Abstract: A vacuum packaging system for transporting a plurality of medical containers including a tray that supports the medical containers and an air impervious flexible film defining an internal cavity. The air impervious flexible film completely surrounds the tray and the medical containers. The internal cavity is evacuated to a predetermined vacuum level below atmospheric pressure. A method for packaging the plurality of medical containers for transportation in the tray includes inserting the medical containers into the tray, inserting the tray filled with medical containers into the internal cavity, evacuating the internal cavity to a predetermined vacuum pressure and sealing the flexible film such that the predetermined vacuum pressure is generally maintained in the internal cavity.

Abstract: A hanger for displaying and mounting garment belts and animal collars that include, on one end thereof, a buckle having an open frame with perimetric courses, comprising a belt retaining form having elongated length, parallel straight side edges, planer front and back surfaces and upper and lower ends and being thin and narrow with respect to its length, and including, proximate the upper end thereof, an opening in the upper end of the form for receiving a fixed bracket, a seat, distally spaced from the opening and projecting from the planar front side of the form and having an angular extension at the outward extremity of the seat and adapted to support and retain one course of the belt or collar buckle.

Abstract: A reduced coefficient of thermal expansion and an increased resistance to thermal shock in cordierite-containing ceramic articles is achieved by contacting such articles with water either in a liquid or gaseous state. It is particularly desirable for such treatment to reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion of the article by at least 1.times.10.sup.-7 .degree. C..sup.-1, measured between 25.degree. and 800.degree. C., during the contacting. This treatment can be used in conjunction with extruded honeycomb structures conventionally used as diesel particle filters and supports for catalysts which treat automotive exhaust gases.

Abstract: Magnesia partially-stabilized zirconia ceramic materials can be prepared from "unpurified" zirconia which contains at least about 0.05 weight percent silica. Despite the relatively high silica content, a thermal shock resistant material can be produced by a firing schedule which includes heating to a top temperature at a specified rate and cooling back to room temperature at specified rates and which incorporates a thermal aging step at 1000-1200.degree. C. Differences in microstructure and monoclinic zirconia content, with consequent differences in physical properties of the ceramic material, can be attained by variations in the firing and thermal-aging schedules.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing device for billiard balls or pool balls that includes a pivotable off-loading arm that positions the balls at a plurality of desired positions on a billiard table or pool table for subsequent play. The storage and dispensing device, operable by hand or from virtually any position around a billiard or pool table with the added reach of a cue stick, spots the balls at various desired locations. The device includes a gravity operated sequential ball storage ramp, a base connected below the ramp that is connectable to the edge of the playing table, and an off loading arm that is pivotally connected at the lower end of the storage ramp.

Abstract: Suppression of a high expansion cristobalite phase during sintering of high silica glass frits crystallizing in situ to predominantly a low-expansion .beta.-spodumene solid solution phase is accomplished by either melting a suppressant compound with the glass batch or adding the suppressant to the glass frit prior to sintering, the cristobalite suppressant being selected from the oxides of the alkali metals, the alkaline earth metals, yttrium, lanthanum, titanium, niobium, tantalum, boron, zinc, lead and antimony. The oxides with divalent and tetravalent cations are selected in quantities of up to about 0.02 moles of suppressant per 100 grams of glass and the other suppressants are selected in quantities up to about 0.01 moles per 100 grams of glass.