Author: claimsbot

We claim:

1. An offset printing apparatus for transferring a phase change ink onto a print medium comprising:
a) a phase change ink component for applying a phase change ink in a phase change ink image;
b) an imaging member for accepting said phase change ink image from said phase change ink component, and transferring the phase change ink image from said imaging member to said print medium, the imaging member comprising:
i) an imaging substrate, and thereover
ii) an outer coating comprising a mica-type silicate material.
2. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mica-type silicate material comprises a mica-type layered silicate and a silicone elastomer, said silicone elastomer and said mica-type layered silicate together forming a delaminated nanocomposite.
3. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mica-type silicate has a general formula:
W2(X,Y)4-6Z8O20(OH,F)4
where W is potassium; X is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, iron and lithium; Y is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, iron or lithium; and Z is selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum and mixtures thereof.
4. The offset printing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said mica-type silicate is selected from the group consisting of muscovite, phlogopite, biotite, lepidolite, montmorillonite, bentonite, hectorite, vermiculite and saponite.
5. The offset printing apparatus of claim 2, wherein said mica-type layered silicate is present in the outer coating layer in an amount of from about 1 to about 50 weight percent based on the weight of the silicone elastomer.
6. The offset printing apparatus of claim 5, wherein said mica-type layered silicate is present in the outer coating layer in an amount of from about 5 to about 20 weight percent based on the weight of the silicone elastomer.
7. The offset printing apparatus of claim 2, wherein said silicone elastomer is a polyorganosiloxane.
8. The offset printing apparatus of claim 7,
wherein said polyorganosiloxane has the following formula:
4
wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, and aryl; A is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy and vinyl; B is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy and vinyl; and 0<mn<about 1, and mn>about 350.
9. The offset printing apparatus of claim 8, wherein A and B are vinyl.
10. The offset printing apparatus of claim 7, wherein said polyorganosiloxane is a silanol-terminated polydimethylsiloxane having the following formula:
5
where n is an integer of from about 350 to about 2,700.
11. The image forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein said polyorganosiloxane is an addition-cured polyorganosiloxane having the following formula:
6
wherein s and r are integers and 0<sr<1; A is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, hydride, vinyl, and amine; B is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, hydride, vinyl, and amine; and R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, phenyl, and vinyl.
12. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein an intermediate layer is positioned between said substrate and said outer coating.
13. The offset printing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said intermediate layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of elastomers and silicone materials.
14. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer layer comprises a filler.
15. The offset printing apparatus of claim 14, wherein said filler is selected from the group consisting of carbon blacks, metal oxides, metals, polymers, ceramics, and mixtures thereof.
16. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said phase change ink is solid at about 25 C.
17. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said phase change ink comprises a dye.
18. An offset printing apparatus for printing a phase change ink onto a print medium comprising:
a) a phase change ink component for applying a phase change ink in a phase change ink image;
b) an imaging member for accepting said phase change ink image from said phase change ink component, and transferring the phase change ink image from said imaging member to said print medium and for fixing the phase change ink image to said print medium, the imaging member comprising in order:
i) an imaging substrate,
ii) an intermediate layer, and
iii) an outer coating comprising a mica-type silicate material; and

c) a heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.
19. An offset printing apparatus comprising:
a) a phase change ink component containing a phase change ink;
b) a imaging member comprising:
i) a substrate, and thereover
ii) an outer coating comprising a mica-type silicate material; and

