A device for preventing jamming of a fibrous material subject to a compressive treatment in a stuffing chamber defined by a feed roll and a retard roll. The device includes an impact blade and a stabilizing apparatus. The impact blade is rigid and interchangeable. The stabilizing apparatus stabilizes the impact blade against moving away from the feed roll to prevent the jamming of the fibrous material between the feed roll and the impact blade during the compressive treatment of the fibrous material.

A computer system, comprising at least one controlled execution space hosting an operating system and an application program; a vulnerability monitoring agent coupled to the controlled execution space; one or more vulnerability profiles coupled to the vulnerability monitoring agent, wherein each of the vulnerability profiles comprises an application program identifier, an operating system identifier, a vulnerability specification describing a vulnerability of an application program that the application program identifier indicates when executed with an operating system that the operating system identifier indicates, and a remedial action which when executed will remediate the vulnerability; wherein the vulnerability monitoring agent is configured to monitor execution of the operating system and the application program in the controlled execution space, to detect an anomaly associated with the vulnerability, to determine the remedial action for the operating system and application program based on one of the vulnerability profiles, and to cause the remedial action.

A method for identifying vulnerable system call pairs is disclosed. The method is based on a model for identifying Time-Of-Check-To-Time-Of-Use (TOCTTOU) problem (called STEM), which enumerates the potential file system call pairs (called exploitable TOCTTOU pairs) that form the check/use steps. The system function calls are classified into a plurality of predefined classes and pairs of the function calls are formed according to predefined criteria, where the function calls within a pair are associated with the same file invariant.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for opening a fabric, in which warp and weft yarns can be uniformly opened using a simple method without having to alter the fabric weaving procedure. The method is a method for opening a fabric (4) produced by weaving a warp yarn (2) and a weft yarn (3), each of which having a bundled plurality of fiber filaments (1). A contact body (6) is provided to a surface of the fabric (4) with a protective film (5) interposed therebetween, and the contact body (6) is caused to move over the fabric (4) obliquely, and in a relative manner, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the warp yarn (2) or the weft yarn (3), whereby the warp yarn (2) or the weft yarn (3) is spread.

A method of producing an entangled sheet of microfine long fibers using long fibers for forming microfine fibers. The method includes a step of forming a long-fiber web made of long fibers for forming microfine fibers, at least one component of the long fibers being a water-soluble, thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol resin; a step of entangling the long-fiber web to form a long-fiber entangled sheet; a step of shrinking the long-fiber entangled sheet to form a long-fiber shrunk sheet; and a step of converting the long fibers for forming microfine fibers in the long-fiber shrunk sheet to microfine long fibers, thereby producing the entangled sheet of microfine long fibers. The step of entangling is conducted so as to allow the long-fiber entangled sheet to have an interlaminar peel strength of 2 kg/2.5 cm or more. The step of shrinking is conducted so as to shrink in an areal shrinkage of 35% or more.

A technique for maintaining secure network connections is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for maintaining secure network connections. The method may comprise detecting a change of address associated with a first network element. The method may also comprise updating at least one first security configuration at the first network element. The method may further comprise transmitting at least one secure message from the first network element to a second network element, wherein the at least one secure message comprises information associated with the change of address. And the method may comprise updating at least one second security configuration at the second network element based at least in part on the at least one secure message.

An apparatus for reducing pilling on a piece of garment/fabric includes at least one holding member adapted to secure the piece of garment/fabric, a rotatable brush member adapted to brush on the piece of garment/fabric until loose fibers of the garment/fabric migrates to a surface of the garment/fabric to form a layer of pillable fuzz, a shaving member adapted to remove the layer of pillable fuzz on the piece of garment/fabric, and a control unit adapted to control movement of the rotatable brush member and the shaving member.

A system and method detects malware on client devices based on partially distributed malware definitions from a central server. A server stores malware definitions for known malware. The server generates one or more filters based on the malware definitions and distributes the filter(s) to client devices. The server also distributes full definitions to the clients for a subset of the most commonly detected malware. The client device scans files for malware by first applying the filter to a file. If the filter outputs a positive detection, the client scans the file using the full definition to determine if the file comprises malware. If the full definition is not stored locally by the client, the client queries the server for the definition and then continues the scanning process.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a high-quality porous film. Here, while the porous film is being manufactured through forming micropores by stretching, a raw film is prevented from slipping on the surfaces of the respective rolls as much as possible even though the raw film includes oil or liquid paraffin as a solvent. The method is for manufacturing a porous film through forming micropores by successive biaxial stretching. A tensile force applied to the raw film F transferring from the longitudinal stretching machine (10) to the transverse stretching machine (50) is set not less than a stretching force necessary for the longitudinal stretching, and thus the raw film is prevented from slipping on a contact surface between the raw film and each roll of the longitudinal stretching machine (10).

