Abstract: A dust control mat having a pile surface and a backing layer disposed beneath the pile surface. The pile surface includes segmented portions of pile-forming material salvaged from previously used mat structures and adhered to the backing layer in a predefined arrangement to define a contact surface of recycled material for use in removing dirt from the shoes of a user.

Abstract: A wooden stairtread includes an elongate nose member, an elongate tread body, and a tread end member. The nose member is made of higher quality wood and has a connecting end surface and two opposite lateral end surfaces. The tread body has first and second connecting end surfaces, and includes multiple core layers, and corresponding upper and lower surface layers. Each upper and lower surface layer is made of higher quality wood and has top and bottom sides that are flush with corresponding upper and lower edges of the connecting end surface of the nose member. Each core layer includes two lateral end members made of higher quality wood, and a middle core member made of lower quality wood. The tread end member is made of higher quality wood and is connected to the second connecting end surface of the tread body.

Abstract: A wooden stairtread includes an elongate nose member, an elongate tread body, and a tread end member. The nose member is made of higher quality wood and has a connecting end surface and two opposite lateral end surfaces. The tread body has first and second connecting end surfaces, and includes multiple core layers, and corresponding upper and lower surface layers. Each upper and lower surface layer is made of higher quality wood and has top and bottom sides that are flush with corresponding upper and lower edges of the connecting end surface of the nose member. Each core layer includes two lateral end members made of higher quality wood, and a middle core member made of lower quality wood. The tread end member is made of higher quality wood and is connected to the second connecting end surface of the tread body.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite wood board is designed particularly for use in the flooring of truck trailers which experience adverse operating conditions such as from heavy loads of lift trucks on the top side and water spray during rainy periods on the bottom side. The composite wood board comprises an edge-glued laminated wood member composed of wood segments with end joints. The wood member is underlaid with a thin layer of fiber reinforced plastic. The top surface of the composite wood board is the same as that of the laminated wood. The fiber reinforced plastic underlay is composed of glass and/or carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric resin such as epoxy, phenolic, vinyl ester, polyester, polypropylene or polyamide resin. Further, the fiber reinforced plastic underlay is substantially bonded to the wood member with a reactive hotmelt adhesive.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite wood flooring is designed particularly for use in van-type truck trailers which experience adverse operating conditions due to heavy lift truck traffic on the top side and water spray during rainy periods on the bottom side. The composite wood flooring comprises edge-glued laminated wood which is underlaid with a thin layer of fiber reinforced plastic. The top surface of the composite wood floor is the same as that of a conventional laminated wood floor. The fiber reinforced plastic underlay is composed of glass and/or carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric resin such as epoxy, phenolic, vinyl ester, polypropylene or polyamide resin. The fiber reinforcement is designed to enhance the mechanical properties of the flooring in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the floor. The fiber reinforced plastic improves the fatigue resistance of the composite wood flooring and prevents water leakage into the trailer through the floor boards.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive cleaning sheet is disclosed which comprises a substrate, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on one or both sides of the substrate, and a porous screen disposed on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The cleaning sheet is substantially non-tacky when the cleaning sheet surface is kept in a non-pressed state, and exhibits tackiness when the cleaning sheet surface is kept in a pressed state. Also disclosed are a method of using the cleaning sheet, an image-forming material having a cleaning part, and a method of cleaning an image-forming apparatus. These are useful for the cleaning of, e.g., the magnetic reading parts and magnetic-card transport parts of apparatuses accepting various magnetic cards and the thermal heads and/or transport rollers of various recording apparatuses.

Abstract: The invention is directed to assembly of a plurality of joined panel parts. Some of the individual parts contain a pre-applied curable adhesive to one or more sides or edges. An initiating metal activator is applied to complementing edges and cure is activated when the parts are assembled. The pre-applied adhesive system contains monomer(s), initiators, oligomers, an acid, and a sulfonyl compound. An activating or initiating metal foil, dispersion or coating is applied to the complementary surface. The bonding is effected when the adhesive system is activated by mating the edges. The activating metal is a reducible elemental transition metal. The metal is affixed to one surface which is brought into proximity with the curable adhesive compound dispensed onto the complementing part.

