Abstract: A vehicle cover blow-off prevention system for holding down a vehicle cover to prevent it from blowing off during windy conditions. The system includes tire mats configured to support a tire of the vehicle thereon. The tire mats include a mat body, a tire stop, and a mat connector member. Cover straps can be used to secure the vehicle cover to the vehicle. The cover strap includes a first and second cover connector member. The first cover connector member is configured to engage with the mat connector member of a first of the tire mats, and the second cover connector member is configured to engage with the mat connector member of a second of the tire mats. The weight of the vehicle holds the mats in place, which accordingly holds the cover on the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle cover blow-off prevention system for holding down a vehicle cover to prevent it from blowing off during windy conditions. The system includes tire mats configured to support a tire of the vehicle thereon. The tire mats include a mat body, a tire stop, and a mat connector member. Cover straps can be used to secure the vehicle cover to the vehicle. The cover strap includes a first and second cover connector member. The first cover connector member is configured to engage with the mat connector member of a first of the tire mats, and the second cover connector member is configured to engage with the mat connector member of a second of the tire mats. The weight of the vehicle holds the mats in place, which accordingly holds the cover on the vehicle.

Abstract: A hand-held magnetic clamping device for clamping a car cover onto the exterior surface of a car's body includes an encasing structure, a plurality of magnets, a scaffolding, and a reversible handle. The encasing structure clamps the car cover onto the exterior surface of a car's body. The plurality of magnets magnetically affixes the encasing structure to the body's surface, thereby preventing the car cover from sliding off of the exterior body's surface. The scaffolding offsets the plurality of magnets from the center of the encasing structure. As a result, the first contact side of the encasing structure is used to clamp a thickly padded car cover while the second contact side of the encasing structure is used to clamp a thinly padded car cover. The reversible handle allows the user to physically disengage the magnetic connection between the encasing structure and the exterior surface.

Abstract: A hand-held magnetic clamping system for clamping a car cover onto the exterior surface of a vehicle includes an encasing structure, and a plurality of magnets. A first clamping device can clamp the cover onto the exterior surface or can sandwich the cover between a second clamping device that adheres to the exterior surface. The plurality of magnets magnetically affixes the encasing structure to the body's surface, thereby preventing the car cover from sliding off of the exterior body's surface. The second clamping device can include nano-suction adhesion material and/or suction cups. As a result, the first contact side of the encasing structure is used to clamp a thickly padded car cover while the second contact side of the encasing structure is used to clamp a thinly padded car cover. Further, the second clamping device can be used to attach the cover to a non-ferromagnetic surface.

Abstract: A hand-held magnetic clamping device for clamping a car cover onto the exterior surface of a car's body includes an encasing structure, a plurality of magnets, a scaffolding, and a reversible handle. The encasing structure clamps the car cover onto the exterior surface of a car's body. The plurality of magnets magnetically affixes the encasing structure to the body's surface, thereby preventing the car cover from sliding off of the exterior body's surface. The scaffolding offsets the plurality of magnets from the center of the encasing structure. As a result, the first contact side of the encasing structure is used to clamp a thickly padded car cover while the second contact side of the encasing structure is used to clamp a thinly padded car cover. The reversible handle allows the user to physically disengage the magnetic connection between the encasing structure and the exterior surface.

Abstract: A method of forming an article of hosiery for being worn by a wearer in a footed or footless configuration includes forming a foot portion, leg portion, and panty portion, where the foot portion is formed by turning in an end portion of a circularly knitted fabric tube and connecting a first portion of an end edge to the fabric tube using transfer loops to form a turned welt around only a first portion of the perimeter of the fabric tube. A second portion of the end edge remains unattached and defines an opening between the second portion of the end edge and the fabric tube. The opening is dimensioned to receive toes of the wearer.

Abstract: A method of forming an article of hosiery for being worn by a wearer in a footed or footless configuration includes forming a foot portion, leg portion, and panty portion, where the foot portion is formed by turning in an end portion of a circularly knitted fabric tube and connecting a first portion of an end edge to the fabric tube using transfer loops to form a turned welt around only a first portion of the perimeter of the fabric tube. A second portion of the end edge remains unattached and defines an opening between the second portion of the end edge and the fabric tube. The opening is dimensioned to receive toes of the wearer.

