All The Claims

1. The method for repairing a damaged area on a surface of a vinylplastic panel comprising the steps of:
cleaning the surface;
identifying gross surface imperfections that extend outward from the outer surface;
melting the gross surface imperfections such that high points are reduced and low points are filled;
sanding the surface of the damaged area such that the damaged area is lower that the original surface;
cleaning the surface of the sanded damaged area;
filling the damaged area;
sanding the filled damaged area;
cleaning the surface of the damaged area;
allowing the damaged area to dry;
sealing the surface of the damaged area;
filling in minor imperfections in the surface of the damaged area;
sanding the sealed damaged area;
cleaning the damaged area; and
painting the damaged area such that the color and texture of the painted damaged area match the original color and texture of the plasticvinyl panel.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the low points are filled with molten plastic material from the panel.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein when the surface of the damaged area is sanded such that it is lower that the original surface, the abrasive used for the sanding is 220-grit or finer.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein a dual-oscillating sander is used for sanding the surface of the damaged area.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface of the damaged area is cleaned using 2000-grit wet sanding abrasive.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the surface of the damaged area is cleaned using the equivalent of a 2000-grit wet sanding abrasive.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the damaged area is filled using a urethane based polyester spot putty and the putty is allowed to cure before the filled damaged area is sanded.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the filled damaged area is sanded first with a 220-grit abrasive and then finish sanded with a 320 grit abrasive.
9. The method of claim 8 where a dual-oscillating sander is used for sanding the filled damaged area.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface of the damaged area is sealed by applying a first coat of non-lacquer based primer and the minor surface imperfections are filled by applying a second coat of the primer.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the sealed damaged area is sanded with a 600-grit abrasive.
12. The method of claim 11 where a dual-oscillating sander is used for sanding the sealed damaged area.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the damaged area is painted with a urethane based vinyl resin that is tinted to match the original color of the vinylplastic panel.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the amount of tint in the vinyl resin does not exceed ten grams of tint for every twenty-four grams of resin.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the damaged area is painted with a first medium-wet coat of paint, then a second medium wet coat that is over-sprayed to blend the texture of the paint with the original texture of the vinylplastic panel; and
sufficient subsequent coats of paint such that the color and texture of the painted damaged area match the original color and texture of the plasticvinyl panel.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the vinyl resin is applied using a high pressure low volume spray gun having a one millimeter tip, wherein the spray gun is pneumatic and the air pressure for operating the spay gun can be adjusted.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the vinyl resin is applied using an air pressure less than thirty pounds per square inch for the spray gun.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the distance between the spray gun and the vinylplastic panel during application of the resin is at least eight inches.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the distance between the spray gun and the vinylplastic panel during application of the resin is greater than eight inches.
20. The method for repairing a damaged area on a surface of a vinylplastic bumper of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:
cleaning the surface;
identifying gross surface imperfections that extend outward from the outer surface;
melting the gross surface imperfections such that high points are reduced and low points are filled with molten material from the bumper;
sanding the surface of the damaged area using an abrasive that is no coarser than 220-grit such that the damaged area is lower that the original surface;
cleaning the surface of the sanded damaged area by wet sanding it with a 2000-grit abrasive;
filling the damaged area using a non-lacquer based putty;
allowing the putty to cure;
sanding the filled damaged area are using an abrasive that is no coarser than 220-grit such that the damaged area is level with the remainder of the bumper;
sanding the filled damaged area are using an abrasive that is no coarser than 320-grit such that the damaged area is relatively smooth;
cleaning the surface of the damaged area;
allowing the damaged area to dry;
sealing the surface of the damaged area with a first thin coat of non-lacquer based primer that is applied with a pneumatic spray gun;
filling in minor imperfections in the surface of the damaged area with a second coat of primer that is thicker than the first thin coat of primer and is also applied with a pneumatic spray gun;
allowing the primed area to dry
sanding the sealed damaged area using an abrasive that is no coarser than 600-grit such that the damaged area is relatively smooth;
cleaning the damaged area;
painting the damaged area by applying a first medium-wet coat of a urethane based vinyl resin that is tinted to match the color of the vinylplastic bumper
using a high pressure low volume pneumatic spray gun having a spray nozzle no smaller than one millimeter and wherein the air pressure for operating the spray gun can be adjusted;
applying a second medium-wet coat of the urethane based vinyl resin that is over sprayed such that the texture of the paint is blended with the original texture of the vinylplastic bumper; and
applying sufficient subsequent coats of the urethane based vinyl resin such that the color and texture of the painted damaged area match the original color and texture of the plasticvinyl panel.