An apparatus and method for producing a shifted angle fabric and the product produced thereby. The apparatus includes a supply of fabric and a differential tenter frame. The differential tenter frame includes a frame, a pair of opposed, constant path rails and a differential drive. The differential tenter frame is located downstream from the supply of fabric for receiving the opposing edges of the fabric and advancing the opposing edges at different speeds to shift the weft angle of the fabric as the fabric travels the length of the differential tenter frame. A high velocity, low heat drying range adjacent to the differential tenter frame simultaneously dries the fabric as the fabric travels the length of the differential tenter frame. A take-up roll downstream from the differential tenter frame then takes up the dried fabric.

A carpet is having a raschel fabric to the back face. The raschel fabric consists of wefts which are inlay-yarns and warps which are chain-stitched yarns. The warp consists of chain-stitched ground yarns 3a, 3b, and a pile yarn 4 which forms standing loop piles on specified courses and which is chain-stitched with the ground yarns except said specified courses. The pile yarn consists of two mono-filaments 5, 5. The two mono-filaments 5, 5 are twisted at least one time per the length of each loop pile. Cut piles are formed by mechanically cutting the each loop pile near the top thereof. The two mono-filaments in the cut pile are disjoining each other and standing with inclination at random direction on the raschel fabric. When the carpet is placed on the surface of a mat, each mono-filament which is formed on the back face of the carpet, bites into the surface of the mat. Therefore, it is prevented that the carpet is displaced.

An apparatus for processing a fabric has a drum with an elliptically-shaped cross-section having a pair of narrow sides and a pair of broad sides. Each of the narrow sides have an impact edge. Each of the pair of broad sides has a sliding surface. The drum has a differential helical expander formed on an outer surface thereof. A bearing and drive shaft set are affixed to the drum so as to impact rotational motion to the drum.

The invention relates to an artificial turf, comprising a backing and a number of artificial grass blades connected to the backing and extending transversely of the surface thereof, which artificial grass blades have an irregular, in particular a locally narrowed, cross-section. Owing to this locally narrowed cross-section in the vicinity of the free end thereof, these artificial grass blades greatly resemble natural blades of grass and also display similar behavior. The invention also relates to a method for forming such an artificial turf and to a device with which this method can be performed. The narrowed cross-section can herein be formed by stretching the artificial grass blades, wherein the artificial grass blades can be plasticized before, during and/or after the stretching, for instance by local heating thereof.

A data conversion system for a vehicle includes an interface gateway device that is configured to be communicatively coupled with a data acquisition module and a client module. The data acquisition module obtains a value of a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle and communicates the value to the interface gateway device in a first message provided in a first format. The interface gateway device is configured to convert the first format of the first message into a different, second format to form a second message and to communicate the second message to the client module. The client module uses the second message to perform a function for the vehicle.

A method, apparatus, program, and storage medium, for managing a network device by communicating with an information processing device and the network device via a network and managing the network device in response to a request from the information processing device. If a request for execution of a process, which needs particular authorization, upon the network device, is received from the information processing device, it is determined whether a command to invalidate a password of said network device has been received together with the process execution request. When the password of the network device is to be invalidated, a password invalidation request is transmitted to the network device. This technique makes it possible for an administrator of a network device to use it even when the administrator forgets the device password assigned to the network device without having to perform initialization which would cause all setting data to be lost.

Clipping both right and left side edge parts of a sheet or film by right and left pitch-variable clips having flow-directional clip pitches variable along with travel movements, respectively, having positions (AR, AL) for initiation of enlargements of flow-directional clip pitches changed between right clips and left clips, and enlarging flow-directional clip pitches along with travel movements of clips to thereby make an oblique stretch.

An apparatus for transporting a fabric having first and second transport faces for gripping a fabric therebetween and to displace the fabric along its length, in which at least one of the transport faces has an irregular surface.

