Abstract: A method of preparing a fiber reinforced elastomer by forming fibers therein in-situ and an elastomer made thereby are provided. In the method, a fiber forming material, preferably a high performance polymer, is dissolved in a compatible solvent to form a solvent/polymer mixture, and the mixture is added to the elastomer during compounding or mixing. The polymer is quickly dispersed into the elastomer, and the solvent rapidly evaporates. The shear of the mixer causes elongation of the polymer into fibers. The fibers may also be oriented by the shear of the mixer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a butt splicing technique for use in manufacturing reinforced elastomeric articles, in particular pneumatic tires. In the method, after a butt splice is made, a spun-bonded material is applied to the splice area as a splicing strip. The spun-bonded material has stress/strain/expansion characteristics that closely resemble such properties in an elastomeric component of the article which is spliced so that the splicing strip does not unduly distort the reinforcing structure of the component, while preventing opening of the splice during construction. Articles made using the method are also provided.

Abstract: The turn-up portion of the carcass ply (12) in the bead portion of a pneumatic tire is interposed between the bead core (11) and a clamping member (18). The bead core (11) has a radial cross section which is substantially pentagonal. The clamping member (18) comprises a heat shrinkable material that secures the turn-up portion of the carcass ply in a desired location. Elastomeric stiffening members (19,20) are disposed on each side of the carcass ply (12) in the bead portions and lower sidewalls of the tire. The assembly of a tire according to the invention mounted upon a specified rim (22) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A positioning arm (44) is provided with a plurality of elongated members carrying two combinations of a radiation source (46; 58) and a sensor (48; 60). Each sidewall is interposed between a radiation source (46; 58) and a sensor (48; 60). The radiation sources (46; 58) provide a collimated beam of radiation which is relatively unattenuated (absorbed) in passing through the elastomer in the tire sidewall, but will be reflected by the steel wire cords in the sidewall. Each combination of a radiation source and sensor scans a sidewall of the tire at a predetermined speed to detect sidewall defects such as missing or improperly spaced cords.

Abstract: This invention is directed to treating the surfaces of rubber-reinforcing materials with a gas plasma of O.sub.2 and CF.sub.4 to activate the surfaces to make them more receptive to adhesives. Optionally the surfaces of the reinforcing materials may be exposed to a polymerizing gas plasma such as a thio-carbon to coat the surfaces of the reinforcing material with substances that promote adhesion to rubber. The treated surfaces have been shown to adhere directly to rubber when vulcanized in the normal fashion.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10, 40) having a belt reinforcing structure (24) located between the carcass (12) and the tread portion (20) is reinforced with an overlay belt (30) located between the belt reinforcing structure (24) and the tread (20). The overlay belt (30) has a plurality of parallel cords (32) oriented at an angle with respect to the equatorial plane (EP) of the tire. The angle of the cords (32) is between 9.degree. to 24.degree. degrees. The overlay can be used by itself or in conjunction with a pair of belt reinforcing strips (42) located radially outwardly along both axial edges (46, 48) of one of the belts (26, 28) of the belt reinforcing structure (24). The belt reinforcing strips (42) also contain a plurality of cords (50) oriented at an angle of from 9.degree. to 24.degree. with respect to the equatorial plane of the tires.

Abstract: A tire bead ring comprising round wires laid down in a parallelogram shape having an acute angle of 75.degree.-90.degree. is provided. The bead ring of the invention, when employed in a tire at a lay angle of 5.degree.-15.degree., provides a means for spreading out or dissipating twisting forces or torques encountered by the bead area of the tire to prevent separation of the bead from the rim during inflation and loss of air because of the flexing of the tire during running. Also, when the bead comprises multiple turns of a single round wire, a bead having reduced weight and good strength and uniformity may be provided.

Abstract: A method of making a belt overlay structure for a pneumatic tire is provided. In the method, a belt structure is wrapped circumferentially around a cylinder which is secured to a rotatable shaft, and a ribbon comprising an elastomeric substance containing side-by-side textile cords extending longitudinally in the ribbon is provided on a let-off means. A first end of the ribbon is adhered to the outermost belt ply in close proximity to the axial center line of the belt structure, and the cylinder is rotated while ribbon is supplied from the let-off device. The let-off device first traverses to a first lateral edge of the belt structure where the lateral movement of the let-off means stops while the cylinder continues to rotate and the let-off means continues to supply ribbon.

Abstract: A tread for a unidirectional pneumatic tire has first and second circumferentially extending zones. The edges of the zones are parallel to the equatorial plane of the tire. Each zone has a width between 40% and 60% of the tread width. The first zone has substantially aligned lateral wide groove segments extending across the width of the first zone. The segments form an angle between 70 and 90 degrees with the equatorial plane. The net-to-gross ratio of the first zone is at least 3% more than that of the second zone. The leading edge of the blocks in the first zone are narrower than the trailing edge. The second zone has substantially aligned lateral wide groove segments extending across the width of the second zone. The segments form an angle between 10 and 45 degrees with the equatorial plane.

