Abstract: Radiation-curable, tackifier-free compositions are provided which contain: (i) a blend of certain acrylate esters and monoethylenically-unsaturated copolymerizable monomers; (ii) certain .alpha.-olefin polymers; and (iii) a photoinitiator and optionally, a crosslinker. Pressure-sensitive adhesives having good adhesion to both low and high energy surfaces as well as possessing excellent low and high temperature performance properties are prepared by exposing the radiation-curable compositions to light having a wavelength in the range of from about 280 to 400 nm.

Abstract: A condiment shaker including a hollow body with an enlarged opening therethrough receiving a pivotally mounted lid for rocking between a closed position and a dispensing position. In the dispensing position, slots through the lid flange are open and provide transverse dispensing passages. Lugs on the container body align with the slots and move through the length thereof as the lid is closed. The lid is positively positioned and releasably retained in each of the two positions by cooperating abutment areas and a complementary protuberance and recess respectively on the container body and the lid.

Abstract: A reflection-type photoelectric proximity detector and switch is capable of detecting the incremental and binary proximity of a finger through several layers of glass, cancelling out extraneous reflections and stray sources of radiation. The circuitry includes a modulated infrared emitter, an infrared detector, an optical barrier, an infrared filter, a bandpass filter, a signal rectifier, a biasing circuit to remove unwanted detected modulated signal, an amplifier, an incremental proximity output, a comparator, a detection reference, and a binary proximity detect output. In one embodiment a multitude of photoelectric proximity switches are installed on the inside of a store window, detect finger proximity from outside the window, and control electric appliances inside the store window. From outside the window, a user can select what is displayed inside the window.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sensors are placed over the joints of a hand. Each motion sensor comprises an optical fiber disposed between a light source and a light sensor. An upper portion of the fiber is treated so that transmission loss of light being communicated through the optical fiber is increased only when the fiber bends in one direction. In another embodiment of the invention, a flexible tube is disposed in close proximity to a finger joint and bends in response to bending of the finger. A light source and light sensor are provided on opposite ends of the tube for continuously indicating the extent of bending of the tube. A wedge is disposed between the tube and the finger for setting the tube straight when the finger is hyperextended for eliminating the symmetry of the output signal which ordinarily would result from bending of the tube on opposite sides of the axis of movement.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for generating control signals for the manipulation of virtual objects in a computer system according to the gestures and positions of an operator's hand or other body part. The apparatus includes a glove worn on the hand which includes sensors for detecting the gestures of the hand, as well as hand position sensing means coupled to the glove and to the computer system for detecting the position of the hand with respect to the system. The computer system includes circuitry connected to receive the gesture signals and the hand position signals for generating control signals in response thereto. Typically, the control signals are used to manipulate a graphical representation of the operator's hand which is displayed on a monitor coupled to the computer system, and the graphical representations of the operator's hand manipulates virtual objects or tools also displayed by the computer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a foamlike pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a flexible carrier supporting one or more pressure-sensitive adhesive layers, at least one layer of the pressure-sensitive adhesive having pigment-coated microbubbles dispersed therein having an average diameter from 5 to 200 micrometers, wherein the coat comprises pigment particle aggregates having an average pigment aggregate size being from about 0.5 microns to about 5 microns.The invention further relates to pigment-coated microbubbles, and to a method for making coated microbubbles involving rolling the pigment and the microbubbles in a cylindrical container with two or more mixing rods having lengths at least about equal to the interior diameter of the container, and a combined surface area at least about 5% of the interior surface area of the container.

Abstract: An optical flex sensor is provided and consists of a flexible tube having two ends, a reflective interior wall within the flexible tube and a light source placed within one end of the flexible tube and a photosensitive detector placed within the other end of the flexible tube to detect a combination of direct light rays and reflected rays when the flexible tube is bent.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a plurality of superimposed layers, at least one outer layer being a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, contiguous layer defining an interface therebetween, each of said layers comprising a photopolymerized matrix of polymeric chains; said polymeric chains extending from the matrix of one of said layers through said interface into the matrix of a contiguous layer; said polymeric chains comprising polymerized monomers having migrated from the matrix of each contiguous layer prior to polymerization, whereby said layers cannot be delaminated.