Abstract: A hanging ornament kit including a flexible planar base having an outer surface that carries a decorative indicia and an inner surface that carries a releasable adhesive. A flexible loop made of a decorative string or ribbon is attached to the base and extends out from the outer decorative surface. A removable protective cover overlies the adhesive and is removed immediately before the adhesive surface is brought into contact with an ornament, such as a small children's toy, to secure the ornament to the base. The flexible loop may then be placed over a branch of a tree to hang the ornament during the holiday season. When the holiday season is over, the base may be peeled from the toy and the toy returned to the child's toy box.

Abstract: A thin, circular shell like ball in two parts joining around clear, liquid filled globe encasing cube. Said cube to have instrumental messages related to sport, said cube to be buoyant, said shell to have key chain attachment or golf bag connector.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing Christmas tree decorations consisting of several blown glass objects assembled together consisting in: implanting a seat in the base element body which can freely receive the tenons of the other element. Before they are assembled the seat and the tenon are coated with a quick-setting plastic binder such that the seat-tenon assembly is slightly elastic. The unpolished Christmas tree decoration can therefore be easily subjected to further surface treatment such as being painted, coated with paste or covered with brocade and the like.

Abstract: A decorative foil assembly for use as a decoration during holidays and other celebrations includes an elongated flat film web of foil-like material which is cut transversely except for a narrow uncut portion on one side of the film web which serves to hold the assembly together after cutting. The resulting decorative assembly includes strips of foil-like material extending downwardly from the narrow uncut portion. The narrow uncut portion of foil-like material includes a double-sided adhesive applied thereto, such as double-sided tape, for removably attaching the decorative foil assembly to a ceiling, wall, window, window frame, or other structure to be decorated. The decorative foil assembly may also include a snowflake having a plurality of foil-like strips extending downwardly from the center of the snowflake.

Abstract: An ornament having a printed insert bearing a personalized message or picture that is suspended within a transparent bulb. The printed insert is produced by printing the personalized message or picture onto transparency paper using a computer and color printer, and cutting the transparency paper to form a disk-shaped insert that is sized to fit within the transparent bulb. The printed insert is then curled and inserted through the opening of the transparent bulb, and is then suspended within the transparent bulb from a cap using a hitch pin (fastener).

Abstract: An enhanced structure of an animated ornament composed of a globular shell, a hollow ball, a piece of non-magnetic, high-density material (such as copper, tin, plastic etc.), an inner magnet and an outer magnet. The hollow ball, having decorative figures, is smaller than the globular shell and is included in the globular shell. The space in between the globular shell and the hollow ball is filled up with liquid so that the hollow ball floats in the liquid and, when being shaken, turns around in all directions. Inside the lower part of the hollow ball attached a piece of non-magnetic, high-density material, such as plastic, copper and tin, and an inner magnet is fixed on the top of the non-magnetic material.

Abstract: A vehicle interior hand grip material for mounting on an existing gear shift lever arm, on a portion of a steering wheel and other items operated by hand inside a vehicle. The hand grip material includes a plurality of flexible “string like” elastomeric members extending outwardly from an attachment member. The attachment member may be a thin wire wrapped around a portion of the elastomeric members and tightened thereon. Also, the attachment member may be a liner with one end of the elastomeric members attached to the liner. The wire attachment member can be secured around a gear shift threaded housing threaded on an end of the vehicle's gear shift lever arm. Also, the wire attachment member can be attached to other hand operated items inside the vehicle. Further, the steering wheel liner attachment member can be placed around a portion of the vehicle's steering wheel.

Abstract: A decorative folding star is made of star pieces, preferably straight strips and/or strips with ends bent to an angle, such as 36°. One end of each strip is fastened to the corresponding end of an adjoining strip. When all the star pieces are end-coupled, they form a topological loop. The structure is reinforced with extra fasteners at the crossing points. When these reinforcements and also one of the end fasteners are removed, the pieces can fold about the pivots of the remaining end fasteners and the star collapses for shipment or storage. The ends may be offset to provide clearance and aid in folding. The end fastener may be shaped to permit rotation only in the direction toward the collapsed position of the star. Lights or light holders may be mounted on the strips.

