Abstract: A method for manufacturing a contact terminal including a contact portion that slides against a surface of a conductive contact plate. The manufacturing method includes forming a projection in a metal plate by performing a drawing process, wherein the projection projects in a thicknesswise direction of the metal plate and has a larger diameter than the contact portion. The manufacturing method further includes forming the contact portion from the projection by performing a contraction pressing process at least once on the projection so that the diameter of the projection gradually decreases, while the height of the projection remains the same or decreases in a stepwise manner.

Abstract: A process used to cut and model sheets of leather or other modellable materials, according to which cutting and modeling are carried out by means of a die and a lid-punch that cooperate to cut a leather sheet positioned and tightened between the die and the lid-punch according to predefined cutting lines and at the same time model the sheet in a stable way by a plastic film injected on one of the two sides of the sheet.

Abstract: Method for setting a leather skin (12) having an outer surface designed to be visible, includes a step of applying a rigidity increasing treatment, a step of setting the skin using a mould co-operating with the outer surface of the skin (12), one at least of the two steps being executed only locally at an elongated part (B) spaced apart from the edge of the skin (12) and substantially parallel to the edge, and a step for facilitating the maintenance of the shape by locally applying a shape maintaining material to the inner surface of the skin (12), in particular a thermoplastic resin (24). The invention is useful for making automotive interior trim.

Abstract: The method of transferring biological specimens onto leather by using a specialized singe plate as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,881 entails wetting a selected section of leather with water and applying the smooth side of the wetted leather on the indented biological imprints provided by the above mentioned plate. Then, by using a press which applies equal amounts of pressure to the entire surface of the afore mentioned plate and leather, an image of the biological specimen is transferred onto the leather itself. The leather is permitted to dry, thus, setting the transferred image, and stain or dye is applied to the leather bringing out the intricate details of the image of the biological specimen, thus, creating a flexible 3-D specimen for scientific study or other endeavors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing leather coin pouches. The method provides for wetting a leather assembly comprising a substantially flat, flexible leather cover laminated to a substantially flat, more rigid centerpiece, to soften the leather which facilitates the eventual forming of the leather. The method further comprises creasing the leather in a creasing die. After a preforming step designed to foldedly bias the leather assembly toward forming as desired, the leather assembly is formed into a foldedly raised leather assembly with an overlapping flap spiral closure. Finally, while its formed shape is retained, the leather assembly is dried.

Abstract: A substantially rigid dome-shaped shell encloses a deformable cap-like headpiece of uniform thickness. The headpiece conforms to the contour of the wearer's head and cooperates with the shell to define a dome-shaped cavity which is sealed around its bottom portion. The cavity is filled with an expandable plastics foam material which conforms to the contour of the headpiece. In one embodiment, spacer members are positioned within the cavity and extend from the headpiece to the shell for positioning the shell relative to the headpiece, and in another embodiment, the shell is spaced within a slightly larger outer shell by resilient energy-absorbing foam pads. In a further embodiment, the headpiece is formed by stretching a piece of leather with a device having a predetermined contour.