Abstract: A fire hose coupling comprises a substantially annular body having a first end adapted to connect to a fire hose and a second end having male threads, the annular body having a central bore. The coupling includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart lugs extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the first end of the body. The coupling further includes a protective shoulder extending radially outwardly from the body between the male threads and the lugs, the protective shoulder having an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the male threads to thereby protect the male threads.

Abstract: A poly(lactic acid) resin composition, including: (a) a poly(lactic acid) resin; and (b) a modifier which is in the form of nanoparticle aggregate with a particle size of less than 1000 nm and uniformly dispersed in the poly(lactic acid) resin, wherein the nanoparticle aggregate is obtained from the polycondensation of at least one metal/nonmetal alkoxide, at least one metal/nonmetal alkoxide having at least one functional group capable of reacting with the poly(lactic acid) resin, or a mixture thereof. A process for preparing a transparent and impact-resistant article from the poly(lactic acid) resin composition of the invention, and articles prepared therefrom are also provided.

Abstract: A fire hose coupling, such as a quarter-turn Storz-style coupling, comprises a substantially annular body having a first end connected to a fire hose and a second end having internal engagement lugs for connecting to lugs on another coupling. The coupling includes at least one locking lever movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the lever locking the annular body of the coupling to the other coupling. The one or more locking levers comprise a light-reflecting surface to improve visibility of the lever. This facilitates assembly and disassembly of the couplings in conditions of poor visibility.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intelligent waterless printing and dyeing control equipment and a control method thereof. The equipment comprise of: a control apparatus consisting of a programmable logic controller and a superior monitor computer and a robot, wherein, the programmable logic controller communicates with the superior monitor computer via MPI bus, receiving control signal coming from an operating panel and the robot via digitals input module for transmitting the control command to the robot, connecting with the dye conveyer apparatus and the printing and dyeing apparatus via the digitals output module; the superior monitor computer communicates with the servo controllers via CAN bus.

Abstract: A fire hose coupling comprises a first coupler body having a first recessed portion that includes a first visual indication. The coupling also comprises a second coupler body adapted to be coupled to the first coupler body to form the coupling, the second coupler body having a second recessed portion that includes a second visual indication matching the first visual indication. Color-coded stickers or adhesive-backed high-visibility decals may be adhered to the recessed portions. The couplings may be recoded by adhering differently colored stickers. This technology enables firefighters to quickly and easily color-code their hoses for identification purposes. Because of the recesses, the color-coded stickers are substantially protected from abrasion or wear and tear.

Abstract: A fire hose coupling comprises a body having a first end connected to a fire hose and a second end having either male or female threads or, alternatively, a quarter-turn sexless coupler. The fire hose coupling comprises a recessed portion formed in an outer surface of the body. The recessed portion is shaped to define a visuotactile directional indicator such as an arrow. The recessed portion may include a light-reflecting surface to enhance visibility such as a super reflective metal film, a photo luminescent coating, or a phosfluorescent coating. The recessed directional indicator may be formed in female, male or sexless (Storz) couplings. Since the light-reflecting directional indicator is recessed, it will not cause the hose assembly to snag or catch when the hose is dragged through a burning structure, nor will the directional indicator abrade or wear over time. This coupling enables firefighters to readily determine the exit direction when operating in dark and smoky conditions.

Abstract: A contact lens-treating solution contains polyelectrolyte complex particulates and an aqueous solution for dispersing the polyelectrolyte complex particulates. Each of the polyelectrolyte complex particulates is formed of a cationic polymer and an anionic polymer. The aqueous solution contains water and an additive including a surfactant, an antibacterial agent, a cleaning agent, a thickening agent, a chelating agent, and combinations thereof for cleaning or maintaining the contact lens. A method for treating a contact lens using a contact lens-treating solution containing water and polyelectrolyte complex particulates is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber modifier for improving thermo-bonding affinity of a composite fiber to a natural fiber includes a blend of maleic anhydride and a copolymer component selected from a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid, a copolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid, and combinations thereof. A core and sheath composite fiber including a sheath component made from a fiber composition that contains the above fiber modifier is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a heat adhesive biodegradable bicomponent fiber comprising a polylactic-acid-based low melting component and a high melting component, wherein the low melting component constitutes the sheath of the fiber, and the high melting component constitutes the core of the fiber. The material of the low melting component comprises unmodified polylactic acid or a blending with unmodified polylactic acid and modified polylactic acid. The modified polylactic acid is modified by blending unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, unsaturated anhydride or their derivatives with polylactic acid. The bicomponent fiber provided in this invention is biodegradable, environmentally benign and with excellent bonding performance to polylactic acid fibers, chemical fibers and cellulose fibers.

