Abstract: A bed frame includes legs, lateral and longitudinal bars, and wooden slats. Each leg has two triangular slots, and each bar has two wedge inserts. A first slot opens from a first side of a leg, and a second slot opens from a perpendicular, second side of the leg. A first wedge on a lateral bar fits into the first slot. The lateral bar is perpendicular to the leg while the first wedge is lodged in the first slot. A second wedge on a longitudinal bar fits into the second slot. The longitudinal bar is perpendicular to the leg while the second wedge is lodged in the second slot. Corresponding wedge inserts and triangular slots are identified by the same numerals, which enables the snap assembly of the bed frame. By matching numerals displayed on corresponding wedges and slots, the user can intuitively assemble the bed frame by the numbers.

Abstract: A flat pack table comprises a first straight bar, a second straight bar, a first U-shaped bar, a second U-shaped bar, and a rectangular table top. The flat pack table is arrangeable into a compact state in which the first U-shaped bar and second U-shaped bar are nested around the table top and the straight bars. The straight bars, the U-shaped bars, and the table top have an identical width. In the compact state, the table is insertable into a packing box having an inner width no greater than the width of the table components. The flat pack table takes up a packing area within the box that is over ninety percent of the total packing area of the box. After removing the table from the box, the table is assemblable into an end table. Compact packing of the table provides for optimal storing, shipping, and transporting of the table.

Abstract: A bed frame assembly has diagonal struts that lock leg supports into place using novel locking mechanisms. A leg support is pivotally attached to the bedboard frame, and a slotted bracket is welded to a cross bar of the frame. One end of a diagonal strut is pivotally attached to the leg support, and a bolt with a conical washer and a wing nut is attached to the other end. The strut is attached to the slotted bracket by inserting the bolt into a curved slot in the bracket. The bracket also includes a stopper brace that extends perpendicular to the body of the bracket. A side of the end of the strut pushes against the stopper brace when the conical washer is pressed into the end of the curved slot and the wing nut is tightened. The stopper brace prevents the bolt from sliding out of the curved slot.

Abstract: A bed frame assembly has diagonal struts that lock leg supports into place using novel locking mechanisms. A leg support is pivotally attached to a cross bar, and a slotted bracket is attached to another cross bar. A bolt with a conical washer is attached to a first end of a diagonal strut, and the second end is pivotally attached to the leg support. The diagonal strut is attached to the slotted bracket by inserting the bolt into a rounded slot and by pressing the conical washer down into a round opening of the rounded slot using a wing nut. The round opening is disposed at the end of a channel whose width is slightly larger than the diameter of the bolt. The diameter of the round opening is larger than the width of the channel and smaller than the largest diameter of a coned portion of the conical washer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a feed additive composition having a high content of L-methionine, and an animal feed composition comprising the feed additive composition. More specifically, the present invention relates to a feed additive composition comprising 60 to 99.9 wt % of L-methionine together with L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine, and to an animal feed composition comprising the feed additive composition.

Abstract: A folding mattress support system replaces a conventional bed frame with rails and the box spring. The mattress support system is lighter, easier to transport, and provides more storage space beneath the mattress. The mattress support system includes bed frame assemblies, central connecting bars, edge attachments, headboard attachments and a bed skirt. Leg supports fold out from the bed frame assemblies, which themselves unfold in the middle. Central connecting bars connect inner side edges of the bed frame assemblies. Plastic edge attachments are attached at outer corners of the bed frame assemblies and hold a bed skirt taut when the frame assemblies are standing on extended leg supports. A mattress is then placed on top of the assembled mattress support system. Optionally, metal edge attachments at the head corners hold both the bed skirt and a headboard. Alternatively, headboard attachments protrude from under the bed skirt and support a headboard.

Abstract: A method comprising: (a) enzymatically processing an O-acetylhomoserine (OAHS) fermentation liquor to produce L-methionine and an acetate source; (b) separating at least a portion of said L-methionine from at least a fraction of said acetate source to form separated L-methionine and a residual liquor comprising an acetate-source; and (c) recovering at least a portion of said acetate source from said residual liquor as recovered acetate.

Abstract: A bed frame includes legs, bars and wooden slats. Each leg has first and second sides that meet each other at an edge. A first slot is disposed on the first side adjacent to the edge, and a second slot is disposed on the second side adjacent to the edge. Each bar has two wedge inserts. A first wedge on a lateral bar fits into the first slot, and a second wedge on a longitudinal bar fits into the second slot. The lateral bar is perpendicular to the leg while the first wedge is lodged in the first slot, and the longitudinal bar is perpendicular to the leg while the second wedge is lodged in the second slot. The first slot and the second slot are disposed between the lateral bar and the longitudinal bar while the first and second wedge inserts are lodged in the first and second slots.

