Abstract: An ambient curable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles containing pendant ethylenically unsaturated side chains; a method of applying to a substrate a coating composition containing the aqueous dispersion of polymer particles; and a method of making the aqueous dispersion of polymer particles are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in part, to improved nanocomposite compositions and processes for preparing same. Specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a process for preparing an aqueous nanocomposite dispersion, wherein the process comprises: polymerizing via suspension polymerization a suspension comprising at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a hydrophobically modified clay to form the nanocomposite dispersion after polymerization, wherein the hydrophobically modified clay is dispersed in the monomer. Other embodiments include processes for preparing aqueous nanocomposite particles, colloids, and dispersions using hydrophobically modified clays in aqueous systems and compositions comprising same.

Abstract: A power-generation device comprising at least one cylinder, at least one cylinder head, at least one piston and an output shaft, having a central axis having a fixed angular relationship to the central axis of the cylinder. A swash plate, having a first swash plate surface having a normal axis disposed at a first fixed angle to the central axis of the output shaft, is fixed to the output shaft. At least one connecting rod is connected to at least one piston. At least one follower is secured to the second end of a connecting rod. The first follower surface contacts, and conforms to, the orientation of the first swash plate surface.

Abstract: An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and closed user groups are provided that can provide significant advantages. A method for providing a closed user group service to authorize VToA calls includes determining the closed user group identifiers for a calling party, determining the closed user group identifiers for a called party, locating a common closed user group identifier that is common to the calling party and the called party, analyzing the privileges of the calling party in the common closed user group to determine if the calling party can make calls to other users of the common closed user group, and analyzing the privileges of the called party in the common closed user group to determine if the called party can receive calls from other users of the common closed user group. An illustrative intelligent network and data structure to provide closed user group services is also provided.

Abstract: A stack of interleaved towels is provided wherein each towel is configured from a sheet of material having a first fold to generate a first panel, a second fold in the sheet substantially parallel to the first fold and creating a second panel, and a third fold substantially parallel to the first and second folds and creating a lead flap and a trailing flap. The lead flap is defined between the first fold and the third fold such that the first fold presents a leading edge for grasping by a user. The trailing flap is defined between the second fold and the third fold. Prior to interfolding, the first panel is positioned directly adjacent the second panel. Additionally, the trailing flap of each sheet of material is disposed between the lead flap and the trailing flap of an adjacent sheet of material such that the sheets of material are interleaved.

Abstract: A coating composition including a polyaniline particle and a binder is provided. The polyaniline particle contains a core polymer particle with strong acid groups and an attached polyaniline polymer, and has a particle diameter in a select range. Coatings prepared from the coating composition may be employed to provide corrosion resistance to metal substrates. A process for preparing the polyaniline particle and an article including a coating prepared from the coating composition are also provided.

Abstract: An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (“ATM”) and private address translation are provided that can provide significant advantages. The method includes generating an input ATM setup message at the calling party CPE that includes a VToA designator and a called party phone number, extracting information from the input ATM setup message, analyzing the information, designating an ATM address of a called party CPE to be stored in the first parameter of an output ATM setup message, determining if private address translation is needed, designating the ATM address of the called party CPE to be stored in a first instance of the second parameter of the output ATM setup message, designating an ATM address of an egress ATM edge switch to be stored in the first parameter of the output ATM setup message, and generating an output ATM setup message.

Abstract: An ambient curable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles containing pendant ethylenically unsaturated side chains; a method of applying to a substrate a coating composition containing the aqueous dispersion of polymer particles; and a method of making the aqueous dispersion of polymer particles are provided.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a polymeric binder for water-resistant ink jet inks, wherein the binder has an acid component in the range from about 1 to about 10 wt. % of the polymer, a glass transition temperature in the range from about −20° C. to about 25° C., and an average particle diameter in the range from about 250 to about 400 nm and a particle size distribution such that essentially all the particles have a diameter in the range from 130 to 450 nm. The binder comprises monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, styrene, substituted styrene, fluoromethacrylates, vinyl acrylates, vinyl acetates, acrylamides, substituted acrylamides, methacrylamides, substituted methacrylamides, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A retractable awning for a recreational vehicle is provided wherein the awning is stored behind a pivoting door that closes flush with the side of the recreational vehicle when the awning is not deployed over a slide-out unit. The pivoting door is adjacent the awning and the pivoting door closes flush with the side of the recreational vehicle with the awning enclosed in its side mounted compartment. With the retractable awning completely behind the plane defining the side of the recreational vehicle and protected by a locking door, the awning does not add any additional unwanted width to the recreational vehicle and is protected from unfurling during transport. An automatic locking mechanism is provided for ensuing that the door remains closed during transportation. Further, a debris clearing mechanism is preferably installed adjacent the spool which collects the retractable awning as it retracts, thereby cleaning the awning of debris prior to its withdrawal into the compartment.

