text:
Custom Sofas by England
Choose the fabric, color, and style that you want. You are just 21 days away from a brand new custom sofa. Because they're made in the USA by England Furniture (a La-Z-Boy Company), you can be assured they are of the highest quality.
Design Your Sofa
Engineering a Better Night's Sleep
All-American Bedrooms
Vaughan-Bassett, takes pride in bringing you well-crafted bedroom furniture at affordable prices. As the largest manufacturer of wooden adult bedroom furniture in the country, they are committed to unparallelled quality.
See More Styles
Recent News
England Furniture Introduces New All-Leather Designs0 Comments
Refresh Your Home's Furnishing0 Comments
Become a Preferred Customer
Get 15% OFF a purchase of $500 or more!
What Our Customers Say
Furniture & Mattress Stores NJ
Furniture Connxion has been serving NJ since 1991, providing our customers with unique and affordable furniture. Visit our NJ furniture store , to see our entire selection of furniture and mattress sets! Additional colors, styles, and options are available in the store. No matter what type or style furniture you are looking for—modern, contemporary, traditional, or eclectic—we will help you pick out what matches your taste. Our sales team has 30 years of experience in the furniture industry, so you can be assured that you are getting the right advice and the highest quality service around.
We offer white glove delivery service, which means you will not have to worry about setting everything up; we will bring your furniture to your house and assemble it for you. Come stop by our NJ store, and we will be glad to help you find the furniture or mattress for your needs, continuing our proud tradition of being the premier furniture store in NJ.
*For more Details and Prices Email us or
Visit our furniture store
for quality living room, bedroom & dining room furniture; and also mattress sets. Serving NJ since 1991 as your Destination for Fine Furniture and Mattresses.
We are an Authorized Dealer for the Following Brands of Fine Furniture:
Acme Furniture, Ashley Furniture, BenchCraft, Coaster Fine Furniture, Corsicana Mattresses, England Furniture (a La-Z-Boy Company), Furniture of America,
F and R Direct Custom Mattresses, Global USA, Gold Bond Futons, Homelegance, Istikbal Sofa Beds, Millennium, Serta Mattresses, Signature Design by Ashley, Sunset International Modern Sofa Beds, Vaughan-Bassett Bedrooms, and more.
Serving the Following NJ Towns:
Avenel, Bayonne, Belleville, Berkeley Heights, Bloomfield, Bound Brook, Carteret, Chatham, Clark, Colonia, Cranford, East Hanover, East Orange, Edison, Elizabeth, Essex Fells, Fanwood, Florham Park, Fords, Garwood, Glen Ridge, Green Brook, Harrison, Hillside, Hoboken, Irvington, Iselin, Jersey City, Kearny, Kenilworth, Linden, Livingston, Lyndhurst, Madison, Maplewood, Mendham, Metuchen, Middlesex, Millburn, Montclair, Morristown, Mountainside, Newark, New Providence, North Arlington, North Caldwell, North Plainfield, Nutley, Orange, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Plainfield, Rahway, Roseland, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Short Hills, South Orange, Springfield, Summit, Union, Verona, Warren, Watchung, West Caldwell, West Orange, Westfield, Winfield, Woodbridge


text:
Conference Menu
OverviewDay 1Day 2Day 3Short CoursesRegister Hotel & TravelPDF DownloadSponsor/ExhibitPostersPress Pass Request Brochure
OverviewDay 1Day 2Day 3Short CoursesRegister Hotel & TravelPDF DownloadSponsor/ExhibitPostersPress Pass Request Brochure
Corporate Sponsors
Lead Sponsoring Publications:
Sponsoring Publications:
Web Partners:
Corporate Sponsorships
Sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to showcase your products and solutions to this hard-to-reach community of scientists. CHI offers numerous sponsorship programs allowing your company to educate your buyers, maximize your exposure, meet with prospective clients, and brand your company as a leader in this industry.
Sponsorship may include a presentation time ranging from 15-30 minutes, booth space, branding opportunities; all allowing you to educate your buyers and generate qualified leads. CHI will support your Sponsorship with strong marketing programs before, during and after the event.
Why Exhibit?
For more information, please contact:Stacey Squatrito • Manager, Business Development
857-636-2332 • email@example.com
250 First Avenue Suite 300Needham, MA 02494P: 781.972.5400F: 781.972.5425E: email@example.com
biological therapeutic productsbiomarkers & diagnosticsbiopharma strategybioprocess & manufacturingchemistryclinical trials & translational medicinedrug & device safety
drug discovery & developmentdrug targetsgenomicshealthcareit & informaticstechnology & tools for life sciencetherapeutic indications
conferencesReports & Market Researchbarnett educational servicesNews & AdvertisingKnowledge Foundation IT Trainingprofessional services
executive teamtestimonialschi timelinemailing listcareers
request informationsite mapeLearning Calendarprivacy policy

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Who We Are
SOULS Ministries is a voluntary, non-profit and non-denominational, Christian ministry based in Shillong and used by the Heavenly Father to release the blessings of the Kingdom of God in the land and in equipping believers for blessing their own churches in many parts of India for all-round developments since 2001. Our chief aim is to motivate the laity to be as responsive to the Holy Commission as the clergy in their own small endeavors so that the fruitfulness of the church would be obvious to the world at large and authentic contribution is made by Christians to the society where they are.
This generation is tottering at the brink of perverse spiritual and moral corruption and the future has never been bleaker than what we see now. Besides it is so easy to point an accusing finger of condemnation at the youth and complacently wait for things to change for the better. No matter how hard we try to ameliorate the situation by our own efforts, the more we see things going out of hand. The only way to counter such diabolical forces is to lead them back to the Bible and encourage them to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit as they struggle against the pressure of daily living.


text: Faculty Profile Picture Phil Licari Full Time Lecturer Education B.S., Tufts University M.B.A., University of Chicago Academic Division Areas of Expertise Contact email@example.com Page Content 1Phil Licari comes to Babson following 30 years of experience with rapid growth and early stage Medical Device companies. Most recently Phil served as the Chief Operating Officer of ConforMIS, Inc., a venture funded producer of patient-specific orthopedic implants in Burlington, MA. Phil also served as COO of the high growth producer of home dialysis systems, NxStage Medical. He helped lead NxStage through its initial public offering and scale-up of its global production and supply chain capacity. Phil's earlier experience included senior executive positions with Boston Scientific Corp and Roche Pharmaceuticals. Through his career Phil's functional specialization has included global supply chain management, manufacturing operations and management of product development teams. Phil has an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.


text:
There's no food like comfort food, and lasagna is comfort food. It doesn't matter if it takes 4 hours to prepare, once you have that first bite it will hit the spot and you'll finish eating in 5 minutes. And that's a fact.
A little while ago, Vito was elected as the Italian represent to make lasagna for our rotating cooking group, and we finally made it happen on Sunday. Excitement levels were high, I was told repeatedly that there was a lot of work, so I arrived at 10:30 am ready for my masterclass!
Note that these quantities would feed 8-10 persons, depending on hunger levels.
Bolognese Sauce
We started with the Bolognese sauce, because it had to simmer for a couple of hours. You can use this recipe for pasta sauce as well, ingredients and method are below.
– 50g butter, diced (optional, but it does add a lot of richness)
– 1 onion, chopped finely
– 200g bacon or pancetta, chopped (do not remove fat!)
– 500g pork, minced
– 1 cup red wine
– 60g tomato paste
– 350ml tomato passata
– 500ml beef stock, boiled
Preparation method:
Tip: Before you add the stock to the meat, check how salty it is, you may not need to add any salt to the sauce
While the Bolognese sauce is cooking, we made the lasagna sheets. This was the first time I participate in any kind of pasta making activity, and it was so much fun it must be repeated! Ingredients and method are below.
– 1kg plain flour
– 8 eggs
– a bit of lukewarm water (if needed)
Preparation method:
4. Shape the dough into a disc, coat with a bit of flour and let it rest for 10 mins in glad wrap
Tip: If you don't use all these sheets for your lasagna (and you probably won't!), you can freeze the rest for up to two weeks.
Bechamel Sauce
We had a few discussions around how easy or difficult making a Bechamel sauce is. It wasn't too difficult in the end, but it's also possible that we just had a skilled chef! Ingredients and method are below.
– 100g butter
– 100g plain flour, sifted
– 1L milk
– 1/2 tbsp nutmeg, freshly grated
– salt to taste
Preparation method:
And then it was time to assemble it all!
Preparation method:


text:
July 29, 2015
RENO, NV - Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate Judge Jim Gray will visit northern Nevada this Thursday to speak to two groups.
The running mate of former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson will speak on women's issues, eliminating the IRS, and other topics, at a luncheon hosted by the National Association of Professional Women, Reno. That will be 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Siena Hotel Spa Casino, Terraza Room, 1 Lake Street, Reno.
Later Thursday, Judge Gray will attend a Candidates Night hosted by PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in Carson City. Time is 7-8:30 p.m. at 108 East Proctor Street in Carson City.
The public is invited to both events.
Judge Gray is a former California Superior Court judge and the running mate of Libertarian presidential nominee and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


text:
3. Smell the Peanut Butter
What it detects: Alzheimer's disease
How it works: Alzheimer's typically affects your sense of smell because the area of the brain that processes odors, the olfactory cortex, is the first to show signs of dysfunction. (Memory problems come later.) That's why Jennifer Stamps, a researcher at the University of Florida, developed the peanut butter test, the results of which were recently published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences. Normal aging can affect your sense of smell, but peanut butter isn't an odor usually lost with time, Stamps says, making it a good tool for evaluating early Alzheimer's. In the study, researchers measured the distance at which participants could smell peanut butter through the left nostril compared with the right. Those with early Alzheimer's could not detect the smell until it was an average of almost 5 inches closer to the left nostril compared with the right.
What to do: It's hard to perform the test by yourself, so grab a partner. Close your eyes and ask your partner to hold a small jar of peanut butter 12 inches away from your left nostril while you hold your right nostril closed. Slowly move the jar closer until you're able to detect the smell. Now test your right nostril. You should be able to smell the peanut butter equally well in both nostrils. If you can't, see your doctor to rule out treatable conditions that affect smell.