Abstract: A multi-piece ornament includes an outer frame, a design piece and a negative. The design piece, negative, and frame are cut from a flat blank of material in nested, preferably concentric fashion so there is little or no waste in material. The design piece is cut from within the negative and removed therefrom to define an ornamental design cutout in the negative. The three pieces may be arranged separately or in different combinations to form a hanging ornament, for example wherein the design piece is suspended within the frame and the negative and the frame are suspended one from the other. The three pieces may alternatively be affixed to a plaque or other display surface with the design piece within and surrounded by the frame, and the negative outside of and adjacent the frame.

Abstract: A flexible sheet can be stored or patterned while in a flat configuration, and subsequently readily adapted to overlay a curved surface, for example a hemisphere of a sphere. Radial incisions made to the sheet provide a hub and a plurality of substantially triangular gores that adapt the sheet to conform substantially to the curved surface. A patternable transparent cover, adapted to be removably and/or pivotally secured to the hemisphere, closely overlays the sheet to form a covering assembly. Covering assemblies may be placed over one or both hemispheres of a sphere and fixedly or removably joined together.

Abstract: An ornament is formed from a transparent body, such as a globe, having a transparent film received therein. The transparent film includes a translucent image formed thereon. The transparent film is configured so that one or more points of a periphery of the film contact an inside surface of the body when the film is received therein. When viewed from the external body, the translucent image appears to be floating in the body.

Abstract: A multi-purpose vehicle ornament includes a hollow base component configured to resemble a select figurine, such as an animal's head, having one or more apertures thereon in communication with an interior chamber. The base component includes a neck portion adapted to receive a trailer hitch ball, an air freshener assembly or an attachment plug that is mountable to the top end of a vehicle antenna. The attachment plug includes a warning device that alerts nearby animals of an approaching vehicle.

Abstract: Complex-shaped articles formed by gas-pressure-molding composite preforms of liquid crystal polymer and porous polytetrafluoroethylene material are described. Processes for making the composite material preforms and parisons needed for gas-pressure-molding methods, such as vacuum-molding and blow-molding, are also described.

Abstract: 1,3-Difluoronaphthalene derivatives of the formula (I)R.sup.1 (--A.sup.1 --M.sup.1).sub.a (--A.sup.2 --M.sup.2).sub.b --B(--M.sup.3 --A.sup.3).sub.c (--M.sup.4 --A.sup.4).sub.d --R.sup.2 (I)in whichB is ##STR1## and R.sup.1 (--A.sup.1 --M.sup.1).sub.a (--A.sup.2 --M.sup.2) and (--M.sup.3 --A.sup.3)(--M.sup.4 --A.sup.4)R.sup.2 denote mesogenic radicals are suitable as components for liquid-crystal mixtures, especially ferroelectric mixtures.

Abstract: A layer of discotic liquid crystal having a molecular structure including a disk-shaped core and plural side chains connected to the core is disposed in contact with a substrate boundary provided with a homeotropic alignment power for aligning the side chains of the discotic liquid crystal molecules vertically to the boundary, whereby a uniform columnar structure vertical to the substrate of the discotic liquid crystal is formed. As a result, a discotic liquid crystal device having a stable homeotropic monodomain alignment can be formed from a wide scope of discotic liquid crystal materials.

