Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an earpiece having a balloon and a stent where the balloon is mounted on the stent and the stent incorporates two or more channels including at least an inflation channel and an acoustic channel. In some embodiments the stent is configured to pass audio signals through the acoustic channel where the acoustic channel is independent of the inflation channel of the balloon. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An insulating device can include an aperture having a waterproof closure which allows access to the chamber within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure also prevents any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. This construction results in an insulating chamber impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

Abstract: A method for forming an engagement portion in a workpiece is provided, said workpiece preferably consisting at least partially of wood, materials containing wood fibers, wood composite materials, veneer, plastics materials and combinations thereof. The method has the following steps of: providing the workpiece having a cutout, introducing a predetermined volume of a curable filling compound into the cutout and introducing an engagement element into the curable filling compound, wherein the engagement element has an engagement structure which at least partially represents a geometric counterpart to the engagement portion, the engagement portion takes up a predetermined position in the workpiece, and the engagement structure is arranged at least partially in the filling compound.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a catheter includes at least first and second controllable rate material feeders that feed at least first and second materials into a temperature-controlled mixer to form a compound material that varies in flexibility and/or strength with the respective first and second materials and material feed rates. An extruder extrudes the compound material onto a rotating and translating mandrel to thereby form a variable stiffness profile along a length of the catheter that depends on respective rates of rotation and translation of the mandrel.

Abstract: A plastic tank is comprised of two parts, a base and a top, that are permanently joined to each other by welding at a circumferential joint formed by two mating flanges of the parts. The faying surfaces of the flanges of the top and base have portions in the shape of a hollow truncated cone. Fusion weld elements are captured on the faying surfaces of the flanges of the assembled parts, and the elements melted by internal heating of metal portions of the elements.

Abstract: The apparatus has a bending/cooling station mounted on a base. A tube clamping assembly is mounted on the base, movable towards and away from the bending/cooling station and including a tube clamping assembly and a tube rotation assembly. A tube heating assembly is mounted for movement between the bending/cooling station and the tube clamping assembly. Servomotors move the tube clamping assembly and the tube heating assembly, rotate the tube clamping assembly, and actuate bending at the bending/cooling station. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures. Bending and cooling the tube at a first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending/cooling station.

Abstract: A flexible patch pump for controllable accurate subcutaneous delivery of one or more medicaments to a patient includes a laminated layered structure. The pump may have a rigid reservoir layer including a number of rigid reservoirs disposed in a flexible material; a flexible microfluidic layer including a compliant membrane for sealing the rigid reservoirs, a network of microfluidic channels connecting the rigid reservoirs, and a number of inlet and/or outlet valves corresponding to the rigid reservoirs; and a flexible-rigid electronic circuit layer including a number of individually-addressable actuators. In operation, the rigid reservoirs may contain medicament that is dispensed in precise volumes at appropriate times due, for example, to a pressure change in an addressed reservoir caused by displacement of the compliant membrane or other actuation element.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable articles, or bladders for inflatable articles, that is time-efficient, simple, inexpensive and permits the uninterrupted manufacture of numerous and even customized article or bladder configurations and sizes, without expensive configuration-specific, metal tooling. The method includes the steps of applying a barrier material to a side of a first film, providing a second film with the first film so that the barrier material is disposed between the first and second films, adhering the first film to the second film so that the films are sealed together in areas except where the barrier material has been applied to form at least one inflatable compartment and sealed peripheral edge, and cutting along the sealed peripheral edge to form an inflatable article or bladder for use in an article of manufacture. The barrier material may be a paint, ink, paper or surface treatment that effectively prevents the first film from adhering to the second.

Abstract: An injection molding system comprised of: an injection machine having a barrel and a screw for injecting an injection fluid, a distribution manifold, a valve associated with a corresponding one of one or more downstream gates, a sensor adapted to sense and generate a signal indicative of pressure of the injection fluid in the barrel or an inlet that delivers injection fluid from the barrel to the manifold, and a controller receiving the signal generated from the sensor and including instructions that use the signal as a control value to adjust, during the course of an injection cycle, positioning or velocity of one or more of the valve pins.

Abstract: A roller coaster track may comprise a laminate and a metal bearing layer. A method of manufacturing a roller coaster track may comprise manufacturing a laminate, manufacturing a metal bearing layer, and assembling the laminate and bearing layer. The bearing layer may be at least partially filled with grout. A method of repairing a wood roller coaster track may comprise removing a layer of laminate, and replacing the layer with a metal bearing layer.

