Abstract: Helical plastic members are formed by rotating an extrusion die while extruding a filament in a generally horizontal direction just above a tank of liquid. The plastic helix so formed is cooled and solidified in the liquid. A mandrel in the liquid can be used to guide the helix downwardly, and the helix is removed from the tank with extraction rollers. As a variation, the tank can rotate relative to a fixed extrusion nozzle which extrudes the plastic horizontally just above the rotating liquid in the tank.

Abstract: The edge of an interior lamina or laminae of a laminated sheet or film having three or more laminae is positively encapsulated to protect material enclosed by the laminated sheet or film from contacting and interacting with the edge of the interior lamina or laminae. To encapsulate the interior lamina or laminae, the edge of the laminated sheet or film is heated and the molten outer laminae are mechanically forced out and over the interior lamina or laminae to be covered, thereby positively encapsulating the edge of the interior lamina or laminae.

Abstract: The invention permits the lining of a passageway or pipeline with a resilient but robust, semi-rigid plastics pipe. The invention enables the lining of pipelines and passageways of long length by extruding the lining tube on site, deflecting the tube so that it is deflected into smaller diametral size, holding the tube in the deflected condition, feeding the deflected and held tube into the passageway to be lined, and releasing the hold on the tube so that it deflects or is deflected back to its original form and lines the pipeline or passageway.

Abstract: Two or more flat sheets of flexible material, at least one of which is transparent, are driven concurrently endwise along a path by successive advances at the same rate of travel while they are juxtaposed in direct face to face contact with each other. At one location along the path the sheets as a unit are pleated, heated, and pressed into a series of parallel, substantially identical flat pleats, with the pleats of each sheet interfitting corresponding pleats of the other sheet, and each pleat being partially overlapped by, and partially overlapping, those adjacent pleats of the same sheet between which it is positioned. While the sheets are held in flat pleated condition, they are cooled to set the pleats, and then are coated concurrently over the outwardly exposed face portions of their plates with light reflecting or decorative paint or flowable film forming material. The coating is then dried.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellular core structural panel, comprising a plurality of bonded stacked segments, each segment being formed from a sheet characterized by a top portion having repeating peaks and troughs and sidewalls integral with the troughs. The cut-to-length segments are successively aligned so that each peak contacts the trough of the segment above it to form a cellular core panel with integral face sheets formed from the sidewalls of each segment.

Abstract: A tube of thermoplastic netting is drawn through a work station in a radially collapsed, condensed condition. At the work station, the netting is angularly twisted to rope-like form, to increase its bulk density and, in such condition, is drawn between the die and platen of an ultrasonic welding horn. Periodically, the die and platen momentarily bear against a succeeding short length of the twisted, condensed rope-like form making a fused seal nugget integrating all strands of the netting at that site. The resulting product may be a long length of such tubing, having such a seal every so often, or a plurality of bags formed from the intermediate product by making one transverse cut through the netting tube beside each seal nugget.

Abstract: An improved tensioning device, for tensioning the tying medium of a package tying machine, is mounted on the tying machine's rotatable twine arm. The tensioning device utilizes a funneling structure to gather the tying medium, whether twine or tape or other material, into a prescribed volume while tensioning the same, thereby allowing a relatively high, uniform tension value to be maintained in the tying medium throughout the package tying cycle.

Abstract: Monofilaments are made from films of unoriented, polymeric resin thermoplastics. The method comprises providing strips or tapes of the unoriented films, twisting the tapes into a generally cylindrical cross-section and drawing the twisted tape to obtain an oriented, round-in-cross-section, monofilament. In the preferred embodiment, molding is carried out by drawing down the twisted tape.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device mounting element embodying a wire fan-out wherein the ends of a plurality of insulated wires are supported in a spatial parallel arrangement of columns and rows between two spaced apertured die elements, the spacing of the wires is reduced at a first location between the die elements while maintaining the spatial arrangement of columns and rows, forming an enclosure about the wire portions positioned adjacent one of the die elements and the location where the spacing of the wires is reduced, injecting an organic hardenable resin material into the enclosure thereby encapsulating the wires positioned within, severing the wires, and removing the die.

