Abstract: A process for repairing surface defects in plastic articles, especially plastic articles formed from fiber reinforced thermosetting resins, includes the steps of applying a powder coating composition to a defective area on the surface of a plastic article, curing the applied powder coating composition through the application of heat, and removing excess cured powder coating composition from the area of the defect to conform the area of the defect to the proper contours of the plastic article. The process can be utilized for repairing surface defects such as porosity, scratches, gouges and sand-through areas of cured thermoset substrates such as automotive body panels formed from sheet or bulk molding compounds.

Abstract: A one-package primerless structural adhesive is disclosed that is particularly well suited for adhering one or more substrates of fiber-reinforced plastics. This adhesive uses dicyandiamide, its substituted derivatives, or melamine as the principal curative. A polyisocyanate prepolymer is made from various polyols reacted with polyisocyanates. In the absence of moisture, the curative and polyisocyanate can coexist in a single package without reacting for periods of time in excess of four months. Upon heating the adhesive to 150.degree. C., it cures in about five minutes or less, forming an initial structural bond that after heat aging is often stronger than the cohesive strength of the fiber reinforced substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of creating a seamless printing master for use with an embossing roll to ultimately produce a textured wall or floor covering. A hardenable material is applied to the textured surface of a positive printing master. The embossing roll is placed on the positive printing master and then rolled in a forward direction, compressing the hardenable material between the textured surface of the substrate and the outer surface of the embossing roll, until approximately three fourths of the circumference of the embossing roll is covered. The hardenable material is then allowed to harden. A second amount of hardenable material is applied to the portion of the positive printing master which corresponds to the uncovered portion of the embossing roll.

Abstract: A one-piece glass run guide for retaining and smoothly guiding a slidable vehicle window includes a polymeric strip having a substantially U-shaped transverse cross section including a base, an inboard leg having a projecting lip portion which engages an interior surface of a slidable vehicle window, and an outboard leg having a projecting lip portion which engages an exterior surface of the slidable vehicle window. The glass run guide can be formed such as by injection or compression molding, extruded, or can be formed from a combination of molded and extruded portions.

Abstract: A closed injection mold for molding liquid resins into molded plastic articles containing at least one vent apparatus having a reciprocating vent pin operative to retract to open the vent opening and extend to close the vent opening. Each vent apparatus is responsive to a full resin level in the mold cavity to close the vent opening. When the vent opening is closed, cleansing fluid is automatically circulated through the debris charge line of the vent apparatus to clear the venting channels prior to the resin debris hardening.

Abstract: A self-centering molding apparatus 10 for forming molded products including a first mold portion 14 and a second mold portion 15 together forming a mold cavity 16 for receiving molding material forming the molded product M. The first mold portion 14 has an alignment member 18 in fluid communication with the mold cavity 16 and for alignment and engagement with an injection press P for injecting molding material into the apparatus 10. The first mold portion 14 is adapted for self-centering, mating engagement with the second mold portion 15. The second mold portion 15 has a multi-section mold assembly 22, a support plate 24 and an operating assembly 26. The multi-section mold assembly 22 is adapted for self-centering, mating engagement with the first mold portion 14 and the operating assembly 26, and is supported on and engaged with the support plate 24 for opening and closing the multi-section mold assembly for accessing a molded product M supported within the mold cavity 16 .

Abstract: A weather sealing strip for sealing the opening between the periphery of a vehicle window opening and a slidable window pane includes an elongate, relatively rigid, thermoplastic backbone having at least one integrally attached thermoplastic fastening means which is adapted for insertion into an opening or slot of a sheet metal member forming the periphery of a window opening, and includes a relatively flexible, elastomeric, sealing element joined to the thermoplastic backbone. The sealing strip reduces the number of separate components and the number of steps needed to mount a sealing strip to a vehicle window opening.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus 10 for dispensing multiple component fluid material. The apparatus 10 includes at least first and second flexible tubes. The tubes each have an inlet and an outlet, and each of the inlets is supplied with a different component of the fluid material. A roller or rollers are provided for pressurized engagement with the tubes. The stop plate is engaged with the tubes at a location opposing the pressurized engagement of the roller. A driver mechanism independently moves the roller in pressurized engagement with the tubes, opposed by the stop plate, in a linear direction. Such linear movement carries the desired and variable amounts of fluid material to the tube outlets. An engagement frame supports the tubes, roller, stop plate and driver mechanism. A mixing reservoir is provided having multiple inlets, each of which is engaged with a flexible tube outlet, and a single outlet, such that the fluid material components are combined within the mixing reservoir and provided to the single outlet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermosetting unsaturated polyester or vinyl ester resin compositions modified with AB or ABA block copolymers. The A blocks are unsaturated polyester while the B blocks are flexible poller having a Tg of 0.degree. C. or lower. The blocks are generally separately prepared having a variety of terminal groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, or isocyanate groups, but low molecular weight A blocks can be prepared in situ on the B blocks, The functionality of the blocks can be controlled to get AB or ABA diblocks and polyblocks, These modified unsaturated polyester or vinyl ester resin compositions have higher flexural strain to failure and are generally tougher than standard resins without modification. Control of the reaction conditions and the functionality of the blocks prior to coupling minimizes the formation of A(BA).sub.n where n is an integer above 1.