Abstract: The first electrode section (7a) and the second electrode section (7b) are formed such that the outer portion connected to the upper portion of the heating section (6) is thinner than the inner portion connected to the lower portion of the heating section (6). The heating section (6) and the first electrode section (7a) are interconnected by an R-shaped first connecting portion (21). The inner circumferential sloping surface of the heating section (6) and the second electrode section (7b) are interconnected by an R-shaped second connecting portion (22). The first and second connecting portions (21)(22) are formed such that R becomes larger from the upper end to the lower end, where the upper portion is thin and the lower portion is thick. The thickness of an intermediate portion (6b) is smaller than the thicknesses of the first and second connecting portions (21)(22).

Abstract: A method of making a component of a membrane electrode assembly comprising the steps of forming an electrode on an air-permeable backer comprising ePTFE, depositing a mixture comprising ionomer and a water-insoluble alcohol onto said electrode, drying said mixture to form a protective ionomer layer, and depositing an ePTFE-reinforced ionomer layer onto said protective ionomer layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a laminated, nonwoven fabric and a process for producing such a laminated, nonwoven fabric having desirable fluid holding and fluid release characteristics. The process provides that two sheets of meltblown fiber fabric are produced on forming wire assemblies, cooled at a cooling area, and are then laminated on opposite sides of a sheet of spunbonded fibers using to form the laminated, nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an underlay material (8) to be set under parquet or a laminate, the underlay material including a sheet material layer (1) and a flexible cellular plastic material layer (3) bonded under the sheet material layer, and a bottom surface of the cellular plastic layer being processed for providing an air space, whereby the bottom surface of the cellular plastic material layer (3) is processed by melting the cellular plastic material locally for providing an air space (9) and for simultaneously bonding the cellular plastic material layer to the sheet material layer (1). An underlay material manufactured by such a method is also described.

Abstract: Methods for modifying contours of substrate surfaces are disclosed. Methods include depositing filler material on a critical mating surface of a substrate so as to render the mating surface more mateable with a matching substrate. The filler material can be deposited within or around features or defects on the mating surface such that a final desired surface contour is achieved. In some cases, the final surface contour of the mating surface is planar. This can prevent gaps associated with the features or defects from forming between the substrate and the matching substrate when they are joined together. The final surface contour of the mating surface can be determined by comparing dimensions of the mating surface to dimensions of a reference surface. In some cases, ink jet printing techniques are used to deposit the filler material accurately in prescribed locations and with precise thickness control.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens comprises a first lens component, a second lens component, and an adhesive between portions of the two lens components. The cured adhesive bonds the lens components to form a fluid chamber. The lens components are bonded to one another along a seam which extends circumferentially along at least a portion of the lens components. The lens components may comprise the same polymer material. The cured adhesive also comprises the polymer or a prepolymer of the polymer to provide increased strength. The polymer is hydratable such that the lens components and the cured adhesive therebetween can swell together to inhibit stresses between the lens components and the cured adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention sufficiently heats a repairing material while preventing change in quality of a base material provided with the repairing material so as to securely bond the repairing material to a repair target portion. The repair method of the present invention, in order to repair a repair target portion 14 existing in an outer panel 1, includes: a repairing material disposing step of disposing a repairing patch 21 including a resistance heating element 23 and a carbon fiber reinforced resin, and an adhesive 22A including a thermosetting resin before being hardened for bonding the repairing patch 21 on the repair target portion 14; and a heating-hardening step of heating and hardening the thermosetting resin of the adhesive 22A by causing the resistance heating element 23 to generate heat through supply of electricity thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for curing inner linings of pipelines introduced into them in the form of lining tubes impregnated with a resin.

Abstract: An in-situ double vacuum debulk (DVD) composite repair system designed to produce partially or fully cured autoclave-quality hot-bond composite repairs on contoured structures. The system provides vacuum pressure for hot bond repairs to be performed on flat and contoured structures using one set-up capable of debulking (partially curing) and then fully curing composite repairs on composite and metallic aircraft structures. The use of in-situ DVD also eliminates handling of the patch/adhesive when transferring from an off-aircraft DVD chamber to the repair site on the aircraft. This can increase the probability of successful repairs because the possibility of contaminating and misaligning the adhesive and repair patch are eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device which can uniformize heat distribution by using an existing heater mat for repairing or joining members. A heat dispersion device includes a bag with a fluid sealed inside, and is disposed on a second surface of a heater mat which has a first surface to be directed toward an object to be heated and the second surface opposite to the first surface. The fluid inside the bag is preferably heated with a heat source.