Abstract: A closure (3) for a container (1), the container having a mouth (16) surrounded by an external flange (7) extending generally away from the mouth, the closure comprising a closure body (9) adapted to extend across the mouth, a skirt (15) which is disposed below the level of the container flange when the closure is initially secured to the container and the mouth is uppermost, the skirt being connected to the margin of the body by a plurality of spaced-apart bridges (19) which lie adjacent to the outer margin of the flange in the initially secured condition of the A closure, and a plurality of upwardly-facing latching formations (20) depending from the skirt (15) and each disposed circumferentially between adjacent bridges (19) as viewed in plan and adapted to latch under the flange (7), the upper portion (23) of the latching formations each lying vertically beneath a respective tool access aperture (25) provided in the margin of the closure body.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a reinforced plastics material part from a drapable sheet (6) by means of a mold (1) comprising a first portion (2) and a second portion (3) that are movable relative to each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making insignias with a raised design is capable of providing more aesthetic appearance to the insignias thus made. A base material consisting of a base sheet and a surface sheet overlaying the base sheet is prepared for making into an insignia. The base material is coating with a surface coating of decorative material. A bottom mold and an upper mold are used to press the base material to form raised design of patterns. The bottom and upper molds are coupled to a composite heating device including high-frequency induction and electric heating means for applying both high-frequency induction heat and electric heat to the base material while the upper molding is being pressed against the bottom mold. The upper mold is formed with a plurality of edge-defining blades for cutting an edge for the insignia, a plurality of pattern-defining blades for forming a pre-designed pattern on the insignia.

Abstract: A strip casting device (2) has a casting container (14) from which through a casting gap (15) two different masses (12, 13) of a material flowable with the addition of heat are poured out as a strip (3) onto a cooling device (4). The second mass (13) is at the same time ejected by way of injection nozzles (21, 22) into the region of the casting gap (15) into the casting flow of the first mass (12). The injection nozzles are preferably movable in various directions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making insignias with a raised design is capable of providing more aesthetic appearance to the insignias thus made. A base material consisting of a base sheet and a surface sheet overlaying the base sheet is prepared for making into an insignia. The base material is coating with a surface coating of decorative material. A bottom mold and an upper mold are used to press the base material to form raised design of patterns. The bottom and upper molds are coupled to a composite heating device including high-frequency induction and electric heating means for applying both high-frequency induction heat and electric heat to the base material while the upper molding is being pressed against the bottom mold. The upper mold is formed with a plurality of edge-defining blades for cutting an edge for the insignia, a plurality of pattern-defining blades for forming a pre-designed pattern on the insignia.

Abstract: A method for cutting and edge sealing cells of cellular retroreflective sheeting is disclosed using a specially designed apparatus and tool. Sheeting having a thickness T is heated to a thermoforming temperature to form a heated sheeting. Pressing the unheated tool, the heated sheeting, and a substrate together results in cutting and edge sealing of the heated sheeting. The tool has a radiused ridge for cutting and edge sealing with the shape of the ridge similar to the shape desired for the edge seal. A height H of the ridge is defined relative to the thickness of the sheeting. The fraction of the ridge height to the thickness of the sheeting is less than one and more than 0.2. The tools may be mounted on a perimeter of a wheel for continuously slitting and edge sealing strips of cellular sheeting. The retroreflectivity of the sheeting is maximized by (1) minimizing the width of the sealed edges while (2) maximizing the number of closed cells along the sealed edges that can withstand a water holdout test.

Abstract: An injection moulding unit includes at least two injection moulds for manufacturing disc-like objects. The injection moulds each further include two mould parts which are mutually displaceable between a closed position in which they bound a mould cavity and an opened position in which the disc-like object can be removed. The mould cavity is connected to a pressure line for carrying heated plastic into the mould cavity. A punching means is provided for punching a central hole through the disc-like object. The punching means includes a cylindrical part forming a portion of one of the mould parts and has a leading peripheral edge. The respective pressure lines of the injection moulds are branches of a feed line and together therewith form part of a collective multiple hot runner. The outlet zone of each feed line is configured to couple to an infeed of an injection bush. An outfeed of the injection bush debouches directly into the mould cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for manually portioning pizza dough disks having a calibrated volume and suitable for mechanical final spreading. The apparatus includes a support member fastened to a base plate, a circular lower plate arranged in a substantially horizontal configuration onto which the dough is to be placed, and a circular upper plate arranged in a substantially horizontal configuration coaxial with the circular lower plate and having of a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the circular lower plate. A device for moving the circular lower and upper plate towards each other to a predetermined final distance which corresponds to a desired thickness of a dough disk is provided, as well as a cutting element having a sleeve with a cutting edge for removal of excessive dough emerging radially from an annular space between the circular lower and upper plates, and a moving mechanism for axially moving the sleeve relative to the circular lower and upper plate.