Abstract: A curable polyester molding composition incorporating an elastomeric low profile additive dispersed in voided rubbery particle form throughout the composition is used in association with a compatibilizing agent to form a molded thermoset article having very smooth, light reflective, class A surfaces and having a matrix fracture energy which is comparable to articles formed from similar or identical molding compositions which are free of low profile additives. The low profile additive is an epoxidized elastomer or block copolymer having at least one flexible elastomer block and one monovinyl aromatic block. The compatibilizing agent is a copolymer having a diene polymer backbone which is compatible with the elastomer or the flexible diene block of the low profile additive, with constituents which are compatible or reactive with the polyester being grafted or adducted onto the diene polymer backbone.

Abstract: A low formaldehyde, high gel fraction latex binder is made utilizing a compound having the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R', independently, is an alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R.sup.4 is hydrogen, or wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, independently is an alkyl, an aromatic, or combinations thereof having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or wherein said R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are connected to form an internal amide, and wherein the isopropenyl group is either in the ortho, meta or para position. The latex binder is generally an emulsion or latex copolymer made from various monomers including at least one or more conjugated dienes having a total of from 4 to 10 carbon atoms with butadiene being preferred and from one or more vinyl-substituted aromatics having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with styrene being preferred. The amount of the above formulation compounds is generally from about 0.

Abstract: A weatherstrip seal comprises a carrier structure without reinforcement which has an attached weather-sealing structure extending therefrom. The carrier structure has two spaced-apart walls connected by a base forming an interposed channel which is partially filled with a foamed, hot-melt adhesive. The carrier structure is adapted to fit over an anchoring mounting flange, while the weather-sealing surface has a sealing surface that prevents the entry of the elements through joined components moveable relative to each other.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the surface appearance of thermoset FRP wherein a thin rubbery coating is applied to a sheet molded compound (SMC). This coating, when applied to FRP inhibits propagation of micro cracks to the surface of compliant rubbery coating of the parts, while not sacrificing the physical properties of the molded parts. The coating also supplies a suitable smooth surface for automotive body panel applications that serves as a substrate for further paint applications.

Abstract: A fluid damped bushing (10) comprising a metallic sleeve (12) and an annular elastomeric body (14) mold bonded to the exterior of the metallic sleeve. The elastomeric body has a spaced apart pair of fluid containing recesses (16, 18) in its exterior surface with an intermediate recess (20) positioned between the fluid containing recesses. An inertia track plate (22), which is formed from a relatively rigid material, is positioned within the intermediate recess, and the track plate has a flow passage (24) formed in its exterior surface, opposed ends of the flow passage being in fluid communication with the fluid containing recesses. The bushing is circumscribed by longitudinally short, metallic rings (26, 28) on longitudinally opposed sides of the recesses, and is then tightly surrounded by a metallic sleeve (30) which has an elastomeric inner liner (32) mold bonded to its interior surface..

Abstract: A tennis ball is provided which has an elastomeric core and a cover having a seam. A colored seam adhesive bridges the seam and desirably matches the preferred yellowish color of the cover.

Abstract: A method of producing an embossing cylinder having a predetermined embossed pattern thereon by applying a screen having a pattern inscribed therein to the surface of the cylinder, applying a hardenable material over the screen and pressing the hardenable material through the screen onto the surface of the cylinder, and removing the screen and allowing the hardenable material to harden to form an embossed pattern of hardened material on the surface of the cylinder.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a movable window pane which is raisable or lowerable in a vehicle window opening includes a one-piece, closed-loop construction which is formed from two molded sealing elements secured together to form a sealing member adapted to be secured along the periphery of a window opening and to provide continuous sealing engagement with the interior and exterior periphery of the movable window pane. The one-piece seal assembly replaces a plurality of individual sealing components which are conventionally used to provide the weather seal between a vehicle window opening and a movable window pane which slides up or down to open or close the window opening.

Abstract: A closed injection mold for molding liquid resins into molded plastic articles containing at least one vent apparatus having a reciprocating vent pin operative to retract to open the vent opening and extend to close the vent opening. Each vent apparatus is responsive to a full resin level in the mold cavity to close the vent opening. When the vent opening is closed, cleansing fluid is automatically circulated through the debris charge line of the vent apparatus to clear the venting channels prior to the resin debris hardening.

Abstract: A fiber glass reinforced plastic can be in-mold coated utilizing a free radical peroxide initiated thermosetting composition of at least one polymerizable epoxy based oligomer having at least two acrylate groups, at least one copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least one copolymerizable monoethylenically unsaturated compound having a --CO-- group and a --NH.sub.2, --NH-- and/or --OH group, and other conventional components such as at least one zinc salt of a fatty acid, at least one accelerator, at least one filler, and the like. The thermosetting compositions of the present invention utilize a very low or nil amount of an adhesion agent such as a polyvinyl acetate and unexpectedly achieves better flow and good coverage at reduced coating weights.

Abstract: Hydroxy-terminated telechelic rubber polymers and block copolymers of flexible polymers with unsaturated polyester resins improve the elongation and flexural elongation of in-mold coating compositions for fiber reinforced plastics (FRP). An FRP in-mold coating composition based upon vinyl ester resin, ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and at least one of telechelic hydroxy terminated flexible polymers and the block copolymers of functionally terminated flexible polymers with unsaturated polyester polymers are described.