Abstract: A compound represented by the following general formula (I), a liquid crystal composition comprising the same, and a liquid crystal element using this liquid crystal composition. ##STR1## (wherein B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 represent independently a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group or a 1,4-phenylene group wherein at least one hydrogen atom on the six-membered ring is optionally substituted by a halogen atom, Y represents a halogen-substituted alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a halogen-substituted alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom, X represents a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom or a hydrogen atom, R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, n and m represent independently 1 or 2 and p represents 0 or 1.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for presenting alternative facial expressions, comprising: a first portion having a plurality of regions thereon. Each region includes indicia representative of an upper section of a face including a pair of eyebrows and each representation in a given region bears a unique representation from the representations of the other regions of the first portion. A second portion has a plurality of regions thereon, each region having indicia thereon representative of a middle section of face and including a pair of eyes; each representation in a given region bearing a unique representation from the representations of the other regions of the second portion. A third portion has a plurality of regions thereon, each region having indicia thereon representative of a lower section of the face and including a mouth; each representation in a given region bearing a unique representation from the representations of the other regions of the third portion.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds of positive dielectric anisotropy, including one or more compounds of the general formula I: ##STR1## in which, R is H, an alkyl or alkenyl radical having 1 or 2 to 15 carbon atoms respectively which is unsubstituted, monosubstituted by CN or .sub.CF. or at least monosubstituted by halogen, where one or more CH.sub.2 groups in these radicals may also, in each case independently of one another, be replaced by --O--, --S--, ##STR2## --CO--, --CO--O--, --O--CO--, or --O--CO--O-- in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another,m is 0 or 1,n is 0, 1 or 2, andm+n is 1, 2 or 3.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-optical liquid-crystal display having a realignment layer for realigning the liquid crystals whose field has a significant component parallel to the liquid-crystal layer and which contains a liquid-crystalline medium of positive dielectric anisotropy, where the medium comprises at least one mesogenic compound containing a 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl group and/or comprises at least one mesogenic compound [lacuna] a structural unit of the formula 2 ##STR1## in which A is O or CH,Z is --COO-- or a single bondL.sup.1 is F or, if A is O, is alternatively H, andL.sup.2 is H or F.

Abstract: A polymer laminate essentially consisting of at least two cholesteric, liquid-crystalline polymer layers and a light-absorbent layer in between is suitable as starting material for effect pigments having a color impression which is dependent on the viewing angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid-crystal mixtures having specific resistance values, comprising acidic compounds. The present invention furthermore relates to liquid-crystal displays containing these liquid-crystal mixtures. The invention furthermore relates to compounds of the formula I, ##STR1## in which the parameters are as defined in the text, to their preparation, and to their use for achieving certain specific resistance values in liquid-crystal mixtures. The application also relates to a method of adjusting the specific resistance of liquid-crystal mixtures using acidic compounds.

Abstract: Novel liquid crystal compounds are provided which exhibit less temperature dependent switching properties, for the reliable and consistent operation of liquid crystal devices. The liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) an achiral fluorochemical terminal portion that comprises a terminal fluoroalkyl, fluoroether, perfluoroalkyl, or perfluoroether group; a chiral terminal portion comprising a saturated or unsaturated chiral hydrocarbon or chiral hydrocarbon ether group comprising a chiral center; and a central core connecting the terminal portions; said chiral terminal portion having at least three in-chain atoms (an "extended group") between said chiral center of the chiral terminal portion and said central core.

Abstract: A microphase stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (MSFLC) and optical device prepared therefrom are provided. The MSFLC includes a block copolymer, comprising at least one non-liquid crystal polymer block and at least one liquid crystalline polymer block including a chiral mesogenic side group, the block copolymer comprising domains of the non-liquid crystalline block of the non-liquid crystalline polymer and domains of chiral mesogenic polymer such that the domains form an inverted cylinder morphology. The volume percent and block size of the chiral mesogenic group are selected such that the spacings between cylinders is sufficient to permit switching of the chiral mesogenic group between two stable orientations.

