Patents Assigned to Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
  • Mica and vermiculite paper and its preparation
    Patent number: 5126013
    Abstract: Mineral paper is provided which comprises a wet-laid sheet of 1) fibers, 2) a floc of a silicate selected from the group consisting of mica and vermiculite, the said floc having a cationic polymeric flocculant having a molecular weight in the range of from about 10,000 to about 1,000,000, and 3) a non-ionic polymeric flocculant having a molecular weight of from about 2,000,000 to about 10,000,000. A process is described herein for the preparation of the paper using the two flocculants by first flocculating with the cationic polymeric flocculant and then flocculating in another step with the non-ionic polymeric flocculant to obtain an easily drained flocculated mixture which is dewatered to obtain the mineral paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony L. Wiker, James L. Work
  • Phyllosilicate containing aminoplast wear layer for resilient surface coverings
    Patent number: 5124202
    Abstract: The flexibility of aminoplast wear layers is improved by the addition of a phyllosilicate. The concentration of the phyllosilicate is sufficiently low to not adversely affect other physical properties of the wear layer. The reduction or elimination of urethane improves stain resistance. The gloss level obtained for a given concentration of phyllosilicate depends on the particle size, and therefore type of phyllosilicate, as well as amount of phyllosilicate. A surface covering having areas of different gloss level can be obtained by printing areas forming the wear layer with compositions containing different types of phyllosilicates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond H. Fernando, Walter J. Bohrn
  • Acrylic polymer coating compositions for coats and films that have reduced surface resistivity
    Patent number: 5124381
    Abstract: Coating compositions for making films having reduced surface resistivity are described herein. These compositions are clear and produce films that are clear and transparent enough to read newsprint through the films. The compositions include colloidal silica, a choline based antistat, and a film-forming binder which is a (meth)acrylic polymer having a quaternary ammonium salt moiety in the polymeric molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry D. Ward
  • Printing system
    Patent number: 5124730
    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 dielectric layer is at least 0.2 mils thick and is removed from the system after it is imaged, developed and fixed. The toner used preferably incorporates a resin of the same 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Lewicki, Jr., John H. Bowers
  • Polymer/glass hybrid coating
    Patent number: 5120811
    Abstract: A 1 to 8 micron organic/inorganic (epoxy/glass) wear surface coating over a clear, protective layer provides excellent stain and gloss protection. An acid hydrolyzed silicate is combined with an acid hydrolyzed silicone coupling agent; an epoxy monomer; a photoinitiator and silicon oil surfactant to produce a coating composition which is dried to remove alcohol/water solvent and U.V. cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Glotfelter, Robert P. Ryan
  • Tile product having multiple levels of height, multiple levels of gloss and mortar-line surround
    Patent number: 5112671
    Abstract: A tile product having a substantially non-porous vinyl composition base and a multilevel embossing and gloss which has a mechanically embossed mortar-line surround and which is free of gloss defects formed by pockets of air trapped between the wear layer and embossing mold during embossing is produced by applying a vacuum to the press during embossing. Preferably, the tile is laminated in a hot press heated by RF energy and cooled in a cold press to reduce the temperature of the wear layer to below its glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Diamond, James J. Lawson, Walter J. Lewicki, Jr., Stavros C. Stavrinou
  • Comfort cushion for floors
    Patent number: 5108094
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a comfort cushion adapted for use by a person standing for a prolonged period. The cushion causes increased leg muscle activity that results in increased movement of blood upward from the feet of the standing person. The cushion is composed of a wear layer which is resistant to abrasion from foot traffic and a base material which is substantially more compressible than the wear layer. The comfort cushion causes the foot to assume a slightly different angular relationship to the horizontal as compared with the conditions that exist when one is standing on a conventional flat floor. This, in turn, causes increased leg muscle activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Quinn, William E. Irwin, Thomas C. Downey
  • Photoimagable coating compositions which are developable in aqueous alkaline solutions and can be used for solder mask compositions
    Patent number: 5102774
    Abstract: A UV sensitive coating composition is described which is a polymer prepared from a condensation reaction of a diisocyanate, a hydroxy alkyl (di or tri) (meth)acrylate and a carboxylic acid polyol. Optionally, a polyol and/or a dicarboxylic acid polyol can also be included as reactants. The coating polymer, thus prepared, can also be combined with binders and crosslinkers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Songvit Setthachayanon
  • Embossed and wiped decorative surface coverings
    Patent number: 5102716
