Abstract: An aqueous coating composition which can be applied to a cured rubber surface, such as the white sidewall, colored sidewall, raised white lettering or raised colored lettering of a tire, to provide a protective coating against staining and scuffing. The composition includes (a) polyvinyl alcohol, (b) ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (c) one or both of (i) a silicon emulsion in an amount sufficient to provide increased scuff resistance to a coating prepared from the composition, and (ii) a thickening agent of a type and in an amount effective to render the composition shear-thinning.

Abstract: A removable masking tape suitable for protecting a surface on a substrate that has irregular curvatures and contours, the masking tape containing a polymeric tape that is flexible and deformable to conforming to the contour, or curvature of the surface. After the masking tape has been applied to the surface of the substrate, the masking tape is capable of maintaining the contour and the curvature in the position it is applied over time without departure.

Abstract: A variable speed drive mechanism (4) is disclosed for use in conjunction with multi-sided prismatic convertible sign elements (22). A drive gear (32) driven at constant speed causes a mounting gear (23) to rotate at an angular velocity both slower than the angular velocity of the drive gear (32) and at a varying angular velocity. An idler gear (38) guides a flexible tension supporting element (31) as it travels between an equalizer gear (35) and the drive gear (32). A series of the drive trains (21) may be mounted adjacent to each other so as to permit a plurality of prismatic sign elements (22, 47, 48) to create a convertible sign.

Abstract: Recoverable, peelable masking films prepared from an aqueous emulsion of polyvinyl acetate resins are disclosed. The aqueous composition is an admixture about 70 to 80 wt-% an aqueous vehicle; about 20 to 30 wt-% of a polyvinyl acetate film-forming resin; about 0.1 to 5 wt-% of a plasticizer; about 0.1 to 5 wt-% of a water soluble polysaccharide gum; less than about 1 wt-% of an emulsifiable thickening agent; about 0.01 to 1 wt-% of a release agent to render a film formed from the aqueous composition peelable from a substrate; and about 0.1 to 1 wt-% of a defoaming agent. The composition can then be dried to form a peelable film consisting essentially of a single layer comprising about 70 to 99 wt-% of polyvinyl acetate resin; about 0.1 to 15 wt-% a water soluble polysaccharide gum; about 0.1 to 15 wt-% of a emulsifiable thickening agent; and about 0.01 to 5 wt-% of a release agent to render a film formed from an aqueous composition peelable from a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible sign assembly that includes a frame having a front edge which defines a sign area. A flexible sign material, having a front side and a back side, has a sign body that approximately spans the sign area, and a sign periphery that is releasably secured to the frame. The sign periphery is wrapped around the perimeter of a retaining member with the front side of the flexible sign material contacting the retaining member. An L-shaped extension of a tensioning member is configured to engage a U-shaped channel on the retaining member, thereby capturing a part of the sign periphery therebetween. The tensioning member has a catch that mates with each of a series of ridges on the frame, which ridges are substantially parallel to the front edge of the frame.

Abstract: A fluid operated device in which an externally toothed rotor is rotatably disposed in a chamber and an internally toothed member is orbitally but not rotatably disposed in the chamber about the rotor. The rotor and orbital member are operative upon relative rotation to form fluid containing pockets therebetween and suitable fluid ducts are provided for conveying fluid to and from the fluid containing pockets. The orbital member is provided with means to cooperatively engage the housing to limit, or prevent unidirectional rotational motion of the orbiting member but to allow orbital movement about the axis of rotation of the rotor.