Abstract: A method for cutting and edge sealing cells of cellular retroreflective sheeting is disclosed using a specially designed apparatus and tool. Sheeting having a thickness T is heated to a thermoforming temperature to form a heated sheeting. Pressing the unheated tool, the heated sheeting, and a substrate together results in cutting and edge sealing of the heated sheeting. The tool has a radiused ridge for cutting and edge sealing with the shape of the ridge similar to the shape desired for the edge seal. A height H of the ridge is defined relative to the thickness of the sheeting. The fraction of the ridge height to the thickness of the sheeting is less than one and more than 0.2. The tools may be mounted on a perimeter of a wheel for continuously slitting and edge sealing strips of cellular sheeting. The retroreflectivity of the sheeting is maximized by (1) minimizing the width of the sealed edges while (2) maximizing the number of closed cells along the sealed edges that can withstand a water holdout test.

Abstract: A cross head mounted at an end portion of an extruder for extruding a parison between a pair of elements of a metallic mold and a filling nozzle lifting apparatus having a filling nozzle are provided in parallel, and opening and closing of the metallic mold by a mold clamping apparatus, back and forth movement of the mold clamping apparatus between a parison receiving position and a filling position by a metallic mold feeding apparatus, upward and downward movement of the filling nozzle and back and forth movement of a parison cutter of a parison cutting apparatus are electrically operated. Further, a metallic mold body of the metallic mold is formed from a ventilation material, through which air in the metallic mold is sucked by vacuum to expand the parison. Furthermore, a clean air box is constructed so that it can accommodate the filling nozzle, and clean air is jetted from a jetting hole provided in a lower wall of the clean air box so that a clean air atmosphere may be provided above the metallic mold.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a film-covered article. A moveable press having first and second mold surfaces is moved to an open position. The first mold surface has a sealing surface, and the second mold surface has a cutting surface. A thin flexible film having an offal portion is placed between the first and second mold surfaces. The offal portion is positioned between the sealing and cutting surfaces and acts as a seal between the mold halves. The press is moved to the closed position. The cutting surface contacts the film and partially cuts the offal portion along a perimeter of the film. The offal portion remains positioned between the cutting and sealing surfaces and seals the space between the first and second mold surfaces.

Abstract: A slitting and scoring machine includes an upper tooling roller and a lower tooling roller that cooperate to define a tooling nip. Each tooling roller includes an alternating series of coaxially arranged annular knives, annular dies, and annular mandrels. A web of insulation is drawn through the tooling nip to simultaneously (i) cut the web into strips, (ii) score the strips in a manner that promotes the forming of the strips, and (iii) partially form the strips into modified U-shapes. Each strip includes a longitudinally extending middle segment and a pair of longitudinally extending side segments that extend away from the middle segment in a divergent manner to define a longitudinally extending channel. Longitudinally extending grooves are formed by the scoring at the junctures of the middle segment and the side segments. The scoring/grooves promote the divergent shape of the strip.

Abstract: A process for pouring and finishing a concrete slab having a predetermined thickness. Concrete forms are arranged to define the periphery of the slab. Each form having a recessed top wall which serves to provide a support area for a temporary extended border portion of the slab with the border portion having a thickness less than the predetermined thickness of the slab. Concrete is poured within the area defined by the forms to a height determined by the upper edge of the form. The temporary extended border portion of the slab being supported by the recessed top wall. The concrete slab is surface finished across the top surface thereof, extending outwardly at least to the inner most portion of the temporary extended border portion of the slab. After the concrete has hardened, the forms are removed along with the temporary extended border portion as by cutting through the concrete along an inner vertical surface of the concrete forms.

