Abstract: A method of forming a headliner includes overlaying a cover material onto a multi-layer substrate and at least partially separating the cover material from the substrate during the overlaying. The cover material is clamped separately from the substrate. The overlayed cover material and substrate are then transported into a mold. The substrate is unclamped while the cover material remains clamped, and the cover material and substrate are molded together to form the headliner.

Abstract: A shaped composite article is prepared by a process wherein an aesthetic laminate having a clear outer arylate layer and a colored compatible resin layer is thermoformed into a desired shape, and then compression molded together with a reinforced resin material containing compatible resin to form a color composite of the desired shape having an outer layer of clear arylate polyester polymer with the compatible resin layer forming an adherent bond with the compatible resin in the resin reinforced material.

Abstract: Seal devices of this invention are prepared by the process of depositing a polymer material onto a metallic substrate to form a composite construction, and shape forming the composite construction into the shape of a seal device. The so-formed seal device comprises a casing member that is formed from the metallic substrate, and a sealing element disposed along a surface of the casing member that is formed from the polymer material for placement against a sealing surface. Seal devices of this invention can be shaped formed into a variety of different types of seals, e.g., lips seals, L-shaped seals, and U-cup seals, which may or may not be energized. Seal devices prepared according to this invention using such preformed composite construction enable seal formation by a single step of shape forming, without having to both make and form individual seal members, and subsequently combine or join the separately formed seal members together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a flexible curtain as disclosed and claimed. Edges of a polymeric material are folded back on themselves. A portion of the edges are secured and a portion is left unsecured or free. The flexible curtain is used in a windlocking apparatus to prevent the unwanted intrusion of wind, water and debris into a building opening. The free, or unsecured flap of the folded edge absorbs shock associated with storm disturbances. Edge rollers are used to laminate the edges of the curtains selectively such that only a portion of the edge is secured leaving the flap unsecured. Stitching, ultrasonic welding and gluing are alternative ways and/or additional ways of providing for the securement of a portion of the edge to itself. Perforations are made in the secured portion of the folded edge.

Abstract: Methods of forming shaped adhesive fillets are disclosed. The adhesive fillets may be made by stacking multiple layers of adhesive sheets, consolidating the stacked layers, cutting strips from the consolidated layers, and forming the strips into adhesive fillets having desired cross sectional shapes. The fillets may be formed by feeding the strips through an apparatus comprising opposing rollers and a catcher, which facilitates release of the adhesive fillets from the rollers. The formed adhesive fillets are useful for applications such as stiffened panels for aircraft.

Abstract: Methods of making packages having improved resealable interlocking closures from a web of film, the closure having male and female portions formed in line with or transversely to the film flow during package formation. The film is fanfolded to form a stack, the layers of which are heat sealed together. The strip is abraded on one surface to remove the thermoplastic coating, the film then being formed into packages having overlap longitudinal package seals, and in which portions of the strip are apposed. The package ends are sealed and the locking closure is formed in the strip, the female portion formed in the package face that includes the longitudinal package seal. In another embodiment the inner and outer parts of the resealable closure are separately formed. Layering other than by fanfolding to form a stack may be utilized, by heat sealing a strip of heat sealable material to the packaging film, Also optionally formed in the resealable closure are hinges and reinforcing V-notches.

Abstract: Methods for forming decorative grass possessing a unique optical effect from a sheet of laminated optical effect material. The decorative grass has a curl or a crimp set therein to enhance the light-reflecting characteristics of the decorative grass and to provide greater volume of the decorative grass for a given weight of decorative grass.

Abstract: A range of damage and wear-susceptible articles, including such as drinkware and flatware, and heat-susceptible articles, have a tough, protective plastic coating applied in sealing, protective relation with a surface portion. The protective coating may hermetically seal underlying decorative material, including toxic materials. Digital ink jet printing may be applied directly or by transfer, including pad transfer. A plastic undercoating incorporating an adhesion promoting additive may first be applied by DIJ printing or by flow coating. The impact resistance of drinking glasses can be improved ten-fold with a hard, visually undetectible 5-mil outer coating selected from polyesters and other polymers, polyurethanes and acrylates having the desired visual, toughness and bonding characteristics. With u.v. curing, high speed economic automated line production, the process is applicable to a wide range of articles.

