Abstract: A coating composition includes 1.5 to 4 weight percent of a film-forming acrylic resin having an average molecular weight of from about 235,000 to about 285,000; 4 to 8 weight percent of a film-forming acrylic resin having an average molecular weight of from about 175,00 to about 225,000; 1 to 3 weight percent of solid caustic; and 75 to 85 weight percent water. The film-forming acrylic resins may be copolymers of alpha-beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers and ethylenically unsaturated esters. A dried coating of the composition is water-soluble. A method for making the coating composition includes heating water from about 140 to about 200° F.

Abstract: A cradle for holding a flashlight in a glovebox of an automobile and for facilitating the use of the flashlight as a light for the glovebox. The cradle has an opening to allow the flashlight to slide in and out of the cradle and a light opening to allow light from the flashlight to shine through the cradle. The cradle includes a reflector to cause light from the flashlight to be reflected in a different direction. The cradle can have a tapered inner surface on a side adjacent the insertion opening. The tapered inner surface is to increase the snugness of the fit of the flashlight and, when the flashlight has a push button switch, the tapered inner surface can serve to deactivate the flashlight when the flashlight is inserted into the cradle. A light assembly includes a flashlight and a cradle for holding the flashlight and for mounting the light assembly in a glovebox of an automobile.

Abstract: A finish-protective tool piece and a finish-protective tool piece collar are made from non-marring materials that circumferentially surround and secure a tool piece for rotating fasteners having driving heads. This collared tool piece or collar substantially protects against the marring and damaging of consumer item finishes during final stages of assembly by tool pieces skipping off the fastener heads during operation onto painted or otherwise finished surfaces. The collared tool piece or collar is being adapted for individual tool piece diameters or styles and rotates with the secured tool piece, said tool piece extending therethrough so as to be able to rotate the fastener. This invention has obvious cost advantages as it can prove useful in practically all aspects of consumer item manufacturing including automobiles, appliances, barbecues, furniture, bicycles, etc.

Abstract: A coating composition which forms a peelable coating for protecting surfaces of an object from the outside elements. The coating composition includes a latex of rubber particles and a UV absorber, wherein the rubber particles are present from about 35 to about 50 weight percent in the coating composition. The coating composition may also include from about 0.5 to about 4 weight percent of an antioxidant; from about 0.003 to about 0.03 weight percent of a biocide; from about 0.03 to about 0.08 weight percent of a defoamer; from about 0.07 to about 0.40 weight percent of a thixotropic agent; and a rust inhibitor, wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the coating composition. The method of using the composition includes coating the surface with a layer of the above-described coating composition and allowing the layer of coating composition to dry and form a coating which is capable of being peeled from the object.

Abstract: A process for nitriding materials containing silicon to form a silicon nitride material predominantly in the alpha phase is disclosed which includes nitriding the silicon-containing material by (a) heating the silicon-containing material in an atmosphere containing at least hydrogen in the temperature range of about 0.degree. C. to about 800.degree. C. and (b) thereafter, nitriding the silicon-containing material by subjecting the silicon-containing material to a nitriding atmosphere containing at least nitrogen gas in the temperature range of from about 1000.degree. C. to about 1450.degree. C. to effect nitriding.

Abstract: A container includes two container members which, when together, form an interior which includes a cup sized and shaped to hold a cupcake. The cup has a bottom, sides, and at least one protrusion extending inwardly from at least one of the sides. The protrusion is positioned and protrudes inwardly enough such that, when a cupcake in a cupcake baking liner is placed in the cup, the protrusion is below the top of the cupcake baking liner and the protrusion holds the cupcake in a substantially stationary position. One of the members may be a top member and the other, a bottom member. The bottom member (the member with the cup(s)) may have vertical pleats in opposite sides of the cup(s). The pleats are spreadable at the top of the cup(s) to allow easier removal of a cupcake. The pleats are also compressible to allow the member to better hold a cupcake.

