All The Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A patient distance sensing system, comprising:
a rigid frame;
at least one inflatable chamber supported upon said rigid frame, wherein said at least one inflatable chamber forms a patient support surface;
a heterodyning proximation detector device operably configured generally adjacent said at least one inflatable chamber for detecting the distance of a patient in relation to said at least one inflatable chamber; and,
an air supply for providing a flow of air pressure to said at least one inflatable chamber, said air supply controllable by said heterodyning proximation detector device for varying the flow of air pressure to said at least one inflatable chamber, wherein said heterodyning proximation detector device maintains said at least one inflatable chamber at an optimal pressure.
2. The patient distance sensing system in claim 1, further comprising at least one force responsive distance sensing device disposed adjacent at least a portion of at least one inflatable chamber, wherein said at least one force responsive distance sensing device is operable to detect patient compressive forces, wherein said patient compressive forces alter the height of said patient support surface.
3. The patient distance sensing system in claim 1, further comprising at least one light responsive distance sensing device disposed adjacent at least a portion of at least one inflatable chamber, wherein said at least one light responsive distance sensing device is a deformable chamber operable to detect patient compressive forces, wherein said patient compressive forces alter the height of said patient support surface.
4. The patient distance sensing system in claim 1, wherein said at least one inflatable chamber is a plurality of inflatable chambers, the uppers surfaces of said plurality of inflatable chambers forming a patient support surface.
5. The patient distance sensing system in claim 1, wherein said heterodyning proximation detector device is a plurality of heterodyning proximation detector devices.
6. The light responsive distance sensing device in claim 3, wherein said deformable chamber includes a light emitting device attached to said deformable chamber at a position opposite a light detecting device attached to said deformable chamber, said light emitting device operably configured to emit light into the internal space of said deformable chamber and said emitted light being detected by said light detecting device, wherein deformation of said deformable chamber by patient compressive forces alters the quantity of emitted light received by said light detecting device, said alteration in detected light converted into a signal which thereby controls pressurized air flow to at least a portion of said air mattress.
7. The light responsive distance sensing device in claim 3, wherein said deformable chamber has an inner surface constructed of a light diffusing material.
8. The force responsive device in claim 2, wherein said force responsive distance sensing device includes a force transmitting member coupled to at least one force sensing resistor, said force transmitting member exerting force upon said at least one force sensing resistor in response to patient compressive forces, said at least one force sensing resistor converting said patient compressive forces into a signal which thereby controls pressurized air flow to at least a portion of said air mattress.
9. A patient distance sensing system, comprising:
a rigid frame;
at least one inflatable chamber supported upon said rigid frame, wherein said at least one inflatable chamber forms a patient support surface;
a heterodyning proximation detector device operably configured generally adjacent said at least one inflatable chamber for detecting the distance of a patient in relation to said at least one inflatable chamber;
a force responsive distance sensing device disposed adjacent at least a portion of at least one inflatable chamber, wherein said at least one force responsive distance sensing device is operable to detect patient induced changes in the height of said patient support surface;
a light responsive distance sensing device located generally adjacent said patient support surface, wherein said at least one light responsive distance sensing device is a deformable chamber operable to detect patient induced changes in the height of said patient support surface; and,
an air supply for providing a flow of air pressure to said at least one inflatable chamber, said air supply cooperatively controlled by said heterodyning proximation detector device, said force responsive distance sensing device, and said light responsive distance sensing device for varying the flow of air pressure to said at least one inflatable chamber, wherein said at least one inflatable chamber is maintained at an optimal pressure.
10. A method for regulating the inflation of an air mattress assembly, comprising:
deflating an inflatable air mattress assembly to a substantially deflated condition;
measuring and storing the distance from at least one heterodyning proximation detector to a patient, said inflatable air mattress assembly in a deflated condition;
initiating inflation of said inflatable air mattress assembly when said heterodyning proximation detector detects said patient approaching through space said inflatable air mattress assembly;
placing said patient on patient surface of said air mattress assembly;
measuring and storing the minimum height distance from the heterodyning proximation detector to said patient on said patient surface when said air mattress assembly is in a substantially inflated condition;
calibrating an optimal height distance for said patient resting above said patient surface using said stored height distances from said substantially deflated and said substantially inflated conditions; and,
using said heterodyning proximation detector to control an air supply for maintaining said air mattress at an optimal pressure, wherein said patient is maintained at said optimal height distance.
