Abstract: Unit tile comprising a tile member of a desired shape and thickness, which is made of a synthetic resinous material having flexibility, an adhesive layer formed on a rear side of the tile member, and a release paper attached to the surface of the adhesive layer to cover and protect the adhesive surface. The unit tile of the present invention is formed of a plurality of tile members. The tile members are disposed on a thin, flexible substrate, leaving spaces corresponding to joints between the respective tile members. The rear side of the substrate has the adhesive layer which is covered by the release paper. This unit tile may have marginal portions usable as overlaps for splicing. With such a configuration of the unit tile, the unit tile may easily and accurately set on walls etc., while conforming it to the configuration of the setting walls etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a jewelry holder for removably securing a piece of stemmed jewelry and comprises a resilient body portion of a thickness greater than the length of the stem and being sufficiently porous to enable penetration of the stem into the body portion. The material of the body portion is one which has strong rebound properties for tightly gripping around and holding the stem.

Abstract: Cryogenic foam insulation 20 is adhesively bonded to the outer wall of the fuel tank structure 10. The cryogenic insulation 20 includes square sheets 12 fabricated from an array of abutting blocks 14. Each block 14 includes a sheet of glass cloth 18 adhesively bonded between two layers of polymethacrylimide foam 16. Each block is wrapped in a vapor impermeable membrane 24, such as a polyimide-aluminum-polyimide composite laminate, to provide a vapor barrier. Very beneficial results are obtained by employing the present invention in conjunction with fibrous insulation 28 and an outer aeroshell 30, which is a hot fuselage structure having an internal thermal protection system.

Abstract: The waterstop used to prevent passage or leakage of water through a construction joint of concrete is shaped of a plastic or rubber in the form of a continuous-length belt-like form and provided with a water-swellable rubbery layer on at least a portion, or, for example, along the peripheries of the belt-like form, side-by-side coming into contact with the concrete bodies to serve as a water-tight filling of the joint by being swollen with water. The water-swellable rubbery layer is protected temporarily prior to use with a coating film of an alkali-soluble polymeric material which can at least partially be dissolved away by the alkalinity of the water in the concrete joint. The peripheries of the plastic- or rubber-made belt-like form are preferably in a length-wise bulged form having a bore running therethrough to serve as a stress absorber when the water-swellable rubbery layer is swollen with water.

Abstract: The specification comprises an underlying pad formed of resilient plastic material atop which is joined detachably a removable carpet, whose area is somewhat smaller than the pad. The removable carpet fits into an opening cut out of the main floor carpet in the well area of an automobile in a manner that has both its surface and the main carpet surface in the same plane; the remaining area of the underlying pad fits under and may be joined to, the main floor carpet.A modification that permits this combination, an underlying pad with a removable carpet fastened to its upper surface, to be used as a general floor removable carpet provided that an opening is prepared for it in the general floor carpet.

Abstract: An array of gravity-held-in-place-load-bearing-horizontal-modular-accessible-tiles with flexible joints between adjacent modular-accessible-tiles in which the flexible joints are cuttable and reassembleable to provide accessibility to flat conductor cable disposed above or below one or more horizontal-disassociation-cushioning-layers which require flexible joints between adjacent modular-accessible-tiles to be dynamic-interactive-fluidtight-flexible-joints to assemble the modular-accessible-tiles by gravity, friction, and accumulated-interactive-assemblage into a floating finished floor array without adherence to the horizontal-base-surface, wherein the horizontal-disassociation-cushioning-layer provides accommodation to the thickness variations cause by termination and crossing over of layers of flat conductor cables and the horizontal-disassociation-cushioning-layer also provides improved impact sound isolation.

Abstract: A gravity-held-in-place-load-bearing-horizontal-tile-array over a horizontal-base-surface, typically a floor, which comprises an array of rigid tiles set on a horizontal-base-surface. The rigid tiles have edges positioned adjacent to the edges of adjoining tiles in the array, with the array of rigid tiles being separated from the horizontal-base-surface by at least a 1/8 inch thickness of horizontal-disassociation-cushing-layer. The tiles are adhesively joined at their edges to adjacent edges of adjoining tiles with an elastomeric sealant with adhesive properties.

