Abstract: An easy-to-manufacture protective saddle for a dumbbell, comprising a generally U-shaped member, including a curved element having a top surface, a base portion, and an inner end; and a generally vertical element having an upper end and an interior end attached to said inner end of the U-shaped member; wherein a non-marring surface for providing contact with a dumbbell to be placed on the saddle is located on said U-shaped member. The saddle has a plurality of means for attachment of the saddle to a frame located in said base portion. The surface is placed onto the U-Shaped member.

Abstract: The present invention is a clear coating on a weight for a dumbbell, a dumbbell having weights having a clear coating, and the process for coating a weight on a dumbbell with a clear coating. The invention includes the painting or other coloration of the weights before placing the clear coating on the dumbbell. Also, the invention includes the use of decals on the weight before the clear coating is placed on the dumbbell. In addition, the invention is a method of advertising on a weight plate.

Abstract: An improved weight plate includes a planar body having a central opening for receiving a barbell or dumbbell bar therethrough. The weight plate includes oppositely facing flange members extending partially about the perimeter of the weight plate. The opposed ends of the flange members are spaced from each other and define a gap therebetween. The flange members extend perpendicularly from both sides of the weight plate planar body about the perimeter thereof. The weight plate includes at least one opening formed adjacent the perimeter of the weight plate. The opening is adapted to receive one or more fingers of an average human hand for securely grasping and lifting the weight plate. Adjacent weight plates mounted on a barbell bar are adapted for interlocking engagement.

Abstract: Starter sheet and method for a pop-up type dispensing package for individual product sheets, arranged in an interleaved stack or in a perforated web. The package is of the type having a restrictive dispensing orifice so sized that the topmost product sheet cannot be conveniently grasped by the consumer through the dispensing orifice. The starter sheet is less porous than the product sheets. The starter sheet is interleaved with and overlies the topmost product sheet of a stack thereof or is interleaved with or attached to the first product sheet of a perforated web thereof. During the packaging process a vacuum is applied to the dispensing orifice or directly to the starter sheet through the dispensing orifice to draw a sufficient portion of the starter sheet through the dispensing orifice to enable withdrawal of the starter sheet, bringing the topmost product sheet into its pop-up position ready for withdrawal.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously folding and interfolding a multiplicity of webs of flexible material such as facial tissue paper in the machine direction to form an endless bundle of interfolded webs which endless bundle can be cut into discrete bundles and packaged in pop-up dispensing containers. The apparatus comprises a fan-shape, horizontally disposed folding table comprising a set of tapered elongate guides having inverted V-shape cross sections. The elongate guides are disposed in side-by-side relation and thereby form tapered V-shape troughs therebetween. The webs are directed in convergent relation onto the radially outwardly disposed edge of the fan-shape table in partially overlapped relation and are drawn radially inwardly thereacross and thence about a turning guide whereupon the folds of the webs are alternately V-folded upwardly in said troughs and downwardly about the ridges of the elongate guides so that an edge fold of each web is disposed intermediate two folds of an adjacent web.