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. For use in a programmable logic device having a plurality of specialized processing blocks, each of said specialized processing blocks having at least four n-by-n multipliers arranged in four-multiplier units, a method of performing a signed 3n-by-3n multiplication operation, said method comprising:
performing a 2n-by-2n multiplication using four of said n-by-n multipliers in a first of said four-multiplier units;
performing an n-by-n multiplication using one of said n-by-n multipliers in a second of said four-multiplier units; and
performing first and second 2n-by-n multiplications in a third of said four-multiplier units, using two of said n-by-n multipliers for each of said 2n-by-n multiplications; wherein:
in each of said multiplications, multiplicands representing n most significant bits are treated as signed operands and multiplicands representing n least significant bits are forced to be unsigned; said method further comprising:
shifting a second partial product of each of said 2n-by-n multiplications to align it with a first partial product of each of said 2n-by-n multiplications for addition within said third four-multiplier unit; and
adding results of said multiplications from said first, second and third four-multiplier units.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said adding comprises adding said results in general-purpose programmable logic of said programmable logic device.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein:
said performing first and second 2n-by-n multiplications comprises, for each respective one of said first and second 2n-by-n multiplications:
performing a respective most significant bit multiplication using one said multiplier in said third four-multiplier unit to form a respective most significant bit partial product, and
performing a respective least significant bit multiplication using another said multiplier in said third four-multiplier unit to form a respective least significant bit partial product;
said shifting comprises shifting each respective most significant bit partial product to the left without shifting either respective least significant bit partial product; and
said addition within said third four-multiplier unit excludes further shifting of partial products.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising selecting control signals to perform said shifting and said addition without further shifting.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein each said specialized processing block comprises two said four-multiplier units.
6. A programmable logic device having a plurality of specialized processing blocks, each of said specialized processing blocks having at least four n-by-n multipliers arranged in four-multiplier units, said programmable logic device being configured to perform a signed 3n-by-3n multiplication operation and comprising:
four of said n-by-n multipliers in a first of said four-multiplier units configured to perform a 2n-by-2n multiplication;
one of said n-by-n multipliers in a second of said four-multiplier units configured to perform an n-by-n multiplication;
a third of said four-multiplier units configured to perform first and second 2n-by-n multiplications, using two of said n-by-n multipliers for each of said 2n-by-n multiplications;
circuitry at multiplicand inputs of at least one of said multipliers for selectably forcing at least one of said inputs to be unsigned;
a shifter configured to shift a second partial product of each of said 2n-by-n multiplications to align it with a first partial product of each of said 2n-by-n multiplications for addition within said third four-multiplier unit; and
circuitry configured to add results of said multiplications from said first, second and third four-multiplier units.
7. The configured programmable logic device of claim 6 wherein said adding comprises adding said results in general-purpose programmable logic of said programmable logic device.
8. The configured programmable logic device of claim 7 wherein:
said programmable logic device is configured to perform said first and second 2n-by-n multiplications by, for each respective one of said first and second 2n-by-n multiplications:
performing a respective most significant bit multiplication using one said multiplier in said third four-multiplier unit to form a respective most significant bit partial product, and
performing a respective least significant bit multiplication using another said multiplier in said third four-multiplier unit to form a respective least significant bit partial product;
said programmable logic device is configured to shift each respective most significant bit partial product to the left without shifting either respective least significant bit partial product; and
said circuitry configured to add excludes further shifting of partial products.
9. The configured programmable logic device of claim 8 further comprising selectors responsive to selection control signals to perform said shifting and said addition without further shifting.
10. The configured programmable logic device of claim 6 wherein each said specialized processing block comprises two said four-multiplier units.
11. The configured programmable logic device of claim 10 wherein said circuitry configured to add is located substantially within one said specialized processing block.
12. The configured programmable logic device of claim 6 wherein said circuitry for selectably forcing at least one of said inputs to be unsigned comprises a multiplexer at said multiplicand input, said multiplexer controllably selecting, for input to a sign control input associated with said multiplicand input, between a first signal forcing said multiplicand input to be unsigned, and a second signal representing sign information for said multiplicand input.
