Abstract: A brake backing plate includes first and second sheet metal stampings. Each sheet metal stamping has a respective textured face with a plurality of integrally formed piercing members. A solid non-porous metal core is sandwiched between the first sheet metal stamping and the second sheet metal stamping. The piercing members of the first sheet metal stamping penetrate into the metal core, and the piercing members of the second sheet metal stamping penetrate into the metal core, to secure the first sheet metal stamping, the second sheet metal stamping, and the metal core together.

Abstract: A brake backing plate is provided in which a non-compressible core material is sandwiched between two sheet metal stampings to make a lightweight, composite brake backing plate. Each of the stampings has a textured face with a plurality of integrally formed piercing members. By rolling or pressing, the piercing members of the textured faces are fully embedded in the core material, and thus lock the stampings and the core material together.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for texturing the surface of a brake plate has three die plates and spring supports therebetween. A toothed tooling mounts to the top die plate above an anvil on the center die plate both of which ride on posts held by the lower die plate. The toothed tooling comprises multiple blades each with multiple replaceable toothed inserts are held in a cartridge arrangement. The anvil receives brake plates from a separately supported plate feed mechanism with greatly reduced reciprocating mass. The complete die set can be set up on the bench and inserted ready to use in any style of press where the press ram contacts the upper die plate.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for texturing the surface of a brake plate has three die plates and spring supports therebetween. A toothed tooling mounts to the top die plate above an anvil on the centre die plate both of which ride on posts held by the lower die plate. The toothed tooling comprises multiple blades each with multiple replaceable toothed inserts are held in a cartridge arrangement. The anvil receives brake plates from a separately supported plate feed mechanism with greatly reduced reciprocating mass. The complete die set can be set up on the bench and inserted ready to use in any style of press where the press ram contacts the upper die plate.

Abstract: A precut kinesiology tape for wrist support includes a strip of woven material having a first face and an opposed second face, a length and a width that is shorter than the length, and a length stretch ratio along the length and a width stretch ratio along the width. The width stretch ratio is greater than the length stretch ratio. An adhesive is on the first face in a discontinuous pattern.

Abstract: A tape for attaching objects to a subject includes a strip of high stretch woven material having a first face and an opposed second face. A first adhesive is on the first face in a discontinuous pattern. A second adhesive is on the second face.

Abstract: A wound care tape includes a sterile high-stretch strip of woven material having a first face and an opposed second face. A sterile adhesive is on the first face in a discontinuous pattern, whereby a set of spaced apart adhesive-covered portions of the first face are covered by the adhesive, and a set of spaced apart adhesive-free portions of the first face are free of the adhesive.

Abstract: A process is provided for making bulk textured material sheeting. As a continuous supply of flat material sheeting is fed, the sheeting is repeatedly impacted with toothed knives, each knife creating a row of raised and generally pointed structures on the sheeting to texture the sheeting.

Abstract: A method of assembling a brake pad includes impaling a first layer of a preformed multi-layer friction pad on piercing members of a rotor facing surface of a brake pad backing plate. A shim is concurrently assembled to a caliper facing surface of the backing plate.

Abstract: A process is provided for making bulk textured material sheeting. As a continuous supply of flat material sheeting is fed, the sheeting is repeatedly impacted with toothed knives, each knife creating a row of raised and generally pointed structures on the sheeting to texture the sheeting.

Abstract: A method for supporting a body part comprises a) removing a first release liner portion from an adhesive side of an anchor portion of a precut piece of kinesiology tape; b) adhering the adhesive side of the anchor portion to a generally flat surface of the body part; c) removing a second release liner portion from an adhesive side of a finger portion of the precut piece of kinesiology tape, while retaining a finger reinforcement layer on a non-adhesive side of the finger portion; d) after step c), adhering the adhesive side of the finger portion to the generally flat surface, so that the precut piece of kinesiology tape lies generally flat on the generally flat surface; and e) after step d), removing the finger reinforcement layer from the non-adhesive side of the finger portion.

