Abstract: In forming operations on plastic sheets, plates, strips, or tubes (particularly, having highly glossy surfaces) by molding or forming tools, the surface qualities, particularly the gloss, remains undamaged if; (a) the tool is maintained at a temperature in the thermoelastic state region of the plastic until disengagement of the plastic from the tool; and (b) the formed plastic is cooled at its rear side to below the softening temperature, and is disengaged from the forming tool while said tool is hot.

Abstract: Cupola-shaped plastic pieces with a flat, unwarped rim can be produced from an equally large blank without trimming of the rim, by heating an optionally preheated plastic sheet by radiant heat. The radiant heat acts only on the area surrounded by the rim area until the area exposed to the radiant heat has reached a temperature just below the softening temperature of the plastic. Up to this point, the rim is left without tension, or at most a low clamping pressure is applied which allows a thermal movement of the rim. Then, but before the beginning of the forming, the clamping pressure is increased so that the rim is held tight. The radiation activity continues until the area exposed to the radiant heat has exceeded the softening temperature, the radiation activity is then stopped, and the area heated to the forming temperature is formed.

Abstract: The method for concurrently forming and hot-transfer printing a semimanufactured product which is of a thermoplastic synthetic resin or comprises a thermoplastic synthetic resin as a surface coating to be printed, which method comprises bringing said product, maintained at forming temperature, into contact under pressure with a sheetlike dye carrier suitable for transfer printing, said dye carrier being present on a heatable backing mold heated to a temperature suitable to effect dye transfer printing and having thereon a coherent layer of a moistened water absorbent material which supports said dye carrier, said backing mold being present in a forming mold in which said product is formed under pressure concurrently with said transfer printing.

Abstract: A polishing plate for polishing the surface of synthetic resins has a rigid disk and a compressible cover abutting a lower surface of the rigid disk. The rigid disk has an inlet opening formed centrally therein and a plurality of channels formed in the lower surface thereof. The cover has a plurality of layers including an upper layer of soft foam adjacent the lower surface of the rigid disk, a lower layer having a textile surface structure and which contacts a surface to be polished, and a middle layer which is permeable to liquid and interposed between the upper and lower layers. A method of polishing a surface has as its first step supplying a polishing agent to a central opening formed in a rigid disk. The polishing agent is then uniformly distributed to an upper portion of a cover which is adjacent a lower surface of the disk through a plurality of channels formed in the lower surface of the disk, the channels communicating with the central opening to allow the polishing agent to flow therethrough.

Abstract: A shaped acrylic glass body is provided which has a reshaped inner zone outside the plane of the border or edge region and which is characterized by excellent resistance to weather and to chemical corrosion. The shaped body is manufactured from an extruded plate of a polymer or copolymer containing at least 80% by weight of polymethylmethacrylate or a copolymer of methyl methacrylate. The extruded plate is subjected to biaxial stretching, by at least about 25% in each direction and, while the edges or border regions are gripped to maintain their dimensions, a force is applied to the interior portion of the plate while it is in a thermoelastic state to move the interior portion out of the plane of the surrounding edges.

Abstract: A multi-layered skylight having an outer element with a central domed portion and a downwardly extending circumferential skirt portion, said outer element comprising a monolayer of a synthetic resin which transmits light, and an inner element of one-piece construction with a central domed portion and a substantially planar circumferential edge portion, said inner element comprising at least two sheets of a synthetic resin which transmits light, said sheets being substantially parallel to one another and having a plurality of supporting elements extending therebetween, said elements being arranged with the planar edge portion of said inner element being within and surrounded by the circumferential skirt portion of said outer element and with the central domed portions of said inner and outer elements being in a substantially parallel spaced relationship to one another.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a conversion muntin for use on a glazing muntin to adapt the latter to support light-transmitting plastic panels, including a muntin cover element and a clamping strip. The cover element has a T-shaped configuration including a recessed stem portion and a pair of oppositely extending bearing arms. The stem is recessed to receive a portion of the glazing muntin and has a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves formed therein. The clamping strip comprises a pair of elongated parallely-extending rails and a hood integrally formed therewith and adapted to receive the stem of the conversion muntin. The rails have oppositely-facing slightly-spaced lips which receive the conversion muntin stem therebetween and which engage said grooves to hold light-transmitting panels against the bearing arms of the conversion muntin.

Abstract: A clamping device designed to securely hold sheet materials of varying thicknesses uniformly in a vertical manner.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a double-walled shaped plastic article comprising a first sheet of a synthetic resin having a geometrically regular depression therein, the depressed portions of which are connected to surrounding planar portions of said sheet by a side wall, a circumferential groove in said side wall, and a second sheet of synthetic resin having edge portions pressure fitted into said circumferential groove.

Abstract: A method for contouring the surface of a thermoplastic synthetic resin sheet, which comprises contacting said sheet, warmed to the softening temperature of the synthetic resin, with a rigid structure having perforations therein and having a sheet of rubber or of a rubber-like synthetic resin foam in contact therewith on that side thereof which is opposite to said thermoplastic synthetic resin sheet, under pressure such that said synthetic resin sheet, in a thermoplastic condition, and said sheet of rubber or of synthetic resin foam penetrate into said perforations and come into substantially full surface contact with each other in said perforations.