Abstract: A sealing system for the air cushion of an air-cushion vessel comprising rigid sidewalls designed as buoyant bodies, and at least at the front between the rigid walls a series of adjacent, interconnected sealing elements sealing the air cushion, each of which sealing elements is a voluminous, rigid body which at one end can be hingedly connected to the vessel bottom. Means are provided for limiting the free hingeing movement of the rigid sealing bodies relative to each other. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ends of all rigid bodies remote from the hinge point can be connected by means of a flexible air-tight flap to the bottom of the vessel, to form a space that can be connected to a source of compressed air, such as a blower. In another embodiment the length of the flaps is adjustable, to facilitate trimming.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin-walled article of synthetic resin, in particular a large-sized article, while using an inner and an outer template, the synthetic resin being supplied via one or more apertures in one of the two template portions and whereby a partial vacuum is maintained via one or more air discharge apertures downstream of the synthetic resin front.