Patents Assigned to Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6083660
    Abstract: Photopolymerizable plastisol and organosol photoresist and solder mask coating compositions are described herein. These compositions include an ethylenically unsaturated photopolymerizable liquid plasticizer; a particulate, thermoplastic resin is dispersed in the plasticizer, the said resin having a midpoint Tg greater than 110.degree. C. and an acid number greater than 110; a tertiary amine stabilizer; and a photoinitiator. The organosol includes a diluent along with the other ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell A. Ehrhart, David A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6077593
    Abstract: This invention provides a ceiling board having a durable edge portion. The durable edge portion is obtained by applying a latex composition to the edge portion. The latex composition includes a binder and filler particles of two particle size ranges. The first filler particles have a median diameter of about 0.5 micron to about 5 microns. The second filler particles have a median diameter of about 20 microns to about 300 microns. The ratio of first filler particles to second filler particles is about 2:1 to about 1:8 by weight. The binder is preferably an epoxy, a urethane, a polyester, an acrylic, a melamine, or a vinyl based polymer latex. The binder preferably has a Tg of at least 10.degree. C., and the ratio of filler to binder is about 2:1 to about 12:1 by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bartholomew J. Schlachter
  • Patent number: 6060214
    Abstract: Photopolymerizable plastisol and organosol photoresist and solder mask coating compositions are described herein. These compositions include an ethylenically unsaturated photopolymerizable liquid plasticizer; a particulate, thermoplastic resin is dispersed in the plasticizer, the said resin having a midpoint Tg greater than 110.degree. C. and an acid number greater than 110; a tertiary amine stabilizer; and a photoinitiator. The organosol includes a diluent along with the other ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell A. Ehrhart, David A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6018919
    Abstract: The invention is a wall finishing system which is a sheet material designed to cover an entire wall, requiring minimal seams. The wall material has the characteristic of shrinking after application causing surface irregularities to pull out to a smooth plane. The sheet material can be applied to various substrates including finished or unfinished drywall, paneling, cement block, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Darryl C. Bodine
  • Patent number: 5981035
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for sealing and bonding the seams and edges of resilient and other types of floors, whereby specially formulated hot-melt sealants/adhesives are applied in molten form at the flooring installation site using a heated gun equipped with a specially designed tip. The hot-melt sealant/adhesive flows into and completely fills the seam and bonds to the edges of the flooring producing a bead of material that extends above the surface of the flooring. The specially designed tip facilitates this process by guiding along easily in the groove of the seam or joint and directing the molten sealant/adhesive accurately into the seam. The tip allows the seam or joint width to be very narrow and enhances sealing and adhesion by imparting heat to the edges of the flooring material. Upon cooling, a spatula knife or other appropriate tool is used to skive off the excess bead of material leaving it flush with the flooring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Michael Eshleman
  • Patent number: 5974754
    Abstract: A ceiling board has a depression formed in the four corners of the face surface of the ceiling board. When the horizontal flange of one cross runner overlies the horizontal flange of the main runner, the edge of the ceiling board will rest on the flange of the main runner because the overlying runner is accommodated in the corner depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, G. Douglas Vernau
  • Patent number: 5971034
    Abstract: A duct lining insulation system for lining variable air volume boxes, air handling units, and ducts for heat ventilation and air conditioning has a sheet of a flexible, closed cell foam composition, said sheet having a face with a substantially smooth surface and having a coating of a pressure sensitive adhesive on a second face of the sheet, further providing that the pressure sensitive adhesive has a volatile content that is sufficiently low so that the adhesive gives off substantially no volatiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Heisey, Paul A. Hough
  • Patent number: 5957287
