Abstract: A method of producing a hand-hewn look in a false wood beam. The beam is formed from a planar laminate composed of a foam core sandwiched between an outer cover and an inner multiply paper backing. The laminate is rolled along its length, with the outer cover on the outside of the roll, to produce creases in the laminate along irregular, longitudinally spaced lines. These creases create irregular surface facets which, with the laminate unrolled, appear as irregular cutting planes in the laminate's outer cover.

Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture of a video disc caddy sleeve comprising folding platens, an intermediate spacer plate with indentations on the leading edge, and a selective heating means. Spacer plate causes plastic sheet to bend in the middle while folding platens close to a folded up position. Indentations on the leading edge act to keep label, already adhered to plastic sheet, from tearing while sheet is being bent into a U-shaped enclosure.

Abstract: Arrow fletchings (42,102) disclosed have curved vanes (50,114) inclined inwardly in a rearward direction to provide pockets (54,118) for restricting air flow while allowing vane flexing in a manner that moderates drag in response to wind changes. One fletching embodiment (42) is preferably made by plastic extrusion and a subsequent heat forming process and includes a vane (50) whose inner portion projects radially from its foot (44) and whose outer portion define its curved pocket (54). Another fletching embodiment (102) made from sheet plastic includes a vane (114) that projects tangentially from the arrow shaft on which its foot (104) is mounted and is curved to define the pocket (118) that restricts air flow. A fixture (68) for heat forming the pocket of the one fletching embodiment (42) and a method for making the other fletching embodiment (102) are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a disc record package from a flat plastic sheet, comprising a narrow intermediate section interposed between a pair of panel portions. The apparatus includes a housing, a pair of substantially rigid planar folding plates pivotally mounted for movement, a rigid spacer plate, a means for selectively heating the narrow intermediate section of the said flat plastic sheet, and a means for folding the said rigid planar folding plates. The folding plates are operable between a spreadout co-planar position and a folded up juxtaposed position. The rigid spacer plate acts to form the central portion of the folded plastic sheet during the molding operation. The means for moving the said spacer plate and folding plates are pneumatically operated cylinders.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing a multi-key structure for keyboard musical instruments. A molding material is filled in a mold to form a molded structure which has a proximal end portion and a plurality of juxtaposed key portions extending from the proximal end portion. Molding is carried out in a state that the respective adjacent key portions diverge toward their free ends. The molded structure is removed from the mold, and the proximal end portion is deformed in such a manner that the plurality of key portions are brought into parallel relation to one another to provide the multi-key structure.

Abstract: A bent honeycomb pipe includes an outer pipe section bent at a predetermined curvature, a bent central pipe section coaxial with the outer pipe section and a bent honeycomb-shaped section interposed between the outer and central pipe-sections, all three sections being simultaneously coextruded to form a single-piece construction.

Abstract: Shaped articles, particularly tubular shaped articles, are formed by a process comprising molding a crosslinkable synthetic plastic material into a first molded shape, crosslinking the plastic material at a temperature in excess of the crystalline melting point of the material, subjecting the crosslinked first shape to a working operation to form a second configuration shape and subjecting specific areas of the second shape to a heat treatment thereby forming a deformation in the specific area. Extruded tubular materials subjected to a stretching operation tend to seek their original shape upon heat treatment thereby making the degree of deformation possible nearly equal to the degree of stretching.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of a helical spring from fiber-reinforced plastic, where a strand of fibers and plastic resin is wound onto a rotationally symmetric rotor provided with a spiral groove then hardened and finally removed from the rotor. In order to be able to produce helical springs with desired and in particular circular cross sections of the strand with small tolerances of the shape, a stator with an inner spiral groove is surroundingly disposed around the rotor, which spiral groove together with the spiral grooves of the rotor form the cross-sectional profile of the strand, where the rotor and the stator relative to the rotation of the rotor are shifted axially with respect to each other in an amount corresponding to the slope of the spiral grooves.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of making socketed pipe-fittings of synthetic plastics material by injection moulding. Prior to starting the injection moulding process a sealing ring is held in somewhat pinched condition with reduced outer diameter at the level of means to be formed on the socket for receiving the sealing ring. During the injection moulding process the sealing ring is held in this condition and is isolated from the moulding cavity. After sufficient, but incomplete cooling of the socket formed, the sealing ring receiving means are partially and temporarily deformed, and the sealing ring is released to enable it to spring into the partially deformed ring receiving means. Thereafter the ring receiving means reassume their original form, thereby firmly gripping the sealing ring.