4. Sit Down, Stand Up
What it detects: Early risk of death
How it works: A 2012 study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology asked adults ages 51 through 80 to do a sit-and-stand test to see how well they could sit on the floor and then stand up. Participants could get a maximum score of 10; researchers subtracted one point each time a hand, forearm or knee was used for support. Scoring just one point higher was associated with a 21 percent lower mortality, says study coauthor Jonathan Myers. "This is a strong measure of muscle strength, coordination, balance and flexibility, which are critically important to maintain with age, as they allow you to perform daily activities and also prevent falls, which can be devastating for older adults," he says.
What to do: Test yourself by sitting on the floor, legs crossed, then rising back up (you can use your arms for balance, but you shouldn't have to use them or your knees to boost yourself back up). If you have problems standing up without assistance, such as difficulty standing up from the dinner table, or notice issues with everyday activities, this may be a wake-up call to start or ramp up your exercise program. Begin with 30 minutes of daily moderate physical activity, like walking. If you're already a walker, add some strength or flexibility training.
Next page: Detecting likelihood of future disability. »
- « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next »


text:
aRodar API
aRodar is a web site where users can search for or post used motorcycles for sale. There is also a forum for members of the community to interact. The API allows users to publish their ads on the site, on their applications or via the affiliate network. With the API users can look up classified ads, vehicle information and ad status. The API uses SOAP calls with XML responses. The site and documentation are in Spanish.
User Password
Followers (3)
Developers (0)
Sorry, no developers found for this API.
API Mashups (0)
Sorry, no mashups for this API.
Source Code
Sorry, no source code for this API.
Sorry, no resources found for this API.
Developers (0)
Comments (0)
Followers (3)
Sorry, no mashups for this API.


text:
'Haunt' - Comic Book Fan Art Contest
Draw 'Haunt' - You Could Be Published in an Upcoming Issue
Friday, July 08, 2011
We have a new direction and creative team (Joe Casey & Nathan Fox) starting with Haunt #19, and it only makes sense to include all of our awesome fans in this epic transition. So we're launching a Haunt fan contest, where the winners get immortalized in Haunt forever (or at least one issue)!
We want you to show us YOUR vision of Haunt, in the media of your choice. We'll narrow the entries down to the top finalists, then Todd, Joe, and Nathan will each select their winner. The top 10 finalist will also be posted on our FB Fan Page to allow the fans to vote for the fan's choice.
The winners will have their artwork published in the Haunt #19 issue and will also receive a copy signed by Joe, Nathan, and or course, Todd McFarlane!
Here are the Details:
Entries may be submitted starting Monday, July 18, 2011, and must be received by midnight, EST, Thursday, August 18, 2011.Limit of 1 entry per person.Your entry must be your final piece; no updates or revisions will be accepted.Email your entry to firstname.lastname@example.com. Title your email HAUNT FAN ART CONTEST.Ideally, we'd like entries to be 1,200 x 1,800 pixels (8"x10"), at least 150 dpi. Minimum size specifications: 600 x 900 pixels (4"x6"), 150 dpi. Entries larger than 1,200 x 1,800 pixels will be disqualified.With your email submission, include your full name, title of your entry and, if you'd like, a brief description of your creative thought process.All submissions become the sole property of TMP, Inc. (Bottom line: Submissions become TMP, Inc. property and we have the right to re-use submissions at another time or in another medium without permission).We'll post the best of the best on our Official Haunt Facebook Fan Page on Monday, August 22, 2011. Voting will be open to the public until midnight, EST, on Sunday, August 28.The Facebook Fan Page winner will be announced Monday, August 29, 2011. Joe, Nathan, and Todd's selections won't be revealed until Haunt #19's release on September 21, 2011. For more info, please our contest rules page - CLICK HERE.
Todd McFarlane Productions
Todd McFarlane Productions is the company behind the monthly comic book Spawn. Created by Todd McFarlane, Spawn debuted in May 1992, selling 1.7 million copies, making it the bestselling independent comic book of all time. Spawn is published in nine languages and distributed in more than 32 countries. Currently, TMP releases the long-running Spawn monthly comic now in its 19th year. Other TMP titles include Haunt, Hellspawn, and Sam & Twitch.
We're Social, are you?
To stay in the know on all things McFarlane -- including exclusive content, behind-the-scene coverage, news, events, contests, and giveaways… "Follow Us" on Twitter or "Fan Us" on Facebook!


text:
This invention concerns a composition comprising a blend of polyolefin with the reaction of a functionalized polyolefin and polyetheramine in which the polyetheramine is grafted into the functionalized polyolefin in a customary mixing apparatus. A process for producing the reaction product of functionalized polypropylene and polyetheramine by melting with polypropylene in a customary mixing apparatus is also disclosed. Blends of the present invention are advantageously useful to prepare paintable automotive body parts. This invention further includes dyeable polyolefin compositions containing the reaction product of functionalized polyolefin and polyetheramine. Dyeable polyolefin fibers, including polypropylene fibers, are disclosed, which may be made by melt spinning, and which may be employed to make woven and non-woven fabric. The polyolefin employed in the practice of this invention may be a flexible polyolefin.
1. A composition comprised of a flexible polyolefin, and the reaction product of functionalized polyolefin and polyetheramine.
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polyetheramine is a monoamine or a diamine, and wherein the polyetheramine has a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 3,000.
3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the functionalized polyolefin is present in an amount of from about 0.1% by weight to about 15% by weight; and wherein the polyetheramine is present in an amount of from about 0.5% by weight to about 25% by weight.
4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the functionalized polyolefin is functionalized polypropylene, wherein the functionalized polypropylene is present in an amount of from about 0.1% by weight to about 15% by weight; and wherein the polyetheramine is present in an amount of from about 0.5% by weight to about 25% by weight.
5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the functionalized polyolefin is maleated polypropylene.
6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of fibers.
7. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a dye.
8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the functionalized polyolefin is maleated polypropylene having an anhydride content of from about 1% to about 8% as measured by proton nmr.
9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the functionalized polyolefin has a number average molecular weight below about 20,000.
10. The composition of claim 1, further including polypropylene.
11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the flexible polyolefin is a flexible polypropylene.
12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is dyeable.
13. The composition of claim 1, made by compounding flexible polyolefin, polyetheramine and functionalized polypropylene.
14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of non-woven fibers.
15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polyetheramine is a diamine.
16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the flexible polyolefin is a flexible polyethylene.
17. The composition of claim 1, wherein the functionalized polyolefin is functionalized polyethylene.
18. The composition of claim 1, wherein the functionalized polyolefin is functionalized polypropylene.
This invention relates to a novel olefin polymer composed of the reaction of a functionalized polypropylene and a polyetheramine. This invention also relates to thermoplastic resin blends containing the novel olefin polymer and polypropylene. This invention also relates to dyeable compositions containing polypropylene and the reaction product of functionalized polypropylene and polyetheramine, wherein such compositions may be in the form of fibers.
While polypropylene has many other advantageous physical properties, its inherent ability to be dyed is very poor. Indeed, polypropylene has frequently been the ideal choice when a non-dyeable plastic is needed. For years there has been a long felt need for propylene compositions which are dyeable. Notwithstanding substantial efforts to provide dyeable polypropylene, this need remains unmet. This need is particularly acute in the fiber industry.
The most often used technique for obtaining colored polypropylene in fiber form is by addition of solid pigments to the polypropylene. Unfortunately, fibers with solid pigment are not nearly as vibrant as dyed fibers. Also, due to their limited number, pigments offer a significantly reduced spectrum of choices as compared to dyes. Likewise, use of pigments restricts the patterns that can be applied to an article of clothing prepared from polypropylene. Certain pigments, additionally, affect the drawability and final properties of the polypropylene fiber. Other polyolefins such as polyethylene possess similar disadvantages.
In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that a continuing need exists for dyeable polyolefin compositions, including polypropylene compositions.
This invention is a compound comprising a blend of polypropylene ("PP") with the reaction product of a functionalized polypropylene and polyetheramine in which the polyether amine has grafted onto the functionalized polypropylene. By grafted it is meant that the amine functionality of the polyetheramine reacts with the anhydride component of the functionalized polypropylene to form a reaction product. For instance, a primary amine will react with a maleic anhydride to form an imide. This invention is also a process for producing the reaction product of the functionalized polypropylene and the polyether amine by melting with polypropylene in customary mixing apparatus such as an extruder. In this regard, the compound blend of this invention may be prepared by reactive extrusion by feeding a polyetheramine, a functionalized polypropylene, and polypropylene into an extruder at temperatures such that the polyetheramine reacts with the functionalized polypropylene to form a reaction product containing, for example, an imide group.
In another respect, this invention is a composition comprising polypropylene, a cross-linked thermoplastic polyolefin vulcanizate, and the reaction product of a functionalized polypropylene and a polyether amine.
In one respect, the compositions of the present invention are useful for preparing molded automotive body parts, including directly paintable thermoplastic polyolefins ("TPO") based, and thermoplastic polyolefin vulcanizates ("TPV") based, automotive body parts.
In yet another respect, this invention is a dyeable composition, comprising: a polyolefin such as polypropylene and the reaction product of a functionalized polyolefin, such as maleated polypropylene, and a polyetheramine in an amount effective to increase the dyeability of the composition relative to polyolefin alone. In one embodiment of this invention, this composition is a fiber. As used herein, a "fiber" refers to a flexible, synthetic, macroscopically homogeneous body having a high ratio of length to width and being small in cross section. These fibers may be produced by any of the processes known in the art, including but not limited to direct profile extrusion, and slit or fibrillated tapes. Hence, it is further contemplated that the compositions of this invention are useful to in the preparation of dyeable fibers including dyeable woven and non-woven polyolefin fibers.
In still another respect, this invention is a process for preparing dyeable fibers, comprising: forming a dyeable composition comprising polyolefin and the reaction product of a functionalized polyolefin and a polyetheramine; and extruding the dyeable composition into fibers.
