Abstract: A termite colony is treated with a termiticide by locating a bait station on or beneath ground surface, adjacent a building, to attract termites in the region. The bait station container holds nontoxic cellulose bait. An opening in the bottom permits termites' ingress and egress to feed on the bait within the container. An opening in the top permits termite activity within the container to be monitored without disturbing the bait within the container and permits a termiticide to be introduced directly into the soil and termite tunnel tubes beneath the container by passing a termiticide injection tube through the openings in the container and into the soil beneath the container. Preferably, the termiticide is a non-repellent termiticide, which is lethal to termites through ingestion, contact and/or transferal.

Abstract: A container-restraining and closure-rotating assembly includes a base plate with a container-gripping strap that tightens about a sidewall of a container located on a counter beside the base plate when a counterclockwise rotational force is applied to the container and a closure-rotating implement for rotating and unscrewing a closure on a container restrained by the container-gripping strap. The closure-rotating implement includes a closure-gripping strap that tightens about a sidewall of a closure when a counterclockwise rotational force is applied to the closure through the closure-gripping strap by a counterclockwise movement of the implement handle.

Abstract: A lock assembly includes an elongated generally U-shaped resilient shackle, a base block, and may also include a keyed auxiliary locking bar. A first shackle arm is slidably and rotatably secured to the base block so that the shackle can be moved between extended and depressed positions and pivoted between locked and unlocked positions. The base block includes a catch for retaining a second shackle arm in the locked position. To pivot the shackle so that the second shackle arm can be moved into or out of the catch, the second shackle arm must be flexed toward the first shackle arm. When the shackle is in the locked position, a locking mechanism holds the shackle in the extended position and requires the shackle to be depressed, while the second shackle arm is flexed, to pivot the shackle and move the second shackle arm out of the catch.

Abstract: A pesticide delivery system includes a service box and a plurality of tubular delivery and dispensing lines for carrying a pesticide from the service box to locations in a building structure and dispensing the pesticide in those locations to control and exterminate pests. The service box includes a plate with holes through which elastic end portions of the tubular delivery and dispensing lines pass. Each of the holes has a conical frustum shaped portion and an annular edge portion that has the smallest diameter of the hole and is less in diameter than an outside diameter, in an unstressed or unstretched state, of the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line passing through the hole whereby the annular edge portion of the hole grips and locks the tubular delivery and dispensing line in place.

Abstract: A dual-visor cap assembly includes a cap having a crown portion, a first visor, and a second visor. The first visor is secured to the lower peripheral edge of the crown portion at the front of the crown portion. The second visor is secured to and carried by an adjustable length strap that passes through strap loops on the crown portion so that the strap and second visor are rotatively and detachably mounted on the crown portion adjacent the lower peripheral edge of the crown portion. The second visor is normally located at the front of the crown portion, centered and resting on the first visor, but can be selectively moved from the centered position on the first visor to either side to shade a wearer's face from a selected side while the first visor continues to shade the wearer's face from the front.

Abstract: A vehicle tie-down strap anchor and storage assembly includes a stake pocket anchor assembly for anchoring a tie-down strap to and storing a tie-down strap in a vehicle stake pocket and/or a tie-down strap anchor and storage box assembly adapted to be secured to a toolbox or surface in a cargo bed portion of a vehicle. The anchor for the stake pocket anchor assembly is resilient and has a generally V-shaped configuration with a base portion and a pair of arms extending upward and outward from the base portion to contact an interior surface of an upper wall of a vehicle stake pocket to retain the stake pocket anchor within the vehicle stake pocket. A tie-down strap is secured to the base of the anchor and, when not in use, can be stored within the vehicle stake pocket between the arms of the anchor. A tie-down strap is secured within the tie-down strap anchor and storage box assembly and, when not in use, can be stored in the box.

Abstract: A hinged vent chute, for providing ventilation to an open attic space, includes an elongated chute segment and an insulation dam segment. The elongated chute segment has one or more upwardly open channels, extending from a lower end to an upper end of the chute segment, that provide an air passage from a soffit region of a roof, over an interior surface of the roof, up into an open attic space beneath the roof. The hinged vent chute has a hinge or fold line joining the elongated chute segment to the insulation dam segment which permits the vent chute to be folded downward at the hinge to position the insulation dam segment for securement to form an insulation dam which prevents loose fill insulation in an attic from flowing down into a soffit region of a roof and blocking air flow.

