Abstract: Closed cells in a flexible foam structure and preferably a polyethylene foam sheet are opened, suitably by needle punching, to increase the oil sorbency of the pad. One embodiment uses needle punching which does not pass all the way through the sheet, thus blocking passage of oil therethrough. Another embodiment employs unpunched strips for prevention of migration of the oil or for buoyancy purposes.

Abstract: A task lighting system for home, office or industry utilizes pairs of U-shaped fluorescent tubes at diagonal angles in a shielding enclosure supported a predetermined distance above a work surface. The task lighting system may be integrated into furniture.

Abstract: Fibrous web structures in which the individual fibers are uniformly felted in random orientation are produced by projecting a stream of solids suspended in air toward a moving porous collection surface. The fibers are maintained in a controlled condition uniformly dispersed in air during transit from the nozzle to the porous collecting surface and before the stream of air has spread to the point of disrupting the uniform fiber dispersion, the fibers are felted and collected on the porous support while air is continuously passed through the support to insure no gravity free fall of fibers. Liquid or dry adhesive binders may be incorporated into the structure at any convenient stage of the process but preferably before the web structure is formed on the moving support.

Abstract: An extruded thermoplastic netting having two sets of strands, which sets cross each other at substantially a right angle, is molecularly oriented first along one set of strands and then along the other set to achieve improved heat stability as compared to previous simultaneous orientation of the sets of strands and under conditions to minimize webbing at the joints.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for reducing the aging period of foams produced using a gaseous expansion agent. In accordance with the present invention the aging period for these foams is substantially reduced by subjecting the foam to pressure by a gas which is essentially inert with respect to the foam.

Abstract: A floating ballasted oil containment boom provides a stable continuous barrier to the passage of petroleum or other contaminants floating on the surface of water. Boom elements are connected end to end by an overlapping joint.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for removing a first immiscible liquid from a liquid mixture comprising at least two immiscible liquids. A material preferentially sorptive of the first immiscible liquid and capable of sorbing the first immiscible liquid therein and therealong is positioned as a siphon with a first or intake end contacting the first immiscible liquid and a second or discharge end placed below at least the first immiscible liquid level, and outside of the liquid mixture. The first immiscible liquid is sorbed by the material and rises therein and/or along. The first immiscible liquid is removed or "siphoned" from the mixture and discharged outside thereof when sorbing has progressed sufficiently to prime the material, which removes or "siphons" the first immiscible liquid out of the mixture. The material may also be primed independently by saturating the sorbent material. The invention is especially suitable for the removal of oil from an aqueous mixture.

Abstract: Strips of resilient material on each of two normally stationary spaced-apart rolls contact and press against opposite sides of a web being supplied to a using process and the leading edge of a reserve web. At least one strip of adhesive tape, lightly adhered to one of the strips of resilient material with its adhesive side facing out, bonds the leading edge of the reserve web to the supply web on the fly without stopping the motion of the web. When the web consists of netting material, adhesive tape is used on both rolls and the adhesive tape is pressed face to face by the resilient material through the openings in the netting to adhere to each other, thus pocketing the netting material between them.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the manufacture of plastic net formed by extruding a plurality of spaced strands of plastic into a net structure. In accordance with the invention, adjacent strands in the net are joined in physical contact throughout all or a substantial portion of the length of the strand between the joints in the net structure. The strands are merged and integrally consolidated in the joints so that in effect the extruded structure is a solid sheet with or without perforations between the strands. Thereafter the strands are stretched preferably in two different directions to draw the strands apart and separate them throughout the length of the strands between the joints to form a high strand count oriented net produced for the first time by extrusion.

Abstract: A plastic packaging product is disclosed. In its final form it can be used in packaging to locate, separate and suspend items to be packaged. The packaging product comprises a plurality of extruded members in one direction linked with a plurality of extruded members in a transverse direction.

Abstract: A resilient foam cushion structure and method for producing same are disclosed. The structure comprises a plurality of foam sheets each having a plurality of tapered protuberances on at least one face thereof. The sheets are stacked face-to-face to form the cushion structure such that each protuberance of at least opposed pairs of sheets is offset and adjacent an opposed protuberance. The protuberance spacing is preferably arranged such that adjacent opposed protuberances will abut upon compression of the cushion structure. The method comprises placing foam sheets on a form having a plurality of tapered protuberances thereon and applying a vacuum thereto to form the sheets on the form.

Abstract: A wheel for use in mineral fiberizing processes of the type in which a stream of molten mineral matter is distributed from a rotating wheel is disclosed. The wheel according to the present invention has at least a portion of its surface which contacts the molten mineral matter liquid nitrided to increase wheel life and decrease the frequency of cleaning thereof.

Abstract: A tube of flexible strands, closed at one end, is bunched up over a hollow mandrel. A sheet of sorbent material is slit into a plurality of strips before being forced through the mandrel into the tube by pull rollers.The plurality of strips become folded in accordion pleats resembling ribbon candy having a large surface area as they are forced into the tube. As the tube becomes filled with strips it is forced off the mandrel. When full, the second end of the tube is closed. The finished, filled tube is useful as a sorbent for oil, especially oil on the surface of water. The buoyancy of the finished tube is varied by the inclusion of a buoyant strip.

Abstract: A reinforced sheet product for selective sorption of an immiscible liquid from a liquid mixture is disclosed. The reinforced sheet product comprises a flexible net-like reinforcing structure secured between at least two sheets or layers of non-woven material predominately composed of cotton which are preferentially sorptive of one liquid over another liquid in the mixture. The product according to the invention finds particular application as a lightweight reinforced wiping cloth or towel especially useful for removing oil from an aqueous mixture.

Abstract: A carpet backing for tufted carpets comprising non-woven fiber material secured to plastic netting is disclosed. The non-woven fiber material is secured to the netting by needle punching. The carpet yarn may thereafter be tufted into the backing.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention the aging period for low density polyethylene foam is substantially reduced by forming the foam from at least two different resins having different melt indexes which are blended together.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying a secondary layer or coating on surfaces of wet formed board materials are disclosed. The secondary layer is applied to the wet mat material of the board being manufactured during press rolling of the wet mat. The secondary layer material is supplied in the form of a slurry which is caused to adhere to the surface of a wire screen. The wire screen surface bearing the layer of slurry material is then pressed onto the mat surface to deposit the slurry layer thereon.

Abstract: A reinforced low density thermoplastic foam sheet is disclosed. The sheet is a laminate comprising outer laminae of low density thermoplastic foam and a thermoplastic film having about the same tackifying temperature as the foam and a central layer comprising a reinforcing net or net-like structure.