Abstract: A method for providing cured coating films free of popping defects. The method requires the application to a substrate of at least 2.0 mils/50.8 microns of a uncured curable coating composition comprising an anti-popping component (a), a film-forming component (b), and a crosslinking component (c), wherein anti-popping component (a) has from 12 to 72 carbon atoms, is substantially free of any heteroatoms, is not a crystalline solid at room temperature and comprises a mixture of two or more structures selected from the group consisting of aliphatic structures for anti-popping component (a), aromatic-containing structures for anti-popping component (a), cycloaliphatic-containing structures for anti-popping component (a), and mixtures thereof, at least one of the two or more structures being a cycloaliphatic-containing structure or an aromatic-containing structure. The coated uncured substrate is cured to provide a cured film free of popping defects with an average film build of at least 2.0 mils/50.8 microns.

Abstract: The invention provides curable waterborne coating compositions comprising an aqueous dispersion (A) comprising an organic binder component (A1) comprising at least 5% by weight of a reactive component (a), based on the total weight of organic binder component (A1), and at least one crosslinking component (B). The reactive component (a) is substantially free of any heteratoms and is a not a crystalline solid at room temperature and comprises from (i) 12 to 72 carbon atoms, and (ii) at least two functional groups.

Abstract: Powder coating composition for automotive exterior coatings with improved compatibility with other coatings and improved resistance to yellowing include a polyepoxide material and an acid-functional crosslinker that is a reaction product of 1,3,5-tris(2-hdyroxyethyl)isocyanurate and a cyclic anhydride.

Abstract: The invention provides water-soluble, &bgr;-hydroxy carbamate-functional materials and coating compositions, especially waterborne coating compositions, containing the carbamate-functional materials. The invention further provide a coating prepared from the coating composition and a coated substrate, especially an automotive substrate, having the coating thereon.

Abstract: A carbamate-functional compound having a structure in which each of R1, R2, and R3 is carbamate-functional is water soluble. Coating compositions, especially waterborne coating compositions, include the carbamate-functional compound and one or more crosslinkers. The invention further provide a coating prepared from the coating composition and a coated substrate, especially an automotive substrate, having the coating thereon.

Abstract: The invention provides an aqueous coating composition containing a dispersed, emulsified, or dissolved material (organic compound, resin, or polymer), in which the material is dispersed, emulsified, or dissolved with a water-soluble, carbamate-functional material. The invention further provides a coating prepared from the coating composition and a coated substrate, especially an automotive substrate, having the coating thereon.

Abstract: An upholstered folding chair includes a chair frame, a base member permanently attached to the frame, and an upholstered insert configured to slide into and removably interlock with either the base member or the chair frame. The base member includes a retaining rim, which covers and protects at least some of the edges of the upholstered insert, and the base member and upholstered insert may have interlocking members which become hidden between the base and insert when the two are interlocked together. The base can be either a back base for receiving and supporting an upholstered chair back insert, or a seat base for receiving and supporting an upholstered chair seat insert.

Abstract: The invention concerns the establishment of the rate of transmission of data between two network stations by means of auto-negotiation. The execution of an auto-negotiation sequence by a state machine is counted and if the number of executions of the sequence exceeds a threshold, the auto-negotiation sequence is modified to establish a data rate lower than a previously negotiated rate. A particular example is described for use in accordance with IEEE standard 802.3. In a specific example, monitoring of the execution of the auto-negotiation sequence comprises counting the occurrences of a ‘page received’ bit in an auto-negotiation expansion register.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a support leg hingedly attached to a support surface. The locking mechanism includes a base, attached to the support surface, with a plurality of angularly spaced, radial teeth, and a coupler, attached to the support leg, having a plurality of angularly spaced, radial teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the base. A selectively releasable engagement mechanism is configured to engage and disengage the teeth of the base with the teeth of the coupler, to allow selective rotation of the support leg between an extended position and a folded position, and to lock the leg in the extended or folded position.