Abstract: Fibrous sorbent media or pads are formed from non-woven mats of thermoplastic fibers, preferably polypropylene fibers, having a mean diameter between about 0.5 microns and about 25 microns. The mats have a weight between about 2 ounces/yd2 and about 25 ounces/yd2; a thickness of at least {fraction (1/20)} of an inch; an oil absorbency ratio of at least 5 to 1 or a water absorbency ratio of at least 5 to 1. The sorbent media have first and second major surfaces with abrasion resistant, liquid permeable, integral skins and fibrous cores. The liquid permeable skins of the media are formed by melting fibers at and immediately adjacent the major surfaces of the mats to form thermoplastic melt layers which are subsequently solidified into the skins on the major surfaces of the mats. For many applications, the thermoplastic fibers of the mats are point bonded together at spaced apart locations to increase the integrity of the mats.

Abstract: Cobalt alloys are disclosed for use in the fabrication of spinner discs for fiberizing molten glass into fibers in rotary fiberizing processes. The cobalt alloys fall within the following ranges, in percentage by weight, Co 22.0-54.0; Cr 30.0-34.0; Ni 9.0-31.0; Mo 0.0-7.0; C 0.45-0.65; Si 0.25-1.0; Mn 0.30-0.80; precious metals (PM) 0.0-2.0; and carbide forming metals (CFM) 0.0-1.3.

Abstract: A sound attenuating wall or ceiling assembly includes: a plurality of wall or ceiling boards; a series of parallel spaced apart, elongated framing members; and a series of elongated sound attenuating members extending along the length of the framing members, secured to the framing members and securing the boards to the framing members. Each of the sound attenuating members has a resilient cantilevered portion to which the boards are secured. The cantilevered portion of each sound attenuating member extends from the framing member to which the sound attenuating member is secured both outward away from the framing member and toward an adjacent framing member whereby the boards are resiliently secured to the framing members and spaced outwardly from the framing members to attenuate sound.

Abstract: A biosoluble glass fiber filtration media includes a fibrous filtration layer of randomly oriented, entangled glass fibers which has an initial efficiency of 25% or greater as measured by ASHRAE 52.1 test method. The glass fibers forming the media have a biodissolution rate in excess of 150 ng/cm2/hr and a mean diameter between about 2.5×10−5 inches and about 11.0×10−5 inches. Typically, the filtration layer has a thickness ranging from about 0.12 inches to about 0.35 inches and a density ranging from about 3.0 g/ft2 to about 8.0 g/ft2. The filtration has an initial pressure drop of about 0.35 inches of water or less and a dirt holding capacity of about 1.5 g/ft2 or greater.

Abstract: Fibers are produced a from molten thermoplastic fiberizable material in a rotary fiberizing process by passing the fiberizable material through rows of fiberizing holes in an annular sidewall of a fiberizing disk. A first manifold supplies a combustible gas or gaseous mixture into the fiberizing disk where the combustible gas or gaseous mixture combusts to help maintain the fiberizing disk and the molten fiberizable material supplied to the fiberizing disk within a desired temperature range for fiberization. A second manifold supplies a combustible gas or gaseous mixture externally of the fiberizing disk where the combustible gas or gaseous mixture combusts. The products of combustion from the burning of the combustible gases or gaseous mixtures discharged from the first and second manifolds heat an annular fiber attenuation zone surrounding the disk sidewall and help attenuate fibers in the heated attenuation zone.

Abstract: An intumescent material includes a liquid carrier with a corrosion inhibitor, such as a coating forming material, expandable particulate graphite (flake graphite or lump graphite) and if desired a filler. The intumescent material has a pH greater than 7.0, to reduce the corrosive properties of the intumescent material for most metals used in the construction industry and to provide a chemical environment conducive to the forming of a corrosion inhibiting layer by the corrosion inhibitor. The method of making the intumescent material includes combining the liquid carrier, the corrosion inhibitor, the expandable particulate graphite, the filler (if used), and a pH enhancer (if necessary to bring the intumescent material within the desired pH range), to form an intumescent material having a pH greater than 7.0.

Abstract: A foam insulation sheet has a major surface, such as the interior surface of a duct liner over which gases flow within a duct, coated with a relatively smooth, tough elastomeric coating of substantially uniform thickness. Preferably, the coating has a tough skin and penetrates into interstices of the major surface of the foam sheet to firmly bond the elastomeric coating to the foam sheet. One method of forming the tough skin on the coating includes contacting a frothed aqueous cross-linkable acrylic latex emulsion, applied to the major surface of the foam sheet, with a hot ironing surface to dewater an exposed surface of the frothed emulsion, to free bubbles from the exposed surface of the frothed emulsion at the exposed surface of the frothed emulsion, prior to curing the remainder of the frothed aqueous cross-linkable acrylic latex emulsion.