Applications of the fibers and filaments from the polyether modified polyolefins include, with limitation: woven garments (outerwear and underwear); carpeting; furniture and automobile upholstery, woven industrial fabrics; non-woven absorbents used in diapers, sanitary pads, incontinence pads, spill abatement, and medical absorbent pads; non-woven garments, including disposable medical garments; felts; pressed sheets; geo-textiles; filters (bipolar); packaging materials, including envelopes, and synthetic paper.
In addition, it is contemplated that the polyetheramines will improve the washability of a polyolefin-based textile fabric or non-woven mat. The nonpolar polyolefin tends to hold onto dirt due to the hydrophobic nature of both. The polyetheramine is expected to facilitate detergents to penetrate the fabric or matrix so the detergents can loosen and wash away the dirt and oils.
It is also contemplated that the incorporation of polyetheramines will increase the absorption and wickability of polyolefin textiles and non-wovens. One example is the melt blown, non-woven absorbent in baby diapers. Making the surface of the non-woven filament more hydrophilic by incorporating the polar polyetheramine into the polyolefin is expected to greatly increase the diaper's moisture absorption characteristics.
It is also contemplated that the incorporation of polyetheramines will increase the abrasion resistance of fibers, fabrics, and other articles. Abrasion resistance is important in the drawing of formed fibers. Typically, a sizing is applied to reduce friction between the fiber and the metal surfaces of the drawing system.
It is also contemplated that the compositions are useful for making molded parts that contain filler such as glass. It is yet further contemplated that the compositions of the present invention may be useful in the preparation of films, including packaging films, to eliminate tie layers and to improve printability and barrier properties; and in packaging materials for electronics components such as circuit boards or semiconductor chips, wherein the packaging materials may provide electrostatic dissipation which would thereby protect the components from damage. It is yet further contemplated that the composition of the present invention may be useful to improve the barrier properties for polyethylene and to modify polyethylene as a tie layer in multi-layer films. It is further contemplated that the composition of the present invention may be useful as an additive as polypropylene based reinforcement fibers for concrete. Also, it is contemplated that this invention may be useful for extended coatings for metal or glass substrates, with improved printability and metal, and as packaging films with improved adhesion to metallized layer.
It is yet further contemplated that the composition of the present invention may be useful for dyeable ribbon, paintable foams, antistatic foams, adhesive bondable PP components, and improved substrates for electroplating, such as for electromagnetic interference shielding or decoration.
The present invention provides a solution to one or more of the disadvantages and needs discussed above. In this regard, this invention surprisingly provides a dyeable polyolefin composition that possesses good tensile strength and processability. It is further expected that this invention provides a polyolefin composition which unexpectedly and advantageously has additional improved properties, including one or more improved properties such as washability, wetability, static retention, bondability to materials such as carpet backings, and flammability.
Plastics are increasingly being employed in the production of motor vehicles. Impact modified polypropylene has proved to be particularly suitable for applications such as bumpers, spoilers, fenders, side bump strips and the like. Therefore, a thermoplastic resin blend having the improved properties of the instant invention has significant potential commercial usefulness. These resin compositions, according to the present invention, are useful as engineering plastics which are materials for structural members in the fields of transport machines (automobiles, ships and the like), apparatus, tools, electronic appliances, electric appliances, sporting goods, leisure goods and the like; and for connectors, tubes and the like.
The blend of polypropylene with the reaction product of maleated polypropylene and polyether amine shows improved paintability, improved impact resistance, and excellent mold flowability over blends of polypropylene and maleated polypropylene.
Moreover, polyolefins have been and will continue to be used in the production of fibers and fabrics made therefrom. However, polyolefins are inherently not susceptible to being dyed. A need exists, therefore, for dyeable polyolefins. The blend of polyolefin with the reaction product of a functionalized polyolefin and a polyetheramine provides a solution to this problem. Suitable thermoplastic resin compositions useful in the manufacture of fibers and non-wovens should contain an effective amount of polyetheramine to enhance the dyeability of the composition relative to compositions containing polypropylene alone, or containing only polypropylene and functionalized polypropylene such as maleated polypropylene.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the thermoplastic resin composition may contain up to about 12% by weight polyetheramine and up to about 30% by weight functionalized polyolefin. In particular, the thermoplastic resin composition may contain up to about 8% by weight polyetheramine and up to 20% by weight functionalized polyolefin. In a preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic resin composition may contain from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight polyetheramine and from about 0.2 to about 15% by weight functionalized polyolefin. In an especially preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic resin composition may contain from about 1 to about 4% by weight polyetheramine and from about 2 to about 12% by weight functionalized polyolefin.
The composition containing polyolefin and the reaction product of functionalized polyolefin and polyetheramine may be further blended with other materials used in making fibers for a variety of end users. For example, the composition can be blended with other polymers such as polyester and polyamide (nylon).
Polyolefins used in this invention are well known. Generally, any polyolefin may be employed in the practice of this invention that can be used to make plastic parts, fibers, and the like as described herein. In general, the polyolefins employed in the practice of this invention have a melt flow index in the range from about 0.7 to about 1500. Representative polyolefins include polypropylene and polyethylene. Polyethylene is a well known material. Polyethylene employed in the practice of this invention can be made by traditional Ziegler-Natta catalysts, metallocene catalysts, or single site geometry catalysts, the latter two being available from Exxon Chemical and The Dow Chemical Company, respectively. Such polyolefins may have other monomers included in the polymers, such as propylene, butylene, and octene. Polypropylenes, likewise, are known from polymer chemistry as are described, for example, in Kunststoff-Handbuch, Volume IV, Polyolefins, edited by R. Vieweg, A. Schley and A. Schwarz. Carol Hanser Verlag, Munich, 1969, and are commercially available, so that no details need be given. One such commercially available polypropylene is available from Amoco Chemical under the name AMOCO 1016 polypropylene. In addition, flexible polyolefins may be employed in all embodiments of the present invention. Representative examples of such flexible polyolefins include REXflex™ flexible polyolefins available commercially from the Rexene Products division of Rexene Corporation of Dallas, Tex., such as the flexible homopolymers sold under the names W101, W102, W104, W105, W106, W107, W108, and W109 and flexible copolymers sold under the names W201 and W202. These flexible homopolymers and copolymers are reported to have melt flow rates (ASTM D1238, at 230 degrees Centigrade, measured in dg/minute) ranging from 1.5 (high crystallinity homopolymer) to 30 (a medium crystallinity homopolymer), varying degrees of crystallinity of from 40% to 90%, melting points ranging from 154 to 160 degrees Centigrade (DSC), Vicat Softening Points (ASTM D 1525) ranging from 40 to 112, Shore D hardness (ASTM D 2240) ranging from 34 to 63, tensile modulus (ASTM D 638) ranging from 35 to 279 Mpa, tensile recovery (ASTM D 412, at 300%, after 24 hours) ranging from 135% to 220% for homopolymers and from 160% to 250% for the copolymers, and ultimate elongation greater than 1,000% (ASTM D 638).
Functionalized polyolefin is a polyolefin onto which a monomer has been grafted. Any functionalized polyolefin can be employed in the practice of this invention which may react with the polyetheramine and which is generally compatible with a given polyolefin after reaction with the polyetheramine. The usual method of such grafting is by free radical reaction. In the practice of this invention, the functionalized polyolefin is not a copolymer of, for example, maleic anhydride and propylene, where the maleic anhydride moiety is predominantly in the backbone of the copolymer. Representative examples of polyolefins to which a monomer has been grafted include homopolymers and copolymers of various olefins such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentene, hexylene, heptene, and octene. Suitable monomers for preparing functionalized polyolefin are, for example, olefinically unsaturated monocarboxylic acids of less than 12 carbon atoms, e.g., acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, and the corresponding tert-butyl esters, e.g., tert-butyl (meth)acrylate, olefinically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids of less than 12 carbon atoms, e.g., fumaric acid, maleic acid, and itaconic acid and the corresponding mono-and/or di-tert-butyl esters, e.g., mono- or di-tert-butyl fumarate and mono- or di-tert-butyl maleate, olefinically unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydrides of less than 12 carbon atoms, e.g., maleic anhydride, sulfo- or sulfonyl-containing olefinically unsaturated monomers of less than 12 carbon atoms, e.g., p-styrenesulfonic acid, 2-(meth)acrylamide-2-methylpropenesulfonic acid or 2-sulfonyl(meth)acrylate, oxazolinyl-containing olefinically unsaturated monomers of less than 12 carbon atoms, e.g., vinyloxazolines and vinyloxazoline derivatives, and epoxy-containing olefinically unsaturated monomers of less than 12 carbon atoms, e.g., glycidyl (meth)acrylate or allyl glycidyl ether. The most preferred monomer for preparing functionalized polyolefin is maleic anhydride. The most preferred polyolefin is polypropylene. Hence, the most preferred functionalized polypropylene is maleated polypropylene. Maleated polypropylene is well known, being manufactured by a number of producers. For example, maleated polypropylene is available from Eastman Chemical under the name EPOLENE E-43.
The functionalized polyolefin used in the practice of this invention may have a wide variety of number average molecular weights. In the practice of this invention, any functionalized polyolefin can be used which reacts with polyetheramines afford a polyolefin fiber that has improved dyeability to both polyolefin alone and a polypropylene functionalized polyolefin blend. When the functionalized polyolefin is used to make dyeable compositions such as used to make fibers, the functionalized polyolefin may have a number of average molecular weight greater than about 3,000 and preferably less than about 50,000. Within this range it is contemplated that certain ranges of molecular weights will yield compositions having the highest dyeability, depending on amounts and type of polyolefin, polyetheramine, as well as other considerations such as processing conditions, spinnability of fibers, and other desired physical properties of the resulting dyeable composition. Thus, in certain embodiments it is expected that lower molecular weight functionalized polyolefin may have superior benefits such as those having number average molecular weights below 10,000 or 20,000. In other contexts, higher molecular weight materials may prove to be more advantageous.
It should be appreciated that the polyolefin can be bonded to one or two monomers when the polyolefin is linear, while more than two monomers might be included when the polyolefin is branched. Typically, one or two monomers are present.
