Abstract: Oral and extraoral prosthetic constructions of composite material with considerable fiber content, and in particular, jawbone anchored dental bridges of reinforced plastic, are made by the following method. A number of mutually retracted tubularly braided fibers (1), possibly in combination with continuous fiber strands, so-called roving, together constitute a fiber system which is packed in a tube, hose (2) or the like which is sealed and serves as outer packaging. A suitable matrix material, for example acrylic plastic, is injected into the hose for impregnation (wetting) of the enclosed fiber system, whereafter the hose (2) is removed. The fiber system is then polymerized to form a finished prosthesis blank in a mold. The prosthesis blank is then given suitable form and appearance by conventional after treatment.

Abstract: A method of perforating a nonwoven web of fibrous fabric by directing the web through a nip defined by first and second moveable members. As the web moves through the nip it is penetrated by a plurality of heated pins projecting from the first member which enter heated apertures formed in the second member. The penetration of the pins causes the fibers of the fabric to separate and enter into the apertures and form openings through the web. The openings are surrounded by dense consolidated rings exhibiting greater hydrophilic properties than the nonperforated surface of the web.

Abstract: A access-hole frame for the construction of a spherical tank made of nonmetal moldable material, the frame having a cylindrical neck, an outwardly extending flange at the top side of the neck, and a collar configured as a segmented sphere to be integrated with the spherical wall of the tank. Bolt holes are drilled around the flange for bolts that hold an access-hole cover to the access-hole frame. A three-piece die provided for making the access-hole frame includes a bottom die piece and two top pieces that are bolted together to form an integral top die piece that fits over the bottom die piece. The access-hole frame is formed in accordance with a manufacturing process by placing the three-piece die in stages upon a rotatable table and spraying the nonmetal moldable material onto the rotating bottom and top die pieces.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming frangible score lines in rigid plastic sheet material. The apparatus utilizes a flat surface having a serrated edge having points and notches. The rigid plastic sheet material is laid on the flat surface. A scoring means is positioned to strike downwardly on the sheet material whereby the points of the serrated edge of the flat surface will extend into the sheet material a distance further than the notches of the serrated edge to thus form a corrugated fracturable score line in the plastic sheet material. The apparatus is useful for forming score lines in lids for drink cups intended for fast food service.

Abstract: The invention relates to hollow frames for games rackets e.g. for squash and badminton, which are in the form of hollow injection moldings of thermoplastics material and to a method of making such frames involving injecting the thermoplastics material around a fusible core that can be subsequently melted out. For rackets such as for squash and badminton with relatively long thin shafts undesirable displacement of the shaft portion (22) of the core under molding pressure is achieved by use of locating means (24A,25A) that form holes that do not weaken the eventual shaft (23). The means are positioned to correspond to the neutral surface of the shaft and such that the greatest unclamped length of shaft core between supports divided by the depth of the shaft core is less than 10.

Abstract: The irrigation hose comprises two tubes disposed one within the other, at least one of the tubes being grooved. The ungrooved tube forms with the groove or grooves of the other tube continuous secondary ducts over the entire length of the hose. Inlet ports and outlet ports delimit in the secondary ducts sections of a predetermined length, each yielding a flow capable of continuously drip-irrigating a plant in the area to be irrigated. The outlet ports and the inlet ports are distributed along spiral lines if the secondary ducts are straight and along straight lines constituting generatrices of the hose if the secondary ducts run along spirals.

Abstract: Apertured polymeric films for use as a liquid permeable facing material on absorbent products such as diapers and sanitary napkins is textured by a dual embossing process. The film is preferably embossed first with a pronounced, textile-like pattern, then embossed with a finely engraved finish roll to produce a thin, smooth film with a matte finish while retaining the appearance of the previously embossed pattern. The twice embossed film is soft, conformable, and more comfortable against the skin. The embossing sequence may be reversed for some applications.

Abstract: An improved seal element especially for well packers having multiple mandrels, the improvement providing slits therein of various configurations which allow the seal element to be expanded to sealing condition in response to longitudinal compression such that the resultant stresses created within the element body are minimized in that they are substantially evenly distributed therethrough, thus enabling the multiple packer to seal more readily and to withstand greater pressure differentials.

