Abstract: A photovoltaic roofing panel, method of making an method of installing a roofing panel is disclosed, which includes a bottom panel having a lower surface configured to be secured to the roof of a building; a top panel; and at least one photovoltaic cell captured between the top panel and the bottom panel, where the roofing panel is configured to be fastened directly to the roof, and roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, are configure to abut the roofing panel, forming a more seamless and aesthetically pleasing roofing structure that also generates solar power.

Abstract: A photovoltaic roofing panel, method of making an method of installing a roofing panel is disclosed, which includes a bottom panel having a lower surface configured to be secured to the roof of a building; a top panel; and at least one photovoltaic cell captured between the top panel and the bottom panel, where the roofing panel is configured to be fastened directly to the roof, and roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, are configure to abut the roofing panel, forming a more seamless and aesthetically pleasing roofing structure that also generates solar power.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improvement for a fill valve (22) for an aerosol container (10, 30) to provide better sealing capability. The fill valve is made using a flashless injection molding process in which both the mold cavity and molding material are heated to elevated temperatures to significantly improve cross-linking which occurs during the molding process. A backside (22a) of the fill valve now has a recessed portion (56) to facilitate ejection of the valve from a mold so leak paths are not created due to the forces applied to the valve during its extraction from the mold. The recessed portion reduces the amount of material required to make the fill valve and makes the fill valve flexible to aid in providing a good seal against leakage of a propellant from the container after filling.

Abstract: A method of waste-less molding of rubber is disclosed. The method includes, in a first step, providing unvulcanized rubber that forms rubber of a predetermined tensile strength when vulcanized. In a second step, a mold having an injection port and a mold cavity is provided. The injection port and mold cavity are in fluid communication for forming a rubber part within the mold cavity and a sprue connected thereto extending into the injection port. In a third step, the injection port is configured to have a first point of a first cross-sectional area and a second point of a second cross-sectional area wherein the ratio of the first cross-sectional area to the second cross sectional area with regard to the tensile strength of the rubber causes the sprue to fail at the first point prior to failing at the second point when sufficient tensile stress is applied to the part.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improvement for a fill valve (22) for an aerosol container (10, 30) to provide better sealing capability. The fill valve is made using a flashless injection molding process in which both the mold cavity and molding material are heated to elevated temperatures to significantly improve cross-linking which occurs during the molding process. A backside (22a) of the fill valve now has a recessed portion (56) to facilitate ejection of the valve from a mold so leak paths are not created due to the forces applied to the valve during its extraction from the mold. The recessed portion reduces the amount of material required to make the fill valve and makes the fill valve flexible to aid in providing a good seal against leakage of a propellant from the container after filling.

Abstract: A method and a system implement a circuit design in an integrated chip. A floorplan of the circuit design is arranged at a high level of abstraction. The design is synthesized based on the floorplan, and the synthesized design is laid out physically on the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An improved articulated wiper blade assembly includes a wiper blade sub-assembly having a female and male spline portions, and an internal stake located within the spline channel for preventing longitudinal movement of the male spline within the female spline channel while still permitting journaled rotation of the male spline within the female spline. The stake is preferably located adjacent to one end of the wiper blade sub-assembly, whereby the wiper blade sub-assembly can be cut at the opposing end thereof to a shorter length without affecting the stake. The stake extends inwardly from the female spline channel into a transverse notch preformed in the body of the male spline and engages the inner walls of the notch to prevent longitudinal movement in either direction. However, the notch still permits rotation of the male spline around the stake. Additional staked fingers and corresponding notches can be utilized to further prevent longitudinal movement of the male spline.

Abstract: An articulated twin spline windshield wiper blade assembly includes an elongated, resilient, thin-walled polymeric female spline of relatively high durometer having a generally planar backbone, and two opposing arcuate spline legs which extend downwardly from the backbone and cooperate with the backbone to define a cylindrical spline channel. The wiper blade assembly further includes an elastomeric male spline having a cylindrical body portion rotatably journaled within the spline channel of the female spline. The male spline further includes a neck portion depending from the body portion, and a wiping portion depending from the neck portion. The wiping portion includes opposing wiping edges which are alternately engagable with a surface to be wiped upon rotation of the male spline within the spline channel.

Abstract: An articulated twin spline windshield wiper blade assembly includes an elongated, resilient, thin-walled polymeric female spline of relatively high durometer having a generally planar backbone, and two opposing arcuate spline legs which extend downwardly from the backbone and cooperate with the backbone to define a cylindrical spline channel. The wiper blade assembly further includes an elastomeric male spline having a cylindrical body portion rotatably journaled within the spline channel of the female spline. The male spline further includes a neck portion depending from the body portion, and a wiping portion depending from the neck portion. The wiping portion includes opposing wiping edges which are alternately engagable with a surface to be wiped upon rotation of the male spline within the spline channel.

Abstract: An articulated twin spline windshield wiper blade assembly for acceptance in the claws of a conventional windshield wiper arm assembly comprises a relative high durometer polymeric female spline having a circular channel therein for journaling of a male spline of a relatively low durometer elastomeric material. The female spline has a pair of oppositely directed flanges that are accepted in the claws of the wiper arm assembly and lie in a plane containing the central axis of the circular channel therein to minimize the moment of inertia of the female spline about an axis extending at a right angle to the central axis of the channel therein and parallel to a surface to be wiped.