Midwest Research Institute

Other

James F Engel

Thomas J Byerley

Howard W Christie

A device to align a trailer coupler to a hitch ball intended for use with a standard ball mount hitch. The device has a base and a plurality of vertical surfaces which are orthogonal to the base. The device mates with a standard hitch ball. The base has a through hole that can accommodate the shank of a standard hitch ball. The shank of the hitch ball is inserted through the base and through a ball mount platform. A threaded fastener secures the hitch ball. When a trailer coupler contacts the device, the device center the trailer coupler over the hitch ball.

Device to align a trailer coupler to a hitch ball

.alpha.-Substituted acrylic acid esters, their polymers and adhesives therefrom, and methods of synthesizing these compounds. The compounds of the invention are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of isocyanato esters and can be polymerized to form an effective, non-toxic adhesive. The method of the invention encompasses utilizing the adhesive composition in biomedical applications, such as joining live animal tissue. Other adhesive applications are contemplated for living tissue and inanimate objects. The compounds are also used as monomers which can be polymerized, used in conjunction with other monomers as adhesive compositions, cross-linking agents, dye acceptor additives to vinylic polymers and useful chemical intermediates. The method of the invention encompasses synthesizing the aforementioned monomers and intermediates. Methyl .alpha.-(ethoxycarbonamido)acrylate is synthesized from either DL-serine or methyl pyruvate. For use as an intermediate, silyl substitution of the compound is accomplished by reacting the ester with trimethylchlorosilane. This .alpha.-substituted silated ester is used as an intermediate in the preparation of methyl .alpha.-isocyanatoacrylate, which can be polymerized with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone to produce a desirable adhesive. Analagous procedures, starting with L-ethyl serine and L-benzyl serine, respectively, are followed to arrive at the corresponding ethyl and benzyl esters.

.alpha.-substituted acrylic acid esters, their polymers and method of

.alpha.-Substituted acrylic acid esters, their polymers and adhesives therefrom, and methods of synthesizing these compounds. The compounds of the invention are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of isocyanato esters and can be polymerized to form an effective, non-toxic adhesive. The method of the invention encompasses utilizing the adhesive composition in biomedical applications, such as joining live animal tissue. Other adhesive applications are contemplated for living tissue and inanimate objects. The compounds are also used as monomers which can be polymerized, used in conjunction with other monomers as adhesive compositions, cross-linking agents, dye acceptor additives to vinylic polymers and useful chemical intermediates. The method of the invention encompasses synthesizing the aformentioned monomers and intermediates. Methyl .alpha.-(ethoxycarbonamido)acrylate is synthesized from either DL-serine or methyl pyruvate. For use as an intermediate, silyl substitution of the compound is accomplished by reacting the ester with trimethylchlorosilane. This .alpha.-substituted silated ester is used as an intermediate in the preparation of methyl .alpha.-isocyanatoacrylate, which can be polymerized with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone to produce a desirable adhesive. Analagous procedures, starting with L-ethyl serine and L-benzyl serine, respectively, are followed to arrive at the corresponding ethyl and benzyl esters.

Growing community of inventors

Jackson County, MO, United States of America

James F Engel