Abstract: This invention is based upon the concept of modifying the surface of silica with a metal, such as titanium or zirconium, which will catalyze silanol condensation reactions on the surface of the silica. The utilization of such metalated silica as a filler in rubber compositions results in improved polymer filler interaction and in turn improved physical properties. For instance, such surface metalated siliceous fillers can be used in tire tread compounds to attain improved rolling resistance and treadwear without compromising traction characteristics. The present invention more specifically discloses a tire having a tread comprising (1) a rubbery polymer, (2) a silica coupling agent, and (3) a surface metalated siliceous filler.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a treadmill belt with foamed cushion layer and method of making same. In one embodiment, the treadmill belt includes a fabric base layer and a foamed cushion layer foamed on and integral with the fabric base layer. The foamed cushion layer includes a thermoplastic composition and has a Shore A hardness of about 20 to about 80. In one example, the first foamed cushion layer is from about 0.05 inches to about 0.35 inches thick. The thermoplastic composition, prior to being foamed, includes about 1 part to about 5 parts of a foaming agent, e.g., a chemical foaming agent, based on 100 parts thermoplastic material, e.g., polyvinyl chloride. An outer wear layer is securely adhered on the foamed cushion layer to sandwich the foamed cushion layer between the fabric base layer and outer wear layer thereby defining the treadmill belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to functionalizing agents that are particularly useful for functionalizing living rubbery polymers to make the polymer more compatible with fillers, such as carbon black and silica. These functionalizing agents are comprised of a boron containing compound having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups and aryl groups, wherein R1, R2, and R3 can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, and aryl groups, and wherein R4 represents an alkylene group or a bridging aromatic group.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing high molecular weight (HMW) and ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) acrylic polymers having unique polymer tacticity and exhibiting enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. This process comprises polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of a free radical initiator that results in a “living-like polymer” utilizing a multi-step approach. In conducting the process of this invention the “living-like polymer” is further dissolved in a liquid carrier, wherein the said liquid carrier is a reactive diluent that can be reacted subsequently by an addition polymerization process to create a block- or multi-block, copolymer or homopolymer. This process can be progressively repeated with the same or various different reactive diluents to generate desired architecture and molecular weight polymer(s) which can be used in further processing procedures to be manufactured directly into finished articles.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a facer which is comprised of a breathable film and a glass mat, wherein the breathable film and the glass mat are bonded together with an adhesive, wherein the breathable film is comprised of a breathable polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, nylons, polyesters, and thermoplastic elastomers, and wherein the facer is water resistant. The facers of this invention can be employed in manufacturing construction board, such as polyisocyanurate boards, polystyrene boards, or gypsum boards.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a power sprayer that offers flexibility of movement because it can be battery operated and is designed to eliminate the need for cleaning its spray nozzle after being used. Paint colors can be changed quickly by simply changing the media cartridges that are adapted for simple attachment to the sprayer. These media cartridges also eliminate the inconvenience associated with refilling conventional power sprayers with a desired media. The present invention more specifically discloses a sprayer media cartridge system comprising: (a) a media container, (b) a self-cleaning nozzle, (c) a media shut-off means, (d) a primary media atomizing aperture in a configuration relative to the self-cleaning nozzle, (e) a movable media containment member within the media container, (f) a gas transfer interface, and (g) a power unit engagement means.

Abstract: It has been unexpectedly found that the solvent extracted aromatic cut of heavy vacuum gas oil can be oxidized to produce an adhesive composition that has all the needed attributes of a self seal adhesive for asphalt roofing shingles. This self seal adhesive composition offers numerous benefits and advantages over conventional self seal adhesives for roofing applications. For instance, it does not require any volatile organic solvents and is accordingly environmentally friendly. Additionally, it does not contain any asphalt or polymers and will not phase separate and accordingly offers excellent long term stability.

Abstract: Electron beam curable resins or ultraviolet light curable resins can be used in combination with filler and other additives to make coated facers that can be used on insulation boards. Also disclosed are facers made of such composition, the process for making said facers and their use in insulation, building and construction boards. More specifically a flexible facer can be made by a process that comprises (1) applying a monomeric composition to a fiber mat, wherein the fiber mat is a non-asphaltic, non-cellulosic fiber mat, and wherein the monomeric composition is comprised of at least one monomer and/or at least one oligomer, and a filler, (2) initiating polymerization of the monomer within the monomeric composition by exposing the monomeric composition to ultraviolet light or an electron beam, and (3) allowing the monomer to polymerized to produce the flexible facer.

