Abstract: A dairy inflation includes a barrel portion connected to a milk tube portion for extracting milk from a teat of an animal. The barrel portion includes an axial passage defined by a wall, the wall having an exterior surface defining an outer periphery having a substantially circular shape. The wall further includes an interior surface defining an inner periphery having a substantially elliptical shape. The elliptical inner periphery includes a major axis and a minor axis, and the disposition of the elliptical inner periphery within the circular outer periphery creates reduced-thickness regions on opposing sides of the wall along the major axis. The reduced-thickness regions allow a controlled collapse of the barrel portion during milking operations.

Abstract: A dairy inflation includes a barrel portion connected to a milk tube portion for extracting milk from a teat of an animal. The barrel portion includes an axial passage defined by a wall, the wall having an exterior surface defining an outer periphery having a substantially circular shape. The wall further includes an interior surface defining an inner periphery having a substantially elliptical shape. The elliptical inner periphery includes a major axis and a minor axis, and the disposition of the elliptical inner periphery within the circular outer periphery creates reduced-thickness regions on opposing sides of the wall along the major axis. The reduced-thickness regions allow a controlled collapse of the barrel portion during milking operations.

Abstract: A dairy inflation includes a barrel portion connected to a milk tube portion for extracting milk from a teat of an animal. The barrel portion includes an axial passage defined by a wall, the wall having an exterior surface defining an outer periphery having a substantially circular shape. The wall further includes an interior surface defining an inner periphery having a substantially elliptical shape. The elliptical inner periphery includes a major axis and a minor axis, and the disposition of the elliptical inner periphery within the circular outer periphery creates reduced-thickness regions on opposing sides of the wall along the major axis. The reduced-thickness regions allow a controlled collapse of the barrel portion during milking operations.

Abstract: A flexible bakeware compound includes a flexible baking container having a basin and a first carrier member disposed in an upper portion of the basin. A second carrier member is also disposed in the upper portion of the basin such that the second carrier member is capable of movement relative to the first carrier member.

Abstract: A dairy inflation includes a barrel portion connected to a milk tube portion for extracting milk from a teat of an animal. The barrel portion includes an axial passage defined by a wall, the wall having an exterior surface defining an outer periphery having a substantially circular shape. The wall further includes an interior surface defining an inner periphery having a substantially elliptical shape. The elliptical inner periphery includes a major axis and a minor axis, and the disposition of the elliptical inner periphery within the circular outer periphery creates reduced-thickness regions on opposing sides of the wall along the major axis. The reduced-thickness regions allow a controlled collapse of the barrel portion during milking operations.

Abstract: A wiper blade made of a compound having a methyl vinyl silicone polymer, a filler, and a friction-reducing additive is provided. The friction-reducing additive is present in an amount from between about 5 and 42 weight percent. The average particle size of the friction-reducing additive is preferably less than about 25 microns, thereby permitting extrusion of the compound into the shape of a wiper blade. Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferred as a friction-reducing additive, but other substances, such as boron nitride or graphite could be used.

Abstract: A squeegee blade made of a compound having a methyl vinyl silicone polymer, a filler, and a friction-reducing additive is provided. The friction-reducing additive is present in an amount from between about 5 and 42 weight percent. The average particle size of the friction-reducing additive is preferably less than about 25 microns, thereby permitting extrusion of the compound into the shape of a squeegee blade. Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferred as a friction-reducing additive, but other substances, such as boron nitride or graphite could be used.

Abstract: A flexible bakeware compound includes an addition-cured silicone polymer with approximately 0.1 to 15 weight percent of polytetrafluoroethylene. More specifically, the compound preferably includes a methyl vinyl silicone polymer from about 40 to 70 weight percent, a filler from about 5 to 50 weight percent, chloro platanic acid from about 0.1 to 5 weight percent, and polytetrafluoroethylene in an amount of about 6 weight percent. A flexible bakeware container is also provided that includes a receiving channel in a shoulder of the baking container. A carrier is received by the receiving channel to add rigidity to the shoulder, thereby enabling a user to more easily carry the flexible baking container.

Abstract: A wiper blade made of a compound having a methyl vinyl silicone polymer, a filler, and a friction-reducing additive is provided. The friction-reducing additive is present in an amount from between about 5 and 42 weight percent. The average particle size of the friction-reducing additive is preferably less than about 25 microns, thereby permitting extrusion of the compound into the shape of a wiper blade. Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferred as a friction-reducing additive, but other substances, such as boron nitride or graphite could be used.

Abstract: A wiper blade made of a compound having a methyl vinyl silicone polymer, a filler, and a friction-reducing additive is provided. The friction-reducing additive is present in an amount from between about 5 and 42 weight percent, preferably 11 percent. The average particle size of the friction-reducing additive is preferably less than about 25 microns, thereby permitting extrusion of the compound into the shape of a wiper blade. Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferred as a friction-reducing additive, but other substances, such as boron nitride or graphite could be used.