Abstract: Rough product constituted of a film of plastic material, such as a mono-drawn polyester film, presenting perforations of which the outlines form craters raised with respect to the surface of the film. This product may be obtained according to the needling technique.

Abstract: A three-piece tank assembly including a tank, a support base, and a support liner. The tank has a conical bottom with a discharge conduit at its apex; a longitudinally corrugated antisplash filling trough integrally formed with a sidewall of the tank; and an integrally formed cover including a bunghole for providing access to the filling trough. The discharge conduit may include a flow valve and check valve. The base includes a sidewall for nesting engagement with the tank sidewall, a flat ground-engaging surface and transverse longitudinal slots for receiving the forks of a forklift. The support liner has an upstanding wall and a conical top wall for supporting the conical bottom of the tank and nesting within the support base. Mating projections and grooves in the tank and support base prevent relative movement of the three elements of the tank assembly. Each of the three elements is rotationally molded of cross-linked, high density polyethylene.

Abstract: A method is described for providing electrically resistive elements for mounting in an electrical resistor device for engagement with a relatively movable contact member, as in a potentiometer. A pair of termination openings are formed through a substrate of insulating material such as plastic film. A release liner is applied to the undersurface of the substrate to cover the openings. An electrically conductive medium is applied in fluid (paste) form to the top surface of the substrate and is caused to fill the termination openings, as by applying pressure. The conductive medium is solidified and the release liner is removed. A resistive medium for ultimate engagement with the movable contact is applied to the top surface of the substrate in engagement with the termination openings. The resistive track is shaped as desired, either linear or an annular segment, preferably as part of final shaping steps which also remove the resistive element from a continuous strip of the substrate material.

Abstract: A printhead is formed by injecting unfilled nylon by injection unit 1 and mineral filled nylon by injection unit 3. The filling adds impact resistance for printing, while the unfilled nylon is particularly resistant to flexural fatigue near the hub of the printwheel. Unit 1 is operated first to form an outer layer, with quantity limited so that the outer layer comes to about the middle of the arms of printheads. Unit 3 is then operated to form a core and to be the only material forming the character elements. The resulting printhead is durable and is capable of use at greater deflection than the same printhead made of only the impact resistant material.

Abstract: A plastic orifice plate for an ink jet printhead and manufacturing process therefor which includes electroforming a metal die having raised sections thereon of predefined center-to-center spacings, and using the die to punch out openings in a plastic substrate of a chosen thickness to form a plurality of closely spaced orifice openings in the substrate. The orifice plate can be of a chosen transparent material and secured to a printhead substrate where the dynamics of ink flow can be viewed through the orifice plate during printhead testing and evaluation.

Abstract: A method for making an article, such as a plastic food container lid having frangible score lines. The article is formed of a sheet of plastic material having substantially constant thickness with score lines defining an offset portion thereof which is connected to the remaining sheet material by a segment that is thinner than the sheet material and being rupturable for the removal of the offset portion. The periphery of the inwardly directed portion of the offset portion overlaps the periphery of the outwardly directed portion of the offset portion on the opposite side of the sheet material. The fracturable score lines are corrugated along their length by a plurality of successive grooves and ridges with the grooves extending deeper into the material than the ridges.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of making flat stock fibrous cellulosic food casings containing a low plasticizer level of between about 10 wt. % and about 17 wt. %, including at least about 9 wt. % polyol, both based upon the bone dry weight of cellulose in the casing, This process comprising forming a fibrous web into a tube, annularly extruding viscose onto the tube, passing the viscose coated tube through a regenerating bath, and incorporating water-soluble plasticizer into either or both the resulting cellulosic gel stock fibrous tube and the dried fibrous tube.

