Abstract: A punture, pierce, and cut resistant fabric comprised of a plurality of sheets of plates arranged in a repeating pattern. A material interconnects the plates. The fabric is twistable, bendable, and flexible. It is constructed of substances that will withstand cutting, puncture, and piercing forces encountered in medical or other environments.

Abstract: A three-layer asphalt composition shingle where the top layer is of a full width, a middle layer is less than the full width, and a bottom layer has a width shorter than the middle layer. The middle and top layers of the shingle have tabs and cutouts. The tabs of each such layer generally differ in some feature. Moreover, the corresponding tabs between the middle layer and top layer also differ with respect to some feature, such as a lengthwise size, a widthwise size, shape or in color. Each of the three layers includes color zones, and often plural color zones. The different tab features and the different color features of the various layers provide a high degree of randomness to enhance a visual appearance to a roof shingled with such type of shingles.

Abstract: A permeable industrial fabric is assembled from a plurality of separate tiles into at least two plies, and in which the two plies are held together by jointing structures made integrally with the tiles. In these fabrics, within each tile the jointing structures are incorporated at primary selected locations according a symmetrical pattern, and the apertures in the tiles which provide the required fabric permeability are incorporated at secondary and tertiary selected locations according two more patterns, at least one of which is asymmetrical. This combination of symmetry and asymmetry allows for some control over the permeability of the assembled fabric.

Abstract: An advanced floor mat is disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the floor mat includes a cleanable portion. The floor mat may also include a water dissipation component, a water absorbing component, a cushioning component, customized graphics, a transparent cleanable portion, a tacky surface on the cleanable portion, an antibacterial composition, an antifungal composition, and a fragrance. The cleanable portion may be erodible and may include a plurality of cleanable reusable layers. If a tacky surface is included in the floor mat, an anti-slip feature may be associated with the tacky surface to help prevent slipping on a possibly wet tacky surface. The tacky surface may comprise a material with a dual chemistry such that the tacky surface is tacky both when dry and when wet. Additionally, a sensor system may be included in the floor mat to assist a user in identifying when the floor mat may require cleaning.

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: A continuously formed, low profiled reflective pavement marker comprising a multiple, inclined, low profiled reflective portions, which are integrally connected by horizontally, positioned reflective sheeting. Each raised reflective portion integrally having multiple reflective cube corner elements within two defined inclined reflective faces. Each of the two opposite reflective faces are integrally supported by load carrying structural walls in a multi-directional manner, said load carrying structural walks define cell like areas within each inclined reflective face. A method of making said reflective marker is disclosed that includes the steps of sealing and coloring the lower portion of the reflective marking sheet.

Abstract: A resilient fibrous insulation blanket is compression-cut longitudinally at one and typically a plurality of laterally spaced apart locations to form a form a pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket having a plurality of blanket sections that can be separated from each other by hand. The compression cutting of the blanket to form the blanket sections causes a first major surface of the blanket to become temporarily deformed and destabilized. When the blanket is faced, the facing is applied to the other major surface of the blanket while the first major surface is still deformed. Where the blanket is formed from a wider blanket, the wider blanket is at least partially cut prior to the compression-cutting operation to reduce lateral stresses in the blanket when the blanket is compression-cut.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced core is formed from plastics foam material having elongated porous and fibrous webs and/or rovings extending through the foam material. The rovings may extend angularly through the webs, and strips of the foam material may be helically wound with layers of crossing rovings to form the webs. Porous and fibrous skins for the core may be formed by the wound rovings and by parallel continuous rovings, and the foam strips may be formed with internal grooves adjacent the webs and connected by a feeder channel for infusing a hardenable adhesive resin into the grooves and outwardly through the webs to the skins with differential pressure on the resin.

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: An elongated fibrous insulation blanket is pre-cut for custom fitting the insulation blanket into wall, floor, ceiling and roof cavities of different widths formed by the framework of a building. The blanket has at least one, preferably two or three, series of cuts extending between major surfaces of the blanket with successive cuts of each series of cuts being separated by a series of separable connectors located intermediate the major surfaces of the blanket. Each series of separable connectors hold together adjacent sections of the blanket for handling, but are separable by hand so that the blanket can be handled as a unit for insulating a cavity having a predetermined width or easily separated by hand into two or more sections at one or more of the series of separable connectors for insulating a cavity having a lesser width.

