Fina Technology, Inc.

Other

Total Research & Technology Feluy

Mark Murphy

Lu Ann Kelly

Michael Musgrave

Douglas Alan Burmaster

Owen Hodges

J Layne Lumus

Steven Maitland Cochran

Mike Musgrave

Douglas Burmaster

J Lane Lumus

Molded articles are prepared from propylene-ethylene copolymers and exhibiting improved clarity and strength properties. Articles prepared include bottles and other thin-walled articles. The articles are prepared using an isotactic propylene-ethylene random copolymer resin having an ethylene content of from about 0.5 to about 3 percent by total weight of copolymer, with a xylene solubles content of less than about 1.5 percent. The injection molded article may exhibit less than about 20 percent haze, as determined by ASTM D1003, at a thickness of about 0.08 inch (2.03 mm). Articles may also be prepared from similar copolymers having an ethylene content greater than about 3 percent by total weight of copolymer, with a xylene solubles content of less than about 4 percent by total weight of copolymer. These articles may exhibit less than about 13 percent haze, as determined by ASTM D1003, at a thickness of about 0.08 inch (2.03 mm).

Articles having improved clarity, prepared from propylene-ethylene copolymers

A composition that may be useful for thermoforming and blow molding applications comprises a metallocene catalyzed propylene-ethylene random copolymer having an ethylene content of from about 0.1 to about 1.5 weight percent based on the copolymer, and exhibits a flexural modulus of at least about 1,100 MPa, a haze of less than about 40 percent, a melt flow of from about 1.0 dg/min to about 3.0 dg/min, and a xylene solubles content from about 0.2 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent based on the copolymer. A process for preparing the copolymer and articles prepared therefrom are also disclosed. The composition's properties may make it particularly desirable for applications such as bottles, syringes and containers such as those used for food and medical purposes.

Random copolymers and formulations useful for thermoforming and blow molding applications

A polypropylene composition comprises an isotactic polypropylene homopolymer resin that is suitable to form an injected molded article exhibiting less than about 60% haze, as determined by ASTM D1003, at a thickness of 0.05 inch without clarity-enhancing agents. The polypropylene composition has particular application to injection molded articles and may have a melt flow rate of from about 0.1 g/10 min to about 150 g/10 min as determined by ASTM D-1238, Procedure B. The resin may be prepared using a metallocene catalyst, and the composition may include clarity-enhancing agents for even greater clarity improvements.

Polypropylene having improved clarity and articles prepared therefrom

An attachment system for a boat cover using an insert strip press fit in a conventional rub rail channel fixed to the boat hull. The insert strip has a lengthwise slot which is configured to mate with a series of retainer elements attached about the perimeter of the cover. Each retainer element has a portion configured to be received in the insert strip slot and locked thereto by being turned sideways. In one embodiment, the retainers have a flattened pin which can be pushed into the insert strip slot and turned, a larger head portion thereby fit to a larger interior section of the slot to be locked therein. In another embodiment the retainer elements each have a pair of spread projections which are compressed together to be able to be pushed in through the slot entry section and which spring apart in the interior slot section, to be locked therein. A threaded pin can be advanced between the projections to produce a positive spreading of the projections. Racks and battens can also be attached to the insert strip using the same retainer elements.

Cover attachment system

A harness for use in windsurfing which includes an adjustable wrist strap for securing the harness to the wrist of the wearer, an elongated support connected at one end to the wrist strap and which includes a rigid end portion which defines a curved hook for capturing a generally rounded in section boom. The elongated support further includes an intermediate adjustable finger loop which enables an immediate unhooking of the end portion by a backward bending of the hand at the wrist pulling the hook out of engagement with the boom. The harness transfers some or all of the force required to hold the boom to the wearer's forearm to reduce the effort required.

Windsurfing palm harness

A sail shaping arrangement for a sailing craft as a sailboard is described, the arrangement associated with each of the sail battens. The shaping arrangement includes a pair of flexible fingers extending over and past each batten to straddle the mast within the mast sleeve. As the sail swifts to either leeward position, one end of the windward finger is bent to form a knee, one side of the bent end acting against the mast to be restrained thereby stabilizing the sail in that condition and also tenching to arch the batten and thus act as a camber inducer. The flexible fingers are preferably flat plastic pieces installed in pockets sewn opposite each other onto either side of the sail over the batten pockets.

Sail shaping arrangement for sailboards

A sail shaping arrangement is disclosed for horizontal edges of a sail including a web formed along one side in a curved shape corresponding to the desired camber of the sail, the web attached to the sail edge to extend normally thereto. A diagonal batten stretches the web to establish a shaped edge to the sail. A skirt batten may also be used, as well as a tension cord along a straight, chordal side of the web.

Sail shaping arrangement for a sailing craft

An arrangement is disclosed which secures the sail to the mast of a sailing craft to achieve an aerodynamic profile about the mast while allowing curvature in the mast for optimum sail profile. The arrangement includes an outer profile sleeve of flexible material extending from a line of securement to the rear of the luff of the sail forwardly around the mast. The profile sleeve receives one or more semi-rigid, flexible profile members comprised of lightweight plastic sections configured to be tightly fit therein, stretching the profile sleeve into a high efficiency wing shape surrounding the mast. The wing shape includes a leading parabolic surface and curved sides smoothly transitioning into the main sail area to create a lift airfoil with the sail angled either to port or starboard.

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Beach City, TX, United States of America

Mark Murphy