Abstract: A beam is composed of a tree trunk which has been star-mortised into right triangular sections which are joined together in pairs to produce rectanguloid laminae that are, in turn, glued together to form a beam in which growth rings of the tree trunk are oriented vertically and in the longitudinal direction of the beam. Due to the resulting more favorable growth ring position, the beam according to the invention can be much more highly statically loaded than a conventional beam, and moreover, can be produced at much lower costs than known glued wood truss beams formed of solid, one-piece rectanguloid tree trunk sections.

Abstract: A three-dimensional heat and vacuum molded ornament, such as a snowman figure, formed of thermoplastic foam sheet material with heat sealed abutting edges, in a molding process. The ornament adapted to move, by the use of hand pressure, between a non-collapsed upright, use position and a collapsed, reduced-height position for shipment or storage.

Abstract: The present invention is a thermoplastic panel or piece having a resilient injection molded portion. The panel or piece of the present invention may be used in a variety of applications such as to provide sealing ends on thermoplastic panels or to create resiliently closable passages in thermoplastic panels through which wires and other objects may be passed while maintaining an even surface appearance of the baseboard panel. Other uses include attaching one or more thermoplastic pieces together.

Abstract: An open ended papermaker's fabric woven from a longitudinal thread system and a transverse thread system and having a plurality of seam loops at each end of the fabric formed by the threads of the longitudinal thread system. At least one additional transverse thread is interwoven with the longitudinal thread system in at least one seam zone in a repeat pattern that passes over at least two adjacent paper side longitudinal threads and under at least one machine side longitudinal thread.

Abstract: A woven fabric belt device, e.g. an endless screen belt for paper making machines wherein a connection device (7a) is provided on at least one end of the woven fabric belt, which connection device is connectable by use of a releasable connecting device (9) to a further connection device (7b) which is arranged either at the other end of the same woven fabric belt or at an end of another woven fabric belt. In order to provide protection against wear, a number of predetermined longitudinal threads (2) are removed but not separated from the woven fabric (1,2,6) along a portion thereof (4) associated with the end of the woven fabric belt, wherein the removed portions (4) of the longitudinal threads (2) are rewoven into a horizontal protective layer of the woven fabric. The protective layer is positioned to lie at least one of over, under and both over and under the connection device (7a) of the woven fabric belt and thus form a protective layer for this connection device (7a).

Abstract: Methods for closing a seam in a paper processing belt having a coating of polymeric resin material require the covering of the seam on the uncoated side of the belt with an encapsulating material, so that the seam will have compression properties substantially identical to those of use of the remainder of the belt. In one method, a viscous paste obtained by mixing a polymeric resin material with a blowing agent is used. Following installation of the fabric, or belt, on a paper machine by closing its pin seam with a pintle, the seam region on the non-paper side of the fabric or belt is impregnated with the viscous paste. The seam region is then heated to a temperature to activate the blowing agent and to create a foam from the paste. The foam fills voids in the seam region, and may pass out through the slit in the coating over the seam. Raising the temperature further cures the foam and may glue the slit closed.

Abstract: A multilayer papermaker's press felt fabric comprising in combination a woven first fabric layer, typically a double layer fabric, has a cross machine direction pin seam. A second fabric layer is located on the paper side face of the first fabric layer, and a layer of needled batt is applied to the paper side face of the second layer binding the layers together. A flap comprising a short length of the second fabric layer with attached batt overlays the pin seam area in the first layer. The second layer comprises a plurality of relatively narrow strips, which are located with a lateral edge at a first cant angle of from more than 1.degree. to less than 20.degree. to the machine direction. A third layer, similar to the second layer, can be included on the machine side of the first layer; the strip widths, the cant angles, and the direction of the cant angle relative to the machine direction for each of the two strips need not be the same. The fabric is assembled using a spiral winding technique.

