Abstract: A self-bonded, fibrous nonwoven web having a uniform basis weight of about 0.1 oz/yd.sup.2 or greater and improved physical properties, a method for producing same and composite fabrics comprising the nonwoven web useful for applications in for example, hygiene, healthcare and agriculture markets.

Abstract: A knife sharpener for sharpening kitchen knives and embodying coarse and fine sharpening devices is adapted to be hand-held during use or to be releasably mounted in a stationary position during use on a storage and mounting bracket which can be permanently attached to a supporting object such as a table, a counter or a wall. The knife sharpener comprises a handle, a head having two slots in which sharpening devices are mounted, a protective flange between the handle and head, and detent-engaging recess at the extreme outer ends of the handle and head. The storage and mounting bracket comprises a base plate, screw holes for attaching the bracket to a supporting object, upwardly projecting slightly flexible members at opposite ends of the base plate, and a detent on each upwardly projecting member for releasable engagement with an associated detent-engaging recess on the knife sharpener.

Abstract: A flexible knife scabbard has a blade-receiving elongated passage open at one end extending longitudinally therein and has a blade sharpening slot open at both ends extending laterally therethrough and transversely through the elongated passage. Knife blade sharpening insert means including a pair of mating rigid plastic insert members or components are disposed in the elongated passage and each component includes an aperture in registry with the other and with the blade sharpening slot. The insert means further includes a pair of cylindrical ceramic blade sharpening elements or rods, one mounted on each insert component and overlying a portion of the associated aperture. The two rods are disposed in V-shaped arrangement relative to each other and located at (and overlapping) an end of the sharpening apertures in the insert member and the sheath slot. The knife blade slips into the scabbard between the insert members in normal use.

Abstract: A hand-held dual knife sharpener comprises a gripping portion and an adjacent sharpener portion embodying coarse and fine sharpening devices on opposite sides thereof. The sharpener portion has two blade-receiving slots extending inwardly from the opposite sides and a sharpening device is located near the bottom of each blade-receiving slot. Each sharpening device comprises a pair of elongated blade sharpening elements arranged in converging and overlapping relationship to each other so as to define a V-shaped groove. The sharpener is fabricated of a pair of molded plastic mating components which are secured together and between which the four sharpening elements are entrapped.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously freezing and melting a fluid mixture, for use in separating a fluid mixture into dilute and concentrated components which have been made separble due to the freezing. A turbine is used to produce mechanical energy to drive a refrigeration compressor, while exhaust heat from the turbine is used for secondary cooling. Heat from a refrigeration condenser is used to melt the liquid frozen by a refrigerant evaporator. The evaporator and condenser may comprise a plurality of plates or may comprise a bubbler for bubbling refrigerant directly into contact with the fluid mixture.

Abstract: A base station radio antenna comprising a bracket having a first section for attachment to a support structure and a second section for receiving antenna whips, an antenna whip extending upwardly from a central opening in the second section of the bracket, and a plurality of antenna whips inclined relative to the upwardly extending antenna whip and extending generally downwardly from openings in the second section spaced radially from, and equi-angularly around, the central opening.