11. The method for regulating the inflation of an air mattress assembly as claimed in claim 10, further comprising activating a force responsive distance sensing device for measuring height distance of said patient on said patient surface when said air mattress assembly is in a substantially inflated condition, said force responsive distance sensing cooperatively controlling an air supply for maintaining said air mattress at an optimal pressure, wherein said patient is maintained at said optimal height distance
12. The method for regulating the inflation of an air mattress assembly as claimed in claim 10, further comprising activating a light responsive sensing device for measuring height distance of said patient on said patient surface when said air mattress assembly is in a substantially inflated condition, said light responsive sensing device cooperatively controlling an air supply for maintaining said air mattress at an optimal pressure, wherein said patient is maintained at said optimal height distance
13. The force responsive device as claimed in 2, wherein said force transmitting member is made of a substantially resilient material.

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 portable electronic device comprising:
a display member comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD);
a support member formed with a hard member and disposed to cover part of the display surface of the liquid crystal display (LCD); and
an operating unit including a plurality of operating buttons lined in a plurality of columns, having at least part of the plurality of operating buttons mounted on the support member, and having at least operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support member shaped to come into contact with a finger, with which the operating buttons are manipulated, along a line or at a point,
a key sheet member having contacts formed at the positions of the respective buttons:
wherein at least part of the plurality of the operating buttons mounted on the support member are located at positions of contacts that overlap with a portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD),
wherein the support member is positioned between the overlapping contacts and the overlapping portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD),
wherein the support member includes a first portion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD), and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases,
wherein the key sheet member includes a first potion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the LCD, and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases,
wherein the operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support member have at least the surfaces thereof, which are on the display member side, sloped in the direction of the thickness of the portable electronic device, and come into contact with a finger, with which the operating buttons are manipulated, along a line,
wherein a stroke of press of the operating buttons projecting from a housing of the electronic device prevents the finger from manipulating an adjoining operating button, and
wherein the portions of the operating buttons projecting from the housing of the electronic device have a substantially triangular cross section.
2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the electronic device has a surface thereof, in which at least the operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support member are disposed, sloped toward the end of the housing opposite to the end thereof close to the display device in the direction of the thickness of the housing.
3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the support member covers a portion of the display member other than an effective display region thereof.
4. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the support member has claws for locking the support member.
5. A portable electronic device comprising:
a housing;
a display unit comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD), disposed in the upper part of the housing when the housing is seen from the front thereof;
an operating unit that is disposed in the lower part of the housing when the housing is seen from the front thereof, the operating unit including a plurality of operating buttons lined in a plurality of columns, and that has a first button located in a region thereof close to the display unit and has a second button located in a region thereof opposite to the display unit beyond the first button; and
a holder on which the operating unit is mounted and which is placed on at least part of the liquid crystal display (LCD), wherein:
a key sheet member having contacts formed at the positions of the respective buttons;
the first button mounted on the holder is located at a position of a contact that overlaps with a portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD),
wherein the holder is positioned between the overlapping contact and the overlapping portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD), and
wherein the holder includes a first portion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD), and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases; and
wherein the key sheet member includes a first potion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the LCD, and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases,

the second button has at least the surfaces thereof, which are on the display unit side, sloped in the direction of the thickness of the portable electronic device, and come into contact with a finger, with which the first button and the second button are manipulated, along a line,
wherein a stroke of press of the first button projecting from the housing prevents the finger from manipulating the second button, and
wherein the portions of the first button and the second button projecting from the housing have a substantially triangular cross section.
6. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the housing has at least the surface thereof, in which the second button is disposed, sloped towards the end of the housing opposite to the end thereof close to the display unit in the direction of the thickness of the housing.
7. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein: the holder has a first portion on which the first button is mounted and a second portion on which the second button is mounted; and the first portion is superposed on part of the display unit.
8. The portable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the second portion of the holder is sloped from the terminal of the first portion towards the end of the housing, and the first portion and second portion have a step between them.