Abstract: Tubular thermoformed articles are manufactured from tubular blanks which are heated to the annealing temperature for a time sufficient to anneal the articles by flowing hot liquid therethrough whilst constrained in the desire shape or form followed by flowing cold liquid therethrough to cool to set before being released from the constraint.

Abstract: A folding apparatus and method for folding a flat sheet so that an exact interior height is provided between the two folded portions is disclosed. The flat sheet is folded about a shim having a folding edge which is rounded and which has a thickness corresponding to the desired interior height. The flat shim is positioned on the flat sheet with the edge of the shim located along the line where the fold in the sheet is to be made. Initially, the portion of the sheet away from the shim is folded approximately 90.degree. by tangential bending on the folding edge of the shim. Next, a die having a facing edge mating with the folding edge of the shim is pushed onto the folding edge of the shim. The portion of the sheet which was folded 90.degree. is thus folded onto the top of the shim to approximately 180.degree.. With this two step folding, an exact interior height adjacent the fold is provided.

Abstract: Slide fastener coupling elements are continuously manufactured from a molded strip of coupling element blanks at a speed which is substantially the same as the speed at which the molded strip is produced on a die wheel. The strip of coupling element blanks, as it is withdrawn from the die wheel, is folded about its longitudinal axis into a U-shape while the strip is being heated, and then is heated by hot air before it is shaped into slide fastener coupling elements of a finalized shape as they are heat-set. Then, the coupling elements thus formed are cooled and discharged at a speed equal to the peripheral speed of the die wheel.

Abstract: A flat uniform thickness or flat sheet of thermoplastic material is heated to deformable, nonresilient, nonliquid condition, shaped over a built-up study model of the jaw ridge of a patient requiring a dental prosthesis and cooled to substantially rigid condition to form a custom dental impression tray.

Abstract: A toy vehicular track formed of a thin strip of flexible material having a pair of lines parallel to its length formed to enhance bending. The strip is connected at one end to a drum the rotation of which causes the strip to be rolled on the drum for storage. The strip fits through a shaper so that when it is pulled from the drum and through the shaper it is bent along the aforementioned lines so that a track with curbs for a toy vehicle is formed.

Abstract: A racket frame is made by molding a thermosetting resin composition together with reinforcing fibers. Molds are made of flexible strip members, such as plastics, wood pulp, paper pulp, wood, bamboo, etc., which are bent to form a racket frame in a fitting, thereby reducing the production cost incurred in fabrication of expensive molds. The formed racket frame has no shell and core structure.

Abstract: The geometric pattern for the support framework is obtained by projecting a subdivided icosahedron onto a parabolic surface. The resulting framework has forty primary planar triangular faces or sections, each of which are, in the embodiment shown, subdivided equally into 4 secondary planar triangular sections. At the dead center of the framework pattern is the outline of a pentagon, formed of five equal-size triangular sections. The framework terminates in a rim which lies completely in a single plane. Triangular reflecting members, which comprise the reflecting surface portion of the apparatus, are supported interiorly of the framework by standoff elements. Intermediate along each edge of the reflecting members is a tensioning element which bends the reflecting member so that the intermediate edge points, as well as the vertices of each reflecting member, lie on the surface of an imaginary paraboloid, the reflecting members thus approximating a parabolic curve.

Abstract: A device for exercising a living hinge of an article and/or closing a lid of a cap while the article or cap is in a mold for forming the article or cap. The device includes a finger which slides between the mold sections, and, in the process, engages a portion of the article or the lid, rotates the portion or lid about the hinge, and in the case of the cap, snaps the lid shut. In an alternate preferred embodiment, when the finger reaches predetermined point it pivots toward the female mold section to snap the lid tightly shut.

