Abstract: A process and materials are described in which highly refined cellulose fibers are broken down into microfibers and further processed into compositions, films, coatings and solid materials which are biodegradable and even edible. The process for the formation of hardenable compositions may comprise providing a composition comprising highly refined non-wood cellulose fiber, mechanically reducing the size of the non-wood cellulose fiber to less than 2 mm, reducing the amount of binding of microfibers by lignin within said non-wood cellulose fibers present in said composition comprising cellulose fiber to form a first fiber product, providing pressure of at least 300 psi to said first fiber product while it is in the presence of a liquid, and removing said pressure within a time interval which will cause said cellulose fiber to break down into a second fiber product comprising microfibers in said liquid.

Abstract: A process and materials are described in which highly refined celleuloise fibers are broken down into microfibers and further processed into compositions, films. coatings and solid materials which are biodegradable and even edible. The process for the formation of hardenable compositions may comprise:providing a composition comprising non-wood cellulose fiber, 36. mechanically reducing the size of the non-wood cellulose fiber to less than 2 mm, reducing the amount of binding of microfibers by lignin within said non-wood cellulose fibers present in said composition comprising cellulose fiber to form a first fiber product, providing pressure of at least 300 psi to said first fiber product while it is in the presence of a liquid, and removing said pressure within a time interval which will cause said cellulose fiber to break down into a second fiber product comprising microfibers in said liquid.

Abstract: A pointing device which is removably attachable to a keyboard is disclosed. The pointing device is coupled to an attachment assembly, the attachment assembly being removably and selectively attachable to the keyboard. The attachment assembly includes a coupling assembly and a tilting assembly. The full weight of the pointing device is supported by the computer so that a work surface is not necessary. In one embodiment, a clamping assembly is provided. The clamp assembly includes a variable width clamp to permit the pointing device to be attached to any one of a number of different keyboards or in different positions on the same keyboard. The tilting assembly permits the user to select whether the pointing device is in a horizontal, vertical or other orientation. A rotatable ball of the pointing device is retained in contact with the rotation sensing encoders regardless of the orientation of the housing.

Abstract: An arrangement for forming a block in a cable against transmission of fluid along the cable comprises a generally flat blocking array (1) that is formed from a fusible polymeric sealant, e.g. a hot-melt adhesive or a thermosetting adhesive, which has a number of passage ways (2) extending from one end of the array to the other end for receiving wires (4) of the cable. The assembly includes a heat-shrinkable covering that can be positioned around the blocking array (1) in its flat configuration and recovered about the array by application of heat, and the sealant is capable of melting during recovery of the covering and being forced from a generally flat configuration to a generally cylindrical one by recovery of the covering. The invention also includes arrays per se which may be formed from hot-melt adhesives or thermosetting adhesives.