Abstract: A barrier membrane for use in building construction may be manufactured by forming a polymeric film coating on release paper or film; or on nonwoven textiles, paper, fiberglass, or other structural substrate to improve tensile strength. Alternatively, the film may be fully or partially formed and then bonded to a structural substrate. A porous film coating or laminate may be formed using PVDF, PVC, and various polyolefins. A typical membrane may be less than 100 mil thick and greater than 50% porous, and may have a hydrostatic head while retaining gas permeability. Some embodiments may contain active ingredients to combat bacterial or fungal growth, repel insects, or absorb environmental pathogens. The active ingredients may be applied after the porous film is manufactured or may be incorporated during the film manufacturing process.

Abstract: Bedding products may utilize unique microporous films imparting bidirectional, micro particle and fluid penetration barrier properties, which may or may not contain active ingredient, while maintaining exceptional air permeability. A thin, microporous film with a unique sponge like cellular structure may prevent the migration of dust mites, dust mite feces, other micro particle allergens, pathogens and biological organisms from the interstices of the product to the sleep surface of the product, adversely affecting user health and comfort. Active ingredients such as anti microbial agents, metal oxides, and other materials may be used within the high capacity microporous structure of the film, and may provide customizable functionalities while maintaining barrier performance and superior air permeability. The micro structured film can be applied as a coating or a laminate to mattress or pillow ticking, a foam mattress construction, a comforter, duvet, mattress pad and/or other components of bedding products.

Abstract: A microporous fire resistant film coated or laminated composite textile may be uses as an upholstery fabric or mattress ticking which provides an air permeable microporous barrier to liquid, allergen or pathogen particle, or biological organism penetration. The microporous cellular structure of the coated or laminated film backing may provide a high capacity reservoir which may contain additives such as antimicrobial, UV absorbing, scent dispersing, or organism repelling particles or other functional agents, while maintaining superior barrier and air permeability properties in the finished product constructions. Applications may include any seating and bedding products where a combination of two or more of the above properties is desired.

Abstract: A microporous fire resistant film may be coated or laminated to form a composite textile may be used as a component for various types of apparel. The film may form a vapor permeable barrier that has a hydrostatic head and may repel liquid. The film may form a highly tortuous mechanical barrier to allergens, pathogens, particles, or biological organisms. The film may also serve as a high capacity reservoir for active materials such as antimicrobial materials, UV absorbers, scent dispersers, organism terminating or repelling materials, or other active or passive agents.

Abstract: The present invention is an article and process for determining the site of impact of a movable object on a treated surface, where a tennis ball is treated with a striking composition, and a boundary line region is treated with a receiving composition such that when the striking composition and the receiving composition are in physical contact, a calorimetric indicator is left on the receiving composition to indicate the point of contact.

Abstract: Mailbox vandalism is deterred by depositing a noxious material on a tool or weapon used by a vandal to smash a mailbox. The noxious material may be provided in a capsule fastened to a traffic-facing side of the mailbox so that a vandal's blow directed at the mailbox succeeds in fracturing the capsule and coating the vandal's tool or weapon with a noxious material. The capsule or capsules may contain any of a variety of malodorants, colorants, irritants and adhesives. The overall container may be configured as a composite capsule in which the noxious material is held within an inner glass capsule protected from environmental and accidental damage by a surrounding, relatively easily broken, outer capsule directly fastened to the protected mailbox.

Abstract: A bat trap provides for capturing a bat, club, or other tool or weapon used by a vandal to damage a mailbox adjacent a roadway. The trap may comprise an elongated support member; a plurality of spikes protruding through the support member from a back side of the support member so that a respective point of each spike extends outwardly from the support member by some selected minimum distance; a cover extending far enough from the support so as to cover all of the spikes; and an adhesive or mechanical fastener for attaching the support member to the mailbox so that the back side of the support abuts a traffic-facing side of the mailbox.

Abstract: An easily and installed support for a flexible covering, such as a bird-excluding net or a thermal blanket, may be made from lightweight and readily available plastic pipe components. The support is configured as a wheel and a vertical center pole that can hold the wheel in a horizontal position above the tree, similar to an umbrella. Netting or other flexible covering is attached to the wheel before it is lifted on the center pole and carried to a tree that is to be covered.

