An automated method for producing fingernail tips. Reinforcing fibers are provided as a strip and the strip is moved at a specific travel rate in the longitudinal direction of the strip. The strip is covered on one side and impregnated with the plastic, and then shaped in a shaping station, where is it bent into a curve that corresponds substantially to the shape of a natural fingernail or toenail. The strip maintains its shape after the plastic is cured and the covering is then removed. The fingernail tips are punched from the strip in a cutting station. The automated method allows the strip to be continuously or virtually continuously transported and then the fingernail tips to be automatically counted, sorted, and packaged.

A composite membrane, a biosensor, and preparation methods thereof are disclosed. In the preparation process, a moldable and plastic material is used as a carrier; after a dispersion liquid of a nanocarbon material wets the carrier, by means of multiple stretching and folding processes, the nanocarbon material is uniformly distributed and arranged regularly inside the entire plastic material in a stretching strain direction. The prepared composite membrane is elastic, attachable, and cost-efficient, and may detect strains as high as 530%. The composite membrane further has high sensitivity and high durability, and may be effectively applied to a biosensor for monitoring motion and humidity.

A vacuum insulated door structure includes a first wall having a first edge and a barrier layer, a second wall having a second barrier layer and a second edge coupled to the first wall member proximate the first perimetrical edge. The second wall includes at least four inner side walls and a back wall that defines a second wall offset. At least one tubular member extends between the first wall member and the second wall offset, wherein an inner conduit surface of the tubular member provides fluid communication between the first wall outer facing surface and the second wall outer facing surface. A cavity insulation material is disposed within a cavity volume defined between the first and second walls, wherein the cavity volume is hermetically sealed, and wherein the cavity volume includes an at least partial vacuum.

A vacuum insulated door structure includes a first wall having a first edge and a barrier layer, a second wall having a second barrier layer and a second edge coupled to the first wall member proximate the first perimetrical edge. The second wall includes at least four inner side walls and a back wall that defines a second wall offset. At least one tubular member extends between the first wall member and the second wall offset, wherein an inner conduit surface of the tubular member provides fluid communication between the first wall outer facing surface and the second wall outer facing surface. A cavity insulation material is disposed within a cavity volume defined between the first and second walls, wherein the cavity volume is hermetically sealed, and wherein the cavity volume includes an at least partial vacuum.

A method for improving the heat sealability of a packaging material and a method for manufacturing a heat-sealed container or package are described. The material can be polymer-coated packaging paper or cardboard, or a polymeric packaging film. The material includes a polymer layer that contains polyester, particularly polylactide, the heat sealability of which is improved by ultraviolet radiation. Polylactide is useful as such or when blended, for example, with other biodegradable polyester. The containers and packages thus manufactured include disposable drinking cups and cardboard carton and box packages.

In a method of manufacturing a surgical implant, a flexible areal basic structure having a first face and a second face is provided. At least one linear marking thread is placed, in a floating manner, onto one of the faces of the basic structure and mechanically fixed (e.g. by stitching) to the basic structure at a first location and at a second location which are spaced from each other. Thereafter, the linear marking thread is thermally fixed to the basic structure in an area between the first location and the second location by a melt-fusing process.

A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having side walls that are formed from a tube that has been folded/deformed into a structure having an O shape with vertically enlarged front and rear openings. The interior of the tube may be filled with silica powder or other filler, and a vacuum is formed within the tube. An insulated rear panel may be utilized to close off the rear opening of the vacuum insulated cabinet structure.

A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having side walls that are formed from a tube that has been folded/deformed into a structure having an O shape with vertically enlarged front and rear openings. The interior of the tube may be filled with silica powder or other filler, and a vacuum is formed within the tube. An insulated rear panel may be utilized to close off the rear opening of the vacuum insulated cabinet structure.

A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes panels having sheet metal outer side walls and polymer inner side walls. The polymer inner side walls are heat-sealed to a layer of polymer material laminated to a flat sheet metal blank to form vacuum cavities. The blank is then bent along fold lines to form a cabinet structure.

A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes panels having sheet metal outer side walls and polymer inner side walls. The polymer inner side walls are heat-sealed to a layer of polymer material laminated to a flat sheet metal blank to form vacuum cavities. The blank is then bent along fold lines to form a cabinet structure.