Abstract: A carpet tile (11) and tile cutting apparatus (20) that produces a carpet tile with a removable cutout section (13) defined by discontinuous slits (19) and held in place by bridges (14). The apparatus includes a perimeter cutting assembly (50) and retractable inner cutting assembly (40). The perimeter cutting assembly is used to cut the carpet tile and the inner cutting assembly simultaneously forms the discontinuous slits in the inner portion of the carpet tile. The inner cutting assembly can be engaged or disengaged during the carpet tile cutting process. The carpet tile is installed by severing the bridges and laying the border sections (12) on the floor with dissimilar cutouts within the borders to create a visually interesting floor covering.

Abstract: A re-configurable floor covering and method of assembly that includes modular units that may be easily assembled in a variety of designs and that may be easily disassembled. This modular design provides flexibility in use and maintenance, as well as in removal and re-use. The modular units may be assembled so that adjacent units are linked.

Abstract: A mass transit flooring assembly including a plurality of sandwich panels. The sandwich panels (30) include a top skin (54), a bottom skin (58), a perimeter defining closeout (46), and a core (50) between the top (54) and bottom skin (58) and within the closeout parameter (46). The closeout (46) includes mating surfaces used to connect adjacent panels. The core is a precured reinforced core including a plurality of phenolic ribs and foam strips positioned in an alternating fashion. The precured core is manufactured by impregnating a layer of fabric with phenolic resin between two foam cores and stacking in a similar alternating fashion to create a bun. After the bun is cured at a constant pressure and temperature and cooled, the bun is cut along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the layers to provide a precured reinforced core panel ready to be inserted as a core in a sandwich panel.

Abstract: A clay composition comprises, in parts by weight on oxide basis, 10-15% Al2O3, 50-85% SiO2, 0-12.5% B2O3 and 10-20% metal oxides of the form RO or R2O.

Abstract: A tile anchoring system for use in reactors and other furnace like equipment which involves the use of a tile that contains various internal parts. According to the various embodiments of the present invention, the tile is formed as more than one part. In the present invention, various techniques and parts are used to anchor tiles to surfaces wherein the various parts and the tiles themselves “snap” into place with one another and/or with an existing hexmetal mesh structure.

Abstract: An arrangement which comprises: first and second panel-shaped pieces of flooring for joining together, said pieces resting on a sub-floor and having profiles along mutually meeting edge portions which, on the first piece, consist of a groove and a projection located thereunder, and on the second piece a tongue insertible in the groove, and also a recess accommodating the projection; wherein said projection, at its outer, free edge, is of greater thickness transversely of the plane of extent of the flooring piece than at its inner edge connected with remaining parts of the piece; and wherein the underside of the projection lies flush with the remainder of the underside of the flooring piece.

Abstract: A front filter being attached to a front surface of a flat panel display device includes a NIR (near infrared ray) blocking film for blocking the emission of near infrared rays to outside; an EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding film for absorbing electromagnetic waves and for preventing the electromagnetic waves from being emitted to outside; a glass formed on a front surface of the EMI shielding film; and an antireflection coating for preventing incident rays from outside from reflecting back to the outside, in which the EMI shielding film includes a mesh unit formed of conductive meshes that are intersected with each other; and a mesh frame for surrounding the mesh unit to support the mesh unit and to define an effective display area on a screen.

Abstract: A roof membrane and a roof system employing a EPDM membrance which is compatible with a bituminous adhesive. The membrance includes an outer layer of polymeric layer such as EPDM bonded to a polyester protective layer which is in turn bonded to a fleecy material. This can be adhered to a roof deck surface using hot asphalt or bitumen which bonds the fleecy material to the roof deck in turn holding the EPDM in place. The polyester layer prevents the asphaltic material from attacking and dissolving the EPDM with the fleecy material providing good adhesion between the polyester and the EPDM.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is performed by providing a glass sheet having first and second opposite surfaces merging with each other along a peripheral ground angled surface setting-off with the glass sheet first surface an included angle substantially greater than normal. The glass sheet is placed in a mold having opposing cavity portions which collectively define a cavity including a peripheral edge cavity portion defined in part by a cavity defining surface which lies in the plane of the glass sheet first surface when the mold is closed. The mold is then closed such that the cavity defining surface and the glass sheet round angled surface set-off and angled complementary to the included angle and with the glass sheet per surface abutting the cavity defining surface inboard of the glass sheet ground angled surface.

