Abstract: A merchandising display rack is provided for displaying products in which the display rack is constructed of a freestanding framework. One or more of its sides includes a several of adjacently disposed partitioned bays or product display modules. Additionally, each of the product display modules includes one or more substantially horizontal product engaging rods disposed across its width. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each module and each rod are at a different elevation from the elevations of each adjacent module and its corresponding rod. Alternatively, each module and each rod are positioned at substantially equivalent elevations. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a merchandising display fixture is provided comprising a framework that includes several adjacently disposed bays or product display modules having corresponding product engaging rods.

Abstract: A gas phase process for the production of titanium dioxide powders having well-controlled crystalline and surface area characteristics is disclosed. In this process, which is preferably carried out in a laminar diffusion flame reactor, vapor phase TiCl.sub.4 and oxygen are mixed in a reaction area which is heated externally. The titanium dioxide powder formed is then collected. It is preferred that the heat source used be a hydrocarbon fueled (e.g., methane) flame. Optionally, a vapor phase dopant (such as SiCl.sub.4) may be added to the reaction mixture to desirably affect the physical properties of the titanium dioxide produced. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a corona electric field is positioned across the area where the combustion reaction takes place (i.e., the reaction area). High anatase, high surface area titanium dioxide powders made by this process are excellent photocatalysts. The products of this process and the use of those products as photocatalysts are also disclosed.

Abstract: Interactive wall art is a game to be played indoors by one or more children. The game consists of a self-adhesive mural portraying characters playing an action sport, a loop-threaded stuffed ball corresponding to the sport portrayed in the mural, and a hook-threaded fabric target attached to the mural in an appropriate location to facilitate the fantasy of actually playing a game with the figures on the wall mural. The game encourages creative role play and physical exercise including pitching, throwing, kicking, running and jumping.

Abstract: A mechanical vehicle positioning device provides a visible guide to the operator of a vehicle while that vehicle is being positioned. An indicator suspended at a desired vehicle locating position while a vehicle is being positioned can be retracted when not in use, for example, through a connection to the garage door or by motorized means.

Abstract: A magnetically-powered linear displacement device is disclosed which can be used as the highly efficient pollution-free prime mover. The linear displacement device utilizes a permanent magnet whose flux density can be readily shifted from one of two parallel magnetic paths within the displacement device. A pair of pole pieces made of magnetically soft material abuts portions of the permanent magnet and conducts the magnetic flux in two different magnetic circuit pathways such that the permanent magnet's flux can flow in either direction, and if the magnetic flux is travelling along a first of these parallel paths through a movable armature, that armature will be attracted toward the ends of the pole pieces. If the magnetic flux is then shifted to the second path of these two parallel paths, then that movable armature will not be attracted to the pole pieces, and a compression spring can be used to push that movable armature away from the pole pieces.

Abstract: A control system for a conveyor system of the type having a first constant speed conveyor with a drop-out zone and a second variable speed downstream conveyor receiving products from the drop-out zone. The drop-out zone comprises a plurality of conveyor rollers driven by a drive mechanism operated by a constant speed prime mover assembly. An actuator engages and disengages the drive mechanism with the drop-out zone rollers. The control system has a processing circuit configured to ascertain the velocity of the downstream conveyor and configured to match the effective velocity of the first conveyor drop-out zone to that of the downstream conveyor by use of a periodic varying duty cycle signal that controls the actuator via an output device in communication with the processing circuit. The processing circuit also varies the ON-time and OFF-time of the varying duty cycle signal to automatically control energizing of the output device to accomplish the velocity match.

Abstract: A mechanical seal 30 is disclosed comprising a sleeve 32 which is adapted to be affixed to the shaft 34 of a item of mechanical equipment, together with a rotary component 42 which carries a rotary seal face 44. Two O-ring grooves 46, 48 are provided on the sleeve 32, the first 46 being remote from the rotary seal face 44 and cut somewhat deeper into the sleeve 32 than the second 48. The rotary component 42 has a first region 50 remote from the rotary seal face 44, the inner surface of which has a relatively small diameter and a second region 52 between the first region 50 and the rotary seal face 44, the inner surface of which has a larger diameter. A pair of O-rings 54, 56 are located in the O-ring grooves 46, 48 and seal against the inner surface of the rotary component 42. The net thrust, if any, acting on the rotary component 42 and hence on the rotary seal face 44 tends to close the seal face irrespective of whether the barrier fluid pressure is in excess for less than the product pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to postcondensed paper machine felts comprising a polyamide base fabric and a polyamide coating needled thereon, the paper machine felts having a relative solution viscosity in sulfuric acid in accordance with the DIN 53,727 standard of 5 or more.The invention further relates to a method of increasing the molecular weight of paper machine felts which comprises impregnating the paper machine felts with a solution of postcondensation catalysts, followed by drying and thermally postcondensing the felts below the melting point of the polyamide in a solid phase by the exclusion of oxygen.

Abstract: An improved collapsible sectional rod for cleaning firearms is provided. The cleaning rod includes a plurality of hollow tubular elongated sections which are preferably metallic and of substantially equal lengths. Each section includes a tapered end and a socket end configured so as to selectively receive a corresponding tapered end of an adjacently disposed elongated section. The collapsible rod further includes an elongated tubular handle having an internal volume and a plurality of internal threads. Preferably, the handle has a knurled outer surface. The collapsible rod further includes an elongated tubular tensioner having a substantially hollow internal volume. The tensioner includes an end that is substantially slidably disposed within the internal volume of the tubular handle. This slidably disposed end includes a threaded portion that is capable of selectively engaging the internal threads of the tubular handle.