The polyetheramines used in this invention include monoamines, diamines and triamines, having a molecular weight of from about 150 to about 12,000, such chemicals including but not limited to hydroxyl, amine, and aminoalcohol functionalized polyether materials. Preferred polyetheramines have a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 3,000. Suitable monoamines include JEFFAMINE™ M-1000, JEFFAMINE™ M-2070, and JEFFAMINE™ M-2005. Suitable diamines include JEFFAMINE™ ED-6000, JEFFAMINE™ ED-4000, JEFFAMINE™ ED-2001 including XTJ-502 and TXJ-418, JEFFAMINE™ D-2000, JEFFAMINE™ D-4000, JEFFAMINE™ ED-900, JEFFAMINE™ ED-600, and JEFFAMINE™ D-400. Suitable triamines include JEFFAMINE™ ET-3000, JEFFAMINE™ T-3000 and JEFFAMINE™ T-5000. Preferred polyetheramines include JEFFAMINE™ M-2070 and JEFFAMINE™ ED-2001. See the glossary for structures of these polyetheramines. More preferred polyetheramines of the present invention have a molecular weight in the range from about 1500 to about 2000. One especially preferred polyetheramine is a polyether monoamine which contains from about 36 to about 44 ethylene oxide units and from 1 to about 6 propylene oxide units. In one embodiment, such polyether monoamines have a molecular weight in the range from about 2000 to about 2200. In another embodiment, the polyether monoamine contains about 40 to about 43 ethylene oxide units and from about 2.4 to about 3 propylene oxide units. Certain polyether monoamines are of formula: ##STR1## wherein m is about 36 to about 44 and wherein n is about 1 to about 6, including polyether monoamines wherein m is about 40 to about 43 and n is about 2.4 to about 3, as well as compounds of the formula having a molecular weight of about 2000 to about 2200.
In the practice of this invention, monoamines and diamines are preferred. Suitable polyether blocks of the polyetheramine include polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, poly(1,2-butylene glycol), and poly(tetramethylene glycol). The glycols can be aminated using well known methods to produce the polyetheramines. Generally, the glycols are prepared from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or combination thereof using well known methods such as by a methoxy or hydroxy initiated reaction. When both ethylene oxide and propylene oxide are used, the oxides can be reacted simultaneously when a random polyether is desired, or reacted sequentially when a block polyether is desired.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the polyetheramines are prepared form ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or combinations thereof. Generally, when the polyetheramine is prepared from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or combinations thereof, the amount of ethylene oxide on a molar basis is greater than about 50 percent of the polyetheramine, preferably greater than about 75 percent and more preferably greater than about 90 percent. In one embodiment of this invention, polyols and amines including polyalkylene polyamines and alkanol amines or any amine that is not a polyetheramine is disclosed herein may be absent from the composition. Similarly, functional groups other than ether linkages and amine groups may be absent from the polyetheramine. The polyether amines used in the practice of this invention can be prepared using well known amination techniques such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,370; U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,353; U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,717; U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,245; U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,942; U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,761; U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,107; U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,835; U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,042; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,147. Generally, the polyether amines are made by aminating a polyol, such as a polyether polyol with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst such as a nickel containing catalyst such as a Ni/Cu/Cr catalyst.
The mixing of the functionalized polyolefin and polyetheramine and optionally also polyolefin may be carried out in a customary mixing apparatus including batch mixers, continuous mixers, kneaders, and extruders. For most applications, the mixing apparatus will be an extruder.
The dyeable composition of this invention may be formed into fibers by any number of known methods. Thus, conventional techniques to prepare fibers can be employed, including melt spinning, dry spinning, and wet spinning. As used herein, "spinning" refers to the overall process of polymer dissolution or melting, extrusion, and fiber formation. For example, in melt spinning the dyeable composition described above in molten form is forced through a spinneret (a die) as is used in the art. Size and shape of the spinneret may vary depending on desired denier of the final fiber. The thin jets emerging from the holes in the spinneret are cooled (as by an air quench) to solidify the polymeric composition. Melt spinning is typically conducted at high temperatures such as from 240-310° C. In dry spinning, the dyeable composition is dissolved in a suitable solvent, and the solution is extruded under pressure through a spinneret. The emerging jet from the spinneret is heated to drive off solvent, thereby producing a solid fiber. In wet spinning, the polymer is also dissolved in a solvent, which is forced under pressure through a spinneret which is submerged in a coagulation bath, which causes precipitation of the emerging jet of extruded material.
The filaments exiting the spinneret holes are generally subjected to an air quench, with the filaments being taken up by devices that attenuate the spinline to the desired linear density. These devices collect the spun yarn in a suitable form for further processing. A godet wheel is commonly employed to control take-up velocity, which for example is typically 10-33 meters/second for fine yarns. The yarn may be stacked in cans, taken up in bobbins, or directly transferred to drawing and/or texturizing equipment.
The filaments resulting from the melt, dry, or wet spinning process are generally subjected to one or more drawing operations. Thus, the filaments are drawn to achieve an irreversible expansion, thereby inducing molecular orientation with respect to the fiber axis and thereby developing a fiber fine structure. The drawing of polyolefin fibers typically increases orientation and further modifies physical properties of the fiber. Linear density may thus be conveniently reduced during drawing. Drawing can be accomplished in-line with spinning equipment in a conventional, continuous spin-draw process, or in a second processing step. Current melt spinning devices often provide both spinning (extrusion) and drawing in a single high speed process. Likewise, bi-component fibers can be made in side-by-side or skin/core configurations using known apparatus.
The resulting fiber may optionally be modified by texturing, such as by thermochemical annealing. Texturing also provides bulk and softness to articles of manufacture made from the fibers. The fibers can be further processed using known techniques to form yarns having a desired degree of twist to facilitate interfilament cohesion. Similarly, known methods can be employed to disrupt filament alignment and parallelization of continuous filament synthetic fibers to produce yarns generally associated with spun fibers.
The yarn can be manipulated using conventional techniques by weaving or knitting processes to form woven fabric. Additionally, conventional techniques can be employed to produce non-woven fabrics in which the fibers have been bonded chemically, mechanically interlocked, or both. For instance, staple length fibers may be dispersed in a fluid (liquid in wet-laid non-wovens or air for air-laid non-wovens, depending on the technique chosen) and deposited in sheet-like planar form on a support base prior to bonding or interlocking.
The size of the fiber will depend on the end use. For instance, heavier fibers are often employed for carpet backing as opposed to fibers used to make clothing apparel and the like. Later, optionally after additional processing steps such as application of a spin finish, the fibers are drawn.
Conventional methods can be employed to dye the fibers of this invention. For instance, the fibers may be dyed in a dye both using conventional dyes and disperse dye techniques. Generally, the dye is applied in the form of a dye solution so that it can be readily applied by dipping the fiber through a trough, for example, containing the dye solution, or by spraying the dye solution on the fiber, or by using a cascading roll technique. As is common, the dye solution can be in the form of a print paste, from which the dyeing is typically conducted by roller printing or screen printing. The fibers can be dyed multiple times using one or more dyeing techniques.
Aqueous dye baths typically have a pH of from about 2 to about 11, generally between about 2 to about 6 for acid dyes. The pH may be adjusted if desired using a variety of compounds, such as formic acid, acetic acid, sulfamic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, monosodium phosphate, tetrasodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and combinations thereof. Use of a surfactant can be used to aid in dispersing sparingly water soluble disperse dyes in the dye baths. Typically, nonionic surfactants can be employed for this purpose. During the dying step, the dye bath may be agitated to hasten the dyeing ratio. The dyeing step can be carried out at a variety of temperatures, with higher temperatures generally promoting the rate of dyeing.
Another technique known in the art is jet dyeing, which permits high-temperature dyeing and impingement of the dye onto the moving fabric through use of a venturi jet system. Carriers permit faster dyeing at atmospheric pressure and below 100° C. The carriers are typically organic compounds that can be emulsified in water and that affinity for the fiber. Representative examples of such carriers include aromatic hydrocarbons such as diphenyl and methylnaphthalene, phenols such as phenylphenol, chlorinated hydrocarbons such as dichloro- and tricolor- benzene, and aromatic esters such as methyl salicylate, butyl benzoate, diethylphthalate, and benzaldehyde. Carriers are generally removed after dyeing.
Subsequent to dyeing, using a dye mixture with additives above, dry heat may be applied to the fibers at a wide range of elevated temperatures to cause the dye to penetrate into, and become fixed in, the fiber. The dye fixation step involves exposing the fiber to dry heat, such as in an oven. The temperature can vary up to the melt or glass transition temperature of the composition fiber. Generally, higher drying temperatures result in shorter drying times. Typically, the heating time is from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes. Residual dye may then be removed from the fibers.
A disperse dye mixture may thus be applied to the polypropylene fibers in various ways. The dye mixture may be applied intermittently along the length of yarn formed from fibers using various well known techniques to create a desired effect. One suitable method of dyeing fibers may be referred to as the "knit-deknit" dyeing technique. According to this method, the fibers are formed into a yarn which in turn is knit, typically into a tubing configuration. The dye mixture is then intermittently applied to the knit tubing. After dyeing, the tubing is unraveled and the yarn thus has an intermittent pattern. According to an alternative printing method, the fibers are first formed into yarn which is then woven or knitted into fabric, or is tufted into the carpet. A conventional flat screen printing machine may be used for applying the dye mixture to the fabric or carpet.
Continuous dyeing is carried out on a dyeing range where fabric or carpet is continuously passed through a dye solution of sufficient length to achieve initial dye penetration. Some disperse dyes may be sublimated under heat and partial vacuum into polymer fiber by methods known in the art. Printing of polyolefin compositions made in accordance with this invention can be accomplished with disperse dyes by heat transfer printing under pressure with sufficient heating to cause diffusion or disperse dyes into the polyolefin. Block, flat screen, and heat transfer batch processes, and engraved roller and rotary screen printing continuous processes may be used. Different dye solutions may be jet-sprayed in programmed sequence onto fabric or carpet made of the compositions of this invention as the fabric passes under the jets to form patterns. Dye solution may be metered and broken or cut into a pattern of drops that are allowed to drop on a dyed carpet passing underneath to give a diffuse over-dyed pattern on the carpet. Competitive dyeing of polyolefins is useful when dyeing styled carpets consisting of several different fibers such as nylon, polyester, etc., and a polyolefin. Different styling effects can be produced by controlling shade depth on each type of fiber present. Acid, disperse and premetallized dyes, or combinations thereof, depending upon the fibers present, can be employed to obtain styling effects. It may be possible to produce tweed effects by controlling the amount of reaction product and/or polyetheramine in the dyeable composition. Print dyeing, space dyeing, and continuous dyeing can be carried out with fabrics made from such yarns.
