Abstract: A panel fastener has a hook and cam assembly with a C-shaped leaf spring mounted in a recess in the camming surface of the cam. The recess is formed with a central barrier with opposed ledges on which the spring is mounted. Rotation of the cam causes the spring to frictionally engage the hook and in so doing become compressed and to flex below the recess edges without crimping.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting plasticizer from polymer structures includes, in one embodiment, a vacuum chamber, a heating member and a condenser, the plasticizer being vaporized from the polymer structure by a combination of low temperature and heat, and in another embodiment, an evaporation chamber, a conveyer belt, and a plasticizer removal system, the plasticizer removal system including a duct having mounted therein a heating member, a fan and a condenser so that plasticizer may be extracted by forced air convection.

Abstract: An underwater video camera housing body includes a hollow interior for positioning a camera therein. The front end of the body is configured to receive a transparent member in a watertight relationship thereto. A weight is positioned in the interior of the housing body which is sufficient to overcome the buoyancy of the water, so that the housing can readily sink in water. An opening in the body communicates with the interior of the body. A plug member is inserted into the opening, the plug member containing therein strain-relieving means for the video cable. The plug is filled with a potting material to waterproof the entry of the cable into the housing.

Abstract: A front loading refuse collection vehicle is provided, comprising (a) a mobile vehicle including a vehicle cab and a vehicle chassis; (b) a body forming a container into which refuse may be loaded, the body mounted to the vehicle chassis and having an exit passage from which loaded refuse may be emptied; and (c) a loader device for loading refuse into the body. The loader device comprises (i) an arm which pivots about a first pivot axis located on the chassis from a loading position to an unloading position, the arm including a lifting mechanism for lifting the arm, (ii) a fork which extends from the arm and which pivots about a second pivot axis located on the arm from a loading position to an unloading position, the fork including a rotating mechanism for rotating the fork about the second pivot axis, (iii) a container mounted upon the fork, and (iv) a control circuit for coordinating simultaneous operation of the lifting mechanism and the rotating mechanism.

Abstract: Cationic polymers are added to wastewater containing colorants to form a cationic polymer/colorant complex. Anionic polymers are then added to the wastewater to produce a flocculent precipitate that is separated from the wastewater.

Abstract: A device for placing a work line into a space that is normally difficult-to-reach, comprising a tubular handle having a locally terminated distal end and a hand-gripped slingshot attached to a butt end of the handle. A spool of a pull line attaches to the handle. The spool is selectively operated for freely releasing the pull line from the spool and for rewinding the pull line onto the spool for pulling a work line into a remote space which is difficult to reach. A weight attached to the free end of the pull line is fired by the slingshot into the difficult-to-reach space to move the pull line thereinto. A work line is secured to the pull line and pulled into the difficult-to-reach space. Embodiments of a traveller for connecting the pull line to the work line and for guiding the engagement of the pull line and the work line upwardly into and through an upper portion of a tree.

Abstract: A strip curtain system has an elongated track (10) that has a back side (11) with a bottom flange rail (14) and a front side (12) with a bottom flange rail (14) providing a channel 15. The track back side has a ridge (17) extending above at least a portion of the back side bottom flange. The track front side has a channel access port 22 located in front of the back side ridge. A number of curtain strips (30) have a bifurcated hanger (31) mounted about opposite sides their top ends. The bifurcated hangers have a bottom (37) shaped to be slidably supported upon the track rails and a hang support surface (38) for support upon the track back side ridge.

Abstract: A secondary battery separator comprises a fibrous core embedded in a polymeric sheet having improved electrode fusion thereto in unitary construction. In the process of manufacturing the separator, a fibrous, polymeric, substantially two-sided core matrix is coated with a polymer mixture containing a plasticizer and a solvent vehicle, and a vacuum is applied to the reverse side from the coated side to cause the polymer mixture to penetrate and infuse the capillary voids of the core matrix from the opposite coated side. The vacuum is continued until the solvent vehicle is fully volatilized. After the solvent vehicle has dissipated, the fiber matrix is turned over, and the process is repeated by applying a coating of polymer mixture to the second side and pulling a vacuum on the opposite side to cause penetration of the matrix.

Abstract: A high speed zone refiner (10) includes a plurality of elongated heating elements (23) mounted side by side to provide a plurality of spaced elongated heating zones and a sample tray (44) for holding an impure organic specimen. The zone refiner also includes a motor (36) and cam (38) arrangement for cyclically moving the sample tray generally horizontally over the heat bed. The heat bed includes cool zones interspersed between the hot zones with the cool zones comprising a plurality of elongated cooling channels (14) also mounted in a side by side arrangement but alternating with the heating elements. The sample tray is sealed and having a bottom (58) of flexible metallic foil. Using the refiner, hot and cold zones are moved laterally within the impure organic specimen causing impurities to migrate to one end of the sample tray.

Abstract: A consumer feedback apparatus for collecting, analyzing, and reporting information on goods and services offered for sale to consumers by providers, comprising a recording station selectively operable by consumers for recording oral comments regarding goods and services offered by the providers. The oral comments and associated time signals are communicated to an analyzer for creating discrete normalized representations including comment category, at least one descriptor, at least one dimension, and an attitude, representative of each oral comment. Normalized comments are then selected according to the comment category, descriptor, dimension, attitude, and time signal, and analyzed for reporting to the provider for use in responding to perceptions of consumers as to the services and goods offered by the store to consumers. A method of collecting, analyzing, and reporting consumer feedback comments on goods and services offered for sale to consumers by retailers is disclosed.

Abstract: A computer system (10) is provided which includes an electronic cash registers (11) electronically coupled to a cooking station monitor (12) and input (13), and a manager's station monitor (15), input (16), and printer (17). The system instructs the cook to initiate a cooking process in response to the number of items on hand and items currently being cooked in view of the number of items typically desired to have on hand at a particular time of the day.

Abstract: A bulk bag has side walls and a bottom in which a liner is inserted made of a flexible plastic material. The liner has a bottom and a plurality of sides and at least one frame member extending inwardly from the sides substantially along a plane oriented substantially parallel with the bottom.

Abstract: A container for holding at least one first article in a space defined by walls of the container while permitting selective access to at least one second article in a separate compartment therein. The container body is defined by a side wall extending between a lower edge and an upper distal edge that defines an open end of the body for receiving at least one first article therethrough for being held in a space within the body. A dome-shaped interior wall extends across the space from an interior surface of the side wall to define a closed bottom. The side wall and the interior wall define the space for holding the first article. The interior wall also defines a separate compartment for receiving a novelty article through an opening defined in the body. A selectively-attached detachable cover closes the opening to hold the novelty article within the separate compartment.

Abstract: A latch for a sliding door of a truck or the like comprises a housing, a latch bar mounted to the housing for pivotal movement and spring means biasing the latch bar towards a latched position. An outboard cam is rotatably mounted to the housing for camming engagement with the latch bar. An outside handle is mounted to the outboard cam. An inboard cam is rotatably mounted to the housing for camming engagement with the latch bar and an inside handle is mounted to the inboard cam. A lock slide is mounted for manual movement into and out of locking engagement with the outboard cam. A mechanism is also included for moving the lock slide when positioned in the locking position out of the locking position in response to pivotal movement of the latch bar.