Abstract: A method and composition for reducing the intestinal absorption of cholesterol in humans or animals are provided. Broadly, the methods comprise ingesting a composition (or a food product including the composition) comprising a substituted phosphatidylcholine compound, or comprising sufficient quantities of a phosphatidylcholine compound to provide from about 20-70% by weight of C18 or higher alkyl groups. Preferred substituted phosphatidylcholine compounds include monoether phosphatidylcholines, diether phosphatidylcholines (wherein the alkyl group bonded to the second carbon atom of the glycerol moiety is a C17 or higher alkyl group), or ester or diester phosphatidylcholines. Preferred C18 or higher alkyl groups include C18-C22 alkyl groups, preferably bonded to the second carbon atom of the glycerol moiety of the phosphatidylcholine compound.

Abstract: An improved low shear extrusion and dehydrating apparatus (10) is provided for the continuous extrusion of various starting materials (e.g., starch-bearing grains or starch fractions thereof, proteinaceous materials and/or nutraceuticals) to yield improved products, especially cold water swelling or soluble starch products. The invention is also useful for forming pre-gelled starch products and for processing starch-bearing materials using little or no surfactant. The apparatus (10) preferably includes an elongated extruder (18) together with a tubular die assembly (20) coupled to the outlet of the extruder barrel (32), wherein the volumetric ratio of the die assembly (20) to the free volume of the extruder (18) is from about 3-20, and the ratio of die assembly retention time to the extruder retention time is at least about 5.

Abstract: A shock absorbing tow bar for connection between the accumulating trolley and load carriage of a power and free conveyor system includes one component that is connectable to the accumulating trolley and another that is connectable to the intermediate trolley of the load carriage. Limited relative shifting is permitted between the components of the tow bar. Moreover, the components are threadably intercoupled so that such relative shifting requires a screwing or unscrewing action that serves to cushion movement between the accumulating trolley and load carriage.

Abstract: A skyrocket is provided which provides a first fireworks effect prior to launch as well as a second effect after launching. The skyrocket includes a body which houses or is coupled to a rocket motor, a first effect and a second effect. A transparent or translucent nose cone is placed on the top end of the body which provides both the ability to view one of the effects placed therein but also maintains the aerodynamic properties of the skyrocket. The first effect may be a strobing effecting which during burning provides a pulsating intensity of light visible through the nose cone prior to lift-off of the skyrocket, and the second effect may be a bursting charge which explodes after the rocket is in flight. An ignition fuse leads to the first effect and a second fuse leads to the rocket motor so that by lighting the first fuse, no further fuses need be lit and a delay is provided before the rocket motor ignites.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the preparation of composite food products is provided wherein the apparatus (10) has a conveyor (12), a pair of spaced-apart primary and secondary apertured rakes (18, 20), a cooling tunnel (22), a cutting device (24) and a packaging system (25). In use, a first, relatively high viscosity food material (36) is deposited upstream of the primary rake (18) so as to drag or pull the first material through the rake (18) as continuous streams (40). The streams (40) are partially cooled and relatively low viscosity second material (38) is applied thereover adjacent the secondary rake (20). At the secondary rake (20), the second material (38) is pulled through the rake apertures to form continuous streams or sections (42) of the material (36) disposed around the inner sections formed by the streams (40). The composite streams are then cooled in the tunnel (22) and cut by the device (24).

Abstract: An open-back hat (10) is provided which includes an adjustable sweatband (12), a forwardly extending bill (16), and a crown extending upwardly from the sweatband and bill in order to cover the forehead and sides of a wearer's head, while leaving a large rear open area (20). The area (20) allows pull-through of long hair and/or special hairstyles. In this manner, women or men with long hair may wear a baseball-type hat without fear of hairstyle damage.

Abstract: An improved snack food product in the form of resilient, molded, self-sustaining bodies preferably made from a heated mixture comprising a dairy product (cheese, yogurt or pudding), gelatin, fat and water. The product bodies are small and bite sized, having a mass to surface area ratio of from about 0.05-5 g/cm2, which facilitates molding thereof. Preferred food products are prepared by first creating a heated flowable mixture of including cheese, gelatin, fat and water, and depositing small quantities of the mixture into molding depressions formed in powdered starch; after hardening, the resultant products are separated from the starch and packaged.

Abstract: A combination bench and table unit includes a pair of frames with a bench fixed thereto, the frames having legs supporting the unit and upwardly extending supports which carry a table/backrest member. The table/backrest member is attached to the supports by a retaining assembly which includes a hinge to thereby permit swinging of the table/backrest member from a first vertical position where it serves as a backrest to a second horizontal position where it serves as a table. The bench and the table/backrest members are identical in configuration and construction and the two frame members are identical whereby to minimize the need for molds to fabricate the unit.

Abstract: Temperature self-regulating food delivery systems are provided having a magnetic induction heater (32, 126) and an associated food container (76, 124) equipped with an essentially permanent ferromagnetic heating element (82, 100, 128). The heater (32, 126) and heating elements (82,100, 128) are designed so as to heat the element (82, 100, 128) to a user-selected regulation temperature when the elements (82, 100, 128) are coupled with the heater's magnetic field, and to maintain the temperature in the vicinity of the regulation temperature indefinitely temperature regulation is a heating achieved by periodically determining at least two parameters of the heaters resonant circuits related to the amplitude of the resonant current passing therethrough during heating and responsively altering the field strength of the magnetic field. Preferably, the value of the resonant circuit amplitude and the rate of change of the amplitude are determined.