Abstract: A floor mat with a seamless top surface and a segmented cushion layer. The seamless top surface eliminates gaps, crevices, and seams that may adversely affect performance or durability of the sports mat. The segmented cushion layer provides an essentially continuous cushioned mat when the mat is in an unrolled configuration and reduces the likelihood of damage to the sports mat due to an exposed top surface or compressed cushion layer. The floor mat may be rolled up into a storage and transportation configuration without turning the mat over. The floor mat is also configured to permit one person to roll and unroll it.

Abstract: A stretch releasing adhesive tape article includes an elongate length of stretch releasing adhesive tape and a segmented liner arranged on the adhesive that can be used to form a manually engageable pull tab at a selected location on a discrete strip of tape cut from the length of tape. Each segment of the liner can be individually removed from the tape. The segmented liner allows the adhesive tape to be made in any length and wound upon itself to form a roll, and allows a user to cut a strip having a selected length depending on the end use application for the strip, and further allows the user to form a manually engageable non-adhesive pull tab at any location on the strip which can be grasped and pulled by a user to stretch remove the tape from a substrate.

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: An elongated fibrous insulation blanket is pre-cut for custom fitting the insulation blanket into wall, floor, ceiling and roof cavities of different widths formed by the framework of a building. The blanket has one or more cuts extending for the length of the blanket which separate the blanket into two or more longitudinally extending sections. Adjacent sections of the blanket are joined together along the cut(s) by separable connectors which hold together the sections of the blanket for handling, but are separable by hand along the cut(s) so that the blanket can be handled as a unit for insulating a cavity having a predetermined width or easily separated by hand into two or more sections at a cut for insulating a cavity having a lesser width.

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: For prevention of ghost images from occurring on head-up displays, a glass surface is ground, and a reflecting surface with a wedge-shaped cross section is formed. Furthermore, in order to reduce optical distortion at the edge portion of the reflecting surface, a ground surface contacting the reflecting surface with an angle between 150° and 210° is formed. In accordance with the enlargement of the reflecting surface accompanied by the tendency of head-up displays becoming larger, the reflecting surface is divided into at least two regions, and the angle of the reflecting surface is optimized for each region.

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: A process for manufacturing mats from worn out tires and mats made by that process. Sidewalls are cut from the tire leaving a circular strip, which is cut transversely to produce an elongated approximately rectangular strip. Spaced slits are cut into the long edges of the strips to form slats suitable for use in manufacturing structures. Several strips are placed together to form a first layer, than additional strips are laid over the first strips at an angle to the first layer strips to form a second layer an adhesive is placed on one of the mating surfaces to bond the layers together, forming a mat. An elastomer, may be coated over the mat The mats are particularly useful as horse stall mats, matts for cows in dairy farms, etc.

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: A floor sander is disclosed that includes a drum having an outer surface formed from a number of units shaped like the frustrum of a sector, each having a first end receivable in a groove on the outer surface of an inner drum member so that, if the surface of the drum is damaged, one or more units can be replaced individually instead of replacing the entire drum or outer drum surface.

Abstract: In order to improve a screen element for motor vehicles, in particular, a wind blocker or a sun screen, comprising a piece of flat material extending in a surface area such that it can be manufactured more economically, it is proposed that the piece of flat material comprise a woven, knitted or braided fabric consisting of inherently stiff wires or fibers and thus be of inherently rigid construction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a core for a snowboard, made by the adhesive bonding, side by side, of a plurality of longitudinal bands whose height is that of the core and whose width preferably does not exceed 25 millimeters, each of these bands being made of a material constituted either by wood, by a synthetic foam or by a fiber-reinforced synthetic foam, the overall percentage of each of these three materials in the core thus constituted depending on the type of snowboard that it is desired to produce with the aid of this core.

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: Retroreflective articles of the invention comprise a continuous base layer and a multi-color polymeric top layer. The invention also includes methods of making such retroreflective articles. The retroreflective articles of the invention provide excellent daytime contrast while maintaining nighttime retroreflectivity. Variously colored segments of polymer are directly and either sequentially or simultaneously coated onto a continuous backing to form a multi-colored top layer. Durability over existing multi-colored retroreflective articles is enhanced by use of a continuous base layer.

Abstract: An ultraviolet-curable adhesive composition which comprises (A) a bisphenol type epoxy (meth)acrylate having a molecular weight of 450 to 3,000, (B) a urethane (meth)acrylate having a molecular weight of 400 to 10,000, (E) a (meth)acrylate monomer other than (A) and (B), and (F) a photopolymerization initiator, and an article having a cured layer of the above adhesive composition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for washing, drying, and/or otherwise cleaning or processing flexible, substantially planar sheets is provided. The apparatus includes a guiding means for receiving at least one sheet and guiding the sheet through the apparatus; a plurality of rollers which rotate to move the at least one sheet through the apparatus and provide tension to the sheet for processing; and one or more cleaning stations or processing chambers for processing (such as washing, rinsing, and drying) the at least one tensioned sheet. The method and apparatus are particularly suitable for cleaning reusable tier sheets used to separate layers of stacked articles.

