Abstract: Disclosed are fibers comprising one or more branded fibers which exhibit surface markings in a repeated pattern along the length of the branded fibers. The branded fibers can be incorporated into yarns or fiber bands to represent supply chain information of the yarns, fiber bands, and/or articles made from the yards or fiber bands. In a specific example, branded fibers can be incorporated into an acetate tow band The branded fibers can be recovered from a cigarette filter, the repeated pattern decoded, and supply chain information associated with the acetate tow used to make the cigarette filter, such as manufacturer, customer, ship to location, and even the acetate tow bale, can be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed are fibers comprising one or more branded fibers which exhibit surface markings in a repeated pattern along the length of the branded fibers. The branded fibers can be incorporated into yarns or fiber bands to represent supply chain information of the yarns, fiber bands, and/or articles made from the yards or fiber bands. In a specific example, branded fibers can be incorporated into an acetate tow band. The branded fibers can be recovered from a cigarette filter, the repeated pattern decoded, and supply chain information associated with the acetate tow used to make the cigarette filter, such as manufacturer, customer, ship to location, and even the acetate tow bale, can be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of characterizing a fiber sample comprising standard fibers and identification fibers which can be used for tracking and tracing fibers through at least part of the supply chain. Each identification fiber exhibits at least one distinct feature. Each group of distinguishable identification fibers can exhibit a taggant cross-section shape, a taggant cross-section size, or combination of the same taggant cross-section shape and same taggant cross-section size. The distinct features and the number of fibers in each group of distinguishable identification fibers can represent at least one supply chain component of the fibers. The fiber sample can include a portion of an acetate tow band or a filter made from the acetate tow band, and the supply chain information can include the manufacturer of the acetate tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.

Abstract: Disclosed are fibers which contain identification fibers. The identification fibers can comprise one or more chemical markers, or taggants, which may vary among the fibers or be incorporated throughout all of the fibers. The disclosure also relates to the method for making and characterizing the fibers. Characterization of the fibers can include identifying chemical markers and correlating the chemical markers and a taggant chemical marker amounts of at least one of the chemical markers to manufacturer-specific taggants to determine supply chain information. The supply chain information can be used to track the fibers from manufacturing through intermediaries, conversion to final product, and/or the consumer.

Abstract: Disclosed are fibers comprising identification fibers which can be used for tracking and tracing fibers, yarns, fiber bands, and/or articles comprising the fibers through at least part of the supply chain. Each identification fiber exhibits at least one distinct feature. Each group of distinguishable identification fibers can exhibit a taggant cross-section shape, a taggant cross-section size, or combination of the same taggant cross-section shape and same taggant cross-section size. The distinct features and the number of fibers in each group of distinguishable identification fibers can represent at least one supply chain component of the fibers. The distinct features can be detectable in an article comprising the fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of characterizing a fiber sample comprising standard fibers and identification fibers which can be used for tracking and tracing fibers through at least part of the supply chain. Each identification fiber exhibits at least one distinct feature. Each group of distinguishable identification fibers can exhibit a taggant cross-section shape, a taggant cross-section size, or combination of the same taggant cross-section shape and same taggant cross-section size. The distinct features and the number of fibers in each group of distinguishable identification fibers can represent at least one supply chain component of the fibers. The fiber sample can include a portion of an acetate tow band or a filter made from the acetate tow band, and the supply chain information can include the manufacturer of the acetate tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.

Abstract: Disclosed are fibers which contain identification fibers. The identification fibers can contain a one or more of chemical markers and one or more distinct features, or taggants, which may vary among the fibers or be incorporated throughout all of the fibers. The chemical markers and distinct features can be representative of specific supply chain information. The supply chain information can be used to track the fibers from manufacturing through intermediaries, conversion to final product, and/or the consumer. The disclosed embodiments also relate to the method for making and characterizing the fibers. Characterization of the fibers can include identifying chemical markers and distinct features and correlating the chemical markers and distinct features to manufacturer-specific taggants to determine supply chain information.