Abstract: A two-sided pocketed hand shield (10, 12, or 16) for protecting a hand from germs includes a sheet (18) of flexible material and a piece (28 or 48) of flexible material. The piece (28 or 48) of flexible material is shorter than the sheet (18) and attached to the front surface of the sheet (18) in a manner to form a pocket adapted to fit a hand and in a manner that (a) leaves an opening (60, 64, or 72) for the insertion of a hand and (b) allows the sheet (18) to extend beyond the opening (60, 64, or 72). The opening (60, 64, or 72) has two ends and is preferably angled from one end to the other end. The sheet (18) may be rectangular and the piece (28 or 48) may be mitten-shaped or trapezoidal, and either may be formed of absorbent material or plastic. The piece (28 or 48) is preferably attached to the sheet in a way which renders the pocket in the shape of a mitten. Another embodiment is an array (80) of pocketed sanitary hand shields (81).

Abstract: A mobile beverage station includes a trailer booth and wheels. The front of the trailer booth is curved and formed at least in part by a plurality of flat windows. The station may have an escape hatch in the roof, and the wheels may be out from under the trailer booth. The wheels may be detachable and the trailer booth may be adapted so that, when the wheels are detached, the trailer booth can rest on a support structure and appear as a permanent building structure. Another mobile beverage station includes a trailer booth and a sink set inside the trailer booth. The sink set includes a mop sink, a grey-water storage tank, a vent pipe, a mop sink drainage pipe, a hand sink, a hand sink drainage pipe, and an open-cup drain connector. The vent pipe leads from a side of the grey-water storage tank near the top of the grey-water storage tank to outside the trailer booth.

Abstract: Grooved friction materials (12 or 14) each include a single-layer pyrolytic-carbon fabric material formed of woven or nonwoven yarn strands (20 and 22). The pyrolytic-carbon fabric material (12 or 14) has a top surface (16) and a bottom surface (18), the top surface (16) having molded grooves (28) therein. The yarn strands (20 and 22) at the grooves (28) exhibit superior integrity because they are generally whole, undamaged yarn strands. Wet friction members for friction engaging mechanisms include a support member (54, 56, or 58) and at least one piece (48, 50, or 52) of grooved friction material (14) adhered to a surface of the support member. The bulk grooved friction material (14), from which the individual pieces (48, 50, or 52) are cut, is a single-layer pyrolytic-carbon fabric material formed of yarn strands (20 and 22) and has a top surface (16) with grooves (28) therein. The yarn strands (20 and 22) at the grooves (28) are generally whole and undamaged.

Abstract: A method for making a carbon composite material includes coating a carbon-fiber meshed cloth substrate with a liquid form of a carbon source and carbonizing the coating on the coated substrate by heating the coated substrate to a carbonizing temperature. The thickness of the coating on the substrate is such that, upon carbonization of the coating, the carbonized coated substrate retains porosity and a discernible surface texture.

Abstract: Hot-melt silicone pressure sensitive adhesive composition, methods of using the composition, article made using the composition, and methods of making articles using the composition. The hot-melt silicone pressure sensitive adhesive composition includes a mixture of (i) a silicone resin, (ii) a silicone fluid, and (iii) from about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the silicone resin and the silicone fluid, of a non-flammable hydrocarbon having a weight-average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 1500 as measured by gel permeation chromatography calibrated with narrow distribution polydimethylsiloxane standards.

Abstract: An improved self-bonding curable organopolysiloxane composition which contains (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 silicon-bonded alkenyl groups in each molecule, (B) an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 silicone-bonded hydrogen atoms in each molecule, (C) a catalytic quantity of a platinum-type catalyst, (D) a carbonyl complex of a Group VIB element, and (E) a compound containing a silicon-bonded alkoxy group which is selected from the group consisting of silanes or siloxane oligomers. Examples of the carbonyl complex are molybdenum hexacarbonyl, tungsten hexacarbonyl, and chromium hexacarbonyl.

Abstract: A method of forming a highly adsorptive polymer, which includes the steps of: (a) homogeneously mixing a solution of a monomer consisting exclusively of one or more types of polyunsaturated monomer, a monomer solvent, and an initiator, (b) polymerizing the monomers to form a polymer, wherein the monomer solvent is a solvent for the monomers and a non-swelling non-solvent for the polymer, and (c) removing the solvent from the polymer to form a dry powder.

