Abstract: A sonic levitation apparatus (A) is disclosed which includes a sonic transducer (14) which generates acoustical energy responsive to the level of an electrical amplifier (16). A duct (B) communicates with an acoustical chamber (18) to deliver an oscillatory motion of air to a plenum section (C) which contains a collimated hole structure (D) having a plurality of parallel orifices (10). The collimated hole structure converts the motion of the air to a pulsed, unidirectional stream providing enough force to levitate a material specimen (S).

Abstract: Footwear is tested and evaluated by apparatus which is capable of simulat the actual wearing thereof under various environmental conditions. The apparatus includes a leg pylon and artificial foot which are moved as a unit by apparatus which duplicates the motion of the knee and ankle of an individual. The artificial foot, on which the footwear to be tested is mounted, may be provided with various sensors or condition simulators.

Abstract: In the manufacture of chewing grum, the viscosity of a chewing gum base is first reduced by heating. Thereafter, a major portion of a bulking agent, such as a carbohydrate, is added to the gum base while homogeneously mixing the ingredients. The mixture is cooled in order to increase its viscosity and to form granules thereof. The balance of the bulking agent is then added, preferably in increments, to form layers around the granules. The overall effect of the resultant chewing gum product is an improved initial taste impact due to the superficially positioned, typically sweet, bulking agent and a subsequent, long-lasting taste development due to the internal mixture of the bulking agent with the base.

Abstract: Non-woven articles, including garments and porous sheet materials, are made from continuous filaments by ejecting continuous yarn or filaments into turbulent air and contacting them with binder in a high density fog while still suspended in air, so that the binder dries sufficiently to become non-migrating before the yarn is deposited on the screen or mold on which the fibers are brought into contact with each other and bonding takes place. This method is particularly suitable for making garments of elastomeric fibers, not easily handled in ordinary production machinery. Another generally applicable advantage is that the resultant products are exceptionally flexible and that the articles produced do not split into stratified binder-rich and-poor areas, but are uniformly bonded throughout.

Abstract: Fibers composed of mixtures of refractory metal oxides, other than silica, are treated by a process involving a drawing step to markedly increase the modulus of elasticity of the fibers. The compositions of the fibers to which the process is applied are typically mixtures of refractory vitreous metal oxides such as calcia, alumina, verylia and the like which are devoid or nearly devoid of silica or other network formers but may be a single such oxide mixed with no more than small or insignificant amounts of such other oxides.