Abstract: A flexible bakeware compound includes an addition-cured silicone polymer with approximately 0.1 to 15 weight percent of polytetrafluoroethylene. More specifically, the compound preferably includes a methyl vinyl silicone polymer from about 40 to 70 weight percent, a filler from about 5 to 50 weight percent, chloro platanic acid from about 0.1 to 5 weight percent, and polytetrafluoroethylene in an amount of about 6 weight percent. A flexible bakeware container is also provided that includes a receiving channel in a shoulder of the baking container. A carrier is received by the receiving channel to add rigidity to the shoulder, thereby enabling a user to more easily carry the flexible baking container.

Abstract: A flexible bakeware compound includes an addition-cured silicone polymer with approximately 0.1 to 15 weight percent of polytetrafluoroethylene. More specifically, the compound preferably includes a methyl vinyl silicone polymer from about 40 to 70 weight percent, a filler from about 5 to 50 weight percent, chloro platanic acid from about 0.1 to 5 weight percent, and polytetrafluoroethylene in an amount of about 6 weight percent. A flexible bakeware container is also provided that includes a receiving channel in a shoulder of the baking container. A carrier is received by the receiving channel to add rigidity to the shoulder, thereby enabling a user to more easily carry the flexible baking container.

Abstract: A synthetic cork compound includes a methyl vinyl silicone polymer with a microsphere agent such as soda lime borosilicate in an amount of approximately 5 to 50 weight percent. The microsphere agent gives the compound a low density. The methyl vinyl silicone polymer preferably includes polydimethylvinylsiloxane polymer from about 45 to 90 weight percent and fumed silica from about 5 to 50 weight percent. Preferably, the compound is catalyzed using chloro-platanic acid from about 0.1 to 5 percent. Additional components of the compound include toasted oak dust from about 0.1 to 25 weight percent, ground cork from about 5 to 50 weight percent, a pigment from about 0.1 to 5 weight percent, silicon hydride from about 0.1 to 25 weight percent, and ethynyl cyclohexanol from about 0.05 to 5 weight percent.

Abstract: A dairy inflation includes a barrel portion connected to a milk tube portion for extracting milk from a teat of an animal. The barrel portion includes an axial passage defined by a wall, the wall having an exterior surface defining an outer periphery having a substantially circular shape. The wall further includes an interior surface defining an inner periphery having a substantially elliptical shape. The elliptical inner periphery includes a major axis and a minor axis, and the disposition of the elliptical inner periphery within the circular outer periphery creates reduced-thickness regions on opposing sides of the wall along the major axis. The reduced-thickness regions allow a controlled collapse of the barrel portion during milking operations.

Abstract: A wiper blade made of a compound having a methyl vinyl silicone polymer, a filler, and a friction-reducing additive is provided. The friction-reducing additive is present in an amount from between about 5 and 42 weight percent, preferably 11 percent. The average particle size of the friction-reducing additive is preferably less than about 25 microns, thereby permitting extrusion of the compound into the shape of a wiper blade. Polytetrafluoroethyiene is preferred as a friction-reducing additive, but other substances, such as boron nitride or graphite could be used.

Abstract: A wiper blade made of a compound having a methyl vinyl silicone polymer, a filler, and a friction-reducing additive is provided. The friction-reducing additive is present in an amount from between about 5–42 weight percent, preferably 11 percent. The average particle size of the friction-reducing additive is preferably less than 6 microns, thereby permitting extrusion of the compound into the shape of a wiper blade. Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferred as a friction-reducing additive, but other substances, such as boron nitride or graphite could be used.

Abstract: A bakeware apparatus includes a basin having at least one wall attached at a first end to a floor. A shoulder surrounds at least a portion of the basin and is attached to a second end of the wall opposite the floor. The shoulder includes one of a tab and an attachment aperture disposed on the shoulder. The bakeware apparatus further includes a carrier having the other of the tab and the attachment aperture to engage the one of the tab and the attachment aperture on the shoulder when the carrier is placed into engagement with the shoulder.

Abstract: A flexible bakeware compound includes a flexible baking container having a basin and a first carrier member disposed in an upper portion of the basin. A second carrier member is also disposed in the upper portion of the basin such that the second carrier member is capable of movement relative to the first carrier member.

Abstract: A flexible bakeware apparatus includes an elastomeric baking container having a basin formed by at least one wall integrally connected to a floor. The bakeware apparatus further includes at least one carrier member disposed within a receiving channel in an upper portion of the wall opposite the floor.

Abstract: A flexible bakeware apparatus includes an elastomeric baking container having a basin and a shoulder surrounding at least a portion of the basin. The bakeware apparatus further includes a carrier having a lower support member pivotally attached to an upper support member. The carrier is movable between a closed position in which the shoulder of the baking container is held between the upper and lower support members and an open position in which the baking container can be removed from between the upper and lower support members.