Abstract: A chiral smectic liquid crystal mixture, especially useful for operation in the .tau.V.sub.min -mode, comprises a substituted 1,2-difluornaphthaline derivatives of the formula (I),R.sup.1 (--A.sup.1 --M.sup.1).sub.a (--A.sup.2 --M.sup.2).sub.b --B--(M.sup.3 --A.sup.3 --).sub.c (M.sup.4 --A.sup.4 --).sub.d R.sup.2 (I)wherein the symbols and indices have the following meanings:B is ##STR1## or ##STR2## X is H or F; Y is H, F or together O, andR.sup.1 (--A.sup.1 --M.sup.1).sub.a (--A.sup.2 --M.sup.2).sub.b --, (M.sup.3 --A.sup.3 --).sub.c (M.sup.4 --A.sup.4 --).sub.d R.sup.2 are mesogenic groups.

Abstract: A radiation curable composition comprising,(A) at least one compound containing a (meth)acrylate group represented by the following formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R.sup.2 is an alkylene group or a hydroxyalkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is a divalent organic group, n is a number of 1 to 10, m is an integer of 0 or 1, and Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are independently a group comprising an aromatic ring(B) at least one compound derived from trishydroxyethyl isocyanurate, and containing at least one (meth)acrylate group, and(C) at least one radiation polymerization initiator.The radiation curable resin composition affords a high productivity, exhibits high transparency, and produces molded articles exhibiting minimal coloration upon exposure to light, superior dimensional precision, high heat resistance, only slight adhesion to substrates under high temperature conditions. The composition is very useful for manufacturing molding articles.

Abstract: A laminate comprising a metallic foil and a layer made of a liquid crystal polyester resin composition comprising a liquid crystal polyester(A) as a continuous phase and rubber(B) having a functional group reactive with the liquid crystal polyester as a dispersed phase. The laminate has excellent flexibility and electric properties, and additionally is cheap, therefore, suitable as a print wiring board. The laminate comprising a metallic foil, a layer made of a liquid crystal polyester resin composition and a layer made of a fiber material of the present invention has an excellent heat resistance, a low relative dielectric constant and a low dielectric loss tangent, an excellent appearance, and additionally, the laminate can be produced in an industrially inexpensive and simple manner. The laminate can be widely used in the industrial field for electric and electronic parts, precision parts and the like.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds which have excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal materials, especially at low temperatures, high voltage holding ratio, low threshold voltage, their small temperature dependency, high .DELTA.n, and broad liquid phase temperature range, the compounds being represented by formula (1)Ra--A.sub.1 --Z.sub.1 --A.sub.2 --Z.sub.2 --(--A.sub.3 --Z.sub.3 --).sub.m --A.sub.0 --Rf (1)(wherein m is 0 or 1; A.sub.0, A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 represent a six-membered ring, ring A.sub.0 is 1,4-phenylene which may be substituted with 1 to 3 of F and/or Cl, rings A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and A.sub.3, independently of one another, are selected from trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene which may be substituted with one or more halogen atoms, cyclohexene-1,4-diyl or 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl; Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2 and Z.sub.3 represent a bridge between the rings and independently of one another, are selected from --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --, --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.

Abstract: Polymerisable optically active compounds have the general formula: ##STR1## where: W.sup.1 denotes a polymerisable residue,S.sup.1 denotes a spacer unit,Y.sup.1 denotes a single bond, or one of the groups --O--, --COO--, --OOC--, --OCOO--, --S--, --CONH-- or --NHCO--,M denotes a divalent mesogenic group, andR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 denote straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl groups with up to 8 carbon atom.

Abstract: A shading spacer for liquid crystal consisting of a cross-linked polymer particles containing a dyestuff which is fixed in said polymer particles by taking a dyestuff compound having a silyl group which can be hydrolyzed in said polymer particles having a silyl group which can be hydrolyzed when said polymer particles are cross-linked, is provided in the present invention. In said shading spacer, removal of dyestuff from said polymer particles is prevented.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition obtained by mixing a phenylalkyl dioxaborinane derivative, an isothiocyanate derivative, a tolan derivative and a pyrimidine-phenyl derivative in an appropriate ratio, and a liquid crystal display using the same are provided. The liquid crystal composition reveals a nematic phase at a wide range of a temperature including room temperature and having optical anisotropies and dielectric anisotropies of various magnitudes. Also, a twisted nematic (TN) type liquid crystal display manufactured using the liquid crystal composition can be driven in a multiplexed manner.