Abstract: A rubber or plastic floor mat has a series of parallel upper ribs (130) on its upper surface which define slots (110) in which respective strips (10) or carpeting or the like are removably held. The strips are retained along their lengths by retaining means which run continually or continuously along the slots. The strip retainers include hook-and-loop fastening (e.g., VELCRO), and/or overhanging edges above the strip edges, preferably formed in one-piece fashion along the side of the upper ribs adjacent the slots. The overhangs may be interrupted, e.g., crenelated as seen from above, and may include bevels.

Abstract: The invention provides a floor mat system having a plurality of floor mats disposed in edge-to-edge relationships. The floor mats are held in place with clips that prevent the mats from creeping over each other while allowing the mats to be lifted from the floor. One embodiment of the invention provides that each floor mat is held down with four clips disposed at the corners of the floor mat. Another embodiment provides mats held in place with clips positioned at the centers of the mats.

Abstract: Coextruded, intumescent fire-protection strips jacketed on three sides, obtained by coextruding an intumescent composition composed of a thermoplastic elastomer with a processing temperature of not more than 250° C. selected from the class consisting of block copolymers and uncrosslinked thermoplastic polyolefins, sulfuric-acid-treated graphite, flame retardant, and an inorganic additive which forms an enamel or forms a ceramic, and a three-sided jacket, where appropriate in association with a chambered profile, made from a thermoplastic elastomer with a processing temperature of not more than 250° C. selected from the class consisting of block copolymers and uncrosslinked thermoplastic polyolefins, flame retardant, and, where appropriate, a color pigment, where the fire-protection strips may be designed either as a hot-gas seal or else as a combined cold- and hot-gas seal with spatially separated functions.

Abstract: A foam faux tray ceiling system having elongated tiles shaped and sized so as to be joinable to one another and thereby form a faux tray ceiling. Each tile is made of a lightweight polymer foam and has a decorative surface, attachment surface, inner edge, outer edge, and two connection edges. The inner edges are preferably decoratively finished and the outer edges are flat.

Abstract: Titanium architectural panels (20) are provided which have recrystallized surface portions on at least the outer surface (22) thereof to give a decorative appearance to the panels (20). Surface recrystallization is obtained by subjecting the panels (20) to multiple oven heating steps (H1, H2) with intermediate cooling steps (C1, C2), wherein during each heating step (H1, H2) maximum temperature ranges (TH1, TH2) are established and maintained for predetermined periods. The intermediate cooling steps (C1, C2) involve injection of an inert cooling gas (e.g., argon) into the oven to rapidly lower the temperature to minimum temperature ranges (TL1, TL2). Preferably, the individual panels (20) are framed using molybdenum frame assembly (42), and are then suspended on a graphite and molybdenum hanger assembly (72).

Abstract: An edge trim is coextruded on a polyolefin film layer. The edge trim protects the film from damage during a stretching operation, wherein clamps, clips or hooks of a tenter frame are attached to the edge regions of the film and the film is stretched in the transverse direction (TD).

Abstract: A composite solid surface article which includes a molded overlay composed of a solid surface material fabricated in a mold; an underlay core material composed of a polymeric material molded onto the overlay but which only covers a center portion of the overlay so that peripheral edges of the overlay are not covered by the underlay core material; and solid surface edge component of additional solid surface material at the edge of the underlay core material, and a method of making the composite using a removable liner.

