Abstract: A utility knife is provided that has an elongated main body portion and a head assembly that is separate from the main body portion. The main body portion has a handle assembly. A main body fastening mechanism is provided at one distal end of the handle assembly, and a handle assembly fastening mechanism is provided at one end of the handle assembly. A threaded pin pivotally fastens the main body portion to the head assembly by connecting the main body fastening mechanism to the handle assembly fastening mechanism. Accordingly, the head assembly can pivot with respect to the main body portion and handle assembly, so that the utility knife can be configured to cut an object at different angles, which can be particularly useful for the knife to fit in a tight cutting space.

Abstract: An apparatus (25) for transporting pre-measured quantities of fibers in a plurality of containers (13), separated by a plurality of webs (14), joining the containers together at spaced intervals, to a mixer (22) for cementitious materials, the apparatus comprising a conveying assembly (26), the containers therethrough; a counter assembly (28); a web slitting assembly (29); and a process controller (30), which activates the web slitting assembly in response to input from the counter assembly, in order to sever a determined number of the containers from the webs for conveyance into the mixer. A method for conveying pre-measured quantities of fibers suitable for the reinforcement of cementitious materials to a mixing apparatus is also provided as well as a train for providing pre-measured quantities of fiber comprising a plurality of containers containing the fibers; and a plurality of webs, joining the containers together at spaced intervals.

Abstract: Two workpiece portions (30, 32) that are to be stitched together along a stitching path (28) each have a stitching region (24, 26) which corresponds to the stitching path (28), but which is so shaped that the regions do not overlap when the workpieces (30, 32) are in a substantially flat condition. Thus some three-dimensional shaping is imparted to the portions during stitching. Each of the workpiece portions (30, 32) is clamped between two rollers (10, 12, 24) one of which is driven and the other freely rotatable, the driven rollers (10, 12) serving to distort the stitching regions into a desired overlapping position progressively in preparation for each successive stitching operation. The rollers are also bodily movable to advance the workpiece portions (30, 32) step-by-step through the operating locality (4) of the sewing machine. For sensing when the stitching regions are in the desired overlapping relationship suitable edge sensing means (40, 42, 44) is provided.

Abstract: A method of bending a roll of carpet to reduce its length so that it may be transported by a single individual, which includes inserting a tube in each end of the roll, attaching a band to each tube, and then drawing the bands together to cause the carpet to fold at a location between its ends.

Abstract: A mask adapted to be placed over the mouth of a subject during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation includes a fibrous, central, air-permeable filter portion, a transparent portion surrounding the filter portion, and a stiffening portion surrounding the transparent portion, so that the mask may be grasped by the stiffening portion and visually adjusted through the transparent portion to locate the filter portion over the mouth of the subject.