An apparatus structured to contact external tissue, such as skin, of a user includes an elastomeric contacting portion that is structured to directly engage the external tissue. The contacting portion has an engineered surface (64A, 64B) that includes a plurality of non-random, predesigned surface features (70, 74B, 76B, 78B) designed to reduce friction and improve user comfort. In one implementation, the pitch (P) between each immediately adjacent pair of the surface features (70, 76B) is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum pitch value, and the height (H) of each of the surface features (70, 76B) is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum height value.

A transfer film, a method for producing a film-coated article and a film-coated article.

A method of producing a molded part comprising a decorative coating with a molded part front side designed as visible side and a rear side opposing the front side and a substrate arranged on the rear side of the decorative coating, wherein the decorative coating comprises (or is formed from) a decorative layer, wherein the method comprises: providing the decorative layer or decorative coating, attaching the substrate to the rear side of the decorative layer or coating, applying a resist lacquer to the front side of the decorative layer by means of a digital printing machine, the resist lacquer being applied in sections to the front side of the decorative layer to form a pattern or symbol or a negative of a pattern or symbol such that lacquer-free surface areas and surface areas covered with resist lacquer are created on the front side of the decorative layer.

An in-mold coating includes graphene and a base material including an unsaturated polyester and/or a vinyl ester monomer. A part includes a main body formed of a polymeric sheet molding compound and an in-mold coating disposed on the main body, where the in-mold coating includes graphene and a base material that comprises an unsaturated polyester and/or a vinyl ester monomer. A method of creating an in-mold coating includes providing a base material comprising at least one of an unsaturated polyester and a vinyl ester monomer, and the method further includes adding graphene to the base material.

A portable mat which keeps itself clean teaches a combination of nine upper surface panels of hard rubber, EPDM, hard neoprene, a very durable bottom surface/substrate holding the mat panels, which may be the neoprene in unitary body embodiments or a separate material in other embodiments, a formula for placement of the panels upon the substrate, a specific folding sequence, and a tenth mud-flap outside of the regular 3×3 pattern of the other nine panels which completes the folding sequence with every bottom surface covered by another bottom surface and no top panel in contact with any bottom surface. A handhold at one corner and indicia on the top surface assist the user in properly folding, as do the formulaic gaps which allow tight proper folding and prevent improper folding.

A method of manufacturing a fibrous composite bicycle rim , employs a tool device having a plurality of tool components including two molding devices and one circular device. The two molding devices each have one rim flank contact surface. The circular device includes a rim well contact surface. Tool components are provided, and a first varnish coat is applied to a rim contact surface and is dried. A first fiber layer of the fibrous composite material is applied to the flank contact surface of the molding devices, forming the outer fiber layers of the pertaining rim flanks. At least one first fiber layer of the fibrous composite material is applied to the circular device which forms the rim well. The tool components of are interconnected, and the tool device is closed, is heated up, and the smooth varnish coat firmly bonds with the hardening fibrous composite material.

Particular embodiments of the invention include apparatus and methods for compensating for shrinkage of a polymeric material in a mold during curing operations. Embodiments of the method include providing a mold comprising a molding cavity defining an interior mold volume separated from an exterior environment and introducing a volume of polymeric material into the molding cavity. Such methods further include impeding the development of a void in the volume of polymeric material by, either: isolating the volume of polymeric material within the molding cavity from the exterior environment, or reducing the interior mold volume of the molding cavity to at least substantially consume a volume of polymeric material shrinkage. Such methods further include curing the polymeric material to form a molded polymeric form.

A method and related apparatus for producing an embossing on a substrate using a digital printing technology includes the application of an embossing liquid, for example a water-based liquid, on a non-polymerized resin layer and the subsequent polymerization of the resin with UV curing.

Three-dimensional objects are formed by photo-curing a liquid polymer by exposure to a radiation in a space between a sheet transparent to the radiation and a supporting plate. On a side of the sheet facing towards the photo-curing liquid polymer, a membrane is arranged. The membrane is transparent to the radiation and covered by a layer of liquid lubricant. The membrane is displaceable with respect to an area in which said liquid polymer is undergoing curing by exposure to the radiation, which radiation (e.g., at 410 nm) may be provided by a collimated light source composed of an array of light emitting diode (LED) sources, an array of baffles, and an array of lenses. The baffles limit beam widths of each individual LED source in the array of LED, and the array of lenses is located one focal length from said array of LED sources.

A method for producing a decorated plastic molded article with the steps: a) providing a base body made of a fiber composite plastic b) providing a decorative film; c) heating the base body; d) joining the base body and the decorative film in a mold.