Abstract: A patch of fibre reinforced plastics composite material, a repair kit including such a patch and a method of using such a patch and repair kit are provided. The patch (1) is for attachment to a surface (17) of a fibre reinforced plastics composite structure (11) over an area of damage (10) to the structure. The patch defines an outer surface (3), a bonding surface (4) opposed thereto and a peripheral edge. The patch includes fibre reinforcement and plastics matrix material with the latter being in a final state of hardness. The patch defines a series of small apertures (6) therethrough to allow the passage of gases and other matter through the patch to prevent entrapped air weakening the repair.

Abstract: A method of tiling a plane surface using a tiling table, after which the tiling is shifted over to the finishing stage. In the table by means of several perforated lines positioning guides for each tile are formed by fixing stoppers into the holes of said perforated lines, whereupon the tiling apparatus including tile packs is moved over the table. The tiles fall off each in its turn from the apparatus and take their position determined by the stoppers.

Abstract: There are prior art packaging tubes consisting of a tube body (11) with a prefabricated head (13) which is melted on the inner circumference of the body. This method of jointing can result in faulty, i.e. leaking tubes. According to the invention, the tube body (11) and head (13) are bonded together by means of a material section (26), e.g. plastifiable synthetic material, thus providing stable and sealed, i.e. fault-free, bonds.

Abstract: A process for producing a breast prosthesis having substantially cup-shaped prosthesis body. The first step in the process includes placing at least two plastic foils on top of each other. The next step involves shaping these foils into a pouch-like container. Once the pouch like container is formed, the edges of each plastic foil are joined to form at least two chambers. Next, at least one chamber is filled with material wherein the first material in the chamber is partially vulcanized. The second chamber is then filled with a second material. Finally, the prosthesis is cured in a molding die.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resealable closure mechanism includes separately extruding the interlocking closure member from its respective base strip. The interlocking closure member is cooled prior to bonding the base strip to the interlocking closure member. Bonding is accomplished by either heat sealing, adhering, pouring molten polymeric material, or ultrasonic sealing.

Abstract: A semi rigid container comprising a plurality of generally rectangular side walls and a bottom wall attached to the bottom of each side wall. A plurality of flexible supporting frames are attached to each side wall to expand the container's open top and to brace the side walls into a free standing container for handy storage, transportation or disposal of refuse or other articles. A drawstring is provided along the top of the container for easy closure. The semi rigid container is made by attaching the flexible supporting frames to one or more sheets of flexible material, layering the sheet or sheets, and sealing the open margins of the layered sheet or sheets corresponding to the container's sides and bottom. The semi rigid container can be easily collapsed into a stack of side walls, then coiled into three adjacent loops and inserted into a storing receptacle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for harvesting and processing zooplankton and, in particular, for harvesting and processing euphausiids for subsequent use as a feed product for early stage juvenile or larvae feed or for a food product as an additive. The euphausiids are continuously harvested from coastal waters and dewatered. The dewatered product is passed to a heat exchanger to increase its temperature and, hence, to a digester where a desired level of enzymatic activity is obtained. The product is then held by a surge tank for subsequent transfer to a ball dryer where the product is dried at a relatively low temperature without destroying the stabilized enzymes created in the digester. The digesting step may be deleted in the event the end use of the product is for a food product.

Abstract: A method of stitching a sewable material, which method includes the steps of: providing a support with a surface; providing a first sheet material with first and second sides; adhering the first side of the first sheet material to the surface of the support; adhering the sewable material to the second side of the first sheet material; and performing a stitching operation on the sewable material with the first sheet adhered to the surface of the support and the sewable material adhered to the first sheet. An adhesive on the first sheet, with a tackiness that increases upon being exposed to a reactant, is used to at least one of a) adhere the first side of the first sheet material to the surface of the support and b) adhere the sewable material to the second side of the first sheet material.

Abstract: Reinforcing members for securement of reinforced plastic composite components in restricted and confined space locations as a substitute for reinforcing stitching. The reinforcing members are highly effective for securing "T" stiffeners and the like to a skin structure in confined and restricted locations where a stitching machine cannot be used. The composite pieces which are reinforced and secured together by the reinforcing members provide excellent damage tolerance, are highly resistant to delamination and are resistant to tensile pulling and plane shear properties. The reinforcing members primarily comprise a plurality of pins or spikes which are effectively formed by sewing through a disposable and eliminatable core such that when the core is removed, all of the pins, which originally constituted threads passing through the core are secured together in an array by an open mesh physical cross-linking of the pins.