Abstract: The present invention concerns loose-lay floor structures comprising at least two layers of reinforcing material and processes to design and produce them. Loose-lay floors may be designed which will be suitable for use over stable subfloors, or which will accommodate the movement of very unstable subfloors. Flooring constructed according to this invention will have the ability to resist buckling, curling and doming, and will resist moving under a rolling load. A process is also provided for modifying structures comprising a single reinforcing layer in situ so as to convert structures with unacceptable buckling characteristics into structures with acceptable buckling characteristics. As an alternative, the reinforcing layer may be premodified such that, when used to provide a surface covering, the covering will have acceptable buckling characteristics.

Abstract: Crescent-shaped, polygonal tiles useful for covering walls, floors, ceilings, streets or paths and for producing toys, games and structures. The tiles each have a substantially convex outer edge, a substantially concave inner edge, and at least seven sides forming the edges. In some instances, these sides are straight and of equal length, and in other instances they are not straight but enclose the same area as enclosed by the straight sides of equal length. The tiles, either by themselves or in combination with others, interconnect to fill a plane. Either by themselves or in combination with others, the tiles form mosaics with periodic or non-periodic patterns.

Abstract: A movable mosaic formed by intersecting defined circular members each of which is rotatable about its center point and each of which comprises a plurality of discrete pieces formed by intersecting arcs of said circular members, said intersecting arcs having a radial dimension equal to the radial dimension of said circular members, each said plurality of discrete pieces including a first group of pieces whose arcuate surfaces are all convex and a second group of pieces whose arcuate surfaces are all concave.Some of the pieces of each plurality of pieces will be common to at least two of said circles, said pieces being interchangeable between the circles by moving the pieces about the theoretical center points of said circles.

Abstract: A unit is described for use in a multi-unit decorative or structural arrangement. Each unit has, on at least one surface, an asymmetrical design which may be two dimensional or three dimensional. These asymmetrical designs are arranged to permit a number of identical units to be arranged together to form a large variety of overall designs whose final form depends upon the relative positions of the individual units within the arrangement. For example, a number of identical square tiles are provided, each having the same design and with the design created so that a tile wall can be formed from the identical tiles with hundreds of different overall designs. The same large number of overall designs may be formed from units other than square units including three dimensional building blocks and similar basic decorative or construction units.

Abstract: An array of gravity-held-in-place-load-bearing-horizontal-modular-accessible-tiles, composite-modular-accessible-tiles, and resilient-composite-modular-accessible-tiles with flexible joints between adjacent modular-accessible-tiles in which the flexible joints are cuttable, accessible and resealable to provide accessibility to conductors disposed above or below one or more horizontal-disassociation-cushioning-layers, requiring fluidtight-flexible-assembly-joints between adjacent modular-accessible-tiles to assemble the modular-accessible-tiles by gravity, friction, and accumulated-interactive-assemblage into a floating finished floor array without adhering the modular-accessible-tiles to the horizontal-base-surface. A horizontal-disassociation-cushioning-layer provides accommodation for the thickness variations caused by termination and crossing over of layers of conductors and also provides improved impact sound isolation.

Abstract: A multilayer ski with a sandwich type construction includes a core, a cover layer on one side of the core, a running base layer on the other side of the core and at least one web positioned between the core and one of the cover layer and the running layer. One of the web or the core is divided across the width of the ski into a plurality of parts with each part having a different shear modulus. Longitudinally extending parts of the ski on opposite sides of an imaginary plane extending perpendicularly to the running base layer in the long direction of the ski and positioned at least close to the central longitudinal axis of the ski, have different torsional strengths.

Abstract: Laminated wood strip or plank flooring members are disclosed having adjacent edges of adjacent strip or plank members slightly reverse-beveled, i.e. 2.degree. to 7.degree. from vertical, to tightly fit together to provide precise, flush contact between adjacent upper surfaces of adjacent strips or planks. The strip or plank wood materials are provided in various lengths and various predetermined widths so that the random width and length strip or plank materials can be fitted together to provide a most unexpected and pleasing appearance wherein each adjacent strip or plank member is precisely fitted together and adjacent surface portions are substantially flush, or in contact.