There are many commercially available disperse dyes. Dyes are classified based on method of application and, to a lesser extent, on chemical constitution by the Society of Dyers and Colorists. Various disperse dyes may be found in the listing "Dyes and Pigments by Color Index and Generic Names" set forth in Textile Chemist and Colorist, July 1992, Vol. 24, No. 7, a publication of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists.
Dyes are intensely colored substances used for the coloration of various substrates, such as paper, plastics, or textile materials. It is believed that dyes are retained in these substrates by physical absorption, by salt or metal-complex formation, or by the formation of covalent chemical bonds. The methods used for the application of dyes to the substrate differ widely, depending upon the substrate and class of dye. It is by applications methods, rather than by chemical constitutions, that dyes are differentiated from pigments. During the application process, dyes lose their crystal structures by dissolution or vaporization. The crystal structures may in some cases be regained during a later stage of the dyeing process. Pigments, on the other hand, retain their crystal or particulate form throughout the entire application procedure.
A large number of dyes, with widely differing properties, are therefore necessary because of the great variety of materials to be dyed. On a worldwide basis, it is believed that several thousand different dyes have achieved commercial significance. Generally, dyes have been classified into groups two ways. One method of classification is by chemical constitution in which the dyes are grouped according to the chromophore or color giving unit of the molecule. A second method of classification is based on the application class of end-use of the dye. The dual classification system used in the color index (CI) is accepted internationally throughout the dye-manufacturing and dye-using industries. In this system, dyes are grouped according to chemical class with a CI number for each chemical compound and according to usage or application class with a CI name for each dye. Disperse dyes are generally water-insoluble nonionic dyes typically used for dyeing hydrophilic fibers from aqueous dispersion. Disperse dyes have been used on polyester, nylon, and acetate fibers.
A number of spin finishes can be applied to the fibers prior to drawing. Such finishes can be water-based. The spin finishes can be anionic or nonionic, as is well known in the art. Also, the fibers can be finished prior to dyeing, as by texturizing through mechanical crimping or forming, as is well known in the art.
In addition, additives commonly used in this art may be optionally incorporated into the dyeable composition and or fibers. Representative examples of such materials include hydrophilic modifiers such as monoglyceride such as glycerol monostearate, long chain hydrocarbon with hydrophilic groups appended such as a potassium or sodium salt of a linear alkyl phosphate, or combination thereof. The hydrophilic groups may be carboxylates, sulfates, sulfonates, phosphates, phosphonates, as well as quaternary ammonium salts and polyether groups. In addition, swelling agents can be used during dyeing, wetting agent, dye compatibilizers, thickening agents such as various gums. Since polyolefin fibers are often used in outdoor applications, such as outdoor carpeting, the addition of UV stabilizers may be added. Also, antioxidants may be added to the compositions.
Besides the PP/functionalized-PP/polyetheramine structural components according to the invention, the resin compositions may, to improve the impact strength, contain impact modifiers, advantageously impact-modifying elastomers in applications such as for bumper fascias. Impact-modifying elastomers potentially useful for the instant invention are known to a skilled worker. Examples are rubbers based on ethylene, propylene, butadiene, and acrylates, e.g., methacrylates, or mixtures thereof. Other examples include EP and EPDM rubbers, with EP rubber (ethylene propylene rubber) being preferred in applications where automotive body parts are being prepared. A representative example of a currently commercially available EP rubber is sold under the name VISTALON 878 by Exxon Chemical.
Impact-modifying elastomers are described for example in Methoden der organischen Chemie (Houben-Weyl), Volume XIV/1, Makromolekulare Chemie (Georg-Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart, 1961), pages 390 to 406, and in the monograph by C. B. Bucknal, Toughened Plastics (Applied Publishers, London, 1977).
A composition containing polypropylene and elastomers, such as EP rubber, is commonly referred to as a "TPO," which stands for thermoplastic polyolefin. TPO's are commonly used in the manufacture of molded automotive body parts, such as bumper fascias. Such molded parts may also contain other components such as fillers, as described hereinbelow. TPO-based compositions can be prepared in the same manner as for non-elastomer-containing compositions. TPO's are commonly sold in compound or reactor grades. Representative examples of TPO include those available from Himont under the names HIMONT CA53A and HIMONT LB15016, and from D & S Plastics International under the name DEXFLEX D-161.
A composition containing polypropylene and vulcanized elastomers (vulcanized rubber), including thermoplastic polyolefin vulcanizates, is commonly referred to as a "TPV." TPV's are commonly used in the manufacture of molded automotive body parts, such as grips and handles. These molded parts may contain other components such as fillers, as described below. TPV-based compositions may be prepared in the same manner as for non-elastomer-containing compositions.
It is contemplated that the polyetheramine and functionalized propylene, and optionally a small amount of PP, TPV, or TPO, can be reacted to form a reaction product concentrate and, later, the reaction product concentrate can be blended with polypropylene or TPO or TPV. In this aspect of the invention, the polyetheramine comprises from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of the concentrate. When the reaction product of polyether amine and maleated PP is prepared neat, the reaction product can be blended or compounded with polypropylene or TPO and any other components of the desired compositions to the desired levels using a mixing apparatus such as an extruder. It should be understood that PP may be commonly used to dilute the reaction. Depending on the type of mixer, the reaction product, polypropylene and any other components can be thoroughly mixed as solids prior to introducing the admixture in the mixing apparatus. Alternatively, mixers are available which will mix the components during operation. In either case, during operation of the mixer, the components are heated to melt the solids, with the melted components being thereafter mixed to form the final composition.
In addition to the structural components of polyolefin, functionalized polyolefin, and polyetheramine and any impact modifier contained in a resin compositions according to the instant invention, the resin may also contain reinforcing agents and/or additives. The reinforcing agents used may be reinforcing fillers, for example, carbon or carbon fibers; clay, chalk, talc, and mica to control shrinkage and control coefficient of thermal expansion; glass (beads, fibers or mats such as of woven fibers) to increase stiffness; and pigments. Further, the fillers may be finished with adhesion promoters and/or sizing agents. In addition, phosphite or hindered phenol or both can be added as a stabilizer (as a free radical scavenger).
When compositions include glass beads or fibers, the composition can contain up to about 40% glass filler if highly stiff compositions are desired. When compositions include glass mats, the composition can contain up to about 80% glass. More typically, from about 2% to about 10% glass filler in the compositions is employed. Advantageously, the compositions of the present invention that contain glass filler generally are substantially free of voids that typically develop in compositions containing polypropylene and glass. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the reaction product of polyetheramine and maleated polypropylene serves to "wet" the glass to thereby make the glass and polypropylene more combinable (more miscible). In this aspect of the invention, it is preferred to employ maleated polypropylene having an average molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 60,000, as is described hereinabove. Generally, glass filler and polypropylene are not miscible, and their combination commonly leads to voids in the resulting compositions. The relatively higher molecular weight materials "wet" the glass to make the glass filler particles and polypropylene more combinable to thereby decrease the amount of voids in the resulting compositions.
Suitable thermoplastic resin compositions for use in applications such as for automotive bumper fascias may contain from about 66 to about 80 wt % TPO or TPV, from about 5 to about 30 wt % maleated PP and from about 2 to about 10 wt % polyetheramine. When the compositions include elastomers, such as in TPO-based compositions used to make automotive body parts, or TPV based compositions, the compositions generally comprise from about 5 to about 40% wt maleated TPO or TPV, from about 2 to about 10 wt % polyetheramine and from about 50 to about 93 wt % PP, such as percentages based on the weights of these components of the composition. Preferred compositions that include elastomers, or which are TPV-based, comprise about 15 to about 30 wt % maleated PP, from about 2 to about 8 wt % polyetheramine and from about 62 to about 83 wt % TPO or TPV.
The preferred customary mixing apparatus is an extruder in which the polyetheramine is grafted onto the functionalized polyolefin at from about 175 to 300° C. in the course of a residence time of from about 25 to 300 seconds. For typical compositions of this invention, degradation begins to occur above this temperature range and below this range the compositions generally do not melt. Polypropylene is a non-reactive component of the mixing blend. The preferred temperature range is from about 190 to 260° C. Excess moisture in the blended compositions may cause surface blemishes upon molding, but the moisture can be removed by the normal drying processes, including the use of heated, dry air.
Molded articles prepared from compositions according to the present invention, aside from dyeable compositions and fibers, are generally directly paintable. Representative examples of paints commonly employed for this purpose include urethane-based and melamine-based paints. Such paints may be applied using conventional techniques. Advantageously, compositions of the present invention may be painted directly without solvent borne chlorinated polyethylene pretreatment and optionally without primer, though a primer may be used.
In the examples, continuous compounding is carried out in a Werner & Pfleiderer 30 mm twin screw extruder (ZSK30), having a nine barrel configuration, three kneading zones and one vent section, in which the feed sequence was a combined feed in which all the components fed at the same location (hopper of the extruder).
The following examples illustrate the instant invention but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or claims thereof. In the examples, a stoichiometric excess of maleic functionality on the maleated polypropylene and maleated polyethylene is used relative to the amount of amine functionality on the polyetheramine.
In Examples 1-26, polyolefins, maleated polypropylene, and polyetheramine are compounded to produce a polyolefin blend that is melt spun to produce polyolefin fibers having improved and unexpected results, including improved dyeability. Table 1 shows the amount and type of polyolefin and the amounts of polyetheramine and maleated polypropylene which is compounded and melt spun.