Abstract: A spacermesh structure is provided for shoemaking, wherein an intermediate intensive texture enclosed by an upper and a lower mesh-texture layer of a conventional typical sandwich structure is substituted by an intermediate layer having a plurality of supporting lumps woven thereon and aligned in one direction or in both the vertical and the horizontal directions staggeringly, and a plurality of reinforcement supporting girders is laid in some empty lanes in the intermediate layer for structure reinforcement, which, the girders, may be ropes, flexible bands, foam plastic strips, plastic strips, spring coils, metallic bars, etc.

Abstract: A resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket includes first and second insulation blankets. The blankets each have a first major surface with one or more longitudinally extending cuts in the surface that are spaced inwardly from lateral edges of the surface and spaced apart from each other. The cuts only partially sever the blankets to form separable connectors in the blankets that join adjacent blanket sections formed by the cuts. The first major surfaces of the blankets are bonded to each other, with the cuts in the major surfaces of the blankets aligned longitudinally, to form a batt with longitudinally extending batt sections joined by the separable connectors in the blankets whereby the batt can be handled as a unit or one or more batt sections can be separated from the remainder of the batt by hand to form a batt of lesser width.

Abstract: A spacemesh structure for shoe making includes an upper mesh-texture layer, a lower mesh-texture layer and a reinforced structure in between. The reinforced structure comprises a plurality of supporting lumps arranged as a two dimensional array with gaps between two supporting lumps. A plurality of girders are disposed in the gaps in one direction leaving some gaps between every two adjacent lumps located between two adjacent girders.

Abstract: A wall panel structure for controlling humidity within a building having a panel assembly attachable to an inner wall surface of the building including: a first panel having a surface with a first predetermined porosity to moisture; and a second panel secured to said first panel with a space for accomodating airflow between the first and second panels, the second panel having a surface with a second predetermined porosity to moisture, the first perdetermined panel porosity being greater than the second predetermined porosity to thereby absorb moisture from air being circulated between the first and second panels; whereby humidity of an environment within the building is controllable.

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 thermoplastic composite lumber product having at least one layer of a reinforcing laminate containing unidirectional fibers of glass, carbon or ceramics. The thermoplastic composite lumber of the present invention exhibits superior stiffness and strength compared to typical, non-reinforced plastic lumber.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method of floor laying and underlay and surface material for this. According to the invention a coating of fiber flock on the underlay as well as on the underside of the floor surface material is utilized. Hereby is achieved partly that the need of glueing of floor material is eliminated and partly to provide a floor underlay that gives smoothing out, noise suppression and insulation as well as a fixing underlay for various floor materials so that these can be laid in larger or smaller portions and remain on site but simply can be adjusted when required.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flooring panel for a transport vehicle, comprising a wood core, the wood core including a plurality of wooden strip elements bonded together and having a bottom surface, and a reinforced composite layer applied to the bottom surface.

Abstract: Sets of tessellatable elements are disclosed, in which a relatively low number of different elements may be combined together to provide very attractive tessellating patterns. The elements may be in the form of tiles, for paving or for covering flooring or walls, for example, game pieces, including television and computer games, pieces for use in maze construction and for many other applications.

Abstract: A low-stretch, flexible composite, made of one or several sections, particularly useful for making a sail (2), includes first and second polymer films (52, 62) with discontinuous, stretch-resistant segments (16) therebetween. The segments extend generally along the load lines (17) for the sail. The segments have lengths which are substantially shorter than corresponding lengths of the load lines within each section. The ends of the segments are laterally staggered relative to one another. Mats (20) of generally parallel mat elements can be used as the segments. The mat elements typically include discrete multifiber yarns (24, 26) and/or a fiber array (22), typically created by pneumatically laterally spreading apart the fibers of an untwisted multifiber yarn (32). A laminating assembly includes first and second flexible pressure sheets (66, 68), defining a sealable lamination interior (82) containing the material stack (64) to be laminated, housed within an enclosure (90).

Abstract: Flame-resistant, retroreflective, transparent, flexible, tear-resistant, mine brattice cloth with plastic-coated, open web fabric and retroreflective strips. Preferred plastic coating is a flame-resistant vinyl polymer plasticized with tri aryl phosphate ester or tetrahalo phthalate ester.