Abstract: A slab or block for making a floor comprises a plurality of tiles placed side by side and bonded face to face to a plate of plastic material. Heat insulating shavings such as vulcanized elastomer or wood shavings are dispersed in the plastic matrix of the plate. A textile backing such as a woven textile scrim or net is bonded to the second face of the plate.

Abstract: A steel bridge deck surfaced with plastic tiles is disclosed in which the tiles are bonded to the deck by means of a bonding layer having a Shore 00 hardness of from 78 to 90 and comprising an elastomer compounded with a stiffening filler in an amount equal to at least half the weight of the elastomer. Low volatile liquid plasticizer is present in an amount to provide the stated hardness. The elastomer is preferably a mixture of acrylic elastomer and butyl elastomers, and the stiffening filler is a high abrasion furnace carbon black. The tiles are adhered to the layer with a solution coating comprising neoprene in admixture with a terpene-phenolic resin and the coating desirably includes a hydrophobic silica. The layer is adhered to the steel deck with a butyl-based solution coating containing a corrosion-resistant pigment in combination with zinc oxide.

Abstract: A modular antifouling tile is formed with a plurality of reservoirs that contain antifoulant which diffuses therefrom through the matrix of the coating. The coating matrix is preferably formed of an elastomeric material selected from the group of butyl and natural rubbers, neoprene, polybutylene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polysulfides, polyurethanes, vinyls, polyacrylonitriles, and copolymer blends thereof. Selected antifoulants that diffuse through a coating matrix of the abovementioned materials include tributyltin oxide and 2, 4, 5, 6-tetrachloroisophthalonitrile.

Abstract: A decal assembly of the type comprising a translucent sheet with indicia thereon and having an adhesive on the back thereof protected by a backing sheet, and a separate blank clear translucent sheet having adhesive on one side and a backing sheet thereover, the separate sheet being dimensionally larger than the indicia carrying sheet and adapted after the backing sheet on both the indicia carrying and blank sheets being peeled off to be placed adhesive to adhesive with the indicia sheet centered on the blank sheet, whereby the blank sheet forms a frame thereabout and the adhesive thereon is adapted to be adhered to the inside of a window and the like, or alternatively only the indicia sheet can be directly adhered on the external side of the window upon its back sheet alone being removed.

Abstract: The tiles define a succession of vaults on which protrude fingers or piles. One side of each plate has eyelets at the top of the vaults while the other side forms lugs able to be slidably engaged under the vaults of the contiguous tile. The plates are besides provided, on one of their end edges, with protruding rings corresponding to mating tongues formed beneath the opposite edge of a contiguous tile.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a new adhesive device and method of forming the same which includes providing a laminate comprised of a felt substrate, release paper, and adhesive. The release paper is permanently attached to one side of the felt substrate to form a sheet having a felt side exposed and a release side of the release paper exposed. This sheet may be divided into sections (to form a plurality of separable pads or sections) by a cut extending through all but connecting tabs between adjacent sections on the sheet. Adhesive is applied to all but a peripheral edge portion of the other side of the felt substrate on each of the sections. A plurality of sheets or laminates may be stacked with the adhesive on one laminate adjacent the exposed release side of the release paper on another laminate. In addition, a separate sheet of release paper may be placed adjacent the exposed adhesive on the outermost stacked laminate.

Abstract: A large poster apparatus for a back-lighted signboard and a method of constructing same from a plurality of smaller poster sections, including improving the translucent quality of the poster material, aligning respective adjacent sections for exact image continuity, laminating a clear film over a first poster layer, laminating a second poster layer over the clear film, and applying heat and pressure to create a composite laminated poster apparatus having registered images throughout.