Abstract: A tubular liner, for lining the inner wall of a pipe, comprises a plurality of composite liner tubes, each liner type contains an inner layer of a resin-absorbable sheet and an outer layer of hermetic plastic film. The composite liner tubes are joined by spirally stitched abutting ends. In an embodiment, the inner resin-absorbable sheets are joined. An adhesive can be applied to the inner and outer walls of the resin-absorbable sheet along the stitched spiral seam.

Abstract: A splice for a fabric reinforced conveyor belt comprising a fabric layer having mating ends cut as an arc of a circle having a radius whose length is greater than the width of the fabric. There is also provided a fabric reinforced conveyor belt comprising: a) a pulley cover; b) at least one layer of fabric reinforcement; and (c) a top cover, wherein the fabric layer has a splice as described immediately above.

Abstract: An on-machine-seamable papermakers' fabric having a smooth surface and a prolonged life includes flat machine-direction yarns which define the upper and lower surfaces thereof. The fabric has two layers of cross-machine direction yarns, each of which is interwoven with the flat machine-direction yarns. Other machine-direction yarns, of round cross section, weave with the cross-machine-direction yarns in the two layers to bind the two layers together. The knuckles of these round machine-direction yarns are within the fabric with respect to the planes defined by the flat machine-direction yarns, and, and a consequence, are less susceptible to degradation by heat and abrasion. The papermakers' fabric is seamed into endless form during installation on a paper machine. At one of the two ends of the fabric, seaming loops are formed by the round machine-direction yarns. At the other of the two ends, seaming loops are formed by the flat machine-direction yarns.

Abstract: Improved insulating modular panels are manufactured to incorporate into each insulating modular panel at least one vacuum insulation panel. Vacuum insulation panels are conveyed seriatim toward a pultrusion die which ultimately produces the insulating modular panels as a continuous block. Joint spacings or gaps between adjacent vacuum insulation panels and sides of the vacuum panels are filled with foam or preformed filler material to form a substantially continuous inner core which has substantially continuous side edges. Reinforcement material is applied to the inner core. The reinforcement material can be impregnated with resin prior to its application to the inner core or resin may be injected into the pultrusion die. In either event, a continuous elongated block of insulating modular panels emerges from the pultrusion die. The continuous elongated block is severed at joint spacings or gaps between adjacent vacuum insulation panels to form insulating modular panels of desired sizes from the block.

Abstract: A transition strip for providing a smooth transition between the margin of a rigid flooring and the margin of adjacent carpeting. The transition strip comprises a substantially planar elongated base member with a pair of opposing side edges. A vertical wall extends upwardly from one of the opposing side edges. Extending outwardly and downwardly from the top of the vertical wall is an angled wall.

Abstract: A flame attenuator for poke-through constructions. The device is formed from a plurality of overlapping segments of metal screen firmly attached to a base frame and forming an inverted funnel-like structure with each of the segments converging loosely at the top of the inverted funnel. In application, the transmission shifter lever penetrates the smaller, upper hole thus formed, and in spite of being moved in horizontal arcs, maintains contact with the overlapping screen segments. Since there are a variety of boot geometries (circular based, oval based, and rectangular based) the flame attenuator base frame is provided in multiple shapes to accommodate the different boot configurations. The attenuator is located inside the shifter boot, and is manufactured either integrally to the boot, or as an add-on item. The flame attenuator protects the boot from rapid burn-through in the event of an engine fire.

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 pressure sensitive tape for sealing butted edges of an insulation jacket applied to pipes and the like. The tape includes high-performance acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive which adheres at both low and elevated temperatures and a film adhesion layer on the tape to allow final closure at the job site. As the tape is wrapped around the insulation jacket, the adhesive adheres to the film layer on the upper side of the tape to provide permanent adherence.

Abstract: A supply feedstock intended for use in a workpiece finishing machine wherein individual workpieces are successively separated and presented in a predetermined fashion to an automated loading means. The feedstock includes a plurality of individual workpieces arranged in side-by-side order in the form of a continuous belt, or bandolier, of workpieces, each of the workpieces being interconnected at head and tail portions of the workpieces by integral webs, successive workpieces being trimmed from the bandolier and presented to a loading means, while the separated webs are discharged to waste.