    Abstract: The apparatus is a storage and transport rack for deformable rolled goods. One or more shelves each support a single layer of rolls. The shelves have an open input side for loading, a padded backstop opposite the input side, and unobstructed ends for unloading individual rolls with a ram pole lift truck. The upper surface of the shelves is tilted relative to the horizontal with the input side higher, so that the rolls move to the padded backstop, and a sloped ramp at the input side of the shelves starts the rolls down the shelf and assures that the rolls will not roll off the input side. For transport, the rolls are anchored by the use of straps tightened between "D" rings attached at the backstop side of the shelves and "D" rings on plugs inserted into the hollow cores of the rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Valenti, Gilbert W. Fitzhugh
  • Patent number: 5955173
    Abstract: The welding rod used to weld the surface covering has a laminate structure in which a print layer is disposed between a first thermoplastic layer and a second transparent thermoplastic layer. Preferably the welding rod is in the form of an elongated element having a half-round cross-sectional shape. The welding rod is used to join two pieces of thermoplastic sheeting, particularly flooring, together. If the welding rod has a pattern similar to the printed pattern of the sheeting the resulting surface covering looks seamless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Balmer, Donald L. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 5945472
    Abstract: A highly filled surface covering, preferably a floor covering and more preferably a floor tile, includes a resin layer which has about 80% to about 95% by weight of filler and a chlorine-free binder. The binder includes a mixture of a maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene and a substantially linear ethylene/octene copolymer. The ratio of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene and ethylene/octene copolymer is from about 1:5 to about 1:15 by weight. The preferred formulation for the binder includes a solid tackifier selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon resin having an ester moiety and hydrogenated aromatic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Chau H. Duong, Harry D. Ward, Lowell E. West
  • Patent number: 5891582
    Abstract: A resin composition comprises an acrylated polyester, the polyester being the reaction product of an equivalent excess of 1,6-hexanediol and an aromatic polycarboxylic acid or anhydride, preferably trimellitic anhydride. In the preferred embodiment, the reaction product includes a highly ethoxylated triacrylate. Upon UV initiated polymerization or copolymerization, improved clear coatings for "no-wax" resilient floors are obtained. These coatings have better resistance to household and other stains than commercial urethane/acrylate floor coverings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell A. Ehrhart, Songvit Setthachayanon
  • Patent number: 5888626
    Abstract: This invention describes two products both with a plain, fine textured, nonperforated surface visual consisting of a fiberboard substrate with or without a laminated porous nonwoven scrim and then a finished painted surface. The finish painted surface decorates or finishes the board, but most important, must remain acoustically transparent to retain the sound absorption properties of the fiberboard prior to painting. The fiberboard substrate is made to be porous or modified with hole perforations to cause it to be a good sound absorber. If the fiberboard substrate is sufficiently porous without hole perforations, then the sprayable, high solids, porous paint can be directly applied. If hole perforations are used to improve the sound absorption properties of the board substrate, then a porous, nonwoven scrim is attached and painted using the same high solids porous paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Darryl L. Sensenig
  • Patent number: 5874161
    Abstract: This invention describes two products both with a plain, nonperforated surface visual consisting of a fiberboard substrate with or without a laminated porous nonwoven scrim and then a finished painted surface. The finish painted surface decorates or finishes the board, but most important, must remain acoustically transparent to retain the sound absorption properties of the fiberboard prior to painting. The fiberboard substrate is made to be porous or modified with hole perforations to cause it to be a good sound absorber. If the fiberboard substrate is sufficiently porous without hole perforations, then the sprayable, high solids, porous paint can be directly applied. If hole perforations are used to improve the sound absorption properties of the board substrate, then a porous, nonwoven scrim is attached and painted using the same high solids porous paint. This painted scrim must be sufficiently optically opaque to hide the hole punched board, yet sufficiently open to render it acoustically transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Pape, Darryl L. Sensenig
  • Patent number: 5869166