Abstract: A process to obtain molecular orientations in perforated plates made of extruded plastic material includes a first heating of the plastic material at an extrusion temperature, the extruding of the plastic material in the form of a perforated plate, a first cooling of said plate, a second heating of the plate at the longitudinal orientation temperature, the longitudinal stretching of the plate, a second cooling of the plate at a temperature approaching room temperature, a third heating of the plate at the longitudinal stabilization temperature, a third cooling of the plate, a fourth heating of the plate at the transverse orientation temperature, the transverse stretching of the plate, a fourth cooling of the plate at the transverse stabilization temperature, and the final cooling of the plate.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an improved method for rapidly forming a decorative container for use as a covering for a similarly shaped object, which method comprises:(a) providing a thin sheet of metallized thermoplastic heat shrinkage polymer material;(b) optionally imprinting a design or other matter upon the sheet of polymer;(c) optionally cutting said sheet to the dimensions approximating the dimensions of the base and side walls of said object;(d) placing the sheet over a heated form having a temperature of between about 80.degree. and 110.degree. C.(e) placing a complementary heated form also having a temperature of between about 80.degree. and 110.degree. C.(f) fitting the heated forms of substep (d) and (e) together having the thermoplastic sheet therebetween;(g) maintaining the temperature of between about 80.degree. and 100.degree. C.

Abstract: A building construction element such as insulative siding is disclosed having an outer skin with an inner surface on which a plurality of individual, spaced-apart, arcuate-shaped projections are cut or gouged from the inner surface by a cutting tool means. A low density polymetric foam material is disposed over the inner surface so as to completely surround each arcuate projection to thereby securely lock the skin to the foam material after it sets.

Abstract: In a graphite material comprising a mass of expanded graphite particles compressed together so as to form a graphite foil, the graphite foil is provided with a plurality of apertures disposed on at least one surface thereof so as to substantially prevent formation of bubble-like deformations which occur when the graphite foil is heated and/or placed in a vacuum. The method of making the invented foil and devices used to make said foil are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is for a system and method of ultrasonically perforating a continuously moving strip of material in a matrix pattern. The system comprises a knurled rotating drum having sharp, perforating projections over which the strip to be perforated is caused to pass. A sonic horn positioned over the strip forces the strip into perforating contact with the drum, rapidly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating a prosthetic member (112) having personalized features of the patient, and being formed to provide an individualized fit to the patient's extremity (18). A rigid jacket (30, 32) is first formed around the uninsured foot (10) and the amputated extremity (18). The limb characteristics are impressed into an alginate (44) lining within the jackets (30, 32). A stone material poured into the alginate lining (44) forms stone models (48, 50) of the patient's limbs. A wax preliminary model (64) is scuplted in the likeness of the stone foot model (48) and used to form final stone mold halves (100, 102). The contour of the stone extremity model (50) is adjusted according to the tissue texture of the patient to provide an individualized fit. A gelatinous silicone is injected inside the final mold (100, 102) and allowed to form around the extremity model (50) to thereby provide the body of the prosthetic member (112) and the conformal sleeve (132 ).

Abstract: A new and improved method of forming slats for window blinds and the like from a continuous web of plastic material includes a feeder for directing the web longitudinally from a roll at a selected speed rate into a heating chamber including upper and lower plates defining a longitudinally extending heating path between opposite inlet and outlet ends. As the web moves along the path, opposite surfaces thereof are heated to an elevated temperature and the web material then moves into a molding and cooling chamber immediately adjacent the exit end of the heating chamber wherein the web is molded to provide a curved transverse cross-section while the web is cooled. The web is cooled to a temperature at a level selected to provide a permanent set in the longitudinally traveling web.

Abstract: A porous film having a good water vapor permeability is obtained with a high productivity by melting a resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin resin and 50 to 500 parts by weight of barium sulfate having an electric conductivity of 250 .mu.S/cm or less in terms of the electric conductivity of a supernatant formed when the barium sulfate is added to water, and a particle size of 0.1 to 7 .mu.m, making the melt into a film and stretching the film to 2.5 to 14 times the original area at least in the uniaxial direction.

