Abstract: A metering device for successively dispensing uniform volumes of liquid from a container. The upper portion of the dispensing device is divided into a dispensing passage and a metering chamber by a vertical wall. The lower portion of the dispensing device is undivided forming a collecting chamber, the upper portion of which communicates with both the metering chamber and the dispensing passage. The metering chamber has axially spaced inlet and vent openings connected to the inner area of the liquid container. The metering chamber is partially segregated from the collecting chamber by a baffle protruding from the vertical wall. This baffle insures accurate operation of the dispensing device and reduces its necessary volume and length.

Abstract: An article having a pliable portion which is to be elastically secured about the periphery of a member having a substantially predetermined cross-section by means of an elasticized fastening system. The pliable portion of the article has a first end portion and a second end portion located at opposite ends of the encircling portion of the article. The first end portion includes an elasticized fastening system having at least one segment which is capable of being elastically shirred along at least a portion of its length. The shirrable portion of the segment comprises an elastomeric member which, prior to the securement of the first and second end portions of the article to one another, is maintained in a prestretched and tensioned condition in the desired direction of shirring. The opposed ends of the shirrable segment in the article are interconnected to one another through the prestretched and tensioned elastomeric member.

Abstract: A package for dispensing premeasured quantities of a granular or powdered fluent material, having an elongate container with sloping shoulders and an open, upstanding neck surmounted by an overcap. The overcap has a topwall, a dispensing orifice, an outer skirt, and an inner skirt separate from or partially contiguous with the outer skirt. The inner skirt surrounds the container neck in an overlapping, laterally-spaced relationship. These define a preliminary measuring section above the container neck bounded by the topwall and the inner skirt, a main measuring section bounded by the sloping shoulders and the outer skirt, and an outlet passage located between the inner and outer skirts and communicating with the dispensing orifice.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for extracting whole juice sacs from citrus fruits by fluid impinging chunks of peeled fruit meat. In one embodiment, a fruit chunk is fed into a fluid impingement chamber that includes a plurality of off-center orifices. High-pressure fluid emitted from the orifices strikes the fruit chunk and spins it such that the fruit chunk's juice sacs are stripped from the chunk's sectional membranes. In another preferred embodiment, a plurality of fluid impingement chambers are incorporated into a high-speed, continuous motion turret. In yet another preferred embodiment, fruit chunks are fed into an inclined tube that includes fluid orifices which emit high pressure fluid. Controlling the fluid pressure, nozzle orifice size, number of orifices, direction of fluid jets, impingement time, and size and shape of the fruit chunks determine how substantially the radial membranes of fruit chunks are stripped of juice sacs without shredding the membranes.

Abstract: A combined litter filtering and disposal system. A particularly preferred system comprises a highly porous litter filtering member underlying a protective member which prevents the pet from coming in contact with and damaging the filtering member in use. The protective member includes a centrally located slit, for allowing granular material, such as litter, to readily pass through onto the underlying filtering member when the system is lifted from the litter box. By employing two discrete members oriented as described, the functions of filtering and resistance to cat's claws are decoupled from one another, i.e., there is no longer a need to compromise between strength and filtering efficiency. Each member of the present bicomponent system can be optimally designed for its intended function, i.e.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ultrasonically bonding continuously moving webs to one another using a stationary vibrating horn and a relatively slick, non-thermally softenable moving slip layer interposed between the webs to be bonded and the horn to prevent web damage. Interposing the slip layer between the webs to be bonded and the ultrasonic horn improves both the quality and efficiency of web bonding. It reduces friction between the travelling webs and the substantially stationary ultrasonic horn not only due to its relatively slick surface, but also due to the compressive force which the slip layer exerts upon the webs to be bonded. This in turn minimizes jamming and hangups in the very limited clearance existing between the rotating anvil roll and the substantially stationary vibrating ultrasonic horn. In addition, the slip layer maximizes retention of heat either generated in the laminate web by the ultrasonic horn or transferred to the laminate web structure by preheating one or more of the webs.

Abstract: An easy open flexible bag preferably containing one or more stacks of flexible articles which are maintained in a state of compression in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness. For products such as disposable absorbent baby diapers, catamenial pads, incontinent briefs and the like, the degree of compression within the bag may be as much as 50% or more when compared to the uncompressed thickness of the stack of articles in question. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the bag totally encloses the stack or stacks of compressed flexible articles and exhibits a substantially rectilinear shape. The bag preferably includesa longitudinally oriented carrying handle which is formed indepenently of the bag. The opposed ends of the carrying handle are preferably secured to bag's side panels. The side panels and the front and back panels of the bag are subject to tension imposed by the stack of compressed flexible articles.