Abstract: Disclosed are fibers comprising one or more branded fibers which exhibit surface markings in a repeated pattern along the length of the branded fibers. The branded fibers can be incorporated into yarns or fiber bands to represent supply chain information of the yarns, fiber bands, and/or articles made from the yards or fiber bands. In a specific example, branded fibers can be incorporated into an acetate tow band. The branded fibers can be recovered from a cigarette filter, the repeated pattern decoded, and supply chain information associated with the acetate tow used to make the cigarette filter, such as manufacturer, customer, ship to location, and even the acetate tow bale, can be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed are fibers which contains identification fibers. The identification fibers can contain a plurality of distinct features, or taggants, which vary among the fibers and/or along the length of the identification fibers, a fiber band, or yarn. The disclosed embodiments also relate to the method for making and characterizing the fibers. Characterization of the fibers can include identifying distinct features, combinations of distinct features, and number of fibers with various combinations of distinct features and correlating the distinct features to supply chain information. The supply chain information can be used to track the fibers, fiber band, or yarn from manufacturing through intermediaries, conversion to final product, and/or the consumer.

Abstract: A method of real time field wide reservoir management comprising the steps of processing collected field wide reservoir data in accordance with one or more predetermined algorithms to obtain a resultant desired field wide production/injection forecast, generating a signal to one or more individual well control devices instructing the device to increase or decrease flow through the well control device, transmitting the signal to the individual well control device, opening or closing the well control device in response to the signal to increase or decrease the production for one or more selected wells on a real time basis. The system for field wide reservoir management comprising a CPU for processing collected field wide reservoir data, generating a resultant desired field wide production/injection forecast and calculating a target production rate for one or more wells and one or more down hole production/injection control devices.

Abstract: A case for a mask includes a first panel secured to a second panel to form a pouch into which the mask may be inserted and removed. The second panel may include a pair of overlapping panel sections defining an opening for insertion of the mask. Apertures on either side of the case accommodate passage of a strap attached to the mask. Alternatively, straps may be permanently secured to the case. Closure elements on either side of the opening maintain the case in a closed position. The case may be positioned behind the user's head when the mask is being used, cushioning the strap, and may be inverted into a storage configuration to cover at least the mask lens. The closure elements are oriented in mutually facing relation in both configurations to maintain the case closed. Panels of the case may be made of floatable synthetic materials or may include light-weight or net materials to promote drying of the case and mask following use.

Abstract: A case for a mask includes a first panel secured to a second panel to form a pouch into which the mask may be inserted and removed. The second panel may include a pair of overlapping panel sections defining an opening for insertion of the mask. Apertures on either side of the case accommodate passage of a strap attached to the mask. Alternatively, straps may be permanently secured to the case. Closure elements on either side of the opening maintain the case in a closed position. The case may be positioned behind the user's head when the mask is being used, cushioning the strap, and may be inverted into a storage configuration to cover at least the mask lens. The closure elements are oriented in mutually facing relation in both configurations to maintain the case closed. Panels of the case may be made of floatable synthetic materials or may include light-weight or net materials to promote drying of the case and mask following use.

Abstract: A convertible protective case for instruments such as binoculars, cameras and the like is comprises a flexible pouch slidingly received on a strap secured to the instrument. The pouch has a lower central opening for insertion and removal of the instrument, and side apertures through which the strap passes. The case is made of a single piece and ply of fabric or composite material folded and joined to define the pouch. Positive closure elements are provided adjacent to the central opening. A biasing fold is formed between an upper fold and the central opening to urge the pouch into a folded or stored configuration wherein it serves as a strap pad worn behind a user's neck. For conversion into its protective configuration, the pouch is unfolded, slid toward the instrument and inverted over the instrument. The closure elements are placed in mutually facing relation both in the folded and stored configuration and in the opened, protective configuration.

Abstract: A protective device for being removably attached to a pair of eyeglasses includes a pouch into which the eyeglasses can be inserted, without removal of the attachment elements. The pouch is inverted between a retainer configuration wherein the eyeglasses are held to the head of a user and a cover configuration wherein the eyeglasses are lodged within the pouch. A positive closure permits the pouch to be closed in both the retainer and cover configurations and opened for insertion and removal of the eyeglasses.

Abstract: A protective device for being removably attached to a pair of eyeglasses includes a pouch into which the eyeglasses can be inserted, without removal of the attachment elements. The pouch may be constructed with a drawstring closure, a snap closure, an elasticized closure or, in an alternate embodiment, separate pouches may be provided for separately protecting each of the eyeglass frames.