An anchor layer formation composition, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-attached optical film, and an image display device are provided, in which the composition includes an oxazoline group-containing polymer and an ionic compound including a cation component and a sulfonyl group-containing anion component and is capable of forming an anchor layer that can improve the adhesion between a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and an optical film when interposed therebetween, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-attached optical film has high durability and good reworkability and allows the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to resist chipping, and the image display device has the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-attached optical film.

A polyurethane adhesive is formulated using a modified polyurethane copolymer, a curing agent and an antistatic agent, and the modified polyurethane copolymer is grafted a polysiloxane compound to a polyurethane polymer and made by esterifying a polyol, a hydroxyl-containing polysiloxane compound, a multi-functional isocyanate compound and a fatty acid ester; since the polyurethane adhesive is not yellowish and easy to dry as well as has excellent fabricability, air bleeding performance and transparency, when attached to surfaces of an optical or electronic device, the protective film leaves no residue and protects the surface of the device keeping no flaws.

Methods of producing a polyamide filaments and fibers are provided. The methods include providing a dual-terminated polyamide and spinning the dual-terminated polyamide at a speed of 3500 m/min to 8000 m/min to form a fiber. In one embodiment, the polyamide has an amine endgroup concentration of 25 mmol/kg to 40 mmol/kg and a carboxyl endgroup concentration of 18 mmol/kg to 50 mmol/kg. Fibers and yarns comprising polyamide filaments and fibers formed from the method are also disclosed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an ultrafine fiber-containing sheet with suppressed yellowing. Another object of the present invention is to provide an efficient method for eliminating an introduced substituent, and a composite sheet comprising an organic layer and/or an inorganic layer laminated on the obtained sheet. The present invention provides a method for producing an ultrafine fiber-containing sheet, comprising (a) introducing a substituent having electrostatic and/or steric functionality to a fiber raw material to obtain substituent-introduced fiber; (b) machine-processing the substituent-introduced fiber obtained in the step (a) to obtain substituent-introduced ultrafine fiber; (c) preparing a sheet from the substituent-introduced ultrafine fiber obtained in the step (b); and (d) eliminating at least a portion of introduced substituents from the sheet obtained in the step (c). In a preferred aspect, the substituent having electrostatic and/or steric functionality is a phosphoric acid-derived group, and the method may further comprise, after the step (a) and before the step (c), the step of (e) changing the degree of neutralization of the substituent-introduced fiber or the substituent-introduced ultrafine fiber.

In nanoimprinting processes, photo-cured products often separate from the substrate and stick to the mold due to insufficient adhesion between the photo-cured product and the substrate. This causes a defect of pattern separation. An adhesion layer composition used for forming an adhesion layer between a substrate and a photocurable composition includes a compound (A) having at least two functional groups, and a solvent (B). The functional groups include at least one functional group capable of being bound to the substrate, selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, carboxy, thiol, amino, epoxy, and (blocked) isocyanate, and at least one hydrogen donating group as a functional group capable of being bound to the photocurable composition.

A composite manufacture includes an extrudable thermoplastic matrix and a photochromic colorant, the photochromic colorant conferring to the composite a reversible strain-induced color change property. Methods include adding photochromic colorant to an extrudable thermoplastic polymer matrix to form a mixture, heating the mixture to form a composite, the photochromic colorant conferring to the composite a reversible strain-induced color change property. The composite manufactures can be used in cable coatings permitting visual detection of mechanical stresses in a wire based on the reversible strain-induced color change property.

An apparatus for providing a target for a projectile comprises an elongate member extending between first and second ends, sized to span a playing surface. The apparatus further comprises first and second support legs extending from the first and second ends of the elongate member, each of the first and second support legs having a length selected to position the elongate member above and outside of a possible path of the projectile and a plurality of lights located on the elongate member selectable by a user to provide a visual target for a user. After the elongate member is positioned above and outside a possible path of the projectile a desired path for the projectile is selected and one of a plurality of lights on the elongate member to provide a visual target for a user expected to produce the desired path in the projectile is illuminated.

