Abstract: A convertible child restraint includes a lower base to contact a vehicle seat, a seat shell to support a child, and a mid base between the lower base and the seat shell to facilitate recline and rotational adjustment of the seat shell relative to the lower base. The child restraint may be used as a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat, and a belt positioning booster seat. For the rear-facing car seat configuration, a belt is installed along a rear-facing belt path that passes through the child restraint. The portion of the belt in the child restraint is accessed via a belt access panel when the seat shell is at a rear-facing position. Additionally, the child restraint includes a rotation lockout that allows the seat shell to be rotated from a rear-facing position to a side-facing position, but not a forward-facing position when using the rear-facing configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements to an induction smelting process. It relates to a hybrid combination of plasma over induction for a superefficient continuous smelting process; and real-time monitoring and adjustment of the smelting process. Disclosed is a hybrid smelting system comprising a real-time controller and a reduction zone in which plasma over induction heating continuously smelt feed material(s) fed into the reduction zone. Slag and reduced metals (alloy) are discharged under supervision of the real-time controller.

Abstract: A honeycomb body having a cutout, an assembly including the honeycomb body, and a method of manufacturing. The method includes forming the honeycomb body having a matrix of intersecting walls that define a plurality of cells and channels extending longitudinally through the honeycomb body. A subset of the channels are plugged to create a plurality of plugged cells in a reinforcement region of the honeycomb body. Material is removed from the honeycomb body within the reinforcement region in accordance with a peripheral shape that passes through the plugged cells to form a cutout that extends an axial depth into the honeycomb body.

Abstract: A honeycomb extrusion die (120) with improved wear properties. Extrusion die has a die body (121) with inlet (122) and exit (123) faces, feedholes (124) with feedhole entrances (124A) and outlets (124B), and a plurality of die pins (126) having side surfaces (128) configured to define a matrix of intersecting slots (130). At least some of the intersecting slots and die pins define a slot structure with divots (132) formed in the side surfaces of the die pins between the feedholes and the exit face, entrance slot portions between the feedhole outlets and the divots, the entrance slot portions having an entrance slot width WA, and exit slot portions between the divots and the exit face, the exit slot portions having an exit slot width WB, wherein WA>WB over an entire slot length. Methods of manufacturing honeycomb structures using the honeycomb extrusion dies and of fabricating the extrusion dies are provided as are other aspects.

Abstract: An extrusion die (16) including a plurality of pins (38) having side surfaces defining an intersecting array of slots (30) extending axially into the die (16) from a discharge face (34) of the die (16). A plurality of feedholes (28) extend axially from an inlet face (32) of the die (16) opposite to the discharge face (34). The feedholes (28) connect with the slots (30) at intersections (35) within the die (16) to create a flow path from the inlet face (32) to the discharge face (34). A first coating (42) is on at least a portion of the feedholes (28) in a first zone (46) extending over a first axial length of the flow path. A second coating (44) that is different than the first coating (42) is on at least a portion of the side surfaces (37) of the pins (38) in a second zone (48) extending over a second axial length of the flow path. Methods of fabricating an extrusion die (16) and manufacturing a ceramic article (100), such as a honeycomb body, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A honeycomb body having a cutout, an assembly including the honeycomb body, and a method of manufacturing. The method includes forming the honeycomb body having a matrix of intersecting walls that define a plurality of cells and channels extending longitudinally through the honeycomb body. A subset of the channels are plugged to create a plurality of plugged cells in a reinforcement region of the honeycomb body. Material is removed from the honeycomb body within the reinforcement region in accordance with a peripheral shape that passes through the plugged cells to form a cutout that extends an axial depth into the honeycomb body.

Abstract: Batch mixtures comprising alumina trihydrate for forming ceramic honeycomb bodies comprised of cordierite and methods of manufacturing honeycomb bodies from such batch mixtures are provided.

Abstract: Improved extrusion dies are described herein for manufacturing a honeycomb body structure (330) from honeycomb extrudate (104). An improved extrusion die (102) comprises a swell relief feature in a discharge slot (218) of the extrusion die (102) that is disposed upstream of a discharge surface (214) of the extrusion die (102). The swell relief feature comprises a change in the width (W) of the discharge slot (218).

Abstract: Ceramic honeycomb bodies and methods for then manufacture are provided. The ceramic honeycomb body comprises a bulk density of less than 210 g/L, a geometric surface area (GSA) greater than 93 in?1 (3.66 mm?1), a mechanical integrity factor (MIF) greater than 0.28%, and a back pressure factor (BPF) greater than 0.4 mm2.