Abstract: In a method of producing an interior trim material, a laminated structure is formed by laminating a skin material, a mat-like fiber structure, and a high-melting-point fiber sheet in this order. The mat-like fiber structure is prepared by blending thermoplastic fibers and inorganic fibers, and the high-melting-point fiber sheet is formed from fibers having a melting point higher than that of the thermoplastic fibers. At least the mat-like fiber structure is heated so that the thermoplastic fibers are melted. The laminated structure is then compressed under pressure by a hot press machine, and then expanded to restore at least part of the thickness thereof. The laminated structure thus expanded is then formed into a certain shape by a cold press machine, while the thermoplastic fibers of the mat-like fiber structure maintains plasticity.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing motor car steering wheels with an external shell made of composite materials, which comprises preparing a pile of sheets of composite materials, hot molding thereof for obtaining respective half-shells with a shape corresponding to that of respective halves of the steering wheel being manufactured, mechanical flattening of the front surfaces of the two half-shells, applying the two half-shells to opposite parts of a steering wheel body formed by a metallic core covered by resin, and mutual fixing of the two half-shells along said front surfaces. After flattening, the front surfaces of the two half-shells are mechanically worked to form respective complementary teeth which can be male-female coupled when the two half-shells are applied around the steering wheel body.

Abstract: A laser safety enclosure structure has an outer enclosure made of a formable material with a limited ability to withstand exposure to a laser beam and an inner enclosure composed of a laser beam blocking material capable of indefinitely withstanding exposure to a laser beam of a given wavelength and power level so as to prevent such a laser beam incident on the blocking material from escaping the inner enclosure.

Abstract: A method is provided for making an energy-absorbing assembly for decelerating an object that impacts the assembly. The assembly comprises a base and at least energy-absorbing module associated therewith. To provide predetermined energy-absorption characteristics, the at least one energy-absorbing module is formed from a group consisting of a first structure (A) and a second structure (B). Structure (A) is a metal lattice which supported by the base. Structure (B) comprises a plurality of recesses, each having a floor and a wall. Together, structures (A) and (B) and combinations thereof afford a user-determinable resistance to impact.

Abstract: A skateboard deck and a method of manufacturing a skateboard deck is provided without requiring the use of industrial-grade machinery. Precut layers of veneer or other suitable material are coated with adhesive and stacked on a one-sided, negative-contoured mold and placed in a flexible-walled, airtight container from which the air is evacuated, so as to place pressure on the container and force the layers to conform to the contours of the mold. The air evacuation may be accomplished by means of a hand operated, non-electric vacuum pump.

Abstract: In a method for making a hybrid leaf spring, at least one layer of composite material is molded onto a primary leaf using a mold with an interior cavity having a curvature for receiving the primary leaf at a depressed camber relative to its initial camber. The depressed camber is between unloaded and curb load cambers of the hybrid leaf spring. The primary leaf and the layer of composite material are positioned in the mold adjacent to one another and with a layer of adhesive therebetween. The layer of adhesive is cured for bonding together the primary leaf and the layer of composite material at the depressed camber so as to generally eliminate bond line shear stress when the camber of the hybrid leaf spring is at the curb height.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric macro-fiber composite actuator comprises providing a piezoelectric material that has two sides and attaching one side upon an adhesive backing sheet. The method further comprises slicing the piezoelectric material to provide a plurality of piezoelectric fibers in juxtaposition. A conductive film is then adhesively bonded to the other side of the piezoelectric material, and the adhesive backing sheet is removed. The conductive film has first and second conductive patterns formed thereon which are electrically isolated from one another and in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material. The first and second conductive patterns of the conductive film each have a plurality of electrodes to form a pattern of interdigitated electrodes. A second film is then bonded to the other side of the piezoelectric material. The second film may have a pair of conductive patterns similar to the conductive patterns of the first film.

Abstract: A process for producing a UV-stable laminated structure having thermal aging resistance includes coextruding the following layers in a single-stage operation, or laminating the following layers onto one another in a heatable roll nip: a substrate layer made up of a graft copolymer and a styrene and/or (meth)acrylate/(meth)acrylonitrile copolymer, and optionally containing a polycarbonate and a fibrous and/or particulate filler; and a transparent top layer of polymethyl methacrylate. In another embodiment, an interlayer of e.g., impact-modified polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate, is coextruded or laminated between the transparent top layer and the substrate layer to produce a UV-stable laminated structure. An adhesion layer containing an adhesion promoter can be coextruded or laminated on the outer surface of the substrate layer. A molding is produced by thermoforming the UV-stable laminated structure, which is advantageously backsprayed or back-cast with the substrate layer or a polyurethane foam.

