Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a watercraft, such as a kayak or canoe, for boarding or exiting, utilizing a paddle, comprising a quick insert/release paddle clamping device for mounting on a watercraft. The clamping device has laterally elongated jaws forming a C-shaped channel with a longitudinal slot for receiving a paddle shaft. The jaws have a deflectable lip portion configured to allow insertion and releasably retain the paddle shaft within the channel. The clamping device is mounted with the channel oriented horizontally and transverse to the fore-and-aft axis of the watercraft, with the slot disposed along a longitudinal side of the channel to allow insertion and removal the paddle shaft by fore-and-aft motion. Lateral spacing of paddle gripping regions minimizes twisting forces imposed on the clamping device when the outer end of the paddle engages an object to limit roll of the watercraft.

Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a watercraft, such as a kayak or canoe, for boarding or exiting, utilizing a paddle, comprising a quick insert/release paddle clamping device for mounting on a watercraft. The clamping device has laterally elongated jaws forming a C-shaped channel with a longitudinal slot for receiving a paddle shaft. The jaws have a deflectable lip portion configured to allow insertion and releasably retain the paddle shaft within the channel. The clamping device is mounted with the channel oriented horizontally and transverse to the fore-and-aft axis of the watercraft, with the slot disposed along a longitudinal side of the channel to allow insertion and removal the paddle shaft by fore-and-aft motion. Lateral spacing of paddle gripping regions minimizes twisting forces imposed on the clamping device when the outer end of the paddle engages an object to limit roll of the watercraft.

Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a watercraft for boarding or exiting comprising an elongated cradle arm support member for attaching vertically to a docking structure and a cradle arm for attaching to the cradle arm support member, in which the cradle arm has a generally V-shaped upper surface for cradling the under surface of a watercraft, restricting roll. The cradle arm is adjustably connecting the cradle arm support member, for selectively fixing the arm to the cradle arm support member in one of a range of vertical positions to accommodate changing water levels.

Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a watercraft for boarding or exiting comprising an elongated cradle arm support member for attaching vertically to a docking structure and a cradle arm for attaching to the cradle arm support member, in which the cradle arm has a generally V-shaped upper surface for cradling the under surface of a watercraft, restricting roll. The cradle arm is adjustably connecting the cradle arm support member, for selectively fixing the arm to the cradle arm support member in one of a range of vertical positions to accommodate changing water levels.

Abstract: A reuseable gasketless spout adaptable to conversion to a pump dispenser for fluid contained in a pouch made of inextensible film, comprises a spout-tube and a plunger with a conical tip, the plunger movable coaxially within the spout-tube. The spout is inserted into the pouch, its plunger first puncturing the pouch film, and the edges of the opening produced surround and form a gasketless seal with the outside wall of the spout-tube when the spout is fully inserted. The spout, after full insertion into the pouch, may be converted into a pump dispenser for fluid in the pouch by removing the plunger and replacing it with a pump which has a supply-tube extending coaxially through the spout-tube, into the fluid within the pouch. The dispenser, having the spout-tube in common with the spout is, like the spout, reuseable.

Abstract: A dispenser of flowable materials from a pouch is disclosed. The pouch has an ear (55) at each of the ends of a transverse seal (53) located at one end of the pouch (57). The dispenser comprises i) a cylindrical container (33) having sides and an open top having a rim, the container being adapted to contain the pouch, and ii) a lid (35) attachable to the rim such that the lid is adapted to trap the ears of the pouch between the lid and the rim and to keep said end of the pouch taut between the ears when the lid is attached to the rim. The lid is also being adapted to allow a spout (41) to pierce the pouch at the taut portion.

Abstract: An improved piston for a pouch dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser is adapted to contain a pouch of flowable material, and has a lid to keep the pouch within the dispenser and a piston which is adapted to move toward the lid and press against a first end of the pouch, and push the flowable material out of the pouch through a hole in the second end of the pouch. The piston has a peripheral lip extending towards the second end of the pouch. The peripheral lip extends for a length sufficient to cause the film from which the pouch is made to pleat in a direction transverse from which the pouch is made to pleat in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser when the material in the pouch is squeezed from the pouch by the pressing action of the piston. The lid and piston are adapted to allow the peripheral lip to nest with the lid and to prevent the pleats from hindering essentially all of the material from being squeezed out of the pouch.

Abstract: An improved nozzle for piercing and draining a wide variety of fluid materials, such as milk, juice, relish and ketchup, from pouches of plastic film. The piercing nozzle is easily inserted into plastic pouches and is designed to provide that, after initial penetration, the force necessary to insert the piercing portion remains substantially constant.

Abstract: A heat sealing device adapted for the clamping jaws of form, fill and seal machines. The heat sealing device in a single operation produces a transverse seal in thermoplastic film, tubular containers and severs the tube to simultaneously close the top of a filled container and create the bottom of a next-to-be-filled container. The base, upon which the heat sealing element is mounted, has slots that cause any product on the inner surfaces of the films in the area to be sealed to be removed, thereby producing consistently effective heat seals. The heat sealing device is particularly suitable for packaging flowable materials including, for example, chocolate sundae topping, thick sauces and dressings.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine has a pair of transverse heat sealing jaws adapted to collapse a tubular film, a pair of spreader fingers, and at least one pair of detucker fingers to pinch a longitudinal edge of the tubular film and urge the pinched tubular film away from the other longitudinal edge of the film.

Abstract: A continuous high speed spin-draw-false twist texturing process for producing a textured nylon yarn having high yarn uniformity is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of (a) melt-spinning a plurality of nylon filaments from nylon polymer; (b) cooling the filaments and combining them to form a yarn; (c) controlling the processing conditions of the nylon polymer of step (a) such that the relative viscosity of the yarn formed in step (b) is at least 45; (d) partially drawing the yarn at a draw ratio of from 2.3 to 3.5 and a temperature of at least 50.degree. C.; (e) simultaneously false twist texturing and further drawing the partially drawn yarn in a draw-false twist texturing zone at a draw ratio of from 1.1 to 1.5; and (f) withdrawing the textured nylon yarn at a speed of at least 1500 meters per minute. The process is particularly useful for the manufacture of textured nylon yarn having a linear density in the range of from about 10 dtex to about 50 dtex.

Abstract: A continuous process is disclosed for producing a heather yarn from a continuous filament polyester feed yarn having a residual draw ratio in the range of from 1.6 to 2.0 and a continuous filament polyamide feed yarn having a residual draw ratio in the range of from 106 to 120 percent of the residual draw ratio of the polyester feed yarn. The process involves the steps of: (1) combining the yarns; (2) false twist texturing and drawing the combined yarns in a draw-texturing zone comprising feed rolls, a heating means, a friction twisting element and draw rolls; (3) randomly entangling the combined and textured yarns together in a jet-intermingling zone formed by an air jet device; and (4) withdrawing the heather yarn so produced.