Abstract: Batch mixtures for forming ceramic honeycomb bodies and methods of manufacturing honeycomb bodies from such batch mixtures are provided. The batch mixtures comprise.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus including a die and a mask are provided such that no slots feed directly into the longitudinal skin forming gap between the mask and the die. In a method of forming a die adapted to improve skin uniformity of extruded cellular ceramic substrates a slotted block of die material is provided including central slots adapted to form a cellular matrix of the substrate and peripheral slots located outwardly of the central slots designed to be covered by a skin former mask and adapted to extrude peripheral batch material. An arcuate skin former is cut corresponding to a target shrinkage so as to intersect the slotted block such that skin flow from tangent slots at 90 degree positions of the die is limited to the peripheral batch material.

Abstract: Methods for making ceramic articles, and methods for reducing extrusion pressure during processes of making ceramic articles, are disclosed. The methods include mixing a ceramic batch composition comprising amylose and amylopectin in an amylose:amylopectin ratio ranging from about 30:70 to about 95:5, and extruding the ceramic batch composition through an extrusion die to form an extruded green ceramic article.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for controlling and/or predicting the shrinkage and/or growth of a ceramic honeycomb structure between a green body state and a fired state by adjusting the hydrated alumina content of the batch composition. Also disclosed herein is substantially clay-free cordierite honeycombs produced in accordance with such methods.

Abstract: A handbag storage and display apparatus which has a plurality of straps suspended from a supporting connection and along each plurality of straps has a plurality of connection points for attachment of handbags and other like items which can be used to store and display handbags and other like items in an efficient and aesthetically pleasing manner and a method for storing and displaying handbags in an efficient and aesthetically pleasing manner.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus including a die and a mask are provided such that no slots feed directly into the longitudinal skin forming gap between the mask and the die. In a method of forming a die adapted to improve skin uniformity of extruded cellular ceramic substrates a slotted block of die material is provided including central slots adapted to form a cellular matrix of the substrate and peripheral slots located outwardly of the central slots designed to be covered by a skin former mask and adapted to extrude peripheral batch material. An arcuate skin former is cut corresponding to a target shrinkage so as to intersect the slotted block such that skin flow from tangent slots at 90 degree positions of the die is limited to the peripheral batch material.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus including a die and a mask are provided such that no slots feed directly into the longitudinal skin forming gap between the mask and the die. In a method of forming a die adapted to improve skin uniformity of extruded cellular ceramic substrates a slotted block of die material is provided including central slots adapted to form a cellular matrix of the substrate and peripheral slots located outwardly of the central slots designed to be covered by a skin former mask and adapted to extrude peripheral batch material. An arcuate skin former is cut corresponding to a target shrinkage so as to intersect the slotted block such that skin flow from tangent slots at 90 degree positions of the die is limited to the peripheral batch material.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to creating a persona from observed characteristics of content and to sharing a network persona derived from observed characteristics of content. In one scenario, a computer system observes one set of properties for a first portion of content on a network. The first portion of content is from a first account. The computer system also observes a different set of properties for a second portion of content on the network, where the second portion of content is from a second account. The computer system then correlates an association between the first account and the second account as part of a network persona that is based on the first properties and one or more corresponding properties from the second portion of content.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus including a die and a mask are provided such that no slots feed directly into the longitudinal skin forming gap between the mask and the die. In a method of forming a die adapted to improve skin uniformity of extruded cellular ceramic substrates a slotted block of die material is provided including central slots adapted to form a cellular matrix of the substrate and peripheral slots located outwardly of the central slots designed to be covered by a skin former mask and adapted to extrude peripheral batch material. An arcuate skin former is cut corresponding to a target shrinkage so as to intersect the slotted block such that skin flow from tangent slots at 90 degree positions of the die is limited to the peripheral batch material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for controlling and/or predicting the shrinkage and/or growth of a ceramic honeycomb structure between a green body state and a fired state by adjusting the hydrated alumina content of the batch composition. Also disclosed herein is substantially clay-free cordierite honeycombs produced in accordance with such methods.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus including a die and a mask are provided such that no slots feed directly into the longitudinal skin forming gap between the mask and the die. In a method of forming a die adapted to improve skin uniformity of extruded cellular ceramic substrates a slotted block of die material is provided including central slots adapted to form a cellular matrix of the substrate and peripheral slots located outwardly of the central slots designed to be covered by a skin former mask and adapted to extrude peripheral batch material. An arcuate skin former is cut corresponding to a target shrinkage so as to intersect the slotted block such that skin flow from tangent slots at 90 degree positions of the die is limited to the peripheral batch material.