Abstract: A ventilating radiant barrier for reducing the solar or thermal load into a home through a rood while also providing ventilation beneath the exterior of the roof to protect the roof from moisture damage. The ventilating radiant barrier includes a panel has a pair of faces, a pair of end edges and a pair of side edges extending between the end edges of the panel. A first of the faces of the panel has a spaced apart pair of perforations rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The second face of the panel has a spaced apart pair of perforations rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The perforation rows of the second face of the panel are positioned between the perforation rows of the first face of the panel.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite wood flooring is designed particularly for use in van-type truck trailers which experience adverse operating conditions due to heavy lift truck traffic on the top side and water spray during rainy periods on the bottom side. The composite wood flooring comprises edge-glued laminated wood which is underlaid with a thin layer of fiber reinforced plastic. The top surface of the composite wood floor is the same as that of a conventional laminated wood floor. The fiber reinforced plastic underlay is composed of glass and/or carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric resin such as epoxy, phenolic, vinyl ester, polypropylene or polyamide resin. The fiber reinforcement is designed to enhance the mechanical properties of the flooring in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the floor. The fiber reinforced plastic improves the fatigue resistance of the composite wood flooring and prevents water leakage into the trailer through the floor boards.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite wood board is designed particularly for use in the flooring of truck trailers which experience adverse operating conditions such as from heavy loads of lift trucks on the top side and water spray during rainy periods on the bottom side. The composite wood board comprises an edge-glued laminated wood member composed of wood segments with end joints. The wood member is underlaid with a thin layer of fiber reinforced plastic. The top surface of the composite wood board is the same as that of the laminated wood. The fiber reinforced plastic underlay is composed of glass and/or carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric resin such as epoxy, phenolic, vinyl ester, polyester, polypropylene or polyamide resin. Further, the fiber reinforced plastic underlay is substantially bonded to the wood member with a reactive hotmelt adhesive.

Abstract: A honeycomb block comprises three sections of honeycomb elements characterized in that the cell size of each honeycomb element section decreases from a large size in one section to a smaller size in the neighboring sections and an even smaller size in the third section. The honeycomb block may be fabricated from strips of cardboard which are glued together to form the honeycomb cell structure. The honeycomb block may be used as an impact force absorbing element in a door of a vehicle where the cell size in each honeycomb element section decreases from a large size in one section to a smaller size in the neighboring section and the smallest sized cells is facing inward with respect to the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: The disclosure is for a wide width decorative flooring product and a method of producing such a product with properly aligned patterns by cutting multiple sections of standard width product and bonding them together at their previous side edges, so the lengths of the cut sections become the width of the new product. In order to minimize misalignment of the pattern at the bonded edges alternate cut sections are turned end for end as the new product is laid out before bonding.

Abstract: Stiffness improvements for multi-ply paperboard laid from chemically pulped softwood and hardwood papermaking furnish are obtained by fiber fractionating the softwood pulp and repositioning the resulting fractions. Chemically pulped and preferably bleached softwood fiber "rejects" of a fractionation screen are redistributed into the outer plies of a three-ply, 300-350 g/m (approximately 195 #/3,000 ft.) basis weight paperboard. The fractionation "accepts" are repositioned to the center ply for a 12% to 15% increase in Taber stiffness. The short, "accept" fiber from the fractionation screen is mixed with chemically pulped hardwood fiber or modified mechanical pulp of either species for formation of the center ply on a multiformer paper machine.

Abstract: A fibrous insulation blanket is disclosed. The blanket includes a binderless collection of long, single component inorganic fibers. Preferably, the blanket is made of glass fibers.

Abstract: A lightweight structurally sound casket formed preferably of a sandwich construction using a core of an open cell or honeycomb patterned material and fluid resistant surface elements. The casket is comprised of a body containment portion and a lid portion, each of which has the sandwich construction as the main structural element. The open cell material is structurally enhanced by being sandwiched between first and second stabilizing surface elements in both the body containment portion and the lid portion. In addition to the stabilizing surface elements, an aesthetically pleasing material is adhered to the outer portions of the body containment section and lid so that the casket has an attractive appearance. The body containment portion is constructed from rectangular pieces of the open cell material and stabilizing surface elements by folding the same into a box-like configuration.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite wood flooring is designed particularly for use in van-type truck trailers which experience adverse operating conditions due to heavy lift truck traffic on the top side and water spray during rainy periods on the bottom side. The composite wood flooring comprises edge-glued laminated wood boards which are underlaid with a thin fiber reinforced plastic. The top surface of the composite wood floor is the same as that of a conventional laminated wood floor. The fiber reinforced plastic underlay is composed of glass and/or carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric resin such as epoxy, phenolic or vinyl ester. The resin holds the glass fibers together and also bonds the reinforcements to the laminated wood boards. The reinforcement is designed to enhance the mechanical properties of the flooring in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the floor and also to provide better bonding to the wood.