c) a heating member associated with said offset printing apparatus, wherein said phase change ink component dispenses said phase change ink onto said imaging member, and wherein said phase change ink is solid at about 25 C.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method comprising:
receiving an explicit identification of a topic for association with a neighborhood;
creating a neighborhood in association with the explicitly identified topic;
gathering neighborhood information related to the neighborhood from sources related to the topic; and
providing access to the neighborhood via a neighborhood link on a webpage.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the neighborhood information sources include at least one item of the group: merchandising, blogs, guides, reviews, people, and photos.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 including inviting users to join the neighborhood.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 including inviting users to suggest additional neighborhood content sources for the neighborhood.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 including inviting users to vote for a favored neighborhood.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 including pruning an under-performing neighborhood.
7. A method comprising:
obtaining user behavior or interest information;
correlating the user behavior or interest information with a dynamically detected topic;
creating a neighborhood in association with the dynamically detected topic;
gathering neighborhood information related to the neighborhood from sources related to the topic; and
providing access to the neighborhood via a neighborhood link on a webpage.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the neighborhood information sources include at least one item of the group: merchandising, blogs, guides, reviews, people, and photos.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7 including inviting users to join the neighborhood.
10. The method as claimed in claim 7 including inviting users to suggest additional neighborhood content sources for the neighborhood.
11. The method as claimed in claim 7 including inviting users to vote for a favored neighborhood.
12. The method as claimed in claim 7 including pruning an under-performing neighborhood.
13. An apparatus comprising:
a neighborhood generator configured to:
receive an explicit identification of a topic for association with a neighborhood;
create a neighborhood in association with the explicitly identified topic;
gather neighborhood information related to the neighborhood from sources related to the topic; and
provide access to the neighborhood via a neighborhood link on a webpage.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the neighborhood information sources include at least one item of the group: merchandising, blogs, guides, reviews, people, and photos.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 being further configured to invite users to join the neighborhood.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 being further configured to invite users to suggest additional neighborhood content sources for the neighborhood.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 being further configured to invite users to vote for a favored neighborhood.
18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 being further configured to prune an under-performing neighborhood.
19. An apparatus comprising:
a neighborhood generator configured to:
obtain user behavior or interest information;
correlate the user behavior or interest information with a dynamically detected topic;
create a neighborhood in association with the dynamically detected topic;
gather neighborhood information related to the neighborhood from sources related to the topic; and
provide access to the neighborhood via a neighborhood link on a webpage.
20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the neighborhood information sources include at least one item of the group: merchandising, blogs, guides, reviews, people, and photos.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 being further configured to invite users to join the neighborhood.
22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 being further configured to invite users to suggest additional neighborhood content sources for the neighborhood.
23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 being further configured to invite users to vote for a favored neighborhood.
24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 being further configured to prune an under-performing neighborhood.
25. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
receive an explicit identification of a topic for association with a neighborhood;
create a neighborhood in association with the explicitly identified topic;
gather neighborhood information related to the neighborhood from sources related to the topic; and
provide access to the neighborhood via a neighborhood link on a webpage.
26. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
obtain user behavior or interest information;
correlate the user behavior or interest information with a dynamically detected topic;
create a neighborhood in association with the dynamically detected topic;
gather neighborhood information related to the neighborhood from sources related to the topic; and
provide access to the neighborhood via a neighborhood link on a webpage.