Abstract: A method of processing greensheets for use as microelectronic substrates comprises providing a greensheet having a width, a length and a thickness, bonding to the greensheet, within the greensheet width and length, a frame adapted to constrain movement of the greensheet within the frame, processing the greensheet and bonded frame, and removing the frame from the processed greensheet. The processing of the greensheet and bonded frame may include punching vias in the greensheet, filling the vias in the greensheet with conductive material, patterning the greensheet by applying conductive paste to the vias and greensheet surface, stacking the patterned greensheet and bonded frame with at least one other patterned greensheet and bonded frame, and laminating the greensheets. The frame is preferably removed from the processed greensheet after laminating the greensheets, and before the laminated greensheets are subsequently sintered.

Abstract: A rubber or plastic floor mat has a series of parallel upper ribs on its upper surface which define slots in which respective strips or carpeting or the like are removably held. The strips are retained along their lengths by retaining means which run continually or continuously along the slots. The strip retainers include hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO), and/or overhanging edges above the strip edges, preferably formed in one-piece fashion along the side of the upper ribs adjacent the slots. The overhangs may be interrupted, e.g., crenelated as seen from above, and may include bevels.

Abstract: Seam strips are provided in a textile covering for a floor, wall or ceiling which are exposed and afford an aesthetic surface treatment. The seam strips comprise inverted T-shaped strips with an upstanding web terminating in a margin short of the pile height and a pair of flanges projecting laterally from each of the lower opposite sides of the web. The flanges have holes for securing, by way of screws or nails, the strips to the underlying floor, wall or ceiling. The adjacent edges of the textile covering are secured to the upper surfaces of the flanges. The textile coverings preferably have the backstitches of tufts and portions of the primary backing forming an exposed surface which, together with the exposed margin of the strips, form an aesthetically pleasing surface treatment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container, made by folding, with fold-in flaps, for packaging food. The container can be recycled economically, i.e. with a profit. The material consists of a metal sheet coated with a plastics skin which, when the metal is recovered, produces no residual matter or pollutants. The edges of the containers are welded to each other by the plastics coating. After bending open the flaps, the container can be easily laid flat by hand (thus reducing its volume) without it springing back and used containers can be collected in compact form in a recycling container and transported in the recycling container to the recycling facility where the metal is recovered by melting.

Abstract: An apparatus having at least one membrane filter for a superficial filtering of at least dirt particles from inflowing cooling air for cooling an electrical module and also at least one cooling device for establishing an air flow in the housing and for discharging the heated-up cooling air out of the housing from at least one air outlet, the membrane filter having a netting of an electrically conductive material for electromagnetically shielding the electrical module.

Abstract: A deep embossed high pressure decorative laminate having a plurality of integral tiles with various surface textures bordered by deep embossed portions. Each tile of the laminate has a peripheral thickness greater than the thickness of the non-peripheral portions of the tile. Preferably, each tile has a concave profile along its upper surface when viewed in cross section. A method of producing artwork necessary for the deep embossed high pressure decorative laminate of the present invention comprises assembling a first layer of fibrous sheets impregnated with a thermosetting resin, a second layer comprising a plurality of adjacent tiles comprising a plurality of fibrous sheets impregnated with a thermosetting resin, wherein the tiles were previously pressed and heated, and a third layer comprising a plurality of shims.

Abstract: Based plates made of plastic wastes may be used to replace bass plates made of soft woods or tropical hard woods, such as used in the concrete industry to produce composite blocks, plates, blocks, curbstones or the like The base plates may be mad by plasticizing and extruding the thermoplastic component

Abstract: A free standing modular mat system for creating various selectable combinations of mat configurations at the site of installation, first and second mats having parallel ribs on the bottom and parallel spaced ribs on the top at right angles to the bottom ribs, a top connector having a body attached to the first mat and an elongated downwardly facing groove running parallel to the first mat, a bottom connector attached to the second mat and extending outwardly along the second mat toward the first mat, the connectors having inter-engaging mating grooves formed with interfering interlocking enlarged tips extending into the grooves, the end of the mat system may terminate in a transition piece having an angled surface supported by downwardly projecting spaced flexible flanges and the transition piece terminating in a solid tapered tip.