Abstract: A composite structure including a substrate and a heat protection element on the substrate, wherein the heat protection element includes a quasicrystalline aluminum alloy of one or a number of quasicrystalline phases which are either quasicrystalline phases in the strict sense, or approximating phases, wherein the quasicrystalline phases exhibit a thermal diffusivity, measured at ambient temperature, lower than 2.5.times.10.sup.-6 m.sup.2 /s, and a thermal diffusivity measured in the temperature range 650.degree.-750.degree. C. which does not exceed the thermal diffusivity measured at ambient temperature by more than a factor of 3, and wherein the quasicrystalline aluminum alloy comprises Al.sub.a Pd.sub.b Mn.sub.c X.sub.d Y.sub.e T.sub.f I.sub.

Abstract: This invention relates to a unitary roofing shingle sheet comprising (a) an undivided cop section having an unexposable upper portion and a lower portion carrying a partially exposable horizontal band of distinguishable colors or color patterns and (b) exposable tabs in a butt bottom section depending from the lower boundary of the band in the partially exposable portion of (a); the exposable portions of said shingle being covered with weather resistant granules of distinguishable hues or patterns disposed in discrete exposable areas in the band of section (a) and on each of said tabs so as to provide a distinctive color or pattern for each tab and a contrasting color or color pattern above each tab in the adjoining exposable portion of said band of section (a).

Abstract: A structural element made of a high impact sheet material, a resilient, semi-flexible core material, and a plurality of independent, preformed parallely-spaced rib members extending substantially across the width of said sheet material and fixedly attached thereto by an adhesive with said sheet material being flat, said plurality of rib members having adjacent, confronting side surfaces substantially parallel to one another, the forces created by bending of the structural element producing fractional detachment between at least some of said rib members and said sheet material being controlled by the width and height of said rib members and the distance between adjacent rib members and thereby determining the limit of bending of said structural element, thereby enabling a smooth surface of said high impact sheet material by preventing ripples and ridge lines therein with the bending of said structural element.

Abstract: A foam-plastic core for a structural laminate produced by converting standard, rectangular slabs of closed-cell, rigid foam plastic stock in which the density of each slab varies from the inner to the outer regions thereof into relatively thin panels useable as the core of a structural laminate in which the core is sandwiched between facing sheets. To produce these cores, several standard slabs are stacked and bonded together by parallel lines of adhesive compatible with the foam plastic material to create a large multi-slab block. The block is then sliced transversely in parallel planes normal to the lines of adhesive to yield a plurality of panels. Each panel is composed of a series of interconnected foam-plastic sections derived from respective slabs of the block whereby the density of the sections is evenly distributed throughout the panel and the mechanical properites of the panel are therefore predictable and satisfy structural laminate criteria.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a blank for folding into a body containment section of a casket, the blank comprising: a first stabilizing surface element, the first stabilizing surface element being a unitary element, a second stabilizing surface element positioned to lie above the first stabilizing surface element and spaced-apart therefrom, the second stabilizing surface element being a unitary element, and a core having a top surface and a bottom surface, the core being sandwiched between the first and second stabilizing surface elements, the bottom surface of the core being attached to the first stabilizing surface element and the top surface of the core being attached to the second stabilizing surface element, the core including a first section and a second section spaced-apart from the first section to form an elongated gap therebetween, the first and second sections of the core being arranged so that the blank can be bent along the gap, each of the first and second sections of the core being atta

Abstract: A wood flooring product for assembly into a wood floor is disclosed. The flooring product includes a top, decorative layer, an intermediate layer bonded to the top layer, and a base layer bonded to the intermediate layer. The top, intermediate and base layers are bonded in registration to define a laminated elongate wood flooring strip. A tongue and a groove are formed on respective side edges of the flooring strip. The tongue and groove extend along the length of the flooring strip, and lock adjacent flooring strips together side-to-side to form an assembled wood floor. The base layer has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores cut transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip. The scores relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor.

