Abstract: A sealed package system includes multiple sealed units separably interconnected to each other by tear lines, said units including opposed, substantially planar, tear-resistant flexible plastic sheets sealed to each other, preferably by heat sealing, about peripheral seal zones of the units to provide each unit with a central compartment adapted to retain and protect a material therein, seal zones between adjacent compartments including the tear lines for permitting separation of discrete sealed units from each other without disrupting the sealed integrity of the compartments thereof, each tear line including a substantially linear, continuous slit uninterrupted by bridge areas and being linearly aligned with the compartments in adjacent units interconnected by said tear line, the linear dimension of each of said continuous slits being greater than the greatest linear dimension of the linearly aligned compartments, as measured substantially parallel to said continuous slit.

Abstract: A bottom for a filter of the type that employs granular material for removing impurities from liquids includes a trough, the bottom wall of which is interrupted by an egress passage for the granular material. Lateral wall sections of the bottom slope upwardly away from the trough toward sidewalls of the filter. An elongate header, having a central passageway therethrough, is embedded in an elongate sidewall section defining a part of the trough, and a plurality of openings are provided through an outer wall of the header and spaced-apart along the elongate extent thereof for permitting filtered liquid to pass into the header. A plurality of conduits extend laterally from the header and include central passageways communicating with the central passageway of the header. These conduits are spaced-apart along the elongate extent of the header and slope upwardly from the header toward sidewalls of the filter and are embedded in the sloping lateral wall sections of the bottom.

Abstract: The method of autogenously bonding a nonwoven web formed predominantly of thermoplastic fibers is characterized by the steps of directing heat into the web from only one surface thereof to preheat the web, and then directing the preheated web through a bonding nip formed between opposed rolls, one of said rolls being hotter than the other roll, being capable of heating the web surface it engages to a temperature above the melt point of the thermoplastic fibers and being positioned to engage the surface of the web opposite the one into which heat was directed during the preheating operation; said webs being preheated by means completely independent of the opposed rolls that form the bonding nip, and most preferably by infrared panels. The nonwoven product formed in accordance with this method also forms a part of the instant invention.

Abstract: A pan-type lighting fixture for mounting in association with an outlet box (3) in a ceiling is characterized by a heat-dissipating base (12) having a generally vertical sidewall section (18) and a generally horizontal planar wall (24) intermediate opposed ends (20 & 22) of the sidewall section. The horizontal wall divides the base into upper and lower compartments (26 & 28) and sockets (31) for receiving incandescent lamps are secured through mounting means (30) to the lower surface of the intermediate wall (24). A layer of insulating material (14) is disposed in the lower compartment of the base, and a layer of insulating material (15) is disposed in the upper compartment of the base. A mounting stud (13) includes a heat-insulating threaded plastic stem (38) passing through a central opening (39) in the horizontal wall of the base for connection with a threaded opening (40) associated with the outlet box. The lighting fixture complies with the UL temperature limit of 60.degree. C.

Abstract: A linear torque and thrust transmitting wedge bushing (10, 100) for axially and rotationally securing a part (13, 120) to a circular cross-section shaft (11, 122) is positioned over the shaft within a circular cross-section opening of the part. The bushing includes inner and outer wedge rings (12 and 14; 106 and 108) concentrically disposed relative to each other and being radially expandable and contractible. The outer wedge ring has an outer axially straight surface (20), for engaging the inner surface defining the opening of the part, and the inner wedge ring has an inner axially straight surface (22) for engaging the outer surface of the shaft, characterized in that the wedge rings have engaging non-slip surfaces (16 and 18; 102 and 104) that are axially inclined at the same low angle of less than 10.degree.

Abstract: A folding seating piece, preferably in the form of a chair (10) includes pivotally interconnected frames (12, 14 and 16) forming a seat, backrest and armrests. A frame member (28) of the seat adjacent each side of the chair includes a snap fastener (40) connected thereto; each of said fasteners including a laterally extending guide section (46) and a downwardly directed clip section (48). The guide section of each clip overlies an adjacent frame member (34) for engaging, and being adapted to move along the adjacent frame member as the chair is being pivoted into its open position. The clip section of each snap fastener generally aligns with an additional frame member (38) of the chair when its respective guide section is closely positioned to the adjacent frame member it overlies and the chair is in its desired opened position.