Abstract: A cushion includes a three-dimensional net, a plurality of metallic fastening members attached to the three-dimensional net on opposite sides thereof, and two resinous frames attached to the opposite sides of the three-dimensional net, respectively. The metallic fastening members are sandwiched between the resinous frames and the opposite sides of the three-dimensional net, and the resinous frames together with the metallic fastening members are joined to the three-dimensional net by vibration welding.

Abstract: A protective structure for thermal insulation and impact resistance, and especially suited for bonded application to the exterior of aircraft including spacecraft to protect the craft from high temperatures generated by exhaust gases and by atmospheric re-entry. The structure includes either a single ceramic tile component with a cover component comprising a fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite encasing the tile component, or a plurality of ceramic tile components with a like single cover component encasing the plurality of tile components. Utilizing the structures as an external aircraft surface imparts a super hard exterior that functions to significantly prohibit impact and erosion damage while not compromising the desirable thermal insulation properties inherent to tile.

Abstract: A reinforced interior trim panel assembly and method of making same for attachment to structure of a vehicle includes a reinforcement and a carrier formed from a plastic material for attachment to the structure of the vehicle and incorporating the reinforcement within the plastic material.

Abstract: A surface-covering protective structure. A thermal insulation layer has a basic wall thickness, fastening elements and a support arrangement integral with and projecting from the basic wall thickness of the thermal insulation layer. The support arrangement includes a plurality of supporting feet each comprising a supporting surface being operable to engage a protected surface that the protective structure is arranged on. The support arrangement is operable to physically separate the basic wall thickness of the thermal insulation layer from the protected surface. The fastening elements are operable to couple adjacent protective structures together. The protective structure, including the basic insulation layer, the fastening elements, and the support arrangement, includes thermally insulating plastic material operable to thermally insulate the protected surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a floor mat system having a plurality of floor mats disposed in edge-to-edge relationships. The floor mats are held in place with clips that prevent the mats from creeping over each other while allowing the mats to be lifted from the floor. One embodiment of the invention provides that each floor mat is held down with four clips disposed at the corners of the floor mat. Another embodiment provides mats held in place with clips positioned at the centers of the mats.

Abstract: A glass tile system and a method of installing glass tiles on a subsurface, such as a floor, wall, counter top, table top, or ceiling, by forming a grouting frame around the glass tiles with rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material, which are removably fastened to the subsurface with a plurality of fasteners.

Abstract: A floor mat system having a plurality of individual floor mats disposed in a frame assembly includes floor mats sized in a manner so that a transport vehicle having wheels can be rolled over the floor mat system in any direction without two wheels of the transport vehicle contacting a single floor mat at any given time. This floor mat arrangement prevents two wheels of the transport vehicle from working together to dislodge the floor mats. As such, each individual floor mat of the system has a width and a length sized to be less than the wheel base distance and the tract distance of the transport vehicle. The width and length of each floor mat is also designed such that two wheels cannot reside on a single floor mat diagonally. The floor mats may also have a plurality of support knobs extending down from the ribs to provide additional support to the floor mat. The support knobs are configured and located so as not to clog the fluid flow channels under the floor mat.

Abstract: The present invention is a mat system, having two embodiments, each of which are capable of removing the dirt from the soles of mat users' shoes. The mats are comprised of a plurality of individual tiles that interlock along complementary edge portions. One embodiment of the mat system is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) mat that has a plurality of projections that remove dirt. The second embodiment, also having a TPE structure and a lesser number of projections, features several carpet strips that provide additional dirt removal means. Once the individual tiles are connected, the outermost complementary edges may be covered by a plurality of border strips that provide an aesthetically pleasing and functionally necessary finished edge to the mat. The border strips are secured to one another by a mechanical clip that is also described.

