Abstract: A very light weight high pressure coiled retractable hose kit for marine vehicles and outdoor use which uses a helical structure to automatically retract when not used. The helical structure allows the hose to extend substantially the length of a typical fishing boat. A UV and thermal resistant material is used to withstand damage from prolonged exposure to sunlight, heat or cold. The material is also corrosion resistant to withstand damage from salt water. A high pressure rating allows a narrow diameter hose which occupies a small storage area to be attached to a conventional spigot and provide an increase in water velocity when the nozzle is activated. Input and output fittings and a nozzle retention bracket hold the hose structure in a tight helical spring configuration for storage. The light weight allows easy manipulation of the hose kit and provides improved safety by enhancing the ability to move the hose kit from underfoot during periods of intense activity such as when gaffing fish onboard a boat.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a stand for mounting a mandrel against rotation and a winding assembly for disposition within the mandrel. The mandrel has a slot for receiving a flat sheet through a side wall of the mandrel. A clamping mechanism on the winding assembly clamps the leading edge to the winding assembly within the mandrel. By winding the assembly, the flat sheet is drawn into the mandrel and formed into an arcuate configuration. The mandrel with curved sheet is removed from the stand and disposed in an oven for setting the plastic material in the curved configuration whereby the flat sheet is preformed into a radius approximating the radius of the rotational part about which the insulation will be installed.

Abstract: A heating mechanism for zipper forming machines includes a mold base, a support seat, a seat cover, a screw sleeve and a heating element. The support seat has a clearance at a central portion and a heat insulation pad is fitted into the clearance for dividing the support seat into a heating area and a cooling area. The heating element is disposed in the heating area and a cooling element is disposed at the cooling area for enhancing heat energy efficiencies and reducing noise.

Abstract: In the method for the manufacture of curved plastic pieces, such as brassiere underwires, the plastic pieces are formed from hot plastic material in a selected mold and are cooled to solidify the plastic material. In the improved method, a continuous thermoplastic wire in its thermoplastically formable state is coiled into a coil and simultaneously cooled thus forming turns of a solidified coil. The turns are subsequently cut along the axis of the coil over the entire length of the coil to produce the curved plastic pieces.

Abstract: Plastic molded articles having characteristic properties of both shape-memory and biodegradability and a process for preparing the same are disclosed. The molded products consist of homopolymers of lactide or glycolide or copolymers of lactide and glycolide. The molded articles of this invention are particularly useful for a variety of medical devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a curved tube, the apparatus comprising an extruder for extruding a tube having a wall including a first portion having a thickness, and a second portion diametrically opposite the first portion and having a thickness less than the thickness of the first portion, and rollers for forming the tube into a curve with the first portion being radially outward and with the second portion being radially inward so that the thickness of the first portion becomes substantially equal to the thickness of the second portion.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-flammable non-linear elongatable carbonaceous fiber having a reversible deflection of greater than 1.2:1 and an aspect ratio of greater than 10:1 which may be formed into a resilient structure and the method of preparing said fiber.

Abstract: A flexible cable assembly for actuation of an automobile speedometer or the like, comprising an inner core member and a tubular casing that includes an outer housing and a spiral-cut tubular liner with multiple internal ribs. The liner is constructed by extruding a cylindrial tube with at least one internal longitudinally extending rib. The tube is then cut helically so as to offset circumferentially the rib segments on adjacent turns of the strip, providing multiple internal supports for the core member.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced resin coil spring impregnated with thermosetting resin which comprises a resin-impregnated and twisted rod-shaped fiber bundle formed by bundling a plurality of fiber wire blanks made of glass or carbon, immersing the fiber bundle and twisting the rod-shaped fiber bundle in a thermosetting resin, and forming coiled twisted rod-shaped fiber bundle from the resin-immersed and twisted rod-shaped fiber bundle. Thus, the resin coil spring incorporates large elastic energy and high load withstanding capability due to the twisting of the fiber bundle.

Abstract: A method of and means of winding close wound helical coils of a thermoplastic monofilament material is proposed wherein, in order to avoid secondary twist in the resultant coil, the coil, after having been wound and heat set under controlled conditions on a first part of a mandrel, is twisted in a direction tending to close the individual turns of the coil during the cooling thereof while passing along and/or from the end of a second part of the mandrel to a twist arresting means arranged in spaced apart disposition relative to such end.

Abstract: A method and tool for making tapered, layered plastic toothpicks from a solid plastic slab wherein a rapidly rotating tool having a single cutting edge configured to simultaneously cut and roll a thin film of plastic into a toothpick of the desired shape with each complete revolution is brought into contact with the plastic slab at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a self-coiling sheet. The apparatus includes a work station at which a relatively short section of a sheet of flexible material, e.g., crystalline polyethylene terephthalate, is folded upon the remainder of the sheet. The sheet is then advanced onto the carrier plate which, in turn, is mounted for movement toward and away from a gap defined by a pair of superposed pressure-applying rollers. The carrier plate is adapted to deposit the sheet between the rollers such that the folded section of the sheet is located in engagement with one of the rollers and the underlying portion of the sheet is in engagement with the other roller. The rollers are rotated in the same direction so as to drive the folded section of the sheet toward the carrier plate while simultaneously driving the remainder of the sheet in the opposite direction. This action results in the sheet being ejected from the gap of the rollers as a multi-layered generally cylindrical coil having a permanent set.

Abstract: A method of making a packing seal comprising compression molding a thermo-setting plastic in a spiral mold so that a partially-cured spiral seal is formed, removing the partially-cured seal from the mold, and winding it on a mandrel of a selected diameter, curing the spiral seal on the mandrel, and removing the seal from the mandrel, whereby the resulting seal is resilient and can be used to seal any part having a diameter within a given range, which range has the diameter of the mandrel as a median.

Abstract: A method for curling plastic filaments to produce simulated hair for doll wigs in which the curled plastic filaments are given a permanent set by a heat treatment, in a chamber with a combination of steam and electrical heat. By the use of this combination of heat, melting of the filaments on the mandrel during interruption of the method is avoided.

Abstract: Continuous method of manufacturing coil type slide fasteners by forming synthetic monofilaments into a pair of uncured fastener element coils. The fastener coils are then intermeshed in coupled relation and sewn onto the adjacent edges of a pair of uncured knit tapes. The coil, sewing thread and knit tapes are each composed of the same thermosetting resin. The fastener chain is advanced at uniform tension and velocity through a pressing stage and viscous dye bath containing a dispersion type thermosoling dye. The advancing chain is then vacuumed to provide uniform deposition of the dye on the tape and coil. The chain is then dried and led through a heating zone maintained at a temperature which simultaneously fixes the dyestuffs and cures or thermosets the coil and knit tapes. Thereafter, the moving chain is washed and calendered while being maintained under tension. The continuous zipper chain is then cut to length and supplied with a slider and end stops.

Abstract: A machine having two extruders operable to move hot plastic materials of different colors through passages of a die. The die has a merging chamber where the plastic materials from the two extruders are fused in side-by-side positions and an outlet opening through which the fused materials are discharged to form a two-colored ribbon product. A rotatable mandrel located in a water tank winds the ribbon product into a helical coil spring shape. A separator plate surrounding the mandrel guides the ribbon in a helical direction as the ribbon is wound around the mandrel. The ribbon product is cooled and set as it is wound around the mandrel.