Abstract: A structural element made of a high impact sheet material, a resilient, semi-flexible core material, and a plurality of independent, preformed parallely-spaced rib members extending substantially across the width of said sheet material and fixedly attached thereto by an adhesive with said sheet material being flat, said plurality of rib members having adjacent, confronting side surfaces substantially parallel to one another, the forces created by bending of the structural element producing fractional detachment between at least some of said rib members and said sheet material being controlled by the width and height of said rib members and the distance between adjacent rib members and thereby determining the limit of bending of said structural element, thereby enabling a smooth surface of said high impact sheet material by preventing ripples and ridge lines therein with the bending of said structural element.

Abstract: A longitudinal laminate board of binder fixed mineral wool. The laminate board consists of adjacently disposed longitudinally directed pieces, whose fibre planes form a right angle to the plane of the laminate board. The length of the pieces is less than half of that of the laminate board and they are jointed to each other. None of the joints is immediately next to any of the ends of the laminate board or to any of the supports for the board.

Abstract: A wood flooring product for assembly into a wood floor is disclosed. The flooring product includes a top, decorative layer, an intermediate layer bonded to the top layer, and a base layer bonded to the intermediate layer. The top, intermediate and base layers are bonded in registration to define a laminated elongate wood flooring strip. A tongue and a groove are formed on respective side edges of the flooring strip. The tongue and groove extend along the length of the flooring strip, and lock adjacent flooring strips together side-to-side to form an assembled wood floor. The base layer has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores cut transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip. The scores relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor.

Abstract: A collapsible cover or enclosure is provided for surrounding a flower pot, Christmas tree stand or the like. The cover includes a plurality of slats connected to one another by adhesive tape so as to form a flexible sheet of interconnected slats. The sheet is foldable from a relatively flat storage and shipping configuration to a three-dimensional geometrically shaped for surrounding the flower pot or tree stand. An expansion ring holds the sidewall in the desired shape. A lid having an opening therein through which the plant or tree trunk extends is removably mounted on the top of the sidewall.

Abstract: A reoriented insulation assembly and the method of making same is disclosed. The insulation assembly includes a plurality of mineral fiber sections, such as fibrous glass sections. Each of the sections has a machine direction, a cross direction and a loft direction. The sections are positioned in an abutting relationship with the cross direction or the machine direction of the sections defining the thickness of the insulation assembly. An exterior cover encloses the plurality of abutting sections. The reorientation of the sections places the forces generated by the fibers in a desired relationship for installation in a building.

Abstract: A method for producing a laminated tile is disclosed which comprises providing a sheet of natural stone having opposed first and second major surfaces and providing a plurality of ceramic substrates, each having opposed first and second major surfaces. An adhesive material is provided on at least one of the first and second major surface of the sheet of natural stone and the first major surface of each of the plurality of ceramic substrates. The plurality of ceramic substrates and the sheet of natural stone are assembled to form a laminated assembly such that the first surface of each of a portion of the plurality of ceramic substrates faces the first major surface of the sheet of natural stone with adhesive material therebetween, and the remainder of the ceramic substrates face the second major surface of the sheet of natural stone with adhesive material therebetween.

Abstract: A paper machine felt comprising a base fabric of a predetermined width and length, a plurality of fiber batts having a predetermined length and width with fibers forming the fiber batts extending in the width direction, the fiber batts being arranged to extend along their length in juxtaposed manner across the width of the base fabric and to be intertangled therewith by needling so that the fibers extend in the length direction of the base fabric.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-layer protective fabric for protective suits used in hazardous or toxic environments. A first layer comprises strips of water and vapor impermeable material, there being a gap between adjacent such strips. A second layer comprises a plurality of strips of a wicking material with each such strip covering the inner surface of a first layer strip, passing through the gap between adjacent strips and covering the outer surface of the adjacent first layer strip. Moisture, such as perspiration will pass via the wicking material through the gaps past the first layer for evaporation and diffusion through a third layer of a liquid impermeable/vapor permeable material which extends over the second layer material covering the outer surfaces of the first layer.