13. The configured programmable logic device of claim 6 wherein said circuitry for selectably forcing at least one of said inputs to be unsigned comprises one said multiplexer at at least one multiplicand input of each said multiplier.
14. The configured programmable logic device of claim 13 wherein said circuitry for selectably forcing at least one of said inputs to be unsigned comprises one said multiplexer at each multiplicand input of each said multiplier.
15. A data storage medium encoded with machine-executable instructions for performing a method of programmably configuring a programmable logic device to perform a signed 3n-by-3n multiplication operation, wherein said programmable logic device has a plurality of specialized processing blocks, each of said specialized processing blocks having at least four n-by-n multipliers arranged in four-multiplier units, said instructions comprising:
instructions for configuring four of said n-by-n multipliers in a first of said four-multiplier units to perform a 2n-by-2n multiplication;
instructions for configuring one of said n-by-n multipliers in a second of said four-multiplier units to perform an n-by-n multiplication;
instructions for configuring a third of said four-multiplier units to perform first and second 2n-by-n multiplications, using two of said n-by-n multipliers for each of said 2n-by-n multiplications;
instructions for configuring multiplicand inputs in any of said multiplications to be selectably treatable as signed operands or unsigned operands;
instructions for configuring a shifter to shift a second partial product of each of said 2n-by-n multiplications to align it with a first partial product of each of said 2n-by-n multiplications for addition within said third four-multiplier unit; and
instructions for configuring circuitry to add results of said multiplications from said first, second and third four-multiplier units.
16. The data storage medium of claim 15 wherein said instructions for configuring circuitry to add comprise instructions for configuring general-purpose programmable logic of said programmable logic device to add said results.
17. The data storage medium of claim 16 comprising:
instructions to configure said programmable logic device to perform said first and second 2n-by-n multiplications including, for each respective one of said first and second 2n-by-n multiplications:
instructions to configure said programmable logic device to perform a respective most significant bit multiplication using one said multiplier in said third four-multiplier unit to form a respective most significant bit partial product, and
instructions to configure said programmable logic device to perform a respective least significant bit multiplication using another said multiplier in said third four-multiplier unit to form a respective least significant bit partial product; and
instructions to configure said programmable logic device to perform to shift each respective most significant bit partial product to the left without shifting either respective least significant bit partial product; wherein:
said instructions to configure said circuitry to add excludes further shifting of partial products.
18. The data storage medium of claim 17 wherein said instructions further comprise instructions to configure selectors responsive to selection control signals to perform said shifting and said addition without further shifting.
19. The data storage medium of claim 15 wherein said instructions are for configuring a programmable logic device wherein each said specialized processing block comprises two said four-multiplier units.
20. The data storage medium of claim 19 wherein said instructions configure said circuitry to add substantially within one said specialized processing block.
21. The data storage medium of claim 15 wherein said instructions for configuring multiplicand inputs in any of said multiplications to be selectably treatable as signed operands or unsigned operands include instructions for configuring a respective multiplexer at each respective said multiplicand input, each said respective multiplexer being configured to controllably select, for input to a sign control input associated with said respective multiplicand input, between a first signal forcing said multiplicand input to be unsigned, and a second signal representing sign information for said multiplicand input.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism for mowing grass to remove grass clippings therefrom and imparting a semi-permanent substantially uniform bend to the mown grass, the mechanism including a wheel-supported frame adapted for movement in forward and rearward directions over ground having grass thereon, a source of power at least partially supported on the frame, a cutting device supported on the frame and drivingly connected to the power source such that a swath of mown grass having a generally uniform width substantially equal to the width of the cutting device, the improvement comprising:
at least one brush including bristles of generally uniform size and shape, thickness, length and flexibility affixed to the cutting device, the brush being located rearward of the cutting device and extending generally across the swath of mown grass, the brush further being adjustable vertically relative to the cutting device such that the bristles may be adjusted into and out of interference with the swath of mown grass, whereby the bristles flex rearwardly when traveling in the forward direction and impart a forward bend to the swath of cut grass, and flex forwardly without raising the wheel-supported frame when the direction of travel is changed to reverse.
2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein:
the cutting device comprises at least one generally horizontally rotatable cutting blade, the cutting blade supported within an open-bottomed enclosure and defining the width of the swath of mown grass and an outside edge thereof; and
the brush is affixed to the enclosure.
3. The improvement of claim 2, wherein:
the bristles of the brush are in the range of 1 to 6 inches in length.