Abstract: A fibrous insulation media is formed from a non-woven mat of thermoplastic fibers having a mean diameter of less than about 15 microns. Preferably, when used as an acoustical insulation, the media is formed of fibers having a mean diameter of less than about 13 microns; the media has a density of less than about 60 Kg/m3; and the media has a Fraiser air permeability of less than 75 cubic feet per minute per square foot of surface area. The media has first and second major surfaces and a fibrous core with at least one of the major surfaces having an integral skin thereon. The skin is formed by melting fibers at and immediately adjacent the major surface of the mat formed into the media to form a thermoplastic melt layer which is subsequently solidified into a skin on the major surface of the mat. The thermoplastic fibers of the mat are point bonded together at spaced apart locations to increase the integrity of the mat.

Abstract: A tubular fibrous blanket is formed using a rotary fiberizer which produces a tow of substantially continuous thermoplastic fibers and a suction chamber with an annular, vertically extending, collection surface spaced from and surrounding the rotary fiberizer. The fibrous tow is collected on the annular, vertical collection surface or on a foraminous backing sheet passing over the collection surface in a spiral of very low pitch with succeeding portions of the tow at least partially overlapping and preferably, substantially completely overlapping preceding portions of the tow to form the tubular blanket. The tubular fibrous blanket and the backing sheet, when used, can then be slit longitudinally and unfolded to form a flat blanket having continuous fibers extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blanket.

Abstract: A spiking tool for spiking high voltage underground power lines includes a safety shield to protect the operator of a shotgun stick from the flame and heat emitted when a hot power line is spiked. A first embodiment of the tool includes a tubular sleeve for encasing a length of power line. The tubular sleeve has a slot therein through which a power line can be introduced into and encased within the tubular sleeve and a spiking assembly with a grounded spike made of an electrically conductive material for penetrating the insulating casing of and making contact with wiring within a power line housed within the tubular sleeve. A second embodiment of the tool includes a shield plate mounted on and extending outward from the shaft of a shotgun stick intermediate a first end of the stick which engages a spiking clamp and a second end of the stick held by the tool operator.

Abstract: An implement for holding and/or coring vegetables and fruits, during the preparation of the vegetables and fruits, includes a shaft for impaling a vegetable or fruit while the vegetable or fruit is peeled, sliced, etc., and a handle for holding the implement and coring a vegetable or fruit. The shaft has an external surface with projecting ribs along the length of the shaft for retaining an impaled vegetable or fruit on the shaft while the vegetable or fruit is being prepared and preferably, is made of a polymeric material to help keep cutting instruments from being dulled by contact with the shaft during use. The handle has projections on either side of the shaft for penetrating a vegetable or fruit to keep the vegetable or fruit from rotating when being held on the shaft and a pair of diametrically opposed blades, for coring a vegetable or fruit, which are spaced from each other to define a space therebetween for containing a core when the handle is being used to core a vegetable or fruit.

Abstract: A gypsum board/intumescent material fire barrier wall includes spaced apart, vertically extending metal or wooden studs with only one layer of gypsum board secured to each side of the studs to form a fire barrier wall with a wall cavity. An intumescent material barrier, that is at least coextensive in width and height with the width and height of the wall cavity, is also included in the fire barrier wall and preferably, the wall cavity contains a fibrous insulation blanket. Preferably, the spaced apart gypsum wall boards, with the intumescent material barrier, provide the fire barrier wall with two hour fire-resistive properties meeting or exceeding ASTM test standard E119 for walls and partitions.

Abstract: An aseptic protector for skin penetrating devices includes a body of deformable material for accepting and encapsulating a protruding portion of a skin penetrating device, such as a pin or drain, from a location where the skin penetrating device protrudes from a skin surface to a location spaced outwardly from the skin surface. The body of deformable material functions as a buffer and inhibits movement of the skin penetrating device. The body of deformable material includes an aseptic agent, preferably dispersed throughout the body of material, for contacting the skin surface and the skin penetrating device at the location where the skin penetrating device penetrates the skin surface to prevent, inhibit or arrest infection where the skin penetrating device penetrates the skin surface.