Abstract: A method of attaching a sheet of barbed material to a substrate includes positioning the sheet adjacent a face of a substrate. The sheet has a planar portion, and a plurality of barbs extending from the planar portion. Each barb has a root adjacent the planar portion, a shank adjacent the root, and a pointed tip adjacent the shank. The tip overlies the shank and the root. The tip is pointed in a direction away from the planar portion. The shank has a concave side and a convex side. The method further includes pushing the barbs into the substrate to embed the barbs in the substrate. While pushing the barbs into the substrate, the concavity of the concave side is increased to create a capture zone of the substrate between the root and the tip of each barb.

Abstract: A textured sheet of ductile material with self-locking barbs extending from a face of the sheet of ductile material. Each self-locking barb is curved so that one side is convex and an opposite side is concave, and a thrust line perpendicular to the face of the sheet lies entirely within each self-locking barb. When a barb is pressed into a substrate, the barb deflects while the barb penetrates into the substrate so that textured sheet is bound to the substrate with a portion of the substrate material above a portion of the barb, providing pull-out resistance. Laminates formed with such textured sheets and methods of producing same are also provided, including a method of pressing the textured sheet into a substrate while the sheet is curved away from the substrate, resulting in fan-out of the barbs and lateral deflection forces on the barbs as they penetrate the substrate.

Abstract: A laminate comprises a first ductile material textured with barbs and a second friable material. First material is preferably electro-plated steel. Second material may be a brake friction composition. Barbs may be pointed or headed or in combination. Second material may be in the form of castings, sheets or pads. Second material may be impaled by at least some of the barbs. Lamination of first and second materials preferably includes an adhesive therebetween. The adhesive may include uncured rubber to be vulcanized in place.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a composite panel consisting of a thermoplastic core sandwiched between two skins of textured material, such as steel sheeting with barbs raised from one face. The core is made from hollow core elements, such as balls or tubes. The barbs penetrate the core elements on either side to lock the panel together. This is facilitated by heating the skins so that the barbs are hot enough to cause the core material to melt so that after it cools it solidifies around the barbs causing the skins and core to be locked together. The core may be a two-dimensional array of spherical elements or a series of tubes placed side by side for example.

Abstract: The present invention is a laminate sheet having two laminae. The first lamina is a relatively hard material having first and second surfaces. The first surface has a plurality of raised and generally pointed piercing structures, each structure having a tip. The second lamina is graphite foil material, which is mated to the relatively hard material, such that at least some of the piercing structures pierce the graphite foil material. In one embodiment, the first lamina has no performations and is uniformly smooth. In another embodiment, the second surface also has a plurality of piercing structures and a third lamina comprising graphite foil is mated to the second surface.

Abstract: A brake backing plate is provided in which a non-compressible core material is sandwiched between two sheet metal stampings to make a lightweight, composite brake backing plate. Each of the stampings has a textured face with a plurality of integrally formed piercing members. By rolling or pressing, the piercing members of the textured faces are fully embedded in the core material, and thus lock the stampings and the core material together.

Abstract: A method of making a hybrid laminate whereby a first, thick base lamina has a plurality of piercing members or barbs and a second, onto which a second, thin interface lamina is impaled. The exposed tips of the barbs are clinched over to form rivet-like heads that clamp the two laminae together. By choosing the materials for the lamina, an interface surface can be provided for a wide range of other materials or objects to be attached by, for example, adhesive bonding. A disc brake pad is disclosed made from the instant hybrid laminate.

Abstract: A user-configurable precut kinesiology tape strip is provided for application by a user to a patient. Each end of the strip lobed, having troughs between the lobes. The lobes are in pairs opposite each other. The backing paper is marked with grid lines connecting troughs between the lobes. The grid lines allow the user to selectively cut the strip to form it into any of a number of possible configurations prior to removing the backing paper and applying the strip to a patient's body. A method of configuring such strips is also provided.

Abstract: A process is provided for making stiff, lightweight laminate materials. At least one sheet of textured lamina having raised pointed structures is forced against a softer plain lamina so as to embed the structures therein. The pointed structures raised from grooves carved into the surface of the sheet material by means of a set of teeth carried on a knife element. The pointed structures may pierce through the softer lamina such that the protruding tips may be bent over or clinched to prevent their easy withdrawal. Two such texturized lamina may be used to sandwich and pierce through the softer lamina and are co-clinched by the other. In this way a light and stiff laminate is created.