Abstract: A synthetic grass assembly for installation on a supporting soil substrate includes a pile fabric with a flexible sheet backing and rows of upstanding synthetic ribbons representing grass blades, extending upwardly from an upper surface of the backing. An infill layer of two distinct graded courses of particulate material is disposed interstitially between the upstanding ribbons upon the upper surface of the backing and of a depth less than the length of the ribbons. A bottom course of intermixed hard sand and resilient rubber granules with substantially identical particle size distribution characteristics is installed upon the backing and a top course exclusively of resilient rubber granules is placed upon the bottom course.

Abstract: An artificial grass surface (10) suited for bordering a runway (12) of an airfield in order to reduce the presence of birds in the airfield. The artificial grass surface (10) includes a pile fabric (14) having a plurality of pile elements (20) extending from a backing mat (18) and resembling grass. A water barrier (24) is provided for preventing water from percolating to the compacted soil surface. An infilled particulate material (22) is dispersed among the pile elements (20). A stabilizer is provided to resist dislodgment of the infilled particulate material (22) at the edges of the runways by the thrust of jet engines and to keep the particulate material (22) in the pile elements (20) when the edges of the runways are vacuumed to remove silt.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for manufacturing resilient floor and wall tiles and the products obtained thereby. More particularly, the invention relates to resilient tiles which have been individually cut, routed and mechanically embossed on two adjacent edges to give the appearance that each individual tile has grout lines on two adjacent edges. When a series of these tiles are installed on a floor or wall, the seams between the individual tiles are less visible than when using resilient tiles of the prior art having grout lines on all edges of the tile. This is because the seams between the tiles of the present invention are not in the grout lines themselves but rather adjacent to the grout lines. This creates a more realistic appearance.

Abstract: A modular synthetic grass turf assembly includes a plurality of synthetic grass units which are transportable, adapted to be laid flat on a field and fit side by side to provide a flat and continuous synthetic grass surface for activities. Each unit includes a flexible base sheet preferably with drainage grooves and bores if it is for outdoor use. A synthetic grass turf with an infill layer of particulate materials disposed interstitially between synthetic grass fibers is superposed on the base sheet to provide a grass surface with a required quality, and be fixed thereto or simply retained in place by the weight of the infill. A number of units may have irregular shapes or can be painted with different colors to illustrate letters, marks or logos. The modular synthetic grass turf assembly is conveniently transported from a storage facility to a site.

Abstract: Safety improvements of airport runways and taxiways are achieved by providing a flexible, water-impermeable surfacing material on a compacted soil base directly adjacent to an edge of airstrip shoulders. A synthetic grass surface is provided on the area beyond the surfacing material so that foreign objects such as loose particles of the airstrip shoulder materials will be driven by jet blasts and run-off across the relatively smooth texture of the surfacing material and will be trapped by the synthetic grass, thereby minimizing foreign object damage to aircraft engines, particularly to those overhanging engines which extend well beyond the existing runway and taxiway shoulders.

Abstract: An airstrip shoulder-bordering surface arrangement for extending the width of existing runway and taxiway shoulders comprising a flexible water-impermeable surfacing material extending laterally of a side edge of an airstrip shoulder, an artificial grass surface adjacent the water-impermeable surfacing material, and an edge-fastening system for securing the surfacing material in position relative to the airstrip shoulder and prevent water migration therebetween, the surfacing material having a relatively smooth top surface.

Abstract: Selectivity embossed surface coverings are prepared by mechanically embossing a wear layer which overlays at least one printing ink containing a photoinitiator which has been printed in a pattern or design. The embossed wear layer is subjected to ultraviolet radiation which causes curing of the wear layer in the surface areas disposed over the printing ink. The product then is fused whereby the mechanical embossing in surface areas which are not disposed over the printing ink relaxes and becomes smooth. In a variant of the invention, a thermoplastic wear layer is employed which can be mechanically embossed in the surface areas which are not disposed over the printing ink with a texture different from the first applied mechanical embossing. In another variant, two different spectral regions of UV curing radiation are used so that a urethane coating can be employed as a top coat with a selectively embossed surface.

Abstract: Selectivity embossed surface coverings are prepared by mechanically embossing a wear layer which overlays at least one printing ink containing a photoinitiator which has been printed in a pattern or design. The embossed wear layer is subjected to ultraviolet light which causes curing of the wear layer in the surface areas disposed over the printing ink. The product then is fused whereby the mechanical embossing in surface areas which are not disposed over the printing ink relaxes and becomes smooth. In a variant of the invention, a thermoplastic wear layer is employed which can be mechanically embossed in the surface areas which are not disposed over the printing ink with a texture different from the first applied mechanical embossing.