Abstract: A multilayer molded article having a core layer and a skin material laminated on the core layer is produced by providing a skin material between a pair of upper and lower molds, supplying a thermoplastic resin melt between the skin material and one of the molds, closing the molds to press and form the resin melt while holding edges of the skin material with pins provided on a skin material-fixing frame which moves along an outer peripheral wall of one of the upper and lower molds, and cooling the molds and removing the multilayer molded article from the molds.

Abstract: Methods for continuously shaping a compressible or cellular polymer material such as polyurethane foam, by cutting portions of the material from a surface of one or more slabs of material (180) include (a) compressing one or more slabs of cellular material between a pair of compression rollers (146, 146a) and two moving patterned platforms (132, 132a) interposed between the compression rollers, and (b) transversely cutting the slab or slabs with a blade or blades (76) just as the cellular material emerges from between the compression rollers. At least one of the moving patterned platforms, preferably an endless belt, defines a recess or pattern of recesses. When a single slab or multiple slabs of material are fed and compressed between the compression rollers, a portion of the material from one side of the slab or slabs fills the recess or recesses in one of the moving patterned belts. The blade then transversely cuts the cellular material.

Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing a sealant containing tire tube, which is capable of simply opening a sealant filling hole without use of any specialized jig, and a vulcanizing die therefor. A vulcanizing die includes an upper die, a lower die, and a filling hole opening device. The filling hole opening device includes a linear actuator, a drive shaft, and a cutter. The lower die has a cutter passage which passes through the vulcanizing die from outside to inside, and a cut piece recovery passage which extends from the outside of the vulcanizing die to a portion, near the inner opening end, of the cutter passage. The drive shaft of the linear actuator is inserted in the cutter passage, and the cutter is fixed to one end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A process for creating a jacket for the protection of an extended object and the article produced by the process. The process includes the steps of selecting a heat-shrinkable tube having a size corresponding to the object to be protected; providing a mold body having external dimensions substantially matching dimensions of the object to be protected; placing the heat-shrinkable tube over the mold body; applying heat to the heat-shrinkable tube to cause the heat shrinkable tube to conform to the shape of the mold body; cutting the heat-shrinkable tube longitudinally to create an open sleeve with first and second lateral sides; and removing the open sleeve from the mold body. Preferably, a fastening means is provided on the lateral sides of the open sleeve to allow the sleeve to be secured tightly about the object to be protected.

Abstract: A method for shaping a slab of compressible or cellular polymer material, such as polyurethane foam, by cutting portions of the material from one surface uses a compression roller, a support surface, a blade and a moving patterned platform interposed between the compression roller and the support surface. The moving patterned platform, preferably an endless belt or a series of interconnected panels, defines at least one recess, and may define a pattern of recesses of complex or simple shapes and at various depths. When the slab of cellular polymer material is compressed between the compression roller and the support surface, a portion of the material fills the recess or recesses in the moving patterned belt. At least a portion of the compressed material within the recesses is then cut from the surface of the slab by the blade just as the slab emerges from between the compression roller and the support surface.

Abstract: A photo film cassette includes a spool core (13) on which photo film is wound in a form of a roll. A cassette shell (3, 4) contains the spool core in rotatable fashion. In each of a pair of disks (16, 17), a bearing hole (16a, 17a) is formed. The disks are secured to first and second ends of the spool core, and regulate edges of the photo film. To produce at least one kind of disk, a continuous sheet (27, 78, 88, 162, 171, 215) of thermoplastic synthetic resin is partially masked with a mask plate (48, 87, 160, 161, 170). A portion of the sheet emerging out of the mask plate is heated at temperature higher than a softening point of the sheet. The emerging portion is subjected to vacuum/air-pressure forming, so as to form a disk-like portion (20) in the sheet. The bearing hole and a contour of the disks is cut in the disk-like portion, to produce the disks.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for forming a discontinuous slot, recess or other such opening of predetermined size and location in an extrusion section, such as a window jamb liner. The apparatus includes a cutting or shaping device mounted on or closely adjacent an extruding die, such device including a tip movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the tip engages the extrusion as the extrusion is formed and leaves the die, to thereby slit or otherwise remove a strip or other predetermined amount of material from the extrusion and thus form a recess or opening. As the cutter-like member is extended into or retracted from the extrusion, the tip of the cutterlike member shears the extrusion cross-wise to form an opening which may form an end of a slot and the length of time the tip remains in such contact with the extrusion determines the slots length.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for U-bolts comprising the steps of (a) winding a linear, tape or cloth member made of fiber reinforced plastics in which at least a part of the fiber is oriented in three-dimensional directions around a mandrel having a substantially oval or rectangular section (b) making a pipe molded article by hardening the linear, tape or cloth member wound around the mandrel, (c) cutting the hardened pipe molded article into slices transverse to a longitudinal axis of the mandrel, (d) separating the molded article cut into slices into at least two U-shaped portions, and (e) forming screw portions at tip portions of a pair of separated U-shaped portions.