4. The improvement of claim 3, wherein:
the bristles are made of polypropylene.
5. The improvement of claim 3, wherein:
the mechanism for mowing is a four-wheeled lawn tractor and the cutting device is a mower deck with at least two mower blades, the mower deck having two opposing sides each of which includes at least one deck wheel assembly, vertically adjustable relative to said at least two mower blades, and one of which includes a discharge chute through which grass clippings are ejected.
6. The improvement of claim 5, wherein:
the lawn tractor has a longitudinal center-line; and
at least two of the four wheels of the lawn tractor are rearward of the mower deck and the brush and are spaced apart from each other generally equidistant from the longitudinal center-line of the tractor, one of the at least two wheels being generally adjacent the discharge chute of the mower deck and the other remote therefrom.
7. The improvement of claim 6, wherein:
the at least one brush comprises first and second brushes;
the first brush located forward of the two wheels rearward of the mower deck and generally perpendicular to the planes of rotation thereof when the tractor is moving forward in a generally straight line; and
the second brush extending generally parallel to the first brush and also located forward of the two wheels rearward of the mower deck, the second brush extending from the wheel adjacent the discharge chute of the mower deck to the outside edge of the swath of mown grass, neither of the first and second brushes located significantly in the path of either of the wheels rearward of the mower deck.
8. The mechanism for mowing grass of claim 7, wherein:
said second brush is affixed to said deck wheel assembly remote from said discharge chute, whereby vertical adjustment of said deck wheel assembly also vertically adjusts said second brush.
9. The improvement of claim 8, wherein:
the bristles are made of polypropylene.
10. The improvement of claim 2, wherein:
the brush is adjustably affixed to the enclosure by at least two spaced-apart hand manipulated knobs, whereby the brush may be vertically adjusted with relative ease by an operator.
11. A mechanism for mowing grass to remove grass clippings therefrom and imparting a semi-permanent substantially uniform bend to the mown grass, the mechanism comprising:
a frame having a front end defining a forward direction, and an opposing rear end defining a rearward direction, said frame being supported by a pair of steerable front wheels and a pair of rear wheels;
an engine supported on said frame and adapted to provide motive power to move the mechanism for mowing grass across the ground in said forward and rearward directions;
a cutting device supported by said frame and including an open-bottomed enclosure with generally horizontal rotatable cutting blades supported therein, said engine providing power to said cutting blades, said cutting blades defining a swath of mown grass with opposing edges corresponding to the edges of the swath of grass mown; and
at least one brush affixed to said enclosure and having bristles of a generally uniform thickness, length and flexibility, said at least one brush being vertically adjustable relative to said enclosure into and out of interference with the swath of mown grass and having a brush width confined by said opposing edges, whereby said bristles flex rearwardly when traveling in said forward direction and impart a forward bend to the swath of mown grass, and flex forwardly without raising said wheels off the ground when the direction of travel is changed to said rearward direction.
12. The mechanism for mowing grass of claim 11, wherein:
said enclosure is a mower deck having two opposing sides each of which includes at least one deck wheel assembly, vertically adjustable relative to said cutting blades, and one of which includes a discharge chute through which grass clippings are ejected.
13. The mechanism for mowing grass of claim 12, wherein:
said mechanism for mowing grass has a longitudinal center-line;
said pair of rear wheels are located rearward of said mower deck and brush and are spaced apart from each other generally equidistant from the longitudinal center-line of the tractor, one of the at least two wheels being generally adjacent said discharge chute of said mower deck and the other remote therefrom; and
said at least one brush comprises first and second brushes.
14. The mechanism for mowing grass of claim 13, wherein:
said first brush is located forward of said rear wheels rearward of the mower deck and generally perpendicular to the planes of rotation of said rear wheels when the mechanism for mowing is moving forward in a generally straight line; and
said second brush extends generally parallel to said first brush and is also located forward of said rear wheels rearward of the mower deck, said second brush extending from said plane of rotation of said wheel adjacent the discharge chute of the mower deck to the edge of the swath of mown grass remote from said discharge chute.
15. The mechanism for mowing grass of claim 14, wherein:
the bristles of said brushes are in the range of 1 to 6 inches in length.
16. The mechanism for mowing grass of claim 15, wherein:
said second brush is affixed to said deck wheel assembly remote from said discharge chute, whereby vertical adjustment of said deck wheel assembly also vertically adjusts said second brush.