Abstract: The specular gloss of a polyurethane wear layer of a surface covering is controlled by controlling the thermal conditions of a substrate before and after it is coated with a liquid polyurethane and by controlling the termal conditions of the liquid polyurethane before it is coated on the substrate. The liquid polyurethane is photo-curable or radiation-curable and it contains a matting agent. Changes in specular gloss are attained without changing the composition of the polyurethane or the conditions of photo-curing or radiation curing.

Abstract: A cardboard container which can be easily opened without tools and which, when opened, collapses and lies flat without further handling to permit ready access to the container contents and which facilitates the recycling or disposal of the container.

Abstract: A multipurpose woodworking machine for processing wood strips such as flooring and molding is comprised of a router unit positioned upstream of a series of sanding units. The router and sanding units are equipped with oscillating heads which allow the heads to follow the contours of the wood strips, thereby preventing trimming and/or sanding errors which may be caused by uneven wood strip surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to commercial and institutional inlaid floorcoverings having a uniform, unpatterned decorative appearance. Colored spheroidal particles having an aspect ratio no greater than about 2:1 are provided in a dense, uniform matrix layer to create the decorative appearance. Flame retardant and smoke suppressant compositions can be incorporated in the floorcoverings without detrimentally affecting their appearance.

Abstract: The invention provides decorative, inlaid sheet materials which incorporate a matrix layer of discrete, low aspect ratio particles embedded in a resinous coating. The use of printed patterns which are visible beneath the adhesive matrix containing the particles constitutes a characteristic of the invention. The sheet materials of this invention are real through-patterned inlaids which do not lose their pattern due to wear in use, and which offer unique design advantages and flexibility, as well as superior properties.

Abstract: The invention provides decorative, inlaid sheet materials which incorporate one or more selectively deposited matrix layers of discrete, low aspect ratio particles embedded in a resinous coating. The use of printed patterns which are visible beneath the adhesive matrix containing the particles constitutes one embodiment of the invention. The sheet materials of this invention are real through-patterned inlaids which do not lose their pattern due to wear in use, and which offer unique design advantages and flexibility, as well as superior properties.

Abstract: The invention provides decorative, inlaid sheet materials which incorporate a matrix layer of discrete, low aspect ratio particles embedded in a resinous coating. The use of printed patterns which are visible beneath the adhesive matrix containing the particles constitutes a characteristic of the invention. The sheet materials of this invention are real through-patterned inlaids which do not lose their pattern due to wear in use, and which offer unique design advantages and flexibility, as well as superior properties.

Abstract: Decorative sheet materials, particularly inlaid sheet vinyl floor coverings, are prepared with two or more printed layers provided that at least two of the printed layers are separated by an adhesive matrix layer which contains particles. The adhesive matrix layer and the printed layer or layers overlaying the adhesive matrix layer allow the underprinted layer to show through. The underprinted layer, therefore, is visible and the decorative sheet material has exceptional visual depth.

Abstract: The invention provides decorative, inlaid sheet materials which incorporate a matrix layer of discreet, low aspect ratio resinous particles embedded in a resinous coating. The use of printed patterns which are visible beneath the adhesive matrix containing the particles constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention. The sheet materials of this invention are real through-patterned inlaids which no not lose their pattern due to wear in use, and which offer unique design advantages and flexibility, as well as superior properties.

Abstract: A method is provided for adhering a shrink sheet floor covering to subflooring using a double-faced adhesive tape applied along the perimeter of the subflooring, as well as a composition therefor. The adhesive tape includes a substrate having on each side an adhesive layer. One of the adhesive layers is bonded to the subflooring, and the other adhesive layer is bonded to the shrink sheet floor covering. The adhesive layer bonded to the floor covering is tolerant to plasticizer migrating from such covering. Migration of plasticizer to the adhesive layer bonded to the subflooring is prevented by means of the adhesive tape substrate layer, which is substantially impermeable to plasticizer migration. The adhesive tape is applied only along the perimeter of the subflooring, allowing the shrink flooring material to shrink freely at all points within the perimeter after application to the subflooring.

Abstract: An underprinted inlaid sheet material having unique design effects comprising:(a) a substrate,(b) a first layer of a resinous polymer composition,(c) a pattern or design, printed on the surface of the first layer and having two or more distinguishably different colored, printed portions, and(d) a second layer of a resinous polymer composition, overlying the surface of the printed first layer, in contact therewith, and containing a plurality of variously colored transparent, transluscent and/or opaque particles, substantially, uniformly dispersed throughout said second layer.