Abstract: Disclosed is a protective hood for use in protection against fire, chemical and/or biological threats, and other similar harmful environments to which individuals may be exposed under a variety of extreme conditions. The hood includes a flap that is partially separable from the remainder of the hood, where the flap includes a port for receiving a protective mask. Protective garments including the hood are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solder preform with predisposed flux to be located adjacent to a gap formed between multiple solderable surfaces such that upon heating, the flux wicks into and prepares the solderable surfaces prior to the solder melting and wicking into the freshly prepared gap. In plumbing applications, this invention can be located inside a pipe fitting adjacent to the end of an inserted pipe. Upon heating, this invention will make a sound solder joint by wicking into the annular region formed between the fitting and the pipe. This invention includes a dispenser for solder preforms that has features to align a solder preform with the centerline of the receiving pipe fitting into which it is to be inserted. In addition, the dispenser has features to insure the solder preforms are released one-at-a-time into the receiving fitting.