Abstract: The formation of the odor associated with cat litter boxes is prevented by inhibiting the bacterial action on cat urine. A sorbent pad structure is positioned between a protective screening, capable of withstanding the clawing action of a cat, and a moisture impermeable liner. The cat urine is transferred directly from overlying litter particles, through a cat claw resistant screen into a sorbtive-desiccant member of fibers and having high surface area and high urine sorbency. The urine disperses quickly from fiber to fiber in the sorbtive-desiccant member. The moisture impermeable sheet prevents urine from leaving the side of the sorbtive-desiccant member opposite the screen. The screen and the fibers of the sorbtive-desiccant member provide for aeration, thus inhibiting the growth and bacterial action of bacteria as well as the evaporation of the urine from the sorbtive-desiccant member. Consequently, the bacteria die or become dormant thereby preventing significant odor formation.

Abstract: The odorless animal litter box of the instant invention includes a box-like container capable of locking in place an absorbent pad structure, which includes a protective screening and a moisture impermeable liner. The protective screening is flexible and formed of strands bonded at their interstices, is substantially inert to urine and capable of withstanding the clawing action of an animal such as a cat. The sheet layer of moisture impermeable material has length and width dimensions at least equal to that of the screen. A sorbtive-desiccant pad is positioned between the screen and the moisture impermeable material and the screen is sealed to moisture impermeable material along at least a substantial portion of their peripheral edges.

Abstract: A combination of a litter device for use with cats which has a sorbent pad laminate for the collection of animal urine consisting of a bottom sheet layer of moisture impermeable material in contact with the base and walls of the litter device, an intermediate sorbent layer of material having a high absorbency capacity for urine, a top claw resistant screen and securing device. The securing device removably affixes the sorbent pad laminate to the litter device, thereby preventing the relative movement between the sorbent pad and the litter device which can be caused by the clawing action of an animal.

Abstract: The combination of a disposable self supporting structure, sorbent pad laminate and litter for the collection of animal urine. The self supporting structure has a base and wall. The sorbent pad laminate includes a moisture impermeable bottom sheet layer in contact with the base and walls, an intermediate sorbent layer of material having a high absorbency capacity for urine, a top claw resistant screen and litter granules. The screen is a urine permeable, flexible member of material which is substantially inert to urine. The screen is formed of strands which are bonded at their intersections and have sufficient tear strength to withstand the clawing action of a cat. The screen must also have sufficiently small hole size to protect the sorbent layer and sheet layer of moisture impermeable material from being torn by animal claws. The bottom sheet layer and top screen are bonded to each other along at least a substantial portion of the screen's periphery.

Abstract: The combination of a sorbent pad laminate and a litter device for the collection of animal urine having a bottom sheet layer of moisture impermeable material, overlying the base of the device, an intermediate sorbent layer of material having a high sorbency capacity for urine and a top claw resistant screen. The bottom sheet layer and top screen are bonded to each other along at least a substantial portion of the periphery of the screen. The screen is a urine permeable, flexible member of nonwoven material which is substantially inert to urine, formed of strands randomly fused together at their intersections and having sufficient tear strength to withstand the clawing action of a cat.

Abstract: A disposable animal litter pad is combined with a moisture impermeable bag for easy disposal. The litter pad includes a sorbent pad laminate for the collection of animal urine and a top claw resistant screen made of a urine permeable, flexible member of material substantially inert to urine. The disposable animal litter pad laminate has a bottom layer of two sheets of moisture impermeable material peripherally sealed together along three sides to form a bag like structure. The sorbent pad laminate also includes a sorbent layer of material, positioned adjacent the moisture impermeable material, and having a high sorbtion capacity for urine. Disposal is accomplished by reversing the bag over the litter pad, thereby enclosing the litter pad, along with the animal waste and litter and facilitating disposal.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a diaphragm pump having a housing, a first chamber within said housing, a second chamber within said housing and a pair of diaphragm elements mounted in said housing between said first chamber and said second chamber, is provided with a failure sensing system for the diaphragm. The failure sensing system including a failure sensing device which is between the two parts of the diaphragm and an indicator circuit which includes the conductive liquid which is being pumped and an alarm. The two parts of the diaphragm element are clamped together proximate their peripheral edge such that a circumferential fluid tight compression seal region is provided. The sensing device includes an electrically conductive lead which extends from the exterior of the housing, through the circumferential fluid tight seal region into the region peripherally inward of the seal region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a homing device having means for providing an audible signal. A piezocrystal is powered by a single battery or a plurality of batteries in series, so as to provide a voltage of at least about 12 volts D.C. whereby the piezocrystal produces at least 80 db during the ON periods. The means to selectively provide electrical connection between the piezocrystal and the power source, is a magnetically activated reed switch held in the open position by the proximity of a magnet. Means is provided to periodically interrupt the flow of current from the power source to the piezocrystal thereby producing a signal ON period of at least two seconds and a signal OFF period of at least two seconds. The homing device can be totally enclosed within a weather proof container with a magnet positioned outside of the container proximate the reed switch. The homing device is secured to the riser of a main canopy riser and the magnet is secured to a ripcord.