Abstract: A tile product is disclosed which comprises a ceramic substrate having opposed major surfaces, a layer of natural stone and an adhesive bonding the layer of natural stone to one of the major surfaces of the ceramic substrate. The layer of natural stone preferably comprises a plurality of strips made of fossilstone and the substrate is preferably made of an unglazed ceramic bisque.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique for strengthening and reinforcing book bindings. A laminate having a polyester face sheet is coated on one side with adhesive. A backing sheet is releasably secured to the adhesive. The backing sheet is split down the center thereof to define a removable center strip with adjacent side strips on each side thereof. These three strips facilitate the method of application of the laminate to reinforce and secure a book binding.

Abstract: The supporting bar, which could serve as a supporting arm for an articulated table lamp, is constituted by a plurality of thin, flat straps of elastic material which are juxtaposed in close contact and held pressed together within an outer cover, with sufficient force that when the bar is flexed, the frictional forces from cover and strap to strap maintain the bent shape, against the elastic forces tending to restore the unbent shape of each strap. One of the straps can be made of magnetized material and the others of ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: A high-temperature resistant sealing strip for bridge-sealing is prepared from a strip with a cover substance containing a mixture of bitumen and a radiation-crosslinking polymer in the ratio of 7/3 to 19/1 and which is crosslinked in an electron accelerator at an irradiation dose between 5 and 16.times.10.sup.4 Gy.

Abstract: A reinforced, anti-fatigue foam floor tile module which comprises first and second resilient foam layers, and in between the foam layers, at a distance of about 55% to 65% of the thickness from the back surface of the mat, is a dimensionally-stabilizing, fibrous, particularly glass, scrim sheet material. The foam floor tile module has a foam density ranging from about 20 to 40 pounds per cubic foot, comprises a substantially closed cell foam and has an embossed face surface having a decorative or non-slip pattern thereon with the foam layer densified under the embossed areas.

Abstract: A mirror substrate, in particular for use in astronomical optics, comprises two symmetrical preformed plates of glass (10, 12) glued by their respective inside faces (26, 28) on either side of an intermediate structure (14), the outside face (38) of one of the plates (10) being suitable for subsequently receiving a reflecting coating. The intermediate structure (14) is a composite structure made of glass foam which is substantially uniform in nature, and in the preferred embodiments it comprises a central core (16) of glass foam together with two sets (18 and 20) of blocks of glass foam.

Abstract: A tile-shaped composite element is described in which a ceramic tile serving as the visible tile is glued to a further ceramic tile serving as the base tile. In order to add considerable strength to the two single tiles, thereby substantially improving the sturdiness of the composite element, it is proposed that each tile be provided on the back with a nesting structure and glued together with this nesting structure back-to-back. Since the wall thickness of such a composite element may correspond to the usual wall thickness of shingles or conventional ceramic tiles, extremely thin tiles may be used as the base tile and the visible tile placed thereupon. Because there is a nesting structure on the backside, the tiles may be connected and glued together in such a way that the nesting structures, which generally involve continuous straight grooves and ridges, positively engage to lock into each other, thereby considerably strengthening the firm cohesion of the tiles and, thus of the composite element.

Abstract: A ceramic coated abrasion resistant member and method of making are described in which a plurality of thin plates of polycrystalline ceramic material are bonded to a thicker substrate base member with an adhesive bonding material. The bonding material includes a thermosetting organic plastic adhesive and a coupling agent which forms covalent chemical bonds with the ceramic plates, base member and plastic adhesive. An organosilane, such as .gamma.-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane, may be used as the coupling agent. The ceramic material may be selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and spinel ceramic materials. The substrate member is preferably metal, such as steel and the plastic adhesive may be an epoxy resin.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric is manufactured which utilizes as a primary component material the fringed selvage band resulting as a by-product in the manufacture of certain woven fabrics. Strips of selvage band are laid down on a non-woven backing or web in various configurations, depending upon the ultimate appearance that is desired. The selvage strips are then secured to the backing by punching with an array of forked needles, each of which forces a loop of yarn from the selvage through a hole in the backing.