Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for the fusing, joining or seaming of cellulosic materials. The method utilizes a hydroxide solution of selected organometallic compounds or metal oxides to rapidly crosslink opposing, overlapping cellulosic surfaces to provide secure seams. In particular, the invention is directed to the production, either on-line or off-line, of tubular cellulosic casings for the manufacture of sausages and sausage-like products. The seams according to this invention have such high shear strength that extremely narrow bond widths are possible. The narrowness of the bond site eliminates or minimizes striping or discoloration of the finished product.

Abstract: Sources of meat having a high fat content, such as meat trimmings, are processed in a manner by which meat products prepared therefrom have a dramatically reduced fat content while retaining the desirable functionality of the unprocessed meat sources. The fat-containing meat trimmings are comminuted, heated and centrifuged under specific processing conditions in order to provide unformulated raw reduced fat meat having a fat content of not greater than about ten percent by weight while having excellent functionality. The unformulated reduced fat meat is formable into a variety of meat products, including wieners, sausages and hamburger patties, thereby providing products having taste, appearance, texture and other qualities which are substantially indistinguishable from products prepared from high fat unformulated raw materials but which have dramatically reduced fat contents.

Abstract: New and improved thickeners for mixtures of one or more surface active agent include beta-hydroxyalkyl-terminally branched fatty acid amides. The new and improved thickeners achieve the same or better viscosity with lower amounts of mineral salts being required to be added. Concomitant benefits such as improved softening, lubricity, emulsifying and foam intensifying properties are also achieved. The thickeners and cleaner compositions containing them may also be prepared so that they do not contain nitrosamines, unlike prior art amide thickeners. A preferred thickener in accordance with the invention is 2-hydroxypropyl-isostearyl amide. A novel method for making the preferred thickener, so that it is substantially free of undesirable impurities is also provided.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for economically manufacturing gasketed closures is described. Gasket material is placed within the closure and subsequently reformed to provide a gasket profile capable of forming an effective seal when the closure is applied to a container. The gasket material may be deposited in the closure as a hot-melt or as a preformed cut-out. The deposited material is subsequently reformed to have a desired profile by inserting a compression punch or a roller into the closure. The invention is adapted for the use of non-PVC containing materials such as certain thermoplastic elastomer materials which are non-flowable in a molten state and which may have a viscosity index of greater than about 40 meter-grams torque at 175.degree. C. The gasket materials may optionally be foamed prior to reforming to create a finished gasket possessing a high density area more resistant to damage when the closure is applied to a container.

Abstract: An anti-rotation device to be mounted on standard glad hands for rail cars for preventing unintended uncoupling of coupled glad hands. The device comprises a band assembly and a wire form. The band assembly is generally comparable to a hose clamp. As disclosed, the band assembly includes orienting features so that it will be circumferentially and axially oriented in an optimum position wherein damage to the band assembly due to a glad hand whipping against a car coupler upon uncoupling is minimized.

Abstract: A closure for press-on application to, and rotational removal from, a container having a cylindrical neck which includes a plurality of vertically spaced helical threads formed on the outer surface thereof. The closure includes an end panel member having a central portion formed of metal or other suitable oxygen barrier material which is adapted to overlie a mouth of the container. A generally cylindrical plastic skirt on the closure is formed by molding the same in surrounding and capturing relation to the end panel and at least a portion of the upper and lower surfaces of the end panel are generally free of plastic. The closure also includes a gasket which is engageable with the neck portion of the container to provide a seal therewith. A free edge on the outer periphery of the end panel member is encapsulated by at least one of said gasket and said molded plastic skirt.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting lids each having a plate and a peripheral edge standing away therefrom, the apparatus including a first conveyor belt, moving in a first direction, for supplying a disordered mass of lids and a second conveyor belt connecting thereto at an end thereof being positioned in a partially overlying relation to the first conveyor belt forming an acute angle therebetween and the second conveyor belt moving in a second direction opposite in relation to the first direction.

Abstract: A paint edger apparatus adapted to afford close control over the location of a hard paint edge applied to a surface. The apparatus includes a grasping handle, a rotary guide disc and a rotary paint applicator pad. The centers of rotation of the guide disc and the paint applicator pad are offset from each other. In the preferred form, the handle is formed so as to provide first and second, offset spindles, and the handle includes a backing plate axially adjacent the guide disc. Rotating the handle about its own axis varies the position of the pad relative to the outer edge of the guide disc, and enables the paint pad edge to be moved closer to or farther from a guide surface engaged by the guide disc to precisely position the paint edge.

Abstract: A base paper for decorative coating systems which is made of a paper pulp and contains in addition to cellulose fibers, at least one filler, a wet strength imparting cationic resin, and anionic inorganic particles.

Abstract: A flexible bolster for installation between two load-carrying members in a vehicle suspension. The bolster comprises a block of rubber or rubber-like elastomer sandwiched between two end plates. The block of rubber preferably has molded thereon a plurality of metal washers or plates oriented parallel to each other and the end plates. A bore extends axially through the end plates and block of rubber. A rebound control restraint is disposed in the bore. The restraint comprise a length of cable having retainers swaged to its opposite ends. Each retainer has an enlarged part or assembly which bears against the outer side of one of the end plates. The restraint acts to limit the extent to which the end plates separate when the bolster is under tension and thereby controls rebound. The restraint is free so as not to absorb compression or shear forces applied to the bolster.