9. The portable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the first portion of the holder is substantially parallel to the display unit.
10. The portable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the holder is placed on a portion of the display unit other than an effective display region thereof.
11. The portable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the holder has claws for locking the holder.
12. The portable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the holder is formed with a hard member.
13. A portable electronic device comprising:
a display means comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD);
a support means formed with a hard member and disposed to cover part of the display surface of the liquid crystal display (LCD); and
an operating means including a plurality of operating buttons lined in a plurality of columns, having at least part of the plurality of operating buttons mounted on the support means, and having operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support means shaped to come into contact with a finger, with which the operating buttons are manipulated, along a line or at a point,
a key sheet member having contacts formed at the positions of the respective buttons;
wherein at least part of the plurality of the operating buttons mounted on the support means are located at positions of contacts that overlap with a portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD),
wherein the support means is positioned between the overlapping contacts and the overlapping portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD),
wherein the support means includes a first portion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD), and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases,
wherein the key sheet member includes a first potion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the LCD, and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases,
wherein the operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support means have at least the surfaces thereof, which are on the display means side, sloped in the direction of the thickness of the portable electronic device, and come into contact with a finger, with which the operating buttons are manipulated, along a line,
wherein a stroke of press of the operating buttons projecting from a housing of the electronic device prevents the finger from manipulating an adjoining operating button, and
wherein the portions of the operating buttons projecting from the housing of the electronic device have a substantially triangular cross section.
14. A portable cellular phone comprising:
a display unit comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD);
a support unit formed with a hard member and placed on part of the liquid crystal display (LCD); and
an operating unit including a plurality of operating buttons lined in a plurality of columns, having at least part of the plurality of operating buttons mounted on the support unit, and having at least operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support unit shaped to come into contact with a finger, with which the operating buttons are manipulated, along a line or at a point,
a key sheet member having contacts formed at the positions of the respective buttons:
wherein at least part of the plurality of the operating buttons mounted on the support unit are located at positions of contacts that overlap with a portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD),
wherein the support unit is positioned between the overlapping contacts and the overlapping portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD),
wherein the support member includes a first portion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD), and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases,
wherein the key sheet member includes a first potion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the LCD, and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases,
wherein the operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support unit have at least the surfaces thereof, which are on the display unit side, sloped in the direction of the thickness of the portable cellular phone, and come into contact with a finger, with which the operating buttons are manipulated, along a line,
wherein a stroke of press of the operating buttons projecting from a housing of the portable cellular phone prevents the finger from manipulating an adjoining operating button, and
wherein the portions of the operating buttons projecting from the housing of the portable cellular phone have a substantially triangular cross section.
15. The portable cellular phone according to claim 14, wherein the housing has at least a surface thereof, in which the operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support unit are disposed, sloped towards the end of the housing opposite to the end thereof close to the display unit in the direction of the thickness of the housing.
16. A portable cellular phone comprising:
a display means comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD);
a support means formed with a hard member and placed on part of the liquid crystal display (LCD); and
an operating means including a plurality of operating buttons lined in a plurality of columns, having at least part of the plurality of operating buttons mounted on the support means, and having at least operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support means shaped to come into contact with a finger, with which the operating buttons are manipulated, along a line or at a point,
a key sheet member having contacts formed at the positions of the respective buttons;
wherein at least part of the plurality of the operating buttons mounted on the support means are located at positions of contacts that overlap with a portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD),
wherein the support means is positioned between the overlapping contacts and the overlapping portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD),
wherein the support member includes a first portion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the liquid crystal display (LCD), and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases,
wherein the key sheet member includes a first potion being parallel to the overlapped portion of the LCD, and a second portion being sloping along the direction in which the thickness of the device decreases,
wherein the operating buttons other than the operating buttons mounted on the support means have at least the surfaces thereof, which are on the display means side, sloped in the direction of the thickness of the portable cellular phone, and come into contact with a finger, with which the operating buttons are manipulated, along a line,
wherein a stroke of press of the operating buttons projecting from a housing of the portable cellular phone prevents the finger from manipulating an adjoining operating button, and
wherein the portions of the operating buttons projecting from the housing of the portable cellular phone have a substantially triangular cross section.
17. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operating buttons lined in rightmost column and leftmost column are disposed closer to the liquid crystal display (LCD) than the operating buttons lined in any central column.
18. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the operating buttons lined in rightmost column and leftmost column are disposed closer to the liquid crystal display (LCD) than the operating buttons lined in any central column.
19. The portable electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the operating buttons lined in rightmost column and leftmost column are disposed closer to the liquid crystal display (LCD) than the operating buttons lined in any central column.
20. The portable cellular phone according to claim 14, wherein the operating buttons lined in rightmost column and leftmost column are disposed closer to the liquid crystal display (LCD) than the operating buttons lined in any central column.
21. The portable cellular phone according to claim 16, wherein the operating buttons lined in rightmost column and leftmost column are disposed closer to the liquid crystal display (LCD) than the operating buttons lined in any central column.

1. A process for preparing a halogenated polymer comprising polymerizing at least one halogen-containing monomer in an aqueous medium comprising at least one siloxane surfactant, in the presence of at least one radical initiator, wherein the halogen-containing monomer is selected from the group consisting of vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylenevinylidene difluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluorooropylene, vinyl fluoride, hexafluoroisubutylene, perfluorobutylethylene, pentafluoropropene and combinations thereof.
2. The process according to claim 1 wherein said siloxane surfactant has the formula I:
wherein
Q is a hydrophobic siloxane moiety;
R is a monovalent hydrophilic moiety; and
T is \u2014(C1-C6)alkylene-, wherein each T is bonded to a silicon atom in Q; and
X is an integer from 1 to 300; or
a salt of such a compound.
3. The process according to claim 2 wherein the siloxane surfactant has the formula II, III or IV:
wherein
a is an integer from 0 to 300;
b is an integer from 1 to 300, wherein the sum of a and b is less than or equal to 301;
c is an integer selected from 3, 4 and 5;
each R1 is independently selected from \u2014(C1-C8)hydrocarbyl;
each R2 is a hydrophilic moiety independently selected from the group consisting of:
\u2014O(C\u2550O)CH(SO3\u2212M+)CH2CO2\u2212M+,
\u2014OCH2\u2014CH(OH)\u2014CH2SO3\u2212M+,
\u2014OCH2\u2014C(C2H5)(CH2OSO3\u2212M+)2,
\u2014OCH2\u2014CH(OH)\u2014CH2\u2014NH(CH2)2\u2014SO3\u2212M+,
\u2014OP(\u2550O)(OH)(O31 M+),
\u2014OCH2\u2014CH(OH)\u2014CH2N+(R4)2CH2CO2\u2212,
\u2014OCH2\u2014CH(OH)\u2014CH2N+(R4)2CH2SO3\u2212,
\u2014N+(R4)3Y\u2212,
\u2014N+(R4)2\u2014(CH2)3SO3\u2212,
\u2014N+(R4)2(CH2)3CO2\u2212,
a polyether radical,
a pyrrolidinone radical,
a monosaccharide radical,
a disaccharide radical and
a polyelectrolyte radical;

each T is \u2014(C1-C6)alkylene-;
R3 is selected from R1 and \u2014T\u2014R2;
each R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of \u2014H and \u2014(C1-C8)alkyl;
each M is a monovalent cation; and
each Y is a monovalent anion; or a salt thereof;

provided:
when R2 is a pyrrolidinone radical, it is bonded to T through the nitrogen atom of the pyrrolidinone;
when R2 is a monosaccharide radical it is covalently bonded to T through an oxygen atom of the monosaccharide; and
when R2 is a disaccharide radical, it is covalently bonded to T through an oxygen atom of the disaccharide.
4. The process according to claim 3 wherein M is NR44+ or an alkali metal cation.
5. The process according to claim 3 wherein R2 is a polyether radical.
6. The process according to claim 5 wherein said polyether radical is end-capped with \u2014OH or \u2014OR4.
7. The process according to claim 6 wherein R2 is a polyether radical comprising ethylene oxide units.
8. The process according to claim 7 wherein the number of ethylene oxide units in said polyether radical is up to about 500.
9. The process according to claim 5 wherein R2 is a polyether radical comprising a mixture of ethylene oxide units and propylene oxide units.