Abstract: An electrode plate is formed by a substrate and a plurality of patterned electrodes formed on the substrate. Each patterned electrode has a laminate structure including a first layer of nickel metal formed on the substrate and a second layer of copper formed thereon. The electrode plate may be prepared by a process including a step of etching such a multilayer metal electrode-forming film formed on a substrate by spraying an etchant downwardly and uniformly onto the substrate while rotating the substrate at a rotation speed sufficient to allow quick liberation of the etchant from the substrate. The metal electrodes can be formed with a good adhesion onto the substrate and with good accuracies of width and thickness. By incorporating the electrode plate as a pair of substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal, a liquid crystal device showing free from transmission delay and rounding of voltage waveforms can be provided.

Abstract: A structure and apparatus is described which utilizes the intrinsic self-assembling or aligning process of liquid crystal (LC) molecules to form an ordered structure, such as a structure having nematic or cholesteric ordering. The invention includes subtracting a constituent from a structure that includes a liquid crystal, to form a `mold` or polymer matrix on a molecular level. By adding and/or subtracting materials to or from the mold, a liquid crystal-like structure may be obtained. This structure includes all or at least some non-LC material, while exhibiting some LC characteristic. The liquid crystal-like structure overcomes the drawbacks of LCs such as temperature sensitivity and mechanical instability.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds useful in super twisted nematic liquid crystal displays are described and have the formula: ##STR1## wherein n is 1-5;m is 0-5;p is 0, 1 or 2;q is 0, 1 or 2p+q is less than or equal to 3;A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3 are independently chosen from 1,4-disubstituted benzene 2,5-disubstituted pyrimidine, 1,5-disubstituted pyridine, 2,6-disubstituted naphthalene which may be laterally substituted with F, Cl, Br or CN, trans-1,4-disubstituted cyclohexane 2,5-disubstituted dioxane, 2,5-disubstituted thiophene, 2,5-disubstituted furan, 2,5-disubstituted thiodiazoleZ.sub.1 may be COO, OOC, OCH.sub.2, O;Z.sub.2, Z.sub.3 are independently chosen from a direct bond, COO, OOC, C.sub.2 H.sub.4, CH.sub.2 O, OCH.sub.2, C.sub.4 H.sub.8, C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O, (E)--CH.dbd.CHC.sub.2 H.sub.4, (E)--CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 O, --C.tbd.C--;R.sub.1 is alkyl, and may contain up to 20 carbon atoms and may be branched or a straight chain; provided that at least one of, A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.

Abstract: A circular dichroism optical element having the solidified layer of a liquid crystal polymer comprising a Grandjean oriented cholesteric liquid crystal phase, a liquid crystal display apparatus using the optical element, and a liquid crystal polymer composed of, as the component, a copolymer comprising at least two kinds of specific acrylic monomer units.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a cholesteric liquid-crystal polymer, an electrolyte, and an aqueous medium is hermetically interposed between a pair of electrodes and an electric field is applied to the assemblage to control the display color. The liquid crystal composition can be provided in the form of a transparent solution of a cholesteric liquid-crystal polymer (e.g. a cellulose derivative such as a hydroxyalkylcellulose), an electrolyte (e.g. a water-soluble inorganic salt), and an aqueous medium (e.g. an aqueous solvent with a water content of 80 to 100 weight %). Using a cholesteric liquid-crystal polymer, a display device whose display color can be controlled with an electric field is provided.