A two-stage process and apparatus for compacting tubular knitted fabrics, wherein at each stage the fabric, is acted upon by cooperating feeding and retarding rollers spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the fabric. Opposite fabric sides thus cannot be in simultaneous contact with the feeding and retarding rollers at the same point along the fabric. Fabric is transferred from a feed roller to a retarding roller while opposite sides of the fabric are closely confined in a compacting zone, free of contact with either roller. Fabric is longitudinally compacted during its traverse of that zone. In the second stage, the rollers are reversely oriented with respect the fabric. Unlike known two-stage procedures, not more than 60% of the compacting effort is imparted in either one of the stages. Preferably each stage imparts about 50% of the compacting effort. Higher production speeds and superior product quality are achieved.

A device and method for measuring the thickness of a cloth when the predetermined pressing force is applied to the cloth. A device for measuring a cloth thickness includes a stationary part having a base surface; a movable member having a pressing end to press a cloth against the base surface; a movable member driving mechanism to move the movable member linearly without rotating around itself from an initial position up to an over-pressing position where the pressing end presses the cloth against the base surface with a force exceeding the predetermined pressing force; a load cell for detecting a force with which the pressing end presses the cloth against the base surface; and a pulse coder for detecting the space between the base surface and the pressing end when a force value detected by the load cell reaches the predetermined pressing force.

An apparatus for pliabilizing tubular materials including a frame, a ring holder, and a mandrel assembly. The ring holder assembly is mounted to the frame and includes a circumferential ring, and a plurality of pairs of non-mechanically driven, rotatable wheels mounted around the ring and having a recess extending circumferentially around an outer edge. The mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having proximal and distal ends and a maximum outer circumference, and a plurality of non-mechanically driven, rotatable wheels spaced apart about a circumference of the mandrel and mounted thereto so as to extend radially beyond the maximum outer circumference. The wheels of the mandrel assembly are positioned between and so as to mate with respective pairs of the wheels of the ring holder assembly, and the wheels of the mandrel assembly are sized shaped to mate with the recesses of the respective pairs of wheels of the ring holder assembly.

A machine and a method for treating fabrics, comprise in combination a step of inducing substantially vertical vibrations in a quantity of fabric in the form of a substantially compact mass and a simultaneous step of drying the rest of the fabric in opened-out form.

A portable apparatus is removably and communicatively connectable to a network device to communicate authentication or authorization credentials of a user in connection with the user logging into or entering into a transaction with a network site. The apparatus includes a communications port to connect and disconnect the apparatus to and from the network device and to establish a communication link with the network device when connected thereto. A processor receives a secure message from the network security server via the port. The message has a PIN for authenticating the user to the network site, and is readable only by the apparatus. The processor either transfers, via the port, the received PIN to an application associated with the network site that is executing on the network device or causes the apparatus to display the received PIN for manual transfer to the application associated with the network site.

The invention relates to an apparatus for compacting a material web made of fibers and/or filaments, comprising a first revolving endless belt which carries the material web and is tensioned around guide rollers, and a second endless belt which is tensioned around guide rollers and revolves counter to the first belt at the same speed, wherein the first and second endless belts form a conical compacting region in a first region in the conveying direction of the material web and run at an angle with respect to each other, whereby the material web located between the belts is increasingly pressed, wherein subsequent to the first region a first nozzle beam is disposed for a first fluid application onto the material web still located between the two endless belts, wherein the two belts in this region of the first fluid application are in each case guided to run in a tensioned manner in a straight direction. According to the invention, the following is provided: the two belts (1,2) are guided in the region of the first fluid application (D,W,A) such that they do not run parallel to each other, or: the two belts (1,2) are guided in the region of the first fluid application (D,W,A) such that they run parallel to each other in a first section (AB1) and not parallel to each other in a subsequent second section (AB2).

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for applying a compaction pressure to a fabric during formation of a fabric preform. One end of the fabric is applied to the form having a central axis. The form with the fabric applied thereto is at least partially surrounded with a film. This film extends along a film path to the form and around at least a portion of the form. The fabric and the film are fed onto the form such that the fabric is wrapped around the form to create the fabric preform while the film is fed around the form. A vacuum is drawn to evacuate a gas from between the form and the film, thereby pressing the film onto the fabric and applying the compaction pressure to the fabric.

