Abstract: It is sometimes desirable to apply and hold medication, ice or warming medium against the chest wall of an animal (i.e. an ice pack). Due of the anatomy of animals, this is difficult to do remotely without holding the medium against the chest wall with a hand or adhesive tape. My invention provides a way to attach a pouch or pack to the device and then, when the device is correctly placed over the animal's head and secured at the girth, firmly, but gently holds the medium in the targeted place on the chest wall of the animal.

Abstract: These interface pads with proportional valves have at least one inflatable member having a foam core with a cell structure that absorbs atmospheric air. The transmission of air into the foam core is controlled by a valve in said opening. Fasteners are used to affix this inflatable member in a location where it can serve as an interface pad between a living creature and another object. The valve used is a proportional valve adjustable to different pressure settings, where the different pressure settings allow air to escape from the valve until the set pressure is reached. In one preferred embodiment, there are two inflatable members adapted for placement adjacent the upper sides of a load-bearing animal. An important subcategory of this embodiment covers bareback riding pads, including bareback riding pads for use by handicapped persons. In other embodiments, at least one inflatable member is adapted to pad an interface between a human and an object.

Abstract: These interface pads have a right and a left inflatable member with the volume of air in each of these inflatable members being independently adjustable. Each member is adapted to provide an interface between one side of a load-bearing animal and a load-supporting structure such as a saddle. Connecting means span the spinal area of the animal and link the members to one another in a manner that avoids the placement of any substantial compression on the animal's supraspinous ligament. Moreover, a gullet channel is maintained so as to allow appropriate ventilation in this area. The inflatable members are constructed of a foam core wholly surrounded by and bonded to a pair of thin skins or panels, forming a fluid tight envelope. A valve is disposed between the chamber formed by the envelope and the ambient environment. After allowing inflation of an air pad of this type and placing a load (such as the saddle and/or rider) thereon, the valve can be opened.

Abstract: Mixtures of bitumen and thermoplastic polymer stable to storage are prepared by a process comprising:(i) mixing a bituminous product having a content of total asphaltenes, resins, saturated and aromatic products which satisfies the condition that the I.sub.c value is between 0.200 and 0.270 in the expression:I.sub.c =(C7+C5+S)/(A+R)with a thermoplastic polymer, the reaction being carried out at a temperature of between 160.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. and for a time of between 15 and 120 minutes and(ii) diluting the bituminous composition obtained in (i) with a bitumen or bituminous component having an I.sub.c defined as specified above in (i) of between 0.270 and 0.700 in such a quantity that the final concentration of the polymer is between 2.5 and 15% by weight, and heating to a temperature of between 160.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. for a time of between 30 and 90 minutes.

Abstract: To provide processes suitable for industrial production by which high-purity N-(long-chain acyl)amino acid and salt thereof can be prepared from inexpensive raw materials.An alkyl ester of a fatty acid (2) is reacted with an aminonitrile (3) in the presence of a basic catalyst to form an amidonitrile (1), the amidonitrile (1) is hydrolyzed into an N-(long-chain acyl)amino acid salt (4) in the presence of a basic substance, the pH of the resulting aqueous solution is adjusted to a pH from 1 to 5 with a mineral acid to form an N-(long-chain acyl)amino acid (5), and this amino acid is recovered. ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 CO-- represents a fatty acid residue having 8 to 22 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R.sup.3 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R.sup.4 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and M represents a monovalent cation.