Abstract: A stack of logs (40) is inhibited from staining as it is stored in open air by being sheltered with an air pervious plastic material (16). The plastic material has a material to air density of greater than 70% to restrict sunlight, wind and rain and less than 90% to allow adequate ventilation.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for extracting impurities from a pulpous slurry. The apparatus has an upper housing (11), a conical, lower housing (12) and an auxiliary chamber (13). The upper housing has a separation chamber (27) having an upper shell entry portion (31) for causing a first stream of slurry to rotate within the separation chamber and a lower shell entry portion (35) for causing a second stream of slurry to rotate within the separation chamber in a direction opposite to the first stream. The rotation of the streams causes heavy impurities to collect along the outermost portion of the separation chamber. The opposite directions of rotation causes a generally stagnant zone between the rotating streams.

Abstract: A lighting fixture comprising at least a pair of modules each having at least one light source. The modules are positioned spaced-apart on a wall or ceiling to define a gap between the modules. A tubular connector joins the modules together. A cap covers the gap to provide a finished, uniform appearance for the fixture. The electrical conductors for the light in one module extends through the connector into the adjacent module. The electrical conductors extend across the gap into the adjacent module for connecting with a source of electrical current.

Abstract: Physiological stress in a human subject is treated by generating a weak electromagnetic field about a grounded electrode by the application of pulses of between 5 and 50 microseconds each at a pulse rate of between 0.5K and 10K pulses per second to a power electrode, the power electrode and grounded electrode being coupled to high voltage pulse generation means. A subject is positioned within the weak electromagnetic field for a period of time sufficient to cause an increase in his or her alpha or theta brain wave levels.

Abstract: A break-way connector for a sign post having a stud rigidly welded to two spaced-apart channel members, with a central portion of the stud between the channel members having a groove and a pair of radial bores centered on the groove to define an area for shearing upon sudden impact, the break-away connector joining together an in-ground post and an above-ground post for holding a sign.

Abstract: A foot treadle for use in opening a sliding door of the type mounted for initial movement in three directional dimensions from its closed position comprises a lever having an axis of rotation. The lever has a leg that depends generally downwardly from the axis and an arm that extends generally laterally from the axis. A pedal is mounted to the arm distally from the axis of rotation. The lever is mounted to a door jamb of a sliding door with the lever leg closely adjacent a lower end of the door for pivotal movement about the lever axis of rotation in pushing and sliding engagement with the door lower end. Upon a person stepping upon the pedal the lever leg applies a force laterally and upwardly against the door lower end thereby urging the door laterally and upwardly out of sealed engagement with the door jamb and floor as the door lower end slides outwardly from the door jamb in sliding contact with the lever leg.

Abstract: Containers are produced from a sheet of flexible material having a thermally bondable inside surface. In one embodiment the material is formed into a T-shaped intermediate structure having two pleats (302 and 303) having a uncreased, mutual central portion (300). The intermediate structure also has two overlapping side wall portions (295) extending from the pleats.

Abstract: A wet diaper detector comprises an elongated strip of material sized to be positioned in a diaper with a portion of the strip residing in a region of the diaper subject to wetness and an end of the strip protruding from the diaper at the upper rear or front portion thereof. The strip carries a pair of spaced conductors that extend along the length of the strip and terminate at the protruding end thereof. A detector and alarm assembly is adapted to be releasably coupled to the protruding end of the elongated strip and is configured to monitor the electrical resistance between the spaced conductors of the strip. When the diaper is wet by its wearer, the resistance between the spaced conductors of the strips falls below a pre-established value whereupon the detector activates the alarm to alert an attendant to change the diaper. In one embodiment, wetness is detected capacitively.

Abstract: A trolley rail system (10) for supporting and guiding a sliding cooler door (14) of a walk-in type cooler. The system has a guide rail (27) having two linear segments (29,30) and two deviation ramp portions (33,34), and an auxiliary rail (38). The system also has a leading trolley (41) and a trailing trolley (42). The leading trolley has a wheel (51) supported upon the guide rail. The trailing trolley has a primary wheel (52) supportable upon the guide rail and an auxiliary wheel (53) supportable upon the auxiliary rail.

Abstract: A cleated corrugated paperboard container is disclosed having a blank of corrugated paperboard scored to define panels for folding to define a container that wraps around a cast iron bathtub having a well with a rim surface and an apron extending along the side of the well from an edge of the rim. Cleats rigidly attach to the side edges of the panels to define a load bearing frame at the ends of the container.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for extracting thermal energy from a process fluid, comprising a first group of at least one plate-fin heat exchange module and a second group of at least one plate-fin heat exchange module. Each plate-fin heat exchange module includes an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of spaced-apart plates for communicating a refrigerant fluid in a cross-direction to a process fluid. The modules are sequenced alternately with one of the modules of the first group adjacent one of the modules of the second group. The modules are disposed so that the refrigerant fluid flows in a first direction through the modules of the first group and flows in a second opposite direction through the modules of the second group. A supply header connects to the inlets of each heat exchange module in parallel for communicating the refrigerant fluid from a supply to the heat exchange modules.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in the in situ construction of patterned pavement includes a container (14) and a matrix of capped tubes (15) mounted to the floor of the container. Concrete (17) is distributed within the container and about the tubes and allowed to hardened to form a slab (11) of patterned pavement. The caps are then removed and another material is placed within the tubes to finish the pavement.

Abstract: A paint mask for shielding windows while painting mullions of a window, made of a flexible sheet material having an attractiveness for holding to glass. The paint mask is sized for covering a pane of glass held by mullions. The sheet is engaged flatly to the glass pane to receive paint while the mullion is painted. A method of shielding a glass pane while painting mullions is disclosed.

Abstract: A hem former (75) for folding the margin of a sheet of material in preparation for sewing is mounted to the sewing bed (71) of a sewing machine (70). The hem former has a mounting block (76), a guide plate (83) having a guide edge (93) and channels (94) extending therethrough, a top folder plate (80) pivotally mounted to the mounting block, and a lower folder assembly (85). The lower folder assembly has a lower folder plate (97) mounted for reciprocal movement over the guide plate and a hem edge detector (100). The mounting block has air nozzles (95) coupled to a supply of compressed air so as to generate an airstream directed beneath the lower folder plate and into the channels of the guide plate. The movement of the top folder plate over the lower folder plate creates an inward fold IF and an outward fold OF in the material.

Abstract: A puzzle has a backing card overlaid with a peel-off sheet. The peel-off sheet has a tacky obverse side which is in intimate contact with a releasable surface of the backing card. The peel-off sheet is cut into segments with each segment bearing a portion of a scrambled image on its face side. Upon removing at least some of the segments and rearranging them on the backing card, the peel-off sheet displays the image unscrambled. The incorporation of the puzzle into a book is also disclosed.