Abstract: A microwave food carton having two integral layer-divider panels, and a one piece blank which may be erected to form the carton. Surface areas of the top and bottom walls of the carton, and the integral layer-divider panels, are each provided with a layer of microwave susceptor material so that they are directly heated thereby upon application of microwave energy. Such a carton is particularly useful in a microwave food package for microwave heating oppositely facing surfaces of each of a plurality of food pieces disposed in three layers in the package. In such a package, one of the integral layer-divider panels is disposed between each two adjacent layers of food pieces; the food pieces are preferably uniformly thick and have planar upper and lower surfaces; and the carton is preferably sized, relative to the sizes of the food pieces, to ensure a snug contacting relation between the microwave susceptor covered walls and panels of the carton, and the planar surfaces of each of the food pieces.

Abstract: An improved bag-in-box (BIB) composite container in which the container's inner bag is blow-molded inside the container's outer box. In one preferred method the body portion, which is a heated and softened preform preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is placed within a carton through an aperture in the carton's top end panel, followed by injecting a pressurized gas into the preform to expand it into a bag within the outer box. In another particularly preferred method, a parison is extruded into an outer carton through an aperture in the carton's top end panel, followed by injecting a pressurized gas into the parison to expand it into a bag within the outer box.

Abstract: The invention relates to a toothbrush, comprising a brush handle (1) and a brush head (3) adjoining the latter, and, if required, disposed at an angle. According to the invention, a gripping slide (4) which can be displaced over at least part of the length of the brush handle (1) by virtue of a guide element projecting into a handle recess is arranged on the brush handle (1).

Abstract: A stacking device for forming stacks of articles of predetermined count, using a stacking wheel having a multiplicty of uniformly spaced peripheral slots. The slots are adapted to receive articles sequentially at a loading station and carry them to an unloading station having a plurality of stacking sites. The slots are divided into two or more sets, the slots in each set being equal to number to the predetermined count and adapted to deliver the articles therein to the unloading station with the leading edges of the articles at a predetermined radial offset from the axis of the stacking wheel. Each set of slots is associated with the stacking of articles at a specific stacking site and the slots of a set associated with one stacking site provide a different radial offset than those of a set associated with another stacking site. The stacking sites are arranged, in the downstream direction, in order of diminishing radial offset of their associated sets of slots.

Abstract: A system which separates the pet excreta collection, storage and disposal functions wherein each individual component used to perform each of these functions is optimized for its intended purpose. The system of the present invention permits almost indefinite recycling of the substantially nonsorbent, nonclumping granular litter material used by the animal to bury its solid excreta. The combination of the present invention includes a porous filtering member exhibiting a pore size which will readily permit the granular litter material to pass therethrough, yet retain substantially all of the solid animal excreta coming in contact with the fitering member during the filtering operation. A protective member capable of substantially resisting damage when subjected to digging or clawing by animals is secured in superposed relation to and completely overlies the uppermost surface of the porous filtering member.

Abstract: A method for producing an integral bottle/collar combination for use in a package for storing and dispensing potentially dangerous material such as medicament tablets. The package is resistant to opening by children yet readily openable by adults. The process includes a step of injection molding a polymeric part having a finish portion, a preform portion, and a flange portion. The flange portion has at least one integrally formed socket having a resiliently deformable pushtab connected by a hinge. The preform portion of the injection molded part is blow molded into the shape of the bottle. The hingedly connected pushtab is then folded into its in-use position.

Abstract: An easy-open flexible bag filled with compressed flexible articles. The bag has a substantially rectangular form after filling with the compressed flexible articles. The rectangular form comprises a pair of opposed front panels interconnected to a pair of opposed side panels which are oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of compression of the flexible articles. A bottom panel is connected to the lowermost edges of the front panels and the side panels and a top panel is connected to the uppermost edges of the front panels and the side panels. The interconnected front panels and side panels are subject to tension induced by the compressed flexible articles. The flexible bag further includes an easy-opening device provided on one of the tensioned side panels of the flexible bag for providing an opening in a predetermined portion of the tensioned side panel without releasing the tension in the remainder of the side panel.

Abstract: An animal litter box system which reduces odor and extends the useful life of litter by delivering and concentrating urine in an area specifically designed to prevent odor formation. The system of the present invention permits almost indefinite recycling of the substantially nonsorbent, nonclumping granular litter material used by the animal to bury its solid excreta. The combination further includes a porous filtering member exhibiting a pore size which will readily permit the granular litter material to pass therethrough, yet retain substantially all of the solid animal excreta coming in contact with the filtering member during the filtering operation. A protective member capable of substantially resisting damage when subjected to digging or clawing by animals is secured in superposed relation to and completely overlies the uppermost surface of the porous filtering member.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making an easy open substantially rectangular bag of compressed flexible articles in which the flexible articles are arranged in a stack and held in compression in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness.

Abstract: A bicomponent material which allows liquids to pass in a first direction, but substantially prevents the liquids from passing in the opposite direction, is disclosed. The material also exposes any gases attempting to pass in the direction opposite to that of the liquid transmission to an odor control lamina. The material is especially suitable for use with articles which deal with bodily fluids and the gases generated therefrom.