Abstract: A composite web comprising a flexible first web having a first major surface, a second major surface, a first end and a second end, and a flexible second web having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first web being joined to the first end of the second web, and the first major surface comprising a tacky contact cleaning surface. This composite web may used to clean devices that contact the web prior to, during and subsequent to application of a coating to the web.

Abstract: A furniture protector for protecting the fabric of upholstered furniture such as sofas and easy arm chairs and the like, from damage by pet dogs includes one or more rigid panels having a width to span a predetermined portion of the front to back seating space and a length to span the seating spaces. The rigid panels leave no comfortable space for pet dogs to rest. The panels have decorative surfaces and fabrics which can be color coordinated with the fabric of the upholstered furniture. Handles are provided and various arrangements for compacting the panels for storage are disclosed.

Abstract: Tire fabrics for reinforcing rubber which includes warps having straight portions arranged in parallel with each other at predetermined intervals and wefts woven with the warps. Each weft comprises a pair of parallel portions and a V-shaped connecting portion. The V-shaped connecting portion is provided at the edge portion of the tire fabric.

Abstract: The invention relates to a set in sheet form as well as to apparatus and a method for producing such a set, which consists of at least one information carrier in card form with carrier material lying in the same plane, wherein the information carrier and the carrier material are completely separated from one another by means of uninterrupted stamped cuts or the like and For the releasable connection of information carrier and carrier material at least one narrow adhesive strip is provided which is coated with a glue on one side, covers at least a part of the stamped cuts between adjacent rows of information carriers and/or between information carriers and carrier material and adheres the components of the set to one another. The width of the information carriers perpendicular to the course of the adhesive strip amounts to a multiple of the width of the adhesive strip.

Abstract: A process including providing a flexible substantially rectangular sheet having a first major exterior surface opposite and parallel to a second major exterior surface, removing or displacing material from the first major exterior surface adjacent and parallel to a first edge of the sheet to form a new first surface having an elongated, curvilinear "S" shaped profile when viewed in a direction parallel to the first edge, overlapping the new first surface and a second surface adjacent a second edge of the sheet whereby the first new surface contacts the second surface to form a mated surface region, the second surface being adjacent to or part of the second major exterior surface to form the sheet into a loop, the second edge being at an end of the sheet opposite from the first edge, and permanently joining the new first surface to the second surface into a seam to form a seamed belt of this invention.

Abstract: An entrance grating for office buildings is comprised of a series of closely spaced tread rail elements, forming the upper surface of the grating, and a plurality of support elements underneath the tread rail elements and tightly secured thereto at right angles. The tread rails are of extruded construction and include a hollow, tubular spine section for high strength and rigidity per unit of weight. The underlying support elements, also of extruded construction, are in the form of downwardly opening channel-shaped elements. High strength, expandable wall, blind fasteners are employed to secure the support elements to the tread rail elements at each of the crossing points to provide a strong, rigid assembly. The open bottoms of the channel-shaped supports may be closed by plastic pad strips providing resilient support and noise reduction.

Abstract: A heat bond seaming tape has a base formed of a strip of paper or a paper-like material and an overlying strip of an open mesh material. A plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending beads of a hot melt thermoplastic adhesive material is placed on a top surface of the mesh for adhering the tape to the backs of adjacent carpet edges. A strip of a rigid thermoplastic material is sandwiched between the base strip and the strip of open mesh and extends longitudinally along the center of the strip and extends transversely across the carpet seam to prevent seam buckling. The plastic strip is formed by a plurality of separate or flexibly connected hard plastic members to enable the tape to be formed into a roll for transportation and storage. The invention also relates to the method of forming the improved heat bond seaming tape.