10. The process according to claim 9 wherein the ratio of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide units in said polyether radical is from about 10 wt. % ethylene oxide to 100 wt. % ethylene oxide.
11. The process according to claim 10 wherein the combined number of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units in said polyether radical is up to about 500.
12. The process according to claim 3 wherein R1 is phenyl or \u2014(C1-C8)alkyl.
13. The process according to claim 12 wherein R1 is methyl.
14. The process according to claim 1 wherein the siloxane surfactant is selected from the group consisting of:
polyalkyleneoxidemethylsiloxane copolymer;
polyethyleneglycol-8 dimethicone;
polyalkyleneoxide modified heptamethyltrisiloxane;
polyalkyleneoxide modified polydimethylsiloxane;
siloxane polyalkylene oxide copolymer;
polyalkyleneoxide methylsiloxane copolymer;
polyalkyleneoxide modified polymethylsiloxane;
organomodified polydimethylsiloxane;
polyether modified polysiloxane;
polysiloxane betaine;
ABA silicone polyol copolymer;
dimethylsiloxane ethylene oxide block copolymer;
poly(dimethylsiloxane)-graft-polyacrylates; and combinations thereof.
15. The process according to claim 1 wherein the siloxane surfactant has a trisiloxane structure wherein one or more hydrocarbyl substituents on silicon has been replaced with a polyether substituent that comprises about 60 wt. % propylene oxide and about 40 wt. % ethylene oxide.
16. The process of claim 1 wherein the halogen-containing monomer comprises vinylidene fluoride.
17. The process of claim 16 wherein the aqueous medium further comprises at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene; trifluoroethylene; chlorotrifluoroethylene; hexafluoropropene; vinyl fluoride; hexafluoroisubutylene; perfluorobutylethylene; pentafluoropropene, a fluorinated vinyl ether, a fluorinated allyl ether, a non-fluorinated allyl ether, a fluorinated dioxole, and combinations thereof.
18. The process of claim 17 wherein the fluorinated vinyl ether is selected from the group consisting of perfluoromethyl vinyl ether, perfluoro-n-propyl vinyl ether, and perfluoro-2-propoxypropyl vinyl ether.
19. The process of claim 17 wherein the fluorinated dioxole is selected from the group consisting of perfluoro(1,3-dioxole) and perfluoro(2,2-dimethyl)-1,3-dioxole.
20. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous medium further comprises one or more non-siloxane surfactants.
21. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous medium further comprises a buffering agent.
22. The process of claim 21 wherein said buffering agent maintains the pH of the aqueous medium in the range of from about 4 to about 10.
23. The process of claim 1 wherein the radical initiator is a persulfate salt.
24. The process of claim 23 wherein the radical initiator comprises ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, or a combination thereof.
25. The process of claim 24 wherein the radical initiator further comprises sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate.
26. The process of claim 1 wherein the radical initiator is a peroxide.
27. The process of claim 26 wherein the peroxide is selected from the group consisting of a (C1-C6)alkylhydroperoxide, a di-(C1-C6)alkyl peroxide, an aryl peroxide, and combinations thereof.
28. The process of claim 27 wherein the radical initiator is di-tert-butyl peroxide.
29. The process of claim 1 wherein the radical initiator is a peroxydicarbonate compound.
30. The process of claim 29 wherein the peroxydicarbonate compound is selected from the group consisting of diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate, di-n-propyl peroxydicarbonate, and combinations thereof.
31. The process of claim 1 wherein the radical initiator is an azo compound.
32. The process of claim 31 wherein the azo compound is selected from the group consisting of 2,2\u2032-azobis-(2,4-dimethyl-4-methoxyvaleronitrile), azobisisobutyronitrile, and combinations thereof.
33. The process of claim 1 wherein the radical initiator comprises a redox system.
34. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous medium further comprises a chain-transfer agent.
35. The process of claim 34 wherein said chain-transfer agent is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, carbonates, ketones, esters, ethers, chlorocarbons, hydrochlorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and combinations thereof.
36. The process of claim 34 wherein said chain-transfer agent is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, acetone, ethyl acetate, trichlorofluoromethane, 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, ethane, propane and combinations thereof.