Abstract: An inexpensive method of forming close tolerance holes in composites utilizing the B-stage characteristics of those composites. The holes are formed by assembling the composite structure, B-staging the composite material, cutting or drilling undersized holes in the B-staged material, inserting appropriate male forming pins, dies or mandrels in the holes, completing the curing of the composite structure with pins in place and then removing the pins to leave high quality, close tolerance holes in the composite structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing drain pipes comprises extruding a strip from an extruder into a plasticized strip form, winding the extruder strip into a continuous spiral of successive coils, joining the lateral edges of the successive coils, and perforating the plasticized strip. The strip is advantageously perforated after it is extruded and before it is wound. An apparatus for effecting the formation of drain pipe comprises an extruder for extruding the plasticized continuous strip onto a winding drum as the drum is continuously wound and the strip is advanced along the drum to form successive spiral forms which has means for welding the lateral edges of the coils of the strip and including a rotable disc member having circumferentially spaced projectings which rotates adjacent the winding drum and perforates the extruded sheet as it is formed.

Abstract: A method of making an electrically-conductive floor covering presses a polymeric bottom layer into apertures in a top layer having a higher flow viscosity than the bottom layer, the pressure also bonding the layers together. The bottom layer contains from about 3% to about 80% by weight carbon black or graphite for electrical conduction; the top layer contains not more than about 0.5% thereof. The apertures in the top layer are at least 1 mm in diameter and regularly or irregularly spaced from the next adjacent aperture from about 2 mm to about 40 mm, the area of the apertures not exceeding 40% per unit area of the top layer. The dark color of the bottom layer resulting from its carbon black or graphite content therefore need not significantly affect the appearance of the top layer, but provides electrical conductivity through the apertures.

Abstract: The invention is a flexible mask for use in charging a flowable material into selected cells of a honeycomb structure and is of particular utility in chraging a sealing material into the ends of selected cells of such a structure during fabrication of solid particulate filter bodies and other selectively plugged honeycomb structures. The mask has a central body with a set of openings extending therethrough which allow passage of the flowable material through to the selected cells and a second set of protrusions extending from one of the surfaces of the mask which are used to align the mask to the end face of the structure and which extend into and sealably cover the cells which are not to receive the flowable material. The mask may be formed from a polymer, preferably an elastomer, using any of three disclosed die apparatuses.

Abstract: A surface-type microporous filter is prepared by embossing substantially uniform holes in an embossable polymer carried on a porous support wherein the pores are filled with a soluble filler. Subsequent to the embossing step, the filler is removed by dissolution.

Abstract: A racket frame is formed from an elongate element produced by extrusion of a mixture of a thermoplastic material and carbon fibres. The element is bent while hot to form the racket head and has arms which are joined together by throat pieces, thereby forming the racket shaft. The throat pieces are formed by injection moulding. The elongate element preferably has at least one cavity extending along its length, the cavity being filled with foamed material of a density different from that of the elongate element so that the racket can have the desired weight. Preferably ropes of carbon fibres are included in the elongate element extending along its length. The aligned fibres give strength to the frame. In production of the frame the thermoplastic material may be extruded, cooled, have holes for strings formed in it, and then bent to shape or may be bent to shape immediately upon extrusion.

Abstract: A plated through-hole conductor structure for a multiple layer laminate electronic printed wiring board includes mechanical locking of the plated through conductor with textured conductor surfaces together with use of etching or other processing to provide laminate internal space for the mechanical locking structure. A manufacturing sequence and plural material selections are also disclosed.

Abstract: An egg carton thermoformed from a plastic sheet has a cover extension and a cell section extension formed by stretching the plastic sheet in the opposite direction from the sheet line from the direction in which the cover and the cell section are formed. Latching elements on these extensions lock the egg carton without the need for a latch flap. This permits the eighteen cell carton to be loaded on conventional egg loading machinery. The mold for forming the carton has formers which mate with cavities to stretch the lastic into the cover and cell section extensions.

Abstract: Apertures are formed in plastic resin sheet material during a thermoforming process by shearing the heated plastic sheet between shear members which have cooperating shear faces extending in two dimensions in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the thermoforming dies. The resulting apertures have a three dimensional configuration.

Abstract: A tape cassette pressure flap and pressure flap/cassette housing assembly and related methods for manufacturing the pressure flap and for assembling the pressure flap in the cassette housing. The pressure flap is substantially flat and made of a flexible material. The flap has a first free end with a low coefficient of friction for normally urging a tape portion into contact with a support member of the cassette housing so as to minimize slackness of the tape, and a second end for being fixedly attached to the cassette housing. A piece is formed at the fixed end to form a flange. The fixed end is then inserted between a pair of walls and the support member formed in the cassette housing. The inserted fixed end of the pressure flap terminates at an area formed by the second wall positioned substantially at an angle to the first wall, so that the pressure flap cannot be pushed out of position relative to the tape upon which it resiliently abuts.

