Abstract: Fine flaky boehmite particles which have an orthorhombic crystal form and a specified crystal face grown in the form of a flat plate, and a process for the preparation of fine flaky boehmite particles which comprises subjecting aluminum hydroxide or hydrated alumina having a particle size adjusted to the order of submicrons to hydrothermal treatment in water or an aqueous alkali solution at a temperature of 150.degree. C. or above under a pressure of 100 atm or below. The fine flaky boehmite particles are useful as a starting material for the preparation of fine flaky alumina particles or as a filler suitable for a pigment for coating materials, a filler for rubbers and plastics and a coating material for paper making.

Abstract: A swivel hook comprises a hook body including a housing body having a housing chamber which has a opening facing toward a side thereof and a pair of overhangs formed in opposed inner surfaces of the housing chamber, a hook proper provided on the housing body, a latch member mounted on the housing body and being movable into or out of engagement with the hook proper and biasing means mounted on the housing body for normally biasing the latch member causing it to come into engagement with the hook proper; an annular link having a connecting axle provided on one side thereof, the connecting axle having an enlarged head formed on its distal end, the connecting axle rotatably mounted in the housing chamber through the opening with the enlarged head engaging the overhangs; and a plug member closing the opening, thus confining the enlarged head in the housing chamber so that the connecting ring is pivotally and retentively mounted on the hook body.

Abstract: A magnetic material consisting essentially of A1 and 10 to 50 at. % of at least one capable of alloying with A1 to form quasicrystals (for example, 5 to 25 at. % of at least one member selected between Cu and Pd and 5 to 35 at. % of Mn) and up to 25 at. % of at least one element having a smaller atomic radius than those of the above elements (for example, B). The magnetic material is produced by adding, to a mixture consisting of A1 and at least one element capable of alloying with A1 to form quasicrystals and including at least one transition metal, at least one element having a smaller atomic radius than those of A1 and the above elements to dissolve the element having a smaller atomic radius in a solid solution form in a quasicrystalline phase. The thus obtained magnetic crystal is useful in various applications, such as magnetic recording heads, and a process for producing the same.

Abstract: A press-formed, metal, coupling element particularly suitable for use in a bidirectionally openable slide fastener which includes a coupling head portion having on its opposite end a protrusion and a corresponding pocket, and a guide groove formed in the front end of the coupling head portion, the guide groove having a width and a depth both reducing progressively from the pocket side toward the protrusion side of the coupling head portion. When the slide fastener is opened and closed, the guide groove in each coupling element slidably receives and guides the front end portion of the opposite coupling element as the protrusion and pocket of these coupling element are brought into and out of mutual engagement with each other. With the provision of the guide groove, the coupling elements are mutually engageable and disengageable with least friction resistance when the slide fastener is opened and closed in either of two reciprocal directions. A simple method of making such coupling element is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for easily producing a double-sided surface fastener molded integrally in a simple process, which provides easy disengagement in spite of high engaging strength and high durability in repetitive use. A molten resin is extruded from an extrusion nozzle at the predetermined width and is introduced into a predetermined gap between upper and lower die rollers which are disposed up and down with the gap and are provided with a plurality of engaging element forming cavities on the respective peripheries and cooling means in the inner portions. The upper and lower die rollers are concurrently driven and rotated in the extrusion direction of the molten resin while filling the engaging element forming cavities with the molten resin, so that a plurality of hook elements are continuously molded integrally on the both front and back surfaces of a plate-like base portion and are cooled to the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An end stop of synthetic resin having a pair of groove portions clamping and fused to an attachment core of at least one of a pair of fastener tapes, wherein each of the groove portions has at least one projection fusible to the attachment core and directed radially inwardly and situated remotely from opposite ends of each groove portion.

Abstract: An amorphous alloy which is resistant to hot corrosion in sulfidizing and oxidizing atmospheres at high temperatures, consisting of Cr and at least one element selected from refractory metals of Nb and Ta, a portion of the set forth refractory metals being allowed to be substituted with at least one element selected from Ti, Zr, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu. The addition of Si further improves the alloy's oxidation resistance.

Abstract: A snap button assembly attaches onto a garment fabric. The snap button assembly has a cap member, a socket member, a tack member releasably engageable with the socket member, and a sealing member adapted to house the socket member. The sealing member has an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the cap member such that the garment fabric is held in place against sagging or separation from around the area to which the button assembly is applied.