Abstract: A bed frame includes legs, lateral and longitudinal bars, and wooden slats. Each leg has two triangular slots, and each bar has two wedge inserts. A first slot opens from a first side of a leg, and a second slot opens from a perpendicular, second side of the leg. A first wedge on a lateral bar fits into the first slot. The lateral bar is perpendicular to the leg while the first wedge is lodged in the first slot. A second wedge on a longitudinal bar fits into the second slot. The longitudinal bar is perpendicular to the leg while the second wedge is lodged in the second slot. Corresponding wedge inserts and triangular slots are identified by the same numerals, which enables the snap assembly of the bed frame. By matching numerals displayed on corresponding wedges and slots, the user can intuitively assemble the bed frame by the numbers.

Abstract: A flat pack table comprises a first straight bar, a second straight bar, a first U-shaped bar, a second U-shaped bar, and a rectangular table top. The flat pack table is arrangeable into a compact state in which the first U-shaped bar and second U-shaped bar are nested around the table top and the straight bars. The straight bars, the U-shaped bars, and the table top have an identical width. In the compact state, the table is insertable into a packing box having an inner width no greater than the width of the table components. The flat pack table takes up a packing area within the box that is over ninety percent of the total packing area of the box. After removing the table from the box, the table is assemblable into an end table. Compact packing of the table provides for optimal storing, shipping, and transporting of the table.

Abstract: For each product category offered by an on-line retailer, the most popular or biggest selling products are identified. The on-line retailer competes with a bricks-and-mortar store in the sale of the identified products. A dedicated area is provided within the store. In this area, the store provides, for each identified product, both: 1) a physical purchasable unit of the product, and 2) descriptive information about the product. The descriptive information includes: 1) an identification of the product, 2) an identification of the on-line retailer, 3) a price at which the product is offered on-line by the on-line retailer, and 4) a price at which the product is offered at the store. The customer can use the descriptive information to confirm the prices, and can then purchase a physical unit of the product, and can immediately take the unit from the store without having to wait for, and pay for, shipment.

Abstract: A compact collapsible camping chair includes upper tubes, leg tubes, a molded central tube connector and a seat back. The tube connector is molded from aluminum, zinc or plastic reinforced with glass fiber. Lower ends of the upper tubes fit snugly into circular upper holes in the central tube connector, and upper ends of the leg tubes fit snugly into circular lower holes in the central tube connector. Upper ends of the upper tubes fit into tube receptacles in the seat back. The two longer upper tubes are bent, whereas the two shorter upper tubes are straight. Elastic cords pass from the upper tubes, through the tube connector and into the leg tubes and tend to pull the tubes into the holes in central tube connector. The upper tubes, leg tubes, central tube connector and seat back can be placed in a bag that is less than one foot long.

Abstract: A foam seating article includes an outer foam layer molded around an inner core of molded foam or expanded polystyrene that includes a lumbar support protrusion. The lumbar support protrusion has a convex outer surface disposed inside the seat back area of the outer foam layer and that is not visible on the outer contour of the seat back area. The inner core is made from polyurethane polyol and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and has a hardness greater than 25 Shore A and a density less than two pounds per cubic foot. The polymer material of the inner core has a hardness greater than that of the outer foam. The outer layer of molded foam is high density (HD) foam, memory foam or latex foam. A fabric covering encloses the inner core and molded outer foam layer. The foam seating article can be a chair, sofa, chaise lounge or bench.

Abstract: A foam seating article includes a layer of molded foam surrounding a hollow shell made of hard plastic. A fabric covering encloses the shell and molded foam. The foam seating article can take the form of a chair, stool, sofa, chaise lounge, bench or Ottoman. The hollow shell can be formed using blow molding, injection molding or by capping both ends of a tube with disks. Air pressure inside the airtight hollow shell prevents the shell from collapsing inwards under the weight of an occupant. Alternatively, the hollow shell of the seating article can be accessed through a removable lid. The seating article includes no wood or metal. The layer of molded foam includes sections of different foam types, such as high density (HD) foam, memory foam and latex foam. Molding foam around a hard plastic shell is simpler and less costly than making conventional metal or wood framed furniture.

Abstract: Removable massage modules provide a mattress with a massage function. The mattress is compressed and shipped in a packing box with the massage modules separate from the mattress. The end customer then inserts the massage modules. The mattress has a bottom foam layer with cavities whose walls are perpendicular to the outer surface of the foam layer. Each massage module includes a massage motor encased in molded foam. The molded foam is attached to a foam section with cylindrical holes that pass from an outer side to the molded foam and allow hot air to escape the massage motor. The top and bottom sides of each massage module have the shape formed by the walls of the cavities. The massage modules are connected by power cords to a module controller that receives RF signals from a remote control device. The massage modules can also be inserted into a mattress topper.

Abstract: A foam seating article includes an outer layer of molded foam surrounding a solid inner core of molded foam or expanded polystyrene. The rigid foam of the inner core is made from polyurethane polyol and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The inner core has a hardness greater than 25 Shore A and a density less than two pounds per cubic foot. The polymer material of the solid core has a hardness that is greater than that of the outer foam. The outer layer of molded foam is high density (HD) foam, memory foam or latex foam. A fabric covering encloses the inner core and molded outer foam layer. The foam seating article can be a chair, stool, sofa, chaise lounge, bench or Ottoman. The seating article includes no wood or metal. Molding foam around a solid inner core is simpler and less costly than making conventional metal or wood framed furniture.