Abstract: In a method of installing a septum (18) at a desired depth within a section of honeycomb core (12) for use in a sound attenuation panels, the septum is sandwiched between two layers (20, 24) of support material having a melting temperature intermediate between the fusing and curing temperatures of the septum material. The honeycomb core (12) is pressed into supporting materials and septum to segment and position the septum (18) therein, after which the resultant assembly is heated sufficiently to allow the septum to fuse and adhere to the honeycomb core. The resultant assembly is then heated sufficiently to melt the support material and allow it to be drained away, leaving the segmented septum (18) in place within the honeycomb core.

Abstract: An integral plastics material starting sheet has a square or rectangular pattern of holes defining strand-forming zones. The strand-forming zones are formed with depressions with the sheet at a low or ambient temperature. The sheet is then stretched to form the strand-forming into orientated strands.

Abstract: A forms feed tractor belt includes drive members molded around a thin, flexible band at longitudinal intervals. To make the belt, slots are first punched at longitudinal intervals in at least one side of the flexible band. Drive members are then molded around the band at the slots except for at least one drive memberless interval at each end of the band. The ends of the band are overlapped so that the slots of the drive memberless intervals coincide. Final drive members are then molded around the slots of each pair of coincided drive memberless intervals to complete the endless tractor belt.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bobbin in which a plastic flange is first insert molded to one end of a winding shaft of nonferrous metal alloy. A bushing of synthetic resin is the forced into a bore in the winding shaft at the other end thereof, and a core having a head is inserted into a bore in the bushing to close an open end of the bore in the bushing with the head of the core. The end of the winding shaft, an outer end of the bushing, and the head of the core are placed in a mold, and a synthetic resin material is injected through a sprue, a runner, and a gate in the mold into a cavity therein to mold a second flange on the end of the winding shaft therearound to obtain a bobbin having plastic flanges at both ends.

Abstract: In a tape which is driven by an elastic pretensioned belt, discontinuities such as embossings in the surface of the belt promote the release of air from between the belt and the underlying tape, thus minimizing variations in tape tension and tape speed.

Abstract: An anodic assembly immersible in a fluoborate electrolytic bath in an electroplating process for plating tin and similar metals. The assembly is constituted by a cylindrical basket containing a replenishable pile of solid pieces of the plating metal, the basket being formed by a perforated carbon tube closed at its bottom by a carbon plug. The outer surface of the tube is impregnated with a resin acting as a reinforcing skin to prevent cracking when the tube is drilled to create the required perforations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coating a surface of a fiber blanket comprising forcing a plurality of probes through the fiber blanket until the probes extend beyond the surface to be coated, so that holes are formed in the fiber blanket, applying fluid coating material on the surface to be coated, retracting the probes from the fiber blanket, allowing the coating material to flow into the holes during the retraction of the probes, forming heads of the coating material at the uncoated surface of the fiber blanket, and allowing the coating material to harden. The invention relates moreover to an apparatus for carrying out this method. The coated fiber blanket obtained by the method according to the invention has the advantage that the hardened layer of coating material is firmly anchored to the blanket.

Abstract: An improved process of manufacturing a plastic helical net is disclosed. The process begins by co-extruding two or more plastic materials characterized by having different properties of contraction and orientation to form a bi-component sheet. Holes or impressions are formed in the sheet at regular intervals as by embossing, drawing, punching or slitting, and then the sheet is oriented, as by stretching, well below the melt temperature of the materials, and then releasing.

Abstract: The invention is a method of forming a composite structure which begins with the formation of a syntactic foam core having internal communication passages that terminate with a plurality of openings in the outer surface of said core. After being wrapped with a plurality of layers of porous material, the wrapped core is positioned in a cavity of a mold having an inlet communicating with one of the openings. A source of uncured resin mix then is connected to the inlet and the mold is evacuated. After being forced through the inlet and the passages to fill the mold and impregnate said fibrous material, the resin mix is cured to provide with the core and the fibrous material a rigid composite structure.