Abstract: A method of insulating a structure comprising the steps of applying at least one strip of pliable sealing material in an airtight relationship to an area of the structure to be thermally insulated, and applying, as needed, successive strips of said material in overlapping relationship with each other and said first strip until a desired area of said structure is entirely covered with a continuous, airtight, overlapping, thermal barrier layer, said sealing material comprising a plastic layer, with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on at least one side thereof.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for tiling bath enclosures, shower stalls, and the like, comprises providing a sheet of imperforate, substantially waterproof material with a dry, solvent-based film adhesive formed on the exterior side of the sheet. The interior side of the sheet is adhered to those substrate walls to be tiled, and tile adhesive is applied over the film adhesive on the exterior side of the sheet. The tile adhesive includes a solvent which partially dissolves the film adhesive, and a crosslinking agent which securely bonds the adhesives to each other and the waterproof sheet. Ceramic tiles are pressed into the wet adhesive, and are fixedly anchored in place as the adhesive cures, such that the waterproof sheet forms a barrier between the tiles and the substrate walls which is substantially impervious to moisture.

Abstract: A process for producing a composite element comprising a plurality of sheet members 64 rigidly secured to a support 65 with their rear main faces in contact therewith, characterized in that the sheet members, which have a perceptible reflectance, are placed on a jig 61 in one or more predetermined orientations relatively to one another, and a fluid, settable substance is applied to the thus arranged sheet members 64 e.g. by pouring from a ladle 66 and is caused or allowed to set at least partially while the sheet members 64 remain on the jig 61 to form at least part of a substantially rigid support structure 65 for the sheet members 64.

Abstract: During manufacture, a rubber or other elastic sheet is forcibly stretched out and smoothly affixed to an adhesive spread out on a backing of cardboard or similar material. The sheet is suitable for receiving typing from a typewriter, and the entire assembly is suitable for insertion and bending over the roll of a common typewriter. During operation, a person types a message on the sheet, removes the assembly from the typewriter and forcibly peels the sheet off the backing. The sheet returns to its original unstretched shape, and the typed words, along with the spaces between the words, occupy less space than those of a similar message typed on ordinary paper. When used with a Xerox or similar copying machine, the reduction in the size of the words and spaces permits the use of many more words per final, normal size page of reproduced document.

Abstract: A method of forming decorative panels wherein a plurality of edged-glued thin wood strips are laid in side-by-side relationship until the glue is set to form a single composite sheet and then the sheet is cut into pieces, each piece having portions of a plurality of the strips, and the pieces then glued on a wooden backing sheet in edge-to-edge relationship to form a decorative panel.

Abstract: Method of constructing a large poster for a back-lighted signboard from a plurality of smaller poster sections including improving the translucent quality of the poster material, aligning respective adjacent sections for exact image continuity, laminating a clear film over a first poster layer, laminating a second poster layer over the clear film, and applying heat and pressure to create a composite laminated poster having registered images throughout.

Abstract: A flexible carpet web having a plurality of spaced apart pressure sensitive adhesive segments disposed in a patterned relationship on the backing thereof, and in which the same are preferably patterned according to certain given parameters involving the relation of the total area of the adhesive segments to the weight and/or the area of the carpet web, the spacing between adhesive segment centers as related to the area of the adhesive segments, and/or the spacing apart of the adhesive segments in relation to the configuration thereof; and a method of manufacture of a carpet web having adhesive segments applied to the backing thereof for facile installation thereof.

Abstract: Floor tiles are disclosed which comprise a carrier layer and a superimposed floor surface forming layer which is provided with a decorative wear resistant surface. In one embodiment the carrier layer protrudes beyond the floor surface layer on two sides and the floor surface layer protrudes beyond the carrier layer on the other two sides and the floor surface forming layer defines an angular groove and a bevelled tongue to enable adjacent tiles to be interlocked. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the groove and tongue are formed to have different angles.

Abstract: Non-skid vinyl floor tile having embedded in the surface thereof between about 1 and about 5 grams per square foot of thermoplastic material in the size range between about 1/32 and about 3/32 inch. The particulate material has a hardness of not more than Rockwell M-100 and a Taber abrasion weight loss of not more than about 75 mg per 1000 cycles using CS-17 wheels and 1000 gram weights.

