Abstract: A dental hygiene package comprising a container for a body of viscous material including a dental medicament, such as a topical fluoride gel or a gel including a tooth-desensitizing composition. A supply of dental floss is immersed in the body of material thereby to impregnate the floss and adhere to the strands thereof. The container has an orifice through which the medicament-carrying dental floss may be withdrawn. This orifice has a size and shape relative to that of the floss whereby a predetermined and controlled amount of medicament is supplied per length of medicament-carrying floss drawn through the orifice from the container. A cutter is secured to the container for severing the medicament-carrying floss into desired lengths.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a nozzle for dispensing a fluent solid product, e.g., a dry ingredient such as instant coffee, instant tea, sugar, coffee lightener, chocolate or soup mix, in a hot beverage vendor, having a chute for delivering the product into a mixing bowl of the vendor where the product is mixed with hot water flowing through the bowl. The nozzle comprises a tubular body closed at one end constituting its outer end and having a lateral outlet, the tubular body being adapted to receive an auger of the dispenser for feeding the product through the body and thence out of the outlet. The chute is on a sleeve having a telescoping sliding fit on the tubular body. The sleeve has a lateral opening which registers with the outlet of the tubular body when the sleeve is in place on the body for flow of the product to the chute.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus of the form-fill-seal type having a plurality of scales each adapted to weigh out a batch of product for delivery to a package being formed, with means for marking on each package a code identifying the scale which weighed out the batch that went into that package.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically inserting plastic liners in open-mouth multiwall paper bags having means for holding a stack of the bags to be lined, and means for opening the uppermost bag of the stack for insertion of a liner therein. Insertion is via an inserter having vacuum means for gripping a liner, the inserter moving forward into the opened bag at the top of the stack for inserting a liner grasped by the inserter into the bag. The inserter moves the lined bag forward to an outfeed position where an outfeed means engages the lined bag to feed it forward for being stacked and, with the grip on the liner released, the inserter is retracted for the next cycle of operation. Liners are supplied from a roll in which they are interconnected end-to-end in series at transverse lines of weakness, the leading liner of the series being torn off and fed into position for being gripped by the vacuum means of the inserter.

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing particles in a fluid medium comprising an ultrasonic resonant cavity for containing a fluid medium. A first transducer on one side of the cavity continuously propagates thereacross ultrasonic compressional waves whose phase and amplitude are perturbed by the presence of particles in the fluid medium. A second transducer positioned on the opposite side of the cavity from the first transducer substantially parallel to and in registry therewith receives the ultrasonic waves and converts them to rf electric waves of the same frequency, the rf electric waves having their phases and amplitudes modulated in response to any perturbations in the ultrasonic waves. The rf waves are amplified and fedback to the first transducer thereby to establish an oscillatory circuit.

Abstract: A complete and self-contained in vitro diagnostic reagent composition for use in determining thyroid function comprises a buffered aqueous suspension of finely divided, amorphous silicon dioxide, having combined therewith a nonionic surfactant and a thyroid hormone substance tagged or labeled with radioisotopic iodine.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the mass concentration of atmospheric pollutants above and below a predetermined size. A receptacle has an air inlet and outlet. Air is continuously drawn through the inlet and thence through the receptacle and the outlet. A first collector in the receptacle collects pollutants above the predetermined size. This first collector is movable through a first station and collects pollutants above the predetermined size from the air entering the receptacle through the inlet on successive areas thereof. A second collector in the receptacle collects pollutants below the predetermined size. This second collector is movable through a second station and collects pollutants below the predetermined size from the air which has passed the first station on successive areas thereof. A holder is provided for a first source of radiation which passes through the area of the first collector at the first station.

Abstract: A unitary pilot-operated bi-directional cylinder lock valve and pressure-compensated flow control valve arrangement, having a common housing with internal porting connecting a pair of oppositely acting normally closed check valves operated to open by fluid pressure in one direction thereagainst on the inlet side and by a common free-floating inlet-pressure-responsive pilot piston therebetween. Also in the common housing and ported in line with each of the check valves are two pressure-compensated flow control valves which restrict fluid flow through the check valves as a function of flow pressure. The pressure-compensated flow control valves are also oppositely acting and each senses and acts to reduce fluid flow in response to pressure build-up in an opposite direction from that of the other.

Abstract: A lifting implement comprising a base adapted to be secured to the floor of a van-type truck or the like adjacent a doorsill thereof, a lifting platform, two pairs of generally parallel connecting arms pivotally connected to the base and to the platform adjacent the outer end thereof, a pair of cable and pulley arrangements interconnecting the base and the platform, and a winch secured to the base at one side thereof. The base has a pair of pulley support members extending upwardly therefrom. Each pulley and cable arrangement has a plurality of pulleys journalled by the pulley supports and the platform and a cable with the cable extending between the pulleys journalled by the support member and pulleys on the platform. Both cables are secured to the winch for simultaneous winding and unwinding thereby to effect uniform movement of the platform.