Abstract: A method of producing a deep embossed tile design postformable high pressure decorative laminate by first preparing artwork having a first layer of fibrous sheets impregnated with a thermosetting resin, a second layer having a plurality of adjacent tiles comprising a plurality of fibrous sheets impregnated with a thermosetting resin, wherein the tiles were previously pressed and heated, and a third layer having a plurality of shims. The assembly is then pressed and heated against a rigid substrate whereby the second layer forms a substantially convex shape on the upper surface of each tile, thus imparting substantially concave impressions on the first layer. The first layer is subsequently removed from the second and third layers, and grooves are formed in the first layer, preferably by machining. The method also includes forming a negative image texturing plate from the artwork and then forming the embossed laminate from the texturing plate.

Abstract: A process for forming a multilayer composite insulator includes the steps of forming an insulator precursor by orienting an insulation insert in a desired location between a first facing layer and a polymer based blanket layer, applying differential heat to two opposing sides of the insulator precursor and applying pressure to the insulator precursor. Together, the applied differential heat and applied pressure mold the insulator precursor to a desired shape while also providing the polymer based blanket material with a first relatively high density adjacent a warmer of the two opposing sides and a zone of relatively low density adjacent the cooler of the two opposing sides. The process also includes the cooling of a molded precursor to set the insulator in the desired shape.

Abstract: Methods of forming decorative elements such as decorative grass and glitter possessing a unique optical effect from a laminated sheet of optical effect material. The decorative elements have a curl or a crimp set therein to enhance the light-reflecting characteristics of the decorative elements and to provide greater volume of the decorative elements for a given weight of decorative elements.

Abstract: A trim component (1) includes a substrate (2) and two different cover materials (3, 4), which are not spliced together but are independently adhesively bonded onto the substrate (2) by a hot-melt contact adhesion. The junction (7) is received in a valley (6) of the substrate that is pinched closed using a molding apparatus that includes a horizontally movable pinching stamp (13) which forms a pinching gap (16) relative to a protruding edge (11A) of a fixed mold tool (11). A tucking blade (22) cooperates with a counter-clamping blade (26) to clampingly hold and then press the substrate and junction of the cover sheets into the pinching gap. The tucking blade is then retracted while the pinching stamp pinches closed the pinching gap, to form a tightly closed valley in the substrate with the junction cleanly pinched therein.

Abstract: An upper material is pressed so as to produce a plurality of separate areas (22) raised relative to the outer face of the upper (10) and corresponding to the mounting positions of lacing hooks or eyes (14), and a plastics material having good flexibility and resistance to tension and bending is joined to the rear face of the upper material to produce a semi-finished upper which gives rise, in the final footwear, to greater softness and to an improved ability of the upper to bend in response to the stresses applied to the upper by the foot in use in the regions interposed between those in which the lacing eyes or hooks (14) are fixed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a flexible curtain as disclosed and claimed. Edges of a polymeric material are folded back on themselves. A portion of the edges are secured and a portion is left unsecured or free. The flexible curtain is used in a windlocking apparatus to prevent the unwanted intrusion of wind, water and debris into a building opening. The free, or unsecured flap of the folded edge absorbs shock associated with storm disturbances. Edge rollers are used to laminate the edges of the curtains selectively such that only a portion of the edge is secured leaving the flap unsecured. Stitching, ultrasonic welding and gluing are alternative ways and/or additional ways of providing for the securement of a portion of the edge to itself. Perforations are made in the secured portion of the folded edge.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a motor car steering wheel with an external shell made of carbon fibers begins with preparing a pile of sheet materials which is then hot molded to yield respective half-shells with a shape corresponding to that of respective halves of the steering wheel being manufactured. Next comes mechanical flattening of the front surfaces of the two half-shells, followed by mounting of the two half-shells above and under a steering wheel body formed by a metallic core covered by resin. The steering wheel body has lateral profile members which act as fixing supports for the two half-shells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a flexible curtain as disclosed and claimed. Edges of a polymeric material are folded back on themselves. A portion of the edges are secured and a portion is left unsecured or free. The flexible curtain is used in a windlocking apparatus to prevent the unwanted intrusion of wind, water and debris into a building opening. The free, or unsecured flap of the folded edge absorbs shock associated with storm disturbances. Edge rollers are used to laminate the edges of the curtains selectively such that only a portion of the edge is secured leaving the flap unsecured. Stitching, ultrasonic welding and gluing are alternative ways and/or additional ways of providing for the securement of a portion of the edge to itself. Perforations are made in the secured portion of the folded edge.