Abstract: A device for exercising a living hinge of an article and/or closing a lid of a cap while the article or cap is in a mold for forming the article or cap. The device includes a finger which slides between the mold sections, and, in the process, engages a portion of the article or the lid, rotates the portion or lid about the hinge, and in the case of the cap, snaps the lid shut. In an alternate preferred embodiment, when the finger reaches a predetermined point it pivots toward the female mold section to snap the lid tightly shut.

Abstract: A stretched plastic casing is tensioned by means of a fluid medium after having been introduced into two clamping rollers, and conveyed to a bending member in front of or at the location of which it is subjected to a thermal treatment such, that it is bent out of its original path, while being thermally deformed, and is subsequently conveyed in the same direction of curvature, in a bent form, so as to be cooled down.

Abstract: A cutting assembly of the type usable for severing a sheet into discrete elements includes an elongate track member having an elongate slot therein. A cutter slide is moveable in the slot and includes downwardly extending projections for both immobilizing and tensioning the sheet locally prior to, and during the severing operation. A method of forming the track, other articles having a segmented upper wall, by injection molding side sections and upper wall segments at an angle relative to the position they assume in the completed article, and thereafter rotating the side sections and upper wall segments about flexible, injection molded hinge sections to complete the formation of the article.

Abstract: The method and apparatus disclosed herein provide a stratified heat bath for use in the heating stage of thermoplastic deformation. It allows for heating of central sections of the thermoplastic lengths in order to render said lengths susceptible to deformation without heating the end sections or tangents of said lengths, permitting the ends to retain their original shape. In the case of tubular lengths, such as lengths of PVC pipe, the invention provides for more rapid heating than in the prior art.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for rolling pieces of soft material in leaf form, more particularly food products, such as pancakes. According to the invention, the pieces of material are delivered on a substantially horizontal conveyor belt (1) and are brought into contact with at least one other conveyor belt (8) which crosses the first conveyor belt and has an oblique upward movement relative to the direction of movement of the first conveyor belt. The two belts (3, 9) of the two conveyors are formed by several cords or strings (4, 10) which are parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another, the belt (9) of the second conveyor crossing the horizontal belt (3) of the first conveyor by passage of its cords or strings through the spaces between the cords and strings of the first conveyor.

Abstract: A battery container, the walls of which, include integrally molded, resilient ribs extending at acute angles from the walls to retain the battery's electrochemical innards firmly in the container. Each as-molded rib is plastically deformed and reshaped so that a lead-in portion thereof near the container opening is at a lesser angle with respect to the wall than the undeformed portion of the rib which serves to resiliently retain the innards. The section of rib between the lead-in portion and retaining portion extends at various angles intermediate the other angles and provide an incline or ramp for facilitating insertion of the battery's innards into the container. The tooling used to plastically deform the lead-in portion of the rib may also include means for tearing the bottom of the rib away from the bottom of the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing compressible insulation material of mineral fibers in which a folding shoe guides the insulation material from a strip condition into a cylindrical condition and further including initially compressing the portion of the strip material along the centerline thereof, subsequently compressing the portions of the strip material intermediate the center line and the side edges of the strip material, and, finally, compressing the side edge portions of the strip material.

Abstract: A method and tool for making tapered, layered plastic toothpicks from a solid plastic slab wherein a rapidly rotating tool having a single cutting edge configured to simultaneously cut and roll a thin film of plastic into a toothpick of the desired shape with each complete revolution is brought into contact with the plastic slab at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: Shaping sheets of heat-softenable material while suspended from cable means.

Abstract: A pattern table for forming of heated glass tubing such as neon light tubing according to a prescribed flat pattern. The table includes three support surfaces: a first for holding the pattern; a second light transmitting plate held directly over the pattern; and a third light transmitting screen supported on a top surface of the plate. Heated glass tubing can rest against the screen and be formed according to a pattern viewed through the screen and glass plate. The pattern is insulated from the heated glass tubing being formed. The heated glass tubing in turn is isolated from the heat absorbing glass plate by an interposed air space within the screen structure.