Abstract: A motor driven eccentric vibrator with a spring isolated biasing mass for applying force to an earth penetrating device to cause the device to penetrate into the earth. The vibrator is rigidly attached to a housing which is rigidly attached to the earth penetrating element, which may be a sampling/core tube, while the biasing mass is suspended from the housing by a suspension that allows relative motion between the housing and the biasing mass in a vertical direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the earth penetrating element. The biasing mass serves to apply a down force on the housing while not significantly reducing the amplitude of the vibrational displacement of the housing in a vertical direction. This mass also reduces the vibrational displacement of the housing in a horizontal direction caused by a single eccentric vibrator.

Abstract: A pre-twisted cable pair and a method for processing such pairs into an electrical cable having improved electrical and mechanical properties is disclosed. At least one insulated wire for transmitting electrical signals is pre-twisted prior to pairing with another insulated wire. As the pre-twisted wires are paired by a conventional double-twist machine which imparts back-twist, the detrimental electrical effects caused by irregularities in the individual wires are cycled over a very short distance, resulting in a cable pair having lower structural return loss, near-end crosstalk, and insertion loss than wires paired without any pre-twist. These pre-twisted wires may be united into a jacketed electrical cable by a continuous-extrusion jacketing process in which an optimal dielectric constant is maintained around each individual cable pair.

Abstract: Optoelectronic interconnections can provide a practical solution for the ever increasing communication bottleneck problems when combining a multitude of information processing units to perform a function. As research activities progress in the field of serial or parallel board-to-board and module-to-module interconnections, some of the research focus has shifted to smaller physical dimensions, like intra-module interconnections, which combines optoelectronic interconnections, multichip module packaging, and microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technologies at the module level. The present invention provides integrated optical input/output (I/O) couplers on multichip modules (MCMs) using micro-machined silicon mirrors that are used with optoelectronic multichip modules (OE-MCMs). The present invention used microstructures that integrate optical waveguide networks, multilayer electrical transmission line networks, micro-machined silicon mirrors, and C4-bonded photonic devices into a single structure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the processing of a continuous blown film undergoing collapsing in which a plurality of differential elements of the film follow respective streamline paths which are approximately equal in length to the path of the longest streamline thereby substantially equalizing circumferentially varying shape change induced machine direction stresses and reducing the residence time variations within higher thermal energy regions so as to significantly minimize the commonly rather large magnitudes of variations of gauge, energy to break and machine direction lengths of the solidified material. The method and apparatus provide the potential to structure more uniformly the macromolecular arrangements existing within the material and allow the blown film extrusion of higher modulus materials than have heretofore been possible.

Abstract: An in-ground receptacle for a fluid meter and/or a valve, comprising a continuous wall defining a chamber for the meter and/or valve. The wall is molded in three layers comprising smooth inner and outer layers of plastic with an intermediate plastic layer having high insulative characteristics. The receptacle is provided at its upper end with an appropriate openable closure, substantially at ground level, and permitting inspection of and access to the meter and/or valve. The receptacle has an annular interior rim near its upper end. The rim supports an insulative pad at the top of the receptacle beneath the openable closure therefor. The pad has a removable center portion enabling inspection and access to the fluid meter and/or valve. The construction of the receptacle is such as to prevent freezing of the fluid meter and/or valve.

Abstract: A riding saddle comprises, inter alia, two downwardly depending flaps from either side of the seat, which flaps may be altered to provide different configurations so that the saddle may be readily adapted for different riding pursuits. Such adaptability is provided by a generally two-part flap comprising a main part attached to the seat and a plurality of differently contoured removable parts releasably attachable to the main part, either in an aperture thereof, or at a front edge thereof. The invention provides a simple, quick, and relatively lowcost method of adapting a saddle to suit a variety of riding activities, such as show jumping, racing and dressage.

Abstract: A wiping system for removing liquids such as lubricant and coolant liquids from the surfaces of a metallic strip. The system comprises upper and lower wiper rolls for wiping the upper and lower surfaces of the strip. The wiper rolls each comprise a metal core and a porous resilient covering. At least one upper backup roll for said upper wiper roll and at least one lower backup roll for said lower wiper roll providing support for said wiper rolls; urging said wiper rolls against their respective strip surfaces resulting in the formation of a liquid bead on each surface of said strip at the entry end of the wiper roll nip; and engaging their respective wiper rolls at contact zones at the entry ends of which beads of oil squeezed from said porous wiper roll covers are formed. A suction assembly is provided for each bead to remove liquid therefrom.

Abstract: A purified, naturally derived melanogenic inhibitor protein capable of inhibiting melanogenesis in pigmentary cells has an amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 4. A method of producing melanogenic inhibitor protein comprises grafting mammalian skin onto a live host, permitting the mammalian skin to remain on the host for a predetermined period of time, removing the mammalian skin, and extracting the protein from the skin. Methods of controlling melanogenesis in pigmentary cells or selectively destroying melanoma cells comprise the steps of mixing an effective amount of melanogenic inhibitor protein, or an active segment, derivative, or analog thereof, with a suitable carrier, and applying this mixture to the pigmentary or melanoma cells.