Abstract: Improved bone connective prostheses are disclosed. The prostheses comprise a reinforcement element carrying a polymer layer having a varying modulus of elasticity. The exterior surface of the polymer layer constitutes the bone attachment surface of the prostheses and has the lowest modulus of elasticity. The interior surface of the polymer layer is attached to reinforcement element and has the highest modulus of elasticity. Portions of the polymer layer lying between the exterior and the interior surface of the polymer layer have moduli of elasticity which are intermediate with respect to the moduli of elasticity of the exterior and interior surface of the layer. The modulus of elasticity of the layer decreases in the direction of interior to exterior. The decrease in modulus of elasticity may be either continuous or incremental. The reinforcement element may have either a simple or a complex structure.

Abstract: A high stiffness siding for use on the exterior surfaces of buildings, particularly houses, in an overlapping pattern, is formed of unitary structural foam plastic, preferably polyvinyl chloride, with integral reinforcing ribs on its internal surface. The thickness of the siding is about 55-85 mils, with the ribs being about 25-65 mils thick; the density of the foam is about 0.85 to 1.15, except in the vicinity of the ribs, the ribs having a density of about 0.75.

Abstract: An improved lightweight diffuser assembly having a plenum chamber formed of fiberglass laminae is provided. The diffuser assembly is universally adapted for interfacing with various size conventional ducts of an air delivery system. The plenum chamber has a variable density across its surface and further includes a fibrous textured interior surface to optimize the sound absorption characteristics. Sheets of laminae fiberglass impregnated with uncured phenolic binders are placed in an appropriate die mold cavity and subjected to both compression and heat. The plenum chamber is cured in approximately a temperature of 700.degree. F. to 900.degree. F. for a time period of approximately 25 to 45 seconds to provide an interior fibrous textured surface. Carbon black and an interior sealing sheet can be introduced into the fiberglass laminae prior to compression.

Abstract: A laminated panel construction comprises a base panel preferably comprising a propylene polymer and a filler, a non-woven fabric mechanically anchored to a surface of the base panel and a thermoplastic foil secured to the non-woven fabric by an adhesive material. The non-woven fabric is secured to the surface of the base panel by pressing the base panel and non-woven fabric together at elevated heat and pressure. The base panel with the non-woven fabric secured thereto may be shaped into a predetermined configuration before the thermoplastic foil is adhesively bonded to the non-woven fabric.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric having alternating stripes of high fiber density and low fiber density is made in such a manner that the high fiber density stripes run across the fabric and maximize the cross direction strength to a point that the cross direction/machine direction strength ratio approaches unity. This advantageous and desirable characteristic can be achieved by hydroforming a card web, by disposing the carded web on a relatively fine mesh screen and placing a finger-like striping bars over the web with the axis of the bars at 90.degree. to the card web's general fiber orientation. Water was then sprayed over the assembly with sufficient force to rearrange the fibers in the web thereby producing the nonwoven fabric of this invention.

Abstract: A chemically embossed cellular vinyl chloride resin sheet material is prepared by treating the gelled surface of a vinyl chloride resin plastisol containing a blowing agent and a peroxide catalyst which induces polymerization of an acrylic monomer or resin with a liquid which contains an acrylic monomer or resin subject to polymerization, and subsequently heating the treated gelled vinyl chloride resin sheet material to polymerize the acrylic monomer or resin and to decompose the blowing agent, whereby full expansion of the sheet material is prevented by the polymerization in the treated areas, thereby producing a chemically embossed product.

Abstract: A plywood panel is provided with a durable and highly weather-proof surface and a plurality of embossed parallel grooves therein for enhancing its appearance. A metal caul plate is formed with the series of spaced apart ridges corresponding to desired grooves in the panel. A moist, spongy fibrous web is placed between the surface of the plywood panel and the surface of the caul plate, with an adhesive coating on either the panel or on the web surface facing the panel. The assembly of the caul plate and the plywood panel with the web therebetween is inserted into a hot press and subjected to heat and pressure and the web is firmly adhesively secured to the panel. The web, as well as the adhesive used for securing the web onto the panel, contains a quantity of thermo-setting phenolic resin so that the covered surface of the panel is durable and highly weather-proof. The original plywood panel may be of low quality and grade, having surface defects and blemishes, all of which are concealed by the covering web.

Abstract: An improvement in the process for producing a decorative surface covering having a multilevel embossed wear surface wherein, a layer of vinyl chloride resin dryblend which may be foamable or unfoamable, and which contains a polymerizable monomer having at least two olefinically unsaturated sites is formed. After sintering to achieve a solid but porous layer having substantial voids throughout, a plurality of resinous ink compositions, formulated to produce varying degrees of elevation in the final product, are applied in a design. Among the inks used are non-monomer-containing ink compositions which may include foamable and non-foamable inks and which may or may not include a catalyst for the monomer in the dryblend. The improvement of this invention comprises the inclusion in the plurality of inks printed in a design on the monomer-containing dryblend layer of an ink containing the same polymerizable monomer as that in the dryblend, and a catalyst for the monomer.

Abstract: Shaped articles such as doors, internal partitions and other building elements, are composed of a cellular thermoplastic material, and have at least one integral non-cellular transparent or translucent panel. The thermoplastic material is preferably a water-extended polymer, and may contain a colouring agent dispersed therethrough, e.g. a dye or pigment, or may be printed. The panels may be embossed to provide a visible decoration. Compared with equivalent articles having separately glazed panels as previously known, the present integral panels remove the need to fit and secure separate panes, e.g. of glass, during assembly, they provide a more unified appearance, and give designers greater scope in enabling them to incorporate panel shapes which would previously have been impossible or uneconomic to use.