Abstract: Apparel, such as a jacket or rain gear, which is collapsible into its sleeve to form a fanny pack, shoulder pack, hand pack or back pack configuration which includes a releasable fastener which retains two (2) outwardly extending ends of an adjustable belt member attached to the apparel, such as a jacket or rain gear. The length of the adjustable belt member is readily adjustable by the user to permit the apparel, such as a jacket or rain gear, to be carried as a fanny pack, shoulder pack, hand pack or back pack, as desired by the user, when the apparel, such as a jacket or rain gear, is not in use. When it is desired to use the apparel, such as a jacket or rain gear, it is quickly and readily converted from its fanny pack, shoulder pack, hand pack or back pack configuration into apparel, such as a jacket or rain gear, ready for use.

Abstract: A distinctive graft copolymer is made by dissolving an oil-modified polyurethane resin in various vinyl monomers (methyl methacrylate, styrene, etc.). The monomer/oil-modified polyurethane solution is then miniemulsion polymerized to form a latex consisting of submicron particles of polymer with the oil-modified polyurethane grafted onto the polymer backbone. The latex can be applied to a substrate, which on drying forms a polymeric film with good film properties. The latex can be used in a latex paint formulation in place of an acrylate, acetate or styrene-divinyl benzene latex. In this way it is possible to produce water-borne oil-modified polyurethane coatings which combine the properties of an oil-based polyurethane coating with easy application and cleanup. The coating will beneficially lack organic solvent exposure of typical standard oil-modified polyurethane coatings.

Abstract: A distinctive graft copolymer is made by dissolving an unsaturated polyester resin in various vinyl monomers (methyl methacrylate, styrene, etc.). The monomer/unsaturated polyester solution is then miniemulsion polymerized to form a latex consisting of submicron particles of polymer with the polyester grafted onto the polymer backbone. The latex can be applied to a substrate, which on drying forms a polymeric film with good film properties. The latex can be used in a latex paint formulation in place of an acrylate, acetate or styrene-divinyl benzene latex. In this way it is possible to produce water-borne unsaturated polyester coatings which combine the film hardness properties of an unsaturated polyester coating with easy application and cleanup. The coating will beneficially lack organic solvent exposure of typical polyester coatings.

Abstract: The invention provides a machine and methods for automated manufacture of tapered adjustable ducts, and particularly tapered adjustable take offs. A tube of material is cut into gores of predetermined configuration, coupling beads are formed in the gores and the gores are adjustably interconnected to one another to form the finished take off duct in an automated fashion. The apparatus for forming an adjustable duct member may include a housing including at least one work station formed therein. A die associated with the work station is selectively positioned at a predetermined location relative to a work piece positioned in association with the work station. A cutting and forming assembly associated with the work station cooperates with the die to selectively cut the work piece to form first and second members and to form a coupling bead in the first and second members which cooperate to reconnect the first and second members together at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A capsule for mixing and applying dental cement includes a capsule body having a cylindrical shape, a longitudinal axis and a dispensing end. A mixing chamber is located in the capsule body, and it is designed and arranged to hold dental cement. The mixing chamber has an opening region. A piston is located in the capsule body and in the mixing chamber to be axially displaceable for expelling mixed dental cement through the opening region. An exit opening is located at the dispensing end of the capsule body and in the opening region. A closure cap is designed and arranged to cover the opening region. A clamping device is designed and arranged to rotatably connect the closure cap to the capsule body in the opening region to be in opposite fluid-sealing relationship. An unbent application cannula is fixedly mounted to the closure cap at an angle of approximately 10° to 80° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the capsule body.

Abstract: A device knits together a tubular structure of continuous fibers with a stitch yarn, to provide a reinforcing substrate, especially for use with roofing materials. The device brings together first and second sets of the continuous fibers at a cylinder with a plurality of latch needles. The first set of fibers enter the cylinder radially in interstitial spaces between adjacent needles. At least one continuous fiber constituting the second set of fibers enters the cylinder tangentially at an insertion point. Axial manipulation of the needles at the insertion point results in knitting the stitch yarn around the intersecting first and second continuous fibers, resulting in the knitted tubular structure. The manipulation is achieved by rotating the means by which the second fibers and the stitch yarn are introduced, as well as the means for manipulating the needles, in a stepwise sequential manner around the circumference of the cylinder.

