Abstract: This invention describes a decorative surface covering comprising at least one decorative layer and a backing layer comprising a patterned array of elastomeric, geometric projections, wherein each geometric projection comprises a concave exposed surface, an outside wall surface and an inside wall surface wherein the inside wall surface defines a hollow area within the projection. When the decorative surface covering is installed over an underlying surface, and pressure is applied to the decorative surface covering, a vacuum is created within the hollow area of the projections and the underlying surface. The vacuum increases the amount of frictional drag between the surface covering and the underlying surface, and thus allows the surface covering to remain in place without the need for an adhesive.

Abstract: A decorative floor tile including at least one decorative layer and a backing layer having an array of resilient annular projections. Each annular projection includes a concave top surface, an outside wall surface, and an inside wall surface. The inside wall surface defines a central, blind passageway area. When the decorative floor tile is installed over an underlying surface, and pressure is applied to the decorative floor tile, a vacuum is created within the blind passageway and the underlying surface. The vacuum increases the amount of frictional drag between the surface covering and the underlying surface, and thus allows the surface covering to remain in place without the need for an adhesive.

Abstract: This invention describes a decorative surface covering comprising at least one decorative layer and a backing layer comprising a patterned array of elastomeric, geometric projections, wherein each geometric projection comprises a concave exposed surface, an outside wall surface and an inside wall surface wherein the inside wall surface defines a hollow area within the projection. When the decorative surface covering is installed over an underlying surface, and pressure is applied to the decorative surface covering, a vacuum is created within the hollow area of the projections and the underlying surface. The vacuum increases the amount of frictional drag between the surface covering and the underlying surface, and thus allows the surface covering to remain in place without the need for an adhesive.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide a means to rapidly develop and modify prototype surface coverings for customer review and approval, and fill the commercial pipeline while more conventional production equipment is obtained, installed and tested. The present apparatus to rapid prototype and fill the commercial pipeline includes a digital printing system to print a film and a press for laminating and embossing the printed film to a substrate. The press uses an embossing plate or roll, which is made from ebonite or by three-dimensional printing equipment. These plates and rolls can be produced within two or three days or less.

Abstract: A plywood laminate having dimensional stability and resistance to warping and delamination is formed from a plurality of higher quality plies and a plurality of lower quality plies. The higher quality plies may be of hardwood and the lower quality plies may be of softwood or lower quality hardwoods, or the higher quality plies may have a veneer grade of better than ANSI/HPVA HP-1-2000 veneer grade C and the lower quality plies may have a veneer grade of no greater than ANSI/HPVA HP-1-2000 veneer grade C. The exposed plies are of the higher quality. In most embodiments, at least two adjacent interior plies are of the lower quality. In those embodiments having a tongue and groove or click-lock edge configuration, the tongue comprises portions of at least two plies and at least one of the plies is a higher quality ply.

Abstract: The apparatus is a spray shield to prevent ink and cleaning fluids from being spun off of the ends of printing cylinders. A cylindrical shield around the end of the printing cylinder is attached to a hub resting on the printing cylinder axle, and the hub and shield have sections held together by a hinge and a latch so they can be unlatched and removed for cleaning. An axial spring assembly is attached to the hub on the side opposite from the cylindrical shield so that the springs compress and friction is minimized if the hub is contacted by the printing cylinder.

Abstract: An on-line method for consistency (percent solids by weight) testing of slurries. An aqueous slurry is deaerated and subjected to a nuclear density (gamma radiation) gauge which is oriented to irradiate the slurry along the axis of a pipe section. Pipe elbows at the ends of the test pipe section permit simple attachment of the nuclear density gauge so that the axially-aligned radiation can be used with various pipe lengths. The electrical output of the gauge is read to immediately furnish a real time reading of consistency.

Abstract: An on-line method for consistency (percent solids by weight) testing of slurries. An aqueous slurry is piped through two stations, one of which is a nuclear magnetic resonance instrument and the other of which is a nuclear density (gamma radiation) gauge. The electrical signal outputs from the stations are processed by a computer to furnish a real time reading of consistency.