Abstract: A hand-operated vacuum pump is combined with a resilient closure sleeve for sealing and de-pressurizing the open space within a fermented beverage container. A pump cylinder is covered by a resilient closure sleeve which is insertable into the neck of the beverage container. A piston is coupled for extension and retraction through the pump cylinder. The piston carries a floating seal which is axially movable along a reduced diameter portion of the piston for opening and closing an air inlet port between an air transfer annulus and an evacuation chamber. The pump includes an improved check valve assembly in which a suction port is sealed by a resilient membrane which engages a tapered sealing surface in which the suction port is formed.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect or switch device for interconnecting electrical and electronic elements on a printed circuit board uses a carbon/graphite trace is used to connect electrical contact pads on a ceramic or similar substrate. The substrate surface has a plurality of electrically conductive contact pads and a plurality of isolation regions defined on the substrate surface such that each of the contact pads is separated from the remaining contact pads by at least one of the isolation regions. Each of the contact pads may be electrically connected to one or more of the circuit elements on the printed circuit board and a trace means, preferably a carbon/graphite pencil lead, is used to selectively electrically interconnect two or more of the contact pads by tracing between the selected contact pads across at least one of said isolation regions, thereby electrically interconnecting the circuit elements associated with the selected contact pads.

Abstract: A production plunger is disclosed that will automatically reciprocate in the production string of a producing oil well that is also producing some gas. The plunger includes a body having a passageway that allows fluid to bypass the packer cups carried by the body. A valve in the passageway is held open by a bellows filled with air under pressure. The valve is closed by the pressure of the liquid accumulated above the plunger at which time, the gas produced by the well will lift the plunger and the liquid above it to the surface.

Abstract: An inertial torque converter for converting a first torque into a second torque includes first and second unidirectional clutches which operate in opposite directions and which allow an output torque shaft to freewheel between received torque pulses. The converter includes a driving sun gear rotatable about a first axis, at least one planetary gear driven by the sun gear and a first eccentric mass mounted for rotation with the planetary gear about a second axis parallel to and radially spaced from the first axis. Preferably, two such planetary gears and masses are provided. The masses are connected through their journals to a carrier having a shaft portion which is connected to the first and second clutches. The second clutch is connected to the output torque shaft and the first clutch is connected to a housing of the converter to transmit the reaction torque of the converter thereto.

Abstract: A filter panel comprises a plurality of substantially coplanar openings. It incorporates a two-dimensional array of parallel elongate passages. Each passage delimits a respective one of the openings. The array is substantially coplanar with the openings and the passages are substantially perpendicular to the array. Each opening is convergent from an interior profile both from the inlet and outlet side of the panel.

Abstract: Novel compounds of Formula I are useful as herbicides and plant growth regulants.

Abstract: An adjustable head band suspension system for use in a safety hat shell is disclosed. The suspension system includes a head encircling head strap having overlapping rear end portions and an arc shaped channel adapted to fit the back of a wearer's head. The overlapping end portions of the head strap are slidably disposed in the channel. A suitable adjusting device, such as a rack and pinion or buckle is attached to the channel to adjust the amount of overlap of the end portions. The channel is attached by means of a pair of tabs to a rear interior surface portion of the shell and a front end portion of the head strap is connected to a forward interior surface portion of the shell. A manually compressible, resilient buckle assembly is disclosed which can be used by itself for adjusting and maintaining the desired length of overlap of the overlapping end portions of a head strap or which can be used in association with the arc shaped channel as a central portion thereof.

Abstract: A cargo box door swing limit apparatus includes a flexible elongate member and attachment points at intervals along the member so that the apparatus can be used with most of the various trailer latch arrangements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light-tight roll-film cassette for holding and dispensing light sensitive material, having lips forming a dispensing slot for the material drawn from the roll, these lips being mechanically enforced by ribs. The cassette has the advantage of improved light-tightness at the dispensing slot without increasing the dispensing forces.

