The invention relates to a weldable connecting element 2 for connecting or joining thermo-plastic line elements 3. The connecting element 2 comprises: a thermoplastic body 4; at least one heating element 6, which is embedded in the body 4, wherein the heating element 6 serves to generate heat in a welding area 5 for welding the body 4 to the at least one line element 3. Furthermore, a joining control 12 is provided, which is configured to prohibit the welding operation and/or to interrupt the welding operation if the body 4 and the line element 3 are not joined correctly.

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing yoga outer socks with a silicone band attached thereto by forming a temporary connection part using ultrasonic waves without a seam between an outer sock upper and a sole part, adhering hot melt to the temporary connection part via heat fusion, and then fusing a silicone band onto hot melt to prevent slipping of the heel. Accordingly, the yoga outer socks are manufactured by forming a temporary connection part with ultrasonic waves without a seam and then adhering hot melt to the temporary connection part via heat fusion to simplify manufacturing processes and to achieve excellent productivity.

An inflatable sleeve including one or more tubular portions including zones having different dimensions (e.g. thickness and/or diameter) and/or physical properties (e.g. elastic modulus) to enable control over the inflation characteristics of each zone, and a method of manufacturing same. The present invention further relates to a pipe junction sealing packer incorporating such an inflatable sleeve.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil- and marine-biodegradable, as well as home- and industrial-compostable.

A method for producing a channel-shaped hollow profile component from a nonwoven material includes providing first and second nonwoven material layers arranging the first and second nonwoven material layers in a mold tool having first and second mold tool halves and a core body wherein a formation of the first and second nonwoven material layers and the core body is arranged between the first and second mold tool halves, and wherein the core body is arranged between the first and second nonwoven material layers in the formation, and simultaneously forming the first and second nonwoven material layers in the mold tool to form a first nonwoven partial shell and a second nonwoven partial shell.

The method includes producing an initial preform on a mandrel by filament winding without generating shrinking, cutting the initial preform to the correct length, placing the assembly provided beforehand with internal drainage device and pressurization device into a female mold, and bringing the preform assembly to a softening temperature and pressurizing the assembly at both ends until it is deformed by a diametrical increase in its dimensions. The method further includes bringing the impregnation resin to polymerization temperature and pressure in order to allow the workpiece to consolidate, its external shape becoming consistent with the internal shape of the mold, opening the mold and removing the workpiece from the mold, and machining the final shapes of the composite workpiece.

A method and apparatus for constructing a tubular assembly (24) comprising an inner portion (21) and a further portion (22) surrounding the inner portion, the further portion being formed from a strip (50) of material comprising two opposed longitudinal marginal side portions (53). The apparatus (100) comprises an assembly station (106) having a wall (122). The apparatus (100) comprises means for advancing the inner portion (21) along a first path (111) extending past the wall, and means for advancing the strip (50) along a second path (112) and causing the strip to encircle the wall and thereby wrap about and surround the inner portion (21). The two marginal side portions (53) are disposed in overlapping relation on the side of the wall opposed to the first path (111). The apparatus (100) further comprises a system (131) for affixing the two longitudinal marginal side portions (53) together in overlapping relation to assemble the strip (50) into a tubular configuration about the inner portion (21), whereby the strip in the tubular configuration provides the further portion (22).

An apparatus for making a product comprising a plurality of microducts bundled within a protective outer sheath, wherein the apparatus functions to inhibit thermal welding of the sheath and the microducts, and a corresponding method of making the bundled microducts.

A therapeutic, fitness and sports enhancement device which includes a cylindrically shaped body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter, the body including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape. One or more of the predetermined density and the predetermined diameter in combination with the predetermined shape of the projections optimize mobilization of soft tissue structures of the human body.

System and method for shaping a duct section. The duct section is configured to be expandable from a flattened configuration to an expanded configuration. The system includes an inflatable enclosure insertable within the duct section while being in the flattened configuration. The inflatable enclosure defines an opening for inflating the inflatable enclosure. The system also includes a blower for inflating the inflatable enclosure through the opening from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration. In use, when the inflatable enclosure is inserted within the duct section, the blower inflates the inflatable enclosure through the opening from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration, whereby the duct section expands from the flattened configuration to the expanded configuration as the inflatable enclosure pushes against the duct section from within.