37. A process for preparing a halogenated polymer comprising polymerizing at least one halogen-containing monomer in an aqueous medium comprising at least one siloxane surfactant, in the presence of at least one radical initiator, wherein the siloxane surfactant has the formula II, III or IV:
wherein
a is an integer from 0 to 300;
b is an integer from 1 to 300, wherein the sum of a and b is less than or equal to 301;
c is an integer selected from 3, 4 and 5;
each R1 is independently selected from \u2014(C1-C8)hydrocarbyl;
each R2 is a polyelectrolyte radical;
each T is \u2014(C1-C6)alkylene-; and
R3 is selected from R1 and \u2014T\u2014R2.
38. The process according to claim 37 wherein said polyelectrolyte radical is selected from the group consisting of radicals of acrylic and methacrylic acid polymers and salts thereof, and radicals of acrylic and methacrylic acid copolymers with acrylate and methacrylate esters, and salts thereof.
39. A process for preparing a halogenated polymer comprising polmerizing at least one halogen-containing monomer in an aqueous medium comprising at least one siloxane surfactant, in the presence of at least one radical initiator, wherein the aqueous medium further comprises one or more non-fluorinated hydrocarbon non-siloxane surfactants.
40. A process for preparing a halogenated polymer comprising polymerizing at least one halogen-containing monomer in an aqueous medium comprising at least one siloxane surfactant, in the presence of at least one radical initiator, wherein the aqueous medium further comprises one or more perfluoroalkyl non-siloxane surfactants.
41. A process for preparing a halogenated polymer comprising polymerizing at least one halogen-containing monomer in an aqueous medium comprising at least one siloxane surfactant, in the presence of at least one radical initiator, wherein the aqueous medium further comprises a buffering agent that maintains the pH of the aqueous medium in the range of from about 4 to about 10 and wherein the buffering agent is selected from the group consisting of acetate buffers, phosphate buffers and combinations thereof.
42. A process for preparing a halogenated polymer comprising polymerizing at least one halogen-containing monomer in an aqueous medium comprising at least one siloxane surfactant, in the presence of at least one radical initiator, wherein the aqueous medium further comprises a chain-transfer agent selected from the group consisting of ethane and propane.
43. A process for preparing a halogenated polymer comprising polymerizing at least one halogen-containing monomer in an aqueous medium comprising at least one siloxane surfactant, in the presence of at least one radical initiator, wherein polymerization of said halogen-containing monomer is obtained by:
(a) charging a reactor with deionized water;
(b) purging the reactor with an inert gas;
(c) heating the reactor to a desired reaction temperature;
(d) feeding to the heated reactor sufficient halogen-containing monomer to obtain a pressure in the reactor of at least about 3000 kPa;
(e) feeding to the reactor at least one radical initiator to start the polymerization of said monomer; and
(f) feeding to the reactor at least one siloxane surfactant.
44. The process according to claim 43, further comprising feeding additional monomer, radical initiator and siloxane surfactant to the reactor during the polymerization process in amounts sufficient to maintain the polymerization of said monomer.
45. A process for preparing a halogenated polymer comprising polymerizing at least one halogen-containing monomer in an aqueous medium comprising at least one siloxane surfactant, in the presence of at least one radical initiator, wherein polymerization of said halogen-containing monomer is obtained by:
(a) charging a reactor with water and at least one radical initiator;
(b) purging the reactor with an inert gas
(c) heating the reactor to a desired reaction temperature;
(d) feeding to the heated reactor sufficient halogen-containing monomer to obtain a pressure in the reactor of at least about 3,000 kPa; and
(e) feeding to the reactor at least one siloxane surfactant.
46. The process according to claim 45 further comprising feeding additional monomer, radical initiator and siloxane surfactant to the reactor during the polymerization process in amounts sufficient to maintain the polymerization of said monomer.
47. A process for preparing a halogenated polymer comprising polymerizing at least one halogen-containing monomer in an aqueous medium comprising at least one siloxane surfactant, in the presence of at least one radical initiator, wherein polymerization of said halogen-containing monomer is obtained by:
(a) charging a reactor with water, at least one siloxane surfactant, at least one radical initiator and an antifoulant;
(b) purging the reactor with an inert gas;
(c) heating the reactor to a desired reaction temperature; and
(d) feeding to the heated reactor sufficient halogen-containing monomer to obtain a pressure in the reactor of at least about 3,000 kPa.