Abstract: A catalytic process for making H.sub.2 O.sub.2 from H.sub.2 and O.sub.2 in an aqueous medium which comprises using H.sup.+ ions and BR.sup.- ions each, independently, in the range from about 0.001 to about 0.05 M.

Abstract: A token collecting safe (10) is described, which includes a parallelepipedal box that is provided with a fixed cover (15), including an upper cavity of semicircular shape (16) with handle (17), a rectangular opening with a recess (18) usually closed by means of sealing wax or a transparent sight-hole (20), an upper opening or device for token input (22) for token access to an upper token collecting trough (23) and a second token input device (24) for token access to a lateral token collecting trough (25). The token collecting troughs (23, 25) are built from a plastic material and are provided with slots (28, 31) in their respective free ends to ensure the irreversible fall of the telephone tokens into the safe.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, new hydroxamic acid derivatives useful as .DELTA..sup.5 -lipoxygenase inhibitors are provided. These new compounds have the general formula ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## are cycloalkyl groups which may be the same or different; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl; n is an integer from 3 to 12; and m is an integer from 3 to 12. Further in accordance with the present invention, a method for using the above compounds is provided.

Abstract: An improved process for making compounds having the formula ##STR1## includes subjecting an intermediate of the formula ##STR2## to hydrogenolysis in the presence of a ketonic solvent so as to simultaneously remove both Z-protecting groups from compound II while selectively reprotecting the --A.sub.1 --NH.sub.2 end of that molecule.

Abstract: Freeze-dried pharamceutical compositions of antitumor phenylquinoline carboxylic acids, such as 6-fluoro-2-(2'-fluoro-1'-biphenyl-4-yl)-3-methyl-4-quinolinecarboxylic acid, sodium salt, reconstitutable to stable, aqueous, injectable compositions are provided. These compositions use a stabilization system consisting essentially of bile salt, such as sodium cholate or sodium desoxycholate, and a base or buffer that will provide a pH of about 8.5-11 upon a aqueous reconstitution. Glycine is the preferred buffer.

Abstract: The switching element for self-routing multistage packet-switching interconnection networks comprises: an input unit, composed of as many sections (IMA, IMB) as the element inputs are, each section comprising a FIFO memory (FIFA, FIFB) for packet buffering; a switch (SW) associated with a control unit (SCU) which, for each packet to be forwarded, sets up the connection requested for that packet between one input and one or more outputs of the element (ECP), on the ground of a routing tag associated with each packet and comprising a first and a second portion relative to normal routing and to broadcasting in the different stages of the network (RC), and solves possible routing conflicts between packets simultaneously arriving at different inputs; and an output unit, composed of as many sections (RU0, RU1) as the element outputs are and performing the whole of the functions necessary for the correct packet forwarding towards a destination.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method for adhering aramid polymers by treating them with strong base to create anionic sites on the polymer surface. Subsequent reprotonation adheres contacting aramid surfaces.

Abstract: A floor squeak eliminator includes a plate assembly affixable to the underside of the floor and including a downwardly projecting threaded member. The squeak eliminator also includes a joist strap having a first end configured to engage the bottom side of a floor joist and second end configured to engage a portion of the threaded member. A nut or similar item engages the threads and draws the floor plate and joist strap together bringing the floor into contact with the subjacent joist.

Abstract: A cable connector for a flat cable is characterized by a base and a cover which, when conjoined, define a cable receiving volume therebetween. The cover is provided with a resilient flap which, when deformed by a cable received in the cable receiving volume, reacts to generate a clamping force serving to strain relieve the cable with respect to the connector.

Abstract: Hypotensive activity is exhibited by compounds having the formulas ##STR1##

Abstract: A process for forming a filter and the product filter are disclosed. The filter uses a porous metal substrate, preferably in the form of a tube, preferably formed of stainless steel particles having a diameter of from 30 to 100 micrometers and a pore size of from 1 to 10 micrometers. A slurry of metal oxide particles of from 0.2 to 1.0 micrometer diameter is applied to the porous metal substrate which is dried and then the particles are sintered together by heating. The preferred metal oxides is TiO.sub.2.