An expansion device, including: an installation unit in which a thermally expandable sheet is disposed; an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the thermally expandable sheet placed on the installation unit with light; and a control unit configured to perform processes described below, wherein after an expansion process to expand the thermally expandable sheet by irradiating the thermally expandable sheet placed on the installation unit with light by the irradiation unit, a cooling process to cool the thermally expandable sheet by a predetermined cooling unit while maintaining the state in which the thermally expandable sheet is placed on the installation unit.

A composite preform including a preform and a plastic member in close contact with the outer surface of the preform is made by preparing the preform made of plastic material and arranging the plastic member to surround the outer surface of the preform. Subsequently, the composite preform is heated and inserted in a blow molding die and undergoes blow molding in the blow molding die, by which the preform and the plastic member of the composite preform are inflated integrally and a composite container is obtained.

A fitting or connector for use in constructing a tubing assembly is made by bonding an olefin gasket to an end face of a polypropylene fitting member. The gasket is bonded to the fitting member via a heat fusion technique that causes localized melting together of the gasket and the fitting and generates a composite fitting or connector.

A ladder having a first rail having a bottom and a web, a first flange attached to a first end of the web and a second flange attached to a second end of the web. The ladder having a second rail. The ladder having rungs attached to the first rail and second rail upon which a user steps to climb the ladder. The ladder having a foot having a plastic body with a recess which receives the end of the first rail and is positioned about and conforms to the web and the first and second flanges of the first rail. The foot has a plastic base having a top side from which the body extends. The base has an edge positioned about the body with perforations, and a rubber tread disposed along an underside of the base and extending through the perforations and along the edge on the top side of the base to form an overmolded portion of the tread that attaches the tread to the base without any mechanical or other types of fasteners. The rubber tread forms a bond with the underside of the base and the edge on the top side of the base. The foot for a bottom of a rail of a ladder. A method for placing a ladder. A method for producing a foot for a bottom of a rail of a ladder.

A method of forming a package is provided and includes providing two laminate edge portions of the package, each of which includes a foil layer between first and second resin layers; and welding together the respective first resin layers at a first position spaced apart from the edges while not welding the respective first resin layers at the edges, wherein the edge portions include edges from which electrode terminals extend such that portions of the electrode terminals are exposed beyond the edges, and wherein the edge portions are between a sealing portion and exposed portions of positive and negative electrode terminals.

The invention relates to a hybrid tailgate for a vehicle, comprising a thermoplastic inner structure forming the carrier frame of the tailgate, and at least one composite reinforcement part to reinforce the carrier frame, wherein the composite reinforcement part is connected to the thermoplastic inner structure at a first surface, wherein the composite reinforcement part forms a continuous load path in the inner structure enclosing a tailgate window opening for a window glazing part of the tailgate. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising such a hybrid tailgate. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing such a hybrid tailgate, the method comprising forming a composite laminate part into an insert; placing the insert in an injection molding tool; and over-molding the insert with polymer resin.

A foam part for a vehicle seat having a textile layer and a foam body made from a polyurethane foam. The textile layer may be designed as a three-dimensionally formed non-woven layer. The non-woven layer may have a grammage of 800 to 1200 grams per square meter. A method for producing the foam part and for providing the vehicle seat having at least one foam part are described.

Nonwoven fabrics suitable for a wide variety of applications (e.g., healthcare, filtration, industrial, packaging, etc.) are provided. In one aspect, the nonwoven fabric includes a plurality of segmented fibers. Each of the plurality of segmented fibers may comprise a fiber axis and a plurality of alternating larger diameter and smaller diameter segments along the fiber axis. The plurality of segmented fibers may be substantially aligned in a first direction.

A stitchless highly oriented polypropylene fabric bulk bag of the type that can hold 500 to 5000 pounds (226.7 to 2268 kilograms) of bulk material includes a highly oriented polypropylene fabric top, body and bottom, with a heat fused joint providing an air tight connection between the top and body, and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the body and bottom. A fill spout and discharge tube may also be provided with an air tight heat fused joint connecting the fill spout to the top and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the discharge spout to the bottom. Heat sealing machinery include heat seal bar assemblies that can self-align during heat-sealing to apply even pressure to all areas being heat sealed. A heating element is of single piece construction and can include end coupler portions as part of the single piece construction. Carrier plates used in a heat-sealing assembly line guide parts placement, provide quality checks for parts placement, and tooling set-up for machinery.

Provided is a fabric for producing a foam part, comprising: a non-woven fabric sheet comprising: a first metallic pattern printed on a first surface of the non-woven fabric sheet; wherein the first metallic pattern comprises a plurality of pattern elements having a predetermined optimal distance therebetween; wherein the metallic pattern comprises a print paste and a metallic powder; wherein the non-woven fabric sheet is structured to be positioned in a mold for producing the foam part such that the first metallic pattern of the non-woven fabric sheet is operatively coupled with a magnet element of a first mold half of the mold.