Abstract: A floor protector protects floors against damage from heavy objects supported on or sliding across the floor and reduces the effort required to move the objects. The protector includes an elongate web with raised lips along its opposite edges and interlocking formations on its opposite ends. The interlocking formations allow the connection of plural strips end-to-end.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for joining pieces of unseasoned or undr wood, by finger jointing or other joining technique. The wood may have a moisture content above the fibre saturation point of the wood, and as high as 50% to 100% or higher moisture content. An adhesive having a sufficiently high molecular weight or viscosity to avoid adhesive degradation or migration due to moisture in the wood during forming and curing of the joint, or which will cure to achieve such a sufficiently high molecular weight or viscosity during forming and curing of the joint is employed. Optionally a cure promotor or chemical which increases the rate of cure of the adhesive may be used. Preferred adhesives are formaldehyde based adhesives. Preferred cure promotor or chemicals are ammonia or amine compounds, organic acids including low molecular weight carboxylic acids, and Lewis or Bronsted class acids.

Abstract: A floor covering comprises a plurality of tread strips of substantially resilient material, each tread strip having a wear layer of a material which provides a fibrous tread surface, and a plurality of spacer strips of substantially rigid material arranged interposed between the tread strips whereby each successive pair of tread strips is spaced apart by an assembly of at least two, typically three of said spacer strips arranged to lie side-by-side with connecting means passing through aligned apertures in the strips.

Abstract: A reinforced structural member comprising a solid structural member of recycled plastic having a reinforcing bar inserted therein, extending inwardly from one surface. A notch is formed in the solid structural member extending inwardly with respect to the surface against which force is to be exerted. An untensioned reinforcing bar formed of a material having characteristics of resilience and compressibility different from that of the structural member is inserted and locked into the notch. The reinforcing bar is complementary in shape to the notch, and is held in place by the density of the solid structural member and fasteners such as screws. In this way, two dissimilar materials, neither of which alone has sufficient strength, rigidity, or "memory" can be combined to create a durable, inexpensive set of components which substantially exceed the mechanical qualities of either material by itself.

Abstract: A pre-impregnation has a ribbon-shaped tow of reinforcing fibers and a ribbon of thermoplastic resin laminated on the ribbon-shaped tow and fixed thereto at intervals, and the thermoplastic resin is allowed to uniformly impregnate into the ribbon-shaped tow under heat application so that a void does not take place in the ribbon-shaped tow.

Abstract: A veneer for the veneering of especially curved surfaces has a face veneer formed from thin veneer sheets. The veneer sheets are adhesively bonded along their edges so as to be butted flush and on the side opposite the visible side to a mock veneer which is arranged underneath and which extends over the entire region of the face veneer. To maintain the relative movability between the veneer sheets and the mock veneer, an adhesive is coated on underneath the veneer sheets and is influenced in its setting reaction. In terms of the setting reaction, the adhesive is still reactive over a particular timespan. Thus, when the veneer is finally applied, the adhesive does not tear apart at the joints during a shaping curvature of the veneer because the adhesive in the joint region of adjacent edges of the veneer sheets is set completely.

Abstract: A rapid curing adhesive for wood finger jointing and laminating and a method of its use are disclosed. The adhesive consists of two parts that are used as a honeymoon system. One part is used on one side of the joint being formed and the other part on the other side. When the parts are joined under pressure a very rapid reaction occurs resulting in a durable weather resistant joint. Wood finger joints bonded with the adhesive can be handled for further processing within as little time as 15 seconds. The first part of the adhesive is a conventional resorcinol-formaldehyde or phenol-resorcinol formaldehyde resin containing a hardener such as an alkylene group donor. The second part is a similar resin lacking any hardener but containing a modifier which is a heterocyclic oxygen and nitrogen containing compound. Morpholine has proved to serve well as the modifier. The hardener in the first part is used in a sufficient amount to effect a thermosetting cure for the resin used in both parts.