Abstract: A fault indicator is described having a winding disposed on a magnetic pole assembly. The winding delivers energy from a monitored conductor to circuitry of the fault indicator. A series-connected threshold device, such as a four layer bilateral diode or a zener diode, precludes a capacitor from charging during normal current flow in the monitored conductor. The series-connected threshold device, however, breaks down when a fault current flows in the monitored conductor. After break down, the fault current charges the capacitor. A shunt-connected threshold device, such as a zener diode, limits the voltage developed across the capacitor. After its charging phase, the capacitor drives a multivibrator which actuates an LCD, displaying the occurrence of the fault current to an operator. A series-connected threshold device shuts the LCD off when the voltage across the capacitor drops to a sufficiently low level.

Abstract: A fault indicator is described which indicates the occurrence of a fault current in a monitored electrical conductor. The fault indicator includes a magnetic pole assembly which mounts the housing of the fault indicator to the monitored electrical conductor. The magnetic pole assembly includes both a main outer magnetic core assembly and an auxiliary inner magnetic core assembly. As described, an auxiliary fault sensing winding is disposed on the inner magnetic core assembly so that it becomes energized and provides power for fault circuitry within the fault indicator upon the occurrence of a fault current in the monitored electrical conductor. The fault circuitry positions a flag indicator within the module to visibly acknowledge the occurrence of the fault current in the electrical conductor.

Abstract: Fat free meat products are provided which incorporate whole muscle components that are selectively and precisely separated from larger whole muscle groups, such as hams. The whole muscle components have a weight percent fat of not greater than 1.5. The fat free meat products have a fat percentage of about 0.9 weight percent or below. Typically, the fat free meat also includes finely textured reduced fat meat such as that processed by grinding and centrifuging. Residual trim cuts, formed during subdivision of the whole muscle groups, are greatly reduced in fat content by removing gristle or connective tissue or other fatty tissue from these residual trim cuts.

Abstract: A compact disc folder in the form of a booklet is disclosed which has a multi-page booklet portion held between two opposing panels of a cover portion. The front panel of the cover portion includes a pocket formed thereon in opposition to the booklet portion. The pocket includes two opposing flaps by which it is attached to the front panel and one of the flaps includes a notch that permits the flap to lie flat on the front panel without interfering with the booklet portion so that the folder will lie flat when closed.

Abstract: A mulching mower is provided for mowing and mulching turf vegetation in order to reduce the size of the cut vegetation and more evenly distribute the vegetation once thus cut. Counterrotating, coaxial blade and mulching tool assemblies are provided. Each blade assembly is driven by a central shaft rotatably mounted through a drive barrel which drives the mulching tool. A belt drive assembly translates rotation at a driving sheave into rotation in two different directions at spindles positioned along the mower, each spindle including a blade and a mulching tool.

Abstract: Electronic detection and location of missiles, such as darts, are disclosed in which either ambient electromagnetic noise or specifically transmitted electromagnetic impressed signals are altered by interference from the missile, and this change is detected to detect the missile and its location. The material of the target area into which the missile is embedded is electrically nonconductive.

Abstract: A cable wear guard for shielding a bight in a support cable from direct rubbing contact with the surface in an aperture such as the aperture in the flange on the underside of a rail car coupler or the aperture on the flange on a glad hand. The cable wear guard is particularly useful with the adjustable support assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,564 dated May 28, 1985. The cable wear guard for the bight in a cable passing through an aperture in the flange on a car coupler is generally U-shaped and formed of at least relatively rigid material. Preferably, the cable wear guard has an outwardly facing groove in which the cable bight is secured with a slippage fit so as to allow for adjustment for differences in the initial lengths of the opposing sides of a bight. The wear guard for a cable bight passing through the aperture in the flange on a glad hand is likewise U-shaped but provision for cable slippage therein may not be necessary.

Abstract: Heat-reflective and protective sleeving is provided which has both an interior and an exterior convoluted profile. The sleeving includes layers of polymeric material, insulative material and reflective material which is assembled together into the convoluted profiles. A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing the convoluted sleeving by wrapping a fabric-backed foil over a convoluted polymeric tubing while pushing the laminate into the grooves and over the crests of the convoluted profile of the polymeric tubing. In the preferred arrangement which is shown, this procedure is facilitated by the use of a plurality of worm gears that rotate substantially in unison in order to pull the convoluted polymeric tubing through an area defined by the worm gears, while simultaneously forming the convolutions in the laminate at the same time that the laminate is engaged with the external convoluted surface of the polymeric tubing.

Abstract: A self-contained single-use apparatus for cleaning and hydrating a pair of contact lenses comprises a housing including a pair of hollow snap-lock lens containers in which opposed layers of a deformable relatively hydrophobic reactive material having surfaces arranged for non-abrasive contiguous wetted contact with the optical surfaces of the lenses when the lenses are enclosed in the housings. While in contact with the optical surfaces contaminants in the lenses are attracted to the contacting surfaces of the reactive layers. Upon removal of the lenses the attracted contaminants remain on the contacting surfaces and are disposed of with the housing. The container contains sufficient absorbed liquid for maintaining the lens in a hydrated condition while being treated in the container during the treatment process.

Abstract: A system is provided for encouraging proper timing compliance with breast examination guidelines that breast examination be conducted at a given time within the menstrual cycle of the user, typically a set number of days after onset of the menstrual cycle. A device is included which provides prompt signals at the appropriate timing during each cycle and which prompt persists until compliance is indicated. Provision is made for adjusting the cycle to comply with the expected length of the menstrual cycle of the particular woman and in order to adjust same to account for irregularities in menstrual cycles for each specific woman.