Abstract: A wear insert is provided for receiving trunnions on the ends of pieces used in affixing brake shoes to a brake shoe assembly. A vehicle brake shoe assembly has brake shoes which may be urged outwardly against a brake drum when a S-cam is rotated. The brake shoe has an arcuate brake table on which friction liners are installed. A brake web, comprising a pair of brake web elements, extends inwardly from the brake table toward the center of radius of the arcuate brake table. Each of these spaced apart web elements has a first and a second end, and each of the ends is provided with a trunnion receiving slot. The trunnion receiving slots at one end receive the trunnions of an anchor pin, and the trunnion receiving slots at the other end receive the trunnions of a cam follower. The wear insert is removably seated in at least one of the trunnion slots to be interposed between the slot and the trunnion.

Abstract: A method for sensing the concentrations of diatomic gases in a flow chamber is achieved by focusing an incident beam of light from a monochromatic light source on a point internal to the flow chamber through a transparent window. The incident excites molecules of the diatomic gas, resulting in emission of scattered light of particular characteristic frequency for each species of diatomic gas, due to the Raman principle. By collecting the scattered light beam from the flow chamber through the window and analyzing the intensity of the collected scattered beam at these characteristic frequencies, the relative concentrations of each of the diatomic gases may be determined.

Abstract: A utility rack for a motor vehicle is provided comprising a stationary mounting frame mountable to a vehicle, a cargo frame movable between an access position and a storage position and capable of carrying substantially elongated cargo, a carriage to move said cargo frame between said access position and said storage position, said carriage movably attaching said cargo frame to said mounting frame, said carriage being manually actuated to move said cargo frame between said access position and said storage position, said carriage comprising an assist capable of assisting manual movement of said cargo frame between said storage position and said access position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a trailer body including a wiring protection system wherein a trailer body is supported at least in part on a plurality of wheels and has at least a floor associated therewith. The trailer body includes a wiring system to supply electrical energy to components situated at positions about the body of the trailer. The wiring system includes a plurality of individual wire sections being selectively coupled to the components via an electrical splice adjacent the component. A sealing compound is formed into a sheet member having a predetermined configuration, with the sheet member being selectively attachable to a surface of the trailer body about the electrical splice and adjacent the electrical component. The sealing compound will seal the splice from the external environment and maintain the position of the wire section including the splice in relation to the trailer body.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement for a railroad freight car for transporting containers. The car is of the type having spaced apart side structures, opposed end structures and a floor structure, all of which together define a well for receiving a plurality of containers. The well has a longitudinal direction substantially aligned with the direction of travel of the car and a transverse direction substantially normal thereto. The floor structure of the car has a container support within the well which provides a container support surface. The improvement comprises a container stop provided with the container support, the container stop having an extended position and a retracted position. The container stop is biased to the extended position by a biasing component. The extended position is defined by the container stop extending upwardly from the container support surface to present two stop surfaces within the well.

Abstract: A system for roofing a substructure has a plurality of roof panels, a plurality of support members and a plurality of cap members. The roof panels each have a horizontal channel section bounded on a pair of opposing side edges by side flanges, with an upper end of each side flange bent to provide a groove opening outwardly laterally from the panel. The support members each have a pair of oppositely extending base flanges and a pair of oppositely extending top flanges, the base flanges and top flanges being positioned along a vertical web member. The top flanges are adapted to be received in the groove of one of a pair of adjacent roof panels and one of the base flanges of each support member is adapted to fasten the support member to the substructure. The cap members have side walls to retain the top flanges in the grooves without fastening the roof panel to the support member, thereby allowing some relative movement upon deflection of the roof panel.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and method for feeding solution from a container with high accuracy. An embodiment of the apparatus is provided as a container hermetically containing a solution is made of a high polymer that permits the container to change its shape in accordance with the amount of its content. The container is removably connected to a tube for forming an isolated conduit extending from the container via a pump to the destination to which the solution is fed. The isolated conduit is provided with a gas-liquid separation tank for separating gas from the solution and a gas trap section communicating with the gas-liquid separation tank. The gas-liquid separation tank and the gas trap section are located between the container and the pump, and the gas trap section has a variable volume. Further, a desired number of isolated conduits may extend via respective pumps to the destination to which the solution is fed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an LED lamp and method of using one or more lamps, and portable lighting products such as flashlights using such LED lamp(s). The LED lamp according to the invention provides uniformly distributed light that radiates spherically approximately 270° in all directions, both radially and axially. This newly designed lamp is ideally suited as a source of illumination for beam lights of the type employing reflective surfaces to produce a beam of light. The at least one chip is encased in at least one envelope surrounding the chip, with the envelope extending from a first position below the position of the at least one chip to a second position above the chip position. The second position of the envelope forms a lens in from of the at least one chip with the surface of the lens being configured and positioned relative to the ship such that a substantially uniform portion of light emitted from the chip is reflected off of the surface.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition having incorporated metal is provided in accordance with the invention. The thermoplastic composition can be processed at low temperatures, readily absorbs water, and is processable into a form suitable for use as a plant container. The thermoplastic composition and plant containers made therefrom are useful for promoting root branching in plants.