Abstract: A system for forming twisted pultruded fiber reinforced rods is disclosed. In the system of the invention fibers are coated with a resin, drawn through a shaping die and then after at least partially curing, the rod is simultaneously twisted and pulled through the coater by opposed pulling surfaces that rotate as they pull to twist said rod.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a self-coiling sheet. The apparatus includes a work station at which a relatively short section of a sheet of flexible material, e.g., crystalline polyethylene terephthalate, is folded upon the remainder of the sheet. The sheet is then advanced onto the carrier plate which, in turn, is mounted for movement toward and away from a gap defined by a pair of superposed pressure-applying rollers. The carrier plate is adapted to deposit the sheet between the rollers such that the folded section of the sheet is located in engagement with one of the rollers and the underlying portion of the sheet is in engagement with the other roller. The rollers are rotated in the same direction so as to drive the folded section of the sheet toward the carrier plate while simultaneously driving the remainder of the sheet in the opposite direction. This action results in the sheet being ejected from the gap of the rollers as a multi-layered generally cylindrical coil having a permanent set.

Abstract: A process and jig for field bending relatively large diameter plastic pipe, the jig being to guide the pipe at the point of tangency adjacent the bend after the pipe is heated and bent to form a smooth curvature to the desired radius and degree of bend as determined by the jig. The jig includes a two-piece spreader tube and a right and left hand guide, each adjustable in width, angle and spacing. The guides are U-shape and extend beneath the spreader tube so that the pipe may be placed on a flat horizontal surface. Each guide is provided with a protractor, one of which includes an offset scale so that offsets or curves with generally parallel tangents may be formed. The spreader tube includes a scale to ascertain the chord in terms of the radius for given degrees of bend.

Abstract: A method for the production of curved tubular elastomeric articles such as hose is described which uses a rigid, deformable mandrel. An uncured hose assembly is placed on the mandrel, and the assembly, including the mandrel, is deformed to a preselected curvilinear configuration, and then partially cured. The partially cured hose is straightened and the mandrel is removed. The partially cured hose is then returned to the curing chamber to complete the curing.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a longitudinally extending curved finger binding made of plastic material. The fingers are arched transversely to their longitudinal axis to provide an arched contour with a resulting increase in stiffness. A blank from which the binding is formed is heated to a temperature sufficient to soften the plastic blank. Fingers of the blank are curled and a backbone portion of the blank is curved into a closed circular plastic binding formation by use of a guide form. The guide form simultaneously curves each of the fingers transverse to their longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method of making a packing seal comprising compression molding a thermo-setting plastic in a spiral mold so that a partially-cured spiral seal is formed, removing the partially-cured seal from the mold, and winding it on a mandrel of a selected diameter, curing the spiral seal on the mandrel, and removing the seal from the mandrel, whereby the resulting seal is resilient and can be used to seal any part having a diameter within a given range, which range has the diameter of the mandrel as a median.

Abstract: A flexible preferably tubular article is described having an outer abrasion-resistant protective sleeve which is cured-in-place on a flexible core or tube to form a unitary flexible composite.

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: The walls which form a packing container are made from an extruded polystyrene foam plastic material which is stiffened along variously positioned rectilinear zones in the surface by effecting an increase in thickness of the plastic along those zones. The foamed plastic material is initially of uniform thickness during formation of the container but those zones of the walls which are to be thickened have a higher cell density factor than the remaining portions of the walls and hence a higher latent expansion capacity which, after the container has been formed, is released by heating to such an extent that the cell walls soften and are expanded by the increased gas pressure within them. The foamed plastic packing material is formed by extrusion through a die and is of uniform thickness. The desired zones of higher density are established in the material by subjecting those zones to a cooling operation.

Abstract: In a sodium sulphur cell, a cathode electrode of annular form comprising a plurality of segments, each of trapezoidal form in cross-section is made by compressing a blanket or sheet of carbon or graphite felt or fibres in a heated mould, which is shaped to produce the segments joined by thin webs, the material being impregnated with sulphur or sodium polysulphide before or after insertion in the mould, and the material being cooled before removal from the mould. Alternatively, the segments may be formed from the blanket or sheet by using shaped rolls, the mateial being cooled, e.g., by water or air, as it leaves the rolls.