48. The process according to claim 47, further comprising
(e) feeding to the reactor at least one radical initiator.
49. An aqueous composition comprising at least one halogen-containing monomer, at least one siloxane surfactant and at least one radical initiator, wherein the halogen-containing monomer is selected from the group consisting of vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylenevinylidene difluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, vinyl fluoride, hexafluoroisubutylene, perfluorobutylethylene, pentafluoropropene and combinations thereof.
50. The composition according to claim 49 wherein said siloxane surfactant has the formula I:
wherein
Q is a hydrophobic siloxane moiety;
R is a monovalent hydrophilic moiety; and
T is \u2014(C1-C6)alkylene-, wherein each T is bonded to a silicon atom in Q; and
X is an integer from 1 to 300; or
a salt of such a compound.
51. The composition according to claim 50 wherein the siloxane has the formula II, III or IV:
wherein
a is an integer from 0 to 300;
b is an integer from 1 to 300, wherein the sum of a and b is less than or equal to 301;
c is an integer selected from 3, 4 and 5;
each R1 is independently selected from \u2014(C1-C8)hydrocarbyl;
each R2 is a hydrophilic moiety independently selected from the group consisting of:
\u2014O(C\u2550O)CH(SO3\u2212M+)CH2CO2\u2212M+,
\u2014OCH2\u2014CH(OH)\u2014CH2SO3\u2212M+,
\u2014OCH2\u2014C(C2H5)(CH2OSO3\u2212M+)2,
\u2014OCH2\u2014CH(OH)\u2014CH2\u2014NH(CH2)2\u2014SO3\u2212M+,
\u2014OP(\u2550O)(OH)(O\u2212M+),
\u2014OCH2\u2014CH(OH)\u2014CH2N+(R4)2CH2CO2\u2212,
\u2014OCH2\u2014CH(OH)\u2014CH2N+(R4)2CH2SO3\u2212,
\u2014N+(R4)3Y\u2212,
\u2014N+(R4)2\u2014(CH2)3SO3\u2212, \u2014N+(R4)2(CH2)3CO2,
a polyether radical,
a pyrrolidinone radical,
a monosaccharide radical,
a disaccharide radical and
a polyelectrolyte radical;

each T is \u2014(C1-C6)alkylene-;
R3 is selected from R1 and \u2014T\u2014R2;
each R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of \u2014H and \u2014(C1-C8)alkyl;
each M is a monovalent cation; and
each Y is a monovalent anion; or a salt thereof;

provided:
when R2 is a pyrrolidinone radical, it is bonded to T through the nitrogen atom of the pyrrolidinone;
when R2 is a monosaccharide radical, it is covalently bonded to T through an oxygen atom of the monosaccharide; and
when R2 is a disaccharide radical, it is covalently bonded to T through an oxygen atom of the disaccharide.
52. The composition according to claim 51 wherein M is NR44+ or an alkali metal cation.
53. The composition according to claim 51 wherein R2 is a polyether radical.
54. The composition according to claim 53 wherein said polyether radical is end-capped with \u2014OH or \u2014OR4.
55. The composition according to claim 53 wherein said polyether radical is composed of ethylene oxide units.
56. The composition according to claim 53 wherein said polyether radical is composed of a mixture of ethylene oxide units and propylene oxide units.
57. The composition according to claim 56 wherein the ratio of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide units is from about 10 wt. % ethylene oxide to 100 wt. % ethylene oxide.
58. The composition according to claim 57 wherein the combined number of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units is up to about 500.
59. An aqueous composition for polymerizing a halogen-containing monomer comprising at least one halogen-containing monomer, at least one siloxane surfactant and at least one radical initiator, wherein the siloxane surfactant has the formula II, III or IV:
wherein
a is an integer from 0 to 300;
b is an integer from 1 to 300, wherein the sum of a and b is less than or equal to 301;
c is an integer selected from 3, 4 and 5;
each R1 is independently selected from \u2014(C1-C8)hydrocarbyl,
each R2 is a polyelectrolyte radical;
each T is \u2014(C1-C6)alkylene-; and
R3 is selected from R1 and \u2014T\u2014R2.