17. The mechanism for mowing grass of claim 12, wherein:
said second brush is affixed to said deck wheel assembly remote from said discharge chute, whereby vertical adjustment of said deck wheel assembly also vertically adjusts said second brush.
18. A mechanism for mowing grass to remove grass clippings therefrom and imparting a semi-permanent substantially uniform bend to the mown grass, the mechanism comprising:
a frame having a front end defining a forward direction, and an opposing rear end defining a rearward direction, said frame being supported by a pair of steerable front wheels and a pair of rear wheels;
an engine supported on said frame and adapted to provide motive power to move the mechanism for mowing grass across the ground in said forward and rearward directions;
a cutting device supported by said frame and including an open-bottomed enclosure with generally horizontal rotatable cutting blades supported therein, said engine providing power to said cutting blades, said cutting blades defining a swath of mown grass with opposing edges corresponding to the edges of the swath of grass mown; and
at least one brush assembly affixed to said enclosure, said brush comprising:
an elongate generally straight bracket member and a brush member hinged thereto such that said brush member may pivot in a forward arc when the mechanism for mowing grass moves in a rearward direction and may pivot to a generally vertical position when the mechanism for mowing grass moves in a forward direction;
said brush member having bristles of a generally uniform thickness, length and flexibility, said brush assembly being vertically adjustable relative to said enclosure into and out of interference with the swath of mown grass and having a brush length confined by said opposing edges, whereby said bristles flex rearwardly when traveling in said forward direction and impart a forward bend to the swath of mown grass, and pivot in said forward arc without raising said wheels off the ground when the direction of travel is changed to said rearward direction.
19. The mechanism for mowing of claim 18, wherein:
said bracket member is adjustably affixed to the enclosure by at least two spaced-apart hand manipulated knobs, whereby the brush may be vertically adjusted with relative ease by an operator.
20. A method of mowing grass and imparting a semi-permanent substantially uniform bend to the mown grass, comprising the steps of:
a. providing a mower having a front end defining a forward direction, and an opposing rear end defining a rearward direction, the mower supported by a plurality of ground-engaging wheels and including a cutting mechanism for cutting grass to a selective length, a source of motive power to move the mower across the ground in said forward and rearward directions and to empower the cutting mechanism;
b. providing an elongate brush assembly having bristles of a generally uniform thickness, length and flexibility and affixing it at the rear of the cutting mechanism such that it is vertically adjustable into and out of interference with the mown grass;
c. adjusting the cutting mechanism to cut the grass to a selective length;
d. adjusting the brush assembly so that the bristles engage the mown grass and flex rearwardly when the mower is moving in the forward direction and impart a forward bend to the mown grass; and
e. not allowing the ground-engaging wheels of the mower to raise off the ground when the direction of travel is reversed.
21. The method of claim 20, further including the step of:
selecting the material, diameter, thickness and length of the bristles of the brush such that the bristles flex rearwardly when traveling in the forward direction, and flex forwardly without raising the ground-engaging wheels when the direction of travel is changed to reverse.
22. The method of claim 21, further including the step of:
selecting polypropylene as the bristle material, and the length in the range of 1 to 6 inches.
23. The method of claim 22, further including the step of:
selecting the length of the bristles as approximately 3 inches.
24. The method of claim 20, wherein:
the brush assembly comprises:
an elongate generally straight bracket member and a brush member hinged thereto such that the brush member may pivot in a forward arc when the mechanism for mowing grass moves in a rearward direction and may pivot to a generally vertical position when the mechanism for mowing grass moves in a forward direction, whereby the bristles flex rearwardly, and pivot in the forward arc without raising the ground-engaging wheels off the ground when the direction of travel is changed to the rearward direction.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-27. (Cancelled)
28. A process for depositing a zinc alloy protective coating on aluminum or aluminum based alloy substrates which comprises
(A) Immersing an aluminum or aluminum based alloy substrate in an aqueous acidic immersion plating solution having a pH of from about 3.5 to about 6.5 and comprising zinc ions, nickel andor cobalt ions, fluoride ions and at least one inhibitor containing one or more nitrogen atoms, one or more sulfur atoms, or both sulfur and nitrogen atoms provided the solution is free of cyanide ions for a period of time sufficient to deposit the desired coating, and
(B) removing the coated substrate from the immersion plating solution.
