Abstract: A novel handle tab or pull for a zipper which comprises a unitary wire-like resilient member having an integral spring member and including a pair of offset, spring biased gripper members which are squeezed together against the tension of the integral spring member so as to separate the gripper members so that the ends of the gripper members may then be introduced into the slide tang or loop of the zipper after which the tension of the spring biased grippers is released causing the gripper members to lock around the tang or loop of the zipper securing the novel handle, tab or pull to the zipper enabling the zipper to be operated as originally manufactured. A cover member may be employed to increase handling area of the pull. The novel zipper handle, tab or pull may be used by the zipper user to replace a lost, destroyed or damage zipper handle, tab or pull.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for packaging sanitary medical sponges which are deformable articles of a shape generally disposed in a flat plane with a stacked array thereof contained between two webs of packaging material, wherein the sponges are formed on a machine, they are delivered in a fixed number of at least two sponges from the machine in a stacked array with the planes of the sponges vertically disposed in a side-by-side relationship. Two webs of the packaging material are converged into a substantially V-shaped vertically disposed reception slot adapted to receive the stacked array of sponges. They are dropped into a reception slot so that the stacked array is substantially wedged therebetween.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing with a mixture of ethylene oxide gas and an inert gas which makes possible reuse of the ethylene oxide for an indefinite number of successive sterilization cycles. The gas mixture is refortified with ethylene oxide when necessary. A portion of it is periodically vented when the increasing proportion of air produces a mixture which approaches the region of flammability of the mixture and is replaced with the inert gas to reduce the proportion of air in the mixture.