Abstract: Sterilization indicators utilizing moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesives are provided. The sterilization indicators comprise at least one backing strip, preferably water-dispersible, which is coated on at least one side with the moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesive. A sterilization indicator strip is affixed to the backing strip and is easily removable from the sterilization indicator. The indicator tapes are useful to maintain a sterilization wrapper containing articles to be sterilized in a closed position during sterilization, and normal pre- and post-sterilization handling, while also providing a means to indicate if the wrapped articles have passed through a sterilization cycle. After use, the sterilization indicator strip is easily removed, and the adhesives coating the sterilization indicators, and preferably also the backing strips, disperse an aqueous alkali solution, such as are found in commercial laundries.

Abstract: Disclosed is laminate flooring and other articles with tongues and grooves for joining sections of the flooring or articles and a method of making the tongue and groove joints. The lower surfaces of the tongues and grooves are indexing surfaces for aligning the wear surfaces of the flooring sections. The tongues and grooves are made such that when the tongue is fully inserted into the groove, a continuous space is formed between the upper surface of the tongue and groove. The grooved edges are cut at an acute angle to the surface. This provides a space between the upper surfaces of the tongue and groove and between the edge surfaces above the tongues and grooves toward the wear surfaces of the flooring sections. Glue in the joint, upon curing, resists penetration of moisture and increases the strength of the joint.

Abstract: A surface covering tile is disclosed having integral connecting elements about its edges to enable hinged interconnection between adjacent-like tiles. The connecting elements are longitudinally arranged about the peripheral edges of the tile and comprise semi-cylindrical curved female elements, protruding tongue elements and semi-cylindrical bar-like male elements. The elements are arranged such that the female and tongue elements cooperate to engage with the male elements of adjacent tiles. The tile is further adapted to receive a surface covering such as a carpet or mat, preferably an air permeable covering which will permit air to pass through apertures in the surface of the tile to the ground below.

Abstract: A shark repellant patch is provided which includes a highly flexible, impermeable membrane sealing a shark repelling substance to a highly flexible base. The membrane is provided with imperfections that cause the membrane to shear when it is subjected to a predetermined level of force. In one embodiment of the invention, a tab is provided proximate the imperfections to facilitate rupturing the membrane. An adhesive is applied to a portion of the base. An exemplary method of fabrication is also provided.

Abstract: A splice means having a support means comprising a polymeric film having a major surface; and (b) a fiber reinforcement means comprising a plurality of monofilaments where the monofilaments have longitudinal axes extending in a parallel direction, one to another, across the major surface, and the monofilaments are bonded to the major surface of the support means by a fiber adhesive, where the fiber adhesive is a moisture-cured polyurethane adhesive. The invention also relates to methods and products thereof for using the splice means to form spliced flexible abrasive articles, including endless belt forms.

Abstract: A barrier laminate for attachment to the outer surface of a structure, such as a house prior to attachment of its siding, to cover joints between structural members assembled to form the structure. The barrier laminate comprises a flexible elongate barrier layer having minute passageways between its major surfaces affording passage of water vapor while restricting the passage of liquid water and air between its major surfaces. A portable carrier having a pair of hubs engaging a roll of the barrier laminate and having a pair of trailing rollers which may be used to adhere exposed layers of pressure sensitive adhesive along each of the opposite edges of the barrier layer to structural members on opposite sides of a joint therebetween.

Abstract: A heat seamable sheet material for roofing prepared from an uncured polymeric composition of matter which comprises 100 parts by weight of a semi-crystalline polymer and selected from the group consisting of polyolefins prepared from monomers containing at least 2 carbon atoms; from about 20 to 300 parts by weight of one or more non-black mineral fillers per 100 parts of the polymer; and from about 20 to 150 parts by weight of a processing material, per 100 parts of the polymer. The non-black mineral fillers may include hard clays, soft clays, calcined clays, chemically modified clays, mica, talc, alumina trihydrates, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, amorphous precipitated hydrated silica and mixtures thereof. The processing material may be any non-volatile oil, i.e., a paraffinic processing oil.

