Abstract: A vinyl floor covering to accommodate wood subfloor contraction and expansion as well as rolling load incorporates a foamed plastisol encapsulated glass mat which may be cut to form pivot points and expanded under a controlled pre-stressed condition. The glass mat serves as a carrier during manufacture and an "elastic glass" reinforcing layer during use as either tension or loose-lay flooring. The floor covering may be a true hybrid surface covering which is capable of accommodating the dimensional change of a target subfloor by utilizing the characteristics of both tension floorings and loose-lay floorings.

Abstract: A surface covering is a laminate including a hard inorganic wear layer deposited on a support by a reduced pressure environment technique such as ion assisted physical vapor deposition. The support may be selected from metal foils, films or sheets and plastics, rubbers or mineral/binder systems. The preferred support materials include organic materials. The wear layer is between 1 micron and 25 microns in thickness and has a CIE LAB value of total Delta E of less than 12. Preferably, the wear layer is deposited on the support at a temperature of less than 175.degree. C.

Abstract: The system of this invention uses both a process and apparatus for printing an image on a removable thicker dielectric layer than conventionally used in other systems. The dielectric layer is at least 0.2 mils thick and is removed from the system after it is imaged, developed and fixed. Several alternate ways are used to imagewise charge the dielectric layer. The toner used preferably incorporates a resin of the said family resin as used in the dielectric layer or layers. The imaged layer may be attached to a base such as a tile or wallpaper support structure. The base support substantially strengthens the dielectric layer which is important for shipping, storage, ultimate use and durability.

Abstract: A composition and foam insulation for copper tubing is described herein which is formulated to retard copper oxidation and eliminate or reduce stress corrosion in the copper tubing. The copper compatible, elastomeric foam insulation is made from a composition comprising 100 parts by weight of rubber, vinyl chloride polymer at about 15 to about 85 pphr, a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of an alkyl phosphate ester and an oxyalkyl phosphate ester at about 10 to about 100 pphr, a fire retardant in an amount of at least about 100 pphr, a stabilizer in an amount effective to prevent degradation of the rubber and vinyl chloride polymer, a preservative at from about 0.1 to about 10 pphr, and a lubricant at about 10 to about 85 pphr, wherein the composition and foamed product contains no more than about 5 parts of free phenol per million.

Abstract: Lamellar-structured highly microporous silicate compositions are provided which can be used as insulative articles and insulation material. The silicate is in the form of lamellae selected from the group consisting of mica and vermiculite. The silicate lamellae form the microporous structure, by forming the pore walls with the lamellae. Processes are described which prepare these compositions by removing the water from flocculated or unflocculated aqueous dispersions of chemically delaminated silicates while the arrangement of the lamellae in the dispersion is largely preserved, resulting in the highly microporous lamellar structure.

Abstract: A novel fabric-covered wall- or ceiling-board of improved abrasion resistance is disclosed. The fabric is composed of fibers of at least two different melting temperatures. The product is manufactured by heating the fabric to a temperature to soften one fiber but not the other and bonding the fabric to the board.

Abstract: A print engine including a two-dimensional matrix print head is operated by data signals from a raster image processor through a distributed digital controller having a master controller and a plurality of separate controllers each for a separate set of elements along one of the dimensions of the array, specifically the finger control electrodes of an ion projection printing head. The elements along the other dimension of the array (the RF electrodes of the ion projection head) are controlled by the master controller which also controls the timing of writing of the pixel data signals into memories associated with each of the distributed controllers and the timing of the readout of the pixel data to the finger control electrodes in synchronism with the activation of the RF electrodes and the movement of a medium on which the image is printed so as to print portions of each line in sequence (interleaving dots representing pixels on each line) to form the image on the medium.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a transition element for use between an upper ceiling level and a lower ceiling level to form a two-level or multi-level ceiling. The transition element has a configured surface, particularly a curved surface. The transition element is mounted with the top of the curved surface located adjacent the plane of the upper ceiling level and the bottom of the curved surface being located in the plane of the lower ceiling level so that the curved surface forms a transition surface between the two ceiling levels. The transition element is held in position by the ceiling runners used to hold the ceiling boards in position.

Abstract: The adhesive system of the present invention is suitable for use in adhering an incompatible ink system to a polymeric film; particularly, adhering a lithographic ink or electrographic toner bonded to a floor covering. The polymeric sheet and incompatible ink have a primer layer interposed between them or the ink layer is encapsulated between the two primer layers. The primer may be solvent based or aqueous based and preferably includes a benzene derivative, ketone, acetate or nitroparaffin solvent or film former. The primer is compatible with the polymeric sheet and diffuses into the ink layer. The preferred solvent or film former includes methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The primer also includes a polyvinyl resin, acrylic resin, polyurethane resin or polyester resin, and optionally a pigment. To deter dot distortion of the ink, the primer should have a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of at least about 60.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention involves a structure containing a layered imaged configuration with an overcoating layer. The overcoating layer, in addition to encapsulating the toned image, substantially strengthens the dielectric layer after it is removed from the system. Also, a process for producing a product having an image depth perception and the product itself are disclosed. The layered structure may have one or two dielectric layers having a combined thickness of from about 0.2 to about 10.0 mils.