Abstract: A dense substrate for a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising: a base portion, support portions and fixing portions all of which project from the base portion so as to be arranged sequentially in one direction; grooves formed between the support portions and the fixing portions or between the support portions; and mount portions which are provided on the support portions between the fixing portions for mounting and fixing at least cell sections thereon. A solid oxide fuel cell is easily manufactured at a reduced cost by arranging a plurality of cell sections and, if required, plate sections, on the mount portions of the above dense substrate; fixing the cell sections and, when used, plate sections, onto the mount portions with an insulating bonding agent; and joining adjacent cell sections together with interconnections.

Abstract: A warp-knit cloth for a surface fastener, comprising: a foundation design knitted of pile knitting yarns and foundation yarns so as to form pile loops, which serve as engaging elements of the surface fastener, on wales; a marquisette design in which inlaid yarn extend in the wale direction and course direction so as to form squared meshes, which serve as vents, between said wales.

Abstract: A system controls the feed rate of parts delivered by a parts feeder having a vibrating unit to be vibrated with a predetermined amplitude for delivering parts and a driving unit for driving the vibrating unit. The control system has a parts detector for detecting parts delivered by the vibrating unit. A power transistor bridge supplies an alternating driving electric current to the driving unit. A driving voltage controlling circuit applies a predetermined direct current voltage to the power transistor bridge. A power transistor base driving circuit causes the power transistor bridge to function at a predetermined driving frequency. A central processing unit measures the supply rate of parts based on a signal transmitted by the parts detector and transmits a signal for regulating the driving voltage to the driving voltage controlling circuit and a signal for regulating the driving frequency to the power transistor base driving circuit in response to the supply rate of parts.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a hollow dense substrate having a plurality of mounting holes formed in the surface thereof, cell sections mounted in the mounting holes, and interconnections connecting adjacent cell sections, in which each cell section comprises: (1) a flat porous electrode base made of an electrode material for either of an air electrode and fuel electrode, an electrolyte film and the other porous electrode film in order in such a manner that the porous electrode base and the electrolyte film are exposed at one side of the forming surface; or (2) an electrode film made of an electrode material for either of an air electrode and fuel electrode, an electrolyte film, and the other electrode film on a flat porous support base in order in such a manner that the lower electrode film and the electrolyte film are exposed at one side of the forming surface.

Abstract: A lock assembly for use on luggage, bags and the like has a mounting plate accommodating various lock operating parts including a latch, a hook member including a hook element and an ornamental cover fitted over the mounting plate. The latch is engageable resiliently with the hook element and lockable by a key. The ornamental cover is removably connected to the mounting plate and changeable from one to another with different types and designs.

Abstract: A hook-and-loop fastener comprising a base web, a multiplicity of hook elements and loop elements mounted on the base web in rows and vertical lines. In each row, each hook element adjoining a loop element on each side thereof. The distribution ratio of the hook elements to the total of the hook elements and loop elements is approximately 33 percent. Each loop element is 1 mm higher than each hook element. Each hook element is made of thermoplastic monofilament of 400 through 700 denier.

Abstract: A flexible fastener comprises a pair of opposed fastener strips each including a base plate; and a longitudinal marginal grip portion integrally formed along one longitudinal edge thereof. A pair of opposed female and male coupling portion are mounted on the inner sides on the base plates so as to project toward each other to coming into coupling engagement with each other, thereby releasably join the opposed fastener strips. Two pairs of elongated ridges are provided on the inner sides of the fastener strips, and a pair of elongated ridge are provided on the outer sides of fastener strips so as to provide increased friction between fingers and the fastener strips.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a slider to a slide fastener stringer in motion along a path of travel for the purpose of attaching the slider to the slide fastener stringer are disclosed. The apparatus comprises in combination a slider chute for delivering one slider after another in an upright posture, means for rotatably and releasably supporting the delivered slider at the lower end of the slider chute, means for rotating the slider so as to shift its upright posture to a horizontal posture, and a gripper for nipping the slider on opposite lateral surfaces thereof. The gripper is adapted to reciprocate in a vertical direction between the lower end of the slider chute and an assembly position in a path of travel of the slide fastener stringer positioned as separated downwardly from the slider chute.

Abstract: A blank wire of a generally Y-shape cross section is supplied intermittently at a predetermined pitch, during which the blank wire is successively cut transversely into slices of a predetermined thickness. A bulge is formed at a time for a head portion of each of the successive coupling elements and the resulting individual coupling element is collected. Subsequently to the forming of the individual bulge, opposite leg portions of the individual coupling element are pre-clenched to such an extent as to prevent any crack from occurring in a possible surface-treated section of the coupling element when the opposite leg portions are clenched for attaching the coupling element to a slide fastener tape.