Abstract: Mechanical fasteners having parallel barbs extending vertically from a horizontal planar member to secure layers of a floor covering. When interposed between floor covering layers the barbs penetrate and anchor into a floor covering material. When a consumer desires to separate the layers, and to replace or recycle one or all the layers of the floor covering, he can do so readily by pulling the layers apart, and then securing new layers together with the mechanical fastener.

Abstract: A carpet swatch holder in accordance with the present invention is constructed from a single sheet of extruded plastic or other suitable material. T-shaped structures or channels protrude from the faces of the sheet. Carpet swatches placed on the sheet so that at least two edges are inserted between the crossbar of the T-shaped structure and the face of the sheet. The channels are spaced at one or more predetermined intervals to allow swatches of any desired size to be inserted into the holder.

Abstract: Mechanical fasteners having parallel barbs extending vertically from a horizontal planar member to secure layers of a floor covering. When interposed between floor covering layers the barbs penetrate and anchor into a floor covering material. When a consumer desires to separate the layers, and to replace or recycle one or all the layers of the floor covering, he can do so readily by pulling the layers apart, and then securing new layers together with the mechanical fastener.

Abstract: A method of constructing a three-dimensional image from a plurality of two-dimensional images is comprised of the steps of selecting one of the images to be a reference image and selecting a second image. One or more points in the second image are identified as possible match points for each point in the reference image. The other images are used to verify the possible match points found in the second image. The projections of the possible match points are grouped into three-dimensional regions, and the regions are projected onto the reference image for the purpose of identifying false regions. The false region are eliminated and a three-dimensional image is constructed by combining the remaining regions.

Abstract: A system for controlling tension improves carpet quality by maintaining tension along a primary backing material at a constant value. The system controls the tension by maintaining the speed of an entry pin roller slightly slower than the speed of an exit pin roller. The exit pin roller is driven with a main drive motor while the entry pin roller is independently driven by a separate vector drive motor. An encoder, coupled to the exit pin roller, is driven in synchronism with the exit pin roller and produces a pulsed output which is converted into an analog signal representative of the speed of the exit pin roller. A controller receives a user-defined desired value of tension and monitors outputs of a pair of load cells to determine the amount of tension actually on the primary backing material. Based on the difference between the actual value of tension and the desired value of tension, the controller produces a control signal which is fed to a drive circuit.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a dish-shaped cabinet skate made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, which is applied to furniture feet. The skate is adapted to be affixed in a permanent or semi-permanent manner on standard office furniture feet. The skate has an inherently low coefficient of friction with respect to conventional carpeting, thus allowing easy sliding. The skate is shaped to include large radius bends at the edges and a slight crowning of the bottom surface to further reduce resistance to sliding.

Abstract: A modified bitumen sheet material and method for a protective moisture barrier, particularly for masonry surfaces. The sheet material has a bitumen layer modified by the addition of a minor amount of a long-chain polybutadiene-isocyanate urethane polymer and optionally, a modifying amount of a hydrocarbon oil to provide a stable, non-flow and selected tackified surface properties to the bitumen layer. The sheet material includes a releasable casting paper film on one surface of the bitumen layer, to be removed prior to use, and a cross-linked polyethylene film bonded to the other outer surface of the bitumen layer as a handling or moisture barrier sheet. The sheet material is prepared by casting the hot, melted bitumen as a layer onto a casting paper sheet and applying the outer film to the exposed bitumen surface to bond to the top surface.

Abstract: A water absorptive composition comprising, a fibrous substrate impregnated with a water absorptive, water insoluble polymer, wherein the polymer is intertwined and interlocked with fibers of the fibrous substrate, and the composition has high water absorbing capacity, a method of making thereof, and a cable, more particularly a fiber optic cable, made therewith.

Abstract: A floor covering having a bitumen composition as a backing layer, such as carpet tiles, which bitumen composition comprises straight run bitumen and a mixture of high density and low density polyethylene polymers blended and dispersed in the straight run bitumen as a continuous phase in an amount of up to about 12% by weight and which bitumen composition contains a minimum of about 40% by weight of a mineral filler material, such as limestone, and the bitumen composition having improved dimensional stability, adhesion, static loading and electrical conductivity and having lower cost and processing advantages.