Abstract: A method of preparing a laminate having increased peel strength and solvent resistance which involves (A) applying an adhesive composition to a surface of a first sheet; (B) exposing the adhesive composition on the surface of the first sheet to incoherent, pulsed ultraviolet radiation from a dielectric barrier discharge excimer lamp; (C) bringing a surface of a second sheet in contact with the adhesive composition-bearing surface of the first article; and (D) allowing the adhesive composition to cure. The incoherent, pulsed ultraviolet radiation has a single narrow wavelength band within the range of from about 260 to about 360 nanometers. The adhesive composition includes from about 94 to about 60 percent by weight of a cycloaliphatic diepoxide, from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight of a cationic photoinitiator, and from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol terpolymer, all based on the weight of adhesive composition.

Abstract: This invention pertains to papermaking felts, methods of making such felts, methods of using the felts, and methods of making paper using such felts. A felt of the invention contains at least one substrate web having a fuse-bonded joint extending across the width of the felt. The joint is preferably formed by superposing, onto each other, end portions of a flat-woven substrate web element, with the end portions extending away from the ends in a common direction, and concurrently severing the ends from the end portions, and fuse bonding the end portions to each other, along a common cut line.

Abstract: An instrument trim panel (12) includes a shell (14) made from a flexible plastic material. A textured section (18) is circumscribed by a simulated seam (20). A closed cell plastic block (28) is press fitted behind the textured section. An air pocket (26) is interposed between the block and textured section. A rigid substrate (22) is molded and cured behind the shell (14) and block (28). The air pocket allows the textured section to be deformed to simulate the appearance and feel of a leather applique.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer consisting essentially of a copolymer comprising a mixture of ethylene; one or more alpha-olefins having 3 to 12 carbon atoms; and, optionally, a diene, said copolymer being in an uncrosslinked state and having a crystallinity in the range of about 2 to about 40 percent by weight based on the weight of the copolymer wherein about 15 to about 85 percent by weight of the crystallinity melts at a temperature above 80.degree. C.; about 15 to about 85 percent by weight of the crystallinity melts at a temperature below 80.degree. C.; and the crystalline melting temperatures differ by at least about 30.degree. C.

Abstract: A breakaway board for practicing chops and kicks in karate and other martial arts improves upon the prior an by increasing control over the board by the board holder. The paired mortise- and-tenon interlock between the two breakaway halves is modified by including a detent in one or more of the pairs between mortise and tenon such that the two halves definitively snap into place when they are reassembled so that the person holding the board can be assured that the two halves are fully together. Additional protection for the board holder is provided by an improved palm pad to prevent bruising after repeated strikes, and to accommodate board holding handles, the front faces of the two halves are grooved at the top and bottom edges to provide a positive seat for the resilient cord characteristic of these board holders.

Abstract: A method of resawing elongated radially sawn segments of timber so that bsawn boards are produced. Said wedges are sawn with the desired angle between the radial faces and are resawn so that the growth rings of the tree are basically parallel to the broad backsawn faces. The flared radial edges of the boards indicate the growth ring orientation and therefore the cupping tendency and the direction of bow. This enables a greater degree of consistency in the manufacturing process over conventional methods. Said backsawn boards can be used individually as conventional boards with the mentioned advantages or can be laminated together to make a range of laminates that balance or use the bowing and cupping tendency of backsawn timber.

Abstract: A method of joining metal parts together and the joints thereby produced having great strength and thermal conductivity by means of an adhesive filled with small, hard, thermally conductive particles. The filled adhesive is applied to the surfaces to be joined and the surfaces are pressed together with a force in the range of 35 to 105 Kg/sq cm while the adhesive is curing. A fixture is disclosed made of a metal with a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the parts being joined. When the parts are held in the fixture and heated, differential thermal expansion causes the fixture to apply the necessary pressure during curing while also providing a measure of the applied pressure. For joining a cooling fin normal to the surface of a part, a tapered plug is formed in the fin edge and it is forced into a tapered slot in the part after adhesive application. A low external perpendicular force applied to the fin yields a high pressure to the mating surfaces through the inclined plane.