29. The process of claim 28 wherein the surface of the aluminum or aluminum based alloy Is cleaned, etched and desmutted prior to immersion in the immersion plating solution.
30. The process of claim 29 wherein the cleaning is performed with an alkaline, acidic, or solvent deaner, and the etching is performed with an alkaline or acid etching solution.
31. The process of claim 29 wherein the aluminum or aluminum based alloy is rinsed with water after each of the cleaning, etching, desmutting, and immersion plating steps.
32. A process for depositing a zinc alloy protective coating on aluminum or aluminum based alloy substrate which comprises
(A) immersing the substrate In an aqueous acidic Immersion plating solution having a pH of from about 3.5 to about 6.5 and comprising:
from about 1 to about 150 gl of zinc ions,
from about 5 to about 250 gl of nickel andor cobalt ions, and
from about 0.005 to about 100 gl of fluoride ions provided the solution is free of cyanide ions, for a period of time sufficient to deposit the desired coating, and

(B) removing the coated substrate from the immersion plating solution.
33. The process of claim 32 wherein the surface of the substrate is cleaned, etched and desmutted prior to immersion In the immersion plating solution.
34. The process of claim 33 wherein the cleaning is performed with an alkaline, acidic or solvent cleaner, and the etching is performed with an alkaline or acid etching solution.
35. The process of claim 34 wherein the substrate is rinsed with water after each of the cleaning, etching, desmutting, and immersion plating steps.
36. A process for depositing a zinc alloy protective coating on aluminum or aluminum based alloy substrate which comprises
(A) immersing the substrate in an aqueous acidic immersion plating solution having a pH of from about 4 to about 6 and comprising:
from about 10 to about 30 gl of zinc ions,
from about 20 to about 50 gl of nickel andor cobalt ions,
from about 0.5 to about 10 gl of fluoride ions, and
from about 0.005 to about 0.05 gl of an inhibitor containing one or more nitrogen atoms, one or more sulfur atoms, or both sulfur and nitrogen atoms for a period of time suffident to deposit the desired coating, and

(B) removing the coated substrate from the immersion plating solution.
37. The process of claim 36 wherein the surface of the substrate is cleaned, etched and desmutted prior to immersion in the immersion plating solution.
38. The process of claim 37 wherein the cleaning is performed with an alkaline, acidic, or solvent cleaner, and the etching Is performed with alkaline or acid etching solution.
39. The process of claim 37 wherein the substrate is rinsed with water after each of the cleaning, etching, desmutting, immersion plating steps.
40. A process for depositing a metal coating on an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate comprising
(A) applying an immersion zinc alloy protective coating on the substrate by immersing the substrate in an aqueous acidic Immersion plating solution having a pH of from about 3.5 to about 6.5 and comprising zinc ions, nickel andor cobalt ions, fluoride ions and at least one inhibitor containing one or more nitrogen atoms, one or more sulfur atoms, or both sulfur and nitrogen atoms provided the solution is free of cyanide ions for a period of time sufficient to deposit the desired coating, and
(B) plating the zinc alloy coated substrate using an electroless or electrolytic metal plating solution.
41. The process of claim 40 wherein the surface of the substrate is subjected to cleaning, acid etching and desmutting, prior to immersion in the immersion plating solution.
42. The process of claim 41 wherein the cleaning is performed with an alkaline, acidic, or solvent cleaner, and the etching is performed with alkaline or acid etching solution.
43. A process for depositing a metal coating on an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate comprising
(A) applying an immersion zinc alloy protective coating on the substrate by immersing the substrate in an aqueous acidic immersion plating solution having a pH of from about 3.5 to about 6.5 and comprising:
from about 1 to about 150 gl of zinc ions,
from about 5 to about 250 gl of nickel andor cobalt ions, and
from about 0.005 to about 100 gl of fluoride ions provided the solution Is free of cyanide ions, for a period of time sufficient to deposit the desired coating, and

(B) plating the zinc alloy coated substrate using an electrdiess or electrolytic metal plating solution.
44. The process of claim 43 wherein the surface of the substrate is subjected to alkaline, acidic or solvent cleaning, acid etching and desmutting, prior to immersion In the Immersion plating solution.
45. The process of claim 44 wherein the cleaning is performed with an alkaline cleaner, and the etching is performed with alkaline or acid etching solution.