This invention combines the use of double sided reversible informational wrist badges (badges) with trading card games. The badges are worn on the inside and the outside of the wrist and coupled with the trading cards introduce a further degree of randomness in the game play. The objective of the game is to reduce the health indicator of the other player to zero, where the player is forced to play another character until one player remains with no surviving characters. Badges are utilized in primarily two or more ways, technical data is labeled on each side of the battle badge, the player turns the badge over to show the attribute they wish imbued on their character (such as additional health, strength, aid another character, shields/defense, and offense/attacks). Badges may also be shifted from the front to the back of the wrist to communicate a further degree of game play information.

The present invention board relates to a game system using a portable terminals and a game board therefor. According to the present invention, there is provided a board game system, including: one or more pieces configured to correspond to respective game players; a game board configured to display a path through which the pieces move, and to detect a changed location of each of the pieces on the path; and one or more personal portable terminals each configured to check the changed location of the piece detected by the game board while communicating with the game board, and to output information about operations, which will be performed by each of the game players, or options, which can be selected by each of the game players based on a location of one of the pieces corresponding to each of the game players.

A network connection framework for connecting a dartboard to a portable device includes: a cloud server; a communication device communicating with the cloud server via a communication network; a dartboard including a dartboard unit, a sensing unit and a dartboard wireless communication unit which connects the dartboard to the cloud server via wireless signal, the dartboard wireless communication unit serves to receive and transmit the score signal to the could server; and a portable device with a portable device wireless communication device which connects the portable device to the cloud server via wireless signal. When the user registration information is inputted in the portable device, the score corresponding to the score signal will be displayed. Therefore, the dart game can be played by players in different venues, and consequently is not restricted by the number of the players and the size and location of the venue.

An educational word game designed to be played with cards or with card squares with three level and three series. The game is entertaining and competitive and functions for the entire family with its multitude of games. It is a developmental tool, a teaching tool and an ongoing learning process of vocabulary building skills. In the Level I game the three letters selected are used independently of each other in the first position of each word, Level II Game in the second position, and Level III in the third position. The first series focus on single letters for all three game levels, the second series on the double letters, and the third series on triple letters. The alphabet letters and the corresponding numbers guideline have many useful purposes.

A multi-contact type position detection apparatus for a target board includes a first membrane board having a plurality of first signal lines formed in a first direction, a second membrane board having a plurality of second signal lines formed in a second direction, and a plurality of dots which are formed on the first membrane board or the second membrane board such that the first membrane plate and the second membrane plate are spaced at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein the plurality of dots can be arranged at a distance of “k/2±A (A is 1%˜2% of k)” when a magnetic body diameter of a pin attached on the target board is “kmm”.

Card handling devices may include a card shuffling apparatus and a card output portion having a card buffer area positioned at an interface of the card shuffling apparatus and the card output portion. The card output portion may be configured to move relative to the card shuffling apparatus and alter the orientation of the card buffer area. Card handling devices having a substantially flat card output area may include an interface portion having an at least substantially flat draw surface. The substantially flat card output area may permit playing cards to be drawn from an outlet of the substantially flat card output area in a plurality of at least substantially horizontal directions. Methods of shuffling playing cards may include altering an orientation of a card buffer area and inserting cards into the card buffer area at both a top and a bottom of a group of cards within the card buffer area.

Disclosed is a housing for electronic/electrical that includes an inner panel and an outer panel, a strip of metal plate, and a strip of shape memory material. The inner panel and the outer panel are disposed parallel to each other at regular intervals to define an internal space. The strip of metal plate extends from an inner surface of the outer panel. The strip of shape memory material extends from an inner surface of the inner panel and is attached or detached to/from the metal plate on the outer panel while changing into an original straight shape or a bent shape according to a temperature variation. Here, when the temperature increase beyond a first transition temperature, the shape memory material straightens to form a heat transfer path. At a low temperature environment, the shape memory material bends and is separated from the metal plate to interrupt the heat transfer path.

An air conditioning system of a motor vehicle with a refrigerant circuit for operation in a refrigerator mode and a heat pump mode. The refrigerant circuit includes a primary circuit with a compressor, a heat exchanger for heat transfer between the refrigerant and the surroundings, an expansion element and a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the intake air being conditioned for the passenger compartment to the refrigerant, and a first flow path. The flow path extends from a branching point between the compressor and the heat exchanger to an opening and includes a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the refrigerant to the intake air being conditioned for the passenger compartment. The heat exchanger is situated in a flow direction of intake air of the passenger compartment after the heat exchanger.

