Abstract: A strengthened glass article has opposing first and second compressively stressed surface portions bound to a tensilely stressed core portion, with the first surface portion having a higher level of compressive surface stress than the second surface portion for improved resistance to surface damage, the compressively stressed surface portions being provided by lamination, ion-exchange, thermal tempering, or combinations thereof to control the stress profiles and limit the fracture energies of the articles.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel inflatable and rigidizable support elements, and methods of manufacture and use thereof. In particular, the present invention provides inflatable and rigidizable support elements rapidly inflated and rigidized using an acrylic adhesive and UV light generated by combustion, which find use, for example, in rapidly deploying and supporting the wing of an aerial vehicle and wind turbine towers.

Abstract: A compact flash lamp array includes a housing defining a plurality of cavities. Each cavity has a light emitting opening and a primer vent opposite the light emitting opening. A combustible mass is deposited in each cavity over the primer vent and a primer mass is deposited on the outside of the housing over each primer vent. A primer is cover secured over each primer mass, and a sheet of transparent material is bonded over the cavities in the housing.

Abstract: A compact flash lamp array includes a housing defining a plurality of cavities, with each cavity having a light emitting opening and a combustible mass deposited in each cavity. A firing means such as an electrically heated filament or percussive primer is provided for individually firing the combustible mass in each cavity. Each cavity in the housing is provided with a porous portion communicating to the outside of the cavity having sufficient porosity to maintain cavity integrity during combustion of the combustible mass contained in a cavity while retaining combustion by-products.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp comprising a lamp housing, a combustible material burning inside the lamp housing to produce a flash illumination, and ignition means for igniting the combustible material, is characterized by optical element means on the lamp housing for changing from a substantially uniform thickness to being thicker in a center than at an edge, responsive to the lamp housing becoming heated when the combustible material is burned inside the lamp housing to produce the flash illumination. The optical element, when changed from a substantially uniform thickness to being thicker in the center than at the edge, forms a positive lens that converges the light rays during flash illumination to enhance the light output.

Abstract: An improved flashed-lamp indicator composition comprising a volatile dye, a nonvolatile particulate heat-absorbing material; a binding agent; and inert platelet-shaped particles having an average particle size within the range of from about 0.5 to about 1.5 micron is provided. Also provided is a multilamp photoflash array in which each flash lamp of the array has at least one spot of the improved flashed-lamp indicator composition of the present invention in heat-receiving relationship therewith.

Abstract: A multilamp photoflash device comprising an outer housing containing a plurality of flashlamps and means for sequentially flashing the flashlamps of the device and having an antistatic coating on the surface of the outer housing is provided. The antistatic coating comprises an anionic surfactant and a deliquescent salt. A method for inhibiting electrostatic charge buildup in a multilamp photoflash device comprising an outer housing containing a plurality of flashlamps and means for sequentially flashing the flashlamps of the device is also provided. The method includes applying an antistat solution comprising an anionic surfactant and a deliquescent salt dissolved in a solvent to the surface of the outer housing of the multilamp photoflash device and evaporating the solvent from the antistat solution on the surface of the outer housing so as to form an antistatic coating thereon. The coating comprises the anionic surfactant and deliquescent salt components of the antistat solution.

Abstract: A photoflash device which includes a plastic substrate, lamp-firing circuitry located on a first surface of the substrate, a disconnect switch also secured to the first surface of the substrate and electrically joined to the lamp-firing circuitry, at least one electrically activated photoflash lamp located above the switch for activating said switch upon ignition thereof, and a solid, light-transmitting polymer located about and encapsulating the glass envelope of the lamp. A thin, light-transmitting polyester member is located over the switch to protect the switch during formation of the device. The polyester member serves to prevent contact between the resin which forms the polymer and switch during thisformation, thus assuring close placement of the lamp's envelope and switch, said placement thereby assuring proper activation (e.g., severance) of the switch.

Abstract: A method of forming a protective coating on a glass envelope of a photoflash lamp. The method comprises the steps of orienting the lamp within a mold member such that the external surfaces of the lamp's glass envelope do not contact the internal surfaces of the mold, depositing a quantity of powdered thermoplastic or thermosetting resin within the mold such that the resin surrounds the entirety of the glass envelope's external surfaces, simultaneously applying pressure and heat to the powdered material to cause it to liquify, and thereafter cooling the liquified material to form a light-transmitting, solid polymer member having the glass envelope located therein. Pressures within the range of about 500 to 8000 pounds per square inch were possible without fracturing the glass envelopes or adversely effecting the components therein. The finished product is ideally suited as one component of a multilamp photoflash device for use with many of today's cameras.