Abstract: The odorless animal litter box of the instant invention includes a box-like container capable of locking in place an absorbent pad structure, which includes a protective screening and a moisture impermeable liner. The protective screening is flexible and formed of strands bonded at their interstices, is substantially inert to urine and capable of withstanding the clawing action of an animal such as a cat. The sheet layer of moisture impermeable material has length and width dimensions at least equal to that of the screen. A sorbent pad is positioned between the screen and the moisture impermeable material and the screen is sealed to moisture impermeable material along at least a substantial portion of their peripheral edges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shredding apparatus for use in shredding a material mass into a plurality of discrete particles. The principal components includes a shredding screen and wiper blades. The wiper blade include a semi-rigid blade having its lower end in firm contact with said shredding screen. Reciprocating means is fixed to the shredding screen means to provide reciprocating motion of the shredding screen relative to said wiper blade. The reciprocating means produces a length of travel of said shredding screen at least equal to the space between an adjacent pair of wiper blades. Each of said wiper blades are parallel to each other and to a first set of spaced parallel bars. A second set of spaced parallel bars are substantially perpendicular to the first set of spaced parallel bars thereby forming a plurality of openings having a predetermined cross-sectional area substantially equal to the required cross-sectional area of said discrete particles.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, the imminent failure of a diaphragm due to the attack by a corrosive or a solvent or mechanical fatigue is predicted through the use of a diaphragm pump having a housing, a first chamber within the housing, a second chamber within the housing and a diaphragm mounted in the housing between the first chamber and the second chamber. The diaphragm is of a chemically inert, electrically non-conductive material which contains an interconnected, electrically conductive material extending within the diaphragm less than the full radial dimension of the diaphragm. The conductive material is approximately equally spaced from the two opposing surfaces of the diaphragm. The electrically conductive material is advantageously, an electrically conductive graphite and takes the form of a mesh, screen or web of conductive fibers, filaments or strands.

Abstract: An interconnection member is located between a circuit breaker actuating member and an electrical pin engaging member. The latching member engages a circuit breaker actuating member to hold the actuating member in a first position. When an electrical pin is inserted into the electrical receptacle, the electrical pin engaging member moves an interconnection member to defeat the latching engagement of the latching member and the circuit breaker actuating member. The circuit breaker is activated when the circuit breaker actuating member is moved to a second position.

Abstract: A blank capable of rapidly setting-up into a self-supporting container, having a polygonal base panel with n sides, wherein n is at least 6, and at least n+2 side panels. The side panels are divided into a first contiguous group and a second contiguous group, with each of the side panels being separated from the contiguous side panel by a fold line. Locking tabs are used to lock the container in the set up position. Due to the multi-sided structure an ease of assembly as well as a ridigity not found in the prior art is provided.

Abstract: The odor preventing animal litter unit employs the use of a pad consisting of a non-absorbent film, a very absorbent pad treated with a buffer and other antibacterial, bacteriocidal compounds and a protective ripproof screening, which can be used in a specifically designed container or in independent containers. The chemical additives and absorbent material prevent the urine odor and the non-absorbent film prevents leakage during disposal. The ripproof screen prevents animal accessability to the inner pad materials. The complete pad unit is disposable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fertilizer composition which comprises coal ash, and a relatively water insoluble polymer capable of gradually decomposing to slowly release nitrogen polymerized uniformly on said coal ash. The polymer is formed by the in situ polymerization of an aldehyde and a polymerizable organic nitrogen containing compound capable of reacting with two or more equivalents of said aldehyde in the presence of an acid. The coal can be fly ash, bottom ash or boiler slag and can be derived from anthracite, bituminous or subbituminous coal or from lignite coal. The acid can be phosphoric acid, the aldehyde formaldehyde and the polymerizable organic nitrogen containing compound urea.

Abstract: Nickel and/or zinc contamination can be handled by increasing the bath's level of tolerance to nickel and zinc, thereby eliminating the need to use precipitants. The instant invention relates to the use in a trivalent chromium bath contaminated with zinc and/or nickel, or an effective amount of a compound represented by the formula R-S, where S is selected from the group consisting of sulfinates, sulfonates, and the acids and soluble salts thereof, and R is either an aliphatic group having from 1 to 6 carbons, or an aromatic or heterocyclic group having up to 12 carbons. Preferably R is an unsaturated hydrocarbon and contains carbon to carbon unsaturation alpha or beta to the sulfur atom.

Abstract: An adherent chromium deposit is obtained on a substrate by means of a process which involves applying an adherent iron containing deposit to the substrate, anodic treating the iron containing deposit and depositing chromium on the treated, iron containing deposit from a bath containing a halogen releasing compound selected from the group consisting of iodine releasing compounds, bromine releasing compounds and mixtures thereof. Supplemental catalysts such as sulfates, simple and complex fluorides, borates, carboxylates, chlorides, chlorates and perchlorates can also be present. The process can further include the step of activating the substrate in an acid bath or an iron or an iron alloy plating bath prior to iron plating from an iron salt containing bath.

Abstract: An aqueous electroplating bath for nickel, cobalt, nickel-cobalt, nickel-iron, cobalt-iron or nickel-cobalt-iron is described which contains, as a brightening agent, a quaternary amine sulfobetaine of the formula ##STR1## wherein N.sup.+ is a heterocyclic tertiary amine group,R is a halogen or lower alkyl group,R' is a hydrogen, lower alkyl or R"C(O)--groupR" is a lower alkyl group anda is 0-5.These brighteners may be prepared by the reaction of a heterocyclic tertiary amine with an alkali metal halohydrin sulfonate.

Abstract: Polyvinyl chloride polymers are made more heat degradation resistant by the incorporation of a diorganotin salt of an unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid ester and a hindered phenolic antioxidant.