Abstract: A composite reinforced vulcanized elastomeric hose is disclosed including a tube, an outer cover, an interlayer interposed between the tube and cover, and a reinforcement embedded in the hose wall. The outer cover and inner tube are composed of dissimilar polymers not readily bondable to one another, one of which is an EPDM type, and the interlayer is composed of halogenated butyl which securely bonds the dissimilar polymers together and provides a low permeability internal fluid barrier for the hose article with protection to the embedded reinforcement.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing part of a slide fastener includes the steps of deforming an initially substantially straight filament portion into a filament portion of V-shaped configuration having a pair of legs which meets at a crest of the deformed portion of V-shaped configuration. Simultaneously the deformed V-shaped portion of the filament is compressed at its crest to form a tooth of the slide fastener at this crest of the V-shaped portion. Immediately thereafter the legs of the V-shaped portion are pushed together while situating them in side-by-side relation and while displacing these legs into a tooth gap between a pair of teeth of a rotary gear.

Abstract: A vertically-mountable dispenser unit for storing and individually dispensing a large number of small boxes. The unit is formed by a frame including a pair of side walls having corresponding-positioned, inwardly-directed ridges thereon that divide the unit into parallel channels for receiving the boxes. Each channel has a discharge opening at the lower end thereof which is terminated by a ledge whereby the boxes are retained in the channels by the ledges and may be laterally withdrawn therefrom. The unit is fabricated of clear thermoplastic material and is created from a flat injection-molded blank that is thermally folded to assume the desired configuration.

Abstract: A triangular aquarium comprising a three-sided vertical body and a base connected thereto to form a container. The height of the body is several times the width of its widest side. The body is formed from a single sheet of transparent material which has a substantially uniform thickness. The sheet of material is positioned on a heating form and two bandlike areas extending the length of the sheet are heated until the material is malleable. The sheet is folded along each of the heated bands to form a three-sided body, with two of the included angles being less than 90.degree. and having a radius of curvature substantially greater than the thickness of the sheet material. The two lengthwise edges of the folded sheet material abut to form the third angle and are bonded together to complete the body. The base is secured at one end of the body to form a container.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing lengths of rubber hose of curved shape comprises means for feeding a sequence of flexible mandrels in end-to-end relation to and through a first extruder which extrudes a continuous rubber hose onto the string of mandrels. Downstream of the extruder there is means for wrapping reinforcing thread around the hose and a second extruder for extending a second layer of rubber onto the reinforced hose. Downstream of the second extruder the hose is cut at locations between successive mandrels to form separate lengths of hose each with a flexible mandrel therein. Clamping means engages opposite ends of each mandrel with a hose length thereon and forces the ends toward one another to bend the mandrel and hose to curved form. While thus held in curved form, the hose lengths are vulcanized. The mandrels are then removed while evacuating the interior of the mandrel to contract it and forcing pressure fluid between the mandrel and the curved hose length to facilitate the removal.

Abstract: Devices for concentrating radiant energy and having reflective anticlastic surfaces, produced by processes involving shrinking an elastic reflective film onto a rigid frame representing one or a series of twisted squares, or by twisting a semi-rigid elastic reflective panel.

Abstract: A plane plate of corrugated paperboard, which is produced by bonding a corrugated medium and at least one liner board with a thermoplastic resin, is shaped into a curved plate by means of a hot-press so that the resin fluidifies and allows the medium and each liner board to make individual and slipping movements during press-forming. The resin hardens upon subsequent temperature reduction and affords the curved heat and sound insulator plate a good shape retentivity.

Abstract: A laterally bent and longitudinally bendable extrusion product and method of making the same in which a composite metallized strip is encapsulated in a transparent sheath of molten thermoplastic and subsequently fed to a forming zone where it is laterally bent and cooled. The composite metallized strip includes a core of metallized particles sandwiched between and thermoplastically bonded to a transparent plastic substrate and a rigidifying support layer which is constructed and arranged to substantially prevent delamination, discolorization and deformation of the metallized particles.

Abstract: In one exemplar embodiment, a method and apparatus are provided for sealing leaks which occur at the flanged connections of pipelines wherein a wire is wrapped about the upper surface of the flange connecting bolts for filling the gap between the flanges and above the bolts, an injection valve means is installed for relieving pressure from inside the gap while the wire is being wrapped and for injecting a sealant to the interior of the gap beneath the wire wrap, and a sealant is provided for filling the gap beneath the wire wrap for stoping the leak and combining with the wire wrap to provide a permanent repair for the leak.