A method is disclosed of directing bias tows of a fabric to be wrapped around a form to create a fabric preform. The fabric includes at least a first set of bias tows that are generally parallel with one another and a second set of bias tows that are generally parallel with one another but that are not parallel with the first set of bias tows. An edge strip is attached to ends of the first set of bias tows at a first lateral edge of the fabric relative to a feed direction of the fabric onto the form. The edge strip is moved to direct the first set of bias tows. The fabric is wrapped around the form by rotating the fabric and form relative to one another about the central axis of the form to create the fabric preform.

A method for the manufacture of an interwoven wicker, plastic strip basket, handbag or luggage which involves interweaving the wicker or plastic strips to form a body and to form a cover for the body of the basket and then anchoring by means of a tool the protruding ends of the strips of the body and of the cover to channel-shaped rails which rest on removable supports in the body, thus forming the frames of the body and cover.

A system for producing wooden barrel constructions of the type including a plurality of staves assembled in side-by-side relationship with the assembly defining a generally circular cross section. Each stave is provided with a central bilge portion whereby the finished barrel will have a large diameter central portion and smaller diameter end portions. The individual staves are characterized by a narrow end portion and a wide end portion with the width of the bilge portion exceeding one-half the sum of the widths of the end portions. The staves are assembled in the barrel so that wide and narrow end portions are located at each end of the barrel.

A pair of motor driven circular saws are mounted on opposite sides of a frame supported horizontal barrel stave carrying conveyor with the axes of the saws perpendicular to the direction of conveyor travel and their planes arranged in downwardly converging relation. Spring loaded guide rollers, forming a part of the saw driving motor supports, adjusts the position of the saws in a desired barrel stave edge trimming spaced-apart relation by contact with the respective opposing longitudinal sides of a barrel stave to be trimmed as it is moved by the conveyor between the saws. Lock means actuated by spring loaded pressure rollers overlying the position of the barrel stave when moved by the conveyor maintains the adjusted spaced-apart relation of the saws for the duration of the saw trimming action on each side of each stave moved through the machine by the conveyor.

A machine for producing circular products such as bottoms and lids of casks comprising a machine base, a blank feeding station, a blank sawing station, a blank chamfering station and a blank positioning station provided on said base in a circumferentially spaced relationship, a vertical main drive shaft rotatably mounted in said base, blank support means fixedly mounted on said drive shaft and having a plurality of spaced blank support discs, blank holding-down means fixedly mounted on said drive shaft and having a plurality of arms each having a downwardly extending shaft on which a blank holding-down member is journalled in opposition to the associated one of said support discs to hold a blank therebetween.

A method of making a basket-like or other decorative article from pine needles comprising the steps of twisting and arranging pine needles, stitching the pine needles with a sewing needle and thread, so as to form a surface or wall, forming a basket-like object, the outer and inner surfaces of which are sealed with a protective coating, such as varnish.

A method and apparatus for assembling a reel having a pair of axially spaced circular flanges provided with facing annular grooves, a plurality of axially extending staves fitted into the grooves to form a cylindrical drum extending coaxially between the flanges, and a plurality of tie rods extending axially through the flanges within the drum to draw the flanges together, the apparatus having an inner ring assembly removably supported on the rods concentrically within the drum; an outer ring assembly releasably supported on and downwardly of the inner ring assembly concentrically therewith and adapted to open circumferentially so as to be removed from the drum; and a plurality of lances releasably engaging the tie rods for threading the rods through one of the flanges.

Disclosed is a new type of goods container which allows for economical transportation of bulk solids, especially low grade particulate matter. The container has a casing formed from woven metallic strips and is sealed from the inside. It is very strong and rigid providing it has been correctly filled and compacted. Novel apparatus for constructing the container is also provided as one method of filling and compacting the material to be transported. The container can be easily and quickly constructed at the filling site and scrapped at the end of its journey.

A claw for use in a barrel hoop driver which allows the top hoop of a barrel to be driven beyond the barrel edge thereby allowing barrels for reuse to have their staves tightened without fitting new end hoops. The claw has spaced guide members controlling the effective depth of a blade for engagement with the hoops, the spaced arrangement of the guide members preventing accumulation of wood shavings on the blade.