Abstract: A building block including at least one internal cavity is insulated by molding an insulating layer from expandable thermoplastic polymer particles, such as beaded polystyrene, to one or more interior surfaces of the cavity. The molding operation is carried out by positioning a male plug member within the internal cavity of the building block with at least one peripheral surface of the plug member spaced from at least one interior surface of the cavity to provide a peripheral compartment into which the polymer particles are directed for molding the layer. Thereafter, steam, under pressure, is injected into the peripheral compartment to cause the particles to expand and fuse together into an efficient insulating layer that is expanded into close conformity with the interior surface(s) of the cavity. During the steam injecting operation a positive inwardly directed external force is applied to external surfaces of at least two opposed walls of the block to counteract internal forces generated by the steam.

Abstract: A dispenser unit preferably adjustable for either single dose or multiple dose dispensing of fluids; primarily for the precision dispensing of small volumes (e.g. volumes measured in microliters). The unit includes an elongate actuator rod axially moveable in one direction to dispense the fluid, and a hand-engageable dispensing lever including a passageway through which the actuator rod extends. A measured, or predetermined quantity of the fluid is dispensed by manually applying a force to the lever in the one axial direction to maintain a canted relationship between the lever and actuator rod. This canted relationship causes surfaces of the passageway to lock against the actuator rod, and the axially directed manual force on the lever will move the rod to dispense the fluid.

Abstract: A hinged article, preferably in the form of a track (10) for slidably retaining a cutter slide (12) therein, includes first and second sections (18 and 20) joined together at a hinged region (22 and 24); said first and second sections having channel segments (28 and 30) communicating with each other to permit movement of an element, such as cutter slide (12), between them when the sections (18 and 20) are in a first orientation relative to each other; at least one stop (e.g. 34) formed in the article adjacent the hinged region for intercepting a channel segment (28) when the first and second sections (18 and 20) of the article (10) are in a second orientation relative to each other.

Abstract: A seating piece, such as a chaise longue, includes a foldable base unit and a seating unit. The base unit includes side frame members that are rotatable into a generally horizontal, collapsible position, and into a laterally spaced-apart, generally vertical position. The seating unit includes a seat section and a back section rotatably joined together to permit adjustment of the seat and back sections relative to each other; the seating unit including connecting means for releasably engaging the side frame members when these frame members are in their generally vertical position and releasably connecting the seating unit to the base unit without preventing rotational movement between the seat and back sections.

Abstract: A reclosable fastener tape system adaptable for use in connecting together segments of a garment includes a release strip and an adhesive tape fastener. The release strip has an adhesive layer on one of its surfaces that is directly attachable to the garment, and the fastener has first and second tape sections adhered to the opposite surface of the release strip through an adhesive surface-release surface interface. The release strip and adhesive tape fastener are the only adhesive containing substrates of the tape system when the system is attached to the garment.In accordance with a method of this invention the fastener tape system is attached to the garment, and thereafter the adhesive surface of the first tape section is attached to a segment of the garment that is different from the segment to which the second tape section is attached to thereby connect these segments together.

Abstract: An absorbent fibrous structure includes intermingled absorbent fibers of a varying length up to about 6.35 mm. These absorbent fibers are graded by length through the thickness of the structure so that long length absorbent fibers are more concentrated than shorter length absorbent fibers at a first surface of the structure, and the shorter length fibers are more concentrated than the longer length fibers at an opposing second surface of the structure. The grading of absorbent fibers by length provides a capillary gradient through the thickness of the absorbent structure wherein capillary pores are graded by size so that large capillary pores are more concentrated than small capillary pores at the first surface of the absorbent structure, and smaller capillary pores are more concentrated than larger capillary pores at the opposing second surface of the structure.The absorbent fibrous structure of this invention may be employed as an absorbent core of an improved disposable diaper.