Abstract: A monitoring system is provided for a moving conveyor belt having a plurality of embedded reinforcing cords and identification tags. A tag reader detects and identifies the identification tags passing by the tag reader while a belt monitor scans the cords to detect a plurality of magnetic reference points and a damage event of at least one cord. A control unit in communication with the belt monitor and the tag reader analyzes the belt monitor to identify the plurality of magnetic reference points and the damage event. The control unit also acquires a belt location on the moving conveyor belt from a belt map based on the detected and identified identification tag and a magnetic reference point from the plurality of magnetic reference points. When a damage event is identified, a location of the damage event is determined by the control unit based on the acquired belt location.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved head restraint that can be used in conjunction with conventional cattle chutes that are equipped with head gates. It provides the advantages of being humane by causing little or no discomfort to the cattle being restrained. Cattle being treated also tends to remain calm while being restrained utilizing the device of this invention. It offers much easier and faster means for providing care to positions on the head of the animal. Its implementation can accordingly lead to reduction in human labor requirements associated with treating a herd of cattle and generally leads to savings in medication by virtue of being able to more accurately apply eye drops, ointments, or powdered medications to the eyes of a cow having a very stabilized head as compared to loss of medication when dealing with a struggling animal that is jerking its head around during the procedure.

Abstract: A composition and method for treating an aramid cord include a bisphenol-A-based- and/or a bisphenol-F-based-liquid epoxy resin, a reactive diluent, and a curing agent. The composition and method also may include an elastomer-modified epoxy-functional adduct and/or an elastomer-modified epoxy-resin adduct.

Abstract: A fabric or cord is treated with an elastomeric compound comprises 20-80 parts per hundred cross-linkable materials of liquid elastomer. The liquid elastomer has a complex dynamic viscosity less than 5 McP (5,000 N*s/m2) at a temperature between 20° C. and the maximum flow temperature TF, and the elastomeric compound the elastomeric material, prior to cure, has a complex dynamic viscosity of less than 5 McP (5,000 N*s/m2) for at least 2 minutes at a maximum flow temperature TF. The coated fabric and cord materials are useful as facing fabrics for power transmission products.

Abstract: A reinforced conveyor belt has a plurality of fabric plies. One of the plies is an interwoven ply comprised of two layers of weft cords and a plurality of warp cords interweaving through the two layers of weft cords. Each warp cord has the following repeating weave pattern of passing over at least two but not more than five weft cords in the first weft layers, passing between the two weft layers for a distance of at least two weft cords, and passing under at least two but nor more than five weft cords in the second weft layer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an emulsion polymerization process that comprises: (1) preparing an aqueous polymerization medium which is comprised of (a) at least one monomer, (b) a polymerization control agent, and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier is prepared in-situ within the aqueous polymerization medium; and (2) initiating polymerization of said monomer within the aqueous polymerization medium.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake hose assembly has a core hose layer, a first reinforcing layer over the core hose layer, an intermediate hose layer, a second reinforcing layer over the intermediate hose layer, and an outer hose layer over the second reinforcing layer. The first reinforcing layer has a braid pattern formed in a 4-over, 4-under pattern, and the second reinforcing layer has a braid pattern formed in a 3-over, 3-under pattern.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to cleaning products that are highly effective in cleaning articles that are susceptible to scratching, scuffing and/or abrasion. More specifically, the present invention relates to cleaning products that are made with a non-abrasive fabric that is comprised of a multitude of non-woven polyester fibers which are bound together with an ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymer binder into the form of a sheet. These cleaning products are highly effective at removing foreign matter from a substrate surface without scratching or scuffing the surface of the substrate. These cleaning products can be use to clean inanimate articles and in cleaning open lesions on humans and animals.

Abstract: A belt has a compression section, a tension section, and a load carrying section disposed between the compression section and the tension section. The belt has an elastomeric/thermoplastic material, the elastomeric/thermoplastic material has 50 to 90 parts per hundred of an elastomer and 10 to 50 parts per hundred thermoplastic.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a child safety seat comprising: (a) a supporting base structure adapted to be secured to a vehicle seat; (b) a child seating surface wherein the seating surface comprises a seat bottom and a seat back, and wherein the seat back has disposed therein at least one pair of laterally spaced shoulder belt restraints; (c) a child harness wherein the harness comprises a pair of shoulder belts running from the restraints in the seat back to a seat bottom locking tongue, each shoulder belt having a restraint engaging means affixed to an extreme end of the belt for insertion into the laterally spaced pair of restraints in the seat back, and a buckle affixed to the front center portion of the seat bottom for receiving the seat bottom locking tongue; and (d) an emergency means of disengaging at least one of shoulder belts from at least one of the restraints in the back of the seat, the disengaging means being actuated from the rear face or side of the seat.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a treadmill belt with foamed cushion layer and method of making same. In one embodiment, the treadmill belt includes a fabric base layer and a foamed cushion layer foamed on and integral with the fabric base layer. The foamed cushion layer includes a thermoplastic composition and has a Shore A hardness of about 20 to about 80. In one example, the first foamed cushion layer is from about 0.05 inches to about 0.35 inches thick. The thermoplastic composition, prior to being foamed, includes about 1 part to about 5 parts of a foaming agent, e.g., a chemical foaming agent, based on 100 parts thermoplastic material, e.g., polyvinyl chloride. An outer wear layer is securely adhered on the foamed cushion layer to sandwich the foamed cushion layer between the fabric base layer and outer wear layer thereby defining the treadmill belt.