Abstract: Splice joint for plastic coated fabric conveyor belt or similar article which initially provides a mechanical bond between the two (2) conveyor belt ends to be joined prior to a vulcanization process. This is achieved by providing a “jig-saw puzzle” splice between the two (2) conveyor belt ends to be joined wherein at least one of the conveyor belt ends to be joined has outwardly extending mushroom shaped or arrow-head shaped tabs and the other conveyor belt end to be joined has corresponding inwardly extending sockets to provide both increased splice joint surface area, as well as a mechanical bond, between the two (2) conveyor belt ends to be joined.

Abstract: A motor vehicle differential bearing pre-load mechanism which provides for the simultaneous use of a collapsible spacer which plastically deforms and has a close to linear load to deflection band on one side of a motor vehicle differential assembly and a threaded adjuster on the other side of the motor vehicle differential assembly to axially pre-load the differential bearings in motor vehicle differential axles or on any shaft with bearings which requires an axial pre-load. Typically, the axial pre-load of the differential bearings decreases as wear of the differential bearings occurs when mechanical shims or a threaded adjuster without a collapsible spacer have been used.

Abstract: An improved wheel end assembly integrates into the steering knuckle a feature for providing driving engagement/disengagement of a wheel to convert between driven and non-driven modes of wheel movement. Such a wheel end assembly receives drive torque from a half shaft through a constant velocity (“CV”) joint. The wheel end assembly has the steering knuckle, which is coupled to the vehicle and which integrally houses a hub lock actuator assembly. A bearing assembly mounted to the knuckle allows for free rotation of a cylindrical wheel hub mounted thereon about a central axis of the hub. The wheel hub has a flange for mounting the wheel at an outboard end thereof and a drive flange at an inboard end thereof, an outer circumference of the flange having a plurality of external teeth spaced evenly therearound.

Abstract: A motor vehicle torque transfer case with integral constant velocity (CV) joint including a constant velocity (CV) bell, a chain sprocket, a speed sensor tone wheel, a chain sprocket splined to the chain sprocket spindle, two (2) support bearings, a single seal, a constant velocity (CV) inner race and cage assembly, a front output shaft, and a constant velocity (CV) boot. The constant velocity (CV) bell, the chain sprocket spindle and the speed tone wheel are preferably of one-piece construction. The constant velocity (CV) joint is preferably of a double offset plunging design, although other designs for the constant velocity (CV) joint could be utilized if desired. The spline connecting the chain sprocket to the chain sprocket spindle is preferably a slip fit and a drawn cup needle roller bearing is pressed into the torque transfer case housing.

Abstract: A tongue hygiene device to be used with a mildly abrasive cleanser, the tongue hygiene device having a generally elongate handle section and a generally disk-shaped cleansing section. The handle section is ergonomically designed to allow the user to effectively and comfortably hold the tongue hygiene device in proper cleansing alignment with the tongue. The cleansing section includes three generally parallel, circular patterns of medium-length bristles of medium stiffness, protruding from a generally disk-shaped cleansing head, the cleansing head having a top face, and a bottom face from which the bristles protrude, and a large aperture extending between the centers of the bottom and top faces which is surrounded by the bristles on the bottom face. The bristles allow the tongue hygiene device to cleanse the tongue by brushing bacteria and food buildup from the tongue using a mildly abrasive cleanser.