Abstract: Moldable products which conform to the size and shape of a particular object and methods of forming the same are provided. The products are made from a material selected from the group consisting of natural leathers, synthetic leathers, and mixtures thereof. The products and methods of the invention are particularly useful for manufacturing custom-fit footwear at a reasonable price. Methods in accordance with the invention comprise molding the starting material on and around a foot, wetting the material with a mixture comprising a leather stiffening or hardening agent, and drying the wetted material while still on the foot.

Abstract: The invention describes a device for treating liquids, in particular waste water, it being possible for the device both to aerate and mix the water. This device includes an aerator and includes a structure to which an independently working mixer is attached. The assembly may be attached to a float or be suspended above the liquid. Preferably, the mixer will be displaceably attached to the structure. The structure may be attached to the aerator or to the float.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus (10) is provided having a conveyor frame (12) and an overlying, shiftable conveyor belt (14). The frame (12) includes elongated side members (48, 50) supporting a series of transversely extending, axially spaced metallic supports (22) each equipped with openings (56) therein. A series of synthetic resin slide bars (16-20) are received within associated support openings (56), and are maintained in place by keepers (24) attached to corresponding supports (22). The slide bars (16-20) are preferably formed of aligned segments (16a, 16b, 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b). The slide bars (16-20) bridge the spaced apart supports (22) and thus become belt-supporting structural members in the frame (12). The support openings (56) are preferably slightly larger than the associated slide bars (16-20), so as to permit passage of cleaning fluid between the adjacent slide bar and support surfaces.

Abstract: A preferred fenestration product (10), such as a window, includes a plurality of installation fins (22) rotatably coupled with the mounting surfaces (36) of respective frame members (28,30) of the product (10). Each fin (22) is rotatable between a retracted position in which the fin (22) is positioned flush against a respective mounting surface (36) and extends toward the outboard side (32) of the product (10), and an extended position in which the fin (22) extends outwardly from a respective mounting surface (36). This configuration allows the product (10) to be installed in a building opening (12), shimmed as needed for level and plumb with the fins (22) in the retracted position, and then rotated to the extended position and attached to the framework (16) surrounding the opening (12).

Abstract: A top rail assembly (20) utilizes a support brace (22) and an awning mount groove (26) recessed in a rail body (24) to provide a strong top rail assembly (20) without using undue space or degrading aesthetics. The brace (22) extends between a side wall brace tab (72) and a roof brace tab (64) to reinforce the top rail body (24) and define a wire chase opening (76) between the brace (22) and a transition section (74) of the body (24). The groove (26) is recessed into the rail body (24) and is defined by two opposed legs (80, 82) and a bottom segment (84) which are integral to the rail body (24).

Abstract: A detachable gooseneck trailer (20) having a gooseneck (24) and a detachable trailer deck (22) utilizes a trailer attachment assembly (30) to draw the trailer deck (22) toward the gooseneck (24) during attachment. The attachment assembly (30) includes a pivoting carrier (66) having a retainer leg (84) with a rearward facing load carrier engagement surface (90). A slide member (68) is attached to the trailer deck (22) and provides a forward facing slide member engagement surface (94). As actuators (70) pivot the carrier (66) rearward, the load carrier engagement surface (90) slides over the slide member engagement surface (94). A latching mechanism (34) utilizes an elongated latch plate (122) pivotally mounted on the retainer leg (84) to automatically latch the carrier (66) to the trailerdeck (22). A latch biasing spring (124) biases the latch plate (122) toward its latched position, so that it automatically engages a catch (126) mounted on the trailer deck.

Abstract: A scaffolding platform (20), having side rails (22,24), one-piece end cross members (26,28), and a panel (30) is utilized to elevate a work surface (32) provided by the panel (30). In an alternate embodiment, the end cross members (26,28) are unitary and hooks (56) are attached to the end cross members (26,28) with hook joints (92). If a hook (56) is damaged, the hook (56) can be removed without separating any of the corner joints (68) which attach the rails (22,24) to the end cross members (26,28). An intermediate cross member (31) is also provided to support the panel (30). The intermediate cross member (31) includes an upper support member (76) which engages the panel (30) and a lower support member (78) which engages the rails (22,24) to maintain spacing.

Abstract: An improved slat construction (20) for use in a livestock trailer (22) includes a double skin slat (24) connected to upright posts (38) of the trailer (22) with weld connections (68). The slat (24) includes an inner skin (26), an outer skin (28), a plurality of bulkheads (30), and female and male edge connections (32, 34). The inner and outer skins (26, 28) are spaced apart to define a gap (62) therebetween, and the bulkheads (30) are positioned in the gap (62) and connect to the inner and outer skins (26, 28) to divide the gap (62) into internal chambers which inhibit heat transfer by convection. The female connection (32) includes opposed legs (78) defining a groove (80) therebetween, and the male connection (34) includes a tongue (74) inserted into the groove (80) to connect adjacent slats (24).