Abstract: A bypass conduit having a desired hollow internal geometry for defining a bounded blood flow path from an open first end positioned in a heart chamber and an open second end connected to a lumen of a coronary vessel is made by forming a master having an external surface with an external geometry complementary to the desired internal geometry of the conduit. The external surface of the master is coated with pyrolytic carbon to define a pyrolytic carbon conduit of pyrolytic carbon bonded to the external surface of the master and with the pyrolytic carbon having an internal surface with a conduit geometry complementary to the external geometry of the master. The master is removed from the pyrolytic carbon conduit.

Abstract: A decorative article including a base layer essentially consisting of a resin sheet and a decorative layer attached to the base layer and essentially consisting of a resin film and a metal thin film formed on a lower surface of the resin film. The metal thin film is formed in a microscopically discontinuous pattern.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a multilayered object by molding having the steps of placing a lining sheet in a mould, injecting a thermoplastic resin material beneath the lining sheet, distributing the thermoplastic resin material beneath the lining sheet to form at least one thermoplastic resin based inner layer by creating a reserve of the thermoplastic resin material in a peripheral portion of the object, holding the extending portion of the sheet in place on the mold during the step of injecting and after the step of injecting so as to retain peripheral tightness of the thermoplastic resin material on a sliding holding point on the punch during movement of the die, pressing the extending portion of the lining sheet against the mold, and sandwiching the reserve in a liquid state between the lining sheet and a portion of the mold until the injected resin material sets to thereby form the multilayered object.

Abstract: A method for producing colored concrete bodies, particularly colored concrete roof tiles, whereby pigment is added to the unprocessed concrete mix. In order to provide the production of permanently colored concrete bodies with reasonably priced pigments which are stable in outdoor exposure and are resistant to light, particularly UV, alkalis and heat. A cement compatible aqueous polymer dispersion in which organic pigment is dispersed is added to the unprocessed concrete mix. Suitable cement compatible polymer dispersions are aqueous polymer dispersions based on styrene and/or pure acrylate. Phthalocyanine and quinacridone pigments are particularly suitable as organic pigments.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously shaping a compressible or cellular polymer material, such as polyurethane foam, by cutting portions of the material from a surface of one or more slabs of material (180) includes two compression rollers (146, 146a), two moving patterned platforms (132, 132a) interposed between the compression rollers, and one or more cutting blades (76) for transversely cutting the slab or slabs just as the cellular material emerges from between the compression rollers. At least one of the moving patterned platforms, preferably an endless belt, defines a recess or pattern of recesses. When a single slab or multiple slabs of material are fed and compressed between the compression rollers, a portion of the material from one side of the slab or slabs fills the recess or recesses in one of the moving patterned belts. The blade then transversely cuts the cellular material.

Abstract: An impression of a portion of a human body is made by forming a preform of tandard profile of polymeric material with shape memory that is substantially rigid at ambient temperature and flexible and elastic at a higher working temperature, bringing the preform to that working temperature, and placing the preform on that body portion. After cooling of the preform to below the working temperature, the preform is removed from the body portion and a positive model is cast from the preform. The preform is then returned to the working temperature without physical constraint, whereupon the preform resumes its standard profile and so can be re-used a number of times. The polymeric composition comprises at least one elastomer and one polycaprolactone diluted in a composition of solvents that dissolve the polymers. The elastomer is polyurethane. The composition of solvents comprises dimethyl-formamide to dissolve the polyurethane, toluene to dissolve the polycaprolactone, and methylethylketone as a buffer.