Abstract: A profile member of hybrid composite materials including alternating layers of metal and fiber-reinforced composite is fabricated by three successive steps. In a first step, wet composite prepreg layers impregnated with a binder are alternately stacked with metal layers, so that the uncured binder wets the surfaces of the metal layers. Next, the initial uncured layer structure is plastically deformed using successive pressure or bending deformation steps until a prescribed cross-sectional contour of the layer structure is achieved. Finally, the formed layer structure is supported and fixed in an autoclave, in which the binder is cured under an applied mechanical pressure and elevated temperature, to form the finished profile member.

Abstract: An upper material is pressed so as to produce a plurality of separate areas (22) raised relative to the outer face of the upper (10) and corresponding to the mounting positions of lacing hooks or eyes (14), and a plastics material having good flexibility and resistance to tension and bending is joined to the rear face of the upper material to produce a semi-finished upper which gives rise, in the final footwear, to greater softness and to an improved ability of the upper to bend in response to the stresses applied to the upper by the foot in use in the regions interposed between those in which the lacing eyes or hooks (14) are fixed.

Abstract: A system for automatically feeding, assembling, folding and sealing a pre-folded self-mailer form sheet having a letter size enclosure when utilized with a B-size printer electronically connected to a computer that may in turn be connected through a modem to the Internet for receiving text signals via E-mail from remote locations.

Abstract: A composition containing thermoplastic elastomer and elastic fine particles is extruded into a sheet-like shape from an extruder. Then, by expanding this sheet-like shape member, a covering sheet having minute unevenness attributable to the elastic fine particles formed on the surface is produced. The covering sheet may have an adhesive layer, a substrate layer, a foamed resin layer, etc., on the opposite side to the surface having a matt feeling. Such covering sheet can be produced with good productivity without creating environmental problems such as a problem related to solvent, etc. By molding using the covering sheet, a molding having matt feeling can be obtained.

Abstract: A system and method cures a combination of a top and a bottom substrate with a resin disposed in-between. A cure device inherently warps the combination in one direction as a result of a curing operation that the cure device performs on the combination. A temperature gradient inducing device is disposed closer to one of the top and bottom substrates to create a temperature gradient between the top and bottom substrate and thereby warp the combination in a direction opposite to the one direction.

Abstract: A three-dimensional laminated structure and method for making same are provided. The method involves die-cutting a plurality of sheets, including cutting through the sheets around part of the periphery of selected sections, aligning and bonding the sheets, and forming the selected sections out-of-plane with a forming tool.

Abstract: A method for producing an intermediate product made of a fiber-reinforced composite composed of a reinforcing fiber impregnated with a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin, comprising: (a) the first process where a plurality of sheets made of the fiber-reinforced composite are laminated to each other, heated under a pressure, and cooled under a pressure to provide a flat plate-shaped laminate; (b) the second process where the flat plate-shaped laminate is cut into a plate; and (c) the third process where the plate is softened by heating, placed on a forming tool, and formed by cooling under a pressure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a curved glass/plastic laminate sheet for lightweight automotive glazing is disclosed. A flat laminate is build up with two thin glass layers, one inner and one outer, and a thick middle layer of thermoplastic. The flat laminate is heated to a plasticity temperature of the thermoplastic and it may be fit into a mould so that bending occurs mainly due to plastic transverse shear deformation of the plastic layer. Glass bending is limited to elastic bending of the single glass layers. Residual bending stresses in the glass layers are avoided by preferably incorporating pre-bending stresses in the flat glass layers. Strengthening of the final glass layers is achieved by incorporating compression stresses on the bent pane through heat treatment and having different thermal expansion coefficients of glass and plastic.