    Abstract: A surface covering product is disclosed which includes a layer of fused embossed PVC material on a substrate and a layer of transparent or translucent plastic material substantially covering the fused PVC layer and filling the embossed area of depression in the PVC layer. The surface covering product is made by applying the plastic material to the embossed surface of the PVC material and wiping off at least a portion of the plastic material. In one embodiment, a film of plastic material of substantial or minimal thickness remains on the fused PVC material. In another embodiment, the plastic material is completely wiped off the undepressed area of the fused granular material. The PVC material is preferably a granular material such as a stencil vinyl fine material. In one embodiment, the plastic material is a layer of minimal thickness substantially covering the stencil vinyl fine material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Balmer, Martin Dees, Jr., Frank G. Drout
  • Phosphate ceramic backing blocks and their preparation
    Patent number: 5101600
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra L. Morris, L. Gene Hartzell
  • Charge dissipative surface coverings
    Patent number: 5091452
    Abstract: Quaternary ammonium salt antistatic agents having an organic chain of ten to twenty-five atoms plasticize the vinyl resin of a static charge dissipative surface covering. Such antistatic agents minimize migration and therefore retain their charge dissipative properties for a longer period of time. The class of plasticizing quaternary ammonium salt antistatic agents includes derivatives of unsaturated organic acids and alkyl ethers having a chain length of six to eighteen carbon atoms and a hydroxyl functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth K. Ko, Jesse D. Miller, Jr., Susan M. Von Stetten
  • Photoimagable solder mask coating
    Patent number: 5089376
    Abstract: A UV sensitive coating composition is described which uses a polymer prepared from a condensation reaction of a diisocyanate, a hydroxy alkyl (di or tri) (meth)acrylate and a carboxylic acid polyol. Optionally, a polyol and/or a dicarboxylic acid polyol can also be included as reactants. The coating polymer, thus prepared, is combined with binders and crosslinkers to form a solder mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Songvit Setthachayanon
  • Highly filled resin powder
    Patent number: 5084501
    Abstract: A highly filled PVC resin powder is formed by coating filler particles with a liquid and blending a dispersion grade PVC resin with the coated filler particles in a low shear mixer. Resin compositions having 60% to 95% filler can be formed. A majority of the resin particles have a size of less than 15 microns. The filler has a particle size distribution in which at least 50% by weight and preferably at least 95% by weight of the particles are retained on a 200 mesh (U.S. Standard) screen. The liquid is a plasticizer and/or stabilizer. Such a composition may be sintered to form a porous mass or layer and the mass or layer printed with a plastisol or acrylate ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank G. Drout, Donald L. Kurtz, Elvin M. Weidman
  • Tension floor covering with reinforcing layer
    Patent number: 5082708
    Abstract: A vinyl tension floor covering includes a reinforcing layer, preferably disposed below the neutral bending plane. The floor covering elongates in at least one direction due to a controlled pre-stressed condition and tends to return to its original pre-elongated dimension. Reinforcing layers expand in the across machine direction as well as machine direction in response to a tensile stretching force in the machine direction or roll-up growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Kauffman, George L. Lilley, David E. Ruch
  • Surface covering with inverse spherulite patterns
    Patent number: 5080954
    Abstract: A surface covering, particularly a floor covering, has a visible surface with inverted images of spherulites. The inverted spherulities are formed on the visible surface by solidifying the visible surface while in contact with a release carrier having spherulities on its exposed surface. The level of gloss is determined by the number of inverted spherulite images and whether the images are impinging or non-impinging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Mackey, Sr., William Y. Whitmore
  • Hybrid floor covering
    Patent number: 5080944
    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 maufacture 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Kauffman, George L. Lilley, David E. Ruch
  • Soft-start/positive drive coupling
    Patent number: 5078651
    Abstract: A coupling is in two parts. One part is connected to the element to be driven and that part is a flat-face, circular member with three spaced grooves on its face and three spaced grooves on its circular edge. The second part is connected to the drive element and is a three jaw chuck with wedges on the jaws to engage the grooves on the circular edge of the first part. The three jaws have spring-biased projections that engage the grooves on the face of the first part to initially have the second part drive the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Bair
  • Floor covering with inorganic wear layer
    Patent number: 5077112
    Abstract: A floor covering is a laminate including a hard inorganic wear layer deposited on a support, preferably 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 stainless steel and polyester sheet molding compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Hensel, Leonard N. Ray, Jr., Joseph F. Reuwer, Jr., Jerome D. Wisnosky
  • Conductive polyurethane-urea/polyethylene oxide
    Patent number: 5077330
    Abstract: A water reaction synthesis with polyoxyethylene diol, diisocyanate and dibutyltin bis lauryl mercaptide produces a high molecular weight thermoplastic polyurethane-urea linear polymer with surface resistivity 10.sup.11 -10.sup.6 ohm/sq. Thermoplastic and/or elastomeric antistatic compositions containing other melt processable polymers and/or filler, and the polymer exhibit permanent protection. Antistatic protection can be increased when the polymer complexes with a metal salt such as lithium chloride, or lithium acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell A. Ehrhart, Nowaf Halout, Kenneth K. Ko, David A. Smith
  • Ceiling tile trimming tool
    Patent number: D322924
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin H. Shaub, J. Robert Herr