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: Rigid foam pieces or boards and alternating porous fibrous web sheets are adhered to form core panels or billets. Porosity is maintained in the webs for forming integral structural ties by absorbing resin applied under differential pressure to the webs and to overlying sandwich panel skins. Beveled foam recesses adjacent web edge portions form structural resin fillets, and protruding edge portions form expanded connections to the skins. Core panels with intersecting webs form enhanced panels. Boards or core panels and web sheets arranged in inclined stacks form second core panels having webs intersecting panel edges or faces at acute angles. Boards of alternating different physical properties and web sheets are bonded to form reinforced panels having differing interior and exterior densities. Compressible foam panels are used in place of or with web sheets to make bendable core panels. Foam between web edge portions is recessed for bonding a settable material to the edge portions.

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 windshield for a head-up display system has a pair of opposing major surfaces that are nonparallel to one another in selected areas. Light rays directed toward the nonparallel area of the windshield are reflected from the outer and inner major surfaces of the windshield and directed toward the eye of the observer as parallel or superimposed light rays to eliminate ghost images when viewing images projected by the head-up display system through the windshield. The interlayer blank utilized to make the windshield has a non-uniform thickness profile with a tapered thickness positioned in the selected areas of the windshield.

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: 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 unified, composite tape structure comprising two outer pressure-sensitive adhesive layers and a backing joined via melt processing. At least one of the backing and two outer adhesive layers is not mutually coextensive. A method of making the tape comprising the use of melt processing is also disclosed.

Abstract: Rigid foam boards and alternating absorptive fibrous web sheets are adhered to form core panels or billets. Porosity is maintained in the webs for forming integral structural ties by absorbing resin applied to overlying sandwich panel skins. Beveled foam recesses adjacent web edge portions form structural resin fillets, and protruding edge portions form expanded connections to the skins. Core panels oriented with their webs crossing are layered with web sheets to form enhanced panels. Boards or core panels and web sheets arranged in inclined stacks form second core panels having webs intersecting panel edges or faces at acute angles. Boards of alternating different physical properties and web sheets are bonded to form reinforced panels having differing interior and exterior densities. Compressible foam panels are used in place of or with web sheets to make bendable core panels. Foam between web edge portions is recessed for bonding a settable material to the edge portions.

Abstract: Currently, fiber/metal laminate sheets are limited in width due to restrictions in the width of thin metal sheets available. This invention solves that problem by providing an integral splice concept and a method for manufacturing a laminate employing the inventive concept. Specifically, a fiber/metal laminate sheet is provided having at least two metal plies and at least one fiber layer. Each of the metal plies comprises at least two metal sheets which are arranged side-by-side and have sheet metal breaks therebetween. All of the sheet metal breaks lie within the integral splice. An important feature of the invention is that the sheet metal breaks in each metal ply are staggered widthwise across the laminate with respect to the sheet metal breaks in the remaining metal plies, in accordance with a predetermined metal break staggering pattern, thereby maximizing the bond engagement of the discontinuous metal plies with the adjacent fiber layers.

Abstract: A cover belt for a duct is presented, which can be swung up from a closed position by a deflecting device movable in the longitudinal direction of the duct and falls back in its closed position behind the deflecting device. The cover belt is made of a flexibly deformable material with metallic reinforcements. The cover belt is comprised of a securing strip, a joint strip and a cover strip. The securing strip is secured along the duct, the joint strip connects the securing strip flexibly to the cover strip, and the cover strip spans the duct and is supported on both sides of the duct. At least one belt-shaped textile reinforcement layer with essentially the same overall width as the cover belt is embedded in the flexibly deformable material in the area of the neutral plane of the cover belt.

Abstract: A paint saver pad comprised of a sheet or pad of resilient, waterproof material that can be easily installed in the cargo carrying area of a vehicle, typically a pickup truck, prior to the installation of a cargo carrying area protective bedliner in order to protect the vehicle surface from wear caused by the liner.