Abstract: An impact resistant composite structure is constructed of a facing portion designed to blunt and fragment an armor piercing-type bullet and absorbs some of the bullet's impact force, and a base layer designed to absorb and contain the remaining impact force of the bullet fragments. The facing layer includes a plurality of closely spaced ceramic tiles embedded in an adhesive elastic resin having a suspended mixture of polymeric microspheres, which isolate each of the ceramic tiles.

Abstract: A design is fabricated by placing an outline of the design on a surface and covering the outline with fragments of material such as mother-of-pearl so that the fragments extend beyond the outer periphery of the outline. An opaque mask is placed on the fragments and the surface surrounding the fragments in registry with the outline to insure that the mask is properly aligned with the fragments. The mask conceals the fragments extending beyond the periphery of said outline as well as the surface to which the fragments are secured. The mask may include a pattern covering the fragments in the design for simulating a line between adjoining mother-of-pearl fragments which have been precisely cut to match each other as in a conventional mother-of-pearl design. Finally the fragments and the surrounding surface are covered with a clear sealant to protect the design.

Abstract: Non-skid floor covering having a plastics wear layer over a vinyl substrate. The wear layer has dispersed therein between about 20 and about 40 wt % particulate plastics material in the size range between about 200 mesh and about 1/16 inch. The particulate material has a hardness of not more than Rockwell M-100 and a Taber abrasion weight loss of not more than about 75 mg per 1000 cycles using CS-17 wheels and 1000 g weights.

Abstract: Plastic tile or similar items are disclosed having an adhesive backing suitable for adhesion to walls. The tiles are formulated from a vinyl chloride based resin and filler, and include a plasticizer of the formula: ##STR1## which R is a lower alkyl radical and R' is an aryl, aralkyl, or an alkaryl radical. A hot melt type pressure sensitive adhesive coating is provided on the plastic tile, the coating comprising a vinylic copolymer made of a minor portion of styrene units or derivatives thereof, and a major portion of butadiene, isoprene, or other similar units.

Abstract: A wall hanging having a variable picture made of a multitude of interchangeable tiles which snap-fit onto a specially configured picture support assembly. A frame decoratively surrounds and contains the tiles. Each of the tiles has an eccentric image or eccentric geometric pattern thereon and can be rotated on a peg to various positions to attain a variety of pictures. Even more pictures can be obtained when different patterned tiles are exchanged with each other. In one embodiment, the tiles and pegs are rectangular and the pegs have a concave corner to facilitate removal of the tiles. In another embodiment, the faces of the tiles are circular and rotate upon cylindrical pegs. The tiles can also be transparent with window-like pockets that receive reversible decorative members.

Abstract: A flat rectangular holding frame member is provided on one side with adhesive tape adjacent the edge thereof, which is covered by a peel-off film which, upon removal, allows the frame to be applied to the surface of a wall for adherence thereto; and on the other side, is provided with snap fastener means for removably holding a flat, domino decoration-bearing rectangular face member which is similar in size and shape to that of the frame member, having mating snap fastener means on the back thereof, in place thereon, so that a wall decorated with a plurality of different domino spots, or blanks, can be rearranged on the frame member at will without removing the frame members from the wall surface.

Abstract: An artwork creation is provided in which gemstones are positioned on a laminar backing sheet and are packed within cloisonne framework formed of precious metal. The artistic rendering is composed of discernible parts and articles of jewelry formed of gemstones within boundaries of precious metal which are strategically located upon the backing sheet at positions corresponding to the location of at least some of the dominant features forming these discernible parts. While pieces of mosaic inlay are permanently secured to the backing sheet to form those discernible parts not formed of jewelry pieces, the articles of jewelry are removable from the backing sheet and may be worn for personal adornment. Alternatively, the articles of jewelry are located on the backing sheet at predetermined positions to contribute to the artistic creation.