Various methods and systems are provided for cryogenic heat transfer by nanoporous surfaces. In one embodiment, among others, a system includes a cryogenic fluid in a flow path of the system; and a system component in the flow path that includes a nanoporous surface layer in contact with the cryogenic fluid. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a cryogenic fluid; and initiating chilldown of a cryogenic system by directing the cryogenic fluid across a nanoporous surface layer disposed on a surface of a system component.

In a cooled component system, a heat exchanger mounted on a surface of the industrial component is housed in an isolated access compartment adjacent to but separated from the primary compartment containing the industrial component. Housing the heat exchanger in a separately accessible compartment permits access to the heat exchanger for cleaning or other purposes without having to shut down the industrial component being cooled. A means for moving a cooling media over the surface a the heat exchanger might also be included to maximize heat exchange.

A semiconductor device configured to perform an A/D conversion of a wide range of signals is provided. A semiconductor device includes: an input voltage detection unit configured to detect an analog input voltage; a reference voltage setting unit configured to set a reference voltage based on the detected input voltage; an amplifier configured to amplify a difference between the input voltage and the reference voltage; an ADC configured to perform an A/D conversion of an amplified signal; and an arithmetic processing unit configured to calculate a digital voltage corresponding to the input voltage based on a result of the A/D conversion and the reference voltage.

A converter includes: a terminal that receives code-modulated power that has been generated with a modulation code; and a circuit that intermittently converts the code-modulated power with a conversion code based on the modulation code. The code-modulated power is alternating-current power.

Methods and apparatus are described. A method, implemented in a decoder, includes receiving two or more signals from an encoder over two or more respective wires. At least one of the two or more signals includes at least one code that was recoded by the encoder. The decoder receives a recoding table. The recoding table provides a mapping indicating the recoding for each code that was recoded by the encoder in the received two or more signals. The decoder decodes the two or more received signals using the received recoding table.

The present invention relates to a process for the wet production of granules from powdered materials, in particular raw materials for the production of glass. The process of the invention comprises the following successive steps: (i) the powdered materials to be granulated are divided into at least two portions: a first portion and a second portion; (ii) a binder liquid is added to the first portion of powdered materials; (iii) the first mixture thus obtained is agglomerated in the granulator in order to obtain granules (a); (iv) the second portion of powdered materials is added to the granulator; and (v) the new mixture obtained is agglomerated in the granulator in order to obtain granules (b). This sequenced granulation process allows granules to be obtained that have a degree of moisture that assures their stability and their ease of handling eliminating the drying step.

The invention provides a process comprising: a crystallization step of concentrating and crystallizing the ammonium salt of sulfuric acid from an aqueous solution that contains the ammonium salt of sulfuric acid; a solid-liquid separation step of solid-liquid separating the ammonium salt of sulfuric acid obtained in the crystallization step, and a crystallization mother liquid recycling step of recycling a crystallization mother liquid obtained in the solid-liquid separation step to at least one step selected from the crystallization step and one or more steps that precede the crystallization step, in which not all of the crystallization mother liquid is recycled.

Mineral, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, agricultural, nutraceutical, and other compositions are produced using a mineral composition containing minimal concentrations of cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury and containing relatively high concentrations of micro and macro mineral elements, of rare earth elements, of calcium, and of silica. The mineral concentrations are produced by processing naturally occurring clay soil to concentrate mineral elements naturally occurring in the soil.

A method of producing a surface-treated carbon black powder dispersion includes subjecting carbon black fine particles having a volume average particle size of 100 nm to 20 μm to wet granulation and drying by heating to obtain granulated carbon black having a hardness of 12 cN or less and a pH of less than 7, grinding the granulated carbon black to obtain a ground product having a volume average particle size of 20 nm to 20 μm, and subjecting the ground product to wet oxidization in an aqueous medium. The resulting surface-treated carbon black powder dispersion exhibits excellent print density, print quality, discharge stability, and storage stability when used as an inkjet printer aqueous black ink.