Abstract: A packet memory system including a memory space having a multiplicity of addressable memory locations for the storage of data packets, pointer control means for generating a write pointer which progressively defines where data is to be written to the memory space and a read pointer which progressively defines where data is to be read from the memory space and an ageing clock which defines a succession of intervals. The pointer control means generates a ‘current’ pointer and a ‘discard’ pointer and for each interval is operative to cause the ‘current’ pointer to correspond to an immediately previous value of the write pointer and to cause the discard pointer to correspond to an immediately previous value of the said current pointer. In this manner the portion of the memory space between the ‘discard’ pointer and the read pointer denotes data which has been in said memory space for at least two of said intervals.

Abstract: A stackable network unit comprises a ‘down’ port and an ‘up’ port, an arbitration path for data packets from the down port to the up port, a repeat path for data packets from the up port to the down port, a link detector for detecting tile absence of another operative unit connected to the down port to cause data packets on the return pat to bypass the down port and proceed on the arbitration path and for detecting the absence of another operative unit connected to the up port to cause data packets on the arbitration path to bypass the up port and proceed on the repeat path.

Abstract: An upholstered folding chair includes a chair frame, a base member permanently attached to the frame, and an upholstered insert configured to slide into and removably interlock with either the base member or the chair frame. The base member includes a retaining rim, which covers and protects at least some of the edges of the upholstered insert, and the base member and upholstered insert may have interlocking members which become hidden between the base and insert when the two are interlocked together. The base can be either a back base for receiving and supporting an upholstered chair back insert, or a seat base for receiving and supporting an upholstered chair seat insert.

Abstract: Network units such as switches for use in a cascaded stack are organised to provide a cascade connection in the form of a dual unidirectional connection so that, in its ordinary configuration, there is at least one and preferably more than one unidirectional ring for each direction around the cascade, each ring including a respective port on each unit. For each ring, each port on a unit is connected by a respective link to a corresponding port on the preceding unit and the following unit. The units provide a self-healing operation in the event of various kinds of operational failure. The self-healing operation includes loop-back of packets in units adjacent the failure and bypass of a packet switching process for other units. The units include control logic for passing control frames containing status information relating to the units and links between them and for co-operation with a CPU to control a switching engine to perform the self-healing operation in accordance with that status information.

Abstract: A carbamate-functional compound having a structure 1

Abstract: A basecoat composition includes an acrylic polymer prepared from a combination of monomers including at least about 30% by weight ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, or a combination of these. The basecoat composition may also include a combination of methylated melamine resin and butylated melamine resin. An at least partially cured layer of the basecoat composition offers improved adhesion with a coating composition layer applied over it and cured, whether the coating composition layer applied over it is another layer of the basecoat composition itself or a layer of a clearcoat composition.

Abstract: A data connection between two network stations such as an Ethernet hub and an end station which are both capable of exchanging data at the higher of two rates, the higher rate being selected by an auto-negotiation process, is monitored for the occurrence of error represented by a symbol representing the start of a data packet immediately followed by an idle symbol. The rate of occurrence of such errors is compared against a threshold and the speed of the data connection is downgraded to the lower rate.

Abstract: The curable coating compositions of the invention comprise a particulate component having at least one binder component (a) which is a solid at 75° F./24° C., and an additive component (b). The curable coating compositions further comprise a crosslinking component (c) reactive with the at least one binder component (a). Additive component (b) has from 12 to 72 carbon atoms, is substantially free of any heteroatoms, is not a crystalline solid at 75° F./24° C. and comprises a mixture of two or more structures selected from the group consisting of aliphatic structures for additive component (b), aromatic-containing structures for additive component (b), cycloaliphatic-containing structures for additive component (b), and mixtures thereof, wherein at least one of the two or more structures is either a cycloaliphatic-containing structure or an aromatic-containing structure.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a support leg hingedly attached to a support surface. The locking mechanism includes a base, attached to the support surface, with a plurality of angularly spaced, radial teeth, and a coupler, attached to the support leg, having a plurality of angularly spaced, radial teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the base.

Abstract: A network device which is arranged to transmit a specific identification such as the device's MAC address in Next Pages of auto-negotiation and to determine a link status to be ‘down’ if ‘Next Pages’ containing that address are received by the same port The invention avoids the use of signal detect pins for fiber optic links