Abstract: An improved robotic contractile device having, besides general industrial and other-usage applicability for automation and other purposes, particularly attractive utility in and for prosthetic applicances and which is characterizable in being able to function in a way remarkably analogous to that of biological muscle is structurally made up of an expandable conduit which is contractible on fluid inflation with a plurality of longitudinally-directed filaments peripherally-secured thereabout that are connectable with an object to be moved or displaced as a result of the contractability experienced upon inflation of said conduit; there being associated means in the device for introducing and exhausting fluid under pressure to the interior of the said conduit in order to inflate same to effectuate its motive contraction action and deflate it to its normal rest condition of maximum or intermediate extension.

Abstract: An improved robotic contractile device having, besides general industrial and other-wages applicability for automation and other purposes, particularly attractive utility in and for prosthetic appliances and which is characterizable in being able to function in a way remarkably analogous to that of biological muscle is structurally made up of an expandable conduit which is contractible on fluid inflation with a plurality of longitudinally-directed filaments peripherally-secured thereabout that are connectable with an object to be moved or displaced as a result of the contractability experienced upon inflation of said conduit; there being associated means in the device for introducing and exhausting fluid under pressure to the interior of the said conduit in order to inflate same to effectuate its motive contraction action and deflate it to its normal rest condition of maximum or intermediate extension.

Abstract: Feet and pedal portions of the human body are efficaciously conditioned against, and to circumvent and at least substantially preclude or alleviate, the discomfort and distress of offensive and frequently intolerable or at least disagreeable (including, without limitation thereto, the odiferous aspects thereof) sweating and perspiration by a particularized and carefully confined treatment with critically-concentrated aqueous solution(s) of formaldehyde (which, chemically, is CH.sub.2 O); consequentially followed by a uniquely-sensitive drying procedure to attain satisfactory, longeval cure or remedy of and relief and respite from possible sweaty conditions and circumstances and resultants thereof.

Abstract: Included is an invention, which in one aspect, is a process for preparing a product of an alkaline earth metal compound having at least one BVB-heteromoeity and by-product of an alkali metal substance comprising operating an electrochemical cell, said cell having(1) a sacrificial alkaline earth metal anode,(2) a liquid electrolyte, which contains a solvent that is generally inert and a solute that has at least a residual alkali metal moiety and an incorporatable BVB-heteromoiety therein, and(3) an alkali metal substance segregative cathode, under conditions whereby said product and by-product are prepared. Provided, among other products, are alkaline earth metal organoborates. For example, magnesium triethylpyrrolylborate can be prepared by employing a magnesium anode, a solution of lithium triethylpyrrolylborate in tetrahydrofuran and a cupric oxide and carbon containing cathode. Intercalating cathodes can provide electrical current output.

Abstract: Included is a process for electrodepositing a high purity metallic containing alkaline earth metal on a conductive substrate comprising operating an electrochemical cell having(1) an anode selected from the group consisting of a passive anode and a sacrificial alkaline earth metal containing anode;(2) an electrolyte containing an aprotic solvent and a solute of a minor amount of residual halogen containing synergist and a major amount of residual alkaline earth metal, and(3) a cathode, which contains the conductive substrate,under conditions whereby said electrodepositing occurs. For example, a most pure crystalline magnesium deposit can be prepared with tetrahydrofuran, aluminum trichloride and ethylmagnesium chloride, employing either an inert carbon, or a sacrificial magnesium containing, anode.

Abstract: A machine for cutting round-ended sanitary towels from a continuous strip has first and second spaced rotary cutting means with first conveying means for advancing the cut portion from the first rotary cutting means more rapidly than the strip is advanced to the first rotary cutting means, and second conveying means for removing the cut portion from the off-cut which occurs as wastage between two adjacent convex rounded ends of two successive sanitary towels. To remove the off-cut from the second rotary cutting means without risk of losing it in the machine and causing a breakdown, the second rotary cutting means includes a rotary cutter and a rotary counter roll, with suction means incorporated in the counter roll for attracting the off-cut onto the counter roll, even after it has been cut from both the pre-cut arriving from the first rotary cutter and the finished towel entrained by the second conveying means.

Abstract: A massaging applicator includes a plurality of stumps 5a, 5b of smaller and large cross-section, respectively. The thinner stumps 5a which bend more easily alternate regularly with the thicker stumps so that two of the thicker stumps are followed by two of the thinner stumps when considered along the obvious direction of massaging, in this case perpendicular to the axis of a handle 3. The stumps may be cylindrical or conical and may be arranged in straight rows or in concentric circles.

Abstract: A massage instrument or appliance for the skin which comprises at least one active face on which there are provided a plurality of projecting spikes made of a flexible, elastically deformable material, wherein the spikes are constituted by non-intersecting plates and are distributed in accordance with the angular orientation of their plates in at least two groups, the spikes of a same group being disposed, on the active face of the instrument, so as to alternate with the spikes of another same group.

Abstract: A simultaneously double-acting split abrasive grinding wheel for sharpening helix tools, such as end mill cutters, has in any embodiment thereof separate, spaced but adjacent and differently proportioned abrasive working strips therein to constitute its total peripheral surface; the wheel being adapted in its use to in single pass, one-step operation impart all at one grinding the requisite primary relief angles, secondary clearances and primary relief width spacings on the peripheral land surfaces of the tools being finished therewith.