Abstract: A process for developing porosity in air impervious film. The process is disclosed for fabricating a cushion article having a cover provided with increased air flow capabilities. A covering is provided for a cushion body, the covering including a laminated film and, preferably, an outer fabric layer. The film includes a first layer having a relatively high temperature melting point and a second layer having a relatively low temperature melting point. The first layer includes perforations, and the second layer is continuous and air impervious. The laminated film is heated at a temperature which approaches or is above the melting temperature of the second layer but below the melting temperature of the first layer to melt the second layer at least in areas coincident with the perforations in the first layer to form air flow passages through the film laminate.

Abstract: A resin cladding is extruded onto a base strip 10 that is assembled into a cushioned automotive pull strap handle. This is done by feeding a continuous length of base strip 10 through an extrusion mold 12 that forms a continuous resin cladding 13 surrounding base strip 10 and providing raised shoulders 15 extending along longitudinal side edges of strip 10. Discrete strips 30 are cut from continuous strip 10 and resin cladding 13 is cut and stripped away from end regions 31 of discrete strips 30. Apertures 33 are punched in end regions 31 and discrete strips 30 are assembled into strap handles. Resin cladding 13 can also be cut and stripped away from end regions 31 before discrete strips 30 are cut from continuous strip 10.

Abstract: Double walled thermoplastic tubes, with corrugated outer walls and smooth inner wall are formed with integral bell sections spaced along the tube. The outer, corrugated wall is formed with a bell section. One of the walls is pierced between the ends of the bell section to allow the escape of air, and the inner wall is pressed outwards into engagement with the bell section of the outer wall.

Abstract: A method of forming perforations in composite laminates by impregnating the material with a modified epoxy resin by means of hot melt or solvent methods. The resin is then allowed to dry. The epoxy impregnated material is then warmed to around 165.degree. F. and forced by a resilient pressure pad over a tool having a plurality of upstanding studs or pins. While in position on the pin tool, the laminate is then partially cured by combined heat and pressure to minimize resin flow while retaining the ability to be formed to a final contour in a contoured curing fixture after removal from the pin tool. Controlled partial cure and selected low flow resin systems prevent resin flow into the formed apertures formed by the pin tool during final resin cure.

Abstract: Laminates of film of a hydrophilic polymer and adhered substrates are softened by applying a nonvolatile aliphatic compound to at least one surface.

Abstract: A profile for use in the manufacture of frames for windows and the like comprises a core (1) of generally rectangular cross section of laminated plywood or cement-bonded fibrous material with a cladding (3) of plastics material, for example polyvinylchloride or polycarbonate, extruded therearound. The extruded cladding (3) provides, extending along the length of the profile, a glass (or other) panel retaining member (9) which is inclined inwardly (preferably at 45.degree. or substantially so) over a surface of the profile, and an undercut rib 11 spaced from the member (9). In manufacturing frames from the profile the latter is cut into appropriate lengths by saw cuts (31-39) extending at 45.degree.

Abstract: A tough, flexible, sheet-like matrix for a bas-relief pattern is made by casting a reinforced resin on a mold of the pattern and submerging a perforated plate in the liquid resin so that the plate is parallel to a substantially flat plane generated by the lowest points of the pattern. The matrix, exclusive of the peaks and valleys of the pattern, has a uniform thickness and has a multitude of studs integral with and dependent from the sheet. A porous matrix is useful for the wet-end texturing of fiberboard at the final suction press roll of a Fourdrinier fiberboard machine.

Abstract: A fluid distribution device particularly useful as a drip irrigation emitter, comprises: a continuous plastic tube for conveying the fluid therethrough; and a plurality of individual plastic sleeves enclosing and fixed to the tube at longitudinally-spaced sections along the length of the tube; each of the sleeves being deformed to define a pressure-dropping fluid passageway between its inner surface and the outer surface of the section of the tube enclosed thereby; each of said tube sections having an inlet opening through the tube wall leading to the interior of the tube, and an outlet leading externally of the plastic sleeve.