Abstract: An opening of a flexible container is closed by a pull-tab. The wall curves when the pull-tab is applied thereto. The pull-tab follows the curving wall in the curve direction. A device for applying the pull-tab to the wall and/or a device for adhering the pull-tab to the wall are so constructed that they adapt to the changing form of the curving wall.

Abstract: An improved vertically oriented machine which is capable of forming and adhering lids to open ended fiberboard containers. The improved machine includes a lower horizontal conveyor for bringing open-ended containers into the machine; a vertical lifting section including a novel elevation mechanism for lifting the containers; a lid feeding mechanism located along the path of the vertical lifting section for providing the lids to be placed onto the containers; a set of adhesive applicators; a series of adjustable spring-mounted compression shoes including a novel frictional lid holding member located along the path of the vertical lifting section above the lid feeding mechanism for deforming the sides of the lids around the container; and an ejection mechanism for removing the lidded container from the machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fastening a barrier layer to an adjacent laminate layer in a package material. The fastening is performed by a partial adhesive being achieved in a first step and is completed by means of heat treatment in a subsequent step.

Abstract: Polyolefin auto body components and like plastic structural elements having a predetermined form and a repairable damage discontinuity having an edge margin, are repaired by and covering the discontinuity with a web of differentially fusible portions, such as interdispersed differently fusible fibers, partially fused to the edge margin to support the web in place and provide a base for repair including application of repair adhesive.

Abstract: A transfer fluxing apparatus is provided. The apparatus is a flux reservoir for holding flux, a compliant pad attached to an opening in the flux reservoir and a means for controlling deposition of flux onto the compliant pad. The apparatus can be attached to an automated component placement machine. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the control means is a valve located within the flux reservoir. The valve is opened by applying pressure to a plunger that extends through the compliant pad. When the plunger is pressed, the valve opens, and flux falls onto the compliant pad. Flux then passes through the pad to a component placement site. A method for automated fluxing and to component placement also is provided.

Abstract: A pliable flat disk of laminated construction having a thin top layer of deformable material bonded to a relatively thicker intermediate layer of pliable adhesive sealant material and a removable bottom layer of release paper covering the exposed surface of the sealant material is deformed during installation to cover and seal the head of a fastener protruding from a surface. The disk is installed and deformed by a tool having an end with a recess slightly deeper than the height of the head of the fastener and an interior slightly larger than the outer periphery of the head of the fastener. The release paper is removed to expose the adhesive sealant material and the flat disk is generally centered and stuck, adhesive side down, onto the fastener head.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed using a blanket (50) which is an assembly of at least one graphite fiber element of high thermal conductivity and at least one metal sheet element such as a copper sheet element to repair an aircraft structure (10) made of composite fiber materials. The blanket (50) is placed in thermal contact with a silicone rubber heat blanket (22), having an internal heat source, and the aircraft structure, such as composite laminates (12, 14). Use of the blanket (50) increases the rate at which the temperature of the laminates can be elevated to the proper range for repair and transfers heat from hot spots to cold spots to ensure a uniform temperature throughout the laminates.

Abstract: A method for making a material structure which has at least one section of first material spaced apart from at least one section of second material. A number of thin, elongated strands connect the first material to the second material. The strands may adhere to the first and second material along a transverse edge of each material or may instead adhere to a side of the material sections at some distance from the edge. The resulting material structure may be incorporated into clothing or into window shade structures, for example. The method is performed by positioning an adhesive applicator such that adhesive can be dispensed to form strands which contact and bond the first material. The applicator is moved away from the first material so as to form an elongated strand between the first material and the applicator. The applicator is then moved such that the strand contacts the second material so that the strand connects the first material to the second material.

Abstract: A method for preparing laminated composites such as laminated electrochromic devices is disclosed. The method involves placing a plurality of shims between first and second substrates prior to lamination using a laminating adhesive. The shims maintain uniform spacing during lamination. Devices prepared via the instant method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rigid fiber composite material and the product thereof created by needling a composite of a non-woven blend of first fibers with a initial melting point with one or more other fibers with higher melting points that are interposed between two interentangled non-woven layers of the first fibers and then heating this composite to a level above the melting point of the first fibers forming a plasticized structure.

Abstract: A composite window shade is constructed of short lengths of cellular fabric that may be from the same dye lot or that may be of different colors or textures to achieve desired decorative or functional results by trimming the lengths to have attachment strip surfaces and bonding of the surfaces using a glue applicator machine through which each length of cellular fabric to be attached is passed to place beads of hot melt glue and then pressing the attachment strip surface of the length of fabric to be attached to the attachment strip surface of the length of fabric to which attachment is to be made and maintaining pressure thereon until bonding occurs.