Abstract: A fluid-based switch and method for producing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the switch is produced by depositing switching fluid on a first substrate; depositing a reducing material so that the reducing material contacts at least a portion of the switching fluid, the reducing material to react with oxides on the switching fluid, and mating a first substrate to a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate defining therebetween a cavity holding the switching fluid, the cavity being sized to allow movement of the switching fluid between first and second states.

Abstract: A first resist is deposited on at least a portion of a substrate (or existing feature on the substrate) that will underlie a feature in a nonphotoimagable material that is to be deposited on the substrate. Thereafter, the nonphotoimagable material is deposited so that it overlaps at least a portion of the first resist. A second resist is then deposited on at least a portion of the nonphotoimagable material, and a feature is patterned on the second resist. Subsequently, the part is sandblasted until the first resist is exposed, and the first and second resists are then removed. In one embodiment, the nonphotoimagable material is deposited on a channel plate and used to seal at least a switching fluid between the channel plate and another substrate.

Abstract: An Internet-based method of placing display advertisements in publications, including the step of a facilitator providing an Internet site which can be accessed by advertisers who wish to insert advertisements in publications. Two or more advertisement templates of differing sizes are defined for an advertiser, each advertisement template having a style and appearance approved by or on behalf of the advertiser. When desiring to place an advertisement in a publication, the advertiser accesses the Internet site and selects a publication in which the advertisement is to appear together with size and placement details. The advertiser selects one of the templates which is of a size suitable for placement in the selected publication, and enters details for the advertisement into the template. The advertisement is then forwarded by the facilitator either directly or via an intermediary to the selected publication together with instructions indicating the advertiser's selections.

Abstract: An insertable adapter for use with batting-T's which is translucent, flexible and designed to more faithfully reflect and promote proper mechanics of swinging a traditional baseball bat, therefore hitting a ball thrown through the air.

Abstract: A method for making an improved pressure sensitive adhesive coated laminate is disclosed. The method involves coating a sheet having a release surface thereon with a pressure sensitive adhesive to form a laminate, drying or curing the pressure sensitive adhesive and marrying the laminate to the inner surface of a facing layer. A material comprising a mixture of substantially water-insoluble and adhesive incompatible polysiloxane (i) and water soluble and adhesive compatible polysiloxane (ii) is included so as to produce a low zero-minute peel value in the pressure sensitive adhesive layer and is intimately mixed with the pressure sensitive adhesive prior to the adhesive being coated on the release surface of the sheet. The resulting laminate can be easily applied to a substrate and removed and repositioned or straightened, if necessary, and provides a superior increase in peel value over a period of time to produce a more permanent installation.

Abstract: Articles of manufacture are provided with a low surface energy, permanently non-stick, non-fouling and ice-phobic surface by a system of coating comprising applying a primary coating having a surface energy of 22-28 dynes/cm.sup.2 comprising a novel polymeric material having non-stick and hardness properties and then applying a top coating having lower surface energy of from about 18-21 dynes/cm.sup.2 comprising a siliconic polymer and interdigitating means to make the top coating permanent, the means preferably comprising a bi- or polyfunctional organic compound adapted to wet the surface of the primary coating and chemically or physically bond thereto and to couple to the siliconic polymeric substance in the top coating. The coated substrates are resistant to marking by graffiti, to adherence by marine fouling organisms, and frozen ice on the surface is easily removed.

Abstract: A connector is disclosed which is intended for use with an injector. The connector comprises a projection defining an inlet passage sealed, in use, within a bore provided in the injector. The inlet passage communicates with at least one outlet passage. The connector further comprises at least one tooth received within a recess provided in the injector to secure the connector to the injector. The recess is conveniently defined by a body and nut forming part of the injector.

Abstract: Articles of manufacture are provided with a low surface energy, permanently non-stick, non-fouling and ice-phobic surface by a system of coating comprising applying a primary coating having a surface energy of 22-28 dynes/cm.sup.2 comprising a novel polymeric material having non-stick and hardness properties and then applying a top coating having lower surface energy of from about 18-21 dynes/cm.sup.2 comprising a siliconic polymer and interdigitating means to make the top coating permanent, the means preferably comprising a bi- or polyfunctional organic compound adapted to wet the surface of the primary coating and chemically or physically bond thereto and to couple to the siliconic polymeric substance in the top coating. The coated substrates are resistant to marking by graffiti, to adherence by marine fouling organisms, and frozen ice on the surface is easily removed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a thermoplastic film having a matte surface comprising: a core layer of a thermoplastic polymer, the core layer having a first side and a second side, and a matte surface layer on a first side of the core layer, the matte surface layer comprising a blend of (i) a copolymer of ethylene and propylene or a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a C.sub.4 to C.sub.10 alpha-olefin or a propylene homopolymer; (ii) an ethylene polymer and (iii) a polydialkylsiloxane selected from the group consisting of (1) a polydialkylsiloxane having a number average molecular weight above about 250,000, typically above about 300,000 and a viscosity of above about 10,000,000 cSt, usually ranging from about 15,000,000 to about 20,000,000 cSt., and (2) a polydialkylsiloxane functionalized polyolefin. The external surface of the matte surface layer demonstrates a coefficient of friction ranging from about 0.1 to about 0.85 as determined by ASTM D1894 with an 18.14 kg (4 lb.) pound sled.

Abstract: An improved self-wound roll of a pressure sensitive adhesive coated laminate comprising a substrate which becomes dimensionally-unstable under normal processing conditions, e.g., printing, at least one layer comprising a continuous film of a normally dimensionally stable polymer adhesively fixed to one or both sides of the substrate thereby stabilizing it during processing, a transparent flexible release layer of a resin on the outwardly facing surface of the laminate, and a layer of a modified pressure sensitive adhesive on the inwardly facing surface of the substrate. The laminate can be processed without distortion, wound into rolls, unwound and applied to a surface to be decorated without delamination or shrinkage and without distortion of printed indicia, and it ultimately can be stripped without damage to the surface.

Abstract: Articles of manufacture are provided with a low surface energy, permanently non-stick, non-fouling and ice-phobic surface by a system of coating comprising applying a primary coating having a surface energy of 22-28 dynes/cm.sup.2 comprising a novel polymeric material having non-stick and hardness properties and then applying a top coating having lower surface energy of from about 18-21 dynes/cm.sup.2 comprising a siliconic polymer and interdigitating means to make the top coating permanent, the means preferably comprising a bi- or polyfunctional organic compound adapted to wet the surface of the primary coating and chemically or physically bond thereto and to couple to the siliconic polymeric substance in the top coating. The coated substrates are resistant to marking by graffiti, to adherence by marine fouling organisms, and frozen ice on the surface is easily removed.

Abstract: A block-resistant film is described which comprises a core layer of a thermoplastic polymer having a first side and a second side; a functional layer which is printable or sealable or treatable for printing or sealing is on the first side of the core layer, and a block-resistant layer is on the second side of the core layer. The block-resistant layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer and an amount of a polydialkylsiloxane, based upon the entire weight of the block-resistant layer, sufficient to inhibit blocking of the block-resistant layer to the functional layer when they are in contact and which polydialkylsiloxane deposits silicon onto the functional layer but the amount of silicon deposited is not substantially detrimental to the printing function or the sealing function.

Abstract: This invention provides graffiti removers for removing permanent ink stains from painted surfaces. This graffiti removers include an active solvent for dissolving the stains, which are organic in nature, an optional secondary solvent for concentrated attack on the stain without being adversely affected by dilution with water, an emollient for maintaining a uniform dispersion of particulates in the remover and on the graffiti-stained painted surfaces, and an amorphous, particulate, mildly abrasive filler for imbiding the solvents, the filler being selected to permit the slow release of the active solvent.

Abstract: A low profile, high capacity, high performance disk drive includes a plurality of disk surfaces mounted in parallel for simultaneous rotation about an axis. Each of a plurality of data transducer heads for reading and/or writing data to the data surfaces is attached to a slider. A stacked arm actuator for moving the data transducer heads in a radial direction across the disk surfaces includes a supporting arm and a suspension load beam attached to the supporting arm. The suspension load beam connects the supporting arm to the slider. The suspension load beam includes a load dimple bearing on the slider and has opposed stiffening flanges extending in a plane adjacent the slider. The actuator includes a stack of 9 head arm suspension assemblies and the stack has a height of 16.634 mm. An interdisk spacing of less than 1.4 mm provides a height dimension of 14.635 for a stack of 8 disks.

Abstract: A transfer composite for in-mold decoration of molded plastic or rubber articles complexing a casting substrate having a controlled release surface, and a thin discontinuously printed pressure sensitive adhesive tape-strippable pattern deposited on the casting substrate, whereby the transfer composite is suitable for inserting into a mold and adapted to resist print-distorting movement during flow of plastics or rubbers in the mold, yet capable of permanently bonding to the molded article without the use of adhesives. After removal from the mold the casting substrate and the controlled release surface are stripped from the decorated article.

Abstract: This invention provides graffiti removers for removing permanent ink stains from painted surfaces. The graffiti removers include an active solvent for dissolving the stains, which are organic in nature, an optional secondary solvent for concentrated attack on the stain without being adversely affected by dilution with water, an emollient for maintaining a uniform dispersion of particulates in the remover and on the graffiti-stained painted surfaces, and an amorphous, particulate, mildly abrasive filler for imbibing the solvents, the filler being selected to permit the slow release of the active solvent.

Abstract: A protective coating is utilized to protect the silicon during a wet chemical etch step in the process of making a micromachine, thereby preventing the formation of etched holes or pits in the micromachine. In another embodiment, silicon sacrificial pedestals are used to eliminate or greatly reduces the electrical potential difference between metal on the glass substrate and the silicon, thereby eliminating arcing and the resulting damage to silicon and metal. These pedestals may be removed after the anodic bond.

Abstract: A modified coating composition including a water based coating and a silicone component comprising 2 to 12 weight percent of the composition. The water based coating is preferably an acrylic latex paint. Preferably a filler is also included in the composition. The coating provides a sacrificial characteristic wherein layers may be removed with a stain or mark, leaving the coated surface looking new, using no more than soap and water.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive dry transfer article comprising a backing film, a release coating applied to a first face of the backing film, a continuous film of brittle polymeric compound applied to the release coating, and a pigmented pressure sensitive adhesive coating applied in imagewise fashion to said polymeric film to form a graphic pattern. On application of the article to the bonding substrate by pressure applied to the areas defined by the graphic pattern, the pigmented pressure sensitive adhesive is transferred to the bonding substrate and, after peeling the article away from the bonding substrate, the polymeric film fractures along the borders defining the graphic pattern such that the polymeric film in union with the graphic pattern is transferred with the pressure sensitive adhesive to the bonding substrate and the polymeric film not in union with the graphic pattern remains with the release coating.

Abstract: The improved disk drive system has an improved actuator arm assembly where the arms are independently and individually insertable and removable from the actuator member. Furthermore, each arm is individually self-locked into the actuator member without the need for external retaining means such as screws, springs, and rings. Since the arms are individually insertable/removable, the arms can be made very thin thereby allowing easy attachment of the head suspension assembly to the arm without the need for swaging, bonding, welding or screw-in. Since the arms can be made very thin, that provides substantial reduction in disk to disk spacing and therefore, substantial reduction in the overall height of a disk drive system.