Abstract: A self contained heated root canal dental instrument which combines the operations of a root canal spreader, a root canal condenser and a root canal filling material heater is provided. The instrument has batteries in its handle for use as a power source for heating root canal filling material and employs a non-corrosive dental tool that has a resistive element in its tip to provide the heating when electricity from the batteries is conducted through the tip. A method for making the dental tool is provided which comprises threading a resistive element through a cannula which is used as a dental tool.

Abstract: A method for cushioning dental appliance in the mouth using a visible light cured polymeric material which can also be used in a method for intraoral medicament delivery in the mouth is provided. When used with an orthodontic bracket, for example, the light cured polymeric material is dispensed on the orthodontic bracket after the bracket is in place and the material is light cured on the bracket. When used in a method of intraoral delivery of a medicament, a medicament is added to the polymeric material and the polymeric material is applied in the same manner as described for cushioning an orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: A biologically compatible adhesive dental primer that is shelf stable as a single component adhesive and includes a mixture of an adhesive promoting and polymerizable monomer system having a free radical polymerizable monomer or prepolymer having ethylenic unsaturation and a phosphorus containing adhesion promoter which is free from halogen atoms bonded directly to a phosphorus atom, and optionally a free radical polymerization catalyst, and an accelerator for the catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a dental impression using an improved band technique. The method comprises placing an actinic light transparent band containing light polymerizable impression material over a tooth or a tooth preparation, and polymerizing the impression material and contacting the band with the polymerized impression material with tray impression material and incorporating the band into the overall impression.

Abstract: An anaesthetic apparatus having a plurality of vaporizers is provided which utilizes an interlocking device which prevents more than one vaporizer from being activated at one time. The interlock device can be used with any number of vaporizers mounted side-by-side. The interlock device comprises a cam follower which is adapted to be received in a rotating cam which is used to activate the vaporizer. The cam follower is connected to a pair of cranks which activate bars which interact with bars on adjacent interlocking devices, when one of the interlocking devices is activated, thereby locking all the other vaporizers in a inoperative position. Also provided is a safety lock connector which is used for connecting hose to an anaesthesia apparatus.

Abstract: A dental composite carrier and a packaging means for a composite used for posterior restorations in a tooth is provided. The composite carrier comprises a handle having a lever with a jaw on one end, and the package comprises individual incremental portions of composite material contained in ampules, and a number of ampules packaged in a tray. The composite carrier is used to pick an ampule out of the tray, carry it to a tooth, and deliver it into a cavity in the tooth. Optionally, the handle may have a condenser on its opposite end to be used for packing and smoothing the composite in the tooth.

Abstract: A method of building a dental appliance and a kit for use in the method are provided. In the method, metal copings are coated with an opaque ceramic paste, and a coarse ceramic powder, having structural stability under the conditions needed to fire the ceramic paste, is dusted on the coating of ceramic paste, and the coping is fired. A coated metal coping with a rough, sandpaper like surface is produced, and subsequent layers of ceramic paste are applied to the rough surface to build up the dental appliance. The kit of the invention provides at least one preformed opaque ceramic paste, dusting powders, and other ingredients needed to build a dental appliance.

Abstract: A method of detecting dentin is provided. Also provided is a method of repairing a tooth in which dentin is detected using a substance that stains protein, and is thereby clearly delineated from enamel, the enamel is then selectively acid etched, taking care that none of the acid from the etching procedure contacts dentin, and composite filling material is applied to the tooth. The use of a composition for staining dentin is also provided.

Abstract: A dental impression tray and method of using it to form in a light-polymerizable impression material an impression of a portion of dental anatomy in an oral cavity, the tray being formed of transparent material, preferably clear plastic, and molded into a channel-like shape defined by walls capable of having visible actinic light applied to the walls transmitted both through and within the walls. At least some of the outer edge portions of the tray are beveled, guiding light that has entered the walls of the tray against exiting loss that would not be effective in initiating polymerization of the impression material.

Abstract: A dental impression package pre-loaded with dental impression material adapted for taking accurate impressions of a patient's teeth and/or gums by professional personnel is provided. The impression material used is flowable to a desired degree and has a viscosity of substantially one million centipoises. Packaging a pre-loaded dental impression tray is accomplished by first quickly immersing the loaded tray in a solution of natural latex for a few seconds and then quickly removing the coated product followed by quickly immersing it in a coagulating solution of acetic acid for a few seconds to stabilize the latex coating; withdrawing the stabilized coated product; drying it; and suitably packaging the product for storage and sale. If the impression material is of a light-curable nature, the packaging is of light-opaque nature.