Abstract: Floor mats and methods for producing such mats having wear resistant phosphorescent borders that emit light after removal of ambient light so that the mat edges are visible in the event of a power failure in the facility where the mat is used. The mat border may also contain a bright pigment in the border regions and a contrasting pigment in other regions to make the border visually distinctive under normal lighting conditions. The mats may be produced from solid or foamed polyvinyl chloride materials.

Abstract: A fusion-bonded carpet system and method of manufacture which method includes providing as all or a portion of the wear face surface cut yarn material in rope form prepared in rope bundles and implanting one or both ends of the rope bundle in an adhesive layer on a backing sheet to provide one or two I-bond, fusion-bonded carpet material having a selected pattern on the wear face surface. The fusion-bonded carpet has a wear face surface composed of all or part of a yarn material in rope bundle form, for example, of a multicolored random or selected pattern. The carpet material may have a backing layer and form carpet tile.

Abstract: A device for sensing the respiratory air of a patient. The device includes a venturi tube through which the patient inspires and expires, the tube having a constricted midportion. The tube also has an inspiration orifice, an expiration orifice, and a central orifice therebetween. An air mass flow sensor is positioned in the tube. A flow direction housing is attached to the tube and has a channel with an inspiration portion, an expiration portion, and a central portion therebetween. The housing also has an inspiration opening providing communication between the tube inspiration orifice and an end portion of the inspiration channel away from the central channel portion, an expiration opening providing communication between the tube expiration orifice and an end portion of the expiration channel portions away from the central channel portion, and a central opening providing communication between the tube central orifice and the central channel portion.

Abstract: A biocidal protective coating for heat exchanger coils formed by applying a polymeric composition containing an organic water resistant polymer that has associated with it an effective amount of a biocidal compound to inhibit corrosion, fouling, and biocidal buildup on the coils.

Abstract: Floor mats and methods for producing such mats having wear resistant phosphorescent borders that emit light after removal of ambient light so that the mat edges are visible in the event of a power failure in the facility where the mat is used. The mat border may also contain a bright pigment in the border regions and a contrasting pigment in other regions to make the border visually distinctive under normal lighting conditions. The mats may be produced from solid or foamed polyvinyl chloride materials.

Abstract: A biocidal protective coating for heat exchanger coils formed by applying a polymeric composition containing an organic water resistant polymer that has associated with it an effective amount of a biocidal compound to inhibit corrosion, fouling, and biocidal buildup on the coils.

Abstract: A fusion-bonded carpet system and method of manufacture which method includes providing as all or a portion of the wear face surface cut yarn material in rope form prepared in rope bundles and implanting one or both ends of the rope bundle in an adhesive layer on a backing sheet to provide one or two I-bond, fusion-bonded carpet material having a selected pattern on the wear face surface. The fusion-bonded carpet has a wear face surface composed of all or part of a yarn material in rope bundle form, for example, of a multicolored random or selected pattern. The carpet material may have a backing layer and form carpet tile.

Abstract: A fusion-bonded carpet system and method of manufacture which method includes providing as all or a portion of the wear face surface cut yarn material in rope form prepared in rope bundles and implanting one or both ends of the rope bundle in an adhesive layer on a backing sheet to provide one or two I-bond, fusion-bonded carpet material having a selected pattern on the wear face surface. The fusion-bonded carpet has a wear face surface composed of all or part of a yarn material in rope bundle form, for example, of a multicolored random or selected pattern. The carpet material may have a backing layer and form carpet tile.

Abstract: A method of making a water absorptive article comprising, a fibrous substrate impregnated with a water absorptive, water insoluble polymer, wherein the polymer is intertwined and interlocked with fibers of the fibrous substrate, and the article has high water absorbing capacity.

Abstract: A biocidal protective coating for heat exchanger coils formed by applying a polymeric composition containing an organic water resistant polymer that has associated with it an effective amount of a biocidal compound to inhibit corrosion, fouling, and biocidal buildup on the coils.

Abstract: A fusion bonded carpet in which the pile yarn is secured in a non hot-melt latex adhesive base and methods of manufacture of such carpet.