TABLE 1______________________________________ Polyolefin Polyolefin Polyetheramine Maleated PP Run Type wt % wt % wt %______________________________________1 PP 98.7 0.5 0.8 2 PP 97.5 1 1.5 3 PP 96.2 1.5 2.3 4 PP 95 2 3 5 PP 93.7 2.5 3.8 6 PP 92.5 3 4.5 7 PP 91.2 3.5 5.3 8 PP 90 4 6 9 PP 88.7 4.5 6.8 10 PP 87.5 5 7.5 11 PP 85 6 9 12 PP 82.5 7 10.5 13 PP 80 8 12 14 PE 98.7 0.5 0.8 15 PE 97.5 1 1.5 16 PE 96.2 1.5 2.3 17 PE 95 2 3 18 PE 93.7 2.5 3.8 19 PE 92.5 3 4.5 20 PE 91.2 3.5 5.3 21 PE 90 4 6 22 PE 88.7 4.5 6.8 23 PE 87.5 5 7.5 24 PE 85 6 9 25 PE 82.5 7 10.5 26 PE 80 8 12______________________________________
In Examples 27-52, polyolefins, maleated polyethylene, and polyetheramine are compounded to produce a polyolefin blend that is melt spun to produce polyolefin fibers having improved and unexpected results, including improved dyeability. Table 2 shows the amount and type of polyolefin and the amounts of polyetheramine and maleated polypropylene which is compounded and melt spun.
TABLE 2______________________________________ Polyolefin Polyolefin Polyetheramine Maleated PE Run Type wt % wt % wt %______________________________________27 PP 98.7 0.5 0.8 28 PP 97.5 1 1.5 29 PP 96.2 1.5 2.3 30 PP 95 2 3 31 PP 93.7 2.5 3.8 32 PP 92.5 3 4.5 33 PP 91.2 3.5 5.3 34 PP 90 4 6 35 PP 88.7 4.5 6.8 36 PP 87.5 5 7.5 37 PP 85 6 9 38 PP 82.5 7 10.5 39 PP 80 8 12 40 PE 98.7 0.5 0.8 41 PE 97.5 1 1.5 42 PE 96.2 1.5 2.3 43 PE 95 2 3 44 PE 93.7 2.5 3.8 45 PE 92.5 3 4.5 46 PE 91.2 3.5 5.3 47 PE 90 4 6 48 PE 88.7 4.5 6.8 49 PE 87.5 5 7.5 50 PE 85 6 9 51 PE 82.5 7 10.5 52 PE 80 8 12______________________________________
In Examples 53-78, polyolefins, maleated polyethylene, and polyetheramine are compounded to produce a polyolefin blend that has improved and unexpected results, including improved paintability and improved dyeability. Table 3 shows the amount and type of polyolefin and the amounts of polyetheramine and maleated polypropylene which is compounded.
TABLE 3______________________________________Flexible Polyetheramine Maleated PE wt Run Polyolefin wt % wt % %______________________________________53 98.7 0.5 0.8 54 97.5 1 1.5 55 96.2 1.5 2.3 56 95 2 3 57 93.7 2.5 3.8 58 92.5 3 4.5 59 91.2 3.5 5.3 60 90 4 6 61 88.7 4.5 6.8 62 87.5 5 7.5 63 85 6 9 64 82.5 7 10.5 65 80 8 12 66 98.7 0.5 0.8 67 97.5 1 1.5 68 96.2 1.5 2.3 69 95 2 3 70 93.7 2.5 3.8 71 92.5 3 4.5 72 91.2 3.5 5.3 73 90 4 6 74 88.7 4.5 6.8 75 87.5 5 7.5 76 85 6 9 77 82.5 7 10.5 78 80 8 12______________________________________
JEFFAMINE™ M-1000 ##STR2## JEFFAMINE™ M-2070 and JEFFAMINE™ M-2005 ##STR3## where R═H or CH3, m is from about 3 to 32, and n is from about 10 to 32.
JEFFAMINE™ D-2000, JEFFAMINE™ D-4000 and JEFFAMINE™ D-400 ##STR4## where x is about 33 for D-2000, x is about 68 for D-4000 and x is about 5.6 for D-400.
JEFFAMINE™ ED-600, JEFFAMINE™ ED-900, JEFFAMINE™ ED-2001, JEFFAMINE™ ED-4000, and JEFFAMINE™ ED-6000 ##STR5## where b is about 8.5 and a+c is about 2.5 for ED-600, b is about 15.5 and a+c is about 2.5 for ED-900, b is about 40.5 and a+c is about 2.5 for ED-2001, b is about 86.0 and a+c is about 2.5 for ED-4000, and b is about 132.0 and a+c is about 3.0 for ED-6000.
JEFFAMINE™ T-3000 and JEFFAMINE™ T-5000 ##STR6## where x+y+z=50 for T-3000 and x+y+z=83 for T-5000. JEFFAMINE™ ET-3000 ##STR7## where x+y+z=57 and a+b+c=4.
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
Referenced by
Legal Events
Original Image


text:
Geek Speak
Geek Speak is where the world of Geekdom comes alive.
Monthly Archive for May, 2011
The only 'Green Lantern' action figure you need
Green Lantern movie toys have already hit stores like so many plastic members of that emerald space-cop corps. But [in best Don LaFontaine voice] if you only buy one Green Lantern movie toy this summer, buy the Green Lantern Movie Masters Hal Jordan action figure. Because it's that good. Much like Mattel's similar line for […] [Read More]
Stan Lee spoils 'Amazing Spider-Man' big time, true believers
Two things you can be sure of when it comes to Stan Lee: 1) He loves to make cameos in movies based on Marvel comic-book characters he helped create and 2) he loves to talk. Throw these two truths together and you get one whopper of an Amazing Spider-Man spoiler at Dallas Comic Con. At […] [Read More]
Geek Speak's on vacation
(image link) I'm off this week for some reclining and recharging, so Geek Speak posts will be zilch or pretty much next to nada. Have a happy safe one in the meantime, true believers! Got geek news, insights or other mana? E-mail me. And follow me on Twitter for more tomgeekery. [Read More]
S.A. cartoonist's 'Three Dollar Bill' webcomic makes geekdom a family affair
You gotta love a locally-brewed webcomic that pops with broad geek appeal, especially when it makes you chuckle without trying too hard. San Antonio artist Eric Matos taps that simple three-panel formula with "Three Dollar Bill", an at least weekly webcomic that riffs on video gaming and comic culture with colorful, occasionally NSFW yuk-yuks on […] [Read More]
Marvel's 'I Am Captain America' variant covers show we're all Cap
Marvel has given Captain America the Rosie the Riveter treatment with a new series of variant covers called "I Am Captain America," a chest-swelling, Rockwellean spin on the Sentinel of Liberty. The covers hit June and July to celebrate Captain America: The First Avenger, which hits July 22. The variant covers showcase real-world heroes like […] [Read More]
PREVIEW: 'Mystery Men' delivers David Liss' pulp action with both fists
Time for your first look at new sequential-art pulp served up by a local maestro. Marvel has unleashed a preview of Mystery Men by San Antonio novelist and comic scribe David Liss and, man o' man, does it sizzle with pulpy noir goodness. Liss' five-issue miniseries takes place in the early 1930s, pre-Captain America days […] [Read More]
What's That in Danzigs? converts metric units into equivalent number of horror punk icons
As if Glenn Danzig didn't have enough online notoriety with kitty litter shopping and a profanity-riddled passion for bricks, now the original Misfits frontman has dragged the metric system itself kicking and screaming into hell. What's That in Danzigs? is a simple conversion tool that converts X number of meters, joules, etc. into the equivalent […] [Read More]
The Doctor & Amy Pond as Calvin & Hobbes
Need a lighter spin on Doctor Who after that dark preview for this week's Neil Gaiman episode? Then lighten up with a delightful Doctor mashup by James Hance. The artist just threw the new Who onto Bill Watterson's old drawing board with the Eleventh Doctor and young Amelia Pond in the style of Calvin and […] [Read More]
Trailer for 'Doctor Who' episode written by Neil Gaiman
It's taken what feels like an age in the Dreaming, but the Doctor Who episode written by Sandman scribe/science fiction luminary Neil Gaiman finally airs Saturday. "The Doctor's Wife" promises… well, we're not really sure, though you could infer plenty from that title alone. The official synopsis and press material merely say that a distress […] [Read More]
Artslam! Strikes Back! brings 'Star Wars' to live art show & auction
Danny Trejo, scoundrel? I like the sound of that. And so does San Antonio artist Alfredo Lopez Jr., who depicted the Machete star as Han Solo with his trusty blaster and trusty bandanna-rocking Wookiee. Lopez will offer this macho mashup plus other work at Artslam! Strikes Back!, a special live art show and auction featuring […] [Read More]
Show More


text:
Remy Ma Reveals She Wants To Do A Track With Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea
Can Remy Ma get Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea on the same track? We've been asking for female rappers to get together and do a collab similar to "Ladies Night" for awhile now, and Remy may make it happen. She called in to Hot 97 this weekend for her first interview since being released from prison, and during the chat, Rem gave her two cents on the current state of female Hip Hop as well as female rappers being pit against one another. Remy says despite what's being believed, there's plenty of room for more than one female rapper, just like there's room for 1,000 male rappers. She also dished on the artists and producers she wants to work with, including Nicki and Iggy, both of whom she's hoping to make an "ill chick record" with. Peep the highlights:
On female rappers beefing: What I think happens with females in this game, they tend to allow other people to pit us against each other. I've said this before. They make it seem like there can only be one female. It can be a thousand guys that's putting out music and rapping and doing what they do, but when it comes to females in this hip-hop business, they make it seem like it can only be one, and if there's more than one then, 'Alright, y'all better be at each other's throats every chance that you get.' And anytime you say one of those things, they be like, 'Oh yeah! She has to be talking about this person when she said that!' And I just feel like it got really crazy. I wouldn't tolerate it, me personally. But some people are easily led astray. If you have enough people like, 'She's coming at you! She's getting at you! You gotta say something!' Or, 'You tryna get on, ma! You gotta diss her to get on 'cause she's who's winning right now.' Like, that's not what it's about. I'm around all day. I don't have to go at somebody else for Rem to do her. On who supported her while she was in prison: When I was gone, I did speak to a couple of them. When I did my Instagram countdown, I had so many females that rap from old school veterans to icons like Missy Elliott and Brat to Rah Digga. Even the new chicks like Lee Mazin and Kyah Baby, they were all doing these 'Rem's coming home in 20 days! It's gon' be a problem!' It was nothing but love and support. And even when you get to people like Nicki who throughout my entire bid, numerous times..I've seen interviews where she's like, 'Free Remy' or 'Tell Rem holla at me.' So I can definitely say, on my behalf, I haven't gotten any shade from any of them. Old school, new school, nothing. Working on new music with artists: I think it would be dope if we can get an ill chick record with everybody doing what they doing. Me, maybe Iggy Azalea, Nicki…like just do a nice little collabo.