Abstract: An impact and energy absorbing mat is produced by extruding sheets of resilient compressible foamed polymeric resin sheets, preferably of a foamed ionomer, and having self formed skins on opposite faces. The sheets are stacked and the stack sliced along planes perpendicular to the sheets by hot wires to fuse the borders of contiguous sheets and form individual coherent slabs. Each slab is sandwiched between preferably similar polymeric resin films which are heated by hot plates to fuse the films to the slab surfaces and further fuse the skin borders to each other. Alternatively, the films may be omitted and self skins formed by the hot plate. The resulting mat includes side by side narrow foamed resilient resin strips having side skins, the borders of contiguous skins being fused to each other and the joined strips having their opposite faces covered by self or film formed skins fused thereto. The mat possesses unexpected superior energy and impact and other desirable properties.

Abstract: Electromagnetic wave-absorbing wall comprising ferrimagnetic plates arranged at some intervals in the direction of the electric field of the electromagnetic wave said ferrimagnetic plates being plates of ferrite having the following general formula:MFe.sub.2 O.sub.4wherein M is a bivalent metal such as Mn, Ni, Co, Mg, Cu, Zn and Cd, or plates of a mixture of ferrite powders or carbonyl iron with organic high molecular weight compounds, and said plates having a specified thickness according to the interval.

Abstract: Stiffened structural components, particularly integrally stiffened light weight shell structures, produced by molding astiffening member, preferably formed of a graphite-epoxy composition and having a so-called isogrid rib stiffening configuration, to a partially cured (B-stage) condition, injecting a suitable elastomer, e.g. a silicone, into the open spaces of the isogrid rib stiffener, to stabilize the partially cured composite during subsequent heat forming and curing operations, heat forming the resulting stiffening member to the required contour, e.g. for a cylinder into approximately 90.degree. arcuate isogrid panels, heat forming the skin of the shell structure by laying up a plurality of layers of a pre-impregnated tape within a cylindrical mold, installing a plurality, e.g.

Abstract: Carpeting especially suitable for use in areas subjected to heavy wear or abrasive weather includes a plurality of cured, rubber-based strips with filaments embedded in and projecting upwardly from them forming a pile on their upper surfaces. The strips lie side-to-side, and each is bonded along its bottom surface only to a vulcanized, rubber-based sheet that does not project substantially into the spaces between the elements. Apparatus and a method for making the carpeting are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting or reducing the undesirable growth properties of a resilient flooring product having a fibrous cellulosic backing which comprises: substantially uniformly incorporating in the fibrous cellulosic backing of a resilient flooring product from about 0.05% by weight to about 4% by weight, based on the weight of the fibrous cellulosic backing, of a growth inhibitor from the group consisting of alums, aluminum sulfate, and mixtures thereof; and installing the resilient flooring product on a surface coated with a water-based adhesive while the fibrous cellulosic backing contains such percentages of the growth inhibitor, whereby undesirable growth, swelling, buckling or the appearance of bubbles in the resilient flooring product is inhibited or reduced, even when the installation takes place at low relative humidity conditions below about 50% relative humidity.

Abstract: An electrical connector in which conductive rubber rods are mounted in a nonconductive substrate. The rods extend above and below the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the substrate for electrically interconnecting conductive traces on a pair of electronic components, such as a display panel and logic circuit used in a digital wrist watch. A method for making the connect is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process of manufacturing panels composed of units in, for example, ceramic assembled by a thermoplastic material.The interstitial spaces between the units are filled with granules of thermoplastic material. After heating to the highest possible temperature but just lower than the degradation temperature, the units are firmly joined to one another.Such panels can be used as decorative floor or wall-coverings.

Abstract: In the application of a plurality of layers of a settable joint compound over a reinforcing tape, in drywall construction, a thin coat of Al.sub.2 SO.sub.4 is sprayed over the tape and the board edges prior to applying the first layer and over the top of each layer immediately after the layer is applied.

Abstract: Walled structures are prepared from foam-in-place components such as those used to prepare rigid polyurethane foams wherein successive strips of foam are deposited and hardened within a three-sided enclosure having a generally H-shaped configuration. A foraminous scrim such as glass fiber mesh forms part of the vertical legs of the H and foam is disposed below the cross piece of the H to bond to adjacent scrim facing sheets and scrim of a previously disclosed strip. The foam is significantly reinforced, joined to the previously deposited structure and foaming components are isolated from depositing apparatus.