Milliken + Co

William S Parks

Brian G Morin

Nathan A Mehl

Marc Delaere

Michael W Gilpatrick

Rajnish Batlaw

Martin E Cowan

Willy De Meyer

Rajinish Batlaw

Jeffery E Bacon

Novel optical disc storage units comprising transparent polypropylene are provided. Such storage units exhibit sufficient impact resistance to protect the target disc and sufficient clarity that any informational literature may be placed entirely within the storage unit and easily viewed and read through the walls thereof without impediment. Furthermore, the target storage unit must also include a spine section of sufficient width to permit a section of the informational literature to be placed internally thereon and viewed and easily read (such as, for example, the title and accompanying language describing the target disc placed therein) substantially without impediment as well. Specific novel storage units, in addition to these necessarily transparent walls and spine portions, are also possible to maximize the benefits of the transparent properties thereof.

Sleeveless transparent polypropylene optical disc storage units

Novel, quick, and reliable detection methods for determining the presence and/or authenticity of optical and/or audio disc articles (such as compact discs, digital video discs, CD-ROM discs, and the like) when present within a holding container are provided. Specific methods of utilizing particular transparent cases are encompassed within this invention. Specific methods of utilizing particular transparent cases are thus also encompassed within this invention as are navel storage unit configurations to maximize the benefits of the transparent properties thereof.

Optical disc storage containers that facilitate detection of the presence of optical and/or audio discs stored therein

Improved polypropylene fibers exhibiting greatly reduced heat- and moisture-shrink problems and including certain compounds that quickly and effectively provide rigidity to the target polypropylene fiber after heat-setting are disclosed herein. In such a manner, the &ldquo;rigidifying&rdquo; compounds provide nucleation sites for polypropylene crystal growth. After drawing the nucleated composition into fiber form, the fiber is then exposed to sufficient heat to grow the crystalline network, thus holding the fiber in a desired position. The preferred &ldquo;rigidifying&rdquo; compounds include dibenzylidene sorbitol based compounds, as well as less preferred compounds, such as sodium beuzoate, certain sodium and lithium phosphate salts (such as sodium 2,2&prime;-methylene-bis-(4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate, otherwise known as NA-11).

Methods of making low-shrink polypropylene fibers

This invention relates to improvements in preventing heat- and moisture-shrink problems in specific polypropylene fibers. Such fibers require the presence of certain compounds that quickly and effectively provide rigidity to the target polypropylene fiber after heat-setting. Generally, these compounds include any structure that nucleates polymer crystals within the target polypropylene after exposure to sufficient heat to melt the initial pelletized polymer and upon allowing such a melt to cool. The compounds must nucleate polymer crystals at a higher temperature than the target polypropylene without the nucleating agent during cooling. In such a manner, the &ldquo;rigidifying&rdquo; nucleator compounds provide nucleation sites for polypropylene crystal growth. After drawing the nucleated composition into fiber form, the fiber is then exposed to sufficient heat to grow the crystalline network, thus holding the fiber in a desired position. The preferred &ldquo;rigidifying&rdquo; compounds include dibenzylidene sorbitol based compounds, as well as less preferred compounds, such as sodium benzoate, certain sodium and lithium phosphate salts (such as sodium 2,2&prime;-methylene-bis-(4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate, otherwise known as NA-11). Specific methods of manufacture of such fibers, as well as fabric articles made therefrom, are also encompassed within this invention.

Low-shrink polypropylene fibers

Novel thermoplastic pipes which can withstand internally generated and/or applied pressures for utilization within, primarily, underground liquid and gas transport systems are provided. Such pipes are improvements over standard metal (i.e., steel, lead, and the like) pipes due to construction costs, shipping costs, implementation costs (particularly underground), flexibility (and thus modulus strength allowances) to compensate for underground movements (i.e., earthquakes and tremors), non-rusting characteristics, reduced crack propagation possibilities, and ease in manufacture. Such pipes are preferably reinforced with specific textile reinforcement materials that permit a lower thickness of plastic to be utilized than is generally required to withstand high pressure situations and also serve to prevent propagation of any cracks which may develop within the thermoplastic or thermoset materials. Such pipes exhibit an elongation at break in relation to that provided by the textile reinforcement and not with regard to the same type of elongation at break characteristic for the thermoplastic or thermoset composition. Furthermore, a leakage or burst detection system and a heating method to ensure non-freezing of transported materials within such pipes is also contemplated within this invention.

Growing community of inventors

Boiling Springs, SC, United States of America

William S Parks