A support for a basket during weaving is disclosed. The support has a frame made up of a first column and a second column. A basket mold is supported on the first column and a foam rubber pad is rotatably supported on the second column. A hydraulic cylinder has a piston rod attached to the foam pad. The pad holds a basket bottom, having warp and weave members nailed to the basket bottom, to the basket mold. The basket can than be woven, the top handle installed and the completed basket removed from the mold.

A basket weaving form and method for use in conjunction with the contouring and weaving of a domed basket base. The invention includes a spider support having a contoured surface shaped similar to that of the under side of a desired basket base configuration. The spider support is adapted to receive a pin or nail previously pierced through the overlapping mid-point of a plurality of uniformally arranged, radially extending weaving spokes. Once thus temporarily afixed atop the basket weaving form, the spokes then forming a basket spider may be securely shaped over the spider receiving surface as lengths of weavers are woven back and forth around the weaving spokes to form the basket base.

There are described powders comprising agglomerated nanocrystals of an electroactive alloy and oxygen. The main component of the alloy can be of nickel, cobalt, iron or mixtures thereof while the alloying element is one or more transition metals such as Mo, W, V, the alloy also including oxygen. Preferably the nanocrystals will be made of an alloy of nickel, molybdenum and oxygen. An electrode which is used by compacting the powders is also disclosed. Also disclosed, is a process for producing the powders by providing particles of nickel, cobalt and iron or oxides thereof with particles of at least one transition metal, (Mo, W, V) or oxides thereof and subjecting the particles to high energy mechanical alloying such as ball milling under conditions which include oxygen and for a sufficient period of time to produce a nanocrystalline alloy. Electrodes produced from these powders have an electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution which is comparable or higher than the electrodes which are presently used in the electrochemical industry. Moreover, these materials present an excellent chemical, electrochemical and mechanical stability. When use as a cathode the powders are useful in water electrolyzers, in chlor-alkali or the like cells.

A machine for making staves includes a first section and a second section with each section including components for cutting one side of a blank in a manner inclined to the blank's lengthwise axis. Conveyors on each section are equipped with lugs for propelling the blanks with each lug having a foot to support a lug engaged end of the blank against laterally applied loads imparted by wheel members. Additionally supporting each of the conveyed blanks on each section is a fence on each section with the lug foot and the fence serving to maintain the blank in a skewed position to present a displaced side edge to a cutter head. The fence on the second section additionally supports the blank against lateral loads applied in an opposite direction by wheels biasing the blank into fence and lug engagement to skew in an opposition direction. A cutter head on the second section of the machine completes shaping of the blank by cutting a second side edge inclined to the stave's lengthwise axis. A method of forming tapered articles from rectangular blanks is also disclosed.

A method and apparatus for reconditioning wood wine barrels. An open wine barrel is placed on a barrel rotator stand and positioned into a planer-cutter apparatus. Cutting parameters are set, and a horizontal screw advances the cutter into the barrel, cutting a swath the length of the barrel stave. The cutting process is repeated through the number of passes required. The barrel is dried, placed on a toasting rotator stand, and positioned under a toaster so that the toaster elements are inside the barrel. An expansion mechanism places the toaster elements adjacent the barrel interior surface, and the barrel ends are closed. After toasting, the expansion assembly is retracted and the barrel is removed. The barrel heads are run through a planer, dried, and sanded, and placed in a head toaster. The head toaster doors swing closed placing the heads adjacent oscillating firebars.

A spring-actuated basket form including a platform, a spacer housed within a cavity recessed below the platform surface, and a pair of reinforcement guides. The reinforcement guides form a space therebetween capable of removably receiving a reinforcement splint during basket assembly. The spacer's perimeter wall communicates with the inner wall of the cavity. A spring is coupled to the spacer to facilitate tensioned movement of the spacer within the cavity. The spring urges the spacer and its associated movable reinforcement guide toward the other guide to retain a reinforcement splint within the space. An adjustable alignment rim may be provided on the platform surface at a distance from the reinforcement guides.

Each of two end sections and one middle section of the present basket form is formed with a centrally and axially disposed passageway and with a pair of diametrically opposing passageways spaced radially outwardly from the central passageway. All of the passageways in one of the sections are simultaneously alignable with corresponding passageways in the other sections. The central passageways are adapted to receive a mounting member. Each of the radially outwardly disposed passageways are adapted to receive a bolt, and a wing nut is tightened onto an outwardly projecting threaded end of each bolt to hold the separable sections of the form in alignment with one another. The middle section of the form may be removed and the two end sections held in alignment with one another to accommodate a shallower basket.