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal display device is disclosed. A polymer dispersed liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a pair of substrates inside which electrodes are formed, respectively. The substrates are disposed to be opposite to each other and to be spaced to a cell gap. A liquid crystal polymer network and liquid crystal droplets which are phase separated from each other, are interposed between the substrates. The liquid crystal polymer network is perpendicularly arranged to the planes of the substrates regardless of presence or absence of electrical field. The liquid crystal droplets includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and are dispersed in the liquid crystal polymer network. The liquid crystal polymer network has a birefringe index which is similar to that of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a liquid crystallineThe present invention is concerned with a liquid crystalline compound expressed by general formula (1) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents cyano group, halogen atom, or a straight or branched alkyl group or halogenated alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, one or not-adjacent two CH.sub.2 groups in the alkyl group or halogenated alkyl group may be replaced by oxygen atom or --CH.dbd.CH-- group; R.sub.2 and R.sub.2 ' represent hydrogen atom, halogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms; X.sub.1, X.sub.2, and X.sub.3 independently represent --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CO--O--, --O--CO--, --CH.dbd.CH--, --C.tbd.C--, --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --, --CF.sub.2 O--, --OCF.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having positive dielectric anisotropy, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R is H, an alkyl or alkenyl radical having 1 to 15 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted, monosubstituted by CN or CF.sub.3 or at least monosubstituted by halogen, it also being possible for one or more CH.sub.2 groups in these radicals to be replaced, in each case independently of one another, by --O--, --S-- ##STR2## --CO--, --CO--O--, --O--CO-- or --O--CO--O--in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another,Y is F, Cl, halogenated alkyl, alkenyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, andL.sup.1 is F.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal element having a sufficient reflectance and having a layered structure in which a refractive index changes periodically inside, as well as a manufacturing method thereof. The polymer dispersion type liquid crystal element is manufactured by applying laser interference light to a polymerizable composition containing a polymerizable compound having a photo-dimerizable structure and low molecular liquid crystals to conduct polymer phase separation and then applying polarized light to manufacture a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal element in which low molecular liquid crystals are oriented.

Abstract: An aligning method of a chiral smectic liquid crystal includes the steps of: disposing a chiral smectic liquid crystal between a pair of electrode plates, the chiral smectic liquid crystal having a layer spacing-changing characteristic providing a layer spacing which increases on temperature decrease in a first temperature range in smectic A phase; and subjecting the chiral smectic liquid crystal to a heat treatment including a sequence of cooling from a higher temperature phase to a second temperature range in smectic A phase including at least a portion of the first temperature range, at least one cycle of heating and cooling within the second temperature range, and further cooling to a smectic phase lower than smectic phase. The heat treatment, particularly at least one cycle of heating and cooling in smectic A phase, is effective in suppressing an alignment (orientation) irregularity due to the presence of two regions different in characteristics, thus improving a drive margin.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-optical liquid-crystal display having a realignment layer for realigning the liquid crystals whose field has a significant component parallel to the liquid-crystal layer and which contains a liquid-crystalline medium of positive dielectric anisotropy, where the medium comprises at least one mesogenic compound of the formula II ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is H, an alkyl or alkenyl radical having 1 to 15 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or monosubstituted or polysubstituted by halogen and in which one or more CH.sub.2 groups may each, independently of one another, be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO--, --COO--, --OCO-- or --OCO--O-- in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another.

Abstract: Supertwist liquid crystal displays (STN displays) of excellent characteristics are obtained if the nematic liquid crystal mixtures used therein comprise at least one compound of the formula IA ##STR1## and at least one compound of the formula IB ##STR2## in which R.sup.a, R.sup.b, Z, L.sup.a, L.sup.b, L.sup.c, L.sup.d, L.sup.e, L.sup.f, L.sup.g, L.sup.h, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 are as defined below.

