Abstract: A fastener comprises a filament having two opposing heads. The heads have two ends defining non-parallel planes, forming acute angles which share a common ray. The fastener is installed by being driven through two needles having slotted bores.

Abstract: A gelled solid adhesive for coating substrates, typically paper. The adhesive can be made available in stick form and is easily applied in even coats to any surface area of the substrate. The adhesive has sufficient tack enabling the coated substrate to instantly adhere to essentially any free contact surface upon gently pressing the substrate to the free surface. The adhesive coated substrate is easily removable from the contact surface by manually lifting it therefrom. The adhesive permits readherence of the adhesive coated substrate to the same or different free contact surfaces. An adhesive coated paper substrate will readhere many times to free paper contact surface. The preferred gelled adhesive product is formed of an aqueous dispersion of components which include a rubber such as natural rubber latex component, a friction reducing agent, a tackifier, an antioxidant, a gelling agent and surfactant.

Abstract: An ion generator for the formation of electrostatic images includes two electrodes (a "control electrode" and a "driver electrode") at opposite faces of a solid dielectric member which are electrically actuated to form ions in an air region adjacent the control electrode; a third, "screen" electrode; and an additional, "deflection" electrode, which together with the screen electrode modulates ion flow to an imaging surface. Ions of a given polarity are attracted toward the imaging surface by an accelerating field resulting from a direct current potential of the control electrode. The screen electrode is maintained at a screen potential to control passage of ions through one or more apertures therein, while a further, deflection potential applied to the deflection electrode provides an additional level of control over the size, shape and location of the resulting electrostatic images.

Abstract: Bundling of objects using a harnessing device with a locking head and a strap with teeth that are controlled by stretching. The locking head contains a pawl or tang that engages the teeth of the strap by wedging. A wedging tooth is desirably on the locking tang as well, and a further tooth to promote locking is desirably included in the locking head. The strap is advantageously molded of stretch reorientable material which is subsequently stretched to control the profile of the teeth which are engaged by the locking tang and head.

Abstract: An attachment device, method of producing the same, and method of using in which the attachment has a cross bar joined to a head by a connector forming different angular transitions with the respective head and cross bar. The result is a toggle effect which promotes proper orientation of the cross bar with respect to the connector after the cross bar has been inserted into an object.

Abstract: A conveyor for conveying and grouping stringed tags. The conveyor carries stringed tags away from a production unit. A counter monitors the number of stringed tags delivered to the conveyor. After a predetermined number of strings have been delivered, the counter sends a signal to the conveyor drive assembly. The conveyor speed is briefly increased to separate the stringed tags into discrete groups. A second conveyor is provided moving in synchrony with the first conveyor for collecting the groups in containers.

Abstract: Variable pitch feed of fasteners by a unitary, single toothed feed member. Back-up of the fasteners from the feed position is prevented and the individual fasteners are securely positioned for ejection.

Abstract: A marking implement in which an antistatic material is incorporated in the housing of the implement. The antistatic material is a nonionic fatty acid ester and the housing is of plastic. The antistatic material effects a significant reduction in surface resistivity of the polyethylene.

Abstract: A gelled solid adhesive for coating substrates, typically paper. The adhesive can be made available in stick form and is easily applied on even coats to any surface area of the substrate. The adhesive has sufficient tack enabling the coated substrate to instantly adhere to essentially any free contact surface upon gently pressing the substrate to the free surface. The adhesive coated substrate is easily removable from the contact surface by manually lifting it therefrom. The adhesive permits readherence of the adhesive coated substrate to the same or different free contact surfaces. An adhesive coated paper substrate will readhere many times to free paper contact surface. The preferred gelled adhesive product is formed of an aqueous dispersion of components which include a natural rubber latex component, a friction reducing agent, a tackifier, an antioxidant, a gelling agent and surfactant.

Abstract: Looseleaf notebooks, report folders, and similar stationary items incorporating a deep pocket extending over the length of the item. A flexible transparent notebook of this design incorporates a pair of thermoplastic sheets which are cut to the appropriate dimensions and heat-sealed to form a pocket which is coextensive with the outer notebook cover. A ring binder support is fastened to the center of one of the plastic sheets. Such notebooks, report folders, or the like may advantageously incorporate an auxiliary pocket affixed at one of the outer edges to permit folding along this edge. The notebook may be provided with an opaque cover by inserting one or more opaque sheets within the large outer pocket.

Abstract: A bench mount for holding and operating trigger actuated devices. The mount aligns the device for convenient use. An air cylinder is attached to the mount and contains a piston and shaft. A connecting rod having a trigger intercepting bar at its distal end is coupled to the shaft to draw in the trigger when pressurized air is introduced to the cylinder. A pneumatic controller assembly is operable to reversibly interrupt air flow to the cylinder. A safety shield is attached to the mount to remain in protecting conformity with the aimed end of the device as the device is aligned.