46-49. (Cancelled)
50. The process of claim 28 wherein the plating solution also contains one or more metal complexing agents.
51. The process of claim 28 wherein the plating solution also contains one or more add itional metal ions selected from copper ions, iron ions, manganese ions, magnesium ions and zirconium ions.
52. The process of claim 28 wherein the inhibitor is selected from nitrogen-containing disulfides; alkali metal thiocyanates; thiocarbamates; nitrogen-contalning heterocydlic compounds; mercapto substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds; thioacids; thialcohols; compounds characterized by the formula
R2N\u2014C(S)Y \u2003\u2003I

wherein each R is independently hydrogen or an alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl group, and Y is X R1, NR2 or N(H)NR2; wherein X is O or S and R1 is hydrogen or an alkali metal; and mixtures thereof.
53. The process of claim 28 wherein the inhibitor is a thiourea compound represented by the formula:
R2N2CS \u2003\u2003II

wherein each R is independently hydrogen or an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group.
54. The process of claim 28 wherein the inhibitor is at least one nitrogen containing heterocyclic compound or mercapto substituted nitrogen containing heterocyclic compound, or mixtures thereof.
55. The process of claim 54 wherein the heterocyclic compound is selected from pyrroles, imidazoles, benzimidazoles, pyrazoles, triazoles, pyridines, piperazines, pyrazines, piperidines, pyrimidines, thiazoles, thiazolines, thiazolidines, rhodamines, and morpholines.
56. The process of claim 54 wherein the inhibitor is a mercapto substituted nitrogen containing heterocyclic compound.
57. The process of claim 28 wherein the plating solution contains
from about 1 to about 150 gl of zinc ions, and
from about 5 to about 250 gl of nickel andor cobalt ions.
58. The process of claim 54 wherein the plating solution also contains from about 0.0005 to about 5 gl of an inhibitor containing one or more nitrogen atoms, one or more sulfur atoms, or both sulfur and nitrogen atoms.
59. The process of claim 28 wherein the plating solution is free of aliphatic amines and aliphatic hydroxylamines.
60. The process of claim 32 wherein the plating solution also contains from about 0.005 to about 100 gl of an inhibitor containing one or more nitrogen atoms, one or more sulfur atoms, or both sulfur and nitrogen atoms.
61. The process of claim 32 wherein the plating solution also contains at least one metal complexing agent.
62. The process of claim 61 wherein the metal complexing agent is selected from an acetate, citrate, glycollate, lactate, maleate, pyrophosphate, tartrate, gluconate, or glucoheptonate, and mixtures thereof.
63. The process of claim 60 wherein the inhibitor is selected from nitrogen-containing disulfides, alkali metal thiocyanates, alkali metal thiocarbamates, nitrogen-oontaining heterocyclic compounds, mercapto substituted nitrogencontaining heterocyclic compounds, thioacids, thioalcohols, compounds characterized by the formula
R2N\u2014C(S)Y \u2003\u2003I

wherein each R is independently hydrogen or an alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl group, and Y Is XR1, NR2 or N(H)NR2, wherein X is O or S and R1 is hydrogen or an alkali metal and mixtures thereof.
64. The process of claim 60 wherein the inhibitor is a thiourea compound represented by the formula:
R2N2CS \u2003\u2003II

wherein each R is independently hydrogen or an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group.
65. The process of claim 60 wherein the inhibitor is at least one nitrogen containing heterocyclic compound or a mercapto substituted nitrogen containing heterocyclic compound or mixtures thereof.
66. The process of claim 65 wherein the heterocyclic compound is selected from pyrroles, imidazoles, pyrazoles, triazoles, tetrazoles, thiazoles. thiazolines, thiazolidines, pyridines, piperazines, pyrazines, piperidines, pyrimidines, and morpholines.
67. The process of claim 60 wherein the inhibitor is a mercapto substituted nitrogen containing heterocyclic compound.
68. The process of claim 32 wherein the plating solution has a pH of from about 4 to about 6.
69. The process of claim 32 wherein the plating solution also contains one or more metal ions selected from copper ions, iron ions, manganese Ions, magnesium ions and zirconium ions.
70. The process of claim 32 wherein the plating solution Is free of aliphatic amines and aliphatic hydroxylamines.
71. The process of claim 36 wherein the plating solution also contains from about 1 to about 250 gl of at least one metal complexing agent.
72. The process of claim 36 wherein the inhibitor is a mercapto substituted nitrogen containing heterocyclic compound.