Abstract: A method for forming fibers/composite material having an anisotropic structure, comprising the steps of mixing an effective amount of fibers with a matrix material to form a deformable mixture containing less than about 96 weight percent of the fibers to about parts per billion of the fibers and wherein the fibers are randomly oriented in the deformable mixture. The deformable mixture can be extruded, stretched or otherwise deformed to form an extrudate. Pressure is applied about the extrudate to substantially compress the fibers in the extrudate to provide the fibers/composite material having an anisotropic structure.

Abstract: A packaging material for use in filling baskets and protecting articles during a shipping process. The packaging material includes a flexible backing having a first surface and a second surface. A mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft, the mass is connected to a flexible backing so as to substantially cover at least one side of the flexible backing.

Abstract: A method of forming a decorative cover, a sleeve or a preformed pot cover for a floral grouping or flower pot from a sheet of material having a printed pattern thereon wherein the printed pattern contains shaded and highlighted areas which provide the printed pattern with a visual perception of depth and thus a three-dimensional appearance.

Abstract: Method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot comprising a collar wherein the collar clamps a sheet of material to the flower pot or wherein the sheet of material is connected to the collar and the collar is connectable to the flower pot.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for semi-automatically forming a sheet into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a male die, a female die, a presence sensing assembly, and a control assembly. The presence sensing assembly is positioned for sensing the presence of an operator in a sheet feeding zone which is located between an operator's station and a zone of operation of the male die and the female die. The control assembly initiates an article forming sequence, wherein the male die and the female die are moved from a discharge position to a forming position to form the article from the sheet of material and subsequently returned to the discharge position, in response to the operator clearing the presence sensing assembly subsequent to the operator breaking the presence sensing assembly while positioning a sheet of material between the male die and the female die.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a cover having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The cover optionally comprises a protective sleeve portion which can be detached from the lower portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed. The sleeve has one or a plurality of horizontally or diagonally positioned expansion elements for allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base and/or for allowing expansion of the base portion.

Abstract: A wrapper for wrapping about a floral grouping and a method for wrapping the floral grouping, the wrapper having a handle formed from a portion of the sheet of material for carrying the wrapper with the floral grouping disposed therein. The wrapper may comprise one or more sheets of material. The sheet may have more than one handle portion formed thereon.

Abstract: A rake and method for golf training by an individual are provided. The rake includes a shaft and a rake head. The shaft has a first end and a second end. The rake head is secured to the second end of the shaft and has a plurality of flexible tines, each tine having a proximal and a distal end. The distal end of each of the tines is spatially disposed from each tine distal end other and disposed in a substantially coplanar relationship. The shaft is angularly disposed relative to a line extending from a first outer tine of the rake head to a second outer tine of the rake head, and in a non-coplanar relationship relative to a plane perpendicular to the line.

Abstract: A kissing shield comprised of a thin, flexible membrane and a frame or holder. The membrane is closed on three sides, a fourth side remaining open so that the membrane can be stretched over the frame or holder. The frame or holder consists of a supporting member and an elongated handle. The supporting member adapts over the bottom part of the user's face and has sufficient dimension to cover the lips and most of the cheeks and extends from under the nose to the bottom of the chin. The elongated handle extends laterally from the supporting member and is sized to be held in the hand of the user such that the hand is spaced apart from the supporting member and membrane. In use, the membrane is placed over the frame or holder. Using the handle portion of the frame or holder, the user places the kissing shield under his nose, so that it covers his lips, cheeks and chin.

Abstract: A container liner comprising a waterproof backing, a porous covering, a seed carrier interposed between the backing and the covering, and a plurality of seeds embedded in the seed carrier such that upon germination the seeds will sprout through the porous covering to form a soft, natural, protective cushion for objects, such as candies or Easter eggs. The container liner is sufficiently flexible so that the container liner can be easily manipulated to substantially conform to the interior contour of the container.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of a web of material is provided. The sensor system includes a transmitter and a receiver disposed on opposite sides of the web. The transmitter is capable of selectively transmitting ultrasonic signals, and the receiver is capable of receiving such ultrasonic signals and generating output signals indicative of the position of the web. The sensor system further includes a sensor drive circuit adapted to periodically transmit to the transmitter a transmitter drive signal representative of substantially one cycle of a signal, and to receive signals from the receiver with each signal being indicative of the position of the web.

