Abstract: A method of packaging liquid detergent or fabric softener for single load use comprising thermoforming a container from a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene and the like, to a size sufficient to contain a 3-4 ounce amount of liquid detergent in a well thereof. The container comprises an open well with a peripheral lip an open end thereof. A printed foil strip, sized to cover the opening and at least a full circumferential portion of the container lip is heat sealed to the thermoplastic after the detergent is disposed therein. The foil and heat seal are of sufficient strength to retain the 3-4 ounces of liquid detergent even in an obverted position with jostling such as drug transport. Because of the heat seal, the container is not reclosable and storable and the full contents must be used once the container is opened, i.e., for a single use.

Abstract: A dispenser is formed of a flexible plastic pouch which has a removable flap providing an opening adjacent the bottom of the pouch, and a transversely disposed thermoplastic band adjacent the flap opening for reinforcing the pouch at the opening. A plurality of stacked reclosable ended, opened, separate plastic bags are disposed in a folded stack within the pouch. The folded plastic bags abut the reinforcing band adjacent the bottom of the pouch. A portion of one outermost plastic bag reclosable end is disposed in the pouch opening, so that the user by the thumb and then the forefinger pulls the one plastic bag end portion causing the one plastic bag to slide over the adjacent plastic bag and through the opening without tearing the pouch. After removal of the one bag, the next adjacent bag is then similarly positioned for removal. The removed plastic bag is immediately ready for filling. The dispenser of the present invention avoids undue manipulation to remove and eliminates the need to open the bag.

Abstract: A dispenser is formed of a flexible plastic pouch which has a removable flap providing an opening adjacent the bottom of the pouch, and a mounting element adhesively attached adjacent the top of the pouch which provides selective mounting to diverse surfaces. The mounting element has opposed interengaged Velcro pads whereby when the pouch is adhesively mounted to a surface, the Velcro pads may be disengaged and the pouch removed and replaced with another pouch. A plurality of stacked reclosable ended separate plastic bags are disposed in a folded stack within the pouch. A portion of one outermost plastic bag is disposed in the bottom pouch opening so that the user by the thumb and forefinger pulls the one plastic bag portion causing the one plastic bag to frictionally engage and slide over the adjacent plastic bag and through the opening without tearing the pouch or dismounting the mounting element from the surface mount.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating wastewater effluent from diversely laundered household wash as in a laundromat provides for collecting and holding the effluent in a first tank for at least an average wash cycle for equalization and to a pH of 8.5 to 11, and then transferring the equalized wastewater to a second tank for acidification to a first predetermined pH of not less than about 6.5 and preferably 6.5 to 6.9, and then adding a coagulant, preferably a PAC with a basicity of 45 to 50%, to effect a second predetermined pH of not less than about 5.0 and preferably 5.2 to 5.4 for coagulation at the second pH to form treated water and a sludge. The treated water is decanted from the sludge and filtered to remove 1 to 50 micron particulates. The filtered water is then passed through a weak base anion exchange resin to remove MBAS to provide treated water.

Abstract: A dispenser is formed of a flexible plastic pouch which has a removable flap providing an opening adjacent the bottom of the pouch, and a mounting or retaining element adjacent the top of the pouch. A plurality of stacked reclosable ended, opened, separate plastic bags are disposed in a folded stack within the pouch. The plastic bags are disposed adjacent the bottom of the pouch with the pouch mounted or retained. A portion of one outermost plastic bag reclosable end is disposed in the pouch opening, so that the user by the thumb and then the forefinger pulls the one plastic bag end portion causing the one plastic bag to slide over the adjacent plastic bag and through the opening. After removal of the one bag, the next adjacent bag is then similarly positioned for removal. The removed plastic bag is immediately ready for filling. The dispenser is particularly useful for dispensing reclosable plastic deli bags where the user's fingers are greasy.