Abstract: A tool for cutting and shaping a lower edge of a profiled unfinished concrete roofing tile manufactured using the extrusion method, having a tool holder, a cutting insert provided with a cutting edge, and a template. To create a tool which has a significantly increased useful life for cutting and shaping an unfinished concrete roofing tile, the invention teaches that the tool holder and the template are realized in one piece in the form of a support body with a recess for the adhesive and positive connection of the cutting insert, that the cutting insert is made of tungsten carbide and is fastened in the recess by means of adhesive, and that the cutting insert is in contact by means of its upper edge with at least one projection of the support body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved process for the manufacture of concrete roof tiles having cut-back sidelock portions such that the tiles are flash free. The process involves the moulding of tiles on pallets which are provided with cut-away portions corresponding to the cut-back sidelock portions to be formed on the tiles and cutting the ribbon of mortar formed in a line of pallets with a knife which cuts the ribbon of mortar to form discrete tiles and to cut back the sidelock portions of the tiles at the same time. The tiles are flash free due to the action of the knife with the cut-away portions of the pallets.

Abstract: A vacuum forming apparatus has a first mold and a second mold, the first mold including a forming surface. The first mold has a hollow space defined therein and communicating with the forming surface through holes defined in the first mold. The hollow space is connected to a vacuum pump for developing a vacuum in the hollow space to attract a sheet against the forming surface through the holes. The second mold has a presser including a cylinder which displaces a cutter having a serrated trimming blade of the second mold. The presser has an upper groove which accommodates teeth of the serrated trimming blade. The first mold has a lower groove for receiving the teeth of the serrated trimming blade when it is displaced downwardly by the cylinder.

Abstract: The manufacture of a fibrous structure (1) for a composite material part. At least one portion (3) of the fibrous structure (1) is obtained by at least partial machining of a fibrous blank stiffened by freezing a liquid impregnating the blank.

Abstract: To postform the region of transition between the initial part and the end part of a section piece forming a closed frame and applied to window glass (1) by extrusion, use is made of a mould (14) which pivots about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the extruded section piece and which is situated in the region of the surface of the window glass (1). The axis of pivoting of the mould (14) coincides with the cutting ridge (15) of a protrusion (16) which limits the calibrated cavity of the mould (14) on the internal face of the extruded section piece. As the mould (14) pivots, the excess polymer material is pushed back in the direction of the periphery of the window glass and beyond this periphery.

Abstract: A process for beveling the tip of a medical catheter is described. A catheter blank is mounted on a mandrel normally with the mandrel tip extending beyond the tip of the catheter to be beveled. The mandrel and catheter blank are inserted into a previously heated mold having a passage therethrough through which the mandrel passes. At a portion of the mold at which the terminus of the catheter is to be formed, a constriction is provided through which material (flash) may pass from the mold volume to the outside of the mold. The material is permitted to cool sufficiently such that when the mandrel and catheter are withdrawn from the mold, the flash tears and separates from the catheter at the point of the constriction formed between the mold and the mandrel.

Abstract: The forming surface of a forming mold (5) for postforming of a shaped cord (2) in the shape of a frame extruded onto a glass (1) is slightly curved in the direction of the length of shaped cord (2). In the final position of forming mold (4) during the postforming operation, lateral edges (11, 12) are thus slightly above the surface of shaped cord (2). This avoids the creation of imprints in the form of lines or edges on the shaped cord, and a smooth transition is achieved between the postformed length of the shaped cord that attaches there.

Abstract: A contact lens button and a block are integrally formed together when the contact lens button is cast in a cup having an aperture formed in the center of the bottom wall of the cup. The block has a first elongated end forming a spindle and a second end which is of circular, generally planar configuration. The spindle end is inserted through the aperture in the bottom wall of the cup providing an interference fit with the circular end portion located inside the cup spaced parallel to and slightly upwardly from the bottom wall, and the first spindle end extends exteriorly of the cup. A quantity of liquid lens material is dispensed into the cup, completely surrounding the circular end portion of the block. The material cures around the block second end, with the formed button and block removable from the cup as a single unit. The block first end is secured to a lathe chuck for rotating the button to cut the concave base surface of the lens.