Abstract: A process for evaluating the ionic state of the surface of keratin fibers, especially human hair, which comprises taking at least one sample of fibers from the fibers to be evaluated, contacting the sample with an acidic solution of at least one acidic or basic dyestuff, assessing what, if any, change in the color of the solution has taken place and attributing the ionic state to the surface of the fibers accordingly.

Abstract: A massage instrument for the skin which comprises at least one active face on which there are provided a plurality of projecting spikes made of a flexible, elastically deformable material, wherein the spikes are constituted by intersecting or non-intersecting plates and are distributed in accordance with the angular orientation of their plates in at least two groups, the spikes of a same group being disposed, on the active face of the instrument, so as to alternate with the spikes of another same group.

Abstract: An ageing indicator compares a closed sachet of one or more closed tubes of a material which is slightly permeable to a fluid contained in the sachet or tube. The rate of permeation of the fluid through the sachet-like assembly tube wall depends upon temperature and time of exposure to that temperature so the quantity of fluid loss is indicative of temperature and time; the ageing capable of then being detected either by measuring a column of the liquid in a tube or by observing the appearance or disappearance of printed indicia in the sachet.

Abstract: Various nylon filamentary materials, including twine, rope and other cordages, are rendered resistant to knot and other interlacement slippage by treatment with certain latex compositions that form a tightly-adhering, blockage-promoting and -assisting surface film on the treated filamentary product so as to enhance physical knot strength propensities and characteristics of the treated-twine and equivalent product insofar as particularly relates to mechanical undoing of the knot under pulling stresses (as distinct from "knot strength" break-point tests indicative of the tensile strength of the filamentary nylon product, per se). Styrene (i.e., "St")/butadiene (i.e., "Bu") and like and analogous synthetic resinous latices--especially those of the carboxylated variety--are particularly good for achievement of the anti-slippage in knot formation enhancement of the nylon filamentary goods involved.

Abstract: The elastic properties of skin are measured by applying a torque to a disc placed in contact with a portion of the skin while holding a guard ring against skin around the region to define an annular skin sample to be stressed. Rotation of the disc is measured, and then the rotation is partially reversed and the torque-applying connection to the disc removed. The recovery rotation of the skin in the substantial absence of any applied torque is then measured.

Abstract: Measurements of the greasiness of skin are made by applying a plate against a region of skin to be studied and then inserting the plate in a recess of the casing, in register with a photodiode and a phototransistor. A series of n (in this case 5) indicator lamps is connected to a set of n-1 (in this case 4) comparators each comparing a respective voltage threshold level with the voltage delivered by the photoresistor, so that the voltage of the transistor, and hence the greasiness of the deposit on the plate through which luminous flux from the photodiode to the phototransistor passes by reflection from the upper side of the plate, can be determined by observing which lamps are illuminated.

Abstract: A measuring instrument for studying the tensile characteristics of hair or other fibre samples is provided with elements whereby it is possible successively to carry out measurements on a series of samples automatically without intervention by an operator. A stack of pairs of blocks (12A and 12B) is mounted in a loader (23) with a sample (21) connected between the blocks of each pair. The sample blocks are displaceable as a pair from the bottom of the loader across a plate to be engaged by relatively movable clamps (11 and 19) by means of which the sample carried between the blocks can be stretched. A dynamometer (5) measures the tension for a predetermined elongation and a sensor (54) cooperating with an anvil (25) senses changes in transverse dimensions of the sample.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the firmness of tissue, for example of skin in vivo, comprises a compartment open at one end and having a deformable bulb at the other end to allow the compartment near the open end to be subject to internal suction deforming a portion of skin against which the apparatus is applied to dome upwardly into the compartment. A plunger pressed upwardly by the doming skin actuates a pivotable pointer visible from outside the apparatus.

Abstract: Ordinarily uncovered vehicles on which the driver is at least substantially exposed and unenclosed, such as motorcycles and their likes and equivalents, are provided with a safety-release back rest rig that is comprised of and contains a vest-like garment for the driver to wear, which body-retaining garment is strapped ahead of the driver in sling-like fashion to the vehicle structure so as to provide secure and comfortable, lean-back support for the drive during running of the vehicle while at the same time being automatically disengageable from the vehicle structure when the driver dismounts and/or has at least a portion of his or her weight removed or uplifted from and/or off the seat for mounting the driver on the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and device for forming openings in a gelatinous substance in a Petri dish in which the Petri dish (6) is lifted towards punch tools (19) until the tools have penetrated the gelatinous substance and are on or near the base of the dish. The dish is then moved with a low amplitude motion perpendicular to the penetration direction, i.e. horizontally to loosen a pellet of the gelatinous substance within each punch tool from the base (6a) of the dish, and finally the dish is lowered to withdraw the punch tools (19) from the dish while suction applied to a compartment (4) communicating with the interior of each tool extracts the punched pellet and clears the tool for a subsequent penetration in the same or a different dish (6).

Abstract: A process for evaluating the ionic state of the surface of keratin fibers, especially human hair, which comprises, taking at least one sample of fibers from the fibers to be evaluated, contacting the sample with an acidic solution of at least one acidic basic dyestuff, assessing what, if any, change in the color of the solution has taken place and attributing the ionic state to the surface of the fibers accordingly.