Abstract: A blend and flexible product made of two copolymers of an olefin and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic ester monomer. The copolymers are selected such that each copolymer includes greater than 6 weight percent ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic ester monomer, or selected to be more than 10 weight percent of the blend. If the copolyers have similar ester contents, that is differing by less than 6 weight percent, the copolymers are selected such that their difference in their melt flows is greater than about 8. If the copolymers have dissimilar ester contents, that is differing by more than 6 weight percent, the copolymers are selected such that the ratio of their melt flows is about 2 or less.

Abstract: A glue applicator for the installation of laminate flooring on subfloors has three laterally spaced nozzles for applying separate beads of glue onto the back of a plank of laminate flooring. Two nozzles are spaced for applying separate beads of glue along the lateral edges of a plank, the third nozzle is spaced for applying beads of glue through the center of the plank. Flanges on the sides of the glue applicator position the beads of glue on the back of a plank of laminate flooring and standoff flanges hold the nozzles above the back of the plank a sufficient distance for assuring that the glue applicator of this invention does not smear the beads.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electroplating method and products made therefrom, which in one embodiment includes using a current density J.sub.O, to form a conductive metal layer having a surface roughness no greater than the surface roughness of the underlying member. In another embodiment of electroplating a substrate surface having peaks and valleys, the method includes electroplating a conductive metal onto the peaks to cover the peaks with the conductive metal, and into the valleys to substantially fill the valleys with the conductive metal.

Abstract: A vacuum storage and dispensing container for use with perishable items, particularly food products, and more particularly for use with roasted whole-bean coffee in any retailing application, to extend shelf life of the perishable item. The invention includes a storage and dispensing container, and further includes a valve mechanism for opening the cylinder to the atmosphere. A merchandising unit for storing and dispensing perishables includes a plurality of the above described vacuum storage and dispensing containers.

Abstract: Polycarbonate prepolymer is crystallized using a water and solvent mixture, or by application of a shear force while heating, or by orientation of the prepolymer with a shear force followed by a temperature hold. High molecular weight polycarbonate is obtained by the solid state reaction of the crystallized prepolymer.

Abstract: A process for extruding a mixture of thermoplastic and ground whole tire waste, in which the mixture is extruded through a die to form an extrudate, with the extrudate subsequently cooled by directing a cooling gas toward the extrudate top, bottom and sides from a multiplicity of gas jets positioned around the periphery of the extrudate. In addition to an extruder, the apparatus includes a multiplicity of gas jets adjacent the extruder, positioned to direct a cooling gas toward the extrudate top, bottom and sides.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable cleaning system for ductwork and a method utilizing the cleaning system. The system includes a sound or air pulse generator for producing infrasound air pulses for short duration and introducing the air pulses into an air conduit which causes the air conduit to resonate or vibrate at a given infrasound frequency. The induced vibration causes contaminants in the ductwork to be entrained in the air pulses and carried with the air pulses to an exit of the air conduit where the air is filtered to remove the contaminants.

Abstract: A hat having elongated support members extending from the exterior of the crown of the hat, for supporting the hat upon the head of the wearer, to prevent the hat from causing any undue adverse affect to the wearer's hair style. An alternative embodiment of the hat further includes a casing having a framing that is either attached to the crown or a brim, which framing may be twisted to collapse the hat into a small compact size and shape. Another alternative embodiment of the hat further includes a layer of material for reducing the ability of the crown of the hat to become wrinkled after the hat is un-collapsed.

Abstract: Non-planar thermoplastic article having a flexible portion suitable for use in an aggressive chemical environment, with the flexible portion is an irradiated thermoplastic consisting of polyethylene, ethylene methyl acrylate, ethylene ethyl acrylate, or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers. Such articles can be made by forming the article and then irradiating, or alternatively by radiating the thermoplastic and then forming the article.

Abstract: A unit for the preparation of fermenting gas by fermenting viscous media with mixing paddles that can be moved continuously back and forth and in the same direction in the tank to mix the medium to be fermented. Alternately, the mixing paddles hang from a rotating roller in the tank and the roller is driven such that the mixing paddles are moved up and down. The unit may be fitted with several mixing paddles arranged in series and in the direction of the mixing effect, i.e., the suspended mixing paddles are arranged above each other in the event of a vertical tank, in which case a joint drive unit is provided for each mixing paddle group, thus moving the mixing paddles simultaneously in such a manner that each individual mixing paddle executes only a limited stroke, but the mixing paddles as a whole achieve a complete mixing of the medium to be fermented in the chamber, in which are installed the mixing paddles. The heat exchange is improved, when a heat exchange wall is installed between the two chambers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flywheel system for storing kinetic energy which utilizes a high temperature superconductor/magnet system for the flywheel bearings. The flywheel includes a first magnet, and having a ring magnet defining an opening. The levitation system includes a magnet for attractively interacting with first flywheel magnet, with a high temperature superconductor interposed between them, and further includes a magnet system for repulsively interacting with and partially inserted into the ring magnet.