Abstract: A multilayer article such as a door trim board is fabricated by the steps of extruding melted resin layers (13m), (12m) and (11m) respectively forming a soft skin material (13), a foamed soft intermediate layer (12) and a base member (11) in the form of a multilayer resin sheet from a die-head (40) of an extruding machine, supply the extruded multilayer resin sheet to a molding machine in such a manner that the resin layer for the skin material is placed on a lower molding die of the molding machine and molding the resin layers in the form of the multilayer article. The resin layer for the skin material consists of thermoplastic elastomer, the resin layer for the intermediate layer consists of ethylenic copolymer copolymerized with ethylene and at least radical copolymerizable acid anhydride, and the resin layer for the base member consists of olefinic resin.

Abstract: A process is described for forming a lighting louver that includes a plurality of louver members. The process includes the steps of providing a sheet of thermoformable material and heating the sheet to a pliable state. A further step includes providing a forming mandrel having a series of mandrel partitions arranged with spaces between the partitions. The heated sheet is positioned over the forming mandrel, and is forced against the forming mandrel to form the heated sheet over the mandrel partitions and thereby produce a formed louver blank including formed louver segments that conform to the mandrel partitions and webbing segments that span the spaces between the partitions on the forming mandrel. In one preferred form the webbing segments are removed. In another preferred form, transparent webbing segments are formed that do not require removal and will transmit light. The webbing segments in the first form are removed from the louver blank to form light transmissive openings through the louver blank.

Abstract: A bio-degradable natural wreath has self-supporting bough branches individually held shaped and bound together in a bough cradle while such branches are under compression. Bough compression arms are controllably lowered to interleave with a similar series of shaping fingers forming a branch cradle that allows branch stems to be tied together. Such bound branch stems allows the branches to remain in their natural state for longer freshness than wreaths formed by evergreen tips and branch stubs that are wired or glued to support rings. The formed and bound bio-degradable wreath is removed from the wreath mold by removal of the compression arms and by lifting the finished wreath from a center post.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making contoured hydrocolloid-containing adhesive dressings in which, in the final product, a soft pliant adhesive layer having one or more hydrocolloids dispersed therein is sandwiched between a top backing layer of stretchable film or fabric and a bottom release layer of flexible but substantially non-stretchable material. In a combined contouring and cutting step, the layers are compressed and heated to reshape the adhesive material and are simultaneously cut to form the finished dressing. In a preferred embodiment, three steps of laminating, contouring and cutting are performed simultaneously at a single station.

Abstract: A device and method is provided for making a thermoplastic part reinforced by a reinforcing sheet on one of the faces of said part. The method includes using a mold having a main cavity that defines the general shape of the part and secondary cavities terminating at a wall of the main cavity and defining projections from one of the faces of the part; and placing in the open mold a reinforcing sheet comprised of a woven or bonded fabric of reinforcing fibers mixed with thermoplastic material, against said wall of the main cavity, the reinforcing sheet thus closing the openings of the secondary cavities.

Abstract: In the method, after the pattern-bearing film is fed to the female mold, the distal end of the film is fixed under a lower portion of the female mold, and at the same time the film is retreated by a force from the film supply portion. Thus, this tightens up the film so that the slacks or wrinkles cannot be formed on the film. Therefore, the film can be fortunately spread around the parting surface of the female mold. In the apparatus, the film suppressing frame is pressed to the female mold through the sliding rod arranged in the female mold, in such a manner that the female mold embraces the frame. Thus, the pressing of the frame is performed by a simple structure, and the film is accurately positioned to the internal surface of the female mold. Also, the film suppressing frame is constituted to advance from and retreat to the female mold. Thus, this causes a space between the both molds and an outside standby position to be useless. A space around the apparatus can be effectively utilized.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming thick wall plastic components laminated with formable decorative film layers. A thermoformable thick wall plastic sheet in the range of 0.065 to about 0.300 inches thick over at least half its area is provided having a thermoformable decorative dry film coating on one side forming an outer surface of the laminated sheet. The sheet is peripherally supported in an open center rack, heated in one or more ovens to forming temperature and formed by a combination of compression and, preferably, vacuum forming with subsequent trimming of excess material to form a finished component with a high quality finish suitable for automotive body use. The compression and vacuum forming steps may be interchangeably performed in order and provide for high quality finish on the outer surface with shaping of reentrant wall portions on the inner side. Any suitable form of laminated sheet may be formed by the apparatus and method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of embedding separated elements in a molded member wherein at least one side of the separated elements is covered by the molded member. The separated elements are interconnected by links to form a unitary member, which is disposed in a mold cavity formed by first and second mold plates. A support pin positioned on a first side of the unitary member supports the unitary member while a punch pin is extended toward a second side of the unitary member and through the link interconnecting the elements so as to sever the link. At least one of the punch pins or the support pins is retracted away from at least one side of the separated elements before injecting a molten material into the cavity so as to form the molded member.