    Abstract: Using a combination of relatively coarse filler and latex binder, a very high solids coating (about 85% or higher) can be produced with a relatively low working viscosity. These very high solids coatings can be applied in thick single layers and oven cured without cracking. They maintain more than 80% of their original wet thickness. The resulting coating provides an extremely hard and durable surface, even on relatively soft mineral fiber board ceiling tiles or wall panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 5845447
    Abstract: A suspended ceiling system has a plurality of ceiling panels, ceiling runners, and a plurality of clips holding the ceiling panels to the ceiling runners. Each ceiling panel has two opposed surfaces and four sides with at least two sides having an extended edge each of which are substantially perpendicular to one of the opposed surfaces. Each extended edge has a protruding lip. The length of the protruding lip is limited so that the protruding lip does not extend for the entire length of the extended edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, William C. Dorsey
  • Patent number: 5843576
    Abstract: Floor coverings include a wear layer made from a coat composition including a multifunctional polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomer. The multifunctional polyurethane is made by reacting a polyisocyanate with a functionality equal or higher than 3, a polyester polyol, and a hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate with a number average molecular weight of about 344 to about 472. The coating composition preferably includes a reactive (meth)acrylate diluent and a photoinitiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Angela S. Rosenberry, Claude R.. Rupp, Songvit Setthachayanon
  • Patent number: 5826392
    Abstract: The apparatus is a transition member to cover the gap between ceilings at different levels which are also offset horizontally. A vertical section is supported at the edge of the lower ceiling and an attached angular section rises from the lower edge at a slope to reach and contact the upper ceiling. The general shape approximates a trough with one vertical and one sloped side. The lower edge of the vertical section and the upper edge of the angular section can include flanges and attached coupling channels which interlock with drywall adapters to facilitate attachment to drywall ceilings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley T. K. Bischel, Richard D. Stackenwalt
  • Patent number: 5824721
    Abstract: This invention provides an aromatic or cycloaliphatic triazole-based chemical embossing inhibitor which is completely soluble in water and compatible with water-based printing inks for use in producing textured foamed plastic surfaces. The triazoles comprise a general class of mono- and multi-functional 1-N substituted aminomethyl derivatives which are rendered soluble in water by the presence of at least one polyethyleneoxide (PEO) oligomer chain, or polypropylene (PPO)-polyethyleneoxide copolymer oligomer chain or PPO/PEO/PPO triblock oligomer chain with a sufficiently high PEO/PPO ratio for water solubility. Preferably the triazole derivative has at least six polyethylene oxide monomer moieties per triazole moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl E. Sideman, Donald M. Snyder
  • Patent number: 5773127
    Abstract: Improved durability and sharper chemical embossing images are obtained in a thick foamed thermoplastic floor structure by the use of an unfoamed inner layer. The floor covering is formed on a release paper and includes an unfoamed thermoplastic base coat, lower foamed thermoplastic layer, an unfoamed thermoplastic inner layer, an upper foamed thermoplastic layer and a clear coat. The enhanced chemical embossing is achieved by printing an inhibitor containing ink on the inner layer and below the upper foamed layer. Multilevel embossing is obtained by embossing both foamed thermoplastic layers or applying a growth-controlling agent to both surfaces of one foamable thermoplastic layer. The preferred embodiment includes a pearl platelet containing layer above the upper foamed layer to give the illusion of deeper embossing. The preferred embodiment also includes a wear coat of the reaction product of an aminoplast, a urethane and a polyol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Pamela H. Martin, William J. Kauffman, Bruce F. Dietrich
  • Patent number: RE36458
    Abstract: Vinyl heat welding rod for seam sealing vinyl resilient flooring, whether in sheet or tile form, are used to obtain a homogeneous, monolithic appearing surface. This rod is specifically made to duplicate the appearance of the flooring material. For a chip-image flooring structure, a sheet of multicolored chips having a similar, but different formulation from that of the flooring material is prepared and the sheet is cut into suitable strips, heat pressed in a rod mold, end adhered or further molded to form the desired length, and used as a vinyl heat welding rod for sealing seams in flooring. Thus, the chip pattern is evident in the seam area and does not appear different when compared to the adjacent surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Quinn, Manuel A. Velez, Richard M. Ringer, Michael E. Buckwalter