Abstract: Embodiments of methods of donning and/or testing an abrasive blast respirator may be described herein. The method may comprise one or more of the following, by way of example: placing head straps over a head of a user, wherein the head straps are coupled to an abrasive blast respirator, pulling a hood of the abrasive blast respirator over the head of the user, checking a seal of a facepiece of the abrasive blast respirator by blocking an opening of an exhalation valve coupled to the facepiece and exhaling by the user, where the opening of the exhalation valve is located on an outside of the abrasive blast respirator, and checking the seal of the facepiece by blocking one or more breathing filter coupled to the outside of the facepiece and inhaling by the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods of assembling an abrasive blast respirator are disclosed. The method may comprise removably attaching an exhalation valve into an exhalation valve port of a facepiece, removably installing the facepiece into a hood, removably attaching a filter to a first inhalation valve, where the first inhalation valve is coupled to the facepiece, and removably attaching a breathing hose to a second inhalation valve, where the second inhalation valve is coupled to the facepiece.

Abstract: A method and a system is provided for producing one or more matching formulas to match color and coarseness appearance of a target coating on a substrate. The method includes, but is not limited to providing a set of coating chips comprising at least two coating chips having different lightness values, and at least two coating chips having matching lightness values and different coarseness values. A system is also provided for matching color and coarseness appearance of the surface coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a liquid measuring system for producing one or more property values of a liquid. The system can comprise: a thin film device and one or more measuring devices for measuring the one or more property values. This disclosure is particularly directed to a system comprise a thin film device for producing a thin film of the liquid on a spinning disk. The system is particularly useful for measuring color and appearance properties of the liquid. The system can be useful for producing coating compositions.

Abstract: A liquid measuring system for producing one or more property values of a liquid. The system can include: a thin film device and one or more measuring devices for measuring said one or more property values. The system includes a thin film device for producing a thin film of the liquid on a spinning disk. The system is particularly useful for measuring color and appearance properties of the liquid. The system can be useful for producing coating compositions.

Abstract: The process includes measuring flops of a layer of the coating composition applied over a test substrate of a mottling prediction device of the present invention at the start and then after a desired time interval. A delta flop is determined by subtracting from the flop at the start from that after the desired time interval and a degree of mottling of a coating resulting from the layer is visually assessed. The process is repeated with varying amounts of one or more rheology additives added to the composition and the degree of mottling vs. delta flop is plotted on a graph and then by using a curve fitting equation, a mottling prediction curve is obtained. By measuring the delta flop of a wet layer of a target coating composition, the degree of mottling in the target coating composition can then be predicted by using the mottling prediction curve.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coating measurements are provided. A system for obtaining characteristics of a target coating layer include a clearcoat layer having a first surface and a second surface. A removable front support layer has an upper surface and a lower surface, where the lower surface is affixed over at least a portion of the second surface of the clearcoat layer. A back support layer has an inner surface and an outer surface, and at least a portion of the inner surface includes an adhesive layer. A separation layer is affixed over at least a portion of the adhesive layer, and the separation layer is removable from the adhesive layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for repairing one or more defects of a target coating of a vehicle. The system can repair target coatings at a repair facility using matching coating compositions provided from a supply center, where the matching coating compositions can be produced according to target repair data transmitted from one or more repair facilities to the supply center. The system can comprise one or more supply centers and one or more repair facilities.

Abstract: An accessory cap for a respiratory cartridge includes a housing having a front wall and a side wall which cooperate to define an interior cavity. The side wall includes a retaining formation configured and arranged to releasably engage and hold the housing on the respiratory cartridge. The housing includes a downwardly facing air passage configured to allow air to pass from an exterior environment to the interior cavity. The accessory cap further includes a pre-filter support web removably received within the interior cavity and spaced inwardly from the front wall. The housing and the pre-filter support web form a pre-filter cavity within the interior cavity adjacent to the front wall. The accessory cap can function as a standalone shower cap, or a pre-filter media can be optionally inserted into the pre-filter cavity so that the accessory cap functions as a combination pre-filter and a shower cap.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for producing a target composition having one or more target property values. The system provides real time measurements of property values of the target composition being produced. The system can further provide real time image of the target composition for quality control and adjustment on one or more property values, such as color property values. The system can be used for producing the target composition, such as coating compositions, with improved quality control and increased productivity. The system can be used for OEM or refinish coating manufacturing or small volume paint mixing or adjustment operations.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to a replaceable lens cartridge for use with a face mask, for example a respirator. The cartridge comprises a plurality of molded lenses, each lens sized to extend over one or more eyes of a wearer and typically having a curved shape and a plurality of catches; and a molded carrier mounting the lenses in stacked arrangement, the carrier having a first set of catches receiving the catches on one of the lenses.

Abstract: A method for matching color and appearance of a target coating of an article is provided. The method includes the steps utilizing sparkle values of the target coating; color data of the target coating; and flop values based on the color data; to identify and select matching formulas based on sparkle differences, flop value differences, and color difference indexes. The method can be used for matching color and appearance of target coatings having effect pigments. This disclosure is also directed to a system for implementing the method. The method can be particularly useful for vehicle refinish repairs.

Abstract: A method and a system is provided for producing one or more matching formulas to match color and coarseness appearance of a target coating on a substrate. The method includes, but is not limited to providing a set of coating chips comprising at least two coating chips having different lightness values, and at least two coating chips having matching lightness values and different coarseness values. A system is also provided for matching color and coarseness appearance of the surface coating.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for obtaining characteristics of a target coating layer. Specifically, a clearcoat layer is provided over a target coating layer for measuring color and appearance characteristics of the target coating. The clearcoat layer can comprise materials from renewable resources. The present invention is also directed to a system for obtaining characteristics of the target coating layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a system for producing one or more matching formulas to match color and coarseness appearance of a target coating on a substrate. The method provides providing a set of coating chips comprising at least two coating chips having different lightness values, and at least two coating chips having matching lightness values and different coarseness values. This invention provides a simple method and the system for matching color and coarseness appearance of the surface coating.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coating measurements are provided. A system for obtaining characteristics of a target coating layer include a clearcoat layer having a first surface and a second surface. A removable front support layer has an upper surface and a lower surface, where the lower surface is affixed over at least a portion of the second surface of the clearcoat layer. A back support layer has an inner surface and an outer surface, and at least a portion of the inner surface includes an adhesive layer. A separation layer is affixed over at least a portion of the adhesive layer, and the separation layer is removable from the adhesive layer.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to improvements for supplied-air abrasive blast respirators. Embodiments may comprise purified air via filters as a back-up air supply, with the filters typically operating automatically to provide purified air when the supplied air is compromised. Embodiments may locate elements outside of the hood to provide ready access for performing seal checks. Embodiments may incorporate noise reduction elements and/or lens protection elements as well.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to noise reduction techniques and systems for use with supplied air respirators. Typical embodiments may comprise porous elements located within a respirator system operable to alter the air flow pattern through the system and therefore reduce noise created in the system. These porous elements might be located within an inhalation valve, a breathing hose and/or a muffler block housing of a respirator system.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods of assembling an abrasive blast respirator are disclosed. The method may comprise removably attaching an exhalation valve into an exhalation valve port of a facepiece, removably installing the facepiece into a hood, removably attaching a filter to a first inhalation valve, where the first inhalation valve is coupled to the facepiece, and removably attaching a breathing hose to a second inhalation valve, where the second inhalation valve is coupled to the facepiece.