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: Apparatus and associated methods may relate to a protective headgear assembly having a suspension system with user controls for independently adjusting a front loop length and an occipital loop length. In an illustrative example, the front loop length may lie in a substantially horizontal plane, and the occipital loop length may lie substantially in a plane that intersects the front loop length at non-zero angle such that the occipital loop length descends posterior a user ear to cradle a user occipital. In some examples, an intersection of the front loop length and the occipital loop length may fit proximal the user ear after adjusting the frontal loop length and the occipital loop length to circumferentially fit a user head. In some examples, the user control for the front length may provide a macro adjustment and the user control for the occipital length may provide a micro adjustment.

Abstract: A locking core plug includes an upper plate, an insertion portion extending outward from the upper plate and forming an outer perimeter, and a locking mechanism positioned within the outer perimeter of the insertion portion. The locking mechanism includes a rotating member, a plurality of locking arms having a first end connected to the rotating member and a second end extending outward toward holes in the outer perimeter, and a plurality of guides fixedly mounted to the upper plate. Each guide engages a corresponding locking arm to convert the circular movement of the first end of the arm as rotating member rotates into a generally linear movement of the second end between a release position retracted toward or within the outer perimeter of the insertion portion and a locking position extended outward from the outer perimeter of the insertion portion.

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: A sealing device for positive pressure testing is attached to a respirator face mask and includes an outer frame integrally joined to a movable cap by a flexible link that biases the cap in an open position for the operational use of the face mask against a manually applied force to move the cap to a sealed position for the positive pressure testing to assure the proper fit of the face mask on the wearer. The method for positive pressure testing includes flexibly moving the sealing device from the open position to the sealing position such that the sealing surface of the cap seals the exhalation valve assembly closed. The wearer then exhales into the mask to test the seal of the mask. When the test is completed, the sealing device is released and the inherent biasing force moves the cap from the sealing position to the open position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for repairing one or more defects of a target coating of a vehicle. The process 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 present invention is also directed to a system for repairing one or more defects of a target coating of a vehicle. The system can comprise one or more supply centers and one or more repair facilities.

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: 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: The present invention is directed to a method for obtaining appearance characteristics of a target coating containing effect pigments. The present invention is also directed to a method for comparing appearances of two or more coatings by comparing the appearance characteristics. The present invention is further directed to a system for obtaining appearance characteristics of one or more coatings and comparing said coating appearances.

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 an integrated process and system for cosmetic vehicle repair. The invention provides a process and a system to produce repair formulas, repair estimates, and repair scheduling. The present invention is particularly directed to a process and a system for repairing coating defect of a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method that characterizes the hiding of coating compositions, such as automotive OEM and refinishes paints. The method is directed to sequentially storing in a computing device hiding data obtained by measuring the color difference (?RGB) in reflections of light and dark portions of target areas of a monotonic coating resulting from a coating composition applied over hiding test panel and by measuring coating thicknesses of the monotonic coating that correspond to the target areas, classifying the type of the hiding data, selecting fitting equations applicable to the classified hiding data, fitting the selected equation to match the classified hiding data and locating a hiding thickness on the monotonic coating that corresponds to the threshold value of the color difference at that location to determine the hiding thickness of the coating composition.

Abstract: A locking core plug includes an upper plate, an insertion portion extending outward from the upper plate and forming an outer perimeter, and a locking mechanism positioned within the outer perimeter of the insertion portion. The locking mechanism includes a rotating member, a plurality of locking arms having a first end connected to the rotating member and a second end extending outward toward holes in the outer perimeter; and a plurality of guides fixedly mounted relative to the upper plate. Each guide engages a corresponding locking arm to convert the circular movement of the first end of the arm as rotating member rotates into an outward movement of the second end from a release position retracted toward or within the outer perimeter of the insertion portion to a locking position extended outward from the outer perimeter of the insertion portion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for identifying one or more matching formulas for matching color and appearance of a target coating containing effect pigments. The present invention is also directed to a system for identifying one or more matching formulas for matching color and appearance of a target coating containing effect pigments.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method that characterizes the hiding of coating compositions, such as automotive OEM and refinishes paints. The method is directed to sequentially storing in a computing device hiding data obtained by measuring the color difference (?RGB) in reflections of light and dark portions of target areas of a monotonic coating resulting from a coating composition applied over hiding test panel and by measuring coating thicknesses of the monotonic coating that correspond to the target areas, classifying the type of the hiding data, selecting fitting equations applicable to the classified hiding data, fitting the selected equation to match the classified hiding data and locating a hiding thickness on the monotonic coating that corresponds to the threshold value of the color difference at that location to determine the hiding thickness of the coating composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method that characterizes the hiding of coating compositions, such as automotive OEM and refinishes paints. The method is directed to sequentially storing in a computing device hiding data obtained by measuring the color difference (?RGB) in reflections of light and dark portions of target areas of a monotonic coating resulting from a coating composition applied over hiding test panel and by measuring coating thicknesses of the monotonic coating that correspond to the target areas, classifying the type of the hiding data, selecting fitting equations applicable to the classified hiding data, fitting the selected equation to match the classified hiding data and locating a hiding thickness on the monotonic coating that corresponds to the threshold value of the color difference at that location to determine the hiding thickness of the coating composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method that characterizes the hiding of coating compositions, such as automotive OEM and refinishes paints. The method is directed to sequentially storing in a computing device hiding data obtained by measuring the color difference (?RGB) in reflections of light and dark portions of target areas of a monotonic coating resulting from a coating composition applied over hiding test panel and by measuring coating thicknesses of the monotonic coating that correspond to the target areas, classifying the type of the hiding data, selecting fitting equations applicable to the classified hiding data, fitting the selected equation to match the classified hiding data and locating a hiding thickness on the monotonic coating that corresponds to the threshold value of the color difference at that location to determine the hiding thickness of the coating composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for digital displaying images of various colors and appearances of an article and the use thereof. The invention is particularly directed to a system for displaying images for selecting one or more matching formulas to match color and appearance of an article. The invention is even further directed to a system for displaying images for selecting one or more matching formulas to match color and appearance of a target coating of a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for digital displaying images of various colors and appearances of an article and the use thereof. The invention is particularly directed to a method for displaying one or more images to select one or more matching formulas to match color and appearance of an article. The invention is even further directed to a method for displaying one or more images to select one or more matching formulas to match color and appearance of a target coating of a vehicle.

Abstract: A sealing device for positive pressure testing is attached to a respirator face mask and includes an outer frame integrally joined to a movable cap by a flexible link that biases the cap in an open position for the operational use of the face mask against a manually applied force to move the cap to a sealed position for the positive pressure testing to assure the proper fit of the face mask on the wearer. The method for positive pressure testing includes flexibly moving the sealing device from the open position to the sealing position such that the sealing surface of the cap seals the exhalation valve assembly closed. The wearer then exhales into the mask to test the seal of the mask. When the test is completed, the sealing device is released and the inherent biasing force moves the cap from the sealing position to the open position.