Abstract: This invention includes a plastic name tag holder; a method for manufacturing said name tag holder; and apparatus for manufacturing said name tag holder. The preferred name tag holder is rectangular and has a central cavity open at one end for insertion of the name tag. The holder has a rigid plastic bottom sheet and a rigid plastic parallel top sheet which is turned down around three sides of its periphery and is sealed to the bottom sheet on three sides to provide the central name tag slot. The slot is substantially rectangular in vertical cross-section.The apparatus and method of manufacturing a plurality of name tag holders include hinged horizontal insert fingers mounted on the lower platen to separate the top and bottom vinyl sheets and to provide a plurality of male molds corresponding to the central cavities. A plurality of U-shaped electrode dies draws the top sheet down and around the U-shaped insert fingers and seals the top sheet to the bottom sheet beyond the perimeter of the insert fingers.

Abstract: A continuous process of forming a sheet of thermoplastic material by sequentially pressing against one face of the hot sheet of material the cold tips of projections set in and extending normally from a first series of separately moveable combs and sequentially pressing against the second face of the material the cold tips of projections set in and extending normally from a second series of separately moveable combs so that the projections of the first series of combs interpenetrate with the projections of the second series of combs in such a manner that the projections of the first series are spaced from the projections of the second series by a distance greater than the thickness of the sheet; and the interpenetrated projections are substantially parallel during the act of interpenetration; and wherein the interpenetrated combs are moved along at the speed of the sheet until the sheet is set and the combs are then removed and recycled.

Abstract: A method for producing arcuately curved film casings particularly suitable for a foodstuff such as meat or the like, by an inflation process, wherein a non-stretched resin tube is advanced along and in contact with a circumferential surface of a cylindrical shaping member at the time of inflation of the tube.

Abstract: An improved method for reclaiming waste plastic materials generated during an extrusion coating operation. A rotating funnel or other device is used to gather the hot molten plastic waste material and twist it into the shape of a rope. The plastic rope is passed through a cooling bath and one or more pinch rollers. After passing through the rollers, the plastic rope is spooled, chopped, or fed to a plastics processing machine.

Abstract: For the manufacture of a continuous coupling element of zigzag or meandering type, a blank strip of sheetlike material is first cut by rotary cutters into a continuous rodlike member of zigzag configuration. This zigzagging rodlike member is reshaped, as by a cooperative pair of forming dies, into meandering configuration in which the major transverse portions of the rodlike member are arranged parallel to each other with constant longitudinal spacings. Pressure is then applied centrally to each transverse portion of the meandering rodlike member to form a pair of lateral protuberances for use as a coupling head in the completed coupling element, and these transverse portions are bent by a combination guide channel-toothed wheel into the shape of a "U".

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for applying a double edge to any flexible sheetlike material by bending over a portion of the sheet edge on each side of said sheetlike material. The sheetlike material must then be cured or made rigid by heating. The entire process and the apparatus also is handled as an integral operation with the forming and curing of the flexible sheet.

Abstract: Moving tubing, such as of plastic film, is continuously gusseted in the longitudinal direction, by pulling apart opposed side sections of the tubing, at a local station by application of vacuum force selectively to the surface of the tube, leaving one or more section(s) of the tubing free of such vacuum force, and continuously inwardly tucking such free section(s) by means of gusset blade(s) or the like, or alternately by means of atmospheric force pressing inwardly on said free section(s). In species embodiments of the invention, the vacuum suction is applied by means of opposed perforate belts or rolls through which the vacuum is pulled, and which are operated at essentially the same rate of speed as the forward movement of the tubing.

Abstract: Method for continuously forming a corrugated web of thermoplastic material in which the corrugations extend diagonally across the web. The web is first softened by heat and then passed to a molding belt which moves in an endless path while supporting and advancing the web in a longitudinal direction. The molding belt is provided with grooves corresponding to the corrugations in the web. The corrugations are formed initially by poking the softened web progressively into the grooves without stretching the web to any substantial degree. The thus initially formed corrugations are thereafter drawn into the grooves and retained therein by applying suction to the bottom side of the molding belt.

Abstract: A method of producing a ladder-like structure for use as a row of interlocking elements for a slide fastener is disclosed. A pair or pairs of elongated connecting members are advanced in parallel alignment along their length at predetermined intervals. For the pair or pairs of connecting members, a plurality of element-forming spaced strips of a thermoplastic material are fed simultaneously for attachment transversely to the connecting members. The result is to produce a ladder-like structure at increased rate of speed which is suitable for use as a row of fastener elements.