Abstract: A method for fabricating laminations of mica and conductive foils of particular utility in constructing apparatus for generating ions in air. A layer of mica is laminated to sheets of metallic foil using a thermoplastic adhesive. The foil is etched in order to form electrodes in a prescribed pattern. The mica-foil laminate may be appended to additional structures to interface actuating electronics, provide a heat sink, and for other purposes. The preferred bonding material is a thin film of thermoplastic organopolysiloxane adhesive.

Abstract: A conveyor has a pivotable upper support which slideably houses two rake assemblies. Stringed tags are collected on the conveyor, then gathered into a bundle by the rake tines. The bundle is presented to a tying appratus, then dropped as the rakes part.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing all or part of a roll of magnetic tape stored on a reel of a reel-to-reel tape transport device. This apparatus consists of a stripper reel which is structurally compatible with a reel mounting hub of the transport device. The stripper reel includes a hard circular "reel core" mounted to the hub and supporting front and back flanges, as well as a resilient annular "tape core" fitted around the reel core. Typically, the tape core consists of a hollow circular cylinder of elastomeric material, having a durometer between 10 and 30. The user winds a segment of tape to be discarded from the unwind reel onto the tape core of the stripping device, removes the front flange, and manually removes the tape pack from the stripper reel.

Abstract: A decorative laminate and method of transferring designs onto articles. The laminate is formed of a transfer substrate affixed to a support member. The transfer substrate is composed of a protective layer, an ink layer, and a nonwax-based adhesive/release layer. The adhesive/release layer is in direct contact with the support member and use of a wax layer intermediate the adhesive/release layer and the support is excluded. Optionally, a barrier layer is provided between the adhesive/release layer and the ink layer. In many applications the protective coating layer may be omitted. The laminate is applied to an article using a heated silicone rubber transfer pad to which the transfer substrate adheres during the transfer process.

Abstract: A tool for tensioning and severing elongate objects such as cable ties. The tool includes an angular frame having an extended nose, with a pivotally mounted lever. The lever is forwardly biased by a tension assembly including a tension link and expansion spring, while the cable tie is engaged between a flange and rotatable pawl at the forward end of the tension link. The nosing of the tool includes parallel blades having a user-adjustable separation, for severing cable ties of a wide range of strap thicknesses. The user tensions a cable tie by squeezing the lever toward a grip portion of the frame which is maintained stationary, and may sever the tie after tensioning using a simple twisting motion. The tool is simple, durable, and easy to operate, and is effective for tensioning objects within confined spaces.

Abstract: Dispensing of fasteners by a device which receives an assemblage of the fasteners and is able to expel them individually through, for example, a slotted hollow needle. The dispensed fasteners can be used generally in the attachment of items to one another and, in particular, for the labeling of textile goods and the like with information bearing tags. The device includes a trigger operated feed mechanism and a simultaneously operable expulsion mechanism. Both mechanisms are controlled by the tip of a lever which is proportioned and disposed in the device to execute linear motion. The feed mechanism is disengageable from the remainder of the device to permit clearance of the inserted assemblage or the removal of jams. The feed mechanism additionally is operated by a planar pawl having a tooth that extends into contact with indentations on the periphery of a feed wheel.

Abstract: A thermal ink transfer laminate wherein an ink design is transferred from a carrier support to an article, typically paper, by application of a thermal printing element, e.g. of the dot matrix type, to the nontransfer side of the carrier. The thermal ink transfer laminate is composed of a carrier support of paper or plastic film overcoated on one side with a heat sensitive transfer substrate. The heat sensitive transfer substrate contains an ink which preferably includes a coloring agent formed of a dye dispersed in an unsaturated fatty acid medium. A separate release layer may be included between the ink and carrier. The coloring agent facilitates attainment of a drastic drop in melt viscosity of the transfer laminate during thermal transfer onto a receiving article. The degree of transfer attained is virtually complete resulting in a transferred image of exceedingly high image clarity and definition when employing the thermal printing element.

Abstract: An improved release coating for heat transferable laminates wherein an ink design layer is transferred from a carrier web onto an article such as a plastic or glass container upon application of heat and pressure. The improved release coating transfers with the ink design layer and forms an optically clear protective coating over the transferred ink design layer. The transferred release coating upon resolidification has an exceedingly high optical clarity, with no hazing, spotting, or halo discernible over the transferred ink design layer. The improved release coating incorporates a tackifying resin in a wax base. The wax base includes a montan wax and a crystalline wax such as paraffin wax. The wax base may also include a microcrystalline wax component. The preferred tackifying resin is selected from the polyterpene class.