Abstract: A spindle nut retainer is used with a spindle with a flat portion on its threaded end. The flat portion interrupts the threads on the threaded end. A washer with a mating flat portion is slidably mounted over the threaded end and a nut is removably threaded to the threaded end of the spindle against the washer to set the preload on bearings. The nut retainer overlays a plurality of the corners of the nut and engages the threaded portion of the spindle with tangs. A majority of the tangs are flexed or bent to remain in biased contact with the threads on the spindle. Some of the tangs are located over the flat portion and remain unbent. The tangs resist rotation of the nut by engagement with the flat portion where it meets the threads.

Abstract: A spindle nut retainer is used with a spindle with a flat portion on its threaded end. The flat portion interrupts the threads on the threaded end. A washer with a mating flat portion is slidably mounted over the threaded end and a nut is removably threaded to the threaded end of the spindle against the washer to set the preload on bearings. The nut retainer overlays a plurality of the corners of the nut and engages the threaded portion of the spindle with tangs. A majority of the tangs are flexed or bent to remain in biased contact with the threads on the spindle. Some of the tangs are located over the flat portion and remain unbent. The tangs resist rotation of the nut by engagement with the flat portion where it meets the threads.

Abstract: A spindle nut retainer is used with a spindle with a flat portion on its threaded end. The flat portion interrupts the threads on the threaded end. A washer with a mating flat portion is slidably mounted over the threaded end and a nut is removably threaded to the threaded end of the spindle against the washer to set the preload on bearings. The nut retainer overlays a plurality of the corners of the nut and engages the threaded portion of the spindle with tangs. A majority of the tangs are flexed or bent to remain in biased contact with the threads on the spindle. Some of the tangs are located over the flat portion and remain unbent. The tangs resist rotation of the nut by engagement with the flat portion where it meets the threads.

Abstract: A spindle nut retainer is used with a spindle with a flat portion on its threaded end. The flat portion interrupts the threads on the threaded end. A washer with a mating flat portion is slidably mounted over the threaded end and a nut is removably threaded to the threaded end of the spindle against the washer to set the preload on bearings. The nut retainer overlays a plurality of the corners of the nut and engages the threaded portion of the spindle with tangs. A majority of the tangs are flexed or bent to remain in biased contact with the threads on the spindle. Some of the tangs are located over the flat portion and remain unbent. The tangs resist rotation of the nut by engagement with the flat portion where it meets the threads.

Abstract: A graphite coated tow of fibers having exfoliated and pulverized graphite platelets coated on an outer surface of the fibers are provided. A process is provided for surface coating of the graphite platelets onto the fibers. The graphite coated tow of fibers are used to produce a reinforced composite material. Reinforced composite materials incorporating the graphite coated fibers can be electrostatically painted without using a conductive primer on a surface to be painted.

Abstract: Composite products incorporating a polymer matrix, polymer microspheres, glass microspheres and natural fibers, particularly kenaf and wood fibers, are described. The polymer microspheres are 15 to 50 microns in diameter and are smaller than the glass microspheres which are 50 to 200 microns in diameter. The polymer microspheres reduce voids and prevent cracking of the glass microspheres upon compression. The composites have low cost and high strength.

Abstract: A shower bath made of stones includes natural lines of joint between edges of the floor and edges of the wall portions of the shower bath, which are spaced from each other to form gaps along the lines of joint. The gaps are filled with grout except for one gap which is a water discharge gap. The shower floor is substantially planar and inclined downwardly in a direction generally toward the water discharge gap. The discharge gap is bounded at two ends by the grout filling the adjacent gaps so that water falling on the floor can exit through the discharge gap to the drain below the floor. A drain guide has an upper channel portion that cooperates with the edge of the floor and the edge of the wall portion that form the water discharge gap. The drain guide has a lower conduit that provides fluid communication between the upper channel portion and a drain pipe disposed below the shower floor.

Abstract: A shower bath made of stones includes natural lines of joint between edges of the floor and edges of the wall portions of the shower bath, which are spaced from each other to form gaps along the lines of joint. The gaps are filled with grout except for one gap which is a water discharge gap. The shower floor is substantially planar and inclined downwardly in a direction generally toward the water discharge gap. The discharge gap is bounded at two ends by the grout filling the adjacent gaps so that water falling on the floor can exit through the discharge gap to the drain below the floor. A drain guide has an upper channel portion that cooperates with the edge of the floor and the edge of the wall portion that form the water discharge gap. The drain guide has a lower conduit that provides fluid communication between the upper channel portion and a drain pipe disposed below the shower floor.

Abstract: Composite products incorporating a polymer matrix, polymer microspheres, glass microspheres and natural fibers, particularly kenaf are described. The polymer microspheres are 15 to 50 microns in diameter and are smaller that the glass microspheres which are 50 to 200 microns in diameter. The polymer microspheres reduce voids and prevent cracking of the glass microspheres upon compression. The composites have low cost and high strength.