Abstract: A masking material includes a stiffened edge for easier insertion of the edge between closely abutting panels or surfaces as might be encountered in preparing a motor vehicle for painting or other such surface treatment. Preferably, a thin, flexible base layer includes an edge piece characterized in that it is flexible but more rigid than the base layer itself, enabling the edge piece to be inserted between closely spaced articles, with the remaining base layer being folded over the article to be masked, thereby providing an abrupt masking interface. One such article might, for instance, include a flush-type rubber molding incorporated into modern motor vehicles. In the preferred construction, the base layer comprises a tape with an adhesive surface, the edge piece being a flexible plastic strip which is narrower than the width of the base layer and adhered to the base layer using the adhesive surface.

Abstract: A laminate repair sheet is useful for altering the appearance of the visible face of a nozzle. The sheet comprises a plastic upper layer, a middle layer of tacky, water-resistant adhesive, and a bottom layer of a release material. Annular rings comprising the upper layer and the middle layer can be peeled from the bottom release layer for application to nozzles of varying diameter.

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 longitudinal laminate board of mineral wool and method of making the board are disclosed. The laminate board consists of adjacently disposed pieces at least some of which are shorter than the length of the board and whose fibre plane form an essentially right angle to the plane of the laminate board. The pieces are jointed within the laminate board.

Abstract: There is provided herewith a postage stamp construction of currency size in which a first array of individually removable postage stamps are separated from the second array of individually removable postage stamps by a transverse peel strip.

Abstract: A sandwich panel element comprises a core of fibrous material arranged between first and second parallel outer skins of generally planar sheet material. The core material consists of a plurality of elongate strips arranged in side-by-side and end-to-end abutting relationship. The strips are formed so that the fibers are in a direction generally transverse to the planes of the sheet material. The strips are individually shorter than the length or width of the panel element and the mutually abutting ends of the strips are staggered with respect to rows of adjacent strips. The ends also may be chamfered at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction of the strips to allow the ends to overlap.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing superior optically clear laminates having a sheet of semi-rigid material encapsulated in a thermoplastic interlayer between layers of rigid material such as glass. Pre-cooled laminate elements are assembled at reduced temperature, allowing positioning of the sheet of semi-rigid material in the interlayer of the assembly with minimal wrinkling, formation of air bubbles or entrapment of moisture. Thereafter, the laminate assembly is maintained under vacuum for an extended period of time, substantially eliminating wrinkling, air bubbles and moisture from between the laminate elements as well as pre-forming the semi-rigid sheet. Bonding heat and pressure is then applied, first heating the assembly to "tack" the laminate elements together, and next applying heat and pressure for bonding the laminate elements.

Abstract: An extruded slat defined by a series of longitudinal cavities disposed in a side-by-side relationship. Typically, the longitudinal cavities total in odd numbers so that fastening can be achieved through a single cavity. The slat is fabricated from plastic resin, is light in weight, is readily cut and can be arranged into a variety of configurations. Assembly between the ends of abutting slats is usually accomplished by an interconnecting pin(s) between communicating cavities. Each longitudinal cavity is also adapted to receive a rod, a cable, or the like, serving for example, reinforcing, communication and/or communication purposes, or other uses involving concealment and/or security.

Abstract: A sandwich panel element comprises a core 10 of fibrous material arranged between first and second parallel outer skins of generally planar sheet material 30, 32. The core material consists of a plurality of elongate strips 12a, 12b, 12c etc. arranged in side-by-side and end-to-end abutting relationship. The strips are formed so that the fibers are in a direction generally transverse to the planes of the sheet material 30, 32. The strips 12a, 12b, 12c etc. are individually shorter than the length or width of the panel element and the mutually abutting ends 25 of the strip are chamfered at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction of the strips to allow the ends to overlap.

Abstract: A graphite body which is capable of connecting a plurality of the graphite bodies one by one. The graphite body includes one connecting end surface having a T-shaped mound and the other connecting end surface having an inverted T-shaped groove so that the graphite bodies may be connected by means of the mound and groove. The mound and groove each have a width linearly varied in the longitudinal direction thereof.

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 breathable, laminate fabric which is impervious to water, aqueous solutions and organic solvents comprising a base layer formed from a porous, absorbent material which is bonded at spaced points to a second layer comprised of a series of parallel strips, impervous to water, aqueous solutions and organic liquids, said straips being disposed transversely to the edges of said underlying base layer, said strips having leading and trailing edges, and extending longitudually along said base layer in an overlapping manner such that the leading edge of one strip overlaps the trailing edge of the next succeeding strip in the series, said base layer or said second layer being comprised of a thermoplastic material.