Abstract: A transparent jacket designed to accommodate objects such as microfilm strips, CDs, diskettes and the like. The disclosed jackets are formed of top and bottom panels of flexible synthetic plastic material and bonding members that partition the jackets into chambers where the bonding members are composed of a hot melt adhesive system bonded to ozone pre-treated regions of the panels. The bonding members can be a plurality of longitudinal members substantial parallel to each other or at least one longitudinal and at least one lateral member where the longitudinal members are substantially parallel and the lateral members are substantially parallel. Each chamber is closed on at least two sides and includes a slot in one of the panel for inserting the object into the chamber. The bonding member are of a thickness designed to accommodate the object the jacket was designed to retain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of obtaining a highly soluble protein which method generally includes at least the step of contacting the protein with an amount of antioxidant suitable to raise the solubility of the protein, which method may also be utilized to raise the protein yield of the process. Antioxidants suitable for use in the present invention include substituted and unsubstituted quinones, anisoles, toluenes and tocopherols. Also disclosed is a highly soluble protein which includes a protein and added antioxidant. Further disclosed are food products made from a highly soluble protein. Finally, a method of processing food products is disclosed which at least includes the step of incorporating a highly soluble protein into the food product.

Abstract: This invention discloses a user interface and data management procedures for the efficient display, manipulation and analysis of multi attributed data or data amenable to multidimensional display, manipulation and management. The invention is centered on the construction and use of data carrousels comprising one or more n-gons where the each n-gon can be a layered n-gon at solid or each side of each n-gon can be a single face of an embedded n-gon.

Abstract: An drilling fluid additive to reduce loss circulation includes comminuted rice fraction and corn cobs, and includes ground at least one of ground wood fiber, ground nut shells, ground paper and shredded cellophane. A method of treating a drilling fluid includes contacting such drilling fluid additive with the base drilling fluid to form well fluid. A method of operating a well includes circulation of such a well fluid into and out of a borehole.

Abstract: An olefin polymerization process in which at least two introductions of hydrogen are made during the olefin polymerization reaction. Suitable catalysts include metallocenes of the general formula (Cp).sub.m TiX.sub.n, wherein Cp is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ring, X is a halogen, m=1-2, n=2-3, and wherein m+n=4, and conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts blended with or modified by such metallocenes.

Abstract: An isolation system for isolating a first object from vibrations from a second object. Such vibrations will have three orthogonal components, one oriented along a line between the objects, and two oriented 90.degree. apart in a plane normal to that line. The system includes three superconductor/magnet stages, each stage designed to extinguish one of the orthogonal components.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vacuum storage and dispensing container for use with perishable items, particularly food products, and more particularly for use with roasted whole-bean coffee in any retailing application, to extend the shelf life of the perishable item for several months. The invention comprises a storage and dispensing container having a cylinder with a top end and a bottom end. An upper enclosure is attached to the top end and a lower enclosure to the bottom end. There is provided a system for releasing and creating a vacuum in the cylinder, upper enclosure, and lower enclosure for maintaining freshness of the perishable item. In another aspect, there is disclosed a merchandising unit for storing and dispensing perishables comprising a plurality of storage and dispensing containers. Each container includes a cylinder having a top end and a bottom end. An air-tight upper enclosure is attached to the top end and an air-tight lower enclosure to the bottom end.

Abstract: A well fluid emusion having a water phase and an oil phase of a sulfurized alcohol and a naturally occuring fat, oil or derivatives thereof. Also disclosed is a method of lubricating drilling equipment used in conjunction with the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well. The method includes introducing the above emulsified well fluid into the well for circulation through and out of the well, and further includes contacting the surface of the drilling equipment with the emulsified well fluid to provide an interface between the equipment surface and the water phase. Suitable naturally occurring fats and oils may be obtained from the following animal oils and fats: butter, lard, tallow, grease, herring, menhaden, pilchard and sardine; and from the following vegetable oils and fats: castor, coconut, coffee, corn, cottonseed, jojoba, linseed, liticica, olive, palm, palm kernel, peanut, rapeseed, safflower, soya, sunflower, tall and tung.