The invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the hardness of a test piece supported in a predetermined position, by illuminating the test piece with an electromagnetic medium, receiving reflected medium in a television camera which provides a signal which varies in accordance with variations in intensity of the reflected medium, and electrically processing the signal to provide an output dependent upon the size of indentation which can be interpreted to determine the hardness o...

A continuous mailer type business form includes a top ply, a single or multiple part insert ply, and a return envelope. The return envelope comprises first and second plies secured along three edges, with a fourth edge open, and one of the first and second plies is adapted to be folded over the open edge to close it. The second ply comprises marginal areas of adhesive adjacent at least one edge with tear off perforations disposed within the marginal areas of adhesive. The marginal areas of adhes...

A pet areas mat for cleanliness where small animals eat, drink, are housed in a cage, or perform other functions, use of a litter box or litter pan. The mat is generally rectangular or oblong in shape and is constructed of a material that is absorbent on one side and laminated and non-absorbent on the reverse side, forming a moisture barrier. Stays are constructed on the mat by stitching, at various intervals, a binding to folds of the aforementioned material in a horizontal, vertical or concent...

An absorbent article such as a pantiliner provided with at least one ventilation area which allows the passage of vapor to provide cooling and drying effects so that the pantiliner is more comfortable to wear. The pantiliner is made up of a core, a relatively vapor pervious outer layer and a liquid impervious barrier layer interposed between the layer and the core. The barrier layer is essentially the same length as the pantiliner, but is a smaller transverse width in the end regions of the pant...

Call switch for use by hospital patients and staff members to summon aid in wet areas such as shower and bath areas. An actuating magnet is positioned on the front side of a waterproof panel for controlling the operation of electronic circuitry mounted in a dry area behind the panel. The magnet is carried by a slide for movement between rest and tripped positions, and a pull cord is connected to the slide by a breakaway member which permits the cord to separate from the slide when a patient beco...

A monitoring device (1) for spatial areas (2) includes emitters (3) that emit radiation pulses that are reflected by objects located within the spatial areas (2) toward receivers (4). The receivers (4) are connected to a run time determining unit (9) with whose aid a distance image of an object within the spatial areas (2) can be generated. A selection unit (10) evaluates the distance images and generates a detection signal at an output (11) when predetermined distance values occur in the distan...

A magnetic field can be detected by moving magnetized areas past a magnetoresistor, which responds to the changing magnetic field. The sensitivity to magnetic fields is limited by the width of the magnetoresistors used. To optimize the sensitivity, two spaced-apart ferromagnetic pole pieces (6, 7) are so disposed between the magnetoresistor and the magnetized areas that their ends (8, 9) at the magnetoresistor (4) form a first gap (10) having a width (11) on the order of the width (12) of the ma...

Conduits having the electric wiring for supplying power to lighting fixtures in an area classified as hazardous by reason of the presence of potentially explosive dust, vapor or gas have unobstructed interior passages for conveying nonexplosive gas under pressure from outside the hazardous area to each fixture. The pressure of gas in the conduit network can be monitored automatically and control mechanism can be provided to shut off the supply of electric power to the fixtures if the pressure fa...

The apparatus includes a device adapted for removing contaminated air from a controlled area, cleansing this air using suitable filtration devices, and returning air having a safe level of contaminants mixed with a portion of fresh air or solely fresh air to the controlled area. The apparatus further includes barrier means for preventing contaminants from exiting the controlled area except through the air removal device which can be located either inside or outside of the controlled area.

A safety communications system for personel employed in hazardous areas is responsive to motion sensing, as well as to worker initiated check-in signals, for registering an alarm at a central station after an absence of input for a predetermined time period. Confirmation of check-in and emergency transmission is also provided to the worker as assurance of system operation and to provide a local alarm to guide rescue efforts.