Abstract: A method of producing a curved sausage casing by treating a sausage casing before curving with caustic solution and neutralizing the casing while in the curved configuration.

Abstract: A method for curling plastic filaments to produce simulated hair for doll wigs in which the curled plastic filaments are given a permanent set by a heat treatment, in a chamber with a combination of steam and electrical heat. By the use of this combination of heat, melting of the filaments on the mandrel during interruption of the method is avoided.

Abstract: An automotive trim strip laminate formed of a thin strip of polyester material bearing a layer of metallic material and bonded to a substrate of a polyvinyl chloride material is made so that the laminate can be thermally bonded to a support material along a curved path without any wrinkling or other irregularity. This is done by longitudinally tensioning the laminate after it has cooled below its annealing temperature following extrusion of the substrate to strain the laminate sufficiently so that it tends to shorten upon reheating to its annealing temperature. The strain is insufficient to cause strain-relief shortening of the laminate at ambient temperatures encountered during storage and transport but is sufficient so that when the strained laminate is held accurately to the curved path and thermally bonded to the support material, its thermal expansion cooperates with strain relief to bring the laminate into smooth and uniform conformity with the curved path.

Abstract: The method permits selective cooling of tubular plastic material as formed to provide for an exchange of internal cooling air through the central opening of the blow head. Air supply rings having outlet slots facing the tubing, as well as air guide surfaces of small axial length, are provided inside the tubing and spaced from the annular die orifice to serve to support the tubing. The interior cooling air supply rings have axially directed passages for the flow of cooling air while the exterior air supply ring or rings deliver air at higher temperatures to provide a substantial thermal differential between the tube surfaces as formed to provide a flare-top edge upon severance. Also, the method permits forming a foam-film composite of thermoplastic materials by the blown bubble co-extrusion process.

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: Crinkle-free tube bends can be produced by introducing a flexible core into the straight tube length to be bent, bending the tube length around movable templates at the optimum thermoforming temperature and, while bending, laying an extensible insert between the tube length and the bending template.

Abstract: The opening of a flexible container is closed by gathering the portion defining the opening into a bunch, surrounding the opening with an adhesive and allowing the adhesive to harden.

Abstract: A bent pipe of reinforced synthetic resin is produced by supporting a flexible and elastic tubular mandrel in a stiff and straight position, forming layers of fiber impregnated with thermo-hardening synthetic resin about the mandrel, releasing the mandrel from the straightly stiffened position, bending the mandrel in the desired curvature, heat hardening the synthetic resin, and then extracting the mandrel from the bent pipe thus formed and hardened.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding a sheet of relatively brittle material in which an articulated frame assembly is mounted relative to a support structure in a manner so that two portions of the frame assembly can pivot relative to each other in an angular direction to fold the sheet about a fold line intermediate the ends of the sheet. Each portion of the frame assembly includes a movable portion which is adapted to fold the outer end portion of the sheet about an additional fold line intermediate the first fold lines and the outer edge portion. The sheet is heated along the fold lines prior to the folding operations.

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: Method of making a removable spiral plastic binder which is designed to be received into a channel member. The channel member is mounted to the backbone of a book cover. The removable binding, which is slidably received in the channel member, has a plurality of curled loops for retaining paper leaflets such as sheets of blank checks to the book cover. The removable binding has retaining tabs extending from a base portion below the loops. The tabs are bent such that they all lie substantially in the same plane to facilitate sliding of the binding into the channel member. The removable binding including the retaining tabs, base portion and curled loops is formed from a single, contiguous sheet of plastic material.

Abstract: A process is provided for the continuous production of modular tubular filter elements using nonwoven webs in cylindrical or sheet form spun from thermoplastic fibers, spinning the fibers continuously from a melt onto a rotating internal tubular core for the filter element, serving as a mandrel, and winding them up on the core to form a wound tube.

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.