbrella assembly for support on a vehicle-mounted hitch. The assembly includes a base member with a horizontal component for releasable engagement with the hitch receiver tube of the hitch, and an upwardly extending vertical component. A first table and/or umbrella may be supported directly on the vertical component, and a second table may be rotatably mounted in vertically spaced relation above the first table when an adapter is used, with or without an umbrella.

Abstract: An expandable shirt collar has one or more transverse reinforced cuts or openings in the neckband which spread apart or open when a longitudinal force is applied to the neckband to effectively elongate the neckband to compensate for shrinkage of the shirt collar or an increase in neck size of the wearer. In one form of the invention, a vertically oriented button hole at one end of the band may serve as the cut or opening, either alone or in combination with additional cuts or openings spaced from the ends of the band. In another form of the invention, a piece of expandable pleated material may be sewn into the cut or opening. Also disclosed are a button having an elongate oval shape, and/or a notched periphery, to facilitate placement of the button through a button hole.

Abstract: A tray for holding a plurality of beverage containers has a floor with a plurality of container seating areas on its top surface and structure on its bottom surface to enable a plurality of the trays loaded with containers to be stacked on top of one another in stable relationship, yet slid relatively easily on top of one another when desired. Peripheral heel protector bands extend around the periphery of the tray to protect the lower ends of containers from damage, and spacer members project upwardly from the floor between the container seating areas to maintain containers in the tray spaced from one another and prevent displacement of the containers from their seating areas when the tray is tilted. A tray sidewall includes spaced pillars extending upwardly from the periphery of the floor and supporting a top rail at their upper ends.

Abstract: A bag for popping popcorn in a microwave oven has substantially rectangular front and back walls and gusseted side walls joining the opposite side edges of the front and back walls. The gusseted side walls each has a medial gusset fold, defining a pair of gusset panels joined along longitudinal folds to the adjacent side edges of the respective front and back walls. When the bag is folded flat, the gusset panels and medial gusset folds lie between the front and back walls, with the medial gusset folds of the opposite gusseted side walls normally spaced from one another. Transverse bands of adhesive extend across the top and bottom ends of the bag interior surface to adhesively attach the gusset panels to the respective front and back walls, forming bag end closures.

Abstract: A package for storing, mixing and dispensing multi-component products in which the components must be maintained separate from one another until just prior to use, and then mixed together for use. The package includes an outer container for holding a first material, and an inner container within the first container for holding a second material. The inner and outer containers, and particularly the inner container, are flexible tubes with a flattened and sealed end. The other end of the inner tube is closed by a displaceable plug which may be displaced therefrom upon exertion of a predetermined compressive force caused, for example, by simultaneously squeezing the outer and inner containers. Displacement of the closure plug from the inner container enables the first and second materials to be mixed together.

Abstract: A bin loader package and method for shipping, storing and dispensing cut paper directly into the paper supply bin of a machine which uses the paper. The package includes a box enclosure having opposite side walls, opposite end walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, enclosing a stack of paper sheets to be used in the machine. The enclosure is defined by telescopically interengaged tubular members which form the side and end walls, the top wall, and the bottom wall. The entire package is placed in the paper supply bin of the machine, and one of the members is then moved horizontally away from the other member and the stack of paper, after which the other member is lifted vertically away from the stack of paper and out of the paper supply bin to expose the paper and deposit it directly from the package into the paper supply bin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the inactivation of infectious organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa, and especially for the inactivation of human immunodeficiency virus in proteinaceous material such as blood and blood products, without adversely affecting the normal physiological activity of the material, by contacting it for a time interval of only about 16 seconds with an ozone-oxygen mixture having an ozone concentration of only about 27 .mu./ml. The apparatus includes a gas-liquid contact apparatus through which the material and ozone-oxygen mixture flow in contacting, counter-current relationship, and an ozone generator which produces an ozone-oxygen mixture having a resonant frequency of about 7.83 Hz. The apparatus and method of the invention provide precise control of the concentration of ozone and the contact time between the material to be treated and the ozone-oxygen mixture.

Abstract: A tube-forming machine has a tube forming section for receiving webs of material and forming it into a tube. The tube-forming section has multiple sets of tube formers for forming different types of tubes, and the tube formers are supported on opposite sides of a former bed that is rotatable to bring one or the other of the sets of tube formers into operative position to form a tube.

Abstract: A breakaway safety sign support post for obtaining predictable and reliable separation of an upper post section from a lower post section anchored in a substrate, when the post is struck by a vehicle. In a specific construction, the lower post section is adapted to be imbedded in the ground, with an upper end projecting a predetermined limited distance above the surface of the ground. The upper, post section is secured in overlapping, parallel relationship with the lower post section and is secured thereto with frangible fasteners to define a breakaway joint. The post sections each have a U-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape, including a longitudinal center web with a plurality of holes spaced uniformly along its length, and outwardly divergent side walls at opposite sides of the web, terminating in laterally outwardly projecting flanges.

Abstract: A system for previewing movies, videos, music, and other events, has a host data processing network connected via modem with one or more media companies and with one or more remote kiosks to transmit data between the media companies and the kiosks, so that the data can be accessed by users at the remote kiosks. A touch screen and user-friendly graphics encourage use of the system. Video images, graphics and other data received from the media companies are suitably digitized, compressed, and otherwise formatted by the host for use at the kiosk. This enables movies, videos, music and special events to be previewed at strategically located kiosks, and the data can be updated or changed, as desired, from the host.