Abstract: An article of furniture bearing a plurality of tiles on a top surface. A frame is disposed on the top surface for removably securing said tiles thereon. The frame comprises an external frame member surrounding and forming a border along the top surface, and an internal frame comprising a centrally disposed spine with a plurality of ribs extending outward from the spine at regularly spaced intervals. The internal frame is seated within the external frame and subdivides the area therein into a plurality of recesses. The tiles are removably seated within the recesses anywhere within the table top grid, and they can be rearranged on the surface within the recesses according to the whim of the user. Each tile bears a distinctive color or finish, and the user may arrange the tiles on the surface of the table according to his or her whim, for purposes of artistic expression, or purely for entertainment.

Abstract: An article of clothing has a trim of thermoplastic material, which encapsulates a peripheral region of a fabric layer and is provided with a multiplayer structure preferably including at least one retroreflective layer. The article of clothing is manufactured in accordance with a sealing method utilizing RF, sonic sealing, heat sealing, and vibration sealing performed simultaneously with cutting excess of the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: An insulation system for furnaces and kilns in which the number of splits between the insulation modules and the heat leaks produced at open sections caused by temperature changes are eliminated, for using in structures having: a frame including a first and a second lateral sides in relation with a transversal axis; one or more openings including a surrounding frame, constituting a flue, each opening having two lateral sides and two longitudinal sides in relation with said transversal and whit a longitudinal axis; and a structural base, located inside the frame and coupled thereof, having an internal side facing to the housing of the furnace and an external side facing to the exterior of the furnace, said insulation structure comprising a first and a second elongated insulation modules having an upwardly projecting housing which isolates a longitudinal side of the flue frame; and a third and a fourth elongated insulation modules, having a vertical section which isolates a lateral side of the flue frame.

Abstract: A floor mat system having a plurality of floor mats and a frame assembly. The floor mats are formed by a series of parallel spaced first ribs integrally formed with a series of a parallel spaced second ribs forming rectangular openings therebetween. Certain of the second ribs include an enlarged bottom end which support the floor mat above the floor and form a drainage area beneath the floor mats. A frame assembly includes inner and outer frame members which extend between and around the floor mats, respectively. Each of the inner and outer frame members is formed with a seal receiving recess for optionally and selectively receiving a seal. The seals may be selectively inserted within the recesses to direct and disperse water beneath the floor mats. The floor mats are easily removed from within the frame assembly by lifting the floor mats from within the wells allowing the water and debris to be cleaned therefrom.

Abstract: A floor mat system having a plurality of individual floor mats disposed in a frame assembly includes floor mats sized in a manner so that a transport vehicle having wheels can be rolled over the floor mat system in any direction without two wheels of the transport vehicle contacting a single floor mat at any given time. This floor mat arrangement prevents two wheels of the transport vehicle from working together to dislodge the floor mats. As such, each individual floor mat of the system has a width and a length sized to be less than the wheel base distance and the tract distance of the transport vehicle. The width and length of each floor mat is also designed such that two wheels cannot reside on a single floor mat diagonally. The floor mats may also have a plurality of support knobs extending down from the ribs to provide additional support to the floor mat. The support knobs are configured and located so as not to clog the fluid flow channels under the floor mat.

Abstract: An anchor sheet subfloor that includes a laminate having an upper layer of relatively thin flexible rigid sheet material and a bottom layer of a relatively resilient cushioning material. The upper sheet layer can be formed of a plastic or polymer material. In one arrangement, the sheet can be cut and fit within the boundaries of a room and the sheet has sufficient rigidity and mass to remain without distortion or buckling within the room by free floating on the existing floor without substantial attachment to the floor. It can be possible for a sheet to be cut and fit on site to fit the contours of a room to form by itself or in combination wit other anchor sheets a free floating smooth subfloor on which can be overlaid decorative covering pieces.

