Abstract: A therapeutic air mattress for attending patients consists of an inflatable hollow body provided with a pair of symmetrically arranged longitudinal air tubes which form an inflatable single chamber system and which almost adjoin one another in a head region and are spaced from one another in a body region where an intermediate chamber is provided in which an oblong resiliently deformable body is displaceably arranged, having a lower degree of deformation that the inflated pair of air tubes. Alternatively, the intermediate chamber also is inflatable, but independently of the pair of tubes, and in use is blown up to a greater extent than the pair of tubes.Patients lying on the mattress can be set in rhythmical vibrations in order to attend on articular rheumatism and blockages of vertebrae and articulations.

Abstract: A zipper protector for use with luggage having one or more openings starting in the bottom of the case at the portion of the case which is near the corner where the ends meet, and extending around the corner and upwardly along that end, across the top and down the other end of the luggage and around the corner at the other end of the luggage to terminate at the bottom of the case, said protector consisting of a releasably securable flap of soft or rigid material pivotally attached to the bottom of and positioned so as to protect the portions of the zipper in the lower corner of the case against damage by abrasion or impact.

Abstract: A cover for servicing holes in automotive service stations consists of a band of pivotably connected support members, the ends of which are supported on the longitudinal hole edges. The band is displaceable longitudinally in opposite directions by at least one motor drive to open and close the servicing hole. During the opening movement the band is moved downwardly at one front end of the longitudinal hole. In order to avoid a broadening of this region of the hole the support members are telescopically assembled and are compressed to a reduced length in this region than in the covering region of the servicing hole.

Abstract: A dental floss applicator is composed of a U-shaped frame of resilient material having a plurality of parallel slits in each one of the pair of holding arms. A plurality of unit lengths of dental floss are fastened in the slits of the arms thereby forming a dental floss curtain. The unit lengths ae provided with caps or beads at their ends and are of equal length. The interspace between a pair of caps or beads of each dental floss unit has an over-dimension with respect to the space between the arms of the frame. The unit is fastened at the frame by turning the unit at least partly around the base of each arm not containing the slit of slits thereby forming a 180.degree.-half-loop or a 360.degree.-whole-loop of the unit. The dental floss curtain provides for a better cleaning operation between the teeth and the new fastening mode guarantees a secure arrangement of the unit at the frame even when the unit is in a slack condition.

Abstract: A miniature utility light which can be detachably fastened in a handbag, pocketbook or articles of wearing apparel, or to the glove compartment of an automobile, or other items, so as to provide high intensity illumination enabling the user to perform operations at night, such as looking for keys, cosmetics, coins and other items difficult to locate in the dark. Specifically, at least one miniature battery is placed between an opaque and a clear plastic cover cooperating to form the case. Two lightbulbs are located with one bulb on each side of the battery so as to provide illumination through the cover and from the sides thereof. The clear cover has a serrate inner surface and has a pair of angled tabs which engage the opaque cover. The case also has mounted therein an externally accessible switch for selectively energizing and de-energizing the lightbulbs. VELCRO fastening strips are affixed to the outer surface of the opaque cover for detachably securing the light to a handbag or other article.

Abstract: A shoe of the inflatable type having a midsole supporting member with a number of hollow downwardly extending support posts intercommunicated by channels recessed in the upper surface of the member. The upper surface is covered with a layer of natural rubber, to form enclosed air spaces with the hollows of the posts, and (in cooperation with the channels) conduits providing restricted passageways interconnecting the hollows of the posts. A valve extends from the exterior surface of the heel of the shoe to permit inflation by injection of air into the posts and conduits.

Abstract: In a wrap-around packaging machine by means of which a film loop is wrapped around a plurality of objects, the film passes through a slit provided in a rotary tensioning roller at an end of which a driving pulley is fastened. A rope is wound around the driving pulley. One end of the rope is connected to a traction device and the other end is connected to a restoring device. The tensioning roller by the operation of the traction device can be rotated from a first defined position in which the film freely passes through the slit of the tensioning roller into a second position in which the film is clamped at the tensioning roller and the film loop is tensioned. Then after welding or heat sealing of the film loop the traction device is made inoperative and the restoring device operates in order to move back the tensioning roller into its defined first position.

Abstract: A steel belted radial ply tire construction characterized by an improved cap ply is disclosed. In the finished tire, a cap ply is formed from at least one layer of rubberized yarns of synthetic filamentary textile material. The cap ply is disposed in direct surrounding relation to the radially outermost belt ply of the tire. Since the cap ply is formed from single yarns rather than cords, the cap ply is thinner than conventional cap plies, has superior flexibility and heat dissipation characteristics. This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or a limitation of the present invention, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernable only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.