Abstract: High frequency-weldable articles, such as sheets or yarns, include at least one high frequency-weldable part that is made from a modified polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material and that has a melting point ranging from 100° C. to 250° C. The modified PET material is prepared from a composition that includes terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol and a diol modifier. The diol modifier is selected from the group consisting of neopentanediol, 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylpropane, 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylpropane alkoxylate, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexanediol, polyethylene glycol, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method for making an optical device includes the steps of: rubbing an orienting film so as to stretch the molecular structure thereof and so as to permit the molecular units of the molecular structure to be aligned along a first axis and to permit the orienting space between each adjacent pair of the molecular units of the molecular structure to be oriented in a direction parallel to a second axis; and forming an optical anisotropical layer on the orienting film by applying a liquid crystal film of rod-like molecules on the orienting film which orients the rod-like molecules by virtue of spatial effect of the molecular units and the orienting spaces.

Abstract: An anti-raveling knitted fabrics and method of their fabrication, which contains a bond between yarn segments at a percentage of the places where yarn segments cross over each other in forming the stitches of the fabric. The bond is formed in the presetting stage where the fabric is subject to a heating-cooling process under a set of empirically determined parameters that control the bond formation and the bonding percentage in the fabric. The bond can effectively stop raveling when there is a fracture and break of yarns in the fabric. This method can be applied to both weft-knitted and warp-knitted fabrics.

Abstract: A sol-gel method for producing a coating solution for a low reflection film includes: preparing a liquid reaction mixture containing a silicon compound; and allowing the liquid reaction mixture to undergo hydrolysis and condensation in the presence of a solid catalyst so as to form the coating solution. A method for producing a low reflection film includes: preparing a liquid reaction mixture containing a silicon compound; allowing the liquid reaction mixture to undergo hydrolysis and condensation in the presence of a solid catalyst so as to form a coating solution; removing the solid catalyst from the coating solution; applying the coating solution to a substrate; and drying the coating solution on the substrate.

Abstract: A PET material of a modified PET composition includes: terephthalic acid; ethylene glycol; a modifier; and a chain branching agent selected from one of a non-cyclic compound and a cyclic compound. The non-cyclic compound has at least three functional groups, and the cyclic compound, after ring opening, has at least three functional groups. Each of the functional groups of each of the non-cyclic compound and the cyclic compound is selected from hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, amine group, epoxy group, NCO, and COOR, in which R represents a C1-C18 alkyl group.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable PET film comprises a thermally stretched film body exhibiting shape-memory characteristics and made from a PET material of a modified PET composition that includes terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol, and a modifier selected from 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylpropane, 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylpropane alkoxylate, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexanediol, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a heat adhesive biodegradable bicomponent fiber comprising a polylactic-acid-based low melting component and a high melting component, wherein the low melting component constitutes the sheath of the fiber, and the high melting component constitutes the core of the fiber. The material of the low melting component comprises unmodified polylactic acid or a blending with unmodified polylactic acid and modified polylactic acid. The modified polylactic acid is modified by blending unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, unsaturated anhydride or their derivatives with polylactic acid. The bicomponent fiber provided in this invention is biodegradable, environmentally benign and with excellent bonding performance to polylactic acid fibers, chemical fibers and cellulose fibers.

Abstract: An anti-glare device includes a transparent anti-glare film incorporating a plurality of water-soluble scattering particles distributed therein. A method for making the anti-glare device includes the steps of: a) mixing a transparent resin solution with an aqueous solution of water-soluble colloid to form an emulsion containing a plurality of water-soluble colloidal particles distributed in the emulsion; b) applying the emulsion on a transparent substrate to form a preliminary film on the substrate; and c) curing the preliminary film to form a transparent anti-glare film on the transparent substrate, the transparent anti-glare film including a plurality of the colloidal particles distributed within the transparent anti-glare film and on a surface of the transparent anti-glare film.

Abstract: An optical compensator includes a C-plate adapted to be coupled to a liquid crystal cell and made from a polymer. The C-plate has a layer thickness ranging from 5 to 60 ?m. The polymer is polyvinyl alcohol, has a polymerization degree greater than 2000 and less than 5000, and is cross-linked so that the C-plate has an optical axis substantially parallel to the direction of normally incident light, and so that the C-plate has a plate retardation, along the layer thickness of the C-plate, greater than 60 nm.