Abstract: A photoinitiator is represented by general formula (I): ##STR1## where n is an integer of 1 or greater; A and B are each a trans cyclohexane ring or a benzene ring, the benzene ring being allowed to include a fluorine atom or a methyl group as a substituent, the benzene ring adjacent to a carbonyl group being allowed to include a fluorine atom or a methyl group as a substituent; p and q are each 0 or 1, p and q are not simultaneously 0; X is an alkyl group of C.sub.1 through C.sub.3 or hydrogen atom, Y is a methyl group, ethyl group or alkoxy group of C.sub.1 through C.sub.3, and Z is a methyl group, ethyl group, alkyl-substituted phenyl group or a group represented by general formula (II), Y and Z being allowed to bonded together to form a ring: ##STR2## where A, B, n, p and q are identical with those in general formula (I).

Abstract: Ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions having a large dependency of spontaneous polarization on temperature; liquid crystal display devices exhibiting a small dependency of response speed on temperature and making it possible to obtain a wide temperature margin in practical use, and fabricated by using the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition; and methods for driving the devices are provided;the compositions comprising at least one compound expressed by the following general formula (1) ##STR1## at least one compound expressed by the following general formula (2), and ##STR2## at least one compound expressed by the following general formula (3) ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.6, ring A-B, A, X.sub.1, and X.sub.2 are herein defined.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having negative dielectric anisotropy, which contains at least one compound of formula I ##STR1## and at least one compound of formula II ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 8 C atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms,R.sup.2 is alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms,R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 8 C atoms, ##STR3## m is 0 or 1.

Abstract: Process for broadening cholesteric reflection bands of photopolymerizable cholesteric liquid crystals, and optical elements produced by this process. The invention relates to a process for broadening the cholesteric reflection bands of photopolymerizable cholesteric liquid crystals, which comprises the following process steps:1) partial polymerization of a layer containing photopolymerizable cholesteric liquid crystals by exposure to actinic light for a defined brief period at a defined temperature,2) observance of a defined waiting time without exposure (dark phase) at a defined temperature,3) fixing of the resultant layer by exposure to actinic light at a defined temperature.

Abstract: A hanging ornament kit including a generally transparent container comprising first and second components, each component having an interior surface and an opening at one side, and decorating material for decorating the interior surface of each component. The first component is detachably connected to the second component by a coupling on the periphery of at least one of the first and second component openings.

Abstract: A composition which includes the following compounds: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, which may be the same or different, is a hydrophilic group;R.sup.2, which may the same or different, is selected from the group consisting of electron donating groups, electron withdrawing groups, and electron neutral groups;R.sup.3 is a substituted or unsubstituted, positively charged heteroaromatic ring linked to the triazine backbone through a nitrogen atom in the R.sup.3 ring; andX.sup.- is a counterion.If R.sup.3 is an unsubstituted pyridine, the counterion X.sup.- may be selected from any counterion other than Cl.sup.- and OH.sup.-. Otherwise, the counterion X.sup.- may be selected from any counterion.The compound may be applied to a substrate to form a birefingent optical retardationdevice. The retardationdevice may be used in display devices such as computers and the like to correct the phase and polarization states of the display's emitted light and improve image quality at viewing angles away from the normal.

Abstract: An illuminatable decorative object made of a base of an optical material covered on at least one side with a layer of a malleable material displaying an image thereon. The invention also relates to a method of making an illuminatable decorative object by arranging a malleable material into an image bearing disk in which the image extends through the width of the disk; rolling the image bearing disk into a cane; cutting the cane into a second disk; and molding the second disk onto the surface of an optical material.

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal electro-optical device comprising a liquid crystal polymer complex layer having a liquid crystal and a polymer, wherein said liquid crystal and said polymer are aligned in the same direction when no electric field is applied, and an electrode structure formed on each side of said liquid crystal polymer complex layer for applying an electric field to said liquid crystal polymer complex layer to align said liquid crystal along the electric field so as to render said liquid crystal polymer complex layer in a light-scattering state.