Abstract: A construction element has the dimensions of formwork panel sheets of elemental concrete formwork and a thickness substantially less than at least one of its other dimensions. In terms of weight, the construction element is comprised of more than 50% plastic and less than 50% small, thin pieces of metal. The pieces of metal are distributed statistically evenly in the plastic, shorter than the construction element is thick, and preferably made of aluminum. The thermal transfer coefficient of the construction element is at least that of wood/plastic casting boards.

Abstract: A substrate structure for manufacturing series interconnected photovoltaic cells comprises repetitive sheets of electrically conductive polymer resin joined by first narrow strips of insulating material. A second narrow dividing strip of insulating material is positioned on the top surface of each electrically conductive sheet extending essentially parallel with but slightly displaced from the joining strips. The second strip divides the top surface of each conductive sheet into a connector area and a collector area. The connector area is positioned between the first and second insulating strips. After deposition of a thin film photovoltaic cell onto the collector area, series interconnection is made by establishing electrical communication between the top surface of the photovoltaic film and the connector area of an adjacent sheet. Electrodeposits on surface portions of the electrically conductive sheets assist in current distribution with minimum power losses.

Abstract: An adhesive tape composition includes a polymer blend comprising at least one EPDM rubber, and preferably three EPDM rubbers in substantially equal amounts, and an adhesive-enhancing polymer selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and ethylene-propylene copolymer and mixtures thereof. The tape adhesive composition further includes at least one tackifying additive compatible with said polymer blend and a sulfur and organic accelerator cure, package for said polymer blend, the adhesive composition being devoid of butyl rubber which is found in most other adhesive tape compositions. This composition is seen as providing excellent long-term heat aging, weathering resistance, and low temperature properties as compared to adhesive tape compositions containing butyl rubber. Moreover, the adhesive tape composition provides more surface tack, better "quick-grab", and higher green strength as compared to adhesive tape compositions containing 100 percent EPDM rubber.

Abstract: A woven fabric useful for air bags capable of smoothly opening in an initial stage of inflation and having a high burst strength and an excellent safety satisfies all the requirement that(A) a stress strain curve of the woven fabric in at least one of the warp and weft directions is a substantially downwardly convex curve, where the elongation .epsilon. is in the range: 1%.ltoreq..epsilon..ltoreq.20%;(B) where the elongation .epsilon. is in the range: .epsilon..ltoreq.10%, the tensile strength S(.epsilon.) of the woven fabric is 10 to 100 kg/3 cm in both the warp and weft directions; and(C) the woven fabric has a tensile toughness of 2,000 to 4,000 kg.%/3 cm in both the warp and weft directions, the tensile toughness being represented by an area of a region, in a graph showing a stress-strain curve of the woven fabric in each of the warp and weft directions, defined by the stress-strain curve and an abscissa corresponding to a stress of zero.

Abstract: A large ceramic substrate article for electronic applications including at least one layer of sintered ceramic material, the layer including a plurality of greensheet segments of ceramic material joined edge to edge. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating a large ceramic greensheet article as well as a large ceramic substrate article.

Abstract: A floor covering suitable as an entrance mat comprises a plurality of tread strips of substantially resilient and flexible material, each tread strip having a wear layer of fibrous or fibrous like material whereby said tread strips provide a fibrous tread surface, and a plurality of spacer strips of substantially rigid material arranged interposed between the tread strips whereby each successive pair of tread strips is spaced apart by at least two of said spacer strips, and the pluralities of strips being secured together in side by side relationship by connecting means which pass through aligned apertures in the strips, each spacer strip comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and co-planar abutment faces to bear against and provide lateral support to a side face of a tread strip, the maximum spacing of extreme edges of said abutment faces as viewed in cross-section being less than the height of the side face of the tread strip whereby said pairs of spacer strips provide a recess region between a succe