Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate the creation and harvesting of algae using tufted products. One exemplary tufted product comprises a substrate and tufts tufted through the substrate. The use of a tufted product provides various advantages with respect to the creation and harvesting of algae. Among other things, such products can be configured to improve the amount of algal-growing surface area provided and other growing environment characteristics and to facilitate the harvesting of the algae from the tufted product by facilitating the release of all or most of the algae from attachment to the tufted product.

Abstract: Methods of cutting and installing carpet tiles in, among other applications, mass transit vehicles, particularly including aircraft. In some embodiments, the tile lengths in an installation are the same and the tile widths are customized to a particular section of the aircraft or other vehicle in which they are installed.

Abstract: Rectangular carpet modules or “planks” and installation of such planks having the continuous appearance of broadloom carpet or a wide variety of other effective, human scale designs. “Planks” sized approximately ¼ meter (25 cm) by 1 meter (100 cm) (or approximately 9 inches by 36 inches) are particularly effective.

Abstract: Low weight and non-square carpet tile suitable for use in mass transit vehicles, particularly passenger aircraft. The carpet tile preferably weighs less than about 82 ounces per square yard. The carpet tile of this invention may have a carpet pile and at least one backing layer. The backing layer may use a low weight filler material. The carpet tiles satisfy transportation industry standards for flame, smoke and toxicity. Tiles may be sized during manufacture and installed in configurations that minimize the number of tile sizes needed and minimize the need for cutting tiles during installation. The patterns used for such tiles may be orthogonally ambiguous or otherwise suitable for “random” installation. In other embodiments, a passenger aircraft cabin includes a floor having rectangular carpet tiles installed thereon, and the carpeting can be installed in the aircraft without removing seats from the aircraft.

Abstract: Design and manufacture of tufted articles, carpet tile webs and carpet tiles, and installation of carpet tiles, having different color, pile height, pile texture or other characteristics that, together with similar other such tiles, may be installed to create borders, edges or other multiple-tile designs, usually without any of the tiles looking out of place or improperly oriented relative to nap or the direction the tile is “facing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing damaging oxidation of metals. In particular, the present invention relates to nanoparticle surface treatments and use of nanoparticle surface treatments to reduce the damaging oxidation and corrosion of stainless steel and other alloy components in oxidating and corrosive conditions.

Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the underlying floor surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide carpet tile patterns and techniques for making carpet tile patterns that provide diversity of color, texture, and/or other pattern attributes. In some embodiments, a color attribute changes along a dimension of a web from which the carpet tiles are cut. In other embodiments, a yarn pile height changes along a dimension of a web from which the carpet tiles are cut. In some embodiments, carpet tiles mimic in some respects the appearance of wood flooring having natural variations in the appearance of the wood elements.

Abstract: Certain embodiments utilize carpet tiles of varying sizes and/or shapes that are connected together using connectors to form a carpet tile installation. In some instances, the carpet tiles used in the carpet tile installation have different colors, patterns, shapes, and/or styles. In some embodiments, carpet tiles of a standard size and shape, such as one-half square meter carpet tiles, are partitioned into carpet tile fractions. In certain embodiments, these carpet tile fractions are used in conjunction with larger carpet tiles in a carpet tile installation. In other embodiments, these carpet tile fractions may be connected to other carpet tile fractions to form a combination carpet tile that is then used in a carpet tile installation. Among other things, the use of different sized and/or shaped carpet tiles increases the randomness or diversity and/or improves other aspects of the appearance of the floor coverings formed by the carpet tile installations.

Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. Embodiments of the connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. The connectors can have a conductive component that allows electrical continuity to be maintained between adjacent tiles. In yet another embodiment, the connectors can be equipped as radio frequency identification tags by including radio frequency transponders. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. One or more tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges.

Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface.

Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the underlying floor surface.

Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface.

Abstract: Methods of tufting a pattern in a backing material using a plurality of different yarns A, B, . . . n that are threaded in the needles of a needle bar in a non-repeating sequence or pattern of yarn sets across the width of the needle bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing damaging oxidation of metals. In particular, the present invention relates to nanoparticle surface treatments and use of nanoparticle surface treatments to reduce the damaging oxidation and corrosion of stainless steel and other alloy components in oxidating and corrosive conditions.

Abstract: A load cell structure for receiving strain gages to monitor applied torsional forces wherein the opposing force-receiving ends have a plurality of sensing beams spaced about an axis of rotation. Limit posts located between the ends each have a discontinuity therein that includes a U-shaped gap to limit relative rotation about the axis and thereby providing overload protection.

Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. Embodiments of the connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. The connectors can have a conductive component that allows electrical continuity to be maintained between adjacent tiles. In yet another embodiment, the connectors can be equipped as radio frequency identification tags by including radio frequency transponders. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. One or more tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing damaging oxidation of metals. In particular, the present invention relates to nanoparticle surface treatments and use of nanoparticle surface treatments to reduce the damaging oxidation and corrosion of stainless steel and other alloy components in oxidating and corrosive conditions.

Abstract: A load cell structure for receiving strain gages to monitor applied torsional forces wherein the opposing force-receiving ends have a plurality of sensing beams spaced about an axis of rotation. Limit posts located between the ends each have a discontinuity therein that includes a U-shaped gap to limit relative rotation about the axis and thereby providing overload protection.

Abstract: Low weight and non-square carpet tile suitable for use in mass transit vehicles, particularly passenger aircraft. The carpet tile preferably weighs less than about 82 ounces per square yard. The carpet tile of this invention may have a carpet pile and at least one backing layer. The backing layer may use low weight filler material. Secondary backing plastic material may be compressed into the tile structure with pressure rollers or other pressure applying process on an improved tile production line.