It's a good thing Remy did this interview. Over the weekend, she hopped on DJ Khaled's "They Don't Love You No More," which featured two verses filled with metaphors and punchlines directed at unnamed foes. And of course, some folks thought she was slinging dirt at Nicki Minaj. She rapped:
When y'all was on the TV I was with the PVs I listened to your CD, damn, you really wanna be me Don't care if your name buzzin', you know who the queen be Dello Russo, did ya lasik b-tches still can't see me These rap chicks try to stay away from me Maybe 'cause I caught that case, they afraid of me Rem got that phlegm and spit it crazily And it's a fact I'm everything they portray to be […] Some say she nice but Remy she nicer I can feel the tension, please don't hype her Tell her stay in her lane before I side swipe her dropping that bird sh-t, I had to windshield wipe her
When you throw shots like that without naming names, it's liable to hit anybody.
You can listen to that below:
If this collab happens, it would be huge for the game!


text:
An adhesive tape (20) includes a plurality of marks (30-36) that facilitate the installation of lap-siding members (120, 122, 128, 132, 134) on a building (100). The tape is adhered to a wall (104, 106) in a vertical orientation, and the lap siding members are nailed in place over the tape. The marks function as guides for the positioning of the lap-siding members. The tapes is essentially free of indicia that can be confused with the marks to generate measurement errors in during the installation process.
1. An adhesive tape for use in reducing measurement errors in the installation of lap-siding, consisting essentially of:
an elongated sheet of flexible material including a flat first face and a flat second face remote from said first face, said elongated sheet of flexible material presenting a longitudinal axis;
an adhesive coating on said first face;
printed indicia on said second face; and
a single color indicia on said second face;
said printed indicia consisting essentially of markings spaced apart at a single interval corresponding to a vertical distance between lap-siding members to be installed over said elongated sheet, and numerals corresponding to said vertical distance placed adjacent said markings;
said elongated sheet having a rolled configuration placing said numerals in an orientation for normal viewing when said adhesive tape is unrolled vertically from a bottom of a building wall to a top of said building wall in a fixed vertical relationship to an elevational datum located along said bottom of said building wall.
2. The adhesive tape as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elongated sheet and said adhesive coating are a roll of masking tape.
3. The adhesive tape as set forth in claim 1 wherein said markings each consist of a line drawn completely across said second face in a perpendicular orientation with respect to said longitudinal axis of said adhesive tape.
4. The adhesive tape as set forth in claim 1 wherein said printed indicia additionally consists essentially of an ornamental design.
5. The adhesive tape as set forth in claim 1 wherein said color provides means for identifying said adhesive tape as a selected member from a set of a plurality of differently colored adhesive tapes with each different color representing a different interval between said markings.
6. A quick method of reducing measurement errors during the installation of lap-siding, said method comprising the steps of:
providing an adhesive tape including a longitudinal axis and a face bearing printed indicia thereon, wherein said printed indicia consists essentially of a plurality of markings spaced apart at a single interval corresponding to a vertical distance between lap-siding members to be installed over an elongated sheet, and numerals corresponding to said vertical distance placed adjacent said markings, said numerals having an orientation for normal viewing when said longitudinal axis is placed in a vertical orientation;
placing a common elevational datum line on a building wall;
adhering a first portion of said adhesive tape to said building wall in a fixed vertical relationship to said elevational datum line to position markings on said first portion of said adhesive tape at a plurality of first elevational datum points spaced apart from said elevational datum line at equal intervals;
affixing a second portion of said adhesive tape to said building wall in a fixed vertical relationship to said elevational datum line to position said markings on said second portion of said adhesive tape at a plurality of second elevational datum points that cooperate with said first plurality of datum points to define a plurality of lines in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to said elevational datum line, wherein each of said lines is defined by a first datum point selected from said first plurality of datum points and a second datum point selected from said second plurality of datum points;
aligning a lap-siding member edge with one of said lines to establish a position of alignment; and
attaching said lap-siding member to said building wall in said position of alignment.
7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said adhering step includes a step of offsetting a bottom one of said equal intervals from said elevational datum line a sufficient distance to permit overlap between subsequent lap siding members positioned in respective positions of alignment corresponding to said plurality of lines.
8. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said placing step includes a step of drawing said line around an outer circumference of a building.
9. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said aligning step includes a step of adjusting opposite ends of said lap siding member with respect to said first portion of adhesive tape and said second portion of adhesive tape.
10. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said providing step includes a step of selecting a tape having equally spaced intervals including one member selected from the group consisting of five inch intervals, six inch intervals, seven inch intervals, eight inch intervals, and eight and one-half inch intervals.
This application is a file wrapper continuation of application Ser. No. 08/656,660, filed May 31, 1996 now abandoned.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of length measurement devices for use in building construction. More specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention utilize an adhesive tape to facilitate the installation of lap-siding.
2. Statement of the Problem
Lap-siding consists of elongated boards or synthetic materials that substitute for boards. These materials are nailed to the outer frame of a house or other building under construction to provide an exterior siding that is pleasing to the eye. The name lap-siding refers to an overlapped sequence of boards that keeps water out, retains warm air in the building, and permits interior wall space to breathe for the effusion of trapped condensation or moisture. The boards are each positioned with their axis of elongation in a horizontal orientation, and nailed in place one above another with successively upward boards having their respective bottom portions overlapping a corresponding upper portion of the board beneath.
Commercial installation of lap-siding is performed by specialized work crews that reduce construction costs and the time spent in construction. A lap-siding installation crew typically works for a day or two to install the siding. By comparison, the same number of less experienced or less specialized workers might take a week or more, and the quality of the work performed by less experienced workers is often poor in comparison to that of the specialized crew. Once the siding has been installed, other specialized crews, e.g., painters and electricians, move in to perform tasks that can only be performed after the siding has been installed. If the siding installation requires an inordinate amount of time, these other crews can be kept waiting or requested to return another day. The delay can have a snowballing effect if the subsequent crews are not available at the preferred later time. These delays are particularly vexatious and costly to the general contractor. Thus, the use of professional lap-siding installation crews avoids or minimizes many problems.
The crews normally install lap-siding as described in this paragraph. The house is framed, and a vapor barrier (e.g., plastic or tar-paper) is placed on the outer portion of the frame. A horizontal datum line is drawn on the vapor barrier circumscribing the building around the lowermost portion of the fame proximal to the foundation. The horizontal datum line is drawn using a bubble-level device, and is placed a fixed distance above the foundation. This fixed distance is often selected to permit the bottommost siding board to overlap with the top of the foundation, or the bottom board may abut the foundation where overlap is not possible. At the corners of the building, a series fixed intervals are marked off above the datum line. If the span of a particular wall is very large, these markings may also be made on the middle portion of the wall. Two workers hold a lap-siding member in a position of alignment between two corresponding marks on opposite ends of a wall. The lap-siding member is nailed into place in this position. The next lap-siding member is installed in like manner, and the process continues until the vapor barrier is covered with siding. The process is repeated for other building walls. The lap-siding members generally have about one-half inch to one of overlap, i.e., they are about one-half inch to one inch longer than the fixed intervals that are marked above the datum line.
The most problematic aspect of the above-described installation process is that of measuring the fixed intervals above the datum line. Lap-siding typically surrounds the building to which it is attached. Thus, it is essential for the lap-siding members to join at common lines on the corners of the building; otherwise, the mismatched lines are an eyesore that indicates shoddy construction. Even where corner pieces are installed to hide the corners, mismatched lines of one-quarter to one-half inch or more are visible to the naked eye. Furthermore, the boards on a given wall run parallel to one another and, consequently, cannot be tipped at their ends to meet with boards on another wall without ruining this parallel relationship. The defect is immediately visible to the naked eye where boards do not run parallel with the other boards.
Even on professional installation crews, costly errors can result when the workmen who conduct these measurements sometimes to pay attention to detail. In other instances, measurement errors derive from an inexperienced crewmen or language difficulties. The errors are hopefully detected in time to avoid having to remove siding that has already been installed. The crew foreman is constantly having to check the work in progress, in order to ascertain whether a measurement error has been made. If it were not for having to guard against measurement errors, more crews could be allocated to a single foreman or manager.
Adhesive measurement tapes have been developed for use in some areas of building construction, but these are not suitable for use in lap-siding applications. For example, a patent to Thomas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,858, features a multicolored stud layout tape that is used to facilitate a framer's placement of studs. A single tape contains a plurality of multi-colored markings. Each different color of marking indicates a corresponding 16", 24", or 48" center. Thus, the tape can be affixed to a baseboard, and studs can be placed on a 16" fixed interval by aligning the butt of each stud with a color representative of a 16" interval. This tape cannot be used in lap-siding applications because the intervals do not correspond to lap-siding intervals. Additionally, the presence of multiple colors leads to confusion because the workmen can forget which color corresponds to what interval.
Wagner et al, U.S. Pat. No 5,012,590, features an adhesive measurement tape that is used to locate studs, joists, and rafters. The tape bears printed indicia, e.g., feet, circles, and diamonds, which mark fixed intervals corresponding to stud locations. Again, the tape enhances the possibility of errors that derive from confusion as to what mark corresponds to which interval, and the intervals do not correspond to lap-siding intervals.