Abstract: A punch button (32) has a central disc (36) integral with and separable from an outer peripheral annular ring (38). The disc and ring are joined by a breakaway portion (40) of reduced thickness. A pair of peel points or pilot cuts (50 and 52) may be provided on distally opposite sides of the disc, and if so, the disc is initially separable from the ring at the peel points and then rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to an axis through the distally opposite pilot cuts. The punch button is formed by providing a strip of material of a first thickness, placing the strip in a die, performing an inner cut with the die and partially cutting through the strip to yield first and second subpieces joined to each other by material of a second reduced thickness, and performing an outer cut with the die and cutting all the way through the strip to yield a piece composed of the first and second subpieces providing the disc and ring.

Abstract: A mold for producing a masonry unit with a roughened texture side surface having a plurality of side walls defining a mold cavity open at its top and bottom, adapted to receive masonry fill material by way of its open top, and to discharge molded fill material in the form of a block of predetermined height by way of its open bottom; and opposed, inwardly extending generally parallel upper and lower lips along at least one of said side walls, the upper lip being located at a predetermined height above the lower lip and the lower lip being located at the bottom of the mold cavity.

Abstract: With an auxiliary electrode having a shape corresponding to the end of a workpiece attached to an upper electrode of a high frequency heater for high-frequency heating the end of the workpiece extruded, the workpiece is high-frequency heated intensively and uniformly between the auxiliary electrode and the lower electrode. After heating, the end of the workpiece is molded into a predetermined shape by a couple of stamping molds.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a resin-impregnated endless belt structure is carried out on an apparatus having an outer cylinder having an inner cylindrical surface coaxial with a smaller radius cylindrical mandrel. An endless base structure for the endless belt structure is disposed within the outer cylinder on the inner cylindrical surface. The cylindrical mandrel, having an inwardly curved nose, is then inserted into the outer cylinder forming a nip of converging geometry between the nose and the inner cylindrical surface. Polymeric resin material is dispensed continuously into the nip while the cylindrical mandrel is gradually moved completely into the outer cylinder. The nose forces the polymeric resin material into the endless base structure, and air bubbles out, while forcing the endless base structure against the inner cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making insignias with a raised design is capable of providing more aesthetic appearance to the insignias thus made. A base material consisting of a base sheet and a surface sheet overlaying the base sheet is prepared for making into an insignia. The base material is coating with a surface coating of decorative material. A bottom mold and an upper mold are used to press the base material to form raised design of patterns. The bottom and upper molds are coupled to a composite heating device including high-frequency induction and electric heating means for applying both high-frequency induction heat and electric heat to the base material while the upper molding is being pressed against the bottom mold. The upper mold is formed with a plurality of edge-defining blades for cutting an edge for the insignia, a plurality of pattern-defining blades for forming a pre-designed pattern on the insignia.

Abstract: A laminate molding method of fabricating a desired shape consisting of laminate layers having a first type layer in a completely solidified state, the method includes a first step of forming a second type layer on the first type layer, the first type layer having a viscosity larger than the second type layer, a second step of forming a slot groove in the second layer, the second type layer having first and second regions, a third step of printing a releaser on a predetermined region of the second type layer, a fourth step of forming a third type layer on the second type layer or on the first type layer, the second type having a viscosity larger than the third type layer, a fifth step of solidifying the third type layer to form the first type layer, and a sixth step of repeating the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth steps as desired.

Abstract: The invention provides composites of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene reinforced with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene anisotropic reinforcement of high strength and modulus. The composites have superior mechanical properties relative to non-filled ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, including higher strength, impact strength, increased creep resistance, and improved modulus. The composites may be sterilized for biomedical use, using gamma radiation and other techniques. Further, the composites are resistant to the effect of body fluids and have lower creep rates so that they will provide implant life. The composites may be cross-linked by exposure to an acetylene environment. Also, the composites find use in other high strength, high impact applications such as sports equipment.