Abstract: A scraper bar for use with conveyor belting and the like to clean such belting of material adhering to its surface. The scraper bar consists of a layer of hard abrasion-resistant pellets embedded in an elastomer to form an elastomer/pellet matrix. An additional layer of elastomer is cast to the matrixed layer to provide a surface for attaching the scraper to its support when in service. Embedded in the layer of unmatrixed elastomer is an insert of particle board, chipboard, plywood or fibreglass reinforced plastic sheeting. The insert prevents bowing of the scraper bar due to differential shrinkage between the layer of matrixed elastomer and pellets and the supporting layer of elastomer.

Abstract: A pulley configuration which increases the contact area between the pulley tooth tips and the land area of the belt teeth. The increased contact area reduces land area wear between belt teeth. The pulley tooth tip has a longitudinal cross-sectional contour partially composed of two substantially circular arcs connected by a line segment which is substantially straight or slightly curved. The length of the line segment is from 2 percent to 100 percent of the width of the belt tooth on which the pulley is used, and preferably less than about 7 percent of the width of the belt tooth. The pulley groove depth may be less than the height of the belt tooth and the groove has a longitudinal cross-sectional contour partially composed of two substantially circular arcs connected by a line segment which is substantially straight or slightly curved. The pulley in combination with a toothed belt forms a positive power transmission system.

Abstract: An anvil for supporting an outsole based upon an elastomeric compound, the outsole having a heel portion of greater thickness than the sole portion, during a process of imparting a multiplicity of slits to the outer surface of the heel and sole portions of said outsole. The anvil has a sole portion extending to a greater height than the heel portion of the anvil, whereby the multiplicity of slits may be imparted to the heel and sole portions of the outsole by a single reciprocating cutting blade in one continuous operation without removing the outsole from the anvil or changing the position of the outsole on the anvil. A method of imparting the multiplicity of slits to the outsole is also provided.

Abstract: A container is formed from a pair of concave shell halves with each shell half having a small upper portion and a lower portion which is larger than the upper portion. The shell halves are connected by an integral hinge at their respective upper portions. The smaller upper portions are sized to be easily received in and encompassed by the fingers of a user. The lower portions are provided with straight edges which are disposed remote from the integral hinge. The shell halves are constructed so that they can be manipulated from their normally biased open, i.e., spread apart configuration to a closed configuration about animal excrement. As the shell halves are so manipulated the straight edges scrape the animal excrement into the container.

Abstract: A shipping harness assembly for use with collapsible containers to permit such containers, when filled with a liquid or dry powdered solid substances, to be "containerized" in cargo boxes for transoceanic movement by boat. The cargo boxes may also be positioned on truck or railway car beds for distribution on land. The shipping harness stabilizes the collapsible container, which is positioned on its side in the cargo box, through the provision of a plurality of straps encircling the collapsible container along its length and a plurality of straps positioned across said encircling straps in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the collapsible container. Each strap is anchored to the floor of the cargo box.

Abstract: Belted pneumatic tires, each belt ply of which includes both metallic and non-metallic cords interspersed with one another and of which the non-metallic cords are made of a material having a relatively high modulus generally of the same order of magnitude as that of the metal, are disclosed. In a preferred arrangement, each belt ply has steel wire cords arranged in a 1:1 alternating sequence with glass fiber cords. The sequence can be varied by having successive metal wire cords separated by two or more non-metallic cords, or by having successive pairs or greater numbers of metal cords separated by one, two or more non-metallic cords, and so forth. The use in tires of belts of such cords, eliminates tire wear and failure due to buckling and birdcaging of belts formed solely from non-metallic tire cords.

Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire including a reinforcing belt characterized by improved resistance to ply separation is disclosed. The tire includes a carcass, a tread overlying the crown region of the carcass, and a tread reinforcing belt which is interposed between the tread and the crown region of the carcass in circumferentially surrounding relation to the latter, the belt including a plurality of plies of belt cords. Two axially spaced circumferentially extending bodies of rubber having a Shore A hardness of between about 70 and about 80 are positioned to cover the edges and the radially inward and outward marginal portions of the belt, thereby preventing edge ply separation. Two axially spaced circumferentially extending pads of rubber having a Shore A hardness of between about 55 and about 70 are positioned radially inward of the two bodies, respectively, and radially outward of the carcass, to insure satisfactory flexibility of the tire shoulders.