Abstract: A coating composition including a polyaniline particle and a binder is provided. The polyaniline particle contains a core polymer particle with strong acid groups and an attached polyaniline polymer, and has a particle diameter in a select range. Coatings prepared from the coating composition may be employed to provide corrosion resistance to metal substrates. A process for preparing the polyaniline particle and an article including a coating prepared from the coating composition are also provided.

Abstract: A retractable awning for a recreational vehicle is provided wherein the awning is stored behind a pivoting door that closes flush with the side of the recreational vehicle when the awning is not deployed over a slide-out unit. The pivoting door is adjacent the awning and the pivoting door closes flush with the side of the recreational vehicle with the awning enclosed in its side mounted compartment. With the retractable awning completely behind the plane defining the side of the recreational vehicle and protected by a locking door, the awning does not add any additional unwanted width to the recreational vehicle and is protected from unfurling during transport. An automatic locking mechanism is provided for ensuring that the door remains closed during transportation. Further, a debris clearing mechanism is preferably installed adjacent the spool which collects the retractable awning as it retracts, thereby cleaning the awning of debris prior to its withdrawal into the compartment.

Abstract: An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM are provided that can provide significant advantages. The intelligent network includes a multi-service control point, an ATM signaling intercept processor, and a service administration. The multi-service control point receive an input extracted from an input ATM setup message that includes a called party phone number value and a VToA designator, and generates an output in response for use in generating an output ATM setup message. The ATM signaling intercept processor intercepts the input ATM setup message from an ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network, extracts the input from the input ATM setup message, communicates the input to the multi-service control point, receives the output generated by the multi-service control point, generates the output ATM setup message using the output, and communicates the output ATM setup message to the ingress ATM edge switch of the ATM network.

Abstract: An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and point-to-multipoint connectivity are provided that can provide significant advantages. A method for providing a point-to-multipoint service to control point-to-multipoint connections using an intelligent network and a switched virtual circuit over an ATM network includes receiving a request from a calling party to establish a point-to-multipoint connection, determining if the calling party is authorized to make point-to-multipoint connections, rejecting the request if the calling party is not authorized to establish point-to-multipoint connections, analyzing the request to determine if the bandwidth requested for the point-to-multipoint connection is within authorized bandwidth limits, and rejecting the request if the bandwidth requested is not within authorized bandwidth limits. An intelligent network for providing VToA and point-to-multipoint connectivity is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a polymeric binder for water-resistant ink jet inks, wherein the binder has an acid component in the range from about 1 to about 10 wt. % of the polymer, a glass transition temperature in the range from about −20° C. to about 25° C., and an average particle diameter in the range from about 250 to about 400 nm and a particle size distribution such that essentially all the particles have a diameter in the range from 130 to 450 nm. The binder comprises monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, styrene, substituted styrene, fluoromethacrylates, vinyl acrylates, vinyl acetates, acrylamides, substituted acrylamides, methacrylamides, substituted methacrylamides, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and closed user groups are provided that can provide significant advantages. A method for providing a closed user group service to authorize VToA calls includes determining the closed user group identifiers for a calling party, determining the closed user group identifiers for a called party, locating a common closed user group identifier that is common to the calling party and the called party, analyzing the privileges of the calling party in the common closed user group to determine if the calling party can make calls to other users of the common closed user group, and analyzing the privileges of the called party in the common closed user group to determine if the called party can receive calls from other users of the common closed user group. An illustrative intelligent network and data structure to provide closed user group services is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in part, to improved nanocomposite compositions and processes for preparing same. Specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a process for preparing an aqueous nanocomposite dispersion, wherein the process comprises: polymerizing via suspension polymerization a suspension comprising at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a hydrophobically modified clay to form the nanocomposite dispersion after polymerization, wherein the hydrophobically modified clay is dispersed in the monomer. Other embodiments include processes for preparing aqueous nanocomposite particles, colloids, and dispersions using hydrophobically modified clays in aqueous systems and compositions comprising same.

Abstract: A device and method allow a dry catalyst to be delivered to a liquid-filled polymerization reactor, thus avoiding problems associated with catalyst-liquid contact or with undesired addition of gases to the reactor. A quantity of dry catalyst is transferred from a catalyst reservoir maintained under dry conditions to a catalyst chamber. An inert fluid then enters the chamber to flush the catalyst charge toward the reactor. Optional embodiments include means for precontacting the dry catalyst with a modifier and for removing gas from the fluid line.

Abstract: An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (“ATM”) and private address translation are provided that can provide significant advantages. The method includes generating an input ATM setup message at the calling party CPE that includes a VToA designator and a called party phone number, extracting information from the input ATM setup message such as the VToA designator and the called party phone number, analyzing the information, designating an ATM address of a called party CPE to be stored in the first parameter of an output ATM setup message, determining if private address translation is needed, designating the ATM address of the called party CPE to be stored in a first instance of the second parameter of the output ATM setup message, designating an ATM address of an egress ATM edge switch to be stored in the first parameter of the output ATM setup message, and generating an output ATM setup message.