Abstract: A portable hold down device removably connectable to a portable object, such as a portable folding chair, for maintaining the portable object in a substantially stable condition is provided. The portable hold down device is provided with a portable hold down assembly, a first connector assembly and a second connector assembly. The hold down assembly has a weight sufficient to maintain the object in the substantially stable condition when the hold down assembly is connected to the portable object. The first connector assembly is fastened to the hold down member. The first connector assembly is removably connectable to the portable object whereby when the first connector assembly is connected to the portable object, the portable object is maintained in the substantially stable condition. The second connector assembly is supported by at least one of the hold down assembly and the first connector assembly so as to be extendable outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants. The sleeve may have an open or closed bottom. When closed, the bottom may have a gusset for allowing expansion upon the depositing of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve has a detachable upper portion. The sleeve has a bonding material disposed upon an inner and/or outer portion of the sleeve for crimping the sleeve adjacent the pot to hold the sleeve about the pot.

Abstract: A floral sleeve sized to fit a flower pot, the sleeve having a base with side and bottom gussets for allowing expansion from a flattened position and method of using same. The sleeve may comprise a detachable upper portion, and a skirt portion.

Abstract: There is provided a method for directly typing or sequencing HLA-A, -B, or -C alleles from a tissue sample wherein exons 2 and 3 of the HLA-A, -B, or -C alleles from the sample are amplified together in a locus specific manner and then separated out and individually amplified in a locus specific manner. After the two amplifications, the amplified exons are directly sequenced, the sequences are recombined, and a comparison is made between the derived HLA allele sequence and an HLA allele database, thereby giving an exact HLA-A, -B, or -C type for the sample being tested.

Abstract: A method for lining a portion of a casing affixed within a well bore a distance below an upper end of the well bore with a viscoelastic pipe having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the casing is provided. The outer diameter of the pipe is reduced so that the outer diameter of the pipe is less than the inner diameter of the casing. The reduced pipe is then lowered into the casing to a predetermined depth where the upper end of the reduced pipe is positioned a distance below the upper end of the well bore. The reduced pipe is then allowed to expand against the internal wall of the casing, thereby forming a fluid tight seal with the casing and effectively sealing any breaches in the casing. So that the outer diameter of the reduced pipe remains less than the inner diameter of the casing as the viscoelastic pipe is being passed down the casing, the reduced pipe is maintained in tension as the reduced pipe is being passed down the casing.

Abstract: A method of covering a pot with a sleeve having a base portion with side gussets for allowing expansion from a flattened position to enclose the pot. The sleeve may comprise a detachable upper portion, a skirt portion and a bottom gusset.

Abstract: A method of wrapping a potted plant in a decorative cover wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve. Upon opening of the sleeve, the sleeve has a bottom which may be closed, and the sleeve is sized to fit a pot. The potted plant is disposed within the inner retaining space of the open sleeve, and the pot is positioned on the bottom of the sleeve such that the sleeve covers at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot to provide the decorative cover for the potted plant.

Abstract: Disclosed are DNA segments encoding hyaluronic acid synthase which are employed to construct recombinant cells useful in the production of hyaluronate synthase or hyaluronic acid (HA) the recombinant DNA segment identified in FIG. 5. In preferred aspects, chromosomal DNA from Streptococcus equisimilis is partially digested with EcoRI and the resultant fragments are ligated to form recombinant vectors. These vectors are useful in the transformation of host cells such as E. coli and or Streptococcal hosts. Resultant transformants are screened by the novel screening assays to identify colonies which have incorporated HA synthase DNA in a form that is being actively transcribed into the corresponding HA synthase enzyme. These colonies may be selected and employed in the production of the enzyme itself or its product, HA. The recombinant DNA segment identified in FIG. 5 is then inserted into a recombinant Streptococcal host for the production of hyaluronic acid (HA).