Abstract: A structure according to the invention comprises a series of interconnected structural members. The structural members, such-as panels, are made of a composition comprising as its first essential ingredient a cured (cross-linked) resin having sufficient strength when filled as described below to support weights up to about 700 pounds without significant buckling, but which has sufficient resilience to flex and rebound from impacts such as low speed collisions with small boats or dropping of heavy human-carried objects without cracking or breaking. The cured resin matrix contains a first filler consisting essentially of inorganic particles effective to improve the impact resistance and flame resistance of the structure, and an amount of a second filler consisting essentially of fibers effective to enhance the rigidity of the structure and reduce crack propagation therein.

Abstract: A settable mixture comprising magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, water, resiliently compressible fibers, and a filler material produces a cement with high strength and excellent sound attenuation properties, avoiding the expansion properties observed in comparable prior art mixtures. The mixture may be used in a method of manufacturing a sound insulating floor construction on top of a floor base (1) and within confinement walls (2), the method comprising applying on top of the floor base a layer of soft, resilient mats (3), arranging along the confinement walls a spacer list (4) comprising a sort, resilient material, pouring on top of the mats the mixture, leveling the top surface of the mixture, and allowing it to set to form a solid slab (5).

Abstract: A sound insulating structure (12) comprises first layer plates (30) arranged in coplanar and contiguous relationship in order to form a first structural layer, second layer plates (13) arranged in coplanar relationship in order to form a second structural layer in spaced parallel relation with the first structural layer, and a core (6), which core effectively bridges the space between and adheres together plates of the respective layers, and which core comprises an elastic, vibration deadening mass. At least one through opening is provided in each of the second layer plates with the purposes of permitting escape of any trapped air and of permitting inspection of the space between the structural layers while the mass in the core sets to an elastic state. The invention also provides a panel and a method of manufacturing a sandwich board.

Abstract: A molded construction product, having one or more walls and an inner core section, including a composition matrix having a resin system, a catalytic agent, and filler compounds for forming the walls; a foam core system for forming the inner core section, a curing agent and a drying agent. The resin system is for providing mechanical and physical characteristics of hardness and rigidity to the exterior walls of the molded product. The catalytic agent is for activating the reaction for the polymerization of the resin system. The filler compounds for reinforcing the walls. The foam core system is for producing the inner core section having three-dimensional cross-linking and a core density of 3.5 pounds per cubic foot. The curing agent is for cross-linking of polymers within the resin system for forming the exterior walls to be hard, rigid, and infusible. The drying agent is for drying and binding of excessive moisture within the composition.

Abstract: A wall or structural element, preferably for the body or parts of the body of motor vehicles, is formed for dissipating impact forces and introducing them into the load-bearing parts of the body of the motor vehicle. The wall or structural element is a composite element formed of a thin-section wall part and a molding which is bonded to the latter over its full surface area. The molding being composed of reinforcing elements fixed in a foamed binder. The reinforcing elements are derived from renewable raw materials in cut or uncut form, preferably monocotyledons or dicotyledons. Two or more composite elements, in each case having wall parts and moldings, may be bonded to one another to form a joint component, for example a motor vehicle door.

Abstract: A structure according to the invention comprises a series of interconnected structural members. The structural members, such as panels, are made of a composition comprising as its first essential ingredient a cured (cross-linked) resin having sufficient strength when filled as described below to support weights up to about 700 pounds without significant buckling, but which has sufficient resilience to flex and rebound from impacts such as low speed collisions with small boats or dropping of heavy human-carried objects without cracking or breaking. The cured resin matrix contains a first filler consisting essentially of inorganic particles effective to improve the impact resistance and flame resistance of the structure, and an amount of a second filler consisting essentially of fibers effective to enhance the rigidity of the structure and reduce crack propagation therein.

