Abstract: A support and transport structure for carrying a “painting-in-progress” frame with canvas wherein an artist's painting canvas is stretched over and fastened to the frame, and wherein the structure has a rack having at least one upstanding guide rail which is vertically slotted, wherein clamp means is affixed only to the frame and is isolated from all painted portions of the canvas, and wherein the clamp means has a guide journal structure which slides up or down within the guide slot to maintain the painted surface of the canvas completely isolated from all portions of the rack and clamp means.

Abstract: There is described a process for producing a particulate composition comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first dispersion comprising first particles stabilised in a first fluid by a first species in an initial state, the first species changeable between the initial state and a further state, where the initial state provides (directly or indirectly) more stability to the particles within the dispersion than the further state; (b) optionally the step of forming a second dispersion comprising second particles stabilised in a second fluid, miscible with the first fluid, by a second species in the, or another, initial state, the second species also changeable between the, or another ,initial state and the, or another, further state, where said initial state provides (directly or indirectly) more stability to the particles within the dispersion than said further state; (c) after the optional step of mixing the first and second dispersions together if the second dispersion was formed in step b), changing the s

Abstract: A process for preparing a crystal suspension of an organic compound which has a &Dgr;H/RT value (where &Dgr;H is the heat of fusion of the compound, R is the molar gas constant and T is the melting point of the compound) in the range of 1 to 10, the process comprising dispersing a melt of the organic compound in a liquid dispersion medium, typically water, to form an emulsion, typically an oil-in-water emulsion, cooling the emulsion below the melting point of the organic compound and subjecting the emulsion to ultrasonic vibration.

Abstract: A process for preparing a crystal suspension of an organic compound which has a &Dgr;H/RT value greater than 10, the process comprising dispersing a melt of the organic compound in a liquid dispersion medium to form an emulsion, cooling the emulsion below the melting point of the organic compound and subjecting the emulsion to ultrasonic vibration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for cutting a decorative groove in a matboard. The matboard is positioned adjacent a guide. A carrier is adapted to be moved along the guide with two blades oriented in separate planes which intersect each other and which lie at an oblique angle relative to the matboard. One of the blades is inserted into the matboard at a selected first depth. The carrier is moved along the guide for a predetermined length of travel to make a first cut in the matboard defining a first side of the groove. The blade is then retracted. Then the other blade is next inserted into the matboard to a selected depth at least intersecting the first cut. The carrier is then moved back to the initial location to make a second cut in the matboard defining a second side of the groove. In a preferred embodiment, the tips of the blades are offset from each other relative to the length of the groove.

Abstract: An oval mat cutter allows the continuous adjustment of the overall size of the oval as well as the difference between its larger and smaller axes. The cutter may also produce circles. The cutter separates the knife from a first point which it keeps in a first groove. It separates this first point from a second point which it keeps in a second groove lying perpendicular to the first. A generally circular motion of the cutter while maintaining the two points in their respective grooves creates the desired oval. Making the two points in their respective groove coincide with each other will result in the production of a circle. The knife that makes the actual cut sits next to a wheel whose outer circumference has a sharp ridge. The knife has configurations where it extends to various distances beyond the edge of the wheel and one in which it sits within the wheel's circumference. To make a clean cut, the wheel, with the knife retracted, makes a groove in the mat.

Abstract: Picture frame components include frame sections each having a channel and communicating cavity that are open at the rear of the frame. At least a region of each frame section adjacent the cavity is deformable and defines a deformable bearing surface. At each frame corner a bracket is provided to hold two adjoining frame sections together. The bracket has two legs with an engaging member on each leg that presents an engaging wall for being received in the frame section cavity and for engaging the deformable region of the frame section. Either the engaging wall or bearing surface, or both, are angled relative to the frame section length. The bracket is inserted in the channels of the adjoining frame sections and each frame section bearing surface is deformed by the engaging wall as the frame sections are forced tightly together.

Abstract: Components are provided for forming a picture frame which include frame sections adapted to be oriented at an angle to form a corner of the frame at adjacent ends of the sections. A bracket is provided for each corner and has a first leg and a second leg. One leg is disposed within a channel formed in one of the frame sections at the corner and the other leg is disposed within a channel of the other of the two frame sections at the frame corner. At least one of the legs of each bracket has a slanting engagement surface. A screw is threadingly engaged with one of the frame sections and also engages the bracket slanting engagement surface to urge the bracket leg along the frame section in which it is disposed in a direction away from the other frame section at the corner to draw the facing regions of the two frame sections together at the corner.

Abstract: A mat cutter employing a razor blade and providing protection against the blade's bending towards either of its sides. The cutter, used for preparing mats for photographs and other art objects, has a base upon which it sits and a section which slopes upward. A holder for a razor blade pivotally attaches to the sloping section and can rotate the blade into and out of a cutting position. When in its cutting position, the blade fits inside of a slot in the base and extends beyond only enough to effect the 45.degree. desired cut. The two sides of the slot prevent the blade from flexing towards either of its flat sides. With the blade thus surrounded and hidden from view, the cutter also employs a marking device that allows the proper placement of the cutter from a mat's edge to cut along a desired line. The cutter also includes starting and stopping marks so that it may produce a cut of the desired length using similar lines along the other sides of the mat.

Abstract: A smoking material comprising smoke-producing fuel, fortifying nicotine, calcium and/or magnesium carbonate as incombustible filler, at least one water-soluble salt selected to inhibit dissolution of the calcium and/or magnesium carbonate in water, and a phosphate buffer consisting of an acid salt of orthophosphoric acid or of a polyphosphoric acid to maintain the slurry pH at less than 6.

Abstract: A cutter for mat frames which includes a cutter head, including a pair of blade carrying cutter blocks, slidable along a cutter bar and having a plurality of adjustable stops for accurately positioning and cutting of a mat board without over or under cutting. The assembly also includes means to limit the depth of the cut by one of the cutter blocks and means to lock the other cutter block in cutting position. Also included in the cutter is an adjustable handle frame which includes a cutter bar along which the cutter head is guided.