Abstract: A gate latch has a handle with a cojoined adjustably sized elongated rigid metal rod, which rod is rotatably disposed in sleeves frictionally retained within a drilled hole in a fixed post of a fence. The rod is formed with a plurality of spaced parallel threaded through holes. The handle has a transverse hole and is mounted to the rod by a bolt passing through the handle hole and one of the rod holes disposed at the end of the rod on the outside of the post. The rod is operably connected to a spring return locking plate for locking a gate rod which gate rod is fixedly mounted to an openable gate. The user first drills the post hole to receive the elongated rod slidably disposed in the sleeves, and then cuts the elongated rod to a length to accommodate the thickness of the post, and then attaches the handle at the hole adjacent the cut end of the elongated rod. The user in operating the gate latch rotates the handle downwardly which in turn rotates the elongated rod in the post hole.

Abstract: A horizontal connector interconnects adjacent ISO shipping containers. The connector has oppositely disposed locking arms which engage the inside surfaces of the respective container corner fittings. A push block assembly moves in a first direction to rotate the locking arm to engage the inside surface of a corner fitting, and then a reactive force from the surface engagement causes the push block to move in a second direction angularly disposed to the first direction to in turn cause push block surfaces to be frictionally engaged to lock the arm to the corner fitting. This locking action permits the containers to remain securely interconnected even when the connector and containers are subjected to excessive vibrations.

Abstract: An improved taxi meter construction is constructed of the following features: (1) an extrusion piece sideways reciprocal movement mount for the electrical and mechanical connection and disconnection without damage to the connection elements, (2) a detachable receipt paper cutter plate for ready access, maintenance and repair of the paper supply means, and (3) an extrusion piece hinged door for access to the receipt paper supply means for replenishment of the paper supply. The improved construction results from each of these features, as well as in the combination of these features. The taxi meter housing is of low cost extruded aluminum components. The taxi meter housing encases the operating elements in a tamper-proof housing, while permitting ready access to the mechanical features such as the fare receipt paper supply means, the fare printer and the receipt paper cutter plate.

Abstract: An injection blow molding machine construction utilizes pairs of C-shaped cut plate members to support clamps for the injection mold and for the blow mold, respectively. The injection molding frame members are angularly disposed at 60 degrees with respect to the blow molding frame members. The frame members are co-mounted at the ends of the C-shaped members to a pre-stressed central vertically disposed column or post. The respective injection mold and blow mold clamp forces are transmitted to the respective frame members and in turn to the column in a balanced manner to avoid flexure of the plate members. The present construction reduces the bulk of conventional injection blow molding machines, eliminates weldments and provides for ready assembly of the machine and ready access to the molds so as to reduce downtime.

Abstract: An injection blow molding machine construction utilizes pairs of C-shaped cut plate members to support clamps for the injection mold and for the blow mold, respectively. The injection molding frame members are angularly disposed at 60 degrees with respect to the blow molding frame members. The frame members are co-mounted at the ends of the C-shaped members to a pre-stressed central vertically disposed column or post. The respective injection mold and blow mold clamp forces are transmitted to the respective frame members and in turn to the column in a balanced manner to avoid flexure of the plate members. The present construction reduces the bulk of conventional injection blow molding machines, eliminates weldments and provides for ready assembly for the machine and ready access to the molds so as to reduce downtime.

Abstract: A pair of parallel safety bars are track-mounted above the stairs of a stairway. The safety bars are formed so as to be gripped by the user in ascending or descending the stairs. The user steps between the bars, with each bar being hinged to permit such access, and grabs the bar in the direction of ascent or descent. The track-mounted end of the bar is pivotally connected to a shoe which slides in the track as the person moves on the bar downwardly on the bar or the weight of the user pulls the bar downwardly, friction braking elements on the shoe and in the track are contactingly engaged to restrict further movement of the bar thereby preventing the user from falling down the stairs.

