Abstract: A hand dolly or personal material handling system is provided having a removable reel holder which can be loaded with reels of wire in an extended position, or retracted. The handling system is adapted to carry attachments, including a long stock holder for carrying pipe or electrical conduit, a cable spindle for carrying a reel of coaxial cable, a utility basket, and reel supports for carrying different sized reels of wire or cable. Different configurations of attachments are used depending on the carrying requirements of the handling system.

Abstract: An optical effect material used for making shredded, flaked, die-cut and sheets of decorative materials. The optical effect material comprises an iridescent sheet and a light transmitting material connected together. Methods for using an optical effect material.

Abstract: A male die, a female die, air pressure and vacuum are used to form a sheet of material into a flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover. A platform supports the female die which has an opening with flat surfaces for forming panels in the base and skirt of the flower pot or flower pot cover. The male die has forming surfaces which mate with the forming surfaces of the female die. The sheet of material is centered over the opening of the female die. A bracket having a plurality of legs which align with the panel-forming surfaces of the female die is placed on the sheet of material. Air pressure and vacuum lines communicating with the opening of the female die are used to control the sheet of material as the male die enters the opening of the female die. The top surface of the platform and the bracket legs provide additional control of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is pressed between forming surfaces of the male and female die to form the flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stemming a flower in which the flower stem is cut substantially simultaneously with attaching a flower pick to the flower stem, thereby eliminating the separate steps of cutting the flower stem and subsequently attaching a stem pick by combining these two operations. In another aspect of the invention, the flower stem is cut in an environment which displaces air from the region of the severed plant stem by submerging the portion of the plant stem in the region of severance under water or by subjecting it to a flow of water or a spray of water or other material which would prevent formation of an air gap in the vascular tissue of the plant and/or skinning over of the tubules. The flower stem may be cut under water and a pick applied under water or cut of the water or out of the water.

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 may have a bonding material disposed upon an inner or outer portion of the sleeve for attaching the sleeve to the pot or item.

Abstract: A plant package assembly, comprising a pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve having detaching elements at preselected areas, the sleeve further-comprising a bonding material which connects the sleeve to the pot when the pot is positioned within the sleeve, the sleeve being positioned about the pot and a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounding and encompassing the pot, an upper portion of the sleeve extending upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounding and encompassing the floral grouping contained within the pot, at least a portion of the sleeve being removable via the detaching elements, leaving a portion of the sleeve which is a decorative plant cover.

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 may have a bonding material disposed upon an inner or outer portion of the sleeve for attaching the sleeve to the pot or item.

Abstract: An apparatus with pivoting blades and closable surfaces for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover having fins. In an embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, the apparatus includes a male mold and a plurality of plates arranged in pairs to define a forming opening. The male mold has a plurality of fingers which are laterally extendable from the outer periphery of the male mold. A pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder is provided to move the male mold between a storage position spaced from the forming opening and a forming position within the forming opening. Each pair of plates is movable between an open position and a closed position. In operation, the fingers are extended to push folded portions of a sheet of material between the pairs of plates, which are closed to press the folded portions into fins. In an alternate embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, pairs of movable plates are positioned between stationary segments.

Abstract: Method for providing a decorative cover by providing a flower pot, positioning a sheet of material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot such that the sheet of material extends about a floral grouping so as to form a sleeve around the floral grouping which is selectively detachable from the sheet of material, and positioning a collar about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot with a portion of the sheet of material being disposed between the collar and the flower pot whereby the collar secures the sheet of material to the flower pot.

Abstract: Anti-gp130 monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) obtained from hybridomas designated 4B11 and 2H4 are effective in the inhibition of the acute phase response on hepatoma cells and prevent the IL-6-induced growth inhibition of A375 cells in vitro. Administration of the antibodies to dogs showed that 2H4 is a potent in vivo inhibitor of the IL-6-induced acute phase response, abrogating IL-6-mediated-increments in fibrinogen, C-reactive protein and the platelet count. Antibodies may be used in methods for measuring soluble gp130 and in therapeutic treatments. The 2H4 antibody may be used in inhibiting in vivo the function of gp130 or cellular factors dependent on gp130 for cellular transduction.

Abstract: A chromium-resistant strain of Shewanella alga BrY and method of using such for removing chromium (VI) from a chromium-contaminated waste stream involving treating the waste stream with the chromium-resistant strain under anaerobic conditions whereby Cr(VI) in the waste stream is reduced, the chromium generally forming a precipitate which can be separated from the waste stream.

Abstract: A sheet of material formed about a flower pot to provide a decorative cover wherein a portion of the sheet of material near an outer peripheral surface thereof extends above an upper end of the flower pot and such portion is crimped to assist in holding the sheet of material formed about the flower pot. The crimping is accomplished by forming overlapping folds in the crimp portion of the sheet of material or by connecting the crimp portion to a portion of the flower pot by way of a bonding material or by way of a drawstring or ribbon or by way of reinforcing members in the sheet of material or by way of a shrinkable material formed in the sheet of material for example.

Abstract: A filter having a an outer peripheral surface comprising an accordion wire mesh and an inner peripheral surface comprising a support structure, the filter permitting a liquid composition such as paint to be filtered therethrough when connected to an airless paint spraying system. Method of using a filter.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a ribbon assembly having a decorative ribbon formed on a support member wherein an elastic member having a stretched condition and an unstretched condition extends between a piece of material and the support member for substantially automatically forming the decorative ribbon.

Abstract: A wrapping apparatus having a springable base with attached arms which support a wrapping material. The spaced apart arms extend upward and outward from the perimeter of the springable base, which is flexible to assume an arched posture and a flat posture. In response to downward pressure on a central area of the springable base, the springable base snaps from the arched posture into the flat posture. When the springable base is in the arched posture, the arms and wrapping material are in an open position to receive an item to be wrapped. The arms and wrapping material move into a closed position when the springable base assumes the flat posture. The wrapping apparatus may be constructed with or without an upper skirt of wrapping material. The wrapping material may be inside the arms, outside the arms or may envelope the arms.

Abstract: An apparatus mounted to an enclosure housing of a water entrained ash hopper for dislodging ash pluggages across an ash discharge opening in the ash hopper to maintain passage of ash from the ash hopper. The apparatus comprising a plate rotatably and sealingly connected to the enclosure housing, and a cylinder, mounted to the plate. The cylinder mounted to the plate such that a rod assembly extending from the cylinder is angularly disposed through the plate toward the ash discharge opening so as to be selectively extendable through a selected area of the ash discharge opening along an arc-shaped path. The piston movable from a retracted position to an extended position such that the rod extends into the ash discharge opening to dislodge ash pluggages disposed across the ash discharge opening. The rod assembly adapted to convey a stream of high pressure fluid against the ash pluggage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically wrapping a sheet of material about a bouquet of flowers. A sheet of material having spaced apart defined first and second portions is placed against a support member, such as a prepared table top, and the bouquet is positioned on the sheet with the first and second portions of the sheet extending on right and left sides, respectively, of the bouquet. The first sheet portion is then moved in a path to at least partially encompass the bouquet, and the second sheet portion is moved in a path to at least partially encompass the bouquet and to extend over part of the first sheet portion. The two sheet portions may be secured together by a bonding material, or the first and second portions of the sheet of wrapping material can themselves act as a bonding material by application of appropriate heat sealing, sonic welding, vibratory welding, and similar methods.