Abstract: Tack-free silicone gel moldings and methods of making such moldings are prepared by coating tacky silicone gel moldings with a silicone rubber particles, having an average diameter less than about 1 mm.

Abstract: A tissue expander and a method for making a tissue expander which includes (a) a fluid-tight envelope which is inflatable by a single means for inflation and which has an expandable upper section formed of (i) a first elastic portion and (ii) a second elastic portion formed of a material having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of the material forming the first portion, so that during the inflation of said envelope the modulus of elasticity of each portion at least partially controls the amount of expansion of each portion, thereby allowing the envelope to assume a complex shape. The tissue expander also has a means for inflating the envelope with a biocompatible fluid.

Abstract: A method of forming hollow, porous elastomeric bodies and hollow, duo-layered elastomeric bodies wherein one layer is porous and contiguous with the other layer which is solid by (a) coating a surface of a mandrel with a coating liquid, (b) adhering a layer of water-elutable particles onto the coated mandrel surface, (c) applying a layer of fluid elastomer composition to the particle-coated mandrel surface wherein the elastomeric composition is capable of forming a water-insoluble elastomer, (d) causing said elastomeric composition to form a cohesive mass while in contact with the particle-coated mandrel surface, (e) dissolving said elutable particles from the cohesvie mass with a water-based solvent, and (f) removing the cohesive mass from the mandrel. The coating liquid comprises water and may also further comprise a wetting agent and/or a sugar. The invention also relates to the method wherein the water-elutable particles are adhered to the mandrel surface by heating the mandrel surface.

Abstract: The specification describes and claims a method of making therapeutic rings from a curable silicone rubber based composition. The rings are capable of controlled release of the therapeutic agent in the human or animal body. The method includes the steps of:(i) extruding a first composition comprising a therapeutic agent and a first elastomer-forming silicone composition to provide a core;(ii) extruding a second composition comprising a second elastomer-forming silicone composition to provide a sheath enclosing the core;(iii) bringing together end portions of a piece of extruded core and sheath to form a ring,(iv) effecting crosslinking of the extruded core, and(v) effecting crosslinking of the extruded sheath.

Abstract: A pressure-adherent silicone elastomer composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive composition, a crosslinkable silicone elastomer composition, and, optionally, a viscosity reducing agent. Specifically, the silicone pressure sensitive adhesive composition is a condensation product, having a plasticity of less than 200 mils, of a benzene-soluble resinous copolymer containing silicon-bonded hydroxyl radicals and consisting essentially of triorganosiloxy units of the formula R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 and tetrafunctionalsiloxy units of the formula SiO.sub.4/2 in a ratio of about 0.6 to 0.9 triorganosiloxy units for each tetrafunctionalsiloxy unit present in the copolymer and a polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity from 100 centipoise to 50,000 centipoise at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: A hot-melt silicone pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising (i) a silicon resin, (ii) a silicone fluid, and (iii) 1 to 10 weight percent based on the total weight of said silicone resin and said silicone fluid, an ester having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 32 carbon atoms, and R' is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 14 carbon atoms.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions which are curable to hydrophilic, water-absorbing silicone-organic copolymer elastomers via free radical polymerization such as by the use of free radical precursors, ultraviolet light or electron beam radiation. The compositions are mixtures of (A) from 50 to 95 parts by weight of block copolymers containing polydiorganosiloxane segments and polyalkyleneoxy segments which block copolymers contain terminal aliphatically unsaturated groups such as those derived from the reaction of isocyanoethyl methacrylate with terminal free hydroxyl groups present on the polyalkyleneoxy segments and the polyalkyleneoxy segments are ultimately attached to the silicon atoms by means of a linkage formed by reaction with a diisocyanate compound and (B) from 5 to 50 parts by weight of at least one substantially water insoluble aliphatically unsaturated organic monomer which is compatible with (A) such as methyl methacrylate.