Abstract: A structural assembly and an associated system and method for manufacture are provided. The structural assembly includes an elongate member and a first connector member that is connected to an end of the elongate member by a braze joint. A second connector member can be connected to an end of the elongate member opposite the first connector by another braze joint. The elongate member is formed of a metal matrix composite material that includes a plurality of fibers of a reinforcement material disposed in a metal matrix. Each connector member is formed of a material that is dissimilar to the material of the elongate member. The braze joints can be formed by selectively heating the braze material, e.g., with an inductive coil that extends circumferentially around only a portion of the structural assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for consolidating a composite workpiece are provided. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic field generator for inducing a current and thereby heating a susceptor in thermal communication with the workpiece. The workpiece is supported by one or more support tools, each of which transmits the electromagnetic field so that the support tools are not substantially heated by the electromagnetic field. Thus, the time and energy required for heating the workpiece are reduced relative to conventional consolidation techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a composite workpiece are provided. An electromagnetic field generator induces a current in a susceptor, thereby heating the workpiece in a die cavity. An elastomeric bladder in the cavity is inflated and urges the workpiece against a contour surface corresponding to a desired configuration of the workpiece. Coolant fluid can also be circulated through the die cavity to cool the workpiece. Thus, the workpiece can be heated, formed, and cooled quickly and without substantial heating of other components, thereby reducing the time and energy relative to conventional forming methods.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a composite workpiece are provided. An electromagnetic field generator induces a current in a susceptor, thereby heating the workpiece in a die cavity. An elastomeric bladder in the cavity is inflated and urges the workpiece against a contour surface corresponding to a desired configuration of the workpiece. Coolant fluid can also be circulated through the die cavity to cool the workpiece. Thus, the workpiece can be heated, formed, and cooled quickly and without substantial heating of other components, thereby reducing the time and energy relative to conventional forming methods.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for single sheet forming using induction heating include a pair of dies defining a die cavity for containing a workpiece, which is inductively heated by an oscillating magnetic field within the die cavity. A susceptor is positioned between the workpiece and one die surface defined by one of the dies. The susceptor is capable of coupling with the oscillating magnetic field to induce a current within the susceptor to heat the susceptor. The susceptor transfers heat to the workpiece. An inlet for pressurized forming fluid injects the fluid between the susceptor and the workpiece to form the workpiece into direct contact with a forming surface defined by one of the dies. The susceptor may be electrically connected to the workpiece to inhibit electrical arcing from the susceptor to adjacent electrically conductive components when current is induced in the susceptor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for consolidating a composite workpiece are provided. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic field generator for inducing a current and thereby heating a susceptor in thermal communication with the workpiece. The workpiece is supported by one or more support tools, each of which transmits the electromagnetic field so that the support tools are not substantially heated by the electromagnetic field. Thus, the time and energy required for heating the workpiece are reduced relative to conventional consolidation techniques.

Abstract: A susceptor connection system and an associated apparatus and method are provided. The susceptor connection system includes at least one shoe that can be urged against a peripheral edge portion of the susceptors by a compression device. In this regard, each shoe can urge the edge portions of the susceptors together to achieve electrical contact therebetween, e.g., so that an induced current can flow between the susceptors to heat the susceptors and a workpiece. In addition, each shoe can define a passage for circulating a coolant to cool the edge portions and thereby reduce the oxidation and contact resistance between the susceptors.

Abstract: A die liner for use in a die having a die body wherein the die body is configured to form a workpiece. The die liner is a discrete structure that is configured to be used in conjunction with the die body. The die liner defines a forming surface for forming the workpiece and is configured to have at least one characteristic that is different than a corresponding characteristic of the die body such that the die liner increases the durability of the die.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for single sheet forming using induction heating include a pair of dies defining a die cavity for containing a workpiece, which is inductively heated by an oscillating magnetic field within the die cavity. A susceptor is positioned between the workpiece and one die surface defined by one of the dies. The susceptor is capable of coupling with the oscillating magnetic field to induce a current within the susceptor to heat the susceptor. The susceptor transfers heat to the workpiece. An inlet for pressurized forming fluid injects the fluid between the susceptor and the workpiece to form the workpiece into direct contact with a forming surface defined by one of the dies. The susceptor may be electrically connected to the workpiece to inhibit electrical arcing from the susceptor to adjacent electrically conductive components when current is induced in the susceptor.

Abstract: A single or multilayer smart susceptor for temperature control of part fabrication in an induction processing system generally consists of single layer or laminated layers of ferromagnetic material susceptible to heating by induction. The use of the susceptors in fabrication at elevated temperatures causes oxidation damage to the surface. The susceptor may be coated with a nickel aluminide surface coating to minimize oxidation of the susceptor outer surface.

Abstract: A single or multilayer smart susceptor for temperature control of part fabrication in an induction processing system generally consists of single layer or laminated layers of ferromagnetic material susceptible to heating by induction. The use of the susceptors in fabrication at elevated temperatures causes oxidation damage to the surface. The susceptor may be coated with a nickel aluminide surface coating to minimize oxidation of the susceptor outer surface.

Abstract: A die liner for use in a die having a die body wherein the die body is configured to form a workpiece. The die liner is a discrete structure that is configured to be used in conjunction with the die body. The die liner defines a forming surface for forming the workpiece and is configured to have at least one characteristic that is different than a corresponding characteristic of the die body such that the die liner increases the durability of the die.

Abstract: An induction heating device for manufacturing a part by heating the part to a predetermined temperature. The induction heating device includes an induction coil connected to an electrical power supply for generating an electromagnetic flux field. A smart susceptor of the heating device is positioned in the electromagnetic flux field and includes a magnetically permeable material supported by a mesh structure. The magnetically permeable material generates heat in response to the flux field. The mesh structure provides support for the magnetically permeable material and closely conforms to the desired outer geometry of the part. The magnetically permeable material may be applied as a powder to the mesh using a hot spray gun, allowing tight conformance of the susceptor to the part geometry while avoiding forming limits of sheet metal susceptors.