Abstract: A method of bonding a first tubular member to a second tubular member to form a catheter shaft. The method comprising the step of providing a first tubular member including a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end thereof. The method further including the step of providing a second tubular member including a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end thereof. The method further including the steps of inserting a joining portion of the first tubular member into a joining portion of the second tubular member and applying heat the joining portions.

Abstract: A modular building unit (1-6, 1A) including a building block (10, 10A) having lower and upper faces (9, 9A, 11, 11A), side faces (12, 12A, 13, 13A) and end faces (14, 14A). At least the lower and upper faces are provided with mounting strips (21-24, 53A, 54A) interfit with mating mounting strips (21-24, 53A, 54A) on similar adjacent modular building units (1-6, 1A) to join the adjoining building block units (1-6, 1A) in predetermined dimensionally accurate relationships. A method of securing the mounting strips (21-24, 53A, 54A) to the building block or brick (10, 10A) and the method of interlocking and securing adjacent modular building units (1-6, 1A) to each other are disclosed. A preferred embodiment of mounting strips (53A, 54A) is shown in FIGS. 8-10. A mold (203) is shown in FIG. 12 for the preferred method of forming a building block or brick (200).

Abstract: In the manufacture of plastics bags using reclosable zipper strip (10,14) with engageable male and female profiles (12,16), a butt splicing operation is used to speed up the changeover from one reel of zipper strip to another. The trailing end of one strip and the leading end of the next strip are brought together in abutting relationship within a splicing unit, sealing material (22) is overlaid on the end zones of opposite sides of the strips, and this is sealed to the underlying zipper strips, preferably using heat and pressure. The flanges (18) of the zipper strips are held apart by separator plates (20) during the sealing operation.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for joining thermoplastic composite sandwich panels with thermoplastic welds (fusion bonds) made without autoclave processing of the joint. The preferred joint is a double interleaf staggered joint with supporting titanium doublers providing a tensile strength of at least 12,000 lb/in. The joint is particularly suited for joining sections of a cryogenic tank for spacecraft.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a desired belt member in such a manner that a continuous strip material is cut into a plurality of strips each having a predetermined length while the strip material is fed in a direction traversing a conveyer and the cut strips are aligned and spliced on the conveyer while moving the conveyer intermittently. The apparatus is provided with a first guide having a bottom plate for supporting the rear edge of the strip material along a feeding path through which the strip material is fed to a conveyer and a side plate for regulating the rear edge position of the strip material, a second guide having a side plate for regulating the front edge position of the strip material and capable of moving vertically and a splicing press capable of moving vertically along the second guide.

Abstract: The subject basic method and its modifications are used to provide logs reconstituted from smaller diameter trees up to 12 inches diameter at their bases. The basic method is practiced using the following steps: 1. Cutting felled trees at cutting points into a plurality of segments which, naturally, are tapered, each segment having a length, a larger diameter end and a smaller diameter end, the length being in a range of random lengths such that the larger end diameter is in a range of 0.2 to 2.0 inches larger than the smaller end diameter, with 0.2 inch preferred; 2. selecting from the plurality of segments cut from one or more trees, a plurality of groups of segments which have smaller end diameters no more than ½ inch different; 3. joining segments from each group end-to-end to form reconstituted logs of optimum lengths for processing into wooden structural units. In one modification of the basic method, flawed portions are removed from the logs prior to cutting them into segments.

Abstract: An edge joint structure for connecting a waterproof thermal insulation panel with a fabric panel for wader or similar outdoor wear, which includes a base connection edge provided at an end portion of the waterproof thermal insulation panel and connecting end edge provided at an end portion of the fabric panel. An end portion of a lining layer of the waterproof thermal insulation panel is removed to form the base connection edge and define a base connection surface on a back side of the base connection edge. The connecting end edge has a width equal to a width of the base connection surface is adhered on the base connection surface of the base connection edge of the waterproof thermal insulation panel so as to firmly connect the waterproof thermal insulation panel with the fabric panel overlappedly.

Abstract: The method of forming a field joint around the bare joint of two joined insulation covered pipes includes providing a first angular cut back in the coating to expose the end of a pipe and providing a second cut back in the coating to provide an annular band of the coating of a lesser diameter than the coating on the pipe. A thin coating of polyurethane may then be applied over the first and second cut backs and a recess provided in the band of coating. A mould may then be secured around the lesser diameter band, and polyurethane pumped into the mould in a sufficient amount to form a field joint which extends into the second cut back and lies flush with the coating of the pipes so as to allow for reeling and laying of the pipe without snagging. The field joint can be located around the bare joint and includes a polyurethane infill recessed into the insulated coating of the pipes such that infill lies flush with the surface of the coating on the pipes.

Abstract: A method of flooring using butting panels fixed to a frame primarily of joists, joints transverse of the longitudinal axes of the joists being largely unnogged. To support such joints unsupported by a framing element reliance is placed on panel edge to panel edge adhesion. In a preferred form particle board panels each provided with an edge groove have the effect of ensuring both a sufficient availability of adhesive for an effective butt joint whilst, in addition, providing a keying or splining between the adjacent panels.

Abstract: An adhesive suitable for bonding wood is both heat curable and radio frequency (RF) curable. This adhesive is composed of an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer and hydrolyzed soy protein having a pH of at least about 9 and advantageously from about 9 to 11.5. The weight ratio of prepolymer to soy protein hydrolyzate ranges from about 70:30 to 90:10.

Abstract: A method of forming a wood-veneered product. The method includes (1) providing a veneer having a main portion formed of wood and an edge portion joined to the main portion, the edge portion being formed of a material different from the wood of the main portion, (2) providing a core having an edge portion and a surface for receiving the veneer, (3) affixing the veneer to the surface of the core, so that the edge portion of the veneer is adjacent the edge portion of the core, and (4) shaping the veneer and core, so that the edge portion of the veneer is removed, to form the wood-veneered product. The method reduces waste, because it reduces the amount of wood required for the main portion of the veneer. The core and veneer may include various materials of various sizes. The core and veneer may be formed and joined in various ways. The invention also provides a wood-veneered product constructed in accordance with limitations (1)-(3).

Abstract: A method for splicing an improved strength tape having longitudinally extended strands comprises the trimming or patterning of the strands of the respective ends that are to be joined so that the ends can be mated together in a meshing arrangement. The two ends are placed in a splicing tray. An adhesive film is interposed between the two ends and the splice tray is closed. The splice tray is placed in a compression molding press which applies a predetermined time-temperature-pressure treatment profile which cures the adhesive film. The resulting splice has essentially the same physical dimensions of the strength tape, and similar stiffness characteristics to that of the strength tape. Further, the strength of the splice is more than sufficient for use in a communication cable. Because the complete splice process can be completed in less than 4 to 5 minutes, the splice can be performed on-line with the use of a strength tape accumulator.

Abstract: A process for joining together a first polishing pad with a second polishing pad to form a larger pad for a machine that performs chemical-mechanical polishing of silicon wafers. The process includes laying a first polishing pad on a surface and laying a second pad on the surface so that a portion of the second pad overlies a portion of the first pad, creating an overlap region. The first and second pads in the overlap region are cut through to form a first cut edge on the first pad and a second cut edge on the second pad, the first and second cut edges having shapes which are complementary. The first and second cut edges are brought into engagement, and the first pad is joined to the second pad at the first and second cut edges.