Abstract: An injection molding machine has a high volume cylinder with a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder. The piston is formed with channels and check valves for selective communication from the back of the cylinder to the front of the cylinder. A vertically disposed screw plasticizer provides molten thermoplastic material to the back of the cylinder, which material flows to the front of the cylinder with rearward movement of the piston. When the front of the cylinder is filled with thermoplastic material, the piston is moved forewardly to inject the thermoplastic material into a mold. A reciprocating screw plasticizer first assists in filling the front of the cylinder, and then in completing the injection molding under a high pressure. Novel composite thermoplastic products may be produced.

Abstract: A vessel is provided with a flexible plastic tube containing an electrical contact switch. Impure water is added to the vessel between the tube and the wall of the vessel. The vessel is then placed in a home freezer. Upon partial freezing of the impure water, the ice expands to flex or compress the tube to close the switch so as to actuate a detector or alarm. The user then removes the unfrozen water, and allows a fraction of the ice to melt. The just formed water is checked for purity by a conductivity measurement. If impure, the water is removed, and the ice is allowed to further melt until the desired purity level is reached at which time the remaining ice is melted to obtain purified water. The device and method are particularly suitable for home use to economically obtain purified water.

Abstract: A double flow rate meter (1) and an apparatus for automatically feeding animals with liquid food which utilizes the flow meter (1) for establishing the amount of food consumed is disclosed. The flow rate meter (1) comprises at least two circular flow passages (2, 20), each containing a ball (11, 12) constrained to be propelled through the relevant channel by fluid proportionally to the flow velocity of the fluid. The balls (11, 12) pass respective sensors (15, 16) in the flow passages. Each flow passage (11, 12) has its own inlet conduit (3, 5) and respective outlet conduit (21, 22), the outlet conduits merging into a single, common outlet conduit (4) leading to a nipple (37) or the like food dispensing means. The flow rate meter enables controlled feeding of an animal with liquid food while medicine or another compound can be administered simultaneously and proportionally to the supplied food.

Abstract: A device is formed with a closed chamber which contains a test serum, and which chamber permits the insertion of a blood sample to be tested. The blood sample and test serum react within the chamber, and the device includes optical elements, such as a magnifying lens, so as to view reaction test results. The test serum may be in a liquid or dry form.

Abstract: An egg spreading track comprising a carrying surface forming part of one or more endless belts, baffles dividing at least a part of the width of said carrying surface into a plurality of discharge tracks extending along at least a part of the length of said carrying surface, as well as at least one cross member arranged directly above said carrying surface. At least two side baffles converging in the direction of movement of said carrying surface are provided above said carrying surface, upstream of said cross member; said converging side baffles adjacent said cross member pass into side baffles diverging mutually in the direction of movement of said carrying surface.

Abstract: A carrying case is designed with a removable partition so that with the partition in place, compact discs may be stored and transported, and with the partition removed, the case serves as a utility or tote bag. The partition and inside walls of the case are formed with cooperative Velcro pads so that, in one embodiment, the partition is pivoted out of position, and in another embodiment, the partition may be removed from the case. A novel dual zippered top flap provides ready access for storing the compact discs, compact disc (CD) player, camcorder or other objects.

Abstract: A multiple use cassette carrying case has an injection molded rigid cassette tray which is grippingly received in a rectilinear recess formed in a flexible case, with the fabric case cover zipper enclosing the tray in the carrying case. The cassette carrying case is a durable, self-supporting construction, without the need for stiffening and supporting materials. With the tray removed the fabric case serves as a utility case and the tray is an independent cassette storage tray. The tray is designed for large volume storage of both foxed and unboxed cassettes. The tray features inner partitions, and ribs for the mounting of either boxed or unboxed cassettes in box-like compartments. The cassette carrying case is useful for the storage of either audio or video cassettes, or other types of cassettes, i.e. magnetic tape enclosures in general.

Abstract: A device is formed with two hinged half-collars for opening and closing around the breast, which half-collars have specifically contoured inside surfaces which surfaces correlate to orthogonally projected curves which intersect at an angle slightly less than 180.degree. but not less than about 160.degree. over the useful clamping of the half-collars, to effectively clamp the breast while avoiding pinching during clamping of the half-collars on the breast.