1. A rotary knob assembly for a home appliance, the assembly comprising:
a rotary switch having an encoder and a shaft rotatably installed at the encoder;
a knob coupled to the shaft of the rotary switch; and
a support member provided around the rotary switch to support the rotary switch, wherein the support member is configured to support a side portion of the rotary switch.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member supports the rotary switch so as not to be damaged by a force applied to a side surface thereof.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member supports the rotary switch or the knob so as not be shaken.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed normal to the side of the rotary switch.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed to enclose at least a portion of the rotary switch.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is configured to entirely enclose the rotary switch.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is configured to support a side portion of the encoder.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed normal to the side portion of the encoder.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is closely in contact with the side portion of the encoder.
10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member has a first rib configured to support at least a portion of the side portion of the encoder.
11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first rib is formed normal to the side portion of the encoder.
12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first rib is formed to entirely enclose the side portion of the encoder.
13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member has a first extension part extending along the encoder to support the encoder.
14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the first extension part supports the side portion of the encoder.
15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the first extension part is formed to enclose the side portion of the encoder.
16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is configured to support the shaft.
17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed normal to the circumferential portion of the shaft.
18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member has a predetermined clearance with respect to the circumferential portion of the shaft.
19. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member has a second rib configured to support at least a portion of the circumferential portion of the shaft.
20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the second rib is formed normal to the circumferential portion of the shaft.
21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the second rib is formed to support an upper portion of the encoder.
22. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the second rib is formed to enclose the circumferential portion of the shaft.
23. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member has a second extension part extending along the shaft to support the shaft.
24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the second extension part is formed to enclose the shaft.
25. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the second extension part further extends to reach the knob.
26. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the knob has a boss coupled to the shaft and a reinforcing rib for supporting the boss, and the second extension part is configured to support the boss.
27. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the knob has a boss coupled to the shaft and a reinforcing rib for supporting the boss, and the second extension part is configured to support the reinforcing rib.
28. The assembly of claim 27, wherein the reinforcing rib has a flat portion supported by the second extension part.
29. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is further configured to support the knob.
30. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is configured to support at least one lamp disposed around the knob for displaying an operation status of the home appliance.
31. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the support member has a housing for accommodating the lamp.
32. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mount member is a substrate.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A cladding system comprising: a panel for cladding a wall, the panel comprising a core of woven and non-woven glass impregnated with resin and a surface finish of paper, foil or other fire rated material and melamine resin; a first edge support member for supporting a first edge of the panel in position adjacent the wall; and a second edge support member for supporting a second edge of the panel in a position adjacent the wall; wherein the panel is configured to be supported by said first and second edge support members.
2. The cladding system of claim 1, wherein the panel is configured to be flexed to be fitted to pre-installed first and second edge support members.
3. The cladding system of claim 1, wherein the panel is configured to be fitted to a pre-installed first edge support member and wherein the second edge support member is configured to be installed following fitting of the panel to the first edge support member.
4. The cladding system of claim 1, wherein the panel comprises Micam LSM21 or Micam EM42.
5. The cladding system of claim 1, wherein the first edge support member has a cupping portion for receiving a first edge of the panel and an attachment portion for attachment to the wall.
6. The cladding system of claim 1, wherein the second edge support member has a cupping portion for receiving a second edge of the panel and an attachment portion for attachment to the wall.
7. The cladding system of claim 1, further comprising an attachment element configured to attach a non-edge portion of the panel to a wall.
8. The cladding system of claim 7, wherein the attachment element comprises a wall attached portion and a panel attached portion, the two portions being co-operable to attach the panel to the wall.
9. The cladding system of claim 8, wherein the attachment element comprises a two-part interlocking mushroom head type fastener.
10. The cladding system of claim 7, wherein the attachment element is configured to inhibit flexing of an installed panel.
11. The cladding system of claim 1, further comprising a second panel and a panel joining member for connecting the panels.
12. The cladding system of claim 11, wherein the panel joining member comprises first and second co-operable elements, one element being associated with each panel.
13. The cladding system of claim 11, wherein the panel joining member comprises first and second panel attachment portions interconnected by an angled portion, the panel joining member being configured to join non-parallel panels.
14. The cladding system of claim 1 for cladding a curved surface, wherein said panel is sufficiently flexible to bend to the curvature of the surface.
15. The cladding system of claim 14, comprising a plurality of said panels, each panel being sufficiently flexible to bend to the curvature of the surface, the panels being configured to be affixed to one-another to form a multi-layer composite panel.
16. A method of cladding a surface with panelling, the method comprising:
attaching a first panel support member to the surface, the first panel support member being configured to receive at least a part of a first edge of a panel comprising a core of woven and non-woven glass impregnated with resin and a surface finish of paper and melamine resin:
placing the first edge in a position of co-operative reception with the first panel support member; and
placing a second edge of the panel substantially opposite the first edge in a position of co-operative reception with a second panel support member, the second panel support member being configured to be attached to the surface.
17. The method claim 16, wherein the second panel support member is attached to the surface prior to the placing of the second edge in a position of co-operative reception therewith, the method further comprising:
following placing the first edge in the position of co-operative reception with the first panel support member, flexing the panel to enable the second edge to be placed in a position of co-operative reception with the second panel support member; and
de-flexing the panel such that the panel is supported by the first and second support members.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second support member is attached to the surface after the placing of the second edge in a position of co-operative reception therewith.
19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
using a tertiary support member to releasably secure the panel into position after fitting.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the tertiary support member comprises first and second co-operable elements, the method further comprising:
attaching the first element to the surface;
attaching the second element to the panel; and
applying pressure to the panel to cause co-operation between the elements after de-flexing the panel.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein the surface is a wall.
22. The method of claim 16, wherein the panel comprises Micam LSM21 or Micam EM42.
23. The method of claim 16, further comprising joining a further panel using a panel joining member.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the panel joining member comprises first and second co-operable elements, one element being associated with each panel the method comprising placing the panels in alignment and causing co-operable portions of the first and second elements to interact to releasably secure the panels together.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the panel joining member comprises first and second panel attachment portions and a connection portion, wherein the method further comprises,
attaching the panel joining member to a first panel;
attaching the second panel to a second surface not-parallel to the first surface and
attaching the second panel to the panel joining member.
26. The method of claim 16, for cladding a curved surface, the method further comprising flexing the panel to bend to the curvature of the surface.
27. The method of claim 26, comprising affixing a plurality of said panels to one-another in said flexed configuration to form a multi-layer composite panel.
28. A wall system comprising: a first panel, having at least a female connection member; and a second panel, having at least a male connection member; each of said first and second panels comprising a core of woven and non-woven glass impregnated with resin and a surface finish of paper, foil or other decorative fire rated material and melamine resin; wherein the first panel and second panel can be releasably connected by co-operative interaction between said respective female and male connection members.
29-35. (canceled)