There remains a true need to develop an adhesive measurement tape that can be used for the installation of lap-siding.
The present invention overcomes the problems that are outlined above, and advances the a by providing a specialized adhesive measurement tape that facilitates the installation of lap-siding. Use of the tape is simplified because the tape contains few markings other than those that are essential for use in lap-siding installation. Thus, fewer errors result from the use of the tape.
The present invention involves an adhesive tape for use in reducing measurement errors during the installation of lap-siding. The adhesive tape is an elongated strip of flexible material including a flat first face and a flat second face. An adhesive coating resides on the first face, and the tape may be rolled, e.g., as in a roll of masking tape. The second face bears printed indicia that is used to align lap-siding members. The printed indicia consists essentially of a plurality of markings spaced apart at equal intervals corresponding to points of alignment for lap-siding members to be installed over the adhesive tape.
In preferred embodiments, the printed indicia have special forms that facilitate their use as guides in lap-siding installation. The markings preferably consist of a line drawn completely across the tape in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the axis of elongation in the tape. The markings also preferably include numerals positioned immediately adjacent each line. The numerals identify a distance corresponding to one of the equal intervals for lap-siding application. The markings also preferably include an ornamental design that is removed from the functional features of the markings by at least two inches so as not to cause confusion as to whether the ornamental design has functional features.
The markings on different tapes are preferably made of different colors that indicate specialized tapes for lap-siding intervals, i.e., the spacing for lap-siding members. For example, a black tape preferably indicates an eight inch interval, and a red tap indicates a six-inch interval. In this manner a tape having a specified color is selected from a multicolored set of tapes. A supervisor or crew foreman can view the installation procedure from a distance to ascertain that the installation in progress is proceeding according to the correct interval by virtue of the color of the tape that is utilized.
Other salient features, objects, and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the discussion below in combination with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 depicts a side elevational view of an adhesive measuring tape according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 depicts a top plan view of the adhesive measuring tape;
FIG. 3 depicts the adhesive measuring tape rolled in a preferred for storage;
FIG. 4 depicts a partially constructed house with construction in progress using the measuring tape of FIG. 1, and
FIG. 5 depicts a partially constructed house with construction in progress without using the measuring tape of FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 depicts a side elevational view of an elongated strip of masking tape 20 including a strip of paper 22 having a flat first face 24 and a flat second face 26. Face 26 is covered with a conventional masking tape adhesive 28.
FIG. 2 depicts a top plan view of tape 20 that reveals additional details with respect to face 24. Face 24 bears a repeat pattern of printed indicia including a plurality of marks, e.g., marks 30, 32, 34, and 36 having a parallel orientation with respect to the axis of elongation 38 in tape 20. As a preferred feature of the invention, the indicia also include a corresponding plurality of numerals, e.g., numerals 40, 42, 44, and 46 that identify the distance or repeat intervals 48, 50, and 52 between adjacent marks. For example the numeral 40 or "8" immediately adjacent mark 30 indicates that there are eight inches in the interval 48 between mark 30 and mark 32. Similarly, the numeral 32 or "8" immediately adjacent mark 32 indicates that there are eight inches in the interval 50 between mark 32 and mark 34. The numerals 40-46 are preferably oriented for normal viewing when axis 38 is in a vertical orientation, i.e., they rise from their corresponding marks 30-36. The marks 30-36 are used as guides in the installation of lap-siding. The numerals 40-46 indicate to the workmen using tape 20 that an eight inch interval exists between the various markings 30-36.
Aside from the functional features of the indicia described above, the indicia also preferably includes a plurality of ornamental designs, e.g., designs 54, 56, and 58. As depicted, the design is a logo written in stylized form to identify "Pena" as the source of the tape. As indicated above, the ornamental designs are not essential to the functionality of tape 20, and may be omitted. Where the ornamental designs 54-58 are used, it is very much preferred to place them in positrons that are at least two inches removed from the markings 30-36 and the numerals 40-46, e.g, the distance between the "a" in "Pena" and mark 32 preferably exceeds two inches. This placement of the ornamental design assures that the design will not be confused with functional features 30-36 and 40-46 of the indicia and, consequently, substantially no measurement errors derive from confusion of the design features. It is an especially preferred feature of the invention that the elements 30-36, 40-46, and 54-58 constitute the only elements of the indicia on face 24 of tape 20. Thus, the simple design of tape 20 facilitates lap-siding installation with fewer measurement errors because the markings 30-36 are readily available to guide the installation of lap-siding members.
Tape 20 has two ends 62 and 64. As depicted in FIG. 3, it is a preferred feature of the invention that tape 20 is supplied in a roll 66 wound with end 64 in a radially inboard position with respect to end 62. Thus, when tape 20 is unwound in an upward or increasingly vertical direction from end 62 to end 64, numerals 40-46 appear as normal print.
It is to be understood that the features of tape 20 as depicted in FIGS. 1-3 are intended to express preferred features of the invention, and may be adapted for use in other lap-siding installations that do not correspond to eight inch intervals. For example, the intervals 48-52 and numerals 40-46 can represent five, six, seven, 8.5, or nine inch intervals. For example, where the interval is a five inch interval, the numeral "5" replaces the numeral "8" for each of numerals 40-46, and the intervals 48-52 all have five inch lengths. A preferred feature of the invention recognizes that lap-siding members have different sizes, and assures that workmen will be less likely to use a tape having the wrong interval, by implementing a system wherein each tape is assigned a specific color that is unique to a given interval. For example, indicia on the five inch interval tape is blue, indicia on the seven inch interval tape is red, and indicia on the eight inch interval tape is black. Thus, the error will be immediately apparent to a crew foreman who observes a red-printed tape in place on a building where eight inch lap-siding members are to be installed. The lap-siding members that are to be installed over tape 20 have lengths that typically exceed the marked interval on the tape by about one inch to permit the respective lap-siding members to overlap when they are installed. The exact length of overlap may vary according to regional construction practices and materials.
The materials that are used for tape 20 preferably include masking tape because of its relatively low expense and the variety of commercial manufacturers who have equipment that can print on this medium. Alternatively, tape 20 can be made of any suitable material, such as vinyl, Mylar, or aluminum, that will receive and hold printed indicia.
Lap-siding Installation
FIG. 4 depicts a partially constructed house 100 having an exterior tar-paper covered wall 102 that is in the process of being covered with a plurality of lap-siding members, e.g., members 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, and 122, 124. An outer Balley band 130 circumscribes house 100 at the junction between first floor 132 and second floor 134. Wall 102 contains a plurality of windows, e.g., windows 136, 138, 140, and 142; as well as attic vent opening 144. FIG. 4 depicts portions of tape 20 (see FIG. 1) as respective vertically oriented strips 145, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 165, and 166. Strips 145, 150, 152, 156, 158, 162, 164, and 165 rise from bottom siding member 104 to the bottom 168 of Balley band 130. Similarly, strips 146, 148, 154, 160, and 166 rise from the top 170 of Balley band 130 to soffit 172.
A pencil and a bubble leveling device are used to draw a datum line corresponding to the top 174 of bottom lap-siding member 104. A construction worker draws this line completely around the outer circumference of house 100. Tape strips 145, 150, 152, 156, 158, 162, 164, and 165 are positioned with a selected mark (e.g., mark 30 of FIG. 2) aligned with the top 174 of bottom siding member 104, and unrolled from rolled 66 (see FIG. 3) upwardly towards Balley band 130. Similarly, strips 146, 148, 154, 160, and 166 are aligned with the top 170 of Balley band 130, and are unrolled from roll 66 towards soffit 172. Thus, all of the strips on lower story 132 are aligned at a common interval of measurement, as are the strips on upper story 134. For example, lap siding member 110 is subdivided into three parts of equal elevation, i.e., parts 110a, 110b, and 110c. Lap siding member 112 is subdivided into portions 112a and 112b. These different portions are aligned at uniform elevations from the corresponding measurement base (e.g., bottom lap-siding member 104 in the case of lap siding member 110) by aligning the top of the respective boards even with elevationally aligned marks on strips 145-165. Thus, the ends of parts 110a and 110b proximal to window 142 are aligned at equal elevations, as are the ends of the portions of lap-siding member 112 that accommodate windows 136 and 138.
Other walls of house 100 intersect wall 102 to form corners 180 and 182. These other walls are provided with tape strips similar to strips 145-165 in a manner similar to the manner depicted for wall 102, i.e., with one tape strip proximal to each corner and additional tape strips as needed to bracket windows (e.g., strips 156 and 158) and others (e.g., strip 152) for use in the alignment of lap-siding members having a span less than the span of wall 102 across their axis of elongation. The tapes installed on these other walls are aligned with their corresponding common datum line corresponding to the top 174 of bottom lap-siding member 104 or Balley band 130, in order to place the distal ends of lap-siding members on these other walls in substantial alignment with the corresponding distal ends of lap-siding members on wall 102, e.g., as end 184 is in exact elevational alignment with end 186 of a corresponding lap-siding member on a wall having an orthogonal relationship to wall 102.
FIG. 5 depicts the numerous problems that arise in the prior art when attempting to install lap-siding on a house 200 that is similar to house 100. The construction crew has attempted to place hand markings, e.g., markings 202 end 204, on wall 206. These markings attempt to define the interval between respective lap-siding members, e.g., members 208 and 210. The installation of lap-siding on house 200 requires that hundreds of these markings must be made. Owing to inadvertent measurement errors there are substantial misalignments that require the lap-siding to be removed and replaced. For example, end 210a is more than two inches lower than end 210b. End 208a is more than one-half inch higher then orthogonally aligned end 214. Lap-siding member 216 is canted at a vertical angle with respect to member 218 and, consequently, end 220 has one inch less visible height than does and 222. Without tape 20, it is nearly impossible for a crew to apply measurements to house 200 for the installation of lap-siding without generating these types of alignment errors.
Those skilled in the art understand that the preferred embodiments, as described above, may be subjected to apparent modifications without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. The inventors, accordingly, hereby state their intention to rely upon the Doctrine of Equivalents, in order to protect their full rights in the invention.
Citas de patentes
Citada por
Eventos legales
Imagen original