60. The composition according to claim 59 wherein said polyelectrolyte radical is selected from the group consisting of radicals of acrylic and methacrylic acid polymers and salts thereof, and radicals of acrylic and methacrylic acid copolymers with acrylate and methacrylate esters.
61. The composition according to claim 51 wherein R1 is phenyl or \u2014(C1-C8)alkyl.
62. The composition according to claim 61 wherein R1 is phenyl or methyl.
63. The composition according to claim 50 wherein the siloxane surfactant is selected from the group consisting of:
polyalkyleneoxidemethylsiloxane copolymer;
polyethyleneglycol-8 dimethicone;
polyalkyleneoxide modified heptamethyltrisiloxane;
polyalkyleneoxide modified polydimethylsiloxane;
siloxane polyalkylene oxide copolymer;
polyalkyleneoxide methylsiloxane copolymer;
polyalkyleneoxide modified polymethylsiloxane;
organomodified polydimethylsiloxane;
polyether modified polysiloxane;
polysiloxane betaine;
ABA silicone polyol copolymer;
dimethylsiloxane ethylene oxide block copolymer;
poly(dimethylsiloxane)-graft-polyacrylates; and combinations thereof.
64. The composition according to claim 50 wherein the siloxane surfactant has a trisiloxane structure wherein one or more hydrocarbyl substituents on silicon has been replaced with a polyether substituent that comprises about 60 mol % propylene oxide and about 40 mol % ethylene oxide.
65. An aqueous composition for polymerizing a halogen-containing monomer comprising at least one halogen-containing monomer, at least one siloxane surfactant and at least one radical initiator, wherein said siloxane surfactant has the formula 1:
wherein
Q is a hydrophobic siloxane moiety;
R is a monovalent hydrophilic moiety; and
T is \u2014(1-C5)alkylene-, wherein each T is bonded to a silicon atom in Q; and
X is an integer from 1 to 300; or
a salt of such a compound; and

wherein the halogen-containing monomer is selected from the group consisting of vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylenevinylldene difluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, vinyl fluoride, hexafluorolsubutylene7, perfluorobutylethylene, pentafluoropropene and combinations thereof.
66. The composition of claim 65 wherein the halogen-containing monomer comprises vinylidene fluoride.

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.-19. (canceled)
20. A clamp mechanism for securing a protective cover assembly over a space defined by at least one wall of a bed of a truck, said mechanism comprising:
a latch member for engaging the at least one wall,
a handle operatively engaging said latch member for moving said latch member between an engaged position and a disengaged position,
a link,
a slide coupled to said latch member and directly slidably supported by a portion of said link and remaining slidably connected to said link when in both an operational and a stowed position and when moving between said operational and stowed positions for supporting and guiding said handle and said latch member between the operational position and the stowed position relative to said link, and
a rod coupled to said slide and operatively engaging said latch member.
21.-23. (canceled)
24. The mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said latch member is adjustable along said rod.
25. The mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said handle defines a cammed profile and includes a pair of ridges disposed along opposite sides of said cammed profile and wherein said latch member further includes followers for riding along said ridges when said latch member is moving between said engaged position and said disengaged position.
26. The mechanism as set forth in claim 25 wherein said handle includes a tab and said latch member defines a groove having an end wall to prevent said handle from moving beyond a predetermined position within said latch member.
27. The mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said link defines a first cross-sectional configuration along an operational portion of said link and said slide defines an inner surface having a shape complementary in configuration to said first cross-sectional configuration to prevent rotation of said slide relative to said link.
28. The mechanism as set forth in claim 27 wherein said link further defines a second cross-sectional configuration along a stowed portion of said link for allowing said handle and said latch member to rotate into said stowed position.
29. The mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said rod is pivotally coupled to said slide.
30. The mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said slide includes a flange and said rod is coupled to said flange.
31. The mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said rod includes a plurality of threads and wherein said handle includes a threaded fastener for threadingly accepting said rod.
32. The mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said link includes a plurality of ribs disposed along said link for restricting movement of said slide along said link.