Abstract: A food container for use in a microwave oven is made from an inner, food contacting, glass vessel an outer plastic vessel. Because of the external plastic layer, the container has a significantly higher thermal insulating capability than a comparable glass container. This reduces the cooling rate of cooked food and provides an extra margin of handling safety. On the other hand, the internal glass vessel will not impart a plastic flavor to food stored or cooked in the vessel, and will be immune to the blistering or discoloration that sometimes occurs with plastic vessels. In some versions of the invention, free-standing glass and plastic vessels are arranged to be interfitted for use in food storage and microwave cooking, but can be easily separated for cleaning. In other versions, the glass and plastic vessels are intimately bonded together to prohibit penetration of moisture between the two vessels.

Abstract: A single-use disposable phlebotomy venous tourniquet formed from a strip of elastic fabric material. Such fabric may be initially selected or treated with a polymeric or elastomeric material to provide surfaces having predetermined frictional characteristics to minimize slippage and discomfort to the patient and to facilitate ease of use in knotting and releasing the tourniquet.

Abstract: Processes and techniques are described for concurrent electroplating of yttrium, barium and copper from aqueous solution onto a desired substrate (e.g., nickel, nichrome or silver). Compounds of these elements are dissolved in aqueous solution with a complexing agent meeting defined criteria and then are placed in a plating cell in which the cathode is the substrate on which the elements are to be deposited. After the elements have been deposited, they are oxidized to provide the desired perovskite structure. The process may be continuous or non-continuous.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprising at least 2% by weight of a fibrous material and at least 30% by weight of a binding material such that the composition can be melt-molded into articles which have mechanical strength sufficient for their intended uses and which are biodegradable. The binding material is formed of natural substance and may also include up to 30% by weight synthetic, water-soluble polymer. The fibrous material may be cellulose and/or mineral fibers which provide the attributes of reinforcement and degradability. The composition may further include up to 20% by weight liquid or solid plasticizer which serves to lower melt viscosity and add toughness to the composite material.

Abstract: Processes and techniques are described for concurrent electroplating of yttrium, barium and copper from aqueous solution onto a desired substrate (e.g., nickel, nichrome or silver). Compounds of these elements are dissolved in solution and then placed in a plating cell in which the cathode is the substrate on which the elements are to be deposited. After the elements have been deposited, they are oxidized to provide the desired perovskite structure. The process may be continuous or non-continuous.

Abstract: A golf tee formed of a molded composition of matter comprising 30-90% by weight sugar, 20-50% by weight cellulosic fiber, 2-30% by weight water soluble polymer and 2-20% by weight liquid or solid plasticizer. The molded composition may further include turf treatment materials such as grass seed and fertilizers.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for measuring heat flux, as is a method for forming a device for such use. Thermopile junctions are formed on a belt-like support so that the heat flux from an article, such as a pipe or process equipment, is sensed while the support is positioned against a surface of the article, and a voltage indicative of the sensed heat flux is generated and coupled to an outlet connector adapted for connection to a voltage readout device. The belt-like support is relatively narrow, flexible, and has one side of a polymer with high infrared emissivity and the other side of a metal foil with low infrared emissivity.

Abstract: A low-impedance biological electrode device for establishing electrical connection between the human body and electrical recording or stimulating apparatus without the use of conducting fluids, such as, gels, pastes and electrolytes, comprising, a substantially planar relatively thin electrode body, having as the electrically conducting connecting unit contacting the human body, a plurality of individual longitudinally extending strands, fibers, or filaments of conducting material embedded in a pressure-sensitive or solvent-activated adhesive which serves to bond the strands together in a composite connecting unit and to bond the connecting unit on one side to said electrode body and on the other side or interface to the human body, a modification being the use of strands cross-oriented with respect to the longitudinal strands, as exemplified by woven conductive material, the connecting unit being provided with a transverse bus bar in the form of metal foil in electrical contact with an electrical connecting

Abstract: A wedge-shaped whipstock is provided for directional well drilling which tapers from the lead end to a thick section at the bottom, and is fabricated from a tough polymeric material. An adhesive coating is applied to the outside surface of the wedge for permanent adherence of the whipstock to the surface of the drill hole. A deformable highly viscous material can fill and complement the internal wedge portion to produce a cylindrical configuration prior to use. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the deformable viscous material, a compressive element having a shaped compression face and made from a frangible material may be formed on the drill bit and/or attached to the prepared whipstock for the lowering of the tool into the drill hole and bonding the whipstock in place. The bottom surface of the whipstock is reinforced for positioning in the hole over a bridge plug or broken drill pipe.