Abstract: A method of making a photoflash lamp wherein an elongated piece of glass tubing is sealed at a first end thereof to secure a pair of lead-in wires therein. Thereafter, a quantity of primer material is positioned within the tubing through the second, open end thereof and deposited on an internal bottom surface of the tubing. A quantity of shredded combustible material (e.g. zirconium) is then air blown within the tubing member, and thereafter a thin member (mica disk) is frictionally inserted through the open end. The tubing member is then restricted, a combustion-supporting atmosphere (e.g., oxygen) introduced therein, and the second open end of the tubing member is sealed (tipped) to define the finished envelope. Use of the disk substantially eliminates the possibility of shred migration into the second open end region during sealing thereof, thus assuring a positive seal at the envelope's tip portion.

Abstract: A photographic flash device which includes several pyrotechnic charges for emitting light upon electrical ignition thereof. Each charge is centrally suspended within an individual chamber located within the device's light-transmitting, plastic housing. The charges may be arranged in annular or linear arrays.

Abstract: A process for applying a protective light-transmitting coating to a photoflash lamp comprising the steps of applying the protective coating to the lamp and curing the applied coating by exposure thereof to radiant energy and characterized by the improvement wherein the layer of coating applied to some portions of the photoflash lamp is thicker than the layer of coating applied to other portions of the photoflash lamp.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp having a glass envelope with a clear protective exterior coating comprising a photopolymer reinforced with glass fibers. In applying the coating, a long strand of glass fibers is wrapped about the lamp envelope, which is then dipped in a liquid photopolymer, or short lengths of glass fiber are dispersed throughout the liquid photopolymer, either by premixing or application after dipping. The wet-coated lamp is then cure-hardened by a short period of irradiation with a source of ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Color correction means for flash lamp are disclosed which utilizes a blue emitting organic phosphor medium to increase the total light output being emitted from the flash lamp and lower the Spectral Distribution Index (SDI) of the lamp-phosphor combination. The phosphor medium can be employed as a coating for the light-transmitting envelope of the flash lamp wherein the phosphor constituent is dissolved in a transparent film forming polymer. In certain preferred embodiments, further color correction of the flash lamp radiation can be effected with dyes incorporated into the protective cover means or containment lacquer now commonly employed.

Abstract: For use in a color-corrected photoflash unit, a flashlamp having a clear glass envelope with a transparent protective exterior coating comprising a UV curable photopolymer tinted with a colorant providing a portion of the total color correction capability of the unit.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp having a glass envelope with a clear protective exterior coating comprising a photopolymer reinforced with glass fibers. In applying the coating, a long strand of glass fibers is wrapped about the lamp envelope, which is then dipped in a liquid photopolymer, or short lengths of glass fiber are dispersed throughout the liquid photopolymer, either by premixing or application after dipping. The wet-coated lamp is then cure-hardened by a short period of irradiation with a source of ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp having a glass envelope with a clear protective exterior coating comprising a photopolymer. In applying the coating, the lamp is dipped in a liquid photopolymer and then cure-hardened by a short period of irradiation with a source of ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Thermosetting addition-polymerizable unsaturated urethane or urea compositions have been developed which are especially suited for use as damage-preventive coatings for wood, metal, glass, ceramic, and plastic structures. The use of the coatings as containment vessels for photoflash lamps is described.

Abstract: An electrically fired flash lamp which utilizes a single conductive lead member. The lead protrudes within the lamp's envelope and is covered by a quantity of primer material. A conductive coating (e.g. tin oxide) covers a major portion of the external surface of the envelope and is capacitively coupled through the envelope's wall to the combustible filamentary material (e.g. shredded zirconium) therein. In another embodiment, a second conductive coating is located on the internal surface of the envelope opposite the outer coating and in electrical contact with the filamentary material. Accordingly, both coatings are capacitively coupled when the lamp is electrically fired. A sequentially-activated array of the above lamps is also disclosed.

Abstract: Several means are described for providing an electrical coupling path through a protective, insulative layer, e.g. cellulose acetate, located on an electrically activated flash lamp envelope. The function of the path is to interconnect a thin conductive coating positioned on the envelope's external surface under the insulative layer with an electrical contact located externally of the flash lamp and adapted for igniting the lamp.