A working surface 14 is provided with a plurality of splint locators 15-18 and a bottom locating area 27 suitable for arranging basket splints 11A-C, 12A-C into a predetermined number and configuration of angularly related sets 11, 12. A slot 44, 45 and a linearly aligned set of sockets 48A-C, 49A-C are formed in the working surface 14 outwardly from two of the perimeter edge portions 21, 22 of the bottom locating area 27. An alignment rim 29, 30 is provided for positioning one end of each of the basket splints in one of the angularly related sets 11, 12. A bolt 50, 51 is slidably mounted in each of the slots 44, 45 and extends upwardly through each of the alignment rims 29, 30. A wing nut 56, 57 is threadedly mounted on each of the bolts 50, 51 for releasably tightening the alignment rims 29, 30 at selected sites on the working surface 14. A ring-headed pin 58, 59 extends downwardly through each of the alignment rims 29, 30 for releasably engaging a selected one of the sockets 48A-C, 49A-C.

A form for making a stepped-bottom basket including a three-dimensional L-shaped frame vertically partitioned into two segments that are releasably fastenable to one another. The first segment includes top, front, rear and side walls that define the shape of the interior of the deep portion of the stepped bottom basket and the second segment includes top, front, rear and side walls that define the shape of the interior of the shallow portion of the stepped bottom basket. The second segment may include an integral splint guide capable of receiving inner reinforcement splints for the bottom of the shallow upper basket portion. Adjacent walls of the segments may be adapted for securely fitting and fastening the segments together.

A method of constructing an interwoven basket using a collapsible basket form apparatus is disclosed. The present invention permits the construction of an interwoven basket including a solid bottom surface and upwardly converging woven side walls that define a top opening which is relatively smaller than the largest diameter of the basket. The present collapsible basket form apparatus permits construction of a basket from which a unitary basket form of the same shape could not otherwise be removed upon completion of the basket. The present basket form apparatus is adaptable to construction of baskets of many different sizes and shapes by the use of interchangeable rib components which function to define the basket contours.

A basket weaving kit and method for producing a container to be decorated and used for carrying objects. The basket weaving kit and method includes a plastic cylinder. A plurality of spoke members are for coupling to the plastic cylinder. Each of the spoke members is positionable in substantially parallel spaced relationship to an adjacently positioned spoke member such that the spoke members are positioned around the plastic cylinder. A plurality of reed members are for weaving through the spoke members.

A phase-locked loop circuit and method for providing for compensation for an offset. A phase-locked loop circuit comprises a phase detector, a compensation circuit, a loop filter, and a VCO. The phase detector is coupled to receive a first input signal and a second input signal. The phase detector is configured to output one or more of a plurality of output signals indicative of a difference between the first input signal and the second input signal. The compensation circuit is coupled to receive the output signals and to reduce a voltage offset between the output signals. The compensation circuit is further configured to provide a plurality of compensated output signals. The loop filter is coupled to receive the compensated control signals. The loop filter is configured to output a first control signal. The VCO is coupled to receive the first control signal and to output the second input signal based on the first control signal. A method of operating a phase-locked loop circuit comprises receiving and comparing a first input signal and a second input signal and providing output signals indicative of the comparison. The method compensates for a voltage offset between the output signals and provides compensated output signals indicative of the compensation. The method filters the compensated control signals and provides a control signal indicative of the filtration. The method provides the second input signal based on the first control signal. Lower skew between the input and output may be achieved.

A system and method of constructing a substantially decorative article without the need for fasteners. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the decorative article is a woven basket. One or more retainers are provided to retain the material used to construct the outer surface of the decorative article. Each retainer is provided with a channel for receiving one end of the material used to construct the surface of the decorative article. The channels are able to retain the ends of the material used to construct the surface of the decorative article without the need for fasteners. If the material used to construct the surface of the decorative article is sufficiently rigid, the decorative article will be self-supporting. If the material used to construct the surface of the decorative article is not sufficiently self-supporting, supports may be located between the retainers. The channels may be oriented at an angle, or may be provided with a texture, to assist in retaining the material used to construct the surface of the decorative article.