Abstract: A trim panel for use in automotive trim applications is made from a laminate of a thermoformable support layer and an A-side layer made of vinyl or cloth or similar material. The laminate is thermoformed to impart permanently the contour of a rigid substrate to which the panel will be attached. The support layer retains the desired contour without the use of other materials. The support layer is made of an intermediate layer and a bottom layer of thermoformable foam. The foam layers have different densities to allow selection of the hand or touch of the A-side layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a polyurethane foam backed instrument panel. This process comprises slicing a free-rise bun of polyurethane foam to form a skived polyurethane foam, bonding the skived foam to a skin material to form a laminate, optionally, rolling the foam/skin laminate, thermoforming the foam/skin laminate into an instrument panel skin, positioning the instrument panel skin into the cavity of a mold, positioning a retainer into the core of the mold, adhering the retainer to the laminate by placing an adhesive film onto the retainer, closing the mold to apply heat and pressure, and removing the resultant instrument panel from the mold. Suitable polyurethane foams for the present invention may be flexible foams or semi-rigid foams. This invention also relates to the polyurethane foam backed instrument panels produced by this process.

Abstract: An organic shell inlay blank is provided including a first layer of organic shell matter having two opposed surfaces defining a first thickness therebetween rendering the first layer flexible, a second layer of organic shell matter having two opposed surfaces defining a second thickness therebetween rendering the second layer flexible. One of the surfaces of the first layer substantially overlaps and is secured to one of the surfaces of the second layer. A bonding agent secures the layers together to form the inlay blank. A method for manufacturing an organic shell inlay blank includes the steps of cutting a plurality of flexible pieces of organic shell matter from an organic shell, stacking the pieces in a substantially overlapping relationship with a bonding agent between the pieces, and urging the pieces together while the bonding agent cures to form the inlay blank.

Abstract: A molded fabric treatment includes an integral undercut or inturned peripheral flange for affixing the treatment to the structure to be treated. The treatments have a conventional, decorative, woven polyester fabric (of the type currently used in conventional office divider screen systems), or fabrics comprising other synthetic or natural fibers, bonded with adhesive to a relatively stiff moldable non-woven polyester fiber backing. The treatments are formed in a membrane or bladder press in which a flexible membrane presses the fabric and fiber composite against a form or mold that includes an undercut edge which, in cooperation with the press membrane, forms undercut flanges about the periphery of the treatment. The undercut or inturned flange may then be "snapped" over a corresponding mounting lip on the structure to be treated.

Abstract: A method of forming fabric for making foam-in-place molded articles such as preferably seat cushions. A film is secured to a frame and tacked by adhesive to a piece of fabric, not secured to the frame, that forms the outer covering of the seat cushion for permitting the fabric to move relative to the film during forming to enable fabrics which cannot stretch a considerable amount to be used. To form the fabric, the film and fabric are placed in a female mold and the film and fabric are drawn into a cavity of the mold and against a contoured surface in the cavity forming a recess in the film and fabric. To counteract compressive stresses in the fabric during forming, the frame can have one or more fabric tensioners that selectively apply tension to the fabric during forming. To mold the cushion, a foam is poured into the recess and allowed to cure until it hardens into a foam core and bonds with the film.

Abstract: A system and method cures a combination of a top and a bottom substrate with a resin disposed in-between. A cure device inherently warps the combination in one direction as a result of a curing operation that the cure device performs on the combination. A temperature gradient inducing device is disposed closer to one of the top and bottom substrates to create a temperature gradient between the top and bottom substrate and thereby warp the combination in a direction opposite to the one direction.

Abstract: A glass fiber mat for a stampable sheet includes long fibers and short fibers which will not separate even during forming and which are distributed uniformly to make the features of the respective fibers effective. A production system includes a double belt press type laminator which stacks the glass fiber mat, a thermoplastic resin melt and a film which is taken up and applies heat and pressure for impregnation, and cools while maintaining a pressure condition. A supply supplies the glass fiber mat into the laminator. A pair of pressure shearing rollers are arranged between the supply and an endless belt of the laminator for partially cutting the glass fibers into short fibers. The rollers are made of steel to apply line pressure to the glass fiber mat to shear the continuous fibers to uniformly distribute the short fibers in long fibers.

Abstract: A pad comprising a plurality of flexible sheets in a stack, and padding means for releasably adhering parts of the major surfaces of adjacent sheets in the stack together to maintain the sheets in the stack. That padding means is provided in that at least some of said sheets having patterns of coadhesive coated on their major surfaces, which patterns of coadhesive are adhered to patterns of coadhesive on adjacent sheets in the stack and releasably adhere parts of the major surfaces of adjacent sheets in the stack together in surface to surface relationship until the patterns of coadhesive are peeled apart.