Abstract: A cleated athletic shoe having a special sole formation and a flexible arch section for reducing the danger of injury to the knee upon a lateral blow on the knee and for providing arch support when needed but freedom when arch support is not needed.

Abstract: A lightweight, unitary plastic pallet adapted for handling heavy powder loads. The pallet has a substantially rigid lower deck, a flexible, reinforced and continuous upper deck adapted to deflect against the lower deck under load, and a plurality of integral legs permitting forklift transport of the pallet.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing fabric from a bolt in which the bolt is cradled in a loop of an endless belt and unwound by driving the belt. The length of fabric unwound is accurately measured by measuring the distance of belt travel, and provision is made for presetting the length of fabric to be unwound, manually starting the belt to unwind the fabric, automatically starting measurement of the length unwound when the leading end of the fabric passes a predetermined point, and automatically stopping the belt when the preset length has been measured. The fabric unwound from the belt is automatically folded, and presented for being cut.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for making plastic containers with integral rims, utilizing a transfer ring means having an aperture and an annular groove, in which the aperture is closed to define a space for reception of thermoplastic material, which is compressed to form it into a diaphragm with the material filling said groove forming the rim of the diaphragm, the transfer means carrying the diaphragm is positioned on a mold having a cavity corresponding to the shape of the container, the diaphragm is formed into a container in the mold cavity, and the container is removed from the transfer means with the rim of the diaphragm as molded in said groove intact with the container and forming the rim of the container.

Abstract: Mixing means comprising a disposable static-type mixer having opposed walls of sheet material secured to one another in a pattern such as to establish a flow path therethrough having a plurality of inlets at one end thereof for entry of the materials to be mixed (e.g., two resins forming a two-part plastic foam), an outlet at the other end thereof for exit of the mixture, and a plurality of flow passages between the inlet and the outlets. The flow passages cross one another at a plurality of intersections between the inlets and the outlet for mixing the materials flowing through the passages to the outlet.

Abstract: A dress shield consisting of two pieces of composite material each generally of crescent shape having a concave inner edge and a convex outer edge, each piece being cut from a laminated material consisting of a central waterproof barrier layer of a flexible heat-sealable plastic film and outer layers of spun-bonded polyester. The pieces are disposed flatwise one against the other with their corresponding edges in register, and are seamed together in face-to-face relation along their concave inner edges by a continuous heat seal, the latter being formed by ultrasonically sewing the concave edges together.

Abstract: An electroless plating method for providing a thin adherent substantially continuous metallic layer over an osseous substrate such as a tooth structure. The method comprises contacting the substrate with an aqueous plating mixture containing a water-soluble salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, nickel, platinum, palladium and tin, and a reducing agent for the metal ions of said salt. The plating mixture is maintained in contact with the substrate for a time sufficient for the metallic layer to form thereon. The metallic layer so provided is adapted for subsequent application of a tooth restorative material such as a dental amalgam for carrying out a tooth restoration.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for packaging units in flexible sheet material with the units spaced longitudinally in a tube formed of the material and with the tube sealed together between successive units. The apparatus includes a rotary sealing wheel carrying a series of sealing assemblies for sealing the tube. The sealing assemblies are uncoupled from the wheel and held at a hold position for again being released in timed relation to movement of the tube for sealing the tube between successive units. In accordance with this invention an improved center guide is provided for the sealing units so as to more precisely maintain the sealing units substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wheel and to apply a braking force to each of the sealing units so as to resist movement of the sealing units relative to the wheel.

Abstract: Photosensitive homopolymers and substantially non-crosslinked copolymers containing the recurring unit: ##EQU1## R.sub.1 may be substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, aralkylene, alkoxyalkylene or aryloxyalkylene. R.sub.2 is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or heterocyclic group having aromatic character. R.sub.3, R.sub.4, and R.sub.5 are hydrogen, halogen or lower alkyl. R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 may be hydrogen, halogen, nitro, lower alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, phenoxy and lower alkoxy. Lithographic plates bearing these photosensitive polymers can be stored without deterioration for extended periods prior to exposure, and produce highly abrasion resistant plates on being exposed. The photosensitive polymers of the invention are preferably produced by homopolymerization of novel monomers having the general formula ##EQU2## where R.sub.1 .sub.' is alkylene, haloalkylene, alkoxyalkylene, aminoalkylene, cycloalkylene, aralkylene, cycloalkylalkylene, cyanoalkylene, and aryloxyalkylene, and R.sub.2, R.

Abstract: A rear-to-front spiral vendor having special provision for vending items such as bags of snack products, e.g., bags of potato chips, without hang-up of the items against the front window of the cabinet of the vendor.

Abstract: Novel s-triazolo-[3,4-a]-isoquinoline compounds are prepared by methods analogous to known methods and exhibit anti-inflammatory activity.