Abstract: A lighting control system for maintaining the light source and measuring components of a color measurement station in a stabilized condition. A high frequency fluorescent lamp drive is controlled by a ballast which is adjusted by a control signal generated by using a video camera to simultaneously view a standard tile and a test sample. One of the color signals in the standard tile portion of the signal is compared with prescribed information stored in a computer, and if the standard tile signal differs from the prescribed information, the microcomputer adjusts the fluorescent lamp drive until the signal from the standard tile reaches the prescribed level, at which time the color signals from the test sample are evaluated while the lamp intensity and camera response are generating standardized measurement conditions.

Abstract: A release carrier includes a dimensionally stable release paper of the prior art, but also includes a crystallizable polymer which has spherulite formations on its exposed surface. The preferred crystallizable polymer is polypropylene. The release carriers can be reconditioned to remove surface defects, change the level of gloss and form patterned areas of differential gloss by heating the polyolefin layer above its melting point and quenching the layer under controlled conditions. By quenching the crystallizable polymer by contacting the surface of the release carrier opposite the crystallizable polymer with a chill roll, the transfer of defects in the chill roll or planishing roll to the release carrier surface is avoided.

Abstract: A fabric covered board structure made with a base of a mineral fiber material having a corrugated face surface. A discontinuous coating of high tack adhesive on the corrugated face surface and a flexible textile or vinyl sheet adhered to the face surface by the adhesive.

Abstract: The floor covering of the present invention has a wear layer and/or seam coater which is a high T.sub.g urethane composition. While most floor covering urethanes have a T.sub.g of from 18.degree. C. to 23.degree. C., the T.sub.g of the present urethane is above about 40.degree. C., and preferably from about 48.degree. C. to about 55.degree. C. The T.sub.g of the prior art has been increased by altering the composition of the aromatic acid based polyester polyols used in the prior art moisture curable prepolymers. By raising the precursor polyol to dicarboxylic acid ratio, the polyester polyols produced have lower equivalent weights. This alone results in a polyurethane-urea of higher T.sub.g at a given alicyclic diisocyanate to polyester equivalent ratio. However, increases in the T.sub.g may also be obtained by replacing some or all of long chain flexible polyol precursors (e.g. triethylene glycol) with shorter and/or less flexible polyol precursors. The high T.sub.g improves stain resistance.

Abstract: Phosphate ceramic backing blocks are provided for the profile sanding of wood. The blocks are made of rigid, non-foamed phosphate ceramic. The ceramic is dimensionally stable in spite of friction-caused heat, and also has a semi-polished finish that is achieved without polishing. The phosphate ceramic block is simply made by molding the wet reaction mixture for the ceramic, and then curing the ceramic mixture.

Abstract: A novel composite board of mineral wool, perlite, and cellulosic newsprint fibers for use primarily as a ceiling tile is disclosed. The board displays virtually no sag (less than 200 mils) when exposed to high temperature and high humidity while displaying quite acceptable strength. The board is manufactured by selective deposition of a composition of latex and extender particles on the cellulosic newsprint fibers.

Abstract: A gasket which contains microspheres which expand inside the gasket sheet material after the gasket sheet is formed. Such gaskets are especially useful to provide a seal against fluid leaks at significantly lower pressures due to the presence of the microspheres. Some microspheres can expand during use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to liquid cyrstalline polyesters which are soluble and have low melting points. Preferably the solubility in halogenated solvent is greater than 10 wt. % and the crystalline melting point is less than 125.degree. C. The polyesters are thermotropic and nematic, and preferably have a number average molecular weight from 1,000 to 25,000. The polyesters include a cyclohexane ring in the backbone and are more particularly main-chain thermotropic polyester which contain trans-1,4 cyclohexane dicarboxylate mesogens and flexible spacer groups. These compositions are useful in coating applications including floor coverings.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a coating system which is adaptable to being crosslinked subsequent to being embossed. The system comprises a linear polyurethane that contains sites of unsaturation only in its polymeric backbone and a photoinitiator. The polyurethane is produced by the reaction of a diisocyanate and an unsaturated polyester diol.

Abstract: This invention involves both a process and apparatus for printing an image on a removable thicker dielectric layer than conventionally used in other systems. The process and apparatus can have one or more image-toning stations on a conductive substrate. When multiple stations having separate imaging and toning means are used, complicated image registration structures are avoided. The dielectric layer used is at least 0.2 mils thick and is removed from the system after it is imaged, developed, fixed and laminated or overcoated with a layer of the same family resin as used in the dielectric layer or layers. The imaged and overcoated layer may be attached to substrate such as a tile or wallpaper base, either before or after the process of this invention is completed. The overcoating substantially strengthens the dielectric layer in addition to overcoating the image. The final colored image (or monochrome) is removed from the printing apparatus after the overcoating is laminated thereon.