Abstract: A composition containing thermoplastic elastomer and elastic fine particles is extruded into a sheet-like shape from an extruder. Then, by expanding this sheet-like shape member, a covering sheet having minute unevenness attributable to the elastic fine particles formed on the surface is produced. The covering sheet may have an adhesive layer, a substrate layer, a foamed resin layer, etc., on the opposite side to the surface having a matt feeling. Such covering sheet can be produced with good productivity without creating environmental problems such as a problem related to solvent, etc. By molding using the covering sheet, a molding having matt feeling can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a load-transmitting part having at least two lateral engaging surfaces includes stamping a plurality of thin laminas from generally planar stock material. The laminas are stacked together such that the laterally-disposed surfaces of adjacent laminas cooperate to define the lateral engaging surfaces of the part. The laminas are permanently secured together to prevent relative laminar movement when a load is transmitted from one of the lateral engaging surfaces to another of the lateral engaging surfaces.

Abstract: A composite laminate structure, and a method for its fabrication. The structure includes a syntactic core layer (10) including an epoxy system catalyzed by a Lewis acid, and two face skin layers (12), each of which has multiple graphite fibers laid up in a polycyanate matrix resin catalyzed by cobalt. After thermal curing, the laminate structure has the unusual, but highly desirable property that it is compliant enough to be conformed at room temperature to a different shape, without damage to the structure. The structure may be later conformed to other shapes or conformed to its original shape, again without damage. Structures of unusual shapes can, therefore, be easily fabricated from sheets of the laminate material formed in one (1) convenient initial shape, such as a flat panel.

Abstract: Automobile body parts having contoured, decorative outer surfaces are molded. The automobile body parts include a molded polymer substrate and a decorative surfacing film adhered to one side of the substrate. The decorative surfacing film includes a substantially molecularly unoriented cast polymer film formed from a weatherable polymer. Also a method for making sets of such automobile body parts for assembly into automobile bodies is taught.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a composite part (42) from a plurality of composite layers (14) is provided. The method includes laying-up the composite layers (26) one upon another to form a collection of layers in a configuration and debulking the configuration of layers (26) by applying pressure sufficient to reduce the thickness of the layers to within approximately twenty percent (20%) of the part's final thickness. The debulked layers (28) may then be stored, generally at room temperature. To later form the part, the debulked layers (28) are heated to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and formed into the part's final shape. Heat may then be continuously applied to the layers while holding them in the part's final shape with sufficient force to achieve and maintain the part's thickness and density and until the heating causes the layers to become sufficiently cured so that the part's shape, thickness, and density are maintained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a corrugated component (10) of wood-like material. The component consists of at least three layers of wooden material sheets (1,2) which are joined together with the aid of a bonding agent. At least one (1) of said layers has it grains running at an angle to the other layers (2). The undulations (9) are created before the bonding agent hardens in order to permit the layers of the wood-like material to move relatively to each other in order to compensate for the differing bending radii of the individual layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing acrylic boards containing real flower materials includes adhering real flower materials to an artificial fiber paper or cloth using a glue solution soluble in an acrylic solution, the fiber cloth or paper and the real flower material capable of retaining their malleability in the congealed acrylic solution; and pouring the acrylic solution into a mold holding the fiber paper or cloth with the flower materials adhered thereto; and bending the acrylic board thus obtained to a desirable shape.

Abstract: A method of thermoforming sheet articles includes: a) heating a sheet article to be thermoformed; b) inserting the heated sheet article into a pressure vessel having first and second vessel halves, wherein each vessel half includes a liquid chamber and a thin shell configured for forming the sheet article to a desired shape; c) closing the pressure vessels such that the sheet article is captured between the thin shells; and d) providing liquid of equal pressure in each liquid chamber to force the thin shells together to form the sheet article to the desired shape and to draw heat away from the thin shells for cooling the sheet article.

Abstract: Beads capable of stably executing bead embroidery having high quality by using a continuous form of beads which can accomplish automatic bead embroidery. The beads comprise a laminate film 1a formed by laminating films 2 and 3 having different thermal shrinkage ratios in a predetermined direction. The laminate film 1a is heat-treated and curled into a cylindrical shape to form a cylinder 1b, and cuts 4 are formed into the cylinder 1b at predetermined intervals so as to form the continuous member 1c of the beads 6.

Abstract: A process of making a molded laminar structure from a reinforced fibrous mat impregnated with an uncured thermal setting resinous binder wherein the mat is compressed and molded, the binder cured to form a shell, a covering secured to one surface of the shell to form a laminar structure, and trimming the laminar structure to predetermined dimensions.