Abstract: Diffusion bonding techniques are extended to the simultaneous bonding of an array of multilevel piece parts. The problems of uneven expansion and contraction of different levels of different piece parts in the array are obviated by positioning each level of the array within a frame. The stack of frames is pinned in one corner. The opposite corner of the array has a slot at a 45° angle with respect to the x and y axes of the array. The slot engages a pin and allows the entire array to expand and contract along the slot in a manner to maintain the registration of features between respective levels of each piece part.

Abstract: A floor mat system having a plurality of floor mats and a frame assembly. The floor mats are formed by a series of parallel spaced first ribs integrally formed with a series of parallel spaced second ribs forming rectangular openings therebetween. Certain of the second ribs include an enlarged bottom end which support the floor mat above the floor and form a drainage area beneath the floor mats. A frame assembly includes inner and outer frame members which extend between and around the floor mats, respectively. Each of the inner and outer frame members is formed with a seal receiving recess for optionally and selectively receiving a seal. The seals may be selectively inserted within the recesses to direct and disperse water beneath the floor mats. The floor mats are easily removed from within the frame assembly by lifting the floor mats from within the wells allowing the water and debris to be cleaned therefrom.

Abstract: Hygienic mat which can be used standing steadily on it to wipe the feet after a shower or a bath and which at the same time can be folded, as well as being light and portable. Its characteristic is to comprise a first and a second pad (2a, 2b) hinged on adjacent borders (3) in a folding relationship between an open flat position and a closed book-like position. Each pad (2a, 2b) preferably engages with a flat stiff support (4a, 4b) in a recesses (5a, 5b) defined by a boundary rim (6) raised from a stiff bottom (4). Preferably, the pads (2a, 2b) have a permeable spongy towel-like absorbing cloth (9) attached to a resilient base sheet (10) and are hinged by means of either a a flexible strip (7) or a plurality of joints (8). Gripping means (13) fixed to the boundary of said pads or supports are advantageously provided for.

Abstract: A portable area floor covering and method is directed to a floor covering that is durable yet sufficiently flexible to facilitate portability, exhibits a robust construction and a very attractive and aesthetically pleasing appearance for use in residential and commercial environments. In its most fundamental embodiment, the portable area floor covering comprises a construction including a durable, flexible sheet layer formed of a plurality of sheet sections wherein each sheet section includes a plurality of outer edges. A flexible base layer is affixed to a bottom side of each of the sheet sections to form a backing for the durable, flexible sheet layer. A border reducer is fused to the flexible base layer and to the outer edges of the sheet sections. The border reducer is wedge-shaped which facilitates interfacing with a floor surface. Finally, a padding layer is secured to a bottom side of the flexible base layer to provide cushioning to the entire portable area floor covering.

Abstract: A floor mat system having a plurality of floor mats and a frame assembly. The floor mats are formed by a series of parallel spaced first ribs integrally formed with a series of parallel spaced second ribs forming rectangular openings therebetween. Certain of the second ribs include an enlarged bottom end which support the floor mat above the floor and form a drainage area beneath the floor mats. A frame assembly includes inner and outer frame members which extend between and around the floor mats, respectively. Each of the inner and outer frame members is formed with a seal receiving recess for optionally and selectively receiving a seal. The seals may be selectively inserted within the recesses to direct and disperse water beneath the floor mats. The floor mats are easily removed from within the frame assembly by lifting the floor mats from within the wells allowing the water and debris to be cleaned therefrom.

Abstract: A floating segmented conglomerate backing screen for use in underwater composite photography. A plurality of buoyant pads of an essentially hexagonal shape have surfaces exhibiting specific chrominance and luminance properties as required for a traveling matte process. The individual segments are deployed onto a liquid surface of a finite area in a quantity sufficient to substantially cover the liquid surface in its entirety, in an edge-to-edge, floating, conglomerate relationship. The floating raft created by the segments permits egress and ingress for people and equipment directly through the raft and likewise permits the escape of air rising from below the surface. When appropriately illuminated from either below or above the surface, or both, the chrominance and luminance of the raft is such that an essentially monochromatic backing field is provided for traveling matte processes.