The invention provides a process for increasing the crystallinity of at least one solid material which is less than 100% crystalline, comprising applying ultrasound to the substantially dry solid material.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods to increase the output of a high quality product from the precipitation liquor crystallization process exemplified through the aluminum hydroxide recovery processes such as the Bayer process. The invention is a method of increasing the size of precipitates from a liquor. The invention in one embodiment relates to the use of a crystal growth modifier compositions added to the precipitation process to increase the particle size distribution of the precipitated alumina trihydrate.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a process to obtain potassium chloride that includes submitting brine to concentration, separating brine after concentration, resulting in a first solid content and a first liquid content, cooling the first liquid content, separating the first liquid content after cooling, thus resulting in a second solid content and a second liquid content, enriching the second solid content, and separating the second solid content after enrichment, thus resulting in a third solid content and a third liquid content. Aspects of this process are environmentally safe, as the process includes stages using solvents and equipment which does not harm the environment. Moreover, aspects of this process present a significant energy consumption reduction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing composite carbon fibers in which two or more carbon fibers are dispersed in a nearly homogenous state, the composite carbon fibers capable of being easily dispersed in a matrix such as a resin without leaving aggregate, and imparting low resistance. Disclosed is a method for producing composite carbon fibers, which comprises imparting a cavitation effect to slurry containing 6% by mass or less of two or more carbon fibers each having a different average fiber diameter under a pressure of 100 MPa or more and less than 245 MPa thereby to form a composite.

Provided is a method and an apparatus for purifying potassium nitrate from the solid waste produced by a chemical glass-strengthening process. In the method, the solid waste is melted into a liquid waste at first. Potassium nitrate of various purity grades can be obtained by batch processing the liquid waste through stepwise cooling processes of cooling the liquid waste to a first temperature facilitating the potassium nitrate contained in the liquid waste to be crystallized at a first rate and then cooling the liquid waste to a second temperature close to the freezing point of the potassium nitrate at a second rate that is slower than the first rate. The recovered potassium nitrate from the solid waste can be recycled and reused.

A production saltwater disposal facility comprising a separator configured to receive production saltwater from a pipeline or a vehicle and separate hydrocarbons from the production saltwater, wherein the production saltwater received from the pipeline or vehicle is substantially the same composition as when the production saltwater was located in a subterranean formation, a hydrocarbon storage tank configured to receive hydrocarbons from the separator, a settling pit configured to receive the production saltwater from the separator and separate metals and/or other solids from the saltwater, an evaporator in fluid communication with the settling pit and comprising a nozzle configured to emit a stream of the saltwater along a path in air such that water in the saltwater evaporates, and a collection pit positioned under the path and configured to collect the salt from the saltwater after the water has evaporated.

The present invention provides a kiln for the combustion of agricultural waste. The kiln includes a central cylindrical combustion chamber. The central cylindrical combustion chamber includes a system for the control of combustion air to the combustion chamber. The kiln includes a second concentric cylinder surrounding the central cylindrical combustion chamber. The second concentric cylinder includes a system for the flow of cooling water through the first annulus between the central cylindrical combustion chamber and the second concentric cylinder. The kiln includes a system for the feeding of the agricultural waste into the central combustion chamber. The kiln includes a temperature sensing device to measure and display the temperature within the central combustion chamber during the combustion of the agricultural waste. The kiln includes a system for the recovery of ash from the kiln. In operation, the temperature of combustion is controlled to between 550° C. and 650° C. by a combination of increasing the supply of combustion air when the temperature in the central combustion chamber falls to near 550° C. and the introduction of cooling flowing water when the temperature in the central combustion chamber approaches 600° C.

Fremont high school student Araav Patel has got you covered. Plus, union says whistblower fired, and governor plans for the end of lockdown. Araav Patel lives in a household containing several people at greater risk from COVID-19. The Fremont high school student lives with his parents and grandparents, and suffers personally from a heart condition.…

Lockdown may be all that's keeping city from getting a taste of public anger. The Saturday afternoon shooting by San Leandro Police of Steven Taylor, a 33-year-old African-American man with a history of mental-health issues, is quickly attracting strong criticism from the community, and police accountability activists from across the country.  The blowback from the shooting, which was captured on a cell phone video at the Walmart on Hesperian Boulevard, threatens to hit a city government and police department ill-equipped to handle the barrage of criticism and protest about to come its way. San Leandro Police arrived at the Walmart store in response to reports of a man swinging a baseball bat, the department said.…

An energy harvesting device includes: a first nanoporous electrode and a second nanoporous electrode, each of which is configured to which store electrical charge; a first current collector connected to the first nanoporous electrode and a second current collector connected to the second nanoporous electrode; and an enclosure that contains the first and second nanoporous electrodes and the first and second current collectors and transfers a force applied from the outside to the first nanoporous electrode and the second nanoporous electrode, wherein at least one of the first nanoporous electrode and the second nanoporous electrode comprises an ion conductive polymer.

A ceramic electronic component includes a laminated body including ceramic layers and conductor layers stacked alternately; and first and second external electrodes provided on portions of the laminated body. Each of the first and second external electrodes includes a sintered metal layer provided on the laminated body, a conductive resin layer covering the sintered metal layer, and a plated layer covering the conductive resin layer. The maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on the second principal surface is shorter than the maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on each of the first and second side surfaces.

A ceramic electronic component includes a laminated body including ceramic layers and conductor layers stacked alternately; and first and second external electrodes provided on portions of the laminated body. Each of the first and second external electrodes includes a sintered metal layer provided on the laminated body, a conductive resin layer covering the sintered metal layer, and a plated layer covering the conductive resin layer. The maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on the second principal surface is shorter than the maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on each of the first and second side surfaces.

A MEMS piezoelectric device includes a monolithic semiconductor body having first and second main surfaces extending parallel to a horizontal plane formed by first and second horizontal axes. A housing cavity is arranged within the monolithic semiconductor body. A membrane is suspended above the housing cavity at the first main surface. A piezoelectric material layer is arranged above a first surface of the membrane with a proof mass coupled to a second surface, opposite to the first surface, along the vertical axis. An electrode arrangement is provided in contact with the piezoelectric material layer. The proof mass causes deformation of the piezoelectric material layer in response to environmental mechanical vibrations. The proof mass is coupled to the membrane by a connection element arranged, in a central position, between the membrane and the proof mass in the direction of the vertical axis.

A triboelectric generator includes a first contact charging member and a second contact charging member. The first contact charging member includes a first contact layer and a conductive electrode layer. The first contact layer includes a material that has a triboelectric series rating indicating a propensity to gain electrons due to a contacting event. The conductive electrode layer is disposed along the back side of the contact layer. The second contact charging member is spaced apart from and disposed oppositely from the first contact charging member. It includes an electrically conductive material layer that has a triboelectric series rating indicating a propensity to lose electrons when contacted by the first contact layer during the contacting event. The electrically conductive material acts as an electrode. A mechanism maintains a space between the first contact charging member and the second contact charging member except when a force is applied thereto.

An embodiment of a leg protector of the present disclosure includes an upper thigh pad that is structurally attached to an upper bracing shell including lateral and medial uprights. The upper shell and thigh pad can be held to the player via a strap and/or garment. The uprights extend to uni- or polycentric hinges arranged on, and in one embodiment biased against, either side of the player's knee. A connecting member extends in a frontward direction from each hinge and attaches to a patella pad held in place over the player's knee. The patella pad may additionally be connected to the thigh pad via one or more connecting strip. Each hinge is also connected to a lower bracing shell, which includes lateral and medial uprights that extend down and around the player's lower leg, anteriorly or posteriorly. The lower shell can also be fitted via a strap or garment.

Provided is activewear with hidden pockets. More particularly, athletic garments such as pants comprising one or more waistband pocket, preferably concealable, are included. In embodiments, athletic garments with an interior concealed pocket in the fold-over portion of a fold down waistband are provided. The waistband pocket enables the wearer to store items such as car keys, hotel room keys and/or smart phones relatively inconspicuously and securely in the waistband of the garment. A purpose of the concealment includes minimizing attention from the items stored within the pocket and allowing the wearer to participate in a variety of athletic sports or events while carrying personal items in a secure manner. Preferred embodiments include athletic pants comprising (i) a fold down waistband, (ii) an annular storage pocket capable of retaining items without any additional material added to the pant, and (iii) one or more slits for the opening for the pocket.

A device for enhancing support of eyeglasses on the head of a person. The device is in the form of an independent support member or an adjustable strap having a support member to enhance support of eyeglasses. The strap may include a cushion to provide comfort. The support member includes a hook for supporting the eyeglasses. The device is useful for supporting eyeglasses from the bridge of the nose of a person who has undergone rhinoplasty surgery or for supporting heavy equipment associated with eyeglasses used for surgical applications. The independent support member is easily attached to a head-engaging device and eyeglasses to enhance support of the eyeglasses.

According to the various features characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides partially fingered gloves intended to increase the overall performance in sports activities including but limited to football and golf. Primarily because of its unique finger configurations, and/or grip enhancers, and/or hand protective properties, the present invention makes a glove more operable in various sports activities.

An impact sensing device including a plurality of accelerometers orthogonally oriented with respect to each other and attachable at a body location, each capable of producing a signal indicative of an impact. An integrated circuit is configured to determine the magnitude and direction of the impact based on the signals and operative to activate an indicator when the magnitude exceeds a selected threshold based on the direction of the impact. A head injury coefficient is determined based on the magnitude and a duration of the impact, and the threshold level of acceleration is expressed in terms of a head injury coefficient value. The head injury coefficient value is determined by empirically correlating a head injury coefficient measured at the body location and a head injury coefficient measured at the center of mass of a human head resulting from an impact.

A personal protection device for protecting a user is described. The personal protection device can have an inflatable member having an internal chamber that can be inflated or deflated according to predetermined conditions.

A method and system for controlling ventilation in a welding helmet is provided. The invention may be adapted to a wide variety of system types, and may reduce or eliminate the need for a shroud or barrier around the head and neck of the welder, of the type used in PAPR systems. The airflow system includes forward and rearward air streams, directed onto the face of the welder, onto the top of the head of the welder, and toward the back of the head of the welder. The air streams help to cool the welder, provide a fresh source of air for breathing, and create a positive pressure system that reduces or excludes entrainment of contaminated external air into the forwardly directed air flow. Certain embodiments may include streams that are filtered, split or redirected via deflectors and conduits to achieve the aforementioned goals.

An orthopedic component for use in orthopedic device includes a rigid frame and a flexible subshell connected to and extending flexibly outwardly from the rigid frame. The subshell may have a shell body and a perimeter edge portion defining a lip extending outwardly from a surface of a shell body and defining a clearance between the shell body and the lip. The subshell may include a plurality of slots and ventilated padding is used in combination with the slots. A tightenable fastener may be adjustably secured to the rigid frame and extend through an opening on the subshell, wherein the first side portion of the subshell is adjustable in location relative to the rigid frame.

A content server generates sponsored audio including procedurally generated background music. The content server obtains reference music features describing musicological characteristics of reference songs as well as sponsored audio information received from a third-party. The content server determines music generation parameters based on the sponsored audio information and based on a music model mapping the reference music features to music generation parameters. The music model may incorporate machine learning techniques to improve the mapping. The content server generates background music by using the determined music generation parameters as input to a procedural music algorithm, and generates sponsored audio by combining the generated background music concurrently with an audio voiceover obtained from the sponsored audio information. The sponsored audio is provided to a client device, which presents the sponsored audio to a user.

A method for converting textual messages to musical messages comprising receiving a text input and receiving a musical input selection. The method includes analyzing the text input to determine text characteristics and analyzing a musical input corresponding to the musical input selection to determine musical characteristics. Based on the text characteristic and the musical characteristic, the method includes correlating the text input with the musical input to generate a synthesizer input, and sending the synthesizer input to a voice synthesizer. The method includes receiving a vocal rendering of the text input from the voice synthesizer and generating a musical message from the vocal rendering and the musical input. The method includes generating a video element based on a video input, incorporating the video element into the musical message, and outputting the musical message including the video element.

A structural support system with a means for capturing and channeling elements originating from an exterior surface is disclosed. More specifically, the support system not only creates a dry area under a deck but is also a load bearing component of the deck. The support system is multifunctional in that it alleviates the need for traditional joist-dependent construction methods while simultaneously providing an efficient and aesthetically pleasing structure for maintaining a useful, dry area under the deck. Advantageously, embodiments are scalable in that the system comprises a repeatable series of interlocking components operable to be customized to any foreseeable deck footprint or load bearing application.

Embodiments of the invention include insulated units and methods of producing the insulating units. The insulating units include a first surface, a structural seal disposed on at least portions of the first surface, and a second surface disposed on the structural seal. The structural seal includes the reaction product of at least one first isocyanate, at least one isocyanate reactive side, and at least one adhesion promoter including a reaction product of at least one secondary aminoalkoxy silane and at least one second isocyanate.