Abstract: An air damper utilizing only recirculating internal air for dampening in one direction of movement an openable object includes inner and outer cylinder members, primary and secondary shafts, first and second controllable orifice structures, primary and secondary end caps, and primary and secondary compression springs. The first controllable orifice structure restrains the flow of air from a first shaft chamber to the first head chamber to pass only through a first orifice in accordance with the movement of the primary shaft in a first axial direction. The second controllable orifice structure restrains the flow of air from a second shaft chamber to a second head chamber to pass only through a second orifice in accordance with the movement of the secondary shaft in the first axial direction.

Abstract: A pin and grommet assembly includes a push-pin and a grommet of unique construction which is capable of absorbing variations in the relative positions of a supporting panel and a mating panel to be attached caused by thermal expansion and contraction. A pair of diametrically opposed semicylindrical-shaped portions are disposed on the push-pin and cylindrical-shaped mating grooves are formed in the interior of the grommet for retaining freely floating the semicylindrical-shaped portions in the grommet so as to permit lateral sliding engagement between the opposed outer wall surfaces on the shorter sides of the main body portion of the grommet.

Abstract: A device for electrostatically charging and dispensing a high resistivity cutting lubricant to a workpiece includes a source of high resistivity cutting lubricant and a capillary tube having an entrant end in fluid communication with the high resistivity cutting lubricant and a tapered discharge end forming a sharp point. A high voltage power supply is used for generating a high voltage of less than 5,000 volts d.c. The power supply has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A high voltage electrode has its one end connected to the positive terminal of the power supply and has its other end operatively coupled to the discharge end of the capillary tube. A nearby grounded electrode is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship from the discharge end of the capillary tube so as to create a high electric field therebetween for electrostatically charging the lubricant.

Abstract: For a combustion-powered tool, an ignition system is powered by a battery and is arranged so that a sudden discharge of a capacitor, as charged via an oscillator, produces a spark at a spark gap of a spark plug, so that the oscillator is enabled if a trigger switch is closed while a head switch is closed, but not if the trigger switch is closed while the head switch is opened, and if a battery voltage, as monitored, is not less than a reference voltage, and so that a silicon-controlled rectifier, which is arranged to produce a sudden discharge of the capacitor, is switched to a conductive state if the capacitor voltage, as monitored, and is not less than a reference voltage. The head and trigger switches, which are photoelectric, are polled intermittently to determine whether they are closed. Predominantly, solid-state components are used.

Abstract: A sliding grommet includes a head flange and a shank portion of a unique construction which is capable of absorbing relative positions of an oblong fitting hole in a mounting panel and a throughhole in a mating hole to be attached caused by thermal expansion and contraction. A pair of Y-shaped members are disposed on opposite sides of the shank portion to permit flexing upon insertion, and locking tabs are provided on each leg of the Y-shaped members for retaining freely floating the shank portion in the oblong fitting hole in the mounting panel so as to permit lateral sliding engagement between the upper and lower edges of the fitting hole.

Abstract: A composite fastener comprised of a roofing screw and a roofing washer. The screw shank has a leading portion, which is threaded, and a locking portion. The locking portion has a substantially frusto-conical part adjoining the leading portion and an additional part adjoining the screw head. The substantially frusto-conical part defines a major diameter where it adjoins the additional part and a minor diameter where it adjoins the leading portion. Two locking tabs extend from the substantially frusto-conical part, in diametric opposition to each other, in such manner that an imaginary cylinder coaxial with the shank and with a diameter equal to the major diameter divides each tab into a proximal part inside the cylinder and a distal part outside the cylinder. The washer has an aperture with a margin that flexes the tabs to allow the tabs to pass through the aperture.

Abstract: An easy-open container having a membrane forming the top edge of the container and hermetically sealing the contents thereof. The membrane is disposed inward from the mouth of the bag, leaving portions of the bag walls extending upward beyond the container top edge to form guide rails which facilitate opening of the container to gain access to the bag contents. A membrane for sealing the mouth opening of a bag-like structure. A method for making a membrane as aforesaid and a method for making an easy-open container having the structure aforesaid are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an improved easy-open container wherein a continuous base layer is integrally extruded with structure for gripping thereon and applied to existing film to seal perforated lines of tearing therein. Interlocking zipper elements are contemporaneously extruded and fused to the continuous base layer. Die clutter is reduced and the method produces a flexible container having desirable sealing, opening and gripping features.

Abstract: In a strip of collated fasteners, each having a shank and a head, a carrier molded from a polymeric material has a sleeve for each fastener. Each sleeve has an annular portion and a breakable portion, which breaks into two segments as the fastener gripped by such sleeve is driven. The breakable portion, which is notched at one end, has a pair of similar, laterally opposed, outwardly opening, continuously curved concave recesses with open windows, from which portions of the fastener shank emerges. In a fastener-guiding tool, parallel ribs of a guiding device fit into such recesses, into close proximity with the emerging portions, so as to guide the strip between such ribs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing rolls of thermoplastic film stock wherein zipper elements are interlocked for structural support while the web is open, resembling a "Z" in cross-section, and ready for use on container and packaging machines.

Abstract: A fail-safe arrestor for electrical circuits utilizes a gas-filled tube to conduct at an over-voltage and also provides a clip to solidly couple the circuit to a ground lead at the melting from continuous current flow of an insulator interposed between an electrode and the ground lead, which insulator is a mesh with a plurality of passages allowing arcing between the electrode and clip at or above a predetermined voltage, and thus the ground lead, for a vented gas-filled tube.

Abstract: Carrier stock formed from a single sheet of resilient polymeric material, such as low density polyethylene, for machine application to substantially identical containers. The stock is severable to form individual carriers with container-receiving apertures, as defined by band segments, which include outer segments formed with tear-open tabs. Each tab and the outer segment formed with such tab have multiple slits, which are arranged to define tearable bridges that can be easily torn by a user pulling on such tab, whereby the outer segment formed with such tab can be easily severed to release a container from the aperture bounded partly by such segment.

Abstract: A position sensor system for controlling accurately the movement of a print head so that printing occurs on a series of products at the same location independent of product speed, changes in speed and mechanical delays includes a product or product mark sensor, a speed sensor, an integrator, and a comparator. The product mark sensor detects the presence of a product mark on each product to be printed upon to generate sensed signals. The speed sensor detects the speed of the product to be printed upon to generate a speed signal. The integrator is responsive to the speed signal and the sensed signals for generating a ramp signal indicative of the actual position of the product to be printed upon. The comparator compares the ramp signal with a reference signal compensating for mechanical delays and generates a clutch-on signal to activate a print head clutch to cause movement of the print head into a printing position.

Abstract: An improved method of attaching a roofing membrane to an underlayment and an improved roofing construction made by the improved method. A screw and a composite roofing washer are used to attach the membrane to the underlayment. The composite roofing washer is an interlocked assemblage of a metal roofing washer and a thermoplastic insert. After the screw has been driven, the thermoplastic insert is heated so as to cause some of the material of the thermoplastic insert to flow over the head of the screw, thereby to heat-seal the screw to the thermoplastic insert. The thermoplastic insert may be so heated when the roofing membrane is welded to another like membrane at an overlapped seam.

Abstract: An improved joint and method for providing the improved joint structure in joined or fused thermoplastic strap positioned about a package or article is disclosed. The improved joint includes means for increasing the peel separation resistance of overlapping portions of the joint above the peel separation resistance provided by a weldment between the overlapping portions providing for a joint strength that approaches the tensile strength of the strap material or weldment.

Abstract: A shipping package system with at least one tier of vertically-stacked webbing rolls utilizes pads with an inner set of passages and an outer set of passages, which webbing rolls may have extended tubular core ends nesting in the pad passages. The outer set of passages accommodate radial webbing roll movement and inhibit circumferential movement about the pad center, which radial movement provides tangential contact between adjacent and/or inner passage webbing rolls.