Abstract: A cushioned vehicle cover assembly for protecting a vehicle from impact damage includes a vehicle that has a plurality of body panels thereon. A cover is removably positionable over the vehicle when the vehicle is parked outdoors. The cover is comprised of a fluid impermeable material. Moreover, the cover is comprised of a deformable material thereby facilitating the cover to conform to the outwardly facing surface of the body panels. A cushion is coupled to the cover and the cushion is comprised of a resiliently compressible material. The cushion absorbs impact energy from hail and other falling objects thereby protecting the vehicle from impact damage.

Abstract: An insulated cart for temperature controlled storage and transport includes a housing that defines an internal space. The housing is insulated. A plurality of trays is couplable to the housing and is selectively positionable in the internal space. The trays are positioned in the housing such that the internal space is configured to store items on the trays. An opening is positioned in a front of the housing and is configured to insert items through the opening to stow on the trays. A cover is hingedly coupled to the housing proximate to the opening. The opening is positioned in the housing such that the opening is configured to insert items, such as prepared foods, through the opening to stow on the trays. The cover is positioned to reversibly close the opening.

Abstract: A method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens is provided. In one embodiment, a prepolymer mixture is polymerized in a lens mold in an atmosphere having less than about 10000 ppm oxygen to form a silicone hydrogel contact lens suitable for extended wear as characterized by producing less than 10% corneal swelling after a period of continuous wear of 7 days including normal sleep periods. In one embodiment, the prepolymer mixture comprises at least one oxyperm material containing hydrophilic groups, wherein the at least one oxyperm material is a siloxane-containing macromer or monomer, at least one ionperm material, and a cross-linking agent. In certain embodiments, the polymerization of the prepolymer mixture may be carried out in an atmosphere having less than about 1000 ppm oxygen.

Abstract: A method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens is provided. In one embodiment, a prepolymer mixture is polymerized in a lens mold in an atmosphere having less than about 10000 ppm oxygen to form a silicone hydrogel contact lens suitable for extended wear as characterized by producing less than 10% corneal swelling after a period of continuous wear of 7 days including normal sleep periods. In one embodiment, the prepolymer mixture comprises at least one oxyperm material containing hydrophilic groups, wherein the at least one oxyperm material is a siloxane-containing macromer or monomer, at least one ionperm material, and a cross-linking agent. In certain embodiments, the polymerization of the prepolymer mixture may be carried out in an atmosphere having less than about 1000 ppm oxygen.

Abstract: A method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens is provided. In one embodiment, a prepolymer mixture is polymerized in a lens mold in an atmosphere having less than about 10000 ppm oxygen to form a silicone hydrogel contact lens suitable for extended wear as characterized by producing less than 10% corneal swelling after a period of continuous wear of 7 days including normal sleep periods. In one embodiment, the prepolymer mixture comprises at least one oxyperm material containing hydrophilic groups, wherein the at least one oxyperm material is a siloxane-containing macromer or monomer, at least one ionoperm material, and a cross-linking agent. In certain embodiments, the polymerization of the prepolymer mixture may be carried out in an atmosphere having less than about 1000 ppm oxygen.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. In one embodiment, an ophthalmic lens is a copolymerization product of at least one oxyperm, at least one ionoperm, and a crosslinker. In one embodiment, a lens has a tensile modulus of less than about 3.0 MPa, yet in another embodiment, the tensile modulus is between about 0.5 to about 1.5 MPa.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. In one embodiment, an opthalmic lens is a copolymerization product of at least one oxyperm, at least one ionoperm, and a crosslinker. In one embodiment, a lens has a tensile modulus of less than about 3.0 MPa, yet in another embodiment, the tensile modulus is between about 0.5 to about 1.5 MPa.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. In one embodiment, an opthalmic lens is a copolymerization product of at least one oxyperm, at least one ionoperm, and a crosslinker. In one embodiment, a lens has a tensile modulus of less than about 3.0 MPa, yet in another embodiment, the tensile modulus is between about 0.5 to about 1.5 MPa.

Abstract: A method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens is provided. In one embodiment, a prepolymer mixture is polymerized in a lens mold in an atmosphere having less than about ppm oxygen to form a silicone hydrogel contact lens suitable for extended wear as characterized by producing less than 10% corneal swelling after a period of continuous wear of 7 days including normal sleep periods. In one embodiment, the prepolymer mixture comprises at least one oxyperm material containing hydrophilic groups, wherein the at least one oxyperm material is a siloxane-containing macromer or monomer, at least one ionperm material, and a cross-linking agent. In certain embodiments, the polymerization of the prepolymer mixture may be carried out in an atmosphere having less than about 1000 ppm oxygen.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to synthetic wood chips and methods for making the same. The synthetic wood chips are made from rubber particles, such as ground up tires, and a coating, which colors the rubber particles to look like natural mulch. The synthetic mulch is available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, however, it is preferred for the synthetic mulch to look like wood chips, tree bark, or pea gravel.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Abstract: A running board assembly is designed such that it does not adversely effect the triggering properties of a side-impact airbag system. In a first embodiment, upon incurring an impact, the running board moves to a position inward of the side of the vehicle at a controlled collapsing load. The controlled collapsing load does not adversely effect the trigger point at which a side-impact airbag system must not deploy nor does it adversely effect the trigger point at which a side-impact airbag system must deploy. In a second embodiment, the structure of the running board assembly is designed to transfer a side-impact load directly to the vehicle's side-impact airbag system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to synthetic wood chips and methods for making the same. The synthetic wood chips are made from rubber particles, such as ground up tires, and a coating, which colors the rubber particles to look like natural mulch. The synthetic mulch is available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, however, it is preferred for the synthetic mulch to look like wood chips, tree bark, or pea gravel.

Abstract: A reversibly expandable compression pad for compressing tissues and/or organs to provide a relatively unobstructed surgical field during laparoscopic surgery and/or thorascopic surgery. The compression pad is flexible enough to be deployed, manipulated and removed through a laparoscopic access tube, and is heavy enough to compress tissues and/or organs. The pad can also be used as a table on which to rest objects during surgery.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rubber pellets made of an amount of vulcanized rubber and an amount of binder, with the vulcanized rubber preferably being discarded rubber. Additionally, the rubber pellets will preferably contain an amount of filler materials which are plastic or rubber or combinations thereof so that the preferred rubber pellet contains an amount of rubber equal to between about 50% and about 95% by weight of the rubber pellet, an amount of filler material equal to between about 0 and about 45% by weight of the rubber pellet, and an amount of binder equal to between about 5% and about 10% by weight of the rubber pellet. The rubber pellets are used in the formation of asphalt and are desirable because they provide necessary constituents to the asphalt and allow for elimination of